For more than ten days, people in the palace were filled with anxiety.
Not only did the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager pressure Emperor Kangxi to thoroughly investigate the matter of Consort Xuan's miscarriage, but the Khorchin tribe, far away in Mongolia, also sent a memorial to the palace as soon as they received a message by carrier pigeon.
The memorial also requested Emperor Kangxi to give Consort Xuan and the Khorchin people justice.
In such a somber atmosphere, Emperor Kangxi has not entered the inner palace for half a month.
Meanwhile, the Empress's condition worsened, and she became so ill that she could no longer get out of bed.
"Your Majesty, the Third Princess of the Niohuru family, the Empress's younger sister, is requesting an audience outside our palace?"
Ru Hua bowed as she entered the hall and quietly reported to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin's expression froze for a moment, then she said, "Quickly invite Third Princess Niohuru in."
"Ziwu and Zhulan, prepare some snacks and fruits, and brew a cup of Lu'an melon seed tea that the Emperor bestowed upon you a few days ago."
Ru Hua, Zi Wu, and Zhu Lan respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.
A moment later, Ru Hua led the third princess of the Niohuru family, whose face was exquisite and whose eyebrows and eyes bore a five-point resemblance to the Empress, into the main hall of Yikun Palace.
"Your humble servant, Niohuru Lanxi, greets Consort Yu. May Consort Yu be blessed."
Xu Lejin, with a gentle expression, glanced at Niohuru Lanxi without making a sound, and said softly, "Third Princess, there's no need for such formalities. I've long heard that Her Majesty the Empress has a twin sister who is sixteen years old and in the prime of her youth."
"Upon meeting you today, I find that the Third Princess is radiant and elegant. I am very envious of Her Majesty the Empress for having such a sister as the Third Princess."
Niohuru Lanxi smiled sweetly.
"Your Highness, you flatter me. I am of ordinary appearance, barely deserving of the title of a girl from a modest family. I am far from being as beautiful and talented as Your Highness."
Without making a sound, Niu Hulu Lanxi flattered Xu Lejin while glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.
I had imagined her to be a stunning beauty, favored by the emperor, who had given birth to four imperial heirs and was now pregnant with another. But upon seeing her today, I find her to be nothing special.
Consort Yu, whom her elder sister, mother, and brother all greatly feared, was nothing special.
Ziwu and Zhulan carried snacks, fruits, and tea into the palace. Xu Lejin looked at Niohuru Lanxi and said, "There are no good snacks or fruits in my palace. Please don't be disgusted, Third Princess."
"I heard from my sister that the fruits and vegetables in the Empress's palace are the best in the palace. Lan Xi is in for a treat today."
Niohuru Lanxi, with her fair and delicate hands and slender fingers, picked up a lychee.
Xu Lejin smiled but remained silent.
Then Niohuru Lanxi continued, "A rider gallops through the dust, bringing smiles to the imperial concubine's face, but no one knows it's lychees that have arrived. The lychees in the palace are of the finest quality. I heard from my sister that they were transported from the south, chilled along the way, and delivered to the palace at top speed."
"If the Third Princess likes it, then she will eat more."
Xu Lejin frowned slightly without making a sound, and spoke softly to Niu Hulu Lanxi, while also giving a wink to Zhu Lan, who was holding tea beside Niu Hulu Lanxi.
Zhu Lan understood immediately and said respectfully, "Third Princess Niohuru, this is a Lu'an melon seed tea that His Majesty bestowed upon our Lady. It tastes excellent. Please try it, Princess."
Niohuru Lanxi glanced at Zhu Lan.
She covered her mouth and chuckled softly, then looked at Xu Lejin and said sweetly, "Are the servants in Consort Yu's palace so ignorant of etiquette?"
"Although the Lu'an Melon Seed tea bestowed by the Emperor is good, it is still not as good as Longjing tea before the rain, Wuyi Dahongpao tea, or West Lake Biluochun tea."
“Last month, my sister had someone bring a lot to the Niu Hulu family. My brother felt sorry for Lan Xi, so he gave it all to Lan Xi.”
A faint smile.
Xu Lejin spoke slowly, "It was my oversight. I forgot that the Third Princess comes from the noble Niohuru clan and is the Empress's own sister. What good things hasn't she seen?"
"Zhu Lan, why don't you apologize to Third Princess?"
Niohuru Lanxi was taken aback.
Zhu Lan immediately knelt down and begged for mercy. Niu Hulu Lan Xi had a cold face. In the end, Xu Le Jin spoke softly and told Zhu Lan to step back.
After half a cup of tea
Xu Lejin looked up at the sky outside.
"Third Princess, it's getting late. I've made an appointment with Consort Xuan to visit her at Xianfu Palace now, so I won't keep you any longer. I'll send an invitation to you to come to my palace for tea another day."
Niohuru Lanxi's face turned from white to green as she respectfully said, "It was Lanxi who was abrupt today. Lanxi was unaware that Consort Yu and Consort Xuan had an appointment."
"Lan Xi will take her leave now."
After watching Niohuru Lanxi leave Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin sighed softly and gestured for Lianzhi and Ruhua to help her go to Xianfu Palace to visit Consort Xuan, who was in Xiaoyue.
Xianfu Palace
After half a month of careful recuperation, Consort Xuan's complexion gradually became rosy, and her health improved significantly.
However, after experiencing a miscarriage, Consort Xuan was no longer the innocent, lively, and naive girl she once was. At this time, Consort Xuan was melancholy and often stared blankly out the window.
"Sister Yufei, you are pregnant and your health is the most important thing. You don't need to come to visit me every few days. I'm fine."
Consort Xuan looked at Xu Lejin's pregnant belly with envy and spoke softly.
Xu Lejin held Consort Xuan's hand and gently comforted her, saying, "It's alright, I'll just be more careful. Yikun Palace isn't far from your Xianfu Palace, it's just a few steps away."
"I've been idle at Yikun Palace, so I've come to visit and stretch my muscles a bit."
Consort Xuan lowered her head and spoke in a low, muffled voice.
"Thank you, Consort Yu."
Xu Lejin gently stroked Consort Xuan's forehead and said softly, "There's no need for thanks between you and me, sister. You're still young. After a few years of recuperation, you'll definitely be able to conceive again."
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