Princess Irm entered the palace, but because she missed her family outside the palace so much, she fell ill after one night.
The Empress personally took care of him, and even the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager sent their capable maids to visit the princes. Emperor Kangxi even condescended to visit the princes.
“Sister Yufei, what kind of child is Princess Irm, the adopted daughter of our Empress? At the age of seven, she should be sensible enough. To be adopted by the Empress and raised in the palace, enjoying the honor of a princess, is better than being just the daughter of a concubine in the Prince Gong’s mansion.”
"Why did you fall ill after entering the palace because you missed your family outside?"
Consort Xuan lowered her voice and whispered her doubts to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin raised her head and quickly glanced at Consort Xuan and the group of concubines waiting to pay their respects to Empress Niohuru in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace.
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "There are many rules in the palace. It's normal for Princess Irm to be unaccustomed to her new living environment for a while."
Consort Xuan nodded with a smile.
A moment later, the Empress, looking exhausted, emerged from the inner chamber with the help of Caiyue and Lianxing, and sat on the Phoenix Throne.
"My dear sisters, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Irmu has been unwell since she entered the palace, and I have been very worried about her. This morning, someone from the Prince's residence came to report that Irmu had fainted from a high fever."
"I was in a hurry to visit Irm at the Prince's Residence, and in my haste I forgot to leave a message, leaving my sisters waiting in Chuxiu Palace for an hour."
With a haggard expression, the Empress spoke softly and slowly.
Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan exchanged a glance and said, "Her Majesty the Empress is kind and benevolent. With Her Majesty's blessing and protection in the palace, Princess Irm will surely be safe and sound and turn danger into safety."
"Thank you for your kind words, Consort Cheng Yu. Your Majesty and I both hope that Irm will recover soon."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly and remained silent.
Following that, the Empress inquired about matters within the harem, and, as always, instructed the concubines to serve Emperor Kangxi diligently and to bear him children as soon as possible.
The concubines respectfully responded.
The Empress picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked at Consort Xi, Hesheli. “Consort Xi, today is the day Consort Yun enters the palace. Consort Yun is your cousin. I will entrust you with all matters concerning Consort Yun after she enters the palace.”
Consort Xi stood up with the help of her maids.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress has instructed me to carefully arrange for Consort Yun's entry into the palace."
The Empress nodded in satisfaction.
Then the Empress's gaze fell upon Consort Hui, nala, and behind Consort Hui, Noble Lady Lan, who was yet to be favored in the palace. She spoke cautiously, "Consort Hui, Noble Lady Lan is young and has not yet served the Emperor, but she is still a Noble Lady appointed by the Emperor. Noble Lady Lan lives in Yanxi Palace, so please take good care of her."
Consort Hui responded softly with a forced smile, "Yes."
The Empress smiled and said, "No need for Consort Lan to be impatient. You are still young, only fifteen years old. After a few years, when you have grown up, the Emperor will summon you to serve him in bed."
"Consort Lan, you are young and delicate, and you come from the Plain Yellow Banner."
Consort Lan stood up, her eyes sparkling with laughter, and said in a charming and lively voice, "Your Majesty the Empress is right. Although I am only fifteen years old, I have been menstruating for three years now."
"Um."
The Empress's expression changed slightly, and she responded with a sound of agreement, but said nothing more.
On an autumn afternoon, the sun shone on the palace walls as Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan stood outside Chuxiu Palace.
“Sister Yufei, I think Consort Lan in Consort Hui’s palace is a restless person. The Empress just said that she was too young and should wait a year or two before serving the Emperor, but Consort Lan said that she was fifteen years old and had been menstruating for three years.”
Consort Xuan lowered her voice and whispered in Xu Lejin's ear.
Xu Lejin had a faint smile on her face and said, "Consort Lan has been in the palace for more than a year and has been waiting for the emperor's summons, but has not yet served the emperor. Today, another Consort Yun is coming to the palace, so it is understandable that Consort Lan is a little anxious."
"At fifteen, although still young and immature, she has already reached the age of marriage."
After speaking, Xu Lejin raised her head and glanced meaningfully at the top of her head, secretly thinking to herself that fifteen years old was already quite old in the Qing Dynasty.
Empress Xiaokangzhang, the late emperor's mother and Kangxi's biological mother, gave birth at the age of fourteen.
Night falls
Ru Hua, who was beside Xu Lejin, ran into Yikun Palace and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor chose Consort Yun today. The Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage has already picked up Consort Yun and taken her to Qianqing Palace to serve him."
"Okay, I understand."
Xu Lejin responded lightly, gazing out the window at the hazy moonlight. She parted her lips slightly and said, "When Consort Yun entered the palace today, the Emperor chose her. Although it was against the rules, the Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven is the rule."
"Consort Yun entered the palace and immediately served the emperor, which shows that she was special in the emperor's heart."
Ru Hua looked up, glanced quickly at Xu Lejin, and then lowered her head.
Lianzhi frowned slightly, considered for a moment, and then spoke respectfully, “Your Majesty, even if Consort Yun is favored, she cannot surpass Your Majesty. Your Majesty is Consort Yu, personally appointed by the Emperor, and your rank in the palace is only below that of the Empress and Consort Gong.”
"Although Consort Yun was born into the Hesheli clan, she was only a noblewoman."
Xu Lejin nodded, smiling but saying nothing.
The next day, the concubines in the harem met the newly arrived Consort Yun. She was as beautiful as a peach blossom, and her beauty was beyond compare. She was indeed a rare and stunning beauty.
Most importantly, Consort Yun's words and actions bear a striking resemblance to Empress Xiaocheng, who passed away three years ago.
The Empress looked at Consort Yun with a gentle expression and said, "Consort Yun has just entered the palace and served His Majesty in the Qianqing Palace yesterday. You have worked hard. Lianxing, take out the jade lotus bracelet that I recently acquired and give it to Consort Yun."
"This humble servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress."
Consort Yun's face revealed a perfectly timed expression of joy.
Then, the Empress continued, "After Consort Yun has served the Emperor, she should take good care of her health and strive to give birth to a prince or princess for the Emperor as soon as possible. Since Consort Yu became pregnant and gave birth to the thirteenth princess, there has been no news of a concubine being pregnant in the palace for a long time."
Consort Yun blushed slightly, her face showing a shy expression.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this humble servant will follow Your Majesty's instructions."
After a short while, the Empress glanced at the sky outside, covered her mouth, and said, "I think it's getting late. I have to go to the Prince's residence this afternoon to visit Irm, so I won't keep you sisters any longer."
Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan stood up and led the other concubines to respectfully take their leave.
The Empress returned to her bedchamber, her face immediately darkening.
"Consort Yun is truly beautiful and charming, and as young and delicate as a flower bud. No wonder the Emperor likes her. On her very first day in the palace, he couldn't wait to summon her to his bedchamber."
Caiyue and Lianxing lowered their heads, carefully watching their toes.
After a moment of contemplation, the Empress said coldly, "Lianxing, have all the matters I instructed been arranged? Hesheli..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
