Concubine Xiuqin fell into the Thousand Carp Pond and perished.
The following afternoon, Consort Tong stopped Xu Lejin in a menacing manner and said coldly, "Consort Yu, I heard that you met Consort Xiuqin in the Imperial Garden yesterday. Why did Consort Xiuqin fall into the Thousand Carp Pond?"
"I urge Consort Yu to give me an explanation regarding this matter."
Xu Lejin was stunned when she heard this.
"I don't understand what Consort Tong means. Although I met Consort Xiuqin in the Imperial Garden yesterday, we only exchanged a few words before returning to our respective palaces."
“Lianzhi and Ruhua, who served the concubines, and the maids who served Concubine Xiuqin, can all testify to this.”
With a cold snort, Consort Tong spoke in a deep voice, "The maids around Consort Yu will naturally side with you, their mistress. Yesterday, I questioned Xiao Tao, who served Consort Xiuqin, and she told me that last night, Consort Yu, you encountered Consort Xiuqin in the Imperial Garden and humiliated her in every way, saying that Consort Xiuqin was associating with musicians."
"Although Consort Xiuqin was a servant born into the Tong family and entered the palace with my sister to serve, she is now a concubine bestowed by the Emperor. She plays the moon lute skillfully and is favored by the Emperor."
"Consort Yu, you are utterly incompetent and immoral. Relying on your pregnancy with the emperor's child, you have become arrogant and domineering, bullying Consort Xiuqin."
Tong Fei's tone was aggressive.
Xu Lejin's head was buzzing. She stared at Consort Tong with a look of astonishment. After a long while, she said coldly, "Does Consort Tong mean that I humiliated Consort Xiuqin, which is why Consort Xiuqin accidentally fell into the Thousand Carp Pond and perished?"
"That's exactly right."
Consort Tong spoke with a smug and arrogant tone, "Consort Xiuqin was distracted yesterday because of your humiliation, which is why she accidentally fell into the Thousand Carp Pond when she passed by it."
“Consort Yu, although you are not the murderer, you indirectly caused Consort Xiuqin to drown in the Thousand Carp Pond.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin took a deep breath and looked at Consort Tong as if she were a monster. She thought to herself, "Has Consort Tong gone mad? How could she utter such high-sounding slanderous words?"
Is this the well-bred young lady carefully cultivated by the Tongjia clan?
When Consort Tong received no response from Xu Lejin for a long time, her eyes darted around and she said in a gloomy voice, "Consort Yu, I will go to the Qianqing Palace to report to my cousin the Emperor that you are bullying the concubines in the palace because you are pregnant."
"..."
Xu Lejin looked bewildered as she watched Consort Tong rush towards the Qianqing Palace.
Afternoon
Ru Hua respectfully reported to Xu Lejin: "Your Majesty, Consort Tong did not see the Emperor this morning."
"Yes, I understand."
Xu Lejin picked up the teacup beside her. The tea was a little cold, and the palace maid Ziwu immediately and observantly refilled her cup with warm tea.
With her lips slightly parted, Xu Lejin spoke gracefully, “Actually, from the very beginning, Consort Tong had no intention of reporting to the Emperor at the Qianqing Palace. When Consort Chengqian passed away, she begged the Emperor to bestow the titles of Consort Xiuqin and Consort Xiuhe upon them, keeping Consort Xiuqin and Consort Xiuhe in the palace to deliberately annoy Consort Tong.”
"In Consort Tong's heart, she wished nothing more than to get rid of Consort Xiuqin and Consort Xiuhe. When Consort Xiuqin fell into the Thousand Carp Pond and drowned, Consort Tong was overjoyed and had no time to feel indignant about Consort Xiuqin's death."
With a light laugh, Xu Lejin continued.
"I imagine that Consort Tong is probably laughing heartily in the main hall of Chengqian Palace right now."
Lianzhi and Ruhua exchanged a silent glance and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Half a month later, in the main hall of Chengqian Palace
Inside the palace, charcoal fires burned, making it warm and cozy. Consort Tong lay comfortably on a soft couch, enjoying delicate pastries while being served by Consort Xiuhe like a little palace maid.
"Put some effort into it, didn't you eat?"
Looking at Consort Xiuhe with disdain, Consort Tong spoke in a cold voice.
Consort Xiuhe knelt down, massaging Consort Tong's legs. Beside her was a blazing charcoal fire. In the dead of winter, Consort Xiuhe's face was flushed from the heat, and her inner clothes were soaked with sweat.
She gave a meek reply, suppressing her resentment, and increased the pressure on her hands.
Consort Tong kicked Consort Xiuhe in the chest, her face full of anger. "It hurts so much! Is this how you massage my legs? You were my elder sister's dowry maid. Even though the Emperor has bestowed upon you the title of Consort, in my eyes you are still a lowly maid."
"I only let you serve me because I think highly of you, so don't be ungrateful."
Consort Xiuhe lowered her head, a flash of hatred crossing her eyes.
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is right. This servant knows her mistake!"
Despite the discomfort in her chest, Consort Xiuhe got up, knelt upright, and reached out to massage Consort Tong's legs again, but Consort Tong gave her a disdainful look.
He chuckled softly.
"I don't want you to serve me anymore. Go outside and kneel in the snow for an hour."
"Your Majesty..."
Consort Xiuhe exclaimed in surprise.
The moon rises above the willow branches.
The main hall of Chengqian Palace was brightly lit. Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong drank and enjoyed singing and dancing. They were very happy and content, and a moment of spring night was worth a thousand pieces of gold.
Inside the West Warm Pavilion
Consort Xiuhe curled up on the bed in despair and helplessness, her eyes red and tears streaming down her face. She endured the bone-chilling cold and pain in her knees, and a seed of hatred sprouted in her heart.
"My lady, it's late, you should rest early."
Liu'er, the palace maid who served Consort Xiuhe, gently comforted her.
Consort Xiuhe raised her red, tear-filled eyes and said resentfully, "Liu'er, I can't take it anymore. Sister Xiuqin is dead. I know that Consort Tong ordered her to be pushed into the Thousand Carp Pond, but I can't tell the truth and I can't avenge Sister Xiuqin."
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