The earthquake struck, and although the epicenter was not the palace, the palace was still greatly affected.
Several palaces collapsed, and more than a hundred people were killed or injured. Fortunately, the princes and princesses were unharmed.
On August 13th, due to a landslide that caused significant damage to the palace, Emperor Kangxi, after much deliberation, prepared a simple dowry and sent Princess Heshuo Roujing to the Sizi tribe for a marriage alliance.
Inside the palace, reconstruction work began in the capital city following the disaster.
Having likely experienced life and death, the concubines in the harem quieted down and stayed in their temporary palaces, only visiting Xu Lejin's palace to pay their respects on the second and sixteenth of each month.
Consort Yi had previously suffered a miscarriage, and now she has experienced another miscarriage. Although the fetus is fine, Consort Yi has become increasingly thin and her face is haggard. She is no longer the radiant woman she once was.
Consort Rong's mind was damaged by the earthquake, and she became mentally impaired. One day, she accidentally fell into the lotus pond and drowned.
Emperor Kangxi, out of pity for Consort Rong who had given birth to many imperial heirs, posthumously honored her as Consort Rong.
After Consort Rong's funeral, the princesses were moved to the Princes' quarters and placed in the care of wet nurses and palace servants.
Thus, Consort Rong, of the Ma Jia clan, who had given birth to six children in ten years from the sixth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign to the sixteenth year, became a thing of the past.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye, and it was November.
In the Forbidden City, the damaged palaces were rebuilt thanks to the hard work of the craftsmen who worked day and night. The concubines from all the palaces moved back one after another.
Xu Lejin sat in the main seat of Yikun Palace, looking down at Consort Hui, Consort An, and Consort Duan, and said in a deep voice, "The earthquake at the end of July had a great impact on the palace."
"The Empress Dowager, Consort Shuhui, Consort Rong, and Noble Lady Yun all perished as a result."
After a slight pause, Xu Lejin continued, "Ever since Consort Cui gave birth to the Third Princess, her health had been poor. She was frightened by the earthquake and remained bedridden until a few days ago."
"Your Majesty, I am deeply saddened."
Consort Hui and Consort An lowered their heads slightly, lost in thought and remained silent.
Consort Duan raised her head and said respectfully, "Your Majesty and Your Highness are benevolent. The earth dragon turning over is a natural disaster. Consort Rong, Noble Lady Yun, and Noble Lady Cui perished in the earth dragon turning over. Your Highness need not blame yourself."
"Life and death are preordained, wealth and honor are determined by Heaven."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
"What Consort Duan said makes sense."
Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Hui and Consort An out of the corner of her eye, and then continued, "In the harem, the only ones who hold the position of a principal consort are myself, Consort Hui, Consort An, and Consort Duan. His Majesty's intention is for me to govern the six palaces together with you."
"Consort Hui, Consort An, Consort Duan, what do you think?"
Consort Hui and Consort An's expressions changed, and they quickly considered their options.
Raising her head, Consort Hui smiled gently, "It should have been done long ago. Your Highness, you are a concubine, above us concubines. Your Highness should have taken charge of the palace long ago, and we concubines should have assisted you from the side."
“What Consort Hui says is right, I second that.”
Consort An agreed, though her words were not entirely true.
Two weeks later
Xu Lejin was looking through the account books sent by the Imperial Household Department when Ruhua quickly entered the hall, bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, news has come from Cining Palace that the Empress Dowager promoted two palace maids today, and the Emperor has already conferred upon them the title of Lady-in-Waiting and granted them residence in Yonghe Palace."
"knew."
Xu Lejin responded softly, her lips slightly parted.
"Since the earth turned upside down, the Emperor has visited the inner palace less and less often. Even when he does visit, it's usually to my place, or to the places of Consort Hui, Consort An, and Consort Duan, but only for meals."
“A few days ago, the Imperial Household Department sent over the official records. The Emperor only summoned the Consorts and other palace maids to his bedchamber four or five times a month. The Empress Dowager was worried about the imperial heir and promoted palace maids to serve the Emperor, which was expected.”
Ru Hua and Qin Huai exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and remained silent.
After a moment, Xu Lejin put down her teacup and asked softly, "What are the surnames of the two palace maids promoted by the Empress Dowager?"
"Your Majesty, they are Lady Daijia and Lady Wei. Lady Dai is a bondservant of the Plain Yellow Banner, while Lady Wei is from the Xin Zhe Ku (a military unit), and her Manchu surname is Jue Chan."
Startled, Xu Lejin's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
The following night, Emperor Kangxi summoned Lady Daijia to his bedchamber. Five days later, he summoned Lady Wei to his bedchamber. After Lady Wei gained the emperor's favor, rumors circulated in the palace that Lady Wei was exceptionally beautiful.
"Your Majesty, I saw Consort Dai and Consort Wei in the Imperial Garden yesterday. Consort Dai has a gentle and refined demeanor, quite like Consort Jing in her prime, while Consort Wei..."
"Consort Wei is beautiful and is the most outstanding woman in the palace."
Consort Duan lowered her voice and spoke softly.
Xu Lejin nodded and smiled, "The Empress Dowager's praise is naturally exceptional. So what if Consort Wei is beautiful? The palace is never short of beautiful women. Consort Rong, Consort Cui, Consort Yi, Consort Zhi, and Consort Guo were all rare beauties."
"It's normal for the Emperor to favor Consort Wei because of her beauty. She will only pose a threat to us when she has children and rises to the rank of Consort."
After a moment's hesitation, Consort Duan nodded with a smile.
After a short while, Consort Duan changed the subject and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Yi's due date is next month. Consort Yi suffered a miscarriage and was frightened during her pregnancy. A few days ago, when I met Consort Yi, I found that she was very thin. Although she is eight or nine months pregnant, her belly is not showing."
"I'm afraid Consort Yi's delivery will not be smooth."
Turning her head, Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Duan.
"Your Majesty, didn't I tell Consort Yi to rest and recuperate peacefully in the rear hall of Yongshou Palace? Where did you meet Consort Yi?"
Consort Duan lowered her head and spoke in a very low voice, “Your Majesty, I met Consort Yi in the Imperial Garden. At that time, Consort Yi was taking a walk in the Imperial Garden with Consort Guo and Consort Chen.”
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