Yikun Palace

Xu Lejin sat upright, looking thoughtful.

After a long while, Xu Lejin murmured softly, "Consort Sanghua is three months pregnant. I wonder what the Emperor is thinking? Consort Sanghua's imperial heir..."

"Your Majesty need not worry too much. His Majesty will decide on the matter of Consort Sanghua's unborn child."

Nongying lowered her head and gently advised.

After a pause, Nongying spoke again in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the most urgent matters are the selection of a consort for our Fourth Prince and the marriage of Princess Zhuangshu."

"Um,"

Nodding, Xu Lejin said softly, "That's right. Wuyoudai is getting married, and the wedding date is set for October, which is only half a year away. In addition, there's the matter of the imperial concubine selection..."

One month later

With a sullen face, Yin Chu arrived at Yikun Palace.

"Mother, I don't want to choose a wife this year. I'm still young and want to wait another three years."

Yin Chu lowered his head and spoke in a deep voice.

Xu Lejin paused for a moment, her expression turning serious. "Yinchu, your mother has always respected your wishes and hasn't arranged any maids or servants for you. But this year, during the imperial concubine selection..."

"Do you know that there have never been any princesses or concubines in your room? There has been much speculation about this in the previous dynasty, and the censors in the court have already begun to impeach you."

With his brows furrowed, Yin Chu remained silent.

After a long while, Yin Chu looked up at Xu Lejin and said with a serious expression, "Your son understands."

After a pause, Yin Chu gritted his teeth.

"Mother, your son wants to participate in the imperial concubine selection this year, for Lord Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter..."

A cunning glint flashed in his eyes as Yin Chu said, "I wish to have Lord Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter's name noted down for future use, three years from now..."

Changing the subject, Yin Chu then spoke.

"At my son's age, it is indeed time for him to have a concubine. I would like to ask Mother and Father to take the time to select one or two quiet and honest women for him."

"As for a secondary consort, my son wants to wait three years before choosing one."

Xu Lejin nodded slightly, thinking to herself, "Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter?"

A few days ago, the Emperor secretly mentioned Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter to her, saying that Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter was both beautiful and talented, and came from the Ulanara clan, making her a suitable primary consort.

Could it be that his own son has taken a liking to Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter?

How old is Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter?

A few days later, Ru Hua respectfully reported that Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter was fifteen years old, a beautiful and budding age. Xu Lejin frowned and pondered for a moment.

A slight smile played on her lips as she spoke softly, "That kid Yin Chu, he actually knows how to care for his future wife..."

Yes,

Xu Lejin assumed that Yin Chu felt sorry for Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter, who was only fifteen years old and still young, so he asked her to write down Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter's name for future use and then select her in three years.

A few days later

After Emperor Kangxi arrived at Yikun Palace and had dinner with Xu Lejin, he spoke in a deep voice, "So, the fourth prince really has his eye on Fei Yanggu's eldest daughter?"

"Feiyanggu's eldest daughter is renowned in the capital for her beauty and talent."

Under the candlelight, Xu Lejin's expression was gentle.

Kangxi paused, pondered for a moment, and then said, "A few days ago, Consort Hui sent some soup to the Qianqing Palace. I kept her behind for a talk, and she mentioned in her words the matter of choosing a consort for Yinzhi."

"Among the candidates for the imperial concubine selection this year, there are not many outstanding ones. Among them, there are many who have complicated connections with the Hesheli family, the Niohuru family, and my maternal family, the Tongjia clan."

With a furrowed brow, Kangxi hesitated.

"Since the fourth prince has asked his beloved concubine not to choose a primary wife or secondary wife this year, then as his younger brother, Yinzhi should naturally not overstep his elder brother's authority. As for Yinzhi, let's choose two princesses for him, just like the fourth prince!"

"yes,"

Xu Lejin gave a soft reply and curled her lips into a smile.

He secretly pondered that as Kangxi grew older, his thoughts became increasingly unfathomable. He was wary and fearful of the Hesheli family, the Niohuru family, and the Tong family. Therefore, when Consort Sanghua became pregnant, he only gave her a thousand taels of silver and did not offer any other rewards.

mid-June

Consort Chen gave birth to a prince safely in the west side hall of Changchun Palace. The prince was the nineteenth prince.

The birth of the nineteenth prince was similar to that of the eighteenth prince. His mother, Lady Chen, received no other rewards besides the allowances and clothing and jewelry given to her as a consort.

After the nineteenth prince's one-month celebration, he was also moved to the princes' quarters and cared for by wet nurses and palace servants.

During Consort Chen's postpartum period,

That afternoon, Consort Yi arrived at Yikun Palace with a solemn expression and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin: "Your Majesty, Consort Tangrou of the West Pavilion of Changchun Palace was diagnosed yesterday as being one and a half months pregnant."

Nodding, Xu Lejin calmly put down the ledger in her hand.

"Consort Tangrou is pregnant, this is joyous news. In Changchun Palace, both Consort Sanghua and Consort Tangrou are now pregnant. Noble Lady Yi, you must take good care of them."

Yi Guiren paused for a moment, then quickly glanced at Xu Lejin.

With her head slightly lowered, Consort Yi responded softly, "Yes," but in her heart she thought to herself that things in the palace had become increasingly strange these past few years.

Both Lady Wang and Lady Chen, members of the Hesheli clan, became pregnant, and even gave birth to princes, yet they were not granted any titles or honors.

The Wang and Chen families were one thing, as they came from humble backgrounds within the Han Banner Army.

However, the two Hesheli clansmen were the cousins ​​of Empress Xiaocheng and Consort Ping.

Although from a collateral branch, she was still a daughter of the Hesheli family. Entering the palace as a concubine would have been one thing, but now…

Consort Yi couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

In the inner palace, the only one who could understand this was Consort Hui. The other concubines were equally baffled, and the Hesheli family of the previous dynasty was even more perplexed.

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!