Consort Hui and Noble Lady Suochuoluo were secretly preparing to act first and report later.

Before we knew it, it was mid-June.

Among the imperial family members, some whose children were too old to wait for the imperial concubine selection in three years, or who, like Consort Hui, were eager to have grandchildren, submitted memorials to the palace requesting Emperor Kangxi to arrange marriages for them.

Xu Lejin held the list of eligible men and women presented by the Imperial Clan Court, sighed softly, and said, "Our Great Qing has only been in the Central Plains for forty or fifty years, yet the Imperial Clan has developed so prosperously. This year, more than a hundred people aged sixteen to twenty-two have submitted memorials requesting the Emperor to arrange marriages for them."

As she spoke, Xu Lejin handed the roster in her hand to Consort Que.

Consort Que took it, casually flipped through it, and said with a smile, "His Majesty has not held a selection of consorts for ten years in order to quell the rebellion of the Three Feudatories. Apart from the Emperor and Empress Dowager's great favor in bestowing this marriage upon her..."

"It is understandable that more members of the imperial clan have requested the Emperor to arrange marriages this year."

Xu Lejin nodded slightly.

Half an hour later, Xu Lejin and Consort Que, after friendly consultation, decided to hold a banquet in the palace ten days later, inviting the wives of court officials and their children of marriageable age to the palace.

Under the guise of a banquet, daughters of prominent families were selected and arranged to marry into the imperial clan.

June 19

When Xu Lejin woke up early in the morning, Nongying respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, news has come from Consort He's palace that Noble Lady Rui went into labor at dawn last night and is currently giving birth."

"Yes, I understand."

Xu Lejin responded softly, pondered for a moment, and then said to Nongying in a deep voice, "After Consort Rui gives birth safely, send a congratulatory gift to Changchun Palace."

Nongying respectfully agreed.

Chen Shi

Consort Que, accompanied by her maids, entered Yikun Palace and sat opposite Xu Lejin.

"Sister Consort Yu, I have heard that Consort Rui is carrying a prince. Her pulse is strong and powerful, and it is very likely to be a boy. Aren't you worried, sister?"

Covering her mouth, Consort Que spoke softly.

Xu Lejin smiled faintly, picked up a pastry from the plate, took a bite, and said indifferently, "Sister is joking. Even if Consort Rui's child is a prince, it poses no threat to me."

"In the palace, there is the eldest prince, Consort Hui's second prince, and although my third prince has gone to heaven to cultivate with an immortal, I also have a fourth prince, in addition..."

After a pause, Xu Lejin looked up meaningfully at the direction of the Eastern Six Palaces.

"Consort Liang was recommended by the Empress Dowager to serve the Emperor and gave birth to the Fifth Prince. Consort Rui is carrying the Emperor's child, and even if it is a prince, it will be the Sixth Prince, who has five older brothers."

Consort Que nodded slightly, covering her mouth.

"Yes, Consort Yu is absolutely right. Isn't that so? When it comes to offspring in the palace, Consort Yu, you are the best. I envy you so much for your good fortune."

Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Que.

"Consort Que is still young; she will have her own children, even if..."

Swallowing the words that were about to come out, Xu Lejin changed the subject and said softly, "Even if Consort Que cannot have children, there are many concubines in the palace, and the Emperor's offspring will increase. Consort Que can also raise the children of lower-ranking concubines."

Upon hearing this, Consort Que appeared thoughtful.

After a short while, Consort Que covered her mouth and said in a low voice, "That is true, but they are not one's own children. They are not one's own children after all. How can they be the same as one's own children?"

With a forlorn tone, Consort Que lowered her head.

The more Consort Que thought about it, the more she hated her maternal clan, the Tongjia clan, with a burning rage.

Xu Lejin smiled slightly, looked at Consort Que, and said softly, "The kindness of giving birth is not as great as the kindness of raising. Life in the palace is dull and tedious. Consort Que should also think about her future."

"Sister knows that Consort Que harbors deep resentment towards our maternal family and doesn't want them to benefit from anything, but..."

She pursed her lips and whispered in a voice only she and Consort Que could hear.

"If Consort Que is truly unwilling to raise the princes born to lower-ranking concubines, she could raise one or two princesses to bring joy to her. Princesses are also of royal blood, and are of the highest rank and precious..."

Afternoon

Consort Que departed with a smile.

Xu Lejin gazed at Consort Que's lonely, forlorn, and weathered figure, and sighed deeply. Consort Que had suffered misfortune in her youth, being neglected and disliked by her father, Tong Guowei.

After entering the palace, in order to protect her birth mother, she served the emperor early, which damaged her health.

Although she now holds the title of Imperial Concubine, she is physically and mentally exhausted. She hopes that one day she will come to her senses, raise one or two princesses, and help them get through the lonely days in the palace.

Chengqian Palace

After Consort Que returned, she leaned against the soft couch with a dazed expression.

“Sister Consort Yu is the only one in this palace who knows about my unfortunate past, yet still doesn’t despise me, treats me like a younger sister, and always thinks of me.”

"Sister Consort Yu,"

Muttering to herself, Consort Que suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming down her face.

Sang'er wiped away her tears and gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, everything will be alright, everything will be alright. Your Majesty is now a Noble Consort, and you will have your own children in the future. You will be happy and joyful."

"This servant will always stay with you."

Consort Que looked sad and smiled gently as she gazed at Sang'er.

"Are you really willing to stay with me forever, to stay by my side forever, and to grow old with me? Don't you really want to think about the First Prince anymore?"

Sang'er was stunned for a moment, then quickly knelt down.

Both ashamed and indignant, Sang'er glanced quickly at Consort Que, then lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty, I don't want to think about it anymore. I don't want to think about it anymore. From now on, I am willing to serve you forever."

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