August
In the season when osmanthus blossoms fill the air with fragrance, the osmanthus trees that Xu Lejin ordered the palace servants to transplant in Yikun Palace two years ago have sprouted buds this year and are now ready to bloom.
The air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus.
"Your Majesty, Ling Rou from the Imperial Concubine's palace has come to deliver a message. The Imperial Concubine requests that Your Majesty come to Xianfu Palace for a meeting."
Ziwu jogged into the hall and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin.
With a slight pause, Xu Lejin said softly, "Her Imperial Concubine's condition has improved, and she has begun to manage the affairs of the six palaces. Although I am a concubine, I have not been involved in the management of the six palaces."
"Ziwu, go to Xianfu Palace and report to the Noble Consort that matters of the inner palace can be decided by the Noble Consort, and I will not interfere."
Ziwu respectfully agreed and withdrew.
Ru Hua frowned, pondered for a moment, and then spoke softly, "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine has sent someone to invite you to Xianfu Palace for a meeting. It must be something extremely important."
"This servant does not understand, Your Majesty, why do you refuse?"
Looking up at Ruhua, Xu Lejin's gaze swept over the head-down refining, and she parted her lips slightly, "I am pregnant, so it is best not to meddle in the affairs of the harem."
"With the Imperial Concubine in charge of the six palaces, assisted by Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and others, and me interfering, what will become of us?"
Ru Hua immediately knelt down and spoke respectfully.
"Yes, Your Majesty is right. I was confused."
Xu Lejin waved her hand dismissively and continued to play with the fine Lantian jade hairpin in her hand.
A hairpin made of red jade, adorned with bluetian jade, and adorned with tassels of the same color.
It shimmers and sparkles when you shake it gently.
Xianfu Palace
The Imperial Concubine, Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and others discussed matters with furrowed brows.
Ziwu, having received instructions from Xu Lejin, came to Xianfu Palace to report back.
The imperial concubine, seated in the main seat, paused upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
After a moment of contemplation, the Imperial Concubine said softly, "It was my mistake. Consort Yu is carrying the Emperor's child and her health is of utmost importance. How could I trouble Consort Yu with the many trivial matters in the palace?"
"Go back and tell Consort Yu to take good care of herself so that she can safely give birth to a prince for the Emperor."
Ziwu respectfully agreed and withdrew from Xianfu Palace.
Before they had gone far, Consort Hui's provocative voice came from behind. "Your Highness, Consort Yu is so ill-mannered. Your Highness is a Noble Consort, and you invited her to a meeting, but she refused to come."
"Although we concubines are not of the same rank as Consort Yu, we know that we should show you the utmost respect. It is our honor to serve you."
The Imperial Concubine rebuked her sternly, "Consort Hui, watch your words! Consort Yu is pregnant with the Emperor's child and has received the Emperor's, Empress Dowager's, and Her Majesty's favor. How dare you question her?"
"How well Consort Yu behaves is for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to judge; it is not for you or me to discuss behind her back."
Consort Hui nodded and agreed.
Ziwu heard everything clearly, her expression unchanged. She lowered her head and quickly left Xianfu Palace, returning to Yikun Palace. She then reported in detail what she had seen and heard in Xianfu Palace to Xu Lejin.
With a calm expression, Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
Imperial Concubine? Imperial Concubine?
The former imperial concubine was innocent, lively, simple and kind. But after she suffered a miscarriage and lost her child, she became a different person. After becoming an imperial concubine, she never came to her own Yikun Palace even once.
Sometimes, even when he went to Xianfu Palace, the Imperial Concubine would avoid seeing him.
The sisterly bond that once existed has faded over time. Perhaps this is the nature of the palace, where women are only vying for the emperor's favor. Where is there any sisterly affection that lasts forever?
Even if there was some sisterly affection at the beginning, it would be worn away by the daily palace intrigue, and they would eventually become strangers and enemies.
With a soft sigh, Xu Lejin said leisurely, "So be it, now that things have come to this, we can only let nature take its course."
The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light. Xu Lejin counted the scattered sunlight spots on the ground with great interest, while Ru Hua lowered her head and spoke softly.
"Your Majesty, the palace servants in my brother's quarters are gossiping that the First Prince and the Second Prince had a disagreement and started arguing in the Imperial Study."
"Although the eldest prince was older, he was weaker than the second prince and was pushed to the ground by the second prince."
Xu Lejin's expression faltered slightly upon hearing this.
The eldest prince in the palace today is the fourth prince born to Consort Rong, of the Ma Jia clan, while the second prince is the fifth prince born to Consort Hui, of the Na La clan. In this parallel Qing Dynasty, many things have changed.
First Prince, Second Prince?
One is eight years old, and the other is seven years old. The royal children are precocious and have already reached the age of understanding things.
The fact that the Second Prince pushed down the First Prince is thought-provoking, since it was Consort Hui, not the First Prince's birth mother Consort Rong, who gained the power to assist in managing the six palaces.
After a long silence, Xu Lejin softly instructed, "The matters between the First Prince and the Second Prince are to be decided by Consort Rong and Consort Hui, and have little to do with me."
"Ruhua, when you go to the Prince's residence, tell the palace servants and wet nurses who are taking care of the Third Prince to be careful and to be on their best to take good care of him."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As dusk fell, the silvery laughter of children echoed from the main hall of Yikun Palace. Xu Lejin sat upright, looking at her two five-year-old daughters with a face full of satisfaction.
A daughter is her mother's warm little cotton-padded jacket.
Ushiha and Unahi, although they are only five years old including the traditional Chinese age reckoning,
Since she became pregnant, he has been exceptionally well-behaved and sensible. He no longer runs and plays around as he used to, but is quiet and will occasionally ask her if she is feeling well.
"Wet nurse, it's getting late. Take the seventh and eighth princesses to bed!"
Glancing at the night outside, Xu Lejin whispered instructions to the wet nurse who was taking care of Wuxiha and Unaxi.
Unahi obediently followed her wet nurse.
As Ushiha reached the door, she turned back and said with a smile, "Mother, you should rest early too. You can't tire out your baby."
"Alright, Mother will definitely get some rest early."
With a loving expression, Xu Lejin watched her two daughters walk away.
"Your Majesty, although our Seventh Princess is a bit lively, she knows how to care for you. The Eighth Princess is well-behaved and gentle. A few days ago, she even made some snacks for Your Majesty herself."
Lianzhi lowered her voice and spoke softly.
"The Seventh Princess is just being childish, Your Majesty need not take it seriously. The dragon child in your womb will definitely be a little prince."
Xu Lejin glanced at Lianzhi and said casually, "I already have a third prince. Whether this child is a princess or a prince, it will be excellent."
“Ushiha and Unashi have always wanted a younger sister. Uyudai was raised by the Empress Dowager, so the sisters could not be together every day.”
"If my child is a princess, Ushiha and Unashi will definitely be responsible older sisters, and their wish to take care of their younger sister will come true."
Lianzhi responded softly, exchanging a glance with Ruhua beside her.
Ru Hua shook her head almost imperceptibly, her eyes conveying the message that everything should take its natural course.
Whether the dragon fetus is a princess or a prince is all ordained by Heaven.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
