One month later

The year was the thirty-second year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.

After Consort Qi Jia gave birth to the thirty-first daughter of the Emperor, no other concubines in the palace became pregnant.

Meanwhile, in the backyards of the eldest and second princes, there was still no sign of pregnancy.

On the contrary, the princesses who got married,

Princess Longxi, Irm, who married into the Khorchin tribe, finally became pregnant four years after becoming a wife. She is still very young, only two months pregnant.

Princess Rongxian gave birth to a baby girl safely last June.

Princess Gongjing and her husband Nalan Kuixing are blessed with happiness and love. Last September, she became pregnant again and is now six months along. The imperial physician diagnosed her with a baby girl.

Once Princess Gongjing's baby girl is born, Princess Gongjing will have both a son and a daughter.

Princess Mingke, Princess Duanjing, Princess Jingxian, and Princess Minjing still hadn't conceived. Xu Lejin's daughter, Ushiha, married her husband, Guarjia Eshun. The young couple were very loving, but six months into their marriage, there was still no news of pregnancy.

For the princes and princesses who were already married, their offspring were few, which left Emperor Kangxi helpless. In the end, he could only leave it to fate and let nature take its course.

One day in February, Consort Que carefully reported to Xu Lejin that the Fourth Prince, Yin Chu, was fourteen years old and it was time to arrange for servants and maids to attend to him.

Xu Lejin was taken aback upon hearing this.

A few days later

Xu Lejin looked at Yin Chu and said softly, "Yin Chu, you are fourteen years old now. A few days ago, your Consort Que said that at your age, it is time to arrange for palace maids to teach you about matters of sexual relations."

What is your opinion on this matter?

Yin Chu, who had his head slightly lowered, blushed instantly upon hearing this.

After frowning and pondering for a long time, Yin Chu finally said in a deep voice, "Mother, I am still young and do not want to have palace maids serving me. I beg you to put in a good word for me with Father Emperor regarding the matter of hiring palace maids."

"Yes, Mother understands."

Xu Lejin readily agreed.

From her perspective, fourteen-year-olds are still children, a time when they are still growing. If she were to arrange for a palace maid to handle affairs, and she were to find one who was unruly, she would be in deep trouble.

Now that her son had spoken up, she, as his mother, was naturally happy to grant his request.

Changing the subject, Xu Lejin looked at Yin Chu with a serious expression and asked curiously, "Yin Chu, how old is that girl you said you liked back then? Do you still like her now?"

"If you still like her, tell your mother which family's daughter she is. Your mother will beg your father to grant you a marriage and settle things as soon as possible, just in case."

Upon hearing this, Yin Chu's heart pounded with alarm, and he looked at Xu Lejin with wary eyes.

With a furrowed brow and a moment's hesitation, Yin Chu smiled faintly and said, "Of course my son likes her, but she's still young; she has a few more years to grow up."

"Mother, don't worry, nothing will happen. Your son has already arranged for guards to protect her. Her family background is also quite good, and she will be entering the palace to participate in the imperial concubine selection in the future."

Yin Chu gave Xu Lejin a mysterious smile, and then said, "When she goes to the selection of concubines, I will tell Mother."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin was utterly bewildered.

That little rascal, he's kept it a secret all these years. She hasn't been able to find out which family's daughter he's in love with, not even the Emperor.

The conversation between Xu Lejin and her son Yinchu reached the ears of Emperor Kangxi.

Emperor Kangxi laughed loudly but said nothing more.

early March

Consort Que, with a solemn expression, respectfully reported to Xu Lejin: "Your Majesty, have you heard? Consort Hui has selected two palace maids from the Imperial Household Department, Song and Li, and arranged for them to serve as maids in the Fifth Prince's household affairs."

"The Fifth Prince is only thirteen years old. Even if it's about arranging personnel and palace maids, it should be Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort, or Consort Hui, who should be in charge."

After a pause, Consort Que spoke again in a low voice.

"Consort Hui did not truly raise the Fifth Prince, so what right does she have to arrange servants and maids to attend to him?"

His brows furrowed slightly, and after a moment...

With a calm and composed expression, Xu Lejin said softly, "Consort Hui arranged for the Fifth Prince to have maids, Song and Li. What was the Fifth Prince's reaction? Did he accept them, or did he send them back to Consort Hui's palace?"

Consort Que paused for a moment.

After a moment's hesitation, her expression grave, Consort Que spoke, "Your Highness, the Fifth Prince did not send Lady Song and Lady Li back to Consort Hui's palace, but instead placed them in the back courtyard."

Nodding, Xu Lejin said calmly, "Since the Fifth Prince has accepted it so readily, why should we worry about it?"

"The Fifth Prince's birth mother, Consort Liang, passed away early. Since Consort Hui is willing to raise the Fifth Prince, what harm is there in me granting their wish? After all, Consort Hui is only a consort, while the Fifth Prince's birth mother came from the Xin Zhe Ku (a low-ranking official household)."

A few days later

Emperor Kangxi rested in Xu Lejin's palace, and Xu Lejin carefully mentioned to him the matter of Consort Hui's great concern for the Fifth Prince.

With his brows furrowed deeply, Kangxi remained silent.

After a long silence, Kangxi said in a deep voice, "Yinti is deposed. Although he has survived, he cannot have any children. Consort Hui... Consort Hui has served me for many years, and now she cares about Yinsi..."

“Yin Si’s birth mother died early. Although he had nannies and palace servants to take care of him in the prince’s quarters, he still needed an elder to help him.”

"Since Consort Hui cares about Yinzhi, from now on, let Consort Hui be Yinzhi's foster mother!"

Xu Lejin nodded slightly in agreement.

Xu Lejin couldn't understand why Emperor Kangxi, despite clearly disliking Consort Hui, allowed her to remain among the four consorts, why the Second Prince was deposed, and why Consort Hui was now being entrusted with raising the Fifth Prince.

The mind of an emperor is unfathomable.

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