When Consort Wanyan passed away, her funeral was quite grand because the Wanyan family outside the palace was an old Manchu surname.
but,
Even though Emperor Kangxi issued an edict to hold a grand funeral for Consort Wanyan, very few people actually went to pay their respects, since the concubines in the harem were inherently vying for the emperor's favor.
There might be some sisterly affection between them, but it's not deep.
Xu Lejin went to the mourning hall in person to pay her respects. Afterwards, she walked along the long street with Consort Xuan, her heart filled with countless emotions.
“Sister Yu Pin, we used to know that Consort Li and Consort Wanyan were on good terms, but today at Consort Wanyan’s mourning hall, Consort Li just wailed without shedding a single tear of true emotion.”
Consort Xuan frowned slightly and spoke in a low voice.
Xu Lejin sighed, her expression indifferent, and said, "The sisterhood in the palace, even if there is genuine affection, is mostly just pretense."
“During her lifetime, Consort Wanyan and Consort Li supported each other and had a good relationship. Now, for Consort Wanyan’s funeral, Consort Li asked Consort Zhao to take care of it for her, which has already fulfilled this sisterly affection.”
"The deceased is gone. Consort Wanyan has passed away, which is regrettable and heartbreaking. But the living must go on. Consort Li did not shed any tears today, but her eyes were red and her face was sorrowful."
Consort Xuan nodded slightly.
“Sister Yu Pin is right. Those who cry bitterly may not be sincere, while those who don’t cry may still have feelings. I remember the Empress Dowager once taught me to look carefully and not be deceived by appearances.”
Xu Lejin's expression froze for a moment, and she looked at Consort Xuan with an ambiguous look.
Consort Xuan looked puzzled and then asked, "Sister Consort Yu, is there something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Xu Lejin shook her head, shaking off the thought in her mind.
"It's alright, it's just that I think Consort Xuan is becoming more and more beautiful. The palace's feng shui is very conducive to health. Consort Xuan came from Khorchin in Mongolia and has been in the palace for over a year."
"If people didn't know that my sister was from Mongolia, they would probably think she was a girl from the Jiangnan water towns."
Consort Xuan blushed, gave Xu Lejin a coquettish glare, and muttered, "Sister Consort Yu, you always tease your younger sister. I am just a pretty girl from a humble family, and I am far inferior to you."
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and remained silent.
Just then, a strange, sarcastic voice came from ahead.
"Consort Yu and Consort Xuan are truly sisters. Whenever they have a spare moment, they get together, laughing and joking. Anyone who doesn't know the situation would think that Consort Yu and Consort Xuan are biological sisters."
Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan both looked up at Tong Jia Xianyu, who was speaking ahead.
Tong Jiaxianyu snorted coldly and said, "Consort Wanyan has passed away. The seven-day mourning period has not yet passed, yet Consort Yu and Consort Xuan are here, all smiles."
"Could it be that Consort Yu and Consort Xuan are actually quite pleased and gloating over the death of Consort Wanyan?"
With her bright red lips opening and closing, Tong Jia Xianyu pinned a single charge on Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan. Behind Tong Jia Xianyu, Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, and others wore smug expressions.
Consort Xuan blushed and glared fiercely at Tong Jia Xianyu.
Xu Lejin chuckled softly, her gaze fixed intently on Tong Jiaxianyu, and she spoke coldly, "What does Consort Tong mean? With Consort Wanyan deceased, does this concubine, as a concubine, have to be so bitter and resentful, never smiling?"
"If what Consort Tong says is true, then Consort Tong, shouldn't you also be wearing plain clothes instead of this festive outfit of a peach-red palace dress with a green fan?"
After speaking, Xu Lejin showed a look of disdain and subtly sized up Tong Jiaxianyu.
Tong Jiaxianyu was speechless for a moment, her face turning from white to green. She angrily pointed at Xu Lejin and said, "Consort Yu, who do you think you are? Just because you are pregnant with the emperor's child, you dare to be so unscrupulous and mock me."
"Guards! Consort Yu has committed insubordination and offended me. Lock her up in the Imperial Prison."
Xu Lejin sneered and patted her large belly.
"How dare you touch me? I am carrying the imperial child. If the imperial heir is harmed, you servants will be in deep trouble. Not only will your own lives and property be in danger, but your families outside the palace will also be implicated."
Xu Lejin sternly rebuked the palace maids and eunuchs who were about to attack, then looked sharply at Tong Jiaxianyu and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Consort Tong, I am only telling the truth."
"I am nothing but Consort Yu, a title bestowed by the Emperor himself. I am the birth mother of princes and princesses, and I am currently pregnant with the Emperor's child. Of course, I am not as noble and precious as Consort Tong, who comes from a distinguished family."
A statement with a hidden meaning.
Tong Jiaxianyu was stunned. Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, and others all lowered their heads, quickly thinking to themselves. Consort Xuan, after her initial surprise, stepped forward to support Xu Lejin, appearing to be on her side.
Raising her hand, Tong Jiaxianyu was about to strike Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin narrowed her eyes, staring sharply at Tong Jiaxianyu, and said, word by word, "Consort Tong, have you thought this through? Can you bear the charge of plotting against the imperial heir?"
Tong Jiaxian's hand froze in mid-air.
Suddenly, Tong Jiaxian staggered a few steps and pounced straight at Xu Lejin. Xu Lejin couldn't dodge in time and was knocked to the ground by Tong Jiaxian.
Xu Lejin lay on the ground, her face showing a look of bewilderment.
Immediately afterwards, her intuition told her that the baby in her womb was eager to be born early because of the fall.
With a change in expression, Xu Lejin used all her strength to push away Tong Jiaxianyu, who was looking surprised and stunned, and said in a deep voice to Lianzhi and Ruhua beside her, "Lianzhi, quickly go and report to the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager that I am about to give birth."
"Ruhua, quickly help me lie down properly."
Tong Jiaxian's face turned deathly pale instantly, her eyes flashing with lingering fear.
Xu Lejin glanced disdainfully at Tong Jiaxianyu, then turned to Consort Xuan and said, "Consort Xuan, please trouble you to send someone to fetch the imperial physician and escort the midwife to Yikun Palace."
"Okay, okay."
Consort Xuan hurriedly gave instructions to the palace maids beside her, while glaring hatefully at Tong Jia Xianyu.
Half an hour later, Xu Lejin was bumped by Tong Jiaxianyu and fell. The news that the dragon fetus was about to be born prematurely spread throughout the six palaces of the east and west, and reached the Qianqing Palace and Cining Palace.
Chuxiu Palace
Consort Zhao was surprised when she heard Lianxing's report, then said coldly, "Seven months to live, eight months to die. Consort Yu's unborn child is now eight months old. A premature baby born at eight months may not survive."
"The Tongjia clan is dull-witted, but unknowingly, she has done me a great favor."
After a pause, Consort Zhao spoke again.
"With Consort Yu's unborn child in such a critical moment, the Emperor's decision to make me Empress may be affected. Caiyue and Lianxing, help me change my clothes."
“Consort Yu suddenly fell and went into premature labor. As the highest-ranking person in the palace and in charge of the six palaces, I should go to Yikun Palace to guard her.”
Caiyue and Lianxing responded respectfully.
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