Consort Sixue died of depression.
A few days later, news came from Ning Shou Palace that Consort Muketu, overwhelmed with grief, had followed Consort Sixue in death. Within a few days, the Muketu family outside the palace had lost two daughters.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
The concubines in the palace, having recovered from the miscarriage and death of Consort Sixue, resumed their daily vying for the emperor's favor.
As the candlelight flickered, Ru Hua respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has summoned Consort Shangjia of Xianfu Palace to the side hall of Qianqing Palace for the past three days."
"Consort Shangjia?"
Xu Lejin looked puzzled and pondered for a moment before remembering who Consort Shangjia was.
Consort Shangjia was one of the two palace maids recommended by Empress Hesheli to serve Emperor Kangxi after she gained his favor. Consort Shangjia had a graceful figure, a pair of peach blossom eyes, and a shy demeanor, but she was also timid.
Another concubine, Fan Jia, was beautiful and acted with great efficiency.
With a light smile, Xu Lejin spoke calmly, "I remember that Consort Shangjia and Lady Shangjia, who is about to marry into Prince Chun's mansion as his wife, have some connection?"
Ru Hua pondered for a moment.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shangjia is the niece of Prince Pingnan, the paternal aunt of Prince Chun's wife, and the half-sister of Princess Heshuo Heshun and her husband."
Xu Lejin nodded.
After pondering for a long time, he smiled and said, "The imperial court and the harem have always been one. The Shangjia clan has a daughter who is about to marry into the royal family as the primary consort. It is only natural that the concubine Shangjia is favored in the harem."
"Consort Shangjia was recommended by the Empress to serve the Emperor, and now she has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel."
Ru Hua and Lian Zhi exchanged a glance and respectfully replied, "Yes."
September 20
Although the autumn wind was bleak, the weather was fine and sunny. It was that time of year again when the maple leaves in the Imperial Garden turned red. Xu Lejin went to the Imperial Garden at the invitation of Consort Zhao, Niohuru.
"Consort Yu, I think the maple leaves this year don't seem red enough?"
Consort Zhao held a handkerchief to her mouth, her gaze fixed on the maple leaves not far away, and spoke softly.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, her mind drifting to the lines from "Empresses in the Palace" spoken by Consort Hua, Nian Shilan, and Mickey Mouse, Songzhi: "The maple leaves don't seem red enough this year," "I heard that maple leaves need to be dyed with blood to be truly beautiful," "Is that so? Then let's reward Consort Xia with a 'one-zhang red' punishment, even if it's just using her blood to add some color to the maple leaves in the palace."
Consort Zhao turned to look at Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice, "What's wrong, Consort Yu? Why does she look so pale? Is it because the wind in the Imperial Garden is too strong? Did Consort Yu catch a chill?"
Covering her mouth, Consort Zhao changed the subject.
"I spoke carelessly. Consort Yu is kind and generous. Please don't hold it against me."
Xu Lejin came to her senses, glanced at Consort Zhao, then lowered her head and whispered, "This concubine wouldn't dare. Your Highness is so kind to me, I'm already grateful enough, how could I possibly hold it against you?"
With a smug look on her face, Consort Zhao slightly raised her chin.
Just then, the sound of two concubines arguing came from not far away.
"You shameless woman, you were just a lowly maidservant whom the Empress once promoted to serve the Emperor. Now you're putting on this pitiful act, trying to seduce the Emperor."
Consort Hesheli, her face full of anger, put her hands on her hips, pointed at the woman in the light green palace dress with her head down, and reprimanded her sternly.
The palace-dressed woman, head bowed, was timid and submissive, not daring to utter a sound.
With a ferocious expression, Consort Hesheli glared at the meek woman, her anger flaring. She coldly retorted, "Speak up! The Emperor has summoned you to his bedchamber six times this month!"
Consort Hesheli became increasingly tactless as she spoke.
Xu Lejin and Consort Zhao exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly. The woman in the light green palace dress, who kept her head down and didn't utter a sound, was Shangjia, a concubine who had been recommended by Empress Hesheli to serve Emperor Kangxi.
Meanwhile, for some reason, Consort Hesheli raised her hand, intending to slap Consort Shangjia, who had lowered her eyes and brows.
Xu Lejin watched from afar, her heart pounding in her chest. Out of the corner of her eye, she subconsciously glanced at Consort Zhao, wondering if Consort Zhao would speak up to stop her.
After all, Consort Hesheli and Consort Shangjia were both concubines of Emperor Kangxi, so how could Consort Hesheli slap Consort Shangjia?
Consort Zhao kept her eyes down, her expression indifferent. She didn't say anything to stop it, but instead smiled faintly, as if it were none of her business.
With a 'smack', Consort Shangjia covered her face, tears welling in her eyes.
From Xu Lejin's vantage point, she could see Consort Shangjia, her face streaked with tears, looking pitiful and endearing. She felt a surge of pity for her and thought to herself, "No wonder Emperor Kangxi likes her and keeps summoning her to his bedchamber."
Even as a woman herself, she couldn't help but want to hug Consort Shangjia and cherish her pitiful appearance.
Xu Lejin opened her mouth to stop her, but was stopped by Consort Zhao.
Consort Zhao winked at Xu Lejin and pointed to a bright yellow half-figure at the corner of the winding path in the Imperial Garden not far away. She shook her head almost imperceptibly at Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin immediately understood…
A moment later, Kangxi walked out with a gloomy face.
"When the Empress was alive, she was virtuous and kind, and treated the concubines in the harem with kindness and compassion. You are a cousin of the Empress, and I originally thought you were also broad-minded and well-mannered, but I never expected..."
"I only favored Lady Shangjia for a few more days, and you have already humiliated and insulted her like this."
Consort Hesheli turned pale and knelt down with a thud, not daring to utter a sound.
Consort Shangjia, weak and helpless, knelt down next to her, straightening her graceful body and revealing her slender, fair neck, sobbing softly, looking as pitiful as could be.
Kangxi snorted coldly and instructed Liang Jiugong, who was following behind him, "Remember, Consort Hesheli is arrogant and domineering and insults the concubines. She shall be confined to Changchun Palace for half a year from today and shall be punished by copying the palace rules and the women's admonitions one hundred times."
"Consort Shangjia, a concubine, is gentle, obedient and weak. She is bestowed with a pair of red gold pomegranate flower bracelets."
After Kangxi finished speaking, he personally bent down and helped up Consort Shangjia, who was kneeling on the ground.
Consort Hesheli collapsed to the ground, her face filled with disbelief, and stammered, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Kangxi left with Consort Shangjia, leaving Consort Hesheli sitting there in a daze, utterly despondent.
Consort Zhao tiptoed, plucked a maple leaf, and chuckled, "Sister Consort Yu, have you seen through today's drama? Men all like delicate, weak, and pitiful women."
“In the past, when the Empress was alive, the Hesheli clan held absolute power in both the court and the harem. Now, things have changed, and the wheel of fortune has turned.”
“Sister Yu Pin, have you ever heard the saying, ‘A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on’?”
After speaking, Consort Zhao, supported by her maids, strode away.
An hour later, Xu Lejin returned to Yikun Palace with a dazed expression. Once inside the main hall, her dazed eyes immediately regained their clarity.
"What a grand spectacle! It's truly remarkable that Consort Zhao went to such lengths for me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
