Qianqing Palace
Emperor Kangxi was on his dragon throne, reviewing memorials.
Liang Jiugong bowed as he entered the hall and reported to Emperor Kangxi in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened."
"This afternoon, the Empress Dowager summoned Consort Yu."
Emperor Kangxi froze as he reviewed the memorials.
With a furrowed brow, Kangxi looked at the red dot on the memorial, but feigned nonchalance as he spoke, "It is Yu Consort's good fortune that the Empress Dowager summons her."
"Among the concubines in the palace, apart from Empress Hesheli, only Consort Yu was able to be summoned by the Empress Dowager several times."
Liang Jiugong lowered his head slightly.
After pondering for a long time, Kangxi said again in a deep voice, "Liang Jiugong, have people keep a close watch on the Empress Dowager's palace, and report to me immediately if there is any disturbance."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Liang Jiugong lowered his head and nodded in agreement, but his mind was racing with thoughts.
A moment later, Liang Jiugong mustered his courage, raised his head, and looked at Kangxi. “Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Zhao secretly sent someone to inform the Empress Dowager about the conversation between Your Majesty and Consort Yu on Qingming Festival.”
Emperor Kangxi put down his imperial brush.
He rose from the dragon throne, put his hands behind his back, and walked back and forth in the main hall of the Qianqing Palace with a serious expression.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Kangxi walked out of the Qianqing Palace and ordered in a deep voice, "Prepare the sedan chair. It has been a long time since I visited the Cining Palace to pay my respects to my grandmother and mother."
"twitter."
Liang Jiugong responded and quickly left the Qianqing Palace.
In the corridor of the Qianqing Palace, a young eunuch was eavesdropping. When he heard that Emperor Kangxi was going to the Cining Palace, his brows furrowed deeply.
After pondering for a moment, the young eunuch hurriedly left the Qianqing Palace and headed towards the Western Six Palaces.
Fifteen minutes later.
Caiyue, the head palace maid of Consort Zhao of the Niohuru clan, entered from outside the hall with a solemn expression. She bowed and reported to Consort Zhao with a serious face, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhao, who serves in the imperial court, has brought news that the Emperor is aware that Consort Yu has been summoned by the Empress Dowager."
"The Emperor is currently heading towards the Cining Palace."
With a 'clatter,' the teacup in Consort Zhao's hand fell to the ground.
Her face instantly darkened, and Consort Zhao's expression twisted into a grimace as she spoke in a cold voice, "The Emperor's treatment of Consort Yu is indeed different. When Consort Yu was summoned by the Empress Dowager, the Emperor rushed to the Empress Dowager's palace in a great hurry."
Taking a deep breath, Consort Zhao looked defeated.
"The highest-ranking person in the palace is me, followed by Consort Yu. Although I come from the noble Niohuru clan, I have no princes or princesses, while Consort Yu comes from a humble background but has given birth to three imperial heirs."
"If His Majesty values Consort Yu so much, how will I find a place in the palace if this continues?"
Caiyue and Lianxing lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.
With a 'smack', he slammed his hand on the table, and the teacup on the table fell to the ground with a crisp cracking sound.
Consort Zhao's eyes were brimming with a fierce storm. She gritted her teeth and said, "Caiyue, come with me to Cining Palace to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Lianxing, go to the Prince's residence. After today, I do not wish for the Sixth Prince, the Eighth Princess, and the Ninth Princess to remain in the palace."
Caiyue and Lianxing looked frightened, hesitated for a moment, and then responded in a low voice.
Inside the main hall of Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager sat on the throne, their faces serious as they frowned in thought, while Xu Lejin lowered her eyes and knelt below.
After a long time
The Empress Dowager spoke in a deep voice, "The son wishes to care for his parents, but they are no longer there? Consort Yu's intention is to make the Emperor be filial to me and the Empress Dowager, rather than deliberately reminding the Emperor to favor the Tongjia clan?"
