January 21
Emperor Kangxi summoned Consort Xiuqin to the side hall of the Qianqing Palace to serve him in bed.
January 28
Xiuhe was also taken away in the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage to serve the emperor.
On the 29th day of the first lunar month, in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace.
With a gentle smile on her face, Consort Zhao looked at Xiuqin and Xiuhe and said in a deep voice, "Last night, Consort Xiuhe also served the emperor. Now our palace has two more sisters."
"Consort Xiuqin and Consort Xiuhe, you must serve the Emperor wholeheartedly in the future and give birth to his children as soon as possible so that the Emperor can have many offspring."
With the help of palace maids, Xiuqin and Xiuhe rose to their feet and bowed respectfully to Consort Zhao, saying, "Yes, we will obey Consort Zhao's teachings."
"Um."
Consort Zhao responded softly, then turned her head to speak with Xu Lejin, Consort Nara, Consort Wanyan, and others.
After a short while, Consort Zhao changed the subject.
"The annual selection of concubines by the Imperial Household Department is just around the corner. Last year, the palace newly conferred titles upon several concubines, including Guo Luoluo, Xitala, Sixue, Hanyan, Xiao Nara, Xiuqin, and Xiuhe."
"The number of concubines in the palace is increasing, and the number of palace servants needed is also increasing accordingly."
“In each palace, there are also some palace maids who have reached the age to be released from the palace, or who have been punished for doing something wrong.”
"His Majesty and the Empress Dowager mean that this year's selection of palace maids by the Imperial Household Department should involve selecting more palace maids to enter the palace."
"I am busy managing the affairs of the six palaces. Although the Imperial Household Department is in charge of the selection of palace maids, the concubines of the harem also need to take charge of the overall situation."
“Consort Yu, you are now a Consort, second only to me in rank in the palace. If anyone below you is unsure about the selection process by the Imperial Household Department, I would like to trouble you to take a closer look.”
After Zhaofei finished speaking, she looked intently at Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin paused slightly, then spoke softly, "Since Consort Zhao trusts me, I will do my best to handle the matter of selecting palace maids from the Imperial Household Department to serve in the palace."
Consort Zhao responded with a faint "yes".
An hour later, Xu Lejin returned to Yikun Palace, sitting solemnly under the eaves, her eyes gazing at the peach branches with tiny buds sprouting in the bright spring sunshine.
After pondering for a moment, Lianzhi spoke respectfully, "Your Highness, the selection of palace maids by the Imperial Household Department is handled by the head steward and matrons of the Imperial Household Department. What does Consort Zhao mean by asking Your Highness to take charge of this matter now?"
Xu Lejin smiled slightly and nodded gently.
"They want me to fight with the Imperial Household Department like a clam and a snipe, so that Consort Zhao can reap the benefits."
“The Imperial Household Department holds a small selection every year to choose eligible women to serve in the palace, which is related to the major bondservant families of the Imperial Household Department.”
"Your Highness, Consort Zhao, are you subtly mocking me? I was born into the Xu family, a bondservant clan of the Imperial Household Department. Even if I am promoted to a Manchu banner and given a surname by the Emperor, I cannot change my bondservant origins."
After a pause, Xu Lejin said softly, "Since Consort Zhao has entrusted me with the management of the Imperial Household Department's selection process, I will naturally take good care of it."
"Ruhua, have Ziwu and Zhulan inquire about which of the palace maids selected by the Imperial Household Department this year are particularly outstanding."
"When palace maids enter the palace, although they serve in various palaces, if they perform their duties well, they can become concubines in the harem."
Ru Hua respectfully replied "Yes" and withdrew.
The following afternoon.
Ziwu and Zhulan reported respectfully to Xu Lejin, who smiled knowingly upon hearing this.
"So, among the bondservant bannermen this year, the most outstanding in terms of appearance and family background are the Uya clan, the Wanliuha clan, the Daijia clan, and the Wei clan?"
Xu Lejin paused slightly when she mentioned Wuya.
If she remembered correctly, in the history of the Qing Dynasty, the next emperor after Kangxi, Yongzheng, was born to Consort De, of the Uya clan.
Although it is rumored that Consort De, of the Uya clan, had a strained relationship with Emperor Yongzheng and his mother, this cannot be denied.
Consort De, of the Uya clan, was the birth mother of the Yongzheng Emperor.
Now, she has traveled back to the Qing Dynasty. Empress Hesheli's second child has changed from a prince to a princess, and she herself has given birth to one son and two daughters.
History has changed, but...
Shaking her head, Xu Lejin told herself not to think about these things anymore.
Let things take their natural course; things will work themselves out in the end.
After a moment of contemplation, Ziwu nodded gently and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Wuya is only fourteen years old. She should have been selected to serve in the palace two years ago, but she fell ill in the spring of the year before last and last year, so it was delayed until this year."
"Wanliuhashi has several inner stewards in his family. Wanliuhashi is thirteen years old now. He broke his leg the winter before last and therefore missed last year's selection."
"Dai Jia and Wei are both twelve years old now. Although they are still young and inexperienced, their future beauty is already evident."
"Daijia's father was a treasurer in the Imperial Household Department, a low-ranking official, while Wei came from the Wei family, a family of bondservants in the Imperial Household Department."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, then frowned and pondered for a long time.
"My uncle, Lord Xu of the Imperial Stables, and his family, have any plans been made for eligible women from the Xu family to enter the palace for the Imperial Household Department's preliminary selection this year?"
Xu Lejin changed the subject and asked softly.
Ziwu paused for a moment, then turned her head to look at another palace maid, Zhulan.
Zhu Lan paused, lowered her eyes, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, according to the information I have gathered, the Xu family has not arranged for any eligible women to enter the palace for the preliminary selection."
"Um."
Xu Lejin responded lightly and dismissed Ziwu and Zhulan.
The second day of the second lunar month is the day when the Imperial Household Department selects palace maids.
In the evening, Xu Lejin received the news she wanted: Wuya, Wanliuha, Daijia, Wei, and several others had all successfully passed the preliminary selection and stayed in the palace as maids.
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