The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace quickly learned of Emperor Kangxi's decree to bestow titles upon the concubines in the harem.
The Empress Dowager paused, glanced quickly at the Grand Empress Dowager, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I do not understand why you proposed to the Emperor to confer the titles of Consort Duan and Consort Xi upon Lady Dong and Lady Hesheli, respectively."
"Although Lady Dong gave birth to the Emperor's second daughter, the daughter died young, and her first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Consort Xi has only been in the palace for a year and is still relatively inexperienced. In terms of offspring and seniority, Consort Duan is inferior to Noble Lady Cui."
"Even Consort Xi is inferior to Noble Lady Cui and Noble Lady Zhi."
The Empress Dowager paused in her movement of turning the prayer beads.
"After giving birth to the fourth princess, Consort Zhang suffered from bleeding and could no longer have children. The emperor no longer summoned her to his bedchamber except for the occasional meal at her palace."
"Consort Zhi? Consort Zhi comes from the Yehe Nara clan. Although the Yehe Nara clan has long been subjugated to the Qing Dynasty, and Consort Hui and Consort Zhi's maternal families have been incorporated into the Plain Yellow Banner, they are still descendants of the Yehe tribe."
"It is enough for Consort Hui to be a Consort. If Noble Lady Zhi is promoted to Consort as well, it will only embolden the Nara clan."
After a pause, the Empress Dowager added, "Moreover, there is also Consort Lan in the palace, whose background is higher than that of Consort Hui and Consort Zhi."
"Consort Hui was promoted to the rank of Consort because she gave birth to Prince Baoqing for the Emperor. If Noble Lady Zhi is also promoted to Consort, and Noble Lady Lan is favored in the future and gives birth to a prince or princess, wouldn't she be directly promoted to Imperial Concubine?"
"As for Consort Xi? Consort Xi is Suo'etu's niece, and Noble Lady Yun, who will be summoned to the palace on the thirteenth of next month, is Suo'etu's own daughter. One is a niece and the other is a biological daughter. One is a consort and the other is a noble lady. Moreover, they are not much different in age. I am very curious about how Suo'etu will choose."
The Empress Dowager's rambling words fell into deep thought as she listened.
Yikun Palace
When Xu Lejin learned that Kangxi had suddenly appointed seven concubines, five noble ladies, three ladies-in-waiting, and two ladies-in-waiting, she remained calm and showed no surprise.
Ru Hua hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I have heard that His Majesty has established a rule of four consorts and six concubines. Now His Majesty has appointed seven concubines, this..."
The question, "Have you violated any rules?", was swallowed back by Ru Hua.
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and spoke casually.
"The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven is the rule. Not to mention that the Emperor has now established seven concubines, it would be perfectly acceptable for the Emperor to confer the titles of Concubine and Imperial Concubine on all the Noble Ladies, Attendants, and Ladies-in-Waiting."
Ruhua and Lianzhi exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and remained silent.
Xu Lejin looked up at the bright moonlight outside the window, her red lips parted slightly, and she murmured, "Now in the palace, below the Empress, the position of Noble Consort is vacant. The Consorts are Consort Gong, myself, and Consort Xuan. Above the Concubine is the Seven Concubines."
"His Majesty has designated two Imperial Concubines, four Consorts, and six Concubines. Only two more are needed. I wonder who will ultimately win the title of Imperial Concubine?"
Ru Hua lowered his head and remained silent.
Lianzhi quickly looked up, glanced at Xu Lejin, and then lowered her head again.
The next day
The Empress smiled and looked at Xu Lejin, Consort Xuan and the others, saying, "Consort Yu and Consort Xuan were conferred the title of Consort by His Majesty on Mid-Autumn Festival. Yesterday, His Majesty conferred the title of Consort An, Consort Jing and seven other consorts."
"His Majesty's grace is boundless. All of you sisters must also serve His Majesty wholeheartedly, and continue his lineage so that his descendants may flourish."
Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan stood up and, leading the concubines, noble ladies, ladies-in-waiting, and ladies-in-waiting below, bowed to the Empress in acknowledgment.
The Empress smiled and asked everyone to take their seats.
Looking at the unfamiliar ladies-in-waiting and concubines, the Empress then asked, "Who are Lady Yin and Lady Shi?"
A woman in light green robes and a small double bun hairstyle, dressed in palace attire, and another petite woman in pale yellow robes, stood up with the help of a palace maid.
"This humble servant, Lady Yin/Lady Shi, greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
The Empress looked down at the two people who were half-kneeling and bowing.
"Consort Yin looks older and more composed. Consort Shi is petite, and her pale yellow palace dress makes her look exceptionally charming and lovely. Looking at my two younger sisters, I can't help but sigh that time waits for no one."
Yin Changzai paused, then lowered his head in deep thought.
Shi Changzai raised her head slightly, her face beaming with a smile, and said, "Your Majesty the Empress is in the prime of her life. This humble servant and Sister Yin are young, like tender melon vines, and are far inferior to Your Majesty, whose majesty is boundless."
Upon hearing this, the Empress smiled with satisfaction.
Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan exchanged a glance, a smile playing on their lips, and remained silent in contemplation.
Consort Hui, who held a rank above the imperial concubines, covered her mouth and whispered, "Your Majesty, Consort Shi's little mouth is so sharp-tongued, just like Consort Yu back then..."
"I misspoke, Your Highness Consort Yu, please forgive me."
Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Hui with a calm expression and said in a deep voice, "Consort Hui, you are an old servant in the palace, having served the Emperor for almost ten years. I don't need to teach you what to say or not to say."
"A hero doesn't dwell on past glories. I was indeed a palace maid who served the late Empress, but I am now Consort Yu, personally appointed by the Emperor, and I come from the Xu Mu'er clan. Consort Hui, you should think twice before you speak in the future."
"Today, I am magnanimous and will not hold your offense against you, considering this is your first offense."
Xu Lejin's icy words made Consort Hui's face flush red with shame and anger. She lowered her head angrily, her eyes filled with venom, and she fiercely wrung the hem of her clothes.
Consort Xuan rolled her eyes and watched Consort Hui rubbing the hem of her clothes. She said, "Consort Hui, if you keep rubbing, you'll ruin your clothes."
"I see that Consort Hui's dress is newly made, and the material is Shu brocade, which is a tribute from Sichuan. It would be a real waste if it were torn today."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The Empress, sitting on her throne, held a handkerchief to her mouth, suppressing a laugh, and looked at Consort Hui with disdain and contempt.
After laughing, Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Yin and Consort Shi, who were still kneeling, out of the corner of her eye, and then looked up at the Empress. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty, I was out of line just now."
"It's alright."
The Empress waved her hand with a dignified expression.
Xu Lejin then spoke up, "Consort Yin and Consort Shi are still kneeling. Your Majesty, do you think we should let Consort Yin and Consort Shi get up? I was also thinking of seeing Consort Chun and Consort Niu."
Her face stiffened, and the Empress gave Xu Lejin a meaningful look.
"I was momentarily negligent and forgot that Consort Yin and Consort Shi are still kneeling. Since Consort Yu has spoken up for you, Consort Yin and Consort Shi, please rise!"
Yin Changzai and Shi Changzai had humble and respectful expressions.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress and Consort Xie Yu."
After speaking, the two stood up and respectfully withdrew. Next, Chun and Niu, who had been called by Xu Lejin, bowed and knelt down to pay their respects to the Empress, Xu Lejin, and others.
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