Consort Guo Luoluo gained a quarter of the palace power, causing a huge uproar in the palace.
Not only Consort Zhao and Consort Tongjia, but also the prominent Manchu and Mongol Eight Banners families outside the palace, as well as the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Cining Palace, couldn't help but pay close attention to Consort Guoluo.
A palace maid who had been promoted to concubine less than half a year ago suddenly gained a quarter of the palace power.
Although it is temporary.
After Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, recovered from her arm injury, she was to relinquish her power in the palace. However, among the other concubines in the palace, who were more senior than her, Consort Guoluo stood out...
This proves that Consort Guoluo held a very important place in Kangxi's heart.
Xu Lejin shared the same thought: that Consort Guo Luoluo was exceptionally favored and valued by Emperor Kangxi, as were the other concubines in the palace.
Chuxiu Palace
Consort Zhao, her face grim, her broken arm hanging diagonally across her chest, said coldly, "Very well, very well, this is truly wonderful. Just now, a woman named Xu Muer from the palace gave birth to auspicious triplets of dragon and phoenix, and now another woman named Guo Luoluo has arrived."
"Guo Luoluo is young and beautiful. If this continues, after she gives birth to princes and princesses, where will I have a place in the palace? I am injured now and cannot serve the emperor. I have even lost my power in the palace."
Caiyue glanced at Consort Zhao cautiously, then timidly lowered her head.
"Your Majesty, the concubines are only temporarily in charge of palace power. Once you recover from your injuries, the power will return to you. Your Majesty need not worry too much."
With a 'snap'.
Consort Zhao slammed her other intact hand on the table, her face contorted with rage. "I only have an injured arm, not a cripple. I can't move it."
"There are so many capable servants in the palace. I only need to give an order. It's all because of that vile woman, Tongjia. She herself is bedridden and barely clinging to life, but she can't stand to see me doing well. She seduced the Emperor and stole the power from me."
Caiyue and Lianxing exchanged a glance, then lowered their eyes and stared at their toes.
After a long while, Consort Zhao's eyes turned sinister, and her eyes blazed with fury. "Ma Jia, you want to break free from my control? That's wishful thinking, a pipe dream."
"I can make you give birth to one child after another, and I can make your children die one by one. You have caused me to lose my power in the palace and become a laughing stock. I will never let you off the hook."
"Caiyue, send a message out of the palace, instructing your uncle to spare no effort in dealing with the Majia clan. Also, instruct our people in the palace to seize the opportunity to target the fourth prince, third princess, and fifth princess of the Majia clan."
Caiyue's legs trembled, and her voice trembled.
"Your Majesty, this..."
With a glare, Consort Zhao spoke coldly, "Caiyue, are you questioning my decision?"
Caiyue knelt down with a thud, repeatedly saying, "I dare not."
Outside the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, a meek and unassuming palace maid, her ordinary face flashing with fear, quickly made up an excuse and left Chuxiu Palace.
About two weeks later
Ru Hua frowned and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, who was humming a tune and embroidering baby clothes, with a contented expression, "Your Highness, this afternoon, Consort Nara brought a young, beautiful, and slender palace maid back to Yanxi Palace."
Xu Lejin continued sewing, nodded slightly, and replied, "I understand."
Ru Hua slightly raised her eyes and gave Lian Zhi a wink.
After pondering for a moment, Lianzhi spoke in a low voice, "Your Highness, since Consort Nara gave birth to the Fifth Prince, the Emperor has rarely favored her. Out of consideration for the Fifth Prince, when the Emperor occasionally visits Yanxi Palace, he has the palace maids from Yanxi Palace attend to him. This time, Consort Nara brought a beautiful palace maid back to the palace; could it be…?"
With a hesitant expression, Lianzhi glanced at Xu Lejin out of the corner of her eye.
"Your Highness, does Consort Nara perhaps wish to recommend a palace maid to serve the Emperor?"
Xu Lejin paused in her movements, then looked up calmly at Lianzhi.
With a charming smile, Xu Lejin said softly, "It is perfectly normal for the concubines in the harem to recommend young and beautiful palace maids to serve the emperor."
"In the palaces of Consort Zhao, Consort Chengqian, Consort Ma Jia, Consort Li, Consort Wanyan, and others, there were palace maids who had served the Emperor, but remained nameless and without official rank."
"It's just that Consort Nara recommended a palace maid; it's no big deal."
Lianzhi opened her mouth to say something, but Xu Lejin shook her head to stop her.
Xu Lejin pondered for a long time, then smiled calmly. "What kind of stunning beauty she is, you will see after you have served the emperor. When she goes from being a palace maid to a concubine, she will officially become one of the emperor's concubines."
"What you say is very true, my lord."
Lianzhi nodded with a slight smile.
Every move in Yanxi Palace was being watched closely by the other palaces. Time flew by and it was mid-November. One night, Kangxi selected the nameplate of Consort Nara of Yanxi Palace.
Early the next morning
Xu Lejin was awakened from her sleep by Lianzhi and Ruhua, and sat in front of the bronze mirror to do her makeup.
The young palace maid Juxiang entered from outside the hall with a flustered expression and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, the one who served the emperor in Qianqing Palace last night was not Consort Nara, but a palace maid from Consort Nara's palace."
After a pause, Juxiang glanced timidly at Xu Lejin.
With a forced smile, Juxiang continued, "This morning, Eunuch Liang, who serves the Emperor, went to Consort Zhao's palace to deliver an imperial decree, informing the six palaces that the palace maid Xiao Nara, who serves Consort Nara, has been granted the title of Consort Nara and is to reside in the East Annex of Yanxi Palace."
Xu Lejin's expression froze.
A moment later, she picked up a Lantian jade hairpin from a jewelry box and held it up to her head, speaking softly, "Little Nara Concubine? She was made a concubine after only one night of serving the emperor. It's clear that this Little Nara Concubine is an exceptionally beautiful woman."
"The women in the palace all belong to the Emperor. He can appoint as many concubines as he likes. Concubine Nara wanted to find a palace maid to secure his favor, but unexpectedly, Concubine Nara had some tricks up her sleeve and is now on equal footing with Concubine Nara."
Lianzhi and Ruhua exchanged a glance.
With a soft laugh, Lianzhi said with a flattering expression, "Your Highness, even among concubines, there are different ranks. Concubine Xiao Nara, though a concubine, has no children and cannot be compared to Your Highness."
"Your Highness is blessed with good fortune, having a prince and a princess. It is rare in the palace to have both a son and a daughter."
Xu Lejin smiled but remained silent.
After a pause, Xu Lejin parted her lips slightly, "His Majesty is still young, with countless concubines in the harem and beautiful young women throughout the land. His Majesty's offspring will continue to increase."
"The concubines in the palace will all have both sons and daughters in the future."
Lianzhi nodded and lowered her head.
After a moment's thought, Ru Hua spoke respectfully, "Your Highness is right. With the Emperor's favor, Your Highness will surely be able to bear another imperial heir in time, and our Yikun Palace will be bustling with activity."
She gave Ruhua a coquettish glare.
"Ruhua's little mouth is getting sweeter and sweeter."
After a short while, Xu Lejin stood up, looked at her delicate and pretty reflection in the bronze mirror, and smiled gently. "Let's go, let's go to Chuxiu Palace and see what kind of stunning beauty this newly appointed concubine is."
"Yes, my lord."
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