The next day

Xu Lejin went to Cining Palace to listen to the Empress Dowager's admonition.

The Empress Dowager knelt in the Buddhist hall, chanting incantations. Xu Lejin knelt on a prayer mat, her head bowed, her expression calm, showing no sign of dissatisfaction.

One hour

Two hours later

The Empress Dowager paused her chanting, cleared her throat, and said, "The Imperial Noble Consort underwent her investiture ceremony yesterday and is now officially a Noble Consort. Currently, the positions of Empress and Imperial Noble Consort are vacant, and the Imperial Noble Consort holds the highest rank among the consorts."

"The Imperial Concubine is blessed with both a son and a daughter, two sons and five daughters, which is a rare fortune."

Xu Lejin thought for a moment quickly and then spoke respectfully.

"Your Majesty, it is thanks to the protection of Your Majesty and Your Majesty that I was able to safely give birth to several princes and princesses in the palace."

"Thanks to the blessings of our ancestors and the favor of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, I dare not take credit for this."

The Empress Dowager nodded and opened her tightly closed eyes.

Sumalagu stepped forward and helped the Empress Dowager to her feet.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Xu Lejin, her aged face showing a deep voice. "The weather is nice today. Does the Noble Consort have some free time to accompany me for a stroll in the Cining Palace?"

Xu Lejin paused for a moment.

"I am delighted by the Empress Dowager's kindness."

After speaking, Xu Lejin stepped forward, slightly bent over, and helped the Empress Dowager out of the small Buddhist hall of Cining Palace. They then took a leisurely stroll in the garden of Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager's cloudy eyes gazed at the various flowers blooming in the garden.

With a light laugh, the Empress Dowager said, "A single flower does not make spring; a hundred flowers blooming together make spring. The concubines in the palace are just like the flowers and plants in this garden; they must compete to bloom to be truly beautiful."

"What does the Imperial Concubine think?"

After a quick thought, Xu Lejin replied softly, "The Empress Dowager's admonition is correct. I also believe that spring is all about vibrant colors. Now that it's springtime, the palace is full of blooming flowers, and the Imperial Garden is especially beautiful."

"Um."

The Empress Dowager nodded and patted Xu Lejin's hand with a kind expression.

"The Imperial Concubine is intelligent and quick to understand things; no wonder the Emperor likes her. If I were born a man, I would also like a gentle, intelligent, and fertile woman like the Imperial Concubine."

With a shy smile, Xu Lejin's heart pounded, but her expression remained gentle as she spoke. "Your Majesty, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

The Empress Dowager looked at Xu Lejin with a solemn expression.

"Your Highness deserves my praise. For any woman in the world to give birth to twins, a child of dragon and phoenix, is already a blessing from heaven. Your Highness has given birth to twins twice, a fortune that many women could only dream of."

Xu Lejin lowered her head slightly, secretly wondering what the Empress Dowager was up to.

Immediately afterwards, the Empress Dowager changed the subject.

"The Imperial Concubine is now the most powerful woman in the harem; she should cherish her good fortune."

Xu Lejin frowned, her expression becoming even more humble and submissive. She lowered her head slightly and spoke softly, "This concubine is foolish and asks the Empress Dowager for guidance?"

The Empress Dowager smiled.

"If the Imperial Concubine is foolish, then there will be no wise people in the harem."

Xu Lejin remained silent.

The Empress Dowager paused, then spoke in a cold voice. "Enough, enough, I won't play games with you anymore. I had two palace maids carefully selected; they are both excellent in appearance and temperament."

"When the Imperial Concubine returns to the palace, take her back to your palace and settle her in properly."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin's heart skipped a beat. She looked at the two gentle, charming, and beautiful palace maids behind the Empress Dowager and suddenly realized what was going on.

I see……

Xu Lejin respectfully agreed, pondering in her heart how to settle the two of them after returning to Yikun Palace.

Nominally, she was a palace maid bestowed upon her by the Empress Dowager, but in reality, the Empress Dowager used her as a tool, similar to how Daijia and Wei were promoted to serve Emperor Kangxi.

After a moment of contemplation, the Empress Dowager said, "Lady Wei of Yonghe Palace gave birth to the Emperor's eighth son. She has rendered meritorious service in raising him and should be promoted in rank."

"The eighth prince has reached his one-month milestone. It is time to decide whether to entrust him to a high-ranking concubine for upbringing or to send him to the Prince's Residence for care by wet nurses and palace servants."

Afternoon

Xu Lejin emerged from Cining Palace, followed by two young and beautiful palace maids, like flower buds about to bloom.

Upon entering the gates of Yikun Palace, Ziwu bowed and stepped forward, softly reporting, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived and has been sitting in our main hall for almost half an hour."

"Yes, I understand."

Xu Lejin responded, glanced at Qin Huai, Ru Hua, and the two palace maids bestowed by the Empress Dowager beside her, sighed, and said, "Qin Huai, Ru Hua, you two go and see the Fourth Prince and the Twentieth Princess."

"Lan Cui and Xiao Lian, stay and serve me."

Qin Huai and Ru Hua exchanged a glance and respectfully replied, "Yes."

Xu Lejin entered the main hall of Yikun Palace and bowed respectfully to Emperor Kangxi. Emperor Kangxi smiled and helped Xu Lejin up. He spoke a few words to Xu Lejin in a gentle voice, and his gaze suddenly fell on Lancui and Xiaolian behind Xu Lejin.

Clearing his throat, Kangxi said in a deep voice, "These two palace maids beside my beloved concubine look unfamiliar. Were they recently trained and sent by the Imperial Household Department?"

Xu Lejin gave a bitter smile.

"Your Majesty, Lan Cui and Xiao Lian were bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager today in her palace."

"I found Lancui and Xiaolian to be young and beautiful, like flower buds, and I took them with me."

Emperor Kangxi frowned and looked at Lancui and Xiaolian.

After a long silence, Kangxi spoke in a cold voice, "What my grandmother bestowed upon me is naturally of the finest quality, and I find it exceptionally pleasing to the eye. Would my beloved consort be so generous as to bestow these two upon me?"

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