That afternoon

When Emperor Kangxi arrived at Xu Lejin's palace, Xu Lejin smiled and accompanied him. "Your Majesty," she said, "the other day I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. She mentioned that there are few princes in the palace..."

"The Empress Dowager meant that she hoped the Emperor would frequently visit the inner palace and summon the concubines to his bedchamber so that the imperial lineage could continue and the dynasty could be passed down from generation to generation."

Kangxi nodded, his brows furrowed, lost in thought.

After a long while, Kangxi said in a deep voice, "I only have three sons under my knees: Yinzhi, Yinti, and Yinling, the son of my beloved concubine. That is indeed too few."

"Father, at my age, already had eight sons,"

"I have only six sons under my care, including those who died in infancy."

With a slight nod, Xu Lejin lowered her eyes and spoke apologetically, "Your Majesty, I am unfortunate. Although I have been pregnant one after another, I have only given birth to princesses. Since the Third Prince, I have not been able to give birth to a prince for Your Majesty."

"There are many sisters in the palace. The Emperor often visits the harem and shows his favor to all the sisters. I believe that in time, the number of princes under the Emperor's nose will increase."

As she said these words against her will, Xu Lejin felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

Humans are not plants or trees; how can they be without feelings?

Although she didn't have much affection for Kangxi, she truly couldn't bring herself to push him towards other concubines in the palace.

But what can you do if you can't do it?

The Empress Dowager repeatedly and earnestly instructed that Emperor Kangxi had few sons, and that she...

That's just how the world is.

Very well, if everyone receives their share, the harem will have many offspring.

A single flower does not make spring; a hundred flowers blooming together make spring. Even if the harem is full of beautiful flowers, as long as one stays true to oneself, one can safely protect one's children.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi glanced at Xu Lejin with a grave expression and said in a deep voice, "My dear consort, you are very thoughtful. Among the concubines in the harem, Consort Hui and Consort Rong are senior members, Consort Yi is pregnant, and most of the lower-ranking concubines, such as Noble Ladies and Attendants, are of humble origins."

"The concubines in the harem, with the exception of a few, are mostly quite boring."

Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment.

She glanced quickly at Kangxi, pondered for a moment, and then spoke softly, "Does Your Majesty intend to issue an edict to select daughters of court officials to enter the palace as concubines or imperial consorts?"

“The imperial concubine selection is a waste of resources and manpower. With the Three Feudatories still not pacified, I have no mood for a large-scale selection.”

Emperor Kangxi frowned, his thoughts drifting away.

Xu Lejin smiled and said, “Your Majesty, in fact, there are many young, beautiful, gentle and considerate concubines in the harem. The other day, I met Consort Jing in the Empress Dowager’s palace. Consort Jing is eighteen or nineteen years old now, which is the most beautiful age.”

"Consort Hui and Consort Duan, although they are old palace servants, are gentle and considerate."

"Among the Noble Ladies and Attendants, many are gentle and compliant, such as Attendant Xiu in Consort Yi's palace, Noble Lady Lan in Consort Hui's palace, Attendant Yin in Consort Duan's palace, and Attendant Niu, etc."

"In my opinion, they are all excellent."

Emperor Kangxi frowned and remained silent.

After a long while, Kangxi said coldly, "I still have matters to attend to in the court, so I will return to the Qianqing Palace first. I will come to see you again tomorrow."

"yes."

Xu Lejin responded softly and respectfully saw Kangxi off from Yikun Palace.

Night falls

Emperor Kangxi sat upright in the Qianqing Palace, reviewing memorials. Liang Jiugong led the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department into the hall, carrying a green plaque, and respectfully Emperor Kangxi selected the plaque.

His hand paused for a moment, and Kangxi's gaze swept across the green plaques before landing on Consort Jing's plaque.

Liang Jiugong gave the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department a wink, and the chief eunuch spoke in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Consort Jing has not served the Emperor for a year and three months. Yesterday, the Empress Dowager sent someone to instruct me to place Consort Jing's green plaque in a conspicuous place."

"Um."

Emperor Kangxi pondered for a moment, "The green plaque on Consort Jing's head has turned gray. Remove it and make a new one."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Kangxi's gaze then fell on Consort Hui's green nameplate, he shook his head, and looked away at the green nameplates of Consort Duan, Noble Lady Lan, and others.

In the end, Kangxi's gaze fell on the green plaque of Consort Xiu.

Liang Jiugong paused for a moment, then spoke softly, “Your Majesty, half a month ago, Consort Xiu was invited by Consort Yu to sit in Consort Yu’s palace for a while. After that, Consort Xiu frequently visited Consort Yu’s palace to pay her respects.”

Kangxi nodded.

After a short while, Kangxi said, "I remember Consort Xiu, who used to be a maid of Consort Tongjia, and she always behaved herself well."

"Liang Jiugong, welcome Consort Xiu tonight."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Liang Jiugong respectfully agreed and withdrew together with the head steward of the Imperial Household Department.

The moon rose above the willow branches, and the phoenix-carriage of spring favor rumbled along the long street, making its way to the Qianqing Palace.

Xiu Changzai was cleaned and dressed, wrapped in a quilt, and sent to the side hall of Qianqing Palace.

The next day

Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and Consort An were discussing matters in Yanxi Palace.

"Consort Jing and Consort An, last night I vaguely heard the sound of the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage. Do you two know which concubine His Majesty summoned to his bedchamber last night?"

Consort Hui rested her chin on her hand and looked at Consort Jing and Consort An.

Consort Jing looked puzzled, while Consort An was stunned for a moment before quickly lowering her head and pondering.

After a moment, Consort Jing smiled and said, "Consort Hui has a long history in the palace and also has the Second Prince. If even Consort Hui doesn't know, how would I, her younger sister, know?"

"My sister also heard the sound of the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage last night. I guess it was a noble lady, a concubine, or a lady-in-waiting from the palace who was favored by the Emperor and taken to the Qianqing Palace to serve him in bed."

Consort Hui nodded slightly and looked at Consort An.

Consort An hesitated for a moment, then looked up and said with a smile, "Sister Consort Hui, Sister Consort Jing, last night His Majesty chose Consort Xiu from Consort Yi's palace."

"Consort Xiu?"

Consort Hui paused, a look of surprise on her face. "I remember Consort Xiu, she used to serve Consort Chengqian. She's not young anymore, it seems..."

"It seems like I'm over twenty-five."

Consort An nodded slightly and said softly, "That's right. Consort Xiu serves the Empress of Chengqian Palace and is already twenty-six years old."

"I was quite surprised when I heard the reports from the palace servants last night."

Consort Hui frowned, deep in thought.

Consort Jing's face showed anger, and her eyes were full of malice.

An hour later, Consort Jing and Consort An came out of Yanxi Palace. The two parted ways at the palace gate and returned to their respective palaces.

Consort Jing walked beneath the palace wall, her pretty face ashen.

"Shiman, have someone investigate why the Emperor suddenly chose the unfavored Consort Xiu."

The palace maid Shiman responded softly.

Another palace maid named Jiaxin, who was by Consort Jing's side, frowned and pondered for a moment before speaking respectfully, "Your Highness, I have overheard the maids who sweep the Imperial Garden gossiping about this in private."

"Some time ago, Consort Xiu frequently went to Consort Yu's palace to pay her respects."

Consort Jing suddenly realized what was happening.

Her face turned from white to pale, and humiliation and anger flashed in her eyes. Consort Jing said coldly, "Consort Yu, it's Consort Yu again..."