The funeral of Consort Tongjia was held with exceptional grandeur.
Although Consort Zhao was dissatisfied with the fact that Consort Tongjia was buried with the rites due to a Noble Consort, she did not want to anger Emperor Kangxi at such a crucial moment, as the year was drawing to a close and her arm was about to fully recover.
Although the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager felt that Kangxi's decision violated ancestral rules, they considered that Consort Tongjia had already passed away. With death comes the extinction of all grudges and grievances from their lifetime.
With the tacit approval of the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and Consort Zhao, Consort Tongjia's funeral proceeded smoothly.
More than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and New Year's Eve has arrived as scheduled.
Looking back at the thirteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, Empress Hesheli passed away after childbirth, and Consort Tongjia died of illness. Although Xu Lejin gave birth to triplets, auspiciously, the family banquet on New Year's Eve was simple and plain.
Emperor Kangxi, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager sat in the upper seats. Among the concubines below, Consort Zhao and Consort Xu Lejin were the most honored, and the other concubines sat behind Consort Zhao and Consort Xu Lejin.
On the imperial family side, Prince Yu, Prince Gong, and their wives and concubines were the leaders.
After three rounds of drinks and three dances,
Prince Yu raised his wine cup to toast Emperor Kangxi, and said loudly, "I have heard that Your Majesty has newly conferred the title of Consort Yu, who has given birth to one son and two daughters for Your Majesty."
"I had a few too many drinks today to congratulate Your Majesty on the acquisition of your beautiful bride."
Emperor Kangxi sat on the dragon throne, raised his wine cup in response to Prince Yu, and drank the wine in his cup to the brim.
Immediately afterwards, Kangxi glanced at the concubines.
“Consort Yu, Prince Yu is my second brother. Today is New Year’s Eve, and I am in a good mood. Please offer Prince Yu a cup of tea instead of wine, and also get to know the wives and concubines among the imperial relatives.”
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment, and under the fiery gaze of Consort Zhao, she was helped to her feet by Lianzhi and Ruhua.
Raising her glass, Xu Lejin spoke in a loud voice.
"This concubine, Consort Yu of Yikun Palace, Xu Muer, offers a toast to Prince Yu, all the princes and their wives, wishing you all good health, marital bliss, and harmonious relationships."
All the princes and wives of the imperial relatives raised their glasses in response to Xu Lejin.
After offering the toast, Xu Lejin had greeted her relatives and then nodded slightly to Emperor Kangxi on the dragon throne before bowing and sitting down.
Seeing Xu Lejin stealing the spotlight, Consort Zhao nearly ground her teeth to powder.
“Sister Yu Pin, you are enjoying great prestige these days. Prince Yu is the Emperor’s elder brother. Even the former Empress had to treat Prince Yu with utmost respect.”
"Today, Prince Yu personally inquired about Consort Yu's younger sister from the Emperor. I am quite envious."
Xu Lejin slightly raised her eyes and glanced at Consort Zhao. "Your Highness Consort Zhao flatters me. I was only granted the title of Consort because of the imperial heir. Your Highness Consort Zhao is of noble birth and is trusted and relied upon by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."
"I am ashamed, I am far inferior to you."
With a cold snort, Consort Zhao's expression was stubborn and disdainful as she spoke in a deep voice.
"It's good that Consort Yu knows. I thought that now that Consort Yu holds the rank of Consort, she had forgotten the days when she was humble and cautious in front of Her Majesty the Empress, serving tea and water?"
Xu Lejin's expression remained calm and composed.
With her lips slightly parted and her gaze fixed on Consort Zhao, Xu Lejin said softly, "Your Highness Consort Zhao's teachings are true. I will never forget the days I served in the Empress's palace."
"I owe my position as a concubine to the Empress's guidance. Just as Consort Zhao is now a high-ranking concubine, she owes her position to the earnest teachings of Lord Ebilun and Lord Aobai."
With just a few casual words, Consort Zhao's face turned from white to pale.
