One hour later.
Xu Lejin returned to the west side hall of Yikun Palace and sat down with lingering fear. Ru Hua, being very perceptive, served her a cup of hot tea.
With a furrowed brow and a bitter expression, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "After the Empress's passing, Consort Xiao Nara was the first concubine in the palace to be officially recognized by the Emperor."
"Compared to the former Empress, Consort Zhao is more stringent."
Xu Lejin originally wanted to say that Consort Zhao was even more jealous, narrow-minded, and vicious, but the words that were on the tip of her tongue were changed to "harsh".
Lianzhi shook her head in disapproval. "Your Highness, you can't say such things carelessly. Consort Zhao is currently the highest-ranking person in the palace. Although during her recovery, palace power has been temporarily distributed to Consort Nara, Consort Li, and others, but..."
"Today, Consort Zhao reprimanded Consort Xiao Nara, hoping that the harem would be peaceful and harmonious, and that all the concubines and maids would behave themselves and serve His Majesty wholeheartedly."
Xu Lejin remained silent, secretly sighing to herself that from today onwards, everyone in the palace would probably avoid Consort Zhao like the plague.
Consort Zhao's methods of managing her subordinates are even better than those of the late Empress Hesheli. She is indeed worthy of being the adopted daughter of the regent minister Aobai and the daughter of Ebilun's concubine.
Back then, as a concubine, she stood out among the young girls in the Niohuru family and entered the palace to accompany the king.
Consort Zhao used ruthless methods to reprimand Consort Xiao Nara. After returning to Yanxi Palace, Consort Xiao Nara was struck by a strange wind and remained bedridden for more than half a month before her condition improved slightly.
When Emperor Kangxi saw Consort Xiao Nara again in the Imperial Garden, she was no longer the fair-skinned, beautiful, and lively woman she once was.
Although her appearance was still the most beautiful among the concubines, she had lost her charm and was more like a wooden beauty.
The third day of the twelfth lunar month
After paying her respects to Consort Zhao at Chuxiu Palace early in the morning, Xu Lejin returned to Yikun Palace and eagerly looked out of the west side hall, waiting for Yingchun to enter the palace for the first time after her marriage as the daughter-in-law of the Xu family of the Imperial Household Department and her cousin-in-law.
Half an hour later, the welcoming of spring still hadn't arrived.
Xu Lejin's expression was solemn, and she was somewhat anxious. She opened her mouth to instruct the little palace maid Juxiang to go to the palace and inquire why Yingchun had not yet entered the palace to thank her former mistress at this hour.
At this moment, Ru Xian appeared flustered and bowed as he entered the hall. "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Aunt Yingchun came to the palace today to pay her respects to Your Highness, and while passing through the Imperial Garden, she accidentally bumped into Consort Ma Jia."
"Although Consort Ma Jia and her unborn child are safe and sound, Aunt Yingchun..."
He hesitated as he entered the scene.
Taking a deep breath, Ru Hua braced herself and said, "Your Highness, Consort Ma Jia is furious and has punished Aunt Ying Chun by making her kneel in the Imperial Garden for two hours."
"Consort Ma, shall Yingchun be punished by kneeling in the Imperial Garden for two hours?"
Xu Lejin exclaimed in surprise.
Having been in the palace for many years and previously served Emperor Kangxi, Yingchun was a composed and steady person, and would never rashly offend Consort Ma Jia like a young palace maid.
Was Consort Ma Jia's actions today aimed at her?
No wonder, in the past few days, every time she paid her respects to Consort Zhao, Consort Ma Jia would always make sarcastic remarks to her.
After pondering for a long time, Xu Lejin's face turned cold, and she coldly instructed Lianzhi, "At this time, the Emperor should be dealing with state affairs. Lianzhi, go to the Qianqing Palace immediately and inform Eunuch Liang, who serves in the Emperor's presence, of this matter."
"Eunuch Liang is a favorite of the Emperor; he knows what to do."
Lianzhi responded and quickly left the west side hall.
Xu Lejin glanced at Juxiang, who was looking down in the distance with a anxious and flustered expression, and a faint, ambiguous smile appeared on her lips.
Immediately afterward, Xu Lejin spoke softly. "Ruhua, please stay. Juxiang, accompany me for a walk in the Imperial Garden. Today is Yingchun's first time entering the palace since her marriage, and such a big thing has happened."
"I should go to the Imperial Garden to see what's going on."
Ru Hua respectfully replied, "Yes."
Suppressing her anxiety, Juxiang stepped forward to help Xu Lejin out of Yikun Palace. As they walked down the long street, Juxiang seemed dazed and lost in thought several times.
After a cup of tea, Xu Lejin hurriedly arrived at the Imperial Garden.
Looking towards the Imperial Garden, where plum blossoms were about to bloom, a biting cold wind blew by. Xu Lejin frowned slightly. "Juxiang? Go and find out where Consort Ma Jia made Yingchun kneel."
"Yes, my lord."
Juxiang, whose heart was with Liu Bei even though she was in Cao Cao's camp, did not hesitate to curtsy and hastily retreat after receiving Xu Lejin's instructions.
Xu Lejin stood alone in the cold wind, dressed in a moon-white palace gown, blending into the chilling atmosphere, giving off a sense of solitude, desolation, and loneliness.
They walked step by step toward the Imperial Garden, a place frequented by concubines and palace maids.
Along the way, she encountered many palace maids and eunuchs working in the Imperial Garden. The maids and eunuchs bowed to Xu Lejin, their gazes towards her filled with pity and helplessness.
"Kneel properly, Aunt Yingchun, oh, now I should call you the Second Young Mistress of the Xu Family. Don't think that just because you received the Emperor's decree to marry into a bondservant family and became their principal wife, you're superior to everyone else."
"You're just a Han Chinese woman from the Imperial Household Department, someone who came out of who-knows-where. You're of lowly birth, and you can't cause any trouble no matter how hard you try."
A crisp, sharp sound came from not far away.
Xu Lejin looked in the direction of the sound, her eyes filled with a cold smile. What a bullying little palace maid! She even dared to bully the senior palace maid who was about to get married.
Yingchun was not only his head maid, but also one of Emperor Kangxi's women.
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