An hour later, the concubines in the harem rose one after another to take their leave.
Xu Lejin squinted, leaning against the soft couch, her mind replaying the events that had transpired in the main hall of her Yikun Palace that day. She laughed in exasperation at Rong Pin's stupidity and foolishness!
"Consort Rong? Consort Rong in her youth was a rare beauty, with delicate features, charming and alluring, and she was also very fertile, giving birth frequently."
"However, in recent years, Consort Rong has grown older, and her youthful beauty has faded."
With a slight upturn of her lips, Xu Lejin smiled softly.
"Consort Rong is foolish and vulgar, but she has many children."
"Ruhua, have your men find out what Consort Rong has been doing in Zhongcui Palace these past two weeks, besides handling Consort Jing's funeral."
Ru Hua nodded in agreement and quickly retreated.
The following afternoon
Xu Lejin learned about Rong Pin's actions from Ru Hua and couldn't help but laugh out loud!
Life in the palace was dull and monotonous, but the presence of Consort Rong, a foolish and simple-minded person, added a bit of fun.
Since taking over the portion of palace power formerly held by Consort Jing, Consort Rong has done things that are both laughable and pathetic, causing chaos and endless jokes in the harem every day.
Consort Hui, Consort An, and Consort Duan, who used to assist Consort Rong in managing the six palaces, now all avoid Consort Rong like the plague.
With a soft chuckle, Xu Lejin thought to herself, "Consort Rong is definitely the most eccentric person in the palace."
With her head bowed, Ru Hua pondered for a moment, then looked up at Xu Lejin and said respectfully, "Your Highness, this servant has also learned that Consort Rong has recently selected several young and beautiful palace maids from the Imperial Household Department to enter Zhongcui Palace and have them trained."
"Okay, I understand."
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and spoke softly, "In Consort Rong's palace, Noble Lady Yun is still favored, while Consort Se and Lady Qing have long been forgotten by the Emperor. Since the birth of the Eleventh Princess, Consort Rong's health has been compromised, and the Emperor no longer summons her to serve him."
"In order to make the Emperor remember her, Consort Rong naturally had to recommend young and beautiful palace maids to solidify his favor."
With a slight upturn of her lips, Xu Lejin's expression remained indifferent.
"If Consort Rong wants to make trouble, let her make trouble. In any case, it will just mean a few more concubines and palace maids in the palace. If she is lucky, even if a palace maid recommended by Consort Rong gets pregnant with the emperor's child, she will only become a Noble Lady or a Consort."
"There are quite a few concubines in the palace, so having a few more won't make a difference."
This day
Under the cover of night, Emperor Kangxi stormed into Yikun Palace in a rage.
Xu Lejin dismissed the palace servants and carefully served Kangxi from his side, speaking softly, "Your Majesty, what is troubling you so much? May I tell you?"
Emperor Kangxi remained silent in thought.
Xu Lejin lowered her head, her face showing fear. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Majesty, please forgive me. I only wanted to share Your Majesty's worries because I saw that Your Majesty was troubled. I did not intend to interfere with the affairs of the court."
"I know my beloved consort's feelings."
Kangxi glanced at Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice, "Today, the Sizi tribe of Mongolia submitted a petition to ask for the marriage of our Qing princess to Xilin Beile of the Sizi tribe. Xilin Beile is over thirty years old and has already married two wives in his early years."
"?"
Xu Lejin looked surprised upon hearing this.
After a quick moment of thought, Xu Lejin spoke in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the eldest princess is only nine years old. How can she marry Prince Xilin? Prince Xilin is old enough to be the eldest princess's father."
Kangxi nodded.
"That's what I was thinking too. I'm very puzzled. Although the Sizi tribe doesn't have a prominent position in Mongolia, they've always been shrewd. Why would they suddenly ask for a Qing princess in marriage?"
"Although the eldest princess is not my biological daughter, she was raised under the care of Empress Xiaozhao, so she is the legitimate princess born of Empress Xiaozhao. How can she marry a prince from the Sizi tribe who is over thirty years old?"
"The second princess born to Consort Rong is seven years old, and the third princess born to Consort Cui is six years old; neither of them can marry into the Sizi tribe."
Xu Lejin lowered her head slightly as she listened to Kangxi say that the princess was going to marry a foreign prince. Thinking of her own four daughters, she felt a mix of nervousness and a sense of shared sorrow.
Intermarriage between Manchus and Mongols was an old custom.
For the sake of the country and its people, even a legitimate princess could be married off to the Mongols; how much more so would her daughter?
Although she is now the highest-ranking concubine in the palace, she is one of several daughters, and her birth is ultimately inferior to that of a legitimate princess.
After pondering for a long time, Xu Lejin suddenly thought of a woman in the imperial clan.
"Your Majesty, a few days ago, I overheard a palace maid mentioning that the Duke of Fuguo, Tao Sai, had a daughter who was twenty-two years old. She lost her husband three years ago and now lives in the capital with her daughter."
Xu Lejin glanced quickly at Kangxi, then lowered her head and said softly, "The Sizi tribe only said they wanted to marry a princess of the Qing Dynasty, but did not specify which princess they wanted to marry."
"Although the title of Duke Tao Sai is lower, he is still of legitimate royal blood."
Three days later
Emperor Kangxi issued an edict ordering Consort Gongjing of Shoukang Palace, of the Haoqite Borjigit clan, to adopt the daughter of Duke Taosai, and bestow upon her the title of Princess Heshuo Roujing. On the thirteenth day of the eighth month, she was to be married off to the four Mongol tribes.
She was the daughter of Princess Heshuo Roujing and was raised in the palace, enjoying the same privileges as a princess of the county.
Princess Heshuo Roujing, whose father, Duke Tao Sai, was granted the title of Dorobele, and whose first wife, Lady Yehenara, was posthumously granted the title of Dorobele's Consort.
Cining Palace
The Empress Dowager learned of Kangxi's decree from a palace maid, and opened her tightly closed eyes in surprise.
"Princess Heshuo Roujing? Her daughter was raised in the palace and enjoyed the privileges of a Doro County Princess? Her father, Tao Sai, was granted the title of Doro Beile? The Emperor really favors Tao Sai and his daughter."
With a sneer, the Empress Dowager said coldly, "Tao Sai's birth mother was just an unknown concubine during Emperor Taizong's reign. After Fulin ascended the throne, he only appointed Tao Sai as General Zhenguo. In the eighth year of the emperor's reign, he was promoted to Duke Fuguo."
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