Upon hearing Xu Lejin's words, Kangxi's expression immediately darkened.
With his eyes fixed intently on Xu Lejin, not missing a single change in her expression, Kangxi thought to himself, "Is the sun setting in the east today? Consort Yu actually took the initiative to recommend a palace maid to serve me."
It wasn't uncommon for concubines in the palace to have palace maids attend to them when they were unwell, but this was the first time such a thing had happened with Consort Yu.
Has Consort Yu changed as time has passed?
Has she become like the other concubines in the palace?
Clearing his throat, Kangxi said coldly, "Consort Yu is very kind. You are pregnant, and I shouldn't have troubled you with these things, but..."
"Alright, alright, I have other matters to attend to in the Qianqing Palace. We can discuss the matter of Lady Guo Jia serving me later!"
After saying this, Kangxi left Yikun Palace without looking back.
Supported by Lianzhi and Ruhua, Xu Lejin respectfully saw off Emperor Kangxi outside the main hall.
After a cup of tea, Xu Lejin sat calmly in front of the dressing table. Lianzhi and Ruhua carefully served her, removing the hairpins and tying her hair into a loose bun.
"This servant does not understand, Your Majesty. Why did you suddenly recommend Guo Jia Yuwei to the Emperor today?"
Lianzhi spoke softly, voicing her doubts.
With a gentle smile, Xu Lejin spoke softly, her expression indifferent, "The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and his three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines have never truly belonged to me. I am pregnant and it is inconvenient for me to serve the Emperor. Recommending a palace maid would not be a big deal."
"In the palace, don't Consort Zhao and Consort Tong often do such things? Following the example of those above, I naturally cannot fall behind Consort Zhao and Consort Tong."
Lianzhi lowered her head and remained silent.
After a moment's consideration, Ru Hua said respectfully, "Your Majesty, it must have been difficult for you. Your Majesty recommended Yuwei to serve His Majesty, but His Majesty refused. This shows that Your Majesty is different in His Majesty's eyes."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Xu Lejin smiled and glared at Ruhua before saying in a deep voice, "The Emperor treats every concubine in the palace the same. Tonight, the Emperor refused Guo Jia's service because he was mindful of my pregnancy."
The one who enters the painting should be 'yes'.
Inside the main hall of Yikun Palace, the candles were extinguished. Xu Lejin lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling with her eyes open. In the adjacent side room, Ruhua and Ziwu were keeping watch.
With her lips slightly parted, Xu Lejin called out to Ruhua. A moment later, Ruhua bowed and entered the bedchamber.
“Ruhua, tell me, how much do I mean to the Emperor? Tonight, recommending the palace maid Guo Jia was not my original intention; I just wanted to test the Emperor.”
"His Majesty refused Guo Jia's service. I should be happy, but why can't I feel happy?"
Sitting up straight, Xu Lejin whispered softly.
In the darkness, a strange light flashed in Ru Hua's eyes, and she then said respectfully, "Your Majesty, in His Majesty's heart, Your Majesty is naturally the most important."
"Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune, bearing an heir for the Emperor. The Emperor, out of compassion and affection for Your Majesty, has refused Yuwei's offer to serve him."
Xu Lejin remained silent, lost in thought.
Ru Hua paused, lowered her voice, and then spoke softly.
"As for Your Majesty's concerns, this servant feels they are completely unnecessary. Your Majesty is pregnant, and the imperial heir is of utmost importance. There are many palace maids serving His Majesty in the Qianqing Palace. Tonight, Your Majesty refused Guo Jia Yuwei, whom Your Majesty recommended, out of consideration for the imperial heir."
"This servant dares to suggest that if Consort Zhao or Consort Tong bring up this matter tomorrow, Your Highness can say that His Majesty values the imperial heir and that's why he refused Your Highness's arrangement."
Xu Lejin listened attentively to the words of comfort.
After a long while, he murmured, "Now that things have come to this, there's no other way!"
I slept soundly through the night.
The next day, on the long street, Consort Tong deliberately raised her voice, speaking in a sarcastic tone.
"I heard that last night, Consort Yu recommended a palace maid to serve the Emperor, but he refused. Consort Yu is becoming more and more virtuous these days, even recommending a palace maid to serve the Emperor."
"Consort Yu, let me ask you, were the two palace maids you recommended last night the ones beside you? They look nothing special, just ordinary beauties with plain looks, yet they have the nerve to recommend you to serve the Emperor."
Xu Lejin's expression darkened slightly.
Consort Tong then added with a look of disdain, "Upon closer reflection, Consort Yu, you are rather plain-looking. If you were to recommend a palace maid who is too young and beautiful, she would steal your thunder. Therefore, you can only recommend these bland and unattractive people!"
Taking a deep breath, Xu Lejin looked up at Consort Tong.
"Your Highness Consort Tong's teachings are correct. I am certainly not as beautiful as Your Highness Consort Tong. I know that I am neither talented nor beautiful, so last night I recommended the palace maid Guo Jia. She has a beautiful face. Although she is not a beauty that can topple kingdoms, she is still fair and delicate."
"Lianzhi and Ruhua, who serve me, are used to taking care of me. Now that I am pregnant, I cannot do without them."
Tong Fei choked on her words and glared fiercely at Xu Lejin.
She covered her mouth and chuckled, "So what if you have a beautiful face and fair skin? The Emperor still doesn't like you. The Emperor is the Son of Heaven. What kind of beauty hasn't he seen? Consort Yu, you're just a palace maid, a recommended palace maid. How good can you be?"
"However, today, Consort Yu said that I am a beauty of unparalleled grace, which pleased me greatly, so I will let it go for now!"
Changing the subject, Consort Tong raised her voice and gave instructions to the palace maid beside her.
"Xiangling, help me back to Chengqian Palace."
Xu Lejin slightly bent her knees to respectfully see Consort Tong off, watching Consort Tong's graceful figure sway and twist her hips as she left, a faint, cold smile playing on her lips.
Lianzhi looked indignant and said, "Your Majesty, you are pregnant, and Consort Tong is really going too far. She has been in the palace for almost a year and has been confined by the Empress Dowager. If it weren't for Your Majesty, how could she have obtained the power to assist in managing the six palaces? What kind of arrogance is she putting on in front of Your Majesty?"
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