Yongshou Palace
Consort Yi sat upright in the main seat, looking down at Consort Xiu, whose eyes were slightly lowered. Her hands, which were hanging in her sleeves, were clenched into fists, and her face was ugly.
Guo Changzai and Chen Daying sat beside him, each with their own thoughts.
"Consort Xiu served His Majesty diligently last night. Why don't you rest more today? Although I am the principal consort of Yongshou Palace, I am only a concubine. I dare not trouble Consort Xiu to pay me respects every day."
With her teeth nearly crushed, Consort Yi spoke in a cold voice.
Xiu Changzai trembled slightly, lowered her head even further, and said respectfully, "Your Highness is the head of the household. It is my duty to pay my respects to Your Highness. I dare not neglect this duty."
"Um."
Consort Yi snorted coldly and gave Consort Guo a wink.
Guo Changzai inwardly resented it, but outwardly she had to ponder and quickly organize her thoughts, then smiled and said, "Sister Xiu Changzai is so lucky, the Emperor hasn't entered the harem for more than half a month."
"Last night, the Emperor summoned Consort Xiu to the Qianqing Palace to serve him in bed. This shows that Consort Xiu is special to the Emperor."
With a sneer, Guo Changzai changed the subject.
"The Emperor summoned Consort Xiu to serve him in the Qianqing Palace. This is a fitting end for Consort Xiu, who has been going to Consort Yu's palace every day for the past few days."
"Sister Xiu Changzai has climbed the social ladder by marrying into Consort Yu's family, securing a good future and gaining the Emperor's favor. Don't forget to help your younger sister and Consort Chen as well!"
His words were barbed, and Guo Changzai's face was full of sarcasm.
Xiu Changzai paused for a moment, glanced up at Yi Pin, then quickly lowered her head and stared at her toes without saying a word.
Consort Chen covered her mouth slightly and smiled, "Yes, Consort Xiu, you must put in a good word for me and Consort Guo in front of Consort Yu."
"Sister Guo is beautiful and often receives the Emperor's favor, but I, your younger sister..."
With a resentful sigh, Consort Chen suppressed the hatred in her heart and said with self-deprecation, "Since I was demoted, stripped of my title, and confined to my quarters, it has been a year since I was summoned by the Emperor."
"Fortunately, the Empress is kind and protects us, otherwise I don't know how we would have survived."
Without making a sound, while feeling sorry for herself, Consort Chen did not forget to flatter Consort Yi.
Consort Yi was very pleased with Consort Chen's words, her beautiful phoenix eyes gleaming with upturned corners.
Chen is a good person; although she comes from a poor background, she is clever and quick-witted.
Now that she is pregnant, it is not appropriate for her to serve the Emperor, but in her Yongshou Palace, there is her half-sister Guo Changzai and the clever Chen Daying.
Why did His Majesty choose to summon this old, faded woman, Xiu Chang, last night?
Could it be that, as the servants have reported, this old woman, Xiu Chang, has actually managed to get close to Consort Yu?
Consort Yi pondered for a long time, her gaze towards Consort Xiu sharp.
Xiu Changzai felt a sharp gaze fixed on her, and she staggered slightly, but tried to remain calm.
After Consort Xiu was summoned to serve the emperor, Emperor Kangxi successively summoned several other consorts and concubines, and also went to the palaces of high-ranking concubines.
Seeing the benefits, the concubines in the harem all exerted themselves to compete for the emperor's favor.
It's already mid-May.
Xiu Changyi, dressed in a lotus-colored palace gown with a velvet flower adorning her hair, sat gracefully opposite Xu Lejin, exuding gentleness and humility.
Lowering her voice, Consort Xiu spoke in a low, hushed tone, "Your Majesty, I was feeling unwell yesterday and asked the imperial physician to examine my pulse. The physician said that I might be pregnant, but it is still very early, less than a month."
Xu Lejin nodded, her gaze falling on Consort Xiu's lower abdomen, and said softly, "Last month and this month, you have been favored by the Emperor and have served him three or four times. It is only natural that you are pregnant."
"Have you informed Consort Yi, Consort Hui, and Consort Jing about your pregnancy?"
Xiu Changzai lowered her head slightly and pondered for a moment.
"Your Majesty, my pulse is not very clear. I am worried that in the end it will be all for naught, so I have not yet reported to Consort Yi and Consort Hui."
"I've been thinking about it. I'll wait half a month until it's confirmed before reporting to His Majesty, Consort Yi, and Consort Hui."
After saying that, Xiu Changzai lowered her head and looked at her belly with anticipation.
Over the years, she never dared to imagine that she could actually have her own child, that she could conceive a royal heir. Although the imperial physician said that her pulse was not very strong, she could feel that she was indeed pregnant.
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
Xu Lejin glanced outside the Yikun Palace and called out, "Fu'er?"
A pretty young palace maid entered from outside the hall, bowed, knelt down, and curtsied to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin spoke softly, "Fu'er is from my maternal family. They sent her to the palace through someone. She knows some martial arts and basic medical skills. I think she is very clever."
"Now that Consort Xiu is with you and is pregnant, I will give you Fu'er."
Xiu Changzai's face lit up with joy, and she quickly stood up.
"Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated. From now on, I will follow Your Majesty's lead and obey your every command without any disloyalty."
Fifteen minutes later
Xiu Changzai rose to take her leave and departed from Yikun Palace.
Ru Hua frowned and said softly, "Your Majesty, this servant does not understand the meaning of your arrangement?"
"Consort Xiu used to serve Consort Chengqian. Although Consort Chengqian has passed away, Consort Xiu..."
"Consort Xiu is considered a member of the Tong family. Why does Your Majesty elevate Consort Xiu and now bestow Fu'er upon her?"
With a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth, Xu Lejin's expression remained inscrutable.
She parted her red lips slightly and spoke casually, "Consort Xiu is an orphan without parents. She and Consort Xiuqin were bought by the Tong family to serve the Empress of Chengqian Palace."
"Consort Xiu and Consort Xiuqin were like sisters. Consort Xiuqin died at the hands of Consort Gong. Although Consort Xiu has faded into obscurity, it does not mean that she does not want to avenge Consort Xiuqin."
With a light laugh, Xu Lejin continued, "The Tong family abandoned Consort Xiu as early as when Consort Gong entered the palace. For the past year or two, they've left her to fend for herself in the palace, but..."
"Now that Consort Xiu is pregnant, the Tong family will inevitably have designs on her. If they fail to win her over, they may very well kill her."
"If you've helped Consort Xiu, then go all the way. Now that she's pregnant with the Emperor's child, how can we let someone else reap the benefits?"
"I am now a Consort. Although Consort Duan has chosen to attach herself to me, she is more senior and holds the rank of Consort, which is the position of the head of the palace."
With a sigh, Xu Lejin gazed at the sunlight outside and murmured, "I am all alone now, and it is time to win over some lower-ranking concubines to serve me."
“Yinling, Wuxiha, and Wunaxi are growing up. In the past few years, I have given birth to daughters one after another, Wuyoudai and Wulingzhu.”
"Although I can have more children in the future, who knows if I won't keep having princesses?"
Ru Hua and Qin Huai exchanged a glance and then lowered their heads.
Xu Lejin then spoke up, "Daughters resemble their mothers. My mother gave birth to seven daughters before having two brothers. I have been having daughters one after another, so I can't help but worry that I will continue to have princesses."
"As Yinling grows up, he will need help with his brothers in the future, and I have to consider his future..."
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