The imperial decree has been issued, and the four newlyweds are about to enter the palace.
Consort Tong, Consort Xuan, Consort Xiao Hesheli, and Princess Nara. Among them, Princess Nara is still young and awaiting her coming of age in the palace, so she is not a threat. Consort Xiao Hesheli has a low birth and rank.
Consort Tong and Consort Xuan became the focus of attention among the concubines in the palace.
One was a daughter of the Tongjia clan, the maternal clan of Emperor Kangxi, and was his cousin. She was also very beautiful. The other was Consort Xuan. Although her personality and appearance were unknown, she came from the Khorchin tribe of Mongolia and was the Empress Dowager's half-sister, so she should not be underestimated.
Consort Zhao sat gracefully in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, a gentle smile on her face, and spoke softly. "My sisters, you must all know that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have issued an edict summoning Consort Tong, Consort Xuan, Consort Xiao Hesheli, and Princess Nara to enter the palace to serve you."
"Our palace hasn't had any new concubines for a long time. Next month, four younger sisters will be entering the palace. It's time to make it a lively occasion."
Xu Lejin remained calm, her eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought.
Nara Concubine lowered her head and exchanged a silent glance with Little Nara Concubine beside her, her eyes filled with resentment. She wondered to herself, "What does Mingzhu mean?"
There are already women in the palace, so why bring in a thirteen-year-old girl named Nara to wait in the palace?
That Danzhu's daughter belonged to the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner.
This is much more noble than those two bannermen!
Consort Hesheli, who had just been released from her six-month confinement, was shocked to find herself in shock by the news of the soon-to-be-entered Consort Hesheli upon leaving the west side hall of Changchun Palace.
What does "索额图" mean?
Is bringing in a daughter from the Hesheli family to the palace a sign that they're preparing to completely abandon her? Her entry into the palace was also arranged by Suo'etu back then, and now Suo'etu is bringing in Hesheli Yunxi...
Consort Hesheli felt that her brain was not working properly.
Consort Zhao smiled gently, glancing sideways at Consort Ma Jia, whose eyes were lowered and who seemed lost in thought. She spoke casually, a slight upturn to her lips, "Consort Ma Jia has served His Majesty the longest in the palace and has borne him the most children."
"It's fine for Consort Yu. She gave birth to auspicious twins, a boy and a girl, and it was even a triplets. It's only right that she be promoted to a higher banner and given a surname. I was even thinking that His Majesty would remember the hardships Consort Ma Jia went through during childbirth and promote her to the rank of Consort."
"Looking back now, it was because the time was not yet ripe, so Consort Ma Jia remained a Consort."
While her words were meant to express her sympathy for Consort Ma Jia, Consort Zhao inwardly sneered.
Upon hearing this, Consort Ma's face turned from white to pale, looking extremely unpleasant.
Half an hour later, all the concubines took their leave. Consort Zhao kept Consort Ma Jia behind alone. Because Consort Ma Jia had given birth to the most children, which was unique in the palace, Consort Zhao gave a young palace maid named Rong'er from Chuxiu Palace to serve Consort Ma Jia.
As soon as Consort Ma Jia stepped out of the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, she heard Consort Zhao inside lamenting that having many children was not as good as having good children. She had given birth to two sons and three daughters, and raised one son and three daughters, but in the end, she was still a concubine.
Immediately, Consort Ma Jia's eyes darkened, and her hands, hanging in her sleeves, clenched into tight fists.
Three days later
Xu Lejin was in Yikun Palace, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Emperor Kangxi. As night fell, she waited and waited, but only Liang Jiugong, who was serving the emperor, arrived.
Liang Jiugong, with a fawning smile, said, "Your Highness Consort Yu, His Majesty has something urgent to attend to today and cannot come to your residence. Please rest early."
"Okay, I understand."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then winked at Ruhua behind her.
Ru Hua smiled and took out a purse, respectfully handing it to Liang Jiugong, and asked softly, "Please tell me, Eunuch Liang, His Majesty clearly chose my lady's name today, but why is he not here?"
Liang Jiugong slightly raised his head and glanced at Xu Lejin.
After a moment's thought, Liang Jiugong said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the Emperor passed through the Imperial Garden this evening and met Consort Ma Jia of Zhongcui Palace. He chatted with Consort Ma Jia for a few words and then went to Consort Ma Jia's residence in Zhongcui Palace."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, remaining silent in thought.
After seeing Liang Jiugong off, Xu Lejin sent someone to inquire about what had happened. The news they received was that Consort Ma Jia had bribed Zhao Chang, who served the emperor, to create a strong aphrodisiac fragrance by using complementary and antagonistic spices.
Therefore, after Emperor Kangxi had already chosen her nameplate, he went to Consort Ma Jia's residence in Zhongcui Palace.
The next morning, all the concubines paid their respects at Chuxiu Palace.
Consort Zhao solemnly brought up the matter, conveying Emperor Kangxi's decree: Consort Ma Jia had abused perfumes and harmed the Emperor's health. She was to be confined to the East Side Hall of Zhongcui Palace for one year, have her salary reduced for one year, and be required to copy the palace rules one hundred times.
Xu Lejin was bestowed with a bushel of top-quality pearls from Huguang, a bolt each of silk gauze and shimmering brocade, a pair of auspicious lotus bracelets, a pair of gold-inlaid jade hibiscus hairpins, a box of snail-shell ink, and more…
Emperor Kangxi probably realized that the concubines in the palace were frequently diverting Xu Lejin's favor and were doing her a disservice. So, this time, taking advantage of the incident where Consort Ma Jia poisoned her, he rewarded Xu Lejin handsomely.
A pile of Ulala's things were delivered to Yikun Palace in the afternoon. Xu Lejin smiled and instructed Lianzhi and Ruhua to carefully check them and register them into the warehouse after confirming that everything was correct.
The peaceful days in the palace passed by in a flash, but beneath this tranquility, turmoil was constant. The concubines vied for the emperor's favor, and newcomers entered the palace to win his favor, employing all sorts of tricks.
May 20th arrived in the blink of an eye.
Ru Hua bowed and reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Consort Xuan of Xianfu Palace entered the palace at Chenshi this morning. From afar, I saw that although Consort Xuan is from Mongolia, her eyebrows and eyes are gentle, and she has a bit of the gentleness and obedience of a woman from Jiangnan."
"Yes, I understand."
Xu Lejin picked up the teacup beside her, took two sips, and said softly, "Among the concubines in the palace, although some are from the Manchu Banner, most of them are gentle and graceful in appearance. The Emperor also prefers women with gentle temperaments."
"The Empress Dowager, having served three reigns, personally selected her; naturally, she is of the highest caliber."
Lianzhi and Ruhua nodded with smiles.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then said, "Nala Gege is still young and waiting for the New Year. Consort Tong and Consort Xiao Hesheli have been in the palace for ten days or half a month now. Have they all served the emperor yet?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Tong served the Emperor on the eighth day of the month, and Consort Xiao Hesheli entered the palace on the ninth day, serving the Emperor on the thirteenth and fourteenth days. On the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth days, the Emperor visited Consort Tong's palace."
Lianzhi paused, then hesitated before speaking, "In addition, on the 12th and 15th, His Majesty went to the residence of Consort Xiao Hesheli in Changchun Palace and had lunch with her."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
"It's normal that the Emperor values Consort Tong and Consort Xiao Hesheli, who are both new entrants to the palace. Consort Xuan will enter the palace today and can begin preparing to serve the Emperor in three days."
"This month is a special month because a new concubine has entered the palace. Next month, things will return to normal."
Lianzhi smiled and agreed.
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