Xu Lejin looked puzzled, which Kangxi noticed and frowned.
He always felt that some of the Consort's behaviors were strange, and he always felt that the Consort had a kind of vicissitudes and old age about her, like, like the Empress Dowager.
He seemed like an old man, his life shrouded in twilight.
The Imperial Concubine? Could it be that she is of a detached nature, like a nun?
The Imperial Concubine, could it be that she has already seen through the vanities of the world?
Furthermore, the Imperial Concubine was not surprised that the eighth prince born to Lady Wei today was given a name and ordered according to his birth order.
Consort Gui, could it be that you truly possess the ability to foresee the future, and thus knew long ago that he would bestow the name Yinzhi upon the eighth prince born to Lady Wei, and make him the fifth prince in terms of birth order?
With a head full of questions, Kangxi rested in Xu Lejin's Yikun Palace.
The next morning, the entire harem knew that Emperor Kangxi had bestowed titles upon two concubines and granted them residences in Xianfu Palace. Moreover, these two newly appointed concubines were recommended by the Empress Dowager through the influence of the Imperial Concubine.
Inside Chuxiu Palace, Consort Niu's face was gloomy as she coldly said, "Grand Empress Dowager, Imperial Concubine? I had no idea that the Imperial Concubine had colluded with the Grand Empress Dowager."
"With Consort Wei giving birth to the Fifth Prince already in the palace, isn't the Empress Dowager already satisfied? Now, with the help of the Imperial Concubine, she's elevating Consort Lan and Consort Xiao as well."
The palace maid beside Consort Niu lowered her eyes and spoke softly.
“Your Majesty, beware of what others might hear. It is understandable that the Empress Dowager is worried because His Majesty has few sons. Although Consort Lan and Consort Xiao are favored by the Empress Dowager and recommended by the Noble Consort, they are of humble origin and can never surpass Your Majesty.”
She quickly looked up and glanced at Consort Niu. The palace maid then continued, "Your Highness, your most urgent task is to gain the Emperor's favor, conceive as soon as possible, and give birth to a little prince."
"Yes, that's true."
Consort Niu frowned, deep in thought.
After a long while, Consort Niu smiled and said in a deep voice, "A few years ago, my mother unexpectedly obtained a prescription to help with fertility. She found some peasant women on the estate to try it out, and the results were good. So far, there have been no adverse effects."
"I am nearly twenty years old; I must conceive a royal heir as soon as possible."
The palace maid lowered her head and responded softly.
April
It passed by in a flash.
Before they knew it, it was the first day of the fifth month, and the Imperial Household Department suddenly sent over the official document.
Xu Lejin stared at Tong Shi, her expression suddenly shifting.
What did Consort Niu mean by ordering the Imperial Household Department to send the palace maids who served the concubines to her palace?
Although she held the rank of Imperial Concubine, she did not interfere in palace affairs in order to avoid taking a break.
He picked up the official history book, his brows furrowing slightly as he gently turned the pages.
After a long while, Xu Lejin chuckled and said, "Consort Niu is really interesting. I thought that she had something to do when she asked the Imperial Household Department to send the scribes for the concubines' nights with her to my palace."
"So, Consort Niu came here to show off."
Qin Huai entered the scene with a look of doubt.
Xu Lejin remained calm as she continued to peruse the records of the Imperial Household Department's concubines who had served the emperor. She spoke softly, "On the third day of the fourth month, Consort Niu served the emperor. On the seventh day of the fourth month, Consort Niu served the emperor. On the twelfth, fourteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-eighth days of the fourth month, Consort Niu served the emperor."
"If you do the math, Consort Niu actually served the Emperor eight times in April. The Emperor only visited the harem eleven or twelve times, and Consort Niu alone accounted for eight of those visits. It's clear that Consort Niu is truly favored!"
Qin Huai and Ru Hua exchanged a quick glance.
Ru Hua carefully considered her words and said, "Your Majesty, even though Consort Niu has served the Emperor many times, she still cannot compare to Your Majesty's importance in His Majesty's heart."
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and said nothing more.
The next day, the concubines of the harem gathered at Yikun Palace.
Consort Hui glanced at Consort Niu, who was sitting diagonally opposite her and looked radiant in the spring sunshine. Her back teeth were grinding together as she smiled and said to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, I heard that Consort Niu served the Emperor the most last month, a total of seven or eight times?"
Xu Lejin nodded slightly and gave Consort Hui a meaningful look.
After hesitating for a moment, she spoke softly, “Indeed, His Majesty entered the inner palace a total of twelve times last month. He went to Consort Niu’s palace eight times and came to my palace twice. The remaining two times, he was served by Consort Lan and Noble Lady Lan from Consort Hui’s palace, respectively.”
Consort Hui's face was gloomy.
Consort Niu raised her chin slightly, her face full of pride.
After a short while, Consort Niu suddenly remembered something, glared fiercely at Noble Lady Lan behind Consort Hui, and said coldly, "I heard that His Majesty bestowed a fragrance upon Noble Lady Lan?"
Consort Lan raised an eyebrow, bowed, and stepped forward to greet Consort Niu.
"Your Highness, it is the Pear-shaped Incense. The Emperor said that the incense I used on the day I served him did not smell very good, so he bestowed upon me the Pear-shaped Incense."
Consort Niu's expression changed slightly, and she glared at Noble Lady Lan through gritted teeth.
Xu Lejin looked thoughtful, her brows furrowing as she pondered for a moment before speaking softly, "Since it's the Emperor's gift of the Pear Incense for the Tent, it must be excellent."
"Consort Lan is favored by the Emperor, who has bestowed upon her the fragrance of pear blossoms in her tent. She must keep the fragrance of pear blossoms in her tent every day."
With a smile in her eyes, Consort Lan respectfully replied, "Yes."
Consort Niu returned to Chuxiu Palace, slammed her hand on the table with a 'bang', her face dark and gloomy, and said in a cold voice: "Noble Lady Lan, the fragrance of pear blossoms in the tent? The Emperor is certainly special to her."
The palace maids in Consort Niu's palace lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound.
After a long while, Consort Niu's wet nurse spoke cautiously, "Your Majesty, Consort Lan is Lord Mingzhu's own niece. The Emperor relied heavily on Lord Mingzhu in the previous court, so it is only reasonable for him to bestow upon Consort Lan the Pear Incense."
"No matter how favored Consort Lan is, she can never surpass Your Majesty. Last month, Your Majesty served the Emperor eight times."
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