Xiu Changzai quickly moved to Yikun Palace.
Before she could even tidy up her things, Xiu Changzai hurriedly came to the main hall in the setting sun and humbly and respectfully greeted Xu Lejin.
After taking a sip of tea, Xu Lejin spoke softly.
"Consort Xiu is very kind. You are pregnant and the imperial heir is of utmost importance. There is no need for you to come and pay your respects to me in such a hurry."
Xiu Changzai, with a gentle expression, bowed her head slightly and said respectfully, "This concubine's pregnancy is entirely due to Your Majesty's favor."
"Now that His Majesty has bestowed his grace upon me, allowing me to reside in Your Highness's palace, I should naturally come to pay my respects to Your Highness to express my gratitude."
"Um."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over Xiu Changzai's lower abdomen.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "You are carrying the emperor's child, and your health is of utmost importance. If you need anything in the West Side Hall, just ask Ruhua, who is by my side."
"Although His Majesty has decreed that I take care of your unborn child, you know that I have just given birth to my fifteenth daughter and also have to care for the seventh and eighth princesses. I'm afraid there are some things I cannot attend to properly."
Xiu Changzai nodded.
"This servant understands. I am already extremely grateful for Your Majesty's protection, and I dare not trouble Your Majesty to personally take care of the dragon child in my womb."
Xu Lejin smiled sweetly.
Looking up at the night outside, Xu Lejin said carefully, "It's getting late, Consort Xiu, you should go back to the West Side Hall to rest early."
"From now on, you can rest and recuperate in the West Side Hall. You don't need to come to the main hall of my palace to pay your respects every day."
"Yes, Your Highness, thank you for your kindness."
With the help of a palace maid, Consort Xiu bowed respectfully to Xu Lejin and withdrew.
The next day
Consort Duan, accompanied by Consort Yin and Consort Niu, came to Yikun Palace to pay their respects to Xu Lejin. During their conversation, they mentioned Consort Xiu.
"Your Majesty, I don't understand. Consort Xiu used to serve Consort Chengqian. Why are you promoting Consort Xiu?"
"Consort Xiu is currently pregnant. If she gives birth to a prince, I am worried..."
Xu Lejin's expression froze for a moment, then she put on a faint smile.
"Xiu Changzai came from a humble background. Although she used to serve the Consort of Chengqian Palace, she was of Han Chinese origin."
"Consort Xiu is pregnant. Even if the baby is a prince, it can't surpass mine."
"Consort Xiu is considered an old servant in the palace, and she has always kept to her duties."
After a pause, Xu Lejin continued, "The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, with three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines. If he wants many offspring, the harem must be equally blessed."
"I just casually mentioned Consort Xiu to the Emperor that Consort Xiu was pregnant, which is a blessing for her."
Upon hearing this, Consort Duan smiled and nodded.
Xu Lejin's gaze fell on Consort Yin and Consort Niu, who were sitting next to Consort Duan, and she said with a smile, "I remember that during this period, His Majesty would summon Consort Yin and Consort Niu to serve him once or twice a month."
"I would be even happier if Consort Yin and Consort Niu could also conceive."
Yin Changzai and Niu Daying exchanged a quick glance, then looked at Duan Pin out of the corner of their eyes. After receiving a nod from Duan Pin, Yin Changzai and Niu Daying stood up.
Thinking carefully about the words, Consort Yin lowered her head and said softly, "It is because of our bad luck that we, your humble servant and sister Niu, have not been able to conceive and have failed to live up to Your Majesty's good intentions."
Xu Lejin smiled.
"It's alright. You are still young. As long as you gain the Emperor's favor, you will eventually conceive and give birth to princes and princesses."
"The matter of offspring is entirely up to fate; it cannot be rushed."
Yin Changzai and Niu Yingtai respectfully agreed.
In Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin, Duan Pin, and others chatted and laughed, while in Yanxi Palace, Yonghe Palace, and other places, the atmosphere was somber, with Hui Pin and Jing Pin's faces so gloomy that they seemed to drip water.
Inside Yanxi Palace and Yonghe Palace, the low-ranking concubines and palace maids kept their heads down and dared not utter a sound.
Yonghe Palace
Consort Jing's pretty face was tense.
The palace maid Jiaxin entered from outside the palace, holding a wax-sealed letter in her hands, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this is a letter that the Madam entrusted someone to send into the palace."
"Um."
Consort Jing responded and took the letter.
He tore open the wax seal and quickly read through the book. The more he read, the uglier Consort Jing's face became. In the end, her hands clenched tightly and trembled incessantly, clearly showing that she was furious.
Shiman and Jiaxin exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads, filled with fear and unease.
With a cold laugh, Consort Jing said in a deep voice, "Very good, very good, this is wonderful. My father really 'dotes' on me. Seeing that I have never been favored by the Emperor and have no children, he is so eager to send his half-sister into the palace."
"A perfectly respectable Manchu noblewoman, though born out of wedlock, is now willing to debase herself and enter the palace as a maid, all for the sake of wealth, honor, and to become one of the emperor's concubines."
Charmaine and Jiaxin looked surprised.
After a moment of silence, Consort Jing scoffed and spoke in an icy tone, "My half-sister wants to enter the palace as a maid; how can I refuse her wish?"
"Shiman, go to the Imperial Household Department and arrange for my good half-sister to be assigned to Shou Kang Palace to serve the Dowager Consorts after she enters the palace."
"I want to see how my half-sister will attract the Emperor's attention and climb into his bed after she enters Shou Kang Palace."
Shi Man shuddered slightly, then respectfully agreed.
May 26
Xu Lejin was talking with Duan Pin about parenting experiences, while Xiu Changzai, Yin Changzai, and Niu Daying listened with slightly lowered eyes and smiling expressions.
Ru Hua bowed and entered from outside the palace, reporting to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Consort Chun of Qixiang Palace next door went into labor early this morning."
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