On New Year's Eve, the event concluded successfully with Consort Zhao regaining control of the palace.
In the dead of night, Consort Nara, Consort Li, Consort Wanyan, and Consort Guoluo returned to their respective chambers, their faces contorted in a ferocious grimace, resembling terrifying demons.
On this night, which should have been a joyous New Year's Eve for families, the sounds of porcelain shattering on the ground could be heard coming from the east and west side halls of Yanxi Palace, Xianfu Palace, Changchun Palace, and Yongshou Palace.
Lunar New Year's Day
Although Consort Zhao was still feeling unwell and had a hangover after getting drunk, she was in an exceptionally good mood because she thought about regaining her power in the palace.
Sitting upright in the main seat of Chuxiu Palace, Consort Zhao's gaze swept over Xu Lejin and the other concubines below.
"My dear sisters, I am truly sorry. I did not expect that His Majesty would allow me to regain control of the palace at the New Year's Eve family banquet last night. Consort Nara, Consort Li, Consort Wanyan, and Consort Guoluo, you have all worked hard."
"Although His Majesty already bestowed gifts upon my sisters yesterday, I would still like to express my gratitude to them for their hard work in managing palace affairs recently."
"Red clouds, silver frost."
Consort Zhao called out towards the outside of the hall, and two palace maids, Hongxia and Yinshuang, entered the hall carrying four boxes.
"Consort Nara, Consort Li, Consort Wanyan, and Consort Guoluo, these are a small token of my appreciation. They contain some jewelry, but they cannot compare to the twelve bolts of various brocades and one hundred taels of silver bestowed by the Emperor."
Consort Nara, Consort Li, and others showed signs of humiliation, hesitating whether to accept or not.
At this moment, Consort Zhao changed the subject, looked at Xu Lejin, and said softly, "Sister Yu Pin, you are a concubine, second only to me in rank in the palace. I have also prepared a New Year's gift for you."
"Lianxing, quickly bring this up to Consort Yu."
A moment later, Lianxing respectfully presented Xu Lejin with a pair of pearl earrings. The pearls were round, full, and large, emitting a dazzling light.
Xu Lejin's expression froze slightly as she glanced at Consort Zhao, who sat regally in the high seat.
Consort Zhao raised her hand, her fingertips landing on her ear, on the three earrings in one ear. "Oh dear, I was careless. According to the rules of our ancestors, Manchu ladies wear three earrings in one ear. I hope Consort Yu won't blame me."
Xu Lejin replied respectfully, "This concubine dares not."
Consort Zhao then spoke softly again.
“Sister Yu Pin, among the pearls that Huguang presented as tribute last year, the four pearls on this pair of earrings are the largest and roundest, while the rest are slightly inferior.”
"Although it is not as precious as the pearl that His Majesty bestowed upon me, it is still the best among pearls."
Xu Lejin nodded. "Thank you for your generous gift, Consort Zhao."
"Ruhua, put away the pearl earrings that Consort Zhao bestowed upon you. My clothes today are plain and do not match these pearl earrings, so I fear they would be an insult to Consort Zhao's good intentions."
Ru Hua reached out to take the earring from Lian Xing's hand, but Lian Xing stepped back.
Consort Zhao frowned and said in a deep voice, "Does Consort Yu dislike the earrings I bestowed upon you? Pearl earrings are not picky about clothes. I think Consort Yu's clothes today match these pearl earrings very well."
"Lianxing, why don't you put it on for Consort Yu?"
Lianxing reached out and touched Xu Lejin's ear, causing Xu Lejin to back away warily.
"I dare not trouble Consort Zhao's Lianxing to put the earrings on me. Although Ruhua, who is by my side, is clumsy, she is capable of putting on earrings."
"Entering the painting?"
Ru Hua respectfully agreed, and under Consort Zhao's unpleasant expression, carefully put pearl earrings on Xu Lejin's head.
The pearl earrings, as white as jade, dangled on Xu Lejin's delicate earlobes, looking exceptionally exquisite and beautiful. A hint of envy flashed in the eyes of Consort Hesheli and Consort Zhaojia, who were sitting upright in chairs diagonally opposite Xu Lejin.
A sharp glint flashed in Consort Zhao's eyes, and she continued, "They are indeed beautiful. These earrings seem to have been tailor-made for Consort Yu. Pearls are good for one's health, so Consort Yu should wear them every day."
"Yes, Your Highness, I will obey your orders."
Xu Lejin frowned. Something was definitely amiss. She planned to return to Yikun Palace and summon the imperial physician to examine the pearl earrings to see if there was anything wrong with them.
Time flies, and it's already the sixth day of the lunar new year.
"Your Majesty, Physician Xu has examined them and there is nothing wrong with these pearl earrings. The pearls are full and brightly colored. They are sea pearls produced along the coast and were carefully carved by craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department. They are unique in the palace."
Ru Hua respectfully reported to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, pondered for a long time, and then said, "Since there is no problem, then put it away carefully. Although this pearl earring is a gift from Consort Zhao, I also wear other brightly colored clothes sometimes, so it is perfectly acceptable not to wear it occasionally."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The next day, the seventh day of the first lunar month
Consort Zhao's expression was solemn as she looked at Xu Lejin and spoke in a deep voice, "Sister Yu Pin, I heard that you had the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital examine the pearl earrings I bestowed upon you?"
"Is Consort Yu being so cautious because she's worried I might tamper with the pearl earrings?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin was speechless.
The concubine Hesheli, sitting diagonally opposite, covered her mouth with a mocking expression, "Consort Zhao and Consort Yu come from humble backgrounds and don't know how precious pearls are."
"Pearls are round and smooth, so it's not easy to mix anything into them."
After Consort Hesheli finished speaking, she gave Consort Shangjia a wink. Consort Shangjia looked timid, hesitated for a moment, and finally lowered her head in silence.
Consort Zhao Jia's eyes, black and white, darted around.
"Sister Hesheli, now that Consort Yu has become the head of Yikun Palace, she's acting cautiously, knowing that caution is always the best policy. Of course, she's also wary of Consort Zhao!"
"The pearl earrings that Consort Zhao bestowed upon Consort Yu were admired by all of us, but it's a pity that such large, round pearls are rare. Consort Zhao valued Consort Yu and ordered the craftsmen of the Imperial Household Department to make the earrings and bestow them upon her. Yet Consort Yu is so ungrateful and suspicious of Consort Zhao."
Consort Zhao Jia looked at Consort Zhao with a righteous and awe-inspiring expression and sincere eyes, "Your Highness Consort Zhao, this humble servant dares to ask you to severely punish Consort Yu in order to rectify the hearts of the people in the harem."
Consort Zhao looked at Xu Lejin with a playful expression.
Xu Lejin remained calm, glanced at Consort Zhaojia, and said in a deep voice, "What do you mean by this, Consort Zhaojia? I am only worried that the Imperial Household Department and other people in the palace are outwardly compliant but inwardly disobeying Consort Zhao's orders."
"The pearl earrings were bestowed upon me by Consort Zhao. My caution is also a sign of my respect for Consort Zhao."
He glanced coldly at Consort Hesheli and Consort Zhaojia.
"Consort Hesheli and Consort Zhaojia, are you implying that I shouldn't respect Consort Zhao? How can there be peace and harmony in the harem if the hierarchy is not respected?"
"How can Your Majesty govern the affairs of the previous dynasty with peace of mind?"
With a harsher tone, Xu Lejin coldly rebuked, "Consort Hesheli and Consort Zhaojia, what are your intentions in trying to sow discord and stir up bloodshed in the harem?"
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