One hour later
Emperor Kangxi comforted Consort Gui with a few words, telling her to focus on recuperating. He said that Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and others would handle the affairs of the harem. After that, he led all the concubines out of Xianfu Palace.
The concubine, who was lying on the bed with a sickly complexion and a blank expression, suddenly turned gloomy.
"Good, good, good, that's wonderful! Now that I'm unwell, the Emperor has already taken away my power in the palace and handed it over to those lowly women, Consort Hui and Consort An."
She nearly crushed her silver teeth, and her eyes flashed with venom.
Lingyan and Lingrou, their eyes lowered, quickly exchanged a glance and respectfully offered words of comfort, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is only concerned about your health and does not want you to overwork yourself."
"Although Consort Hui and Consort An assist in managing the six palaces, the power within the palace is divided among four parts, with each checking and balancing the others. Your Majesty, the most important thing now is to focus on recovering your health. Once you have recovered, the Emperor will surely return the management of the six palaces to you."
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine gave a weak, bitter smile on her pale, bloodless face.
"Consort Hui and Consort An have been manipulating the palace for many years. Even if I recover quickly, it will not be easy to wrest power back from them."
"I only regret that my body is so weak, falling ill at this crucial moment."
Ling Yan and Ling Rou lowered their heads and remained silent.
After a long while, the Imperial Concubine murmured again, "I sent a letter to Khorchin through someone, but I don't know if it has been delivered. Eqige loves me the most and will definitely seek justice for me."
"Your Majesty,"
Lingyan and Lingrou exchanged a quick glance, then looked down at their toes.
Outside Xianfu Palace
Kangxi walked at the very front, with Xu Lejin slightly behind.
Next were Consort Hui, Consort Jing, Consort An, and so on, with the lowest ranks being Noble Ladies, Attendants, Ladies-in-Waiting, and Palace Ladies.
Xu Lejin kept her eyes downcast, her brows slightly lowered.
Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and others watched Kangxi closely with expectant eyes, hoping that he would notice them and visit their palaces.
Emperor Kangxi stopped and turned around, his intense gaze falling on the group of concubines.
"Consort Hui, Consort Jing, Consort An, and Consort Yi, now that the Noble Consort is ill, the four of you should discuss and decide on matters large and small in the harem. If you are unsure, consult Consort Yu."
Consort Hui and Consort Jing were taken aback for a moment, then suppressed their dissatisfaction and respectfully agreed.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then said softly, "Your Majesty, I am currently pregnant and about to give birth. I am afraid that I am willing but unable to handle matters in the harem."
"Consort Hui and Consort Jing have been assisting the Noble Consort. I believe they will be able to manage the harem in an orderly manner."
His words clearly conveyed a sense of reluctance.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
After a long while, Kangxi spoke in a deep voice, "What Consort Yu said is not without reason. You are pregnant, so it is indeed not advisable for you to overwork yourself."
"Very well, then the affairs of the inner palace shall be entirely entrusted to Consort Hui and Consort Jing."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Hui and the others, who were letting out a long sigh of relief, and responded softly.
A moment later, Consort Hui and the others watched as Kangxi and Xu Lejin walked away hand in hand. Their hands, hanging in their sleeves, clenched into fists involuntarily, and the gentle smiles on their faces were replaced by ferocity.
Consort Rong covered her mouth and said softly, "His Majesty truly values Consort Yu and the imperial child in her womb!"
"I remember when Empress Xiaocheng was pregnant with the fifth princess, the emperor was never this careful."
"Consort Yu holds the rank of Consort, second only to the Noble Consort in the palace. If anything were to happen to the Noble Consort, then Consort Yu would be the most dangerous person in the harem."
Consort Rong paused, her gaze sweeping over Consort Hui, Consort Jing, and the others, and said with a smile, "I am old and faded, and I cannot bear children. It is fine if the Emperor has forgotten me, but Consort Jing and Consort Yi are in their prime and are assisting in the management of the six palaces."
"Consort Jing has been in the palace for almost two years, and Consort Yi has been serving the Emperor for five years. If they still don't have any children, I really don't know what will happen to them in the future."
"The women in our palace who have no children are like rootless duckweed."
After saying this, Consort Rong chuckled softly, clutching her handkerchief, and swayed away with the help of her maids.
Consort Hui, with a calm expression, glanced at Consort Jing, Consort An, and the others, then called to the noble ladies and concubines of Yanxi Palace before returning to Yanxi Palace.
Consort Duan curtsied slightly and returned to Jingyang Palace with Consort Yin and Consort Niu.
Outside Xianfu Palace, only Consort Jing, Consort An, Consort Yi, and the noble ladies, ladies-in-waiting, ladies-in-waiting, and palace maids from Yonghe Palace, Qixiang Palace, and Yongshou Palace remained.
Consort An smiled gently and said softly, "Consort Jing, Consort Yi, I'll take my leave now!"
"Please take care, Consort An."
Consort Jing and Consort Yi slightly curtsied, performing a half-bow, and watched Consort An, the heavily pregnant Consort Chun, and Consort Shi leave.
With a charming smile, Consort Yi looked at Consort Jing and said softly, "Consort Jing, I heard that a few days ago, Her Highness the Noble Consort bestowed a young and beautiful palace maid upon you."
"Your Majesty has not visited Consort Jing's palace for a long time. Even if she is a peerless beauty, spending time in Consort Jing's Yonghe Palace would be a waste of her youth and a squandering of her talents."
"Sister Jingpin, don't you think so?"
Consort Yi looked at Consort Jing with disdain, but in her heart she felt it was unfair.
Because Consort Jing was the Empress Dowager's niece and the granddaughter of the Khorchin Mongols, she had no children and no favor with the emperor, yet she gained the power to assist in managing the six palaces before the Empress Dowager.
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