Cining Palace
The Empress Dowager sighed softly and said, "The position of Empress has been fraught with twists and turns! Previously, the court officials opposed Niohuru becoming Empress and petitioned the Emperor to select a noblewoman from a prominent family to enter the inner palace. I advised the Emperor against it, but now, at the very last moment, this has happened again."
"The emperor was born to the late emperor's concubine, which is an undeniable fact. Everyone in the palace avoids mentioning it, but now it's being brought up in the open, with people calling him an illegitimate son. How can the emperor not be furious?"
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly.
“What Your Majesty says is very true. The princes under the Emperor’s nose are all born to concubines. The Empress’s actions have not only offended the Emperor, but also all the concubines in the harem.”
The Empress Dowager's expression changed slightly, and she pondered for a long time.
"Those words may not have been spoken by the Empress herself. The Empress's virtuous conduct has hindered the future prospects of the concubines, so it's normal for them to frame her. Now..."
"I only lament that the sixth princess born to Empress Hesheli was not a prince."
"If it were a prince, it would save a lot of trouble."
The Empress Dowager lowered her head and remained silent.
At this moment, Sumalagu entered the hall and respectfully reported, "The Empress Dowager, Your Majesty the Empress, and Consort Xuan request an audience."
"Consort Xuan?"
The Empress Dowager paused for a moment, then said softly, "Please invite Consort Xuan in."
At night
Emperor Kangxi rested at Xu Lejin's Yikun Palace.
The candlelight flickered, and Kangxi frowned. "I intend to appoint several concubines from among the concubines and palace maids who serve me, and the rest will be granted the titles of Noble Lady, Attendant, and Lady-in-Waiting."
"My dear consort, who do you think is suitable to be a concubine?"
When Emperor Kangxi asked a casual question, Xu Lejin looked completely surprised.
After her initial surprise, she whispered, "Your Majesty, I dare not presume to speak. If Your Majesty is still undecided, you may go to Cining Palace to consult the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager."
"Um."
Emperor Kangxi nodded thoughtfully.
After a moment, Kangxi muttered to himself, "The Ma Jia clan and the Na La clan have children, Saiyin Chaze and Baoqing, and should be conferred the title of Consort. The Li clan is the granddaughter of the Fuxi Efu, and she was selected through the proper selection process to enter the palace, so she can also be made a Consort."
"Wang Jia is the Empress Dowager's niece. Although she has only been in the palace for a short time, she is still eligible to be conferred the title of Consort. The rest..."
In the stillness of the night, the sound of Kangxi's even breathing could be heard from beside my pillow.
Xu Lejin kept her eyes open until dawn, with huge dark circles under her eyes, before getting up to help Kangxi change his clothes. After seeing Kangxi off, Xu Lejin sat in front of the dressing table, where Lianzhi and Ruhua helped her with her makeup.
Evening
When the imperial edict of Emperor Kangxi was issued, the following consorts were conferred titles: Consort Li was conferred the title of Anpin; Consort Wangjia was conferred the title of Jingpin; Consort Nara was conferred the title of Huipin; Consort Majia was conferred the title of Rongpin; Consort Dong was conferred the title of Duanpin; Consort Guoluoluo was conferred the title of Yipin; and Consort Hesheli was conferred the title of Xipin. On the 18th of the ninth month, the investiture ceremony was held together with Consort Xu Lejin, Consort Xuan, and others.
Consort An, née Li, moved to Qixiang Palace.
Consort Duan, née Dong, moved to Jingyang Palace.
In addition, Emperor Kangxi promoted Consort Zhang to the rank of Noble Lady and bestowed upon her the title "Cui"; promoted Consort Xiao Nara to the rank of Noble Lady and bestowed upon her the title "Zhi"; promoted Consort Zhaojia to the rank of Noble Lady and bestowed upon her the title "Bu"; and promoted Princess Nara, who was waiting for her turn in the palace, to the rank of Noble Lady and bestowed upon her the title "Lan".
He appointed Xiuhe as a concubine, making her a Consort Xiu.
Lady Yin, a palace maid serving the emperor, was appointed as a Changzai and resided in Jingyang Palace; Lady Chun'er, a palace maid serving the emperor, was appointed as a Daying and resided in Qixiang Palace; Lady Shi, a palace maid serving the emperor, was appointed as a Changzai and resided in Qixiang Palace; and Lady Niu, a palace maid serving the emperor, was appointed as a Daying and resided in Jingyang Palace.
In addition, Emperor Kangxi issued an edict ordering Suo'etu's daughter, Hesheli Yunqi, to enter the palace as a Noble Lady, bestowed with the title "Yun". She entered the palace on the thirteenth day of the ninth month and resided in Changchun Palace.
The imperial edict spread throughout the six palaces, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.
Consort Hui and Consort Rong were resentful, but they were helpless and could only accept their fate.
Although the rank of Consort is not as high as that of Imperial Concubine, it is still a principal position in the palace. In the future, when the princes and princesses grow up, they will have the opportunity to be promoted to Imperial Concubine.
Yanxi Palace
After Hui Pin understood the situation, her mind became much more at peace.
The palace maid Cunxin bowed and entered from outside the hall, lowering her voice to report to Consort Hui, "Your Majesty, in the west wing, Consort Zhi is furious that the Emperor did not bestow upon her the title of Consort."
Her face darkened, and Consort Hui let out a cold laugh.
"She wants to be promoted to Consort Hui and become the head of Yanxi Palace? I have served the Emperor for many years and given birth to Prince Baoqing, and only now have I been promoted to Consort Hui. She—"
"Having served the Emperor for only three years and given birth to only a princess, he now enjoys only mediocre favor. What right does he have to be on equal footing with me as a concubine? It's simply wishful thinking."
Cunxin lowered her head and said softly, "What Your Majesty says is very true."
After pondering for a moment, Consort Hui stood up and, supported by a palace maid, left the east side hall of Yanxi Palace where she was temporarily residing, and walked towards the west side hall opposite.
Zhongcui Palace
Consort Rong, of the Ma Jia clan, had been dreaming that she would be promoted to the rank of Consort or Noble Consort because of her merit in giving birth to the imperial heir and her seniority. However, she was only granted the rank of Consort. It took her a quarter of an hour for her resentment to gradually dissipate.
"Caiwei, I heard that the one in the West Side Palace has also received the Emperor's great favor and been granted the title of Consort Duan?"
Caiwei lowered her head and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."
Consort Rong snorted coldly, her eyes icy.
"She's quite lucky. She's timid, uncouth, and petty. Her second daughter died young, and her previous pregnancy also ended in miscarriage. Yet now she's been made a Consort Duan, on equal footing with me."
Changing the subject, Consort Rong added, "Poor Zhao Jia, she gave birth to the Emperor's seventh daughter, yet she is only a Noble Lady."
"What was Zhao Jia's sister's title again?"
Caiwei pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhaojia has been granted the title of Noble Lady Bu by the Emperor."
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