After returning to Yikun Palace, Lianzhi and Ruhua hurriedly prepared tea and snacks, and laid out a thick cushion for Xu Lejin.
After everything was in place.
Xu Lejin enjoyed her tea and snacks with great satisfaction.
Lianzhi carefully chose her words and spoke softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Rong's words today were loaded with meaning. The Empress is unwell today; what does this have to do with you?"
"His Majesty is young and healthy, so it is common for the concubines in the harem to become pregnant."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly and glanced at Lianzhi.
"That is indeed the case. Her Majesty the Empress is unwell today. What does that have to do with my pregnancy and that of Consort Miao? It is the duty of the concubines in the palace to serve His Majesty and to ensure that His Majesty has offspring and can continue the family line."
"It's bad enough that Consort Rong's words today put Consort Duan in an awkward position, but outside the Empress's palace, Consort Hui also interfered and made things difficult for Consort Duan. It's pitiful that Consort Duan, despite holding the rank of Consort and having borne a princess for the Emperor, is now in such a predicament."
Lianzhi and Ruhua exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and remained silent.
Xu Lejin frowned slightly, then changed the subject and said gracefully, "As a principal consort, Consort Duan is entitled to raise the children of lower-ranking concubines."
"Consort Miao's unborn child is now two and a half months along, and I've noticed that the Emperor doesn't seem to care much for her."
That's enough.
Xu Lejin glanced at Lianzhi meaningfully before continuing to eat her snacks.
The Empress's illness came on suddenly and rapidly; within three days, she was bedridden. Although she was mostly conscious each day, she no longer had the energy to handle palace affairs.
Xu Lejin is pregnant with the emperor's child. Although it is not confirmed, everyone in the palace knows that she is most likely pregnant.
"My beloved concubine has just become pregnant, and the pregnancy is unstable. If she were to take over palace affairs at this time, it would inevitably be too much of a burden. The Empress is also ill, and the palace cannot be without someone in charge."
"Among my beloved concubines, who in the palace is capable of undertaking such a great responsibility?"
That afternoon, Emperor Kangxi was having lunch at Yikun Palace. After lunch, he looked at Xu Lejin and asked her in a low voice.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress is the head of the six palaces, and the affairs of the palace should be decided by the Empress. Now that the Empress is unwell, Your Majesty needs to select an outstanding concubine from among the concubines to assist in managing the six palaces."
"Your Majesty is foolish and thinks that Your Majesty should discuss this matter with the Empress."
Kangxi nodded.
"Indeed, we should discuss this with the Empress, but I was thinking of asking for your opinion, my beloved consort."
He lowered his head and pondered for a moment.
Xu Lejin looked up at Kangxi and said softly, "In terms of rank in the palace, apart from me, Consort Xuan has the highest rank, followed by Consort An, Consort Jing, Consort Hui, Consort Rong, and several others above the rank of Consort."
"I have considered it carefully, and Consort Xuan, Consort An, Consort Hui, and Consort Rong are all excellent choices."
Three days later, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial edict.
The Empress was unwell and ordered Consort Xuan, Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and Consort Xi to jointly manage the six palaces.
Consort Jing was proposed by the Empress Dowager, while Consort Xi was chosen by the Empress after weighing the pros and cons while she was on her sickbed.
As for Consort Rong and Consort An, the Empress Dowager and the Empress found reasons to reject their applications.
When the Empress Dowager's decree reached Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin smiled faintly and didn't take it to heart.
She didn't want to get involved in palace power struggles, so she was naturally happy to have some peace and quiet.
In the palace, as long as the concubines don't interfere with her, they all benefit. As long as they don't mistreat her allowance for Yikun Palace or harm her children, she is happy to see it happen.
In early June, after a follow-up visit by Physician Xu, Xu Lejin confirmed that she was one month pregnant.
As Xu Lejin was diagnosed with pregnancy, the Empress's condition worsened. After discussion, Consort Xuan, Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and Consort Xi arranged for the concubines to take turns attending to the Empress at Kunning Palace.
Xu Lejin, Seattle, and Miao Changzai were exempted from the task of caring for the sick because they were pregnant.
The weather in June is like a child's face, changing in an instant.
Ru Hua looked up at the sky, her brows furrowed, and said, "Your Highness, I think it's about to rain. Let's go to the pavilion over there and take shelter until the storm passes before going back!"
"Um."
Xu Lejin nodded and, supported by Ruhua and Ziwu, walked towards the pavilion not far away.
As she approached the pavilion, a woman in palace attire, whose face she didn't recognize, came into Xu Lejin's view, holding her slightly protruding belly.
Xu Lejin was taken aback and looked at Ruhua with confusion.
After a quick moment of thought, Ru Hua respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this servant suspects it is Consort Miao of Shufangzhai."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, glancing at Miao Changzai out of the corner of her eye.
Meanwhile, at the prompting of the palace maid Hua Ying, Consort Miao was also observing Xu Lejin.
A moment later, Miao Changzai curtsied and spoke softly, "This humble servant, Yu Shi, the Attendant of Shufangzhai, greets Consort Yu. May Consort Yu be blessed."
"With you here, there's no need for formalities. Please rise."
Xu Lejin smiled and told Miao Changzai to get up.
After looking her over, Xu Lejin said softly, "I've long heard of a beautiful lady in the palace, and she's quite interesting. Seeing her today, I can confirm that she's indeed remarkable. No wonder His Majesty likes her."
"Your Highness, Consort Yu, flatters me."
Miao Changzai raised an eyebrow and smiled, “This humble servant is in poor health. His Majesty is very kind to me and is afraid that my illness will spread to the sisters in the palace. Therefore, he has exempted me from the morning and evening greetings.”
"This humble servant has not been to Yikun Palace to pay respects to Consort Yu. Please forgive me, Consort Yu."
Xu Lejin frowned slightly, then smiled faintly.
"It's alright, it's important that you take care of yourself, Consort Miao. The weather in June is so unpredictable. I was in a rare good mood today and thought I'd take a stroll in the Imperial Garden, but I didn't expect it to start raining."
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