The concubines in the palace each harbored their own thoughts.

Three more days passed, and it was February 17th.

February weather was unpredictable, with alternating periods of warmth and cold. Xu Lejin caught a cold by accident and had to consult a royal physician. She drank bitter herbal medicine every day, and her round face, which had been full of pregnancy, visibly became thinner.

As she lost weight, Xu Lejin's belly became more noticeable. Although she was less than four months pregnant, her belly was already slightly protruding.

“Sister Yu Pin, I originally wanted to visit you yesterday, but Consort Fan Jia caused a ruckus all day, and I was really exhausted. So I came to visit you today after paying my respects to Consort Zhao.”

"Sister, you're not angry with your little sister, are you?"

Consort Xuan rested her chin on her hand, her bright eyes gazing at Xu Lejin with pity in them. "Sister Consort Yu, I think you've gotten even thinner."

"Fortunately, the Emperor loves my sister. After she caught a cold, he decreed that she was exempted from the daily morning and evening greetings to Consort Zhao. Otherwise, I'm afraid she would have become even thinner."

Xu Lejin's expression was gentle, and she smiled without saying a word.

Consort Xuan quickly glanced around, lowered her voice, and whispered, "Sister, I've been in the palace for less than a year, and although I don't know much about the palace rules, I do know that only Her Majesty the Empress has the authority to make the concubines pay their respects to her every morning and evening."

"Although Consort Zhao is the successor chosen by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager and is in charge of the six palaces, she has not yet been formally conferred the title, yet she has the concubines of the harem come to her palace to pay their respects every day. Isn't that a bit too much of an act?"

"This is so annoying!"

Consort Xuan kept rambling on, her face full of dissatisfaction.

Xu Lejin sighed and quickly stopped her, "Sister Xuanpin, you can't say such things carelessly. If they get out, we'll both be in deep trouble."

Consort Xuan was carefree and didn't seem to care at all.

"Oh, what are you afraid of? We're talking about it in our own palace. Even if Consort Zhao finds out, what can she do to us? If she dares to do it, does that mean we can't say it?"

Xu Lejin shook her head helplessly and said softly, "Yes, yes, what Consort Xuan said is very true."

Consort Xuan and Xu Lejin spent most of the day happily in Yikun Palace. As night fell, Consort Xuan reluctantly prepared to return to Xianfu Palace.

Just then, Ru Hua hurried in from outside the palace and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Consort Xuan, His Majesty issued an edict this afternoon to move Consort Fan Jia to the Cold Palace."

"..."

Xu Lejin stared in disbelief, looking at Consort Xuan with a bewildered expression.

Consort Xuan was equally astonished.

After a long while, the two came to their senses. Xu Lejin looked at Ruhua and asked in a deep voice, "Why would the Emperor suddenly issue an edict to move Consort Fan Jia to the Cold Palace?"

Well, Xu Lejin remembers that since Kangxi ascended the throne, even the least favored concubines have only been confined to their quarters; he has never issued an edict to send them to the Cold Palace.

Consort Fan Jia was the first.

"Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Fan Jia suffered a fit of hysteria and, before completing her postpartum confinement, secretly left Xianfu Palace and ran to Qianqing Palace to cry and complain to the Emperor. She made wild accusations, saying that Consort Zhao and Consort Tong were responsible for her miscarriage, and that Your Majesty and Consort Xuan were jealous of her pregnancy and carrying the Emperor's child."

"The Emperor was thoroughly annoyed by Consort Fan Jia. Just then, a memorial was delivered by express courier from the previous court. The Emperor was furious and issued an edict to move Consort Fan Jia to the Cold Palace."

After Ruhua finished speaking, she lowered her head and nodded.

Xu Lejin sighed and exchanged a glance with Consort Xuan. Both of them felt helpless. Consort Fan Jia had brought this upon herself, and even if they wanted to pity her, there was nothing they could do.

Now, we can only hope that Consort Fan Jia will regain her senses and recover properly once she arrives in the Cold Palace.

Early the next morning

Consort Zhao looked earnestly at the concubines in the harem and said slowly, "I'm sure all of you sisters already know that Consort Fan Jia offended the Emperor and was moved to the Cold Palace."

"I wish to plead for Consort Fan Jia, but an urgent report has arrived from the previous dynasty. His Majesty is worried about the affairs of the previous dynasty, and I really cannot plead for her at this critical juncture."

Consort Tong, Consort Xuan, and the others stood up and responded in unison.

Consort Zhao sighed deeply and said, "Although Consort Fan Jia has been sent to the Cold Palace, she used to serve the Emperor with the other sisters. If you have time, please go to the Cold Palace to visit her."

"Yes, Your Majesty/Your Highness/Consort Zhao will follow your teachings."

After a cup of tea

Consort Zhao turned her head to look at Consort Xuan and said softly, "I heard that Consort Xuan visited Yikun Palace yesterday. I wonder if Consort Yu's condition is any better?"

Consort Xuan nodded slightly and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Consort Yu's condition has improved considerably. I estimate that she will be fully recovered in a few more days."

"Um."

Consort Zhao responded, then casually added, "His Majesty, out of consideration for Consort Yu's pregnancy and the fact that she has caught a cold, has specially decreed that Consort Yu is exempt from paying her respects to me."

"His Majesty is benevolent, but in the inner palace, there can be no order without rules."

Consort Tong, Consort Xuan, and all the other concubines responded in unison, "Yes."

At this moment, Yinshuang from Consort Zhao's palace entered from outside the hall with a solemn expression. She knelt down with a thud and reported in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, Consort Tong, Consort Xuan, and all the concubines, news has come from the Cold Palace that Concubine Fan Jia passed away early this morning."

With a 'clatter,' the teacup in Consort Xuan's hand fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.

Consort Tong held a handkerchief to her mouth and spoke softly.

"Consort Fan Jia was unfortunate. Just now, Consort Zhao told the ladies in the harem to visit her in the Cold Palace when they had nothing to do, and now we have the news of Consort Fan Jia's death."

"I'm afraid Consort Fan Jia is not worthy of Consort Zhao's kindness."

After a pause, Consort Tong instructed the palace maid behind her, "Xiangling, prepare some offerings for me later and take them to the Cold Palace to burn for Consort Fan Jia. It is a small token of my respect, and I hope she will have a peaceful journey to the afterlife."

Consort Zhao looked embarrassed and remained silent.

Yikun Palace

Xu Lejin was spared the rare opportunity to pay her respects to Consort Zhao, so she slept until the sun was high in the sky and woke up naturally.

Upon waking, Xu Lejin smiled as she dressed and made up with the help of Lianzhi and Ruhua. Ziwu bowed and entered the palace, bringing bad news: Consort Fan Jia had been sent to the Cold Palace.

Xu Lejin sighed softly and said, "Another pitiful person!"

"In the past two years, many concubines in the palace have passed away, including Consort Chengqian, Consort Chuyun, Consort Hanyan, Consort Sixue, Consort Xitala, Consort Shangjia, Consort Xiuqin, and now Consort Fanjia."

Lianzhi and Ruhua exchanged a glance.

Lianzhi spoke softly, "Your Majesty, you are pregnant, and the imperial physician has advised you to avoid overthinking. Consort Fan Jia's death was her own fault, Your Majesty should not be too sad."

"Um."

Xu Lejin nodded slightly.

After a moment of contemplation, she murmured, "When spring ends, beauty fades, flowers fall, and people die, leaving no trace. On the road to the underworld, I hope Consort Fan Jia will have a smooth journey."