Chuxiu Palace
Consort Zhao's arm had recovered considerably, but she still couldn't exert much strength. At this moment, she was leaning against a soft couch, being attended to by palace maids, and looking at the official documents sent by the Imperial Household Department.
"Last month, was it Guo Luoluo who had the most concubines again?"
With a slightly somber expression, Consort Zhao's gaze was intense as she focused on the words "Guo Luoluo Concubine" in the official history.
Lianxing frowned and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry too much. The Emperor's favor towards Consort Guoluo is only because Consort Guoluo has taken over a quarter of the palace power in place of Your Majesty."
"Although Consort Guoluo enjoys favor, she has no children and there has been no news of her pregnancy. Your Majesty, you should be most worried about Consort Nara, as well as Consort Majia who is currently pregnant, and Consort Xu of Yikun Palace."
“Consort Nara holds a quarter of the palace power and is the birth mother of the fifth prince. Although Consorts Ma Jia and Xu do not have palace power, they have the most children among the concubines in the palace.”
Consort Zhao nodded slightly.
"Indeed. Although Lady Guoluo is favored, she has no children and cannot conceive, as do Lady Nara and Lady Xumur."
After a brief pause, Consort Zhao's face twisted in a grimace as she coldly declared, "Ma Jia's unborn child is almost three months along now. How have the people below managed to keep Ma Jia safe and sound? And the princes in the palace, including Saiyinchahun, the third princess, and the fifth princess, are all safe and sound."
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is paying close attention to the Prince's quarters, and our people are finding no opportunity to strike. As for Consort Ma Jia in Zhongcui Palace, she has been exceptionally cautious ever since Your Majesty's argument with her."
After speaking, Lianxing lowered her head, her face filled with fear and unease.
At this moment, Caiyue entered the hall with a flustered expression.
Consort Zhao glanced at Caiyue out of the corner of her eye, her face frosty. "Caiyue, you are my dowry maid. You have been by my side for many years and you know my rules."
Caiyue nodded slightly and spoke respectfully.
"This servant knows that Your Majesty dislikes servants who act rashly and break the rules, but..."
With drooping eyes, Caiyue's face was shrouded in sorrow.
"However, His Majesty punished Consort Ma Jia today, ordering her to stay in Zhongcui Palace until she gives birth."
Consort Zhao chuckled lightly and said casually, "Ma Jia has become spoiled and arrogant because of the favor she enjoys. She should have been punished long ago. She caused me to be injured and lose my power in the palace. The fact that she has only been punished with confinement is already too lenient for her."
"By the way, why did His Majesty suddenly decide to confine Lady Ma Jia to her quarters today?"
Caiyue slightly raised her eyes, glanced at Consort Zhao, and then lowered her head.
"Your Majesty, it is related to Consort Yu of Yikun Palace."
Consort Zhao paused, a cold smile playing on her lips. "When did a new Consort Yu appear in the palace? Wasn't Yikun Palace only occupied by Consort Xu Muer?"
"Your Majesty, His Majesty today bestowed upon Consort Xu the title of Consort Yu, and the imperial edict has already been proclaimed to the six palaces."
Consort Zhao raised her eyes, forcing a smile on her face.
"She gave birth to the sixth prince, the eighth princess, and the ninth princess. It is an auspicious sign that the emperor should have been promoted to a higher rank long ago. I naively thought that the emperor disliked her humble origins, but it turns out that is the case."
"First, elevate her family's status and bestow upon her a surname, then naturally promote her to a higher rank."
With a sneer, Consort Zhao spoke coldly.
"Xu Muer's promotion to the rank of Consort is as expected. Caiyue, prepare a congratulatory gift for me and send it to Yikun Palace to congratulate Consort Yu on her joyous occasion today."
Caiyue respectfully replied, "Yes."
Changing the subject, Consort Zhao continued, "As for Xu Muer's promotion to the rank of Consort, find a palace maid to leak the news to that person in Chengqian Palace. I don't believe that she, a sickly woman confined to her bed, can continue to linger on her deathbed after learning that Xu Muer has been promoted to the rank of Consort."
"With the addition of Consort Yu in the palace, there will naturally be one less Consort Tongjia."
After saying that, Consort Zhao revealed a cruel coldness on her face.
Caiyue's legs trembled, and she shakily agreed.
Yikun Palace
After seeing Kangxi off, Xu Lejin sat gracefully in the spacious and magnificent main hall, her smile gentle.
"We, your servants, congratulate Consort Yu on her promotion."
Dressed as a woman from outside the palace, Yingchun, overjoyed, knelt down with Lianzhi and the others, bowing and offering their congratulations to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin looked at everyone and said with a smile, "Please get up! No need for formalities."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Attended by Lianzhi and Yingchun, Xu Lejin walked with elegant steps, taking in the spacious and magnificent main hall of Yikun Palace as she went, a faint smile on her face.
"Today, I have been granted the title of Consort Yu by His Majesty, which is a great joy for Yikun Palace. Ruhua, convey my words: all of Yikun Palace will be blessed with the Emperor's favor and will be rewarded with a month's worth of silver."
Ru Hua smiled and agreed.
After a short while, Xu Lejin dismissed Lianzhi and Juxiang, leaving Yingchun and Ruhua alone.
Yingchun is now married into the Xu family and has become a member of the Xu family. Although she used to be Kangxi's spy and did things for him, the past is like dust in the wind. Now Yingchun is her cousin-in-law, and they are in the same boat.
As for Ruhua, she has no master behind her; Xu Lejin had already taken her under his wing.
As she pulled Yingchun along, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "I'm sorry for what happened today, Yingchun. It was freezing cold, yet you had to kneel on the cold stone slabs of the Imperial Garden for almost half an hour."
Yingchun nodded slightly.
"It is my honor to serve Your Highness, and I am happy to do so."
After a pause, Yingchun raised her eyes slightly and looked at Xu Lejin. She then said respectfully, "Your Majesty, there is something I don't understand. It seems that Your Majesty had anticipated that the Emperor would go to the Imperial Garden, so you deliberately provoked Consort Ma's maid and led her to say those words."
Xu Lejin nodded.
"Although His Majesty is busy with the affairs of the court, he often goes for a stroll in the Imperial Garden. Today, when you entered the palace, you were punished by Consort Ma Jia. After I learned of this, I sent Lianzhi to report to Liang Jiugong before the Emperor."
“Yingchun, you once served the Emperor, and Lianzhi was also arranged by the Emperor to serve me.”
With a slight smile, Xu Lejin gazed outside the main hall and parted her lips slightly, "Consort Ma Jia, relying on her children and the imperial heir in her womb, has become arrogant and domineering, which has already aroused the dissatisfaction of the other concubines in the palace."
"The palace maid Huanxi's words today, on the surface, seem to be a case of 'like master, like servant,' and she is learning from Ma Jia's arrogance and domineering behavior. But upon closer inspection, it's not quite like that."
"The master behind that palace maid is probably someone else. The purpose of what she did today is to make the emperor completely despise Consort Ma Jia, and then despise Consort Ma Jia's princes and princesses."
"And the only one in the palace who would have such thoughts is that one person in Yanxi Palace."
Upon hearing this, Yingchun suddenly understood.
It turns out that Consort Yu did not deliberately lead the palace maid to say those arrogant words, but rather went with the flow to seek personal gain.
The concubines in Yanxi Palace, meticulously planning and scheming, believed they had everything under control, unaware that in the end, it was their mistress who reaped the benefits.
Consort Nara is probably furious right now in Yanxi Palace!
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