Afternoon, Kunning Palace.
"Yun Cui, what kind of behavior is this, all flustered and in such a state?"
Empress Hesheli put down her exquisite teacup, her brows furrowing slightly. She glanced at Yun Cui and spoke softly:
"You are my dowry maid. When you go out, you represent my face. You must abide by the rules in every word and deed. Do not give those two concubines and the lower concubines any reason to gossip about me."
Yun Cui looked troubled, "Your Majesty..."
Empress Hesheri's face darkened. "Speak! What made you lose your composure?"
"Your Majesty, it has something to do with Xu Lejin."
Yun Cui lowered her eyes and forced herself to speak softly:
"Your Majesty, Xu Lejin was favored by the Emperor yesterday in Qianqing Palace. She is still in a side hall of Qianqing Palace. I heard that the Emperor made quite a commotion yesterday when he favored Xu Lejin."
Empress Hesheri's expression froze, her eyes blazing with fury. With a snap, she broke off her long fingernail.
Her face was a mixture of pale and ashen. Finally, with a look of fury and disbelief, Empress Hesheli sat on her throne and spoke with a cold laugh:
"She's really lucky."
“I asked her to deliver some snacks to the Emperor, but she delivered herself to the Emperor’s bed.”
Yun Cui lowered her head, lost in thought and remained silent.
After a pause, Empress Hesheli continued, "Has His Majesty said how to arrange things? Will she be made a concubine? After all, she came from my palace, so she should still have some dignity."
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has not mentioned bestowing the title of Consort Xu upon her."
Yun Cui lowered her eyes slightly, her gloating barely concealed. She spoke softly with a mocking and disdainful expression, secretly hoping that Xu Lejin would be forgotten by the Emperor and become an unknown palace maid.
Empress Hesheli paused for a moment, then smiled faintly and said, "It's only a matter of time before Xu is made a concubine. Just because she used to serve in my Kunning Palace, His Majesty should also make her a concubine."
"Those two in Chuxiu Palace and Chengqian Palace are watching. His Majesty would never allow me to lose face like this."
Yun Cui respectfully replied, "Yes."
After Emperor Kangxi finished his morning court session and reviewed the memorials in the Qianqing Palace, it was already around 5 PM.
At this moment, Kangxi suddenly remembered the palace maid he had favored the previous night.
After a moment of contemplation, Kangxi asked, "Liang Jiugong, what was the name of the palace maid from last night? What did she do in the Empress's palace?"
After considering for a moment, Liang Jiugong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Miss Xu's given name is Le Jin. She is one of the senior palace maids who was recently promoted by the Empress half a year ago and serves her closely."
Emperor Kangxi nodded.
After pondering for a moment, Liang Jiugong said, "Miss Xu is still in the side hall. Your Majesty, what do you think..."
"Um."
Kangxi responded and got up to head towards the side hall of the Qianqing Palace.
In the side hall, Xu Lejin had already dressed and was sitting there anxiously, her mind in turmoil.
In her past life, she was an ordinary person—an ordinary family, an ordinary appearance, and an ordinary life.
From childhood to adulthood, she followed the routine of going to school, going to work, marrying her childhood sweetheart, having two children, being a good wife and mother, and worrying herself sick over her family and children.
When I turned sixty, my grandson and great-grandson started elementary school, and I could finally relax a bit.
When I have nothing to do on weekdays, I like to wear my reading glasses, read Qing Dynasty time-travel novels on my phone, and watch Qing Dynasty dramas on TV.
I've also fantasized about traveling back to the Qing Dynasty someday.
But reason told her that as an ordinary person, even if she traveled back to the Qing Dynasty, she wouldn't survive more than three episodes.
And now...
Heaven actually transported her to the Qing Dynasty, and to the reign of Emperor Kangxi, one of the greatest emperors in Chinese history.
The original owner was forcibly favored by Emperor Kangxi and died young; she then took over this young body.
What a terrible thing!
At this time, Kangxi was a young man in his early twenties, while her soul was that of an old woman over sixty.
Besides, she has a clean reputation throughout her life.
In her past life, apart from her husband and son, she had never even held the hand of another man. Now, although the original owner of this body had previously been the one who received the favor, she had inherited the original owner's memories.
You're not clean anymore!
Xu Lejin was lost in thought and had no idea that Kangxi had already entered the side hall with steady steps.
Kangxi looked at the woman sitting quietly. She had fair skin, a slender and tall figure, an oval face, cherry lips, phoenix eyes, and willow-leaf eyebrows. She was beautiful and refined.
She wasn't the kind of woman who would immediately amaze you, but she wasn't ugly either.
It's the kind of thing that grows more charming the more you look at it.
Sitting quietly at this moment, she exudes a serene, elegant, and dignified beauty.
Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin and asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment.
"This servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand years of good fortune and peace."
After a slight pause, Xu Lejin said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I was just thinking how I can go back to serve Her Majesty the Empress in my current state."
“I entered the palace five years ago through a preliminary selection process and learned etiquette from the nannies for several years.”
"Her Majesty the Empress is kind and benevolent, and has promoted me to the position of head palace maid. Although there are two other elder sisters above me, Yun Cui, Qiu He, and Qiu Jin, all three of them have their own duties."
Without making a sound, Xu Lejin subtly flattered Empress Hesheli.
Emperor Kangxi was very pleased upon hearing this.
She is grateful and of good character; there are very few palace maids in the palace who are so well-mannered and grateful!
After a pause, Kangxi laughed loudly and asked, "Just now, you said that you entered the palace through the imperial selection five years ago. Who are the people in your family?"
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment.
Xu Lejin glanced at Kangxi briefly, hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and said softly, "Your Majesty, I have a father, a mother, several concubines, and sisters at home..."
“I have many sisters. There are sixteen sisters who work in the palace, and ten younger sisters at home.”
Kangxi nodded with a smile.
"In that case, your family must be well-off. Why did you enter the palace to become a maid?"
Xu Lejin gave a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, my family is a bondservant of the Upper Three Banners, and I am a registered palace maid. My sisters and I happen to meet the standards for palace maids."
Emperor Kangxi frowned and pondered.
After a long while, Kangxi spoke in a deep voice, "Hmm. According to the rules set by our ancestors, eligible women from the bondservants families of the Upper Three Banners must be selected by the Imperial Household Department before they can be married."
"What is your father's name? Where does he work?"
Kangxi continued to inquire.
Xu Lejin looked up in surprise and gazed at Kangxi.
After a moment, Xu Lejin quickly lowered her head, thought it over in her mind, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, my father has no official position. He only inherited a hundred acres of fertile land left by my grandfather."
“My uncle works in the Imperial Stables and holds the rank of sixth grade. He has no daughters, which is why my sisters and I were selected to enter the palace to serve the Emperor and the Empress.”
Kangxi then asked, "What is your uncle's name?"
"Your Majesty, my uncle's name is Xu Fu."
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