Empress Niohuru's funeral was held in a grand manner in the palace.
After Emperor Kangxi issued an edict ordering the execution of Consort Gui, Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and the commoner Hesheli, Consort An and Consort Yi, who were newly promoted to assist in managing the six palaces, discussed the matter together.
Because Xu Lejin was pregnant, Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager were considerate and specially instructed her not to kneel before the Empress's spirit tablet every day.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager have already issued an edict, showing consideration that you do not need to kneel before the Empress's coffin. Your Majesty is pregnant and it is inconvenient for you to go, so why do you still need to go?"
Lianzhi and Ruhua helped Xu Lejin walk down the long street.
Ru Hua lowered her head slightly, her expression respectful, and then spoke in a low voice, "When Her Majesty the Empress passed away, she received the Emperor's pity and he pleaded for a favor for Consort Wen. Consort Wen will enter the palace to serve in three years."
"Rumors are circulating in the palace that the Emperor dislikes the Empress because of Consort Wen's entry into the palace, therefore..."
Xu Lejin glared at Ruhua and said coldly, "Don't talk nonsense. The Empress and the Emperor are husband and wife. Consort Wen's entry into the palace was the Empress's dying wish."
"His Majesty was busy with court affairs, so he forgot to posthumously honor the Empress. As a concubine in the harem, although I am grateful to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager for their consideration and do not have to cry and kneel before the Empress every day, it is still necessary to offer incense every day."
Ru Hua nodded awkwardly and replied softly.
Lianzhi, who was standing to the side, pondered for a moment before speaking gently, "Your Majesty is kind and benevolent. If the Emperor and the Empress Dowager knew, they would surely praise Your Majesty. Even the Empress in the afterlife would be pleased."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, remaining silent in thought.
Under the arrangement of Consort Gui and Consort Hui, everyone in Kunning Palace changed into mourning clothes early on.
The Empress's mourning hall was set up early, and the concubines of the harem, dressed in simple palace attire, knelt before the coffin.
Among the concubines were Lady Ya and Lady Miao, who were heavily pregnant.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Xu Lejin arrived at the altar and knelt to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine.
The Imperial Concubine was dressed in a plain palace gown, with no hairpins or jewels in her hair, looking very elegant. She frowned slightly and said, "I remember that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager were considerate of Consort Yu's pregnancy and granted her permission not to kneel before the Empress's coffin."
"It is Consort Yu's presence today that is..."
Xu Lejin looked respectfully at the Empress's coffin and spoke in a respectful voice, "Your Highness, I have come to offer incense to the Empress."
"Although I am pregnant, I can still offer incense to Her Majesty the Empress every day, hoping that Her Majesty will soon ascend to the Pure Land."
The imperial concubine nodded slightly.
"You are so kind, Consort Yu!"
Xu Lejin nodded slightly and, with Lianzhi and Ruhua serving her, respectfully offered incense to the Empress. After that, she did not linger and turned to leave Kunning Palace.
Amidst the vast expanse of white mourning, the Imperial Concubine gazed at Xu Lejin's departing figure with an inscrutable expression.
Behind the Imperial Concubine, Consort Rong, who had slightly raised her head, wore a disdainful expression and whispered to Consort Duan beside her, "As if everyone in the palace has been pregnant before. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager are so considerate, but she really doesn't know the rules."
"Empress Guifei, who holds the highest rank in the palace, personally knelt before the Empress's coffin. But she, relying on her pregnancy with the Emperor's child, simply offered incense and left."
Consort Duan lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Sister Consort Rong, please be careful with your words."
“What are you afraid of? You’re all afraid she’s pregnant with a dragon’s child, but I’m not afraid. She has one son and three daughters, and now she’s pregnant with another child. I also have one son and four daughters.”
"She's not the only pregnant woman in the palace. Consort Ya and Consort Miao are even further along in their pregnancies, yet none of them are as precious as her."
Consort Duan's words ignited a firecracker, and Consort Rong raised her voice several decibels, speaking in a loud and boisterous manner.
Inside Kunning Palace, all the concubines kneeling before the coffin heard everything clearly.
The Imperial Concubine's face darkened, and she stared coldly at Consort Rong, reprimanding her in a stern voice, "Consort Rong, you are also an old servant in the palace. Don't you know what you should and shouldn't say?"
"Consort Yu has been shown leniency by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and is not required to act as Empress every day; this is the Emperor and the Empress Dowager's intention. Consort Rong, are you expressing dissatisfaction with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager's decision with your words?"
After speaking, the Imperial Concubine looked sharply at Consort Rong.
Consort Rong's face turned from white to green, and she stammered, "Your Highness, please forgive me, Your Highness, please forgive me. I, I did not mean it, I, I was just being rude."
The Imperial Concubine glared at Consort Rong, stood up, and looked down at the other concubines below.
He coughed lightly and said in a cold voice, "It is Consort Yu's good fortune that she is spared the Emperor's and Empress Dowager's consideration and does not have to kneel before the Empress's coffin."
"Although there are Lady Ya and Lady Miao in the harem who are pregnant and carrying the emperor's child, their ranks are lower than those of Consort Yu, so they cannot be compared with each other."
"Yes, Your Highness, we will follow Your Highness's teachings and be careful with our words and actions."
Regardless of their true thoughts, all the concubines, at this moment, showed utmost respect and unanimously expressed their stance to the Imperial Concubine.
Day 2, Day 3
With the support of Lianzhi and Ruhua, Xu Lejin still came to Kunning Palace every day without fail to offer incense to the Empress.
Over time, both the imperial court and the inner palace became aware of Xu Lejin's respect for the Empress.
Emperor Kangxi, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager were very satisfied with Xu Lejin's sense of propriety and knowledge of etiquette.
Day 4.
After offering incense to the Empress, Xu Lejin, supported by Lianzhi and Ruhua, carefully walked along the palace wall, clutching her pregnant belly. Suddenly, a commotion broke out behind her at Kunning Palace.
Xu Lejin frowned and winked at Ruhua, saying, "Go and find out if something happened."
Ru Hua respectfully responded.
After a short while, Ru Hua returned in a trot and whispered to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, it's about the Empress's coffin. Consort Zhi, a concubine in Consort Hui's palace, suddenly fainted before the coffin for some unknown reason."
"Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine has already instructed the palace servants to help Consort Zhi to rest in a side hall, and has also summoned the imperial physician to treat her."
Xu Lejin nodded, not taking it to heart.
Back at Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin felt a little sleepy, so she took a nap.
Finally, she was awakened by the soft whispers of Lianzhi and Ruhua inside the hall.
Opening her eyes, Xu Lejin sat up and looked at Lianzhi and Ruhua with sleepy eyes, saying, "What are you whispering about?"
"Your Majesty, this servant was just talking with Lianzhi about Consort Zhi's pregnancy."
Ru Hua replied softly.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then looked at Ruhua and asked, "Is Consort Zhi pregnant?"
Ru Hua nodded slightly and lowered her voice.
"Consort Zhi is pregnant and is two months along. The imperial physician diagnosed that Consort Zhi's body is somewhat weak and the pregnancy is somewhat unstable. The Imperial Concubine has already made the decision, instructing Consort Zhi to rest peacefully in Yanxi Palace and not to kneel before the Empress's coffin every day, but instead to copy the Lotus Sutra three times."
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