Two weeks later

Liu Ying strode into the hall, her face solemn. She bowed and reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Consort He, along with Consort Bu, Consort Chen, and Consort Yu, request an audience."

"From Consort He's palace?"

Xu Lejin's expression faltered slightly, and she frowned, saying, "There has always been peace in Consort He's palace. Why is Consort He suddenly bringing Consort Bu, Consort Chen, and Consort Yu to request an audience with me today?"

Liu Ying lowered her head slightly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke softly.

"Your Majesty, I noticed that Consort Chen and Consort Yu looked rather disheveled, and Consort Bu seemed to have scratches on her face. It seems that Consort Bu had a dispute with Consort Chen and Consort Yu."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin nodded and instructed Liu Ying to invite Consort He, Noble Lady Bu, and the others into the palace.

A moment later, Consort He, Consort Bu, and others entered the hall and respectfully bowed to Xu Lejin to greet her.

Xu Lejin offered seats to the group, then sat in the main seat, sizing up Consort Bu, Consort Chen, and Consort Yu.

Consort Bu had several fresh scratches on her face, while Consorts Chen and Yu had disheveled clothes and hair, looking quite disheveled.

Clearing her throat, Xu Lejin spoke in a deep voice, "Consort He, what happened? Why do Consort Bu, Consort Chen, and Consort Yu look so disheveled?"

"Your Highness, the matter is as follows..."

After He Fei's concise explanation, Xu Lejin roughly understood what had happened.

The reason for this was the aftermath of Emperor Kangxi's arranged marriage between his sixth princess and the Kharachin tribe.

Consort Bu, relying on being the birth mother of the Sixth Princess and having the title among the three, bullied Consorts Chen and Yu because the Sixth Princess was to be married off to the Mongols after her coming-of-age ceremony.

The previous mockery was one thing, but today, when the Imperial Household Department delivered charcoal to the concubines of Changchun Palace, Consort Bu, relying on her status, tried to forcibly seize the red charcoal that belonged to Consorts Chen and Yu.

Consort Chen and Consort Yu, who had never received much favor in the palace, were naturally unwilling to have their winter charcoal taken away. In the ensuing argument, they got into a fight with Consort Bu.

The matter escalated to the point where Consort He, the head of Changchun Palace, had her own version of events. Consort He was young and couldn't make up her mind, so she had to go to Xu Lejin's palace to seek her opinion.

With a furrowed brow, Xu Lejin's gaze fell on Consort Bu, Consort Chen, and Consort Yu. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "In Changchun Palace, there are Consort Bu, Consort Chen, and Consort Yu. The three of them are indeed a bit crowded."

"Consort Bu is an old servant who has served the Emperor and bore him the sixth princess. Now, the sixth princess is betrothed to the Kharachin tribe."

After a pause, Xu Lejin continued speaking.

“The rear hall of Yongshou Palace is still empty. Since Consort Yi passed away, Yongshou Palace has been empty and deserted without any concubines living there. Noble Lady Bu will move to the rear hall of Yongshou Palace today.”

Upon hearing this, Consort Bu's face lit up with joy.

The rear hall of Yongshou Palace signifies that she was the Emperor's chosen consort, a position reserved for her by the Emperor.

If we just wait a few more years, at the latest the Sixth Princess will be married off to Mongolia, and she will become the head of Yongshou Palace.

Happily kneeling down, Consort Bu forgot her previous sordid dealings with Consort Chen and Consort Yu, and respectfully said, "This humble servant thanks Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort. May Your Highness live a thousand years!"

"No need for formalities, Lady Bu, please rise!"

After a cup of tea, Consort He, along with Consort Chen and Consort Yu, who were unaware of what was going on, and Consort Bu, who could not hide her joy, bowed and took their leave of Yikun Palace.

Xu Lejin watched their retreating figures, a meaningful sneer curling her lips.

Ru Hua lowered her head, carefully choosing her words, "Your Majesty, this servant doesn't understand. Consort Bu is foolish; she did something wrong back then and angered the Emperor, so she hasn't received his favor all these years."

"Your Majesty, why did you have Consort Bu move to the rear hall of Yongshou Palace today?"

With a faint smile, Xu Lejin said casually, "Consort Bu has endured many years in the palace. Now that the Sixth Princess is betrothed to the Kharachin tribe of Mongolia, she must be given some hope. However…"

With a cold expression, Xu Lejin curled her lips and whispered.

"Consort Bu has incurred the Emperor's displeasure and has caused trouble frequently in the past two weeks. Even if she moves into the rear palace of Yongshou Palace, I'm afraid she won't have the fortune to enjoy the honor of a concubine."

...

Consort Bu moved to the rear hall of Yongshou Palace, and the concubines in the harem had their own speculations.

That day

Consort Wan and Consort Liang came to Yikun Palace together.

Xu Lejin looked at Consort Wan and Consort Liang in surprise, thinking to herself, "When did Consort Wan and Consort Liang become so close?"

She remembered that last year, Consort Wan and Consort Liang had a big fight over the Fifth Prince.

Finally, Consort Wan and Consort Liang were confined to Yonghe Palace for a year.

In the year that followed, Consort Wan and Consort Liang reconciled. Did their relationship improve?

Consort Wan smiled radiantly and said, "Your Highness, I heard that you graciously permitted Consort Bu to move to the rear hall of Yongshou Palace? Consort Bu is merely a consort, although she has a title..."

"Your Highness, Consort Liang and I have always had a close relationship, but it is still a bit too small for Consort Liang and me to live in Yonghe Palace."

After a pause, Consort Wan continued, "Consort Liang was also personally appointed by the Emperor, and she has always lived in the same palace as me. I always feel that Consort Liang has been wronged."

Xu Lejin raised her eyes and glanced at Consort Wan and Consort Liang.

"What Consort Wan means is..."

With delicate fingers, Consort Wan spoke in a sweet voice, "Your Highness, I know that among the Six Western Palaces, Yongshou Palace, Qixiang Palace, Chuxiu Palace, and Xianfu Palace, there is no principal seat."

"Liangpin is a concubine, and is qualified to be the head of a palace and reside in the main hall."

Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Liang indifferently, noticing the expectant look on her face. She slightly curved her lips and pondered, "This matter is beyond my control; I must consult the Emperor."

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