"Although Empress Xiaokangzhang has passed away, she was the emperor's birth mother, while the empress dowager was only the emperor's legal mother."
Xu Lejin raised her head slightly, glanced at the Empress Dowager out of the corner of her eye, then lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the deceased is gone. Empress Xiaokangzhang has passed away."
"Although Empress Xiaokangzhang was the Emperor's birth mother, the Empress Dowager was personally appointed Empress by the late Emperor and is the Emperor's legal mother. The Grand Empress Dowager has also been kind to the Emperor in raising and educating him."
"I am foolish and think that the kindness of giving birth and the kindness of raising are equally important."
After speaking, Xu Lejin lowered her head and remained silent.
The Empress Dowager turned her head and exchanged a glance with the Empress Dowager beside her, then smiled knowingly. "Consort Yu is intelligent and quick-witted. She is the most eloquent and charming person in the palace. The Emperor likes her, and so do I and the Empress Dowager."
"If all the concubines in the palace were like Consort Yu, who is sensible and considerate of the overall situation, I would feel much more at ease."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed.
"The Empress Dowager is wise, the Empress Dowager is prudent, and the Emperor is brilliant and mighty. I, your humble servant, am but a child with meager skills and shallow knowledge, and have made a fool of myself before the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager looked at Xu Lejin with her cloudy eyes, her expression thoughtful.
The Empress Dowager, who was standing to the side, opened her mouth as if to say something, but swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and looked at Xu Lejin with a dark and ambiguous gaze.
At this moment, Sumalagu bowed and entered the hall to report, "Grand Empress Dowager, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Emperor is requesting an audience outside the hall."
"The emperor has arrived?"
The Empress Dowager snapped out of her thoughts, gave Xu Lejin a meaningful look, and said in a deep voice to Su Ma La Gu, "Su Ma, invite the Emperor into the hall to speak."
"Yes, Empress Dowager."
Sumalagu withdrew and, a moment later, led Kangxi into the main hall of Cining Palace.
Emperor Kangxi knelt down respectfully and said loudly, "Grandson greets His Majesty the Empress, and son greets His Majesty the Empress!"
"Xuan Ye is here, get up quickly."
The Empress Dowager shook her head almost imperceptibly at the Emperor, and with a kind expression, she asked Kangxi to get up. At the same time, she gave Su Ma La Gu a meaningful look, and Su Ma La Gu understood immediately and quickly told the palace servants to bring a chair.
Kangxi glanced at Xu Lejin, who was kneeling on the prayer mat, then looked up at the Empress Dowager and said with a smile, "Grandmother, I heard that you summoned Xu Muershi today. Xu Muershi is foolish. If she has offended you in any way, I beg you to consider her merit in giving birth to the imperial heir and to be lenient with her."
A profound meaning appeared on the Empress Dowager's aged face.
"Consort Yu is intelligent and quick-witted, and has made great contributions in bearing the imperial heir. The Empress Dowager and I like her very much. Today, we have summoned her to Cining Palace to keep her company and have a chat."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, as long as Consort Yu does not interfere in court affairs and does not act like Daji or Bao Si, the Empress Dowager and I will not make things difficult for her."
Emperor Kangxi paused for a moment, then respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings."
The Empress Dowager then subtly warned Kangxi, implying that he should be careful in his affection for Xu Lejin and not repeat the mistakes of the late Emperor in his affection for Consort Dong'e.
Kangxi naturally agreed to all of them.
After a cup of tea
Sumalagu entered the palace again and reported to the Empress Dowager that Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, was requesting an audience outside the Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Kangxi and said coldly, "In the past, Consort Zhao and the other concubines rarely came to Cining Palace to pay their respects. What a good day it is today! I summoned Consort Yu, and now that the Emperor has arrived, Consort Zhao has come as well."
"After that, will all the concubines in the palace come to pay their respects to me and the Empress Dowager?"
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