Zhaofei glanced cautiously at Kangxi on the dragon throne. Seeing that Kangxi had not noticed her, she temporarily relaxed.
After glaring fiercely at Xu Lejin, Consort Zhao drank her wine alone in silence.
As midnight approaches, the New Year's Eve banquet is about to end.
Kangxi's gaze fell once again on the group of concubines. Seeing that Consort Zhao was drunk and her brows were furrowed, Kangxi showed displeasure and spoke in a deep voice, "Consort Zhao, what's wrong with you today? Your injury has just healed, why did you drink so much?"
Consort Zhao's eyes were glazed over, and her cheeks were flushed.
"Your Majesty, today is New Year's Eve, and I am filled with joy. May the flowers bloom, the moon be full, and the family be harmonious, bringing prosperity. Now, the affairs of the harem are handled by Consort Nara and Consort Li..."
"Under the joint management of Consort Wanyan and Consort Guoluo, everything was in good order."
With her eyes blurry from drinking, Consort Zhao raised her wine cup. "Your Majesty, I have stolen half a day of leisure from my busy life. Although I was injured, I have enjoyed several months of peace and quiet."
"These past few months have been tough for Consort Nara and the others."
Consort Zhao drank the wine in her hand and let out a burp.
She gestured to the palace maids Caiyue and Lianxing beside her to pour wine. Caiyue and Lianxing hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted their teeth and filled Consort Zhao's cup.
Consort Zhao swayed as she stood up, her gaze falling on Consort Nara, Consort Li, and the others. "Consort Nara, Consort Li, Consort Wanyan..."
"And Consort Guo Luoluo, you have worked hard managing the palace affairs. I would like to offer you a toast."
Consort Nara, Consort Li, and the others were completely baffled, exchanging bewildered glances and hesitating whether to retaliate against Consort Zhao. Xu Lejin lowered her head and nodded, a faint smile flashing across her eyes.
Consort Zhao raised her wine cup and tilted her head back. "I'll drink this first as a sign of respect..."
Emperor Kangxi, seated on the dragon throne, had a grim expression.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager exchanged a solemn glance.
"Consort Zhao, you are drunk."
After pondering for a long time, Kangxi said in a deep voice to Liang Jiugong beside him, "Liang Jiugong, Consort Zhao is drunk. Send two capable servants to escort Consort Zhao back to Chuxiu Palace."
"Your Majesty, I am not drunk, I am just happy."
Consort Zhao refused to leave. Fueled by alcohol, she threw a tantrum, demanding that Caiyue and Lianxing fill her cups. Caiyue and Lianxing lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.
A hint of anger flashed across the elderly Empress Dowager's face, which was seated on the throne. "Emperor, wait."
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhao is currently the highest-ranking official in the six palaces. Previously, Consort Zhao was injured and should not be overworked. Now that Consort Zhao has recovered, it is best to leave the affairs of the six palaces to Consort Zhao."
"After all, it's not proper for the affairs of the six palaces to continue to be handled by the concubines below.
Emperor Kangxi pondered.
Consort Nara, Consort Li, and others opened their mouths as if to say something, but upon meeting the Empress Dowager's discerning gaze, they swallowed the words that were on the tip of their tongues and nervously twisted the hem of their clothes with their heads down.
Among the imperial relatives, several princes and their wives were whispering and discussing among themselves.
After a long silence, Kangxi spoke in a deep voice, “The Empress Dowager has thought things through. Now that there is no one in the empress's palace, Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, has the highest rank, so the affairs of the six palaces should be handed over to Consort Zhao.”
"Liang Jiugong, convey my decree. Concubine Nara, Concubine Li, Concubine Wanyan, and Concubine Guoluo have made meritorious contributions in assisting with the affairs of the six palaces. They are hereby awarded twelve bolts of various colored silks and one hundred taels of silver."
Liang Jiugong respectfully replied, "Yes."
Although Consort Nara, Consort Li, and others were unhappy that they had just handed over the palace power they had barely grasped, they could only accept the decree and express their gratitude since Kangxi had already spoken.
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