The Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage continued its swaying and wobbling journey towards the Qianqing Palace.
Xu Lejin secretly lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at the gloomy-faced concubine Nara in the night, and curled her lips into a mocking and disdainful sneer.
Lady Nara of Yanxi Palace was of average appearance but was fortunate enough to be favored by the emperor. She first gave birth to the second prince and was made a concubine. Later, she gave birth to the fifth prince, Baoqing. She had always been cautious in her actions, but after the eldest, second, and third princes died one after another.
After Baoqing, the fifth son of the Nala clan, became one of Kangxi's only two sons, the Nala clan began to become arrogant. She put on airs, disregarded the concubines of the same rank, and bossed them around, showing off her power.
The Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage stopped outside the Qianqing Palace gate.
The head maid lifted the carriage curtain and said with a smile, "Consort Xu, His Majesty is already waiting in the side hall. We will escort you in..."
"Thank you for your trouble, Granny!"
Xu Lejin smiled gently, and was then led to a room where several women in their thirties and forties quickly stripped Xu Lejin of her clothes. Under Xu Lejin's extremely unnatural expression, they washed her clean and wrapped her in a quilt.
Several eunuchs carried Xu Lejin into a side hall of the Qianqing Palace.
Inside the side hall, the candlelight was dim.
Xu Lejin lay naked on the dragon bed, wrapped in a quilt, thinking about what was about to happen, and her old face turned red.
Her slender, fair hands clutched the quilt, covering her face, but she couldn't hide the shyness on her face or the heat rising from the soles of her feet.
Kangxi pulled back the quilt from Xu Lejin's hands and said with a smile, "What's wrong, my dear concubine? It's not like it's your first time serving the emperor, why are you still so shy?"
"Your Majesty, this concubine... Your Majesty is so majestic, this concubine is filled with admiration. This is also the first time I have formally served Your Majesty in bed. This concubine is especially happy when she thinks of Your Majesty's bravery."
After speaking, Xu Lejin blushed and boldly looked directly at Kangxi.
Kangxi was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily.
"Yes, the head maid has already taught you the rules for serving the emperor. You don't need to be nervous. Just treat me as your husband and give yourself to me."
Xu Lejin's heart skipped a beat, and she cursed inwardly for Kangxi lying through his teeth.
The bedchamber attendant simply gave her a rough wash and wrapped her in a quilt, without teaching her how to serve the emperor.
But now, Kangxi...
With a shy smile, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am of humble birth, and it is a great honor for me to serve Your Majesty. Your Majesty and the Empress are husband and wife; I am but a lowly servant..."
"You're quite clever!"
Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily and said in a deep voice, "It's getting late, let's rest."
Red candles flicker, springtime is enchanting.
From a side hall of the Qianqing Palace, came the low growl of a man and the soft moan of a woman. Liang Jiugong, who was waiting outside, skillfully took out a wad of cotton from his sleeve and stuffed it into his ear.
"Master, is it midnight?"
Liang Jiugong glared at his little apprentice beside him, "It's rare for the Emperor to be in such a good mood. Consort Xu is serving the Emperor, so it's acceptable for her to stay overnight at Qianqing Palace."
"The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven is the rule."
The young eunuch respectfully replied, "Yes."
Two hours later, nearing the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), Kangxi's voice rang out again from inside the palace, "Liang Jiugong? Water..."
Liang Jiugong bowed as he entered the hall, followed by eunuchs who quickly brought him hot water for washing.
With the help of a young eunuch, Kangxi put on his clothes.
Exhausted, Xu Lejin fell into a deep sleep, clutching her blanket. Kangxi turned around and glanced at her, then said in a deep voice, "Let Consort Xu rest in the side hall. After she wakes up, send her back to Yikun Palace."
After a moment's hesitation, Liang Jiugong respectfully replied, "Yes."
After a moment's thought, Liang Jiugong asked softly, "Your Majesty? To keep or not to keep?"
"Keep it."
After speaking, Kangxi strode out of the side hall of Qianqing Palace. Xu Lejin turned over, hugged the quilt, and continued to sleep soundly, a satisfied smile on her lips.
Kunning Palace
Attended by Yun Cui and Nong Yu, the Empress washed and changed her clothes, and sat upright in front of her dressing table.
"His Majesty chose Lady Xu yesterday. Did Lady Xu's night with him go smoothly?"
Yun Cui blushed slightly and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, apart from Consort Xu being taken to Qianqing Palace by the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage, where Consort Nara made a few sarcastic remarks, everything went smoothly."
Startled for a moment, the Empress chuckled lightly, "Yesterday marked Xu's first formal night with the Emperor. She's quite clever, seemingly learning on her own. I underestimated her..."
Yun Cui and Nong Yu exchanged a glance.
Lowering her voice, Yun Cui whispered, "Your Highness, perhaps Consort Xu was hiding her abilities before. Your Highness specifically instructed the head maid not to teach Consort Xu the proper etiquette for serving the emperor."
"Shut up."
The Empress glared at Yun Cui and said coldly, "It was the nannies in charge of the Imperial Bedchamber who were being lazy. I never instructed them not to teach Xu Shi the rules for serving the Emperor."
"Even without the instruction of the head maid, didn't Xu still manage to successfully serve the emperor?"
Yun Cui nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Your Majesty is absolutely right."
Nongyu lowered her eyes, a strange light flashing in them.
Inside the main hall of Kunning Palace.
Consort Niohuru sat slumped over, looking dejected. Consorts Ma Jia and Zhao Jia, among others, wore expressions of resentment. Consort Dong lowered her head, staring at her toes, lost in thought.
A moment later, Consort Ma Jia looked at Consort Hesheli diagonally opposite her and said with a coquettish smile, "Sister Hesheli, I heard that His Majesty favored Sister Xu last night and called for water five times in one night?"
"Sister, I remember when you, Hesheli, first received the Emperor's favor, he called for water three times in one night. Now that Consort Xu has received the Emperor's favor, he has broken that record of calling for water three times in one night. It is clear that the Emperor is very fond of Consort Xu!"
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