February 1st
According to custom, this was the day when the concubines of the palace would go to Xianfu Palace to pay their respects to the Noble Consort. However, because the Noble Consort was bedridden and had little time to wake up each day, the matter of paying respects was never carried out.
That day, in the afternoon
On a bright and sunny spring day, Consort Duan, accompanied by the fourteenth princess, Consort Yin from Jingyang Palace, and Consort Niu, arrived at Yikun Palace to pay their respects to Empress Xu Lejin.
With a gentle expression, Xu Lejin smiled faintly and said, "Consort Duan, Consort Yin, and Consort Niu are very kind."
"Your Majesty is too kind to this humble concubine!"
Consort Duan sat gracefully in the main hall of Yikun Palace, holding the fourteenth princess in her arms, and spoke with a smile. "It is an honor for me, Consort Yin, and Consort Niu to be able to pay our respects to Your Majesty. We are deeply grateful if Your Majesty does not find us troublesome."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, smiling without saying a word.
After speaking softly for a few minutes, Consort Duan lowered her voice and said, "I came from the Imperial Concubine's palace. I heard from the palace servants that the Imperial Concubine is now so ill that she cannot get out of bed and is rarely awake each day."
"A simple cold, treated by the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital, shouldn't have led to this?"
Consort Duan whispered her doubts.
Yin Changzai and Niu Daying glanced quickly at Xu Lejin and Duan Pin, then lowered their heads and stared at their toes, pondering deeply in their hearts.
Xu Lejin paused slightly, glancing at Consort Duan.
Frowning, Xu Lejin pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "It is fate. Since her miscarriage, the Imperial Concubine has been burdened with resentment, and now her illness has struck like a landslide."
"Although the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital possess superb medical skills, they cannot cure the Imperial Concubine's emotional distress; only a cure for the heart can heal the soul."
After speaking, Xu Lejin shook her head at Consort Duan without making a sound.
Consort Duan frowned, her muddled mind suddenly clearing up considerably, as if enlightened. She looked at Xu Lejin and said respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty's teachings are correct. It was I who was confused."
Xu Lejin glanced at the sky, then her gaze fell on the fourteenth princess in Consort Duan's arms.
"I am pregnant and do not often leave Yikun Palace, but I have heard from the palace servants that the fourteenth princess of the Emperor has been raised very well by you, Consort Duan."
“The princes and princesses in the palace are all frail before the age of three. However, since you, Consort Duan, raised the Fourteenth Princess, she has been healthy and rarely needs to see a physician.”
Consort Duan lowered her head slightly and looked lovingly at the fourteenth princess in her arms. "It is my blessing to raise the fourteenth princess, and I will do my best to help her."
"Um."
Xu Lejin nodded gently and smiled, "Although the Fourteenth Princess's birth mother, Lady Seattle, was of low birth and not favored by the Emperor, the Fourteenth Princess is still of royal blood."
"Consort Duan, you will have someone to rely on in the palace in the future if you raise the fourteenth princess."
Consort Duan nodded.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right; that is exactly what I think too."
After a slight pause, Consort Duan continued, "His Majesty is busy with affairs of the court and rarely visits the inner palace. Even when he does visit, he only goes to the residences of a few favored concubines. I am getting old and have had a miscarriage in the past, so I no longer expect to conceive."
"Your Majesty and Your Highness have been so kind as to allow me to raise the Fourteenth Princess. I am deeply grateful."
Xu Lejin responded softly, then smiled faintly and remained silent.
Half an hour later
Consort Duan, accompanied by the fourteenth princess, Consort Yin, and Consort Niu, bid farewell to Xu Lejin and departed.
Watching the departing figures of Consort Duan and the others, Xu Lejin fell into deep thought.
With a slight smile, Xu Lejin murmured, "Consort Duan is a good mother. I think the Fourteenth Princess is being well taken care of by Consort Duan."
"Yin Changzai and Niu Daying in Duanpin's palace are also kind-looking, gentle and graceful women."
Ru Hua and Qin Huai exchanged a glance, then quickly looked up at Xu Lejin.
Ru Hua spoke respectfully, “Your Majesty is absolutely right. I have heard that Consort Duan is kind-hearted and very gentle and kind to the palace maids and eunuchs.”
"Yin Changzai and Niu Yingda lived in Consort Duan's palace. After spending a long time with Consort Duan, they naturally became as gentle and obedient as Consort Duan."
Xu Lejin glanced up at Ruhua and gave her a faint smile.
Three days later
Xu Lejin lay on the soft chair with her eyes slightly half-closed and a comfortable expression on her face.
The morning sunlight fell on Xu Lejin, bathing her in a golden glow.
With a loving smile on her face, Xu Lejin stroked her high, protruding belly.
"Ruhua, how is Her Highness the Imperial Concubine today?"
After a short while, Xu Lejin spoke softly, “I remember yesterday afternoon, Ziwu reported that there was a commotion in the Imperial Concubine’s palace, with imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital coming and going, which even alarmed the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.”
She lowered her eyebrows and bowed her head as she entered the painting.
After a moment's hesitation, Ru Hua respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine's condition has stabilized after treatment by the imperial physicians yesterday."
"With some careful recuperation, the Imperial Concubine will be able to recover."
"Um."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
At this moment, Ziwu hurriedly entered from outside the palace, followed by Lingrou, a palace maid from the Imperial Concubine's palace.
Ling Rou's expression was solemn. She quickly glanced at Xu Lejin, bowed, and said, "This servant, Ling Rou, greets Consort Yu. May Consort Yu be blessed."
"Your Highness Consort Yu, this servant is acting on the orders of the Noble Consort to invite you to Xianfu Palace for a reunion..."
Xu Lejin froze, her expression turning blank.
After hesitating for a moment and thinking it over, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "I understand. Go back and report to the Imperial Concubine. I will go to Xianfu Palace later."
"Yes, this servant will take her leave."
Ling Rou came and went in a hurry.
Qin Huai frowned, his face showing worry, and he opened his mouth as if to speak but then stopped.
Seeing Qin Huai's worry, Xu Lejin murmured, "The Imperial Concubine has extended such a warm invitation; how could I refuse?"
"Qin Huai, Ru Hua, make the arrangements. I will visit the Imperial Concubine's palace later."
Qin Huai and Ru Hua exchanged a silent glance and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Xianfu Palace
Overnight, the Imperial Concubine recovered her health. Her complexion, which had been pale and weak, returned to a rosy and radiant state. Served by Lingyan and several other palace maids, she bathed and changed clothes, and sat gracefully in front of her dressing table.
With a melancholy expression, the Imperial Concubine gazed at her youthful face, not yet twenty, reflected in the bronze mirror, and sighed softly.
She pursed her lips, and out of the corner of her eye, the Imperial Concubine glanced at Ling Rou, who was walking in with her head down. She said in a deep voice, "What did Consort Yu say? Did she agree to come to my palace and reminisce about our sisterly bond?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Yu said she will be coming to our Xianfu Palace shortly."
Ling Rou exchanged a glance with Ling Yan without making a sound. The two understood tacitly that the Imperial Concubine was having a final burst of energy before her death and that her days were numbered.
A strange glint flashed in Ling Rou's slightly lowered eyes as she replied softly.
The imperial concubine nodded and smiled sweetly at her reflection in the bronze mirror.
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