Lan Daying has a gentle temperament and possesses the delicate and affectionate qualities of a woman from Jiangnan. Xu Lejin guessed that Lan Daying's birth mother or grandmother must have been a woman from Jiangnan.
Lan Yingying is very likely a concubine's daughter of the Lan family.
As for Nara's answer,
She was a beautiful woman whose looks were no less than those of the Noble Lady of Yanxi Palace. She was quite young, probably only fifteen or sixteen years old, with delicate features and a captivating charm in every gesture.
After looking her up and down, Xu Lejin said softly, "I heard that Consort Nara only started serving His Majesty a month ago. Consort Nara is beautiful. Even I, as a woman, couldn't help but be captivated by her. No wonder His Majesty likes her."
"Na La looks quite young, I wonder how old she is this year?"
Nara agreed with a charming smile and spoke.
"Your Highness, I am young, only fifteen years old."
Xu Lejin was taken aback upon hearing this.
The age mentioned in the palace is the nominal age, so Nara is actually only fourteen years old.
At fourteen, she had already blossomed into such a beautiful and charming woman, and was already a concubine and a wife.
Xu Lejin cleared her throat and smiled, "Fifteen years old, the perfect age for a flower bud. It's only natural that the Emperor favors you and bestows upon you the title of Consort at such a young age."
"Your Highness, Consort Xie, flatter me. His Majesty treats his concubines differently."
Nara smiled radiantly, slightly raised her chin, looked at the others, and raised her voice to speak, "Although I am young, I am still capable of bearing imperial offspring for Your Majesty. My aunt gave birth to me when she was only fourteen years old."
"、"
Xu Lejin looked at Na La with a dark and ambiguous gaze.
It turns out that Nara was born out of wedlock.
Even the most fortunate people, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, or of any particular social standing, must acknowledge that Nara is an illegitimate daughter.
Furthermore, was Nara's promise that her aunt gave birth to her at the age of fourteen a provocation?
Half an hour later
Xu Lejin, citing her own fatigue, instructed the newly promoted concubines to return to their respective palaces to rest.
Ru Hua carefully considered her words and spoke softly, "Your Majesty, this servant thinks that Na La's arrogant manner is exactly the same as that of Consort Zhi back then."
"Yes, she is indeed reckless."
Xu Lejin curled her lips slightly and said casually, "Na La is young and beautiful. She has only served the Emperor for a little over a month before being granted the title of Consort. It is normal for her to be a little arrogant."
With a soft sigh, Xu Lejin spoke slowly.
"Young and beautiful women in the palace come one after another. Looking at the newly appointed concubines, I can't help but sigh at how time flies! I started serving the Emperor at the age of seventeen, and it has been eight years now."
Ru Hua and Qin Huai exchanged a quick glance.
Carefully choosing her words, Ru Hua respectfully said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of your life. If you were to say you were seventeen or eighteen, many people would believe you. Besides, Your Majesty has many children."
"Although the ladies are young, Your Majesty need not worry too much."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, lost in thought.
After a cup of tea, Xu Lejin parted her lips slightly and said, "It has been almost two years since the Empress passed away. The Emperor once issued an edict to bestow the title of Consort Wen upon the Empress's younger sister, Niohuru, who entered the palace this year."
"After the first month of the lunar calendar, it's time to put the matter of Consort Wen entering the palace on the agenda."
Ru Hua and Qin Huai lowered their heads and remained silent.
The seventh and fifteenth days of the first lunar month
Time flies, the festive atmosphere in the palace gradually fades, and the concubines in the harem compete for favor with each other, using all sorts of tricks to win the emperor's affections.
Among the concubines, those who were particularly favored included Consort Guo of Yongshou Palace, Consort Lan of Yanxi Palace, and several newcomers, such as the young Lady Nara.
February 2nd
All the concubines gathered at Yikun Palace to pay their respects to Xu Lejin.
Consort Hui chuckled and looked at Xu Lejin, saying, "Your Highness Consort Yu, today is the day for the Imperial Household Department to select palace maids. I've heard that this year's selection is quite lively, with many women from noble families."
“What Consort Hui said is indeed true. This year’s selection by the Imperial Household Department has indeed seen the most participants, with more than five hundred people.”
Xu Lejin changed the subject and sighed.
"Although there are many candidates this year, they are all still young. The older ones are only thirteen or fourteen years old, and the younger ones are eleven or twelve years old. They are not capable of serving others."
"Sisters, the palace is short of manpower, and we mainly need Han women who are purchased from the common people."
Consort Hui and Consort An exchanged a glance and smiled in agreement.
After exchanging pleasantries, Consort Hui's eyes darted around, her gaze landing on Consort Nara of Zhongcui Palace. She gave Consort Nara a cold look, then looked up at Xu Lejin.
"Your Majesty, Consort Nara of Zhongcui Palace is from the same Nara clan as me. I feel it is my duty, as an elder sister of the same clan, to take care of Consort Nara, given her young age. However…"
"My Yanxi Palace is quite far from Zhongcui Palace, and I cannot take care of Nara Consort in every detail. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to move Nara Consort to my Yanxi Palace so that I can take better care of her."
Xu Lejin's expression remained indifferent.
Nara, who was sitting in the corner, turned pale upon hearing this and instinctively sat up straight, looking uneasy.
Frowning, Xu Lejin gave Consort Duan a meaningful look. Consort Duan understood and smiled, saying, "Sister Consort Hui, if I remember correctly, you are from the Yehe Nala clan, and Nala is a concubine..."
“Na La Yingda came from the Hada Na La clan. Although they were both from the Na La clan, they were from different branches.”
After a pause, Consort Duan then spoke.
"Besides, Consort Hui's Yanxi Palace already has Noble Lady Zhi and Noble Lady Lan. If Consort Nara were to go to Yanxi Palace, would there be enough room for her?"
Consort Hui's face turned from white to green as she glared fiercely at Consort Duan.
Consort An covered her mouth, watching the spectacle unfold. Xu Lejin coughed lightly, "Consort Duan's words are not without reason. Consort Nara is living comfortably in Zhongcui Palace. If she is to be moved to your Yanxi Palace simply because she shares the same Nara clan as Consort Hui..."
"Although I have the power to manage the six palaces, the matter of the concubines moving to another palace still requires the Emperor's permission."
With her head bowed, Consort Hui's eyes were gloomy, and her face showed embarrassment.
"Yes, Your Majesty's admonition is correct. It was I who was confused!"
Half an hour later, Consort Hui, Consort An, and others left Yikun Palace and walked along the long street.
Consort An covered her mouth, looked at Consort Hui with disdain, and said, "I've seen quite a joke today."
“Na La is just a minor concubine who is slightly favored. Consort Hui tried hard to win her over, but in the end, she failed.”
“Sister Huipin has a second prince and is now a concubine. Why bother trying to win over a Nara lady? Consort Hui’s concubines, Consort Zhi, Consort Lan, and Consort Shou, are all excellent.”
"Consort Zhi has given birth to two princesses for the Emperor, as for Consort Lan..."
"Noble Lady Lan is Lord Mingzhu's niece. She was summoned to the palace and is a proper Manchu of the Plain Yellow Banner."
With a light laugh, Consort An spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Sister Huipin, your eating manners today are simply too unsightly!"
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