Xu Lejin gave birth prematurely at eight months and safely delivered a daughter. The news spread like wildfire throughout the palace and beyond, reaching the ears of the major families in the capital.
The Suochuoluo family of the Plain White Banner, the residence of Consort Xu of Prince Gong's Mansion, the Tatara family, the Shumulu family, the Antu Guarjia family, and all those who were related to the Xu Mur family by marriage were all delighted.
Xu Lejin is already a concubine, and now she has given birth safely, with one son and three daughters. Even if she cannot be made a consort immediately, she will eventually be made a consort after a few years when the princes and princesses grow up.
As night fell, Xu Lejin, having been cleaned up, lay on the soft couch, gazing lovingly at her adorable, fair-skinned daughter in her swaddling clothes, her face beaming with a motherly smile.
Inside the main hall of Yikun Palace, candlelight shone brightly. Consort Zhao, Consort Nara, Consort Li, and others sat quietly in their seats, not daring to utter a sound.
After Xu Lejin gave birth safely and the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager saw the little princess, they got up and returned to Cining Palace.
At this moment, Kangxi sat upright in the main seat, looking down at Tong Jia Xianyu kneeling below him, and said coldly, "Consort Tong, how do you explain Consort Yu's fall and premature birth today?"
Tong Jiaxianyu had been kneeling for most of the day, and her knees were in excruciating pain.
Upon hearing this, her face turned deathly pale. She looked up at Kangxi and said, "Your Majesty, Cousin, I don't know what happened. Consort Yu's words were offensive. I wanted to hit her, but I..."
"My hand froze in mid-air. After a moment of hesitation, I felt someone push me from behind. Then, my hand and Consort Yu fell to the ground, and Consort Yu went into premature labor."
"Cousin, you have to believe me. I really didn't push Consort Yu on purpose, I didn't mean to cause her to have a premature birth."
Tong Jiaxianyu was filled with fear and despair. The Empress Dowager's last words kept echoing in her mind, and she felt as if the sky had fallen.
Consort Yu went into premature labor, which lasted for most of the day. She knelt in Yikun Palace for most of the day.
Now that Consort Yu has given birth safely and both mother and daughter are safe, she breathed a long sigh of relief. However, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager did not want to let the matter pass easily, and the Emperor's cousin also investigated the matter afterward.
That vile Consort Zhao, she even fanned the flames...
Emperor Kangxi's expression softened, and he looked at Consort Xuan, asking in a deep voice, "Consort Xuan, you and Consort Yu were together at the time. What is your opinion on Consort Yu's fall and premature birth?"
Is it as Tongjia said?
Consort Xuan stood up, bowed to Emperor Kangxi, and said, "Your Majesty, I only saw Consort Tong trying to hit Consort Yu, and then she tackled Consort Yu to the ground."
"As for whether it was as Consort Tong said, that someone pushed her, or whether Consort Tong deliberately fell to the ground along with Consort Yu, I have no idea."
After a pause, Consort Xuan said in a low voice, "Back then, besides me, Consort Tong also had Consort Zhang, Consort Nara, and Consort Xiao Nara behind her. If it is true, as Consort Tong said, that someone pushed her, I dare to guess that it was Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, or perhaps Consort Xiao Nara who pushed Consort Tong."
After speaking, Consort Xuan lowered her head and remained silent.
Upon hearing this, Tong Jiaxianyu's eyes turned venomous as she glared fiercely at Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, and Consort Xiao Nara, quickly pondering which of the three was the mastermind behind pushing her.
Upon hearing this, Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, and Consort Xiao Nara turned pale and immediately stood up from their seats and knelt down.
"Your Majesty is wise. This concubine did not know what happened at the time. Even if you gave me a thousand or ten thousand times the courage, I would not have pushed Consort Tong."
Consort Nara kowtowed, her face calm as she spoke.
Immediately afterward, Consort Zhang also said, "Your Majesty, this humble servant is weak and has no strength to push Consort Tong. This humble servant can no longer bear children. This humble servant only has one princess, the Fourth Princess. This humble servant has absolutely no reason to push Consort Tong and harm Consort Yu's unborn child."
After Consort Zhang finished speaking, she prostrated herself on the ground.
The young concubine trembled slightly and stammered, "Your Majesty, this humble servant is timid. This humble servant did not push Consort Tong. This humble servant swears to Heaven that if I have uttered a single lie today, may I die a horrible death, and may my eleventh daughter never grow up!"
"Little Nara Concubine?"
Consort Zhao stopped Consort Xiao Nara from making a poisonous oath in time, and coldly rebuked her, "Consort Xiao Nara, the eleventh princess is of royal blood, and is of the highest rank and preciousness. How can you use her to make oaths or curses?"
Immediately afterwards, Consort Zhao bowed and knelt down, saying to Emperor Kangxi, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was concerned for the Eleventh Princess and lost my manners and sense of propriety in front of you."
"It's alright."
Kangxi glanced at Consort Zhao, then looked sharply at Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, Consort Xiao Nara, and Tongjia Xianyu, whose face was pale as paper and filled with hatred.
After frowning and pondering for a long time...
Kangxi solemnly instructed Liang Jiugong: "Issue my decree to inform the six palaces that Consort Tong of Chengqian Palace, of the Tongjia clan, is arrogant and domineering and intends to harm the imperial heir. She shall be confined to her quarters for six months, have her salary reduced for one year, and be forced to copy the 'Palace Rules,' 'Admonitions for Women,' and 'Rules for Women' one hundred times."
"Concubine Nara, Concubine Zhang, and Concubine Xiao Nara failed to persuade Consort Tong in time. They are confined to their quarters for one month, their salaries are reduced by three months, and they are ordered to copy Buddhist scriptures 'one hundred times' to pray for the thirteenth princess."
Liang Jiugong respectfully agreed.
Although Tongjia Xianyu, Nara Concubine, and others were unwilling, they swallowed the words that were on the tip of their tongues when they saw Kangxi's ugly face. In their hearts, they gritted their teeth in hatred for the person who pushed Tongjia Xianyu behind the scenes, causing Xu Lejin to have a premature birth.
Emperor Kangxi bestowed some gifts upon Xu Lejin and then rose to leave Yikun Palace.
Supported by her maids, Consort Tong forced herself to stand up despite the pain. Her eyes flashed with venom as she looked at Consort Nara and Consort Zhang, and she said coldly, "Nara and Zhang, don't let me know which of the three of you pushed me."
"The humiliation I have suffered today will be repaid tenfold, a hundredfold, once I have uncovered the truth."
After speaking, Tong Jia Xianyu, supported by two personal maids, limped out of Yikun Palace, leaving behind three concubines, Nara, Zhang, and Xiao Nara, whose expressions were inscrutable.
Consort Zhao chuckled lightly, glancing meaningfully at the three of them. "Today, Consort Yu gave birth prematurely, and Consort Tong was punished. I'm quite curious, which of you three is the culprit?"
"You've got some nerve, plotting to harm the imperial heir and scheming against the concubines and other high-ranking officials."
Consort Nara, Consort Zhang, and Consort Xiao Nara broke out in a thin layer of sweat on their backs, their hearts filled with terror. If it weren't for their personal maids supporting them, they would have already fallen to the ground in a disheveled state.
Consort Zhao, supported by Caiyue and Lianxing, left Yikun Palace.
Following closely behind, Consort Li, Consort Xiao Hesheli, and others also rose and left Yikun Palace. Half a cup of tea later, only Consort Nara and two others, looking disheveled and terrified, remained in the main hall of Yikun Palace.
How the three of them finally returned to their respective palaces is unknown.
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