The Yikun Palace fell into complete silence.
Xu Lejin pursed her lips, frowned, and looked Lan Guiren up and down, pondering what Kangxi's intention was in summoning Lan Guiren to the side hall of Qianqing Palace to serve him on the fifteenth of yesterday.
If Emperor Kangxi truly intended to make Consort Lan empress, then...
Last night, she wouldn't have abandoned Consort Lan and gone to Consort Niu's palace because Consort Niu suddenly felt unwell.
The mind of an emperor is like a needle at the bottom of the sea; it's becoming increasingly unfathomable!
Half an hour later
With the help of the palace servants, Consort Niu finally arrived, albeit belatedly.
Stepping into the main hall of Yikun Palace, Consort Niu's expression froze for a moment, then she smiled brightly at Xu Lejin and said, "Why is it so quiet in Your Highness's palace? I thought I had come to the wrong place."
After speaking, Consort Niu covered her mouth and giggled.
A moment later, Consort Niu said, "I served His Majesty diligently last night, so I got up a little late today. I apologize for keeping Your Highness and my fellow ladies waiting."
Xu Lejin smiled awkwardly, her eyes glancing unconsciously at Consort Lan out of the corner of her eye.
As expected, Consort Lan's pretty face turned so gloomy it seemed like it could drip water, and her eyes were filled with venom as she glared fiercely at Consort Niu.
With a light laugh, Xu Lejin said, "It's alright."
"I heard that Consort Niu was unwell last night and suddenly felt nauseous. Is Consort Niu pregnant with the Emperor's child?"
As soon as she finished speaking, all the concubines in the harem turned their gazes toward Consort Niu.
Consort Lan lowered her head, her teeth almost grinding to powder, silently praying, "Please don't, please don't."
Consort Niu must not become pregnant at this critical juncture.
If Consort Niu were to conceive at this time and become pregnant with the emperor's child, her dream of becoming empress would be fulfilled.
The Emperor summoned her last night and subtly hinted at his intention to make her Empress. If Consort Niu is pregnant at this time, the Emperor may have to change his mind.
After all, Consort Niu came from the direct line of the powerful Niohuru clan and was the younger sister of Empress Xiaozhao. With the emperor's child, her chances of ascending to the empress's position were even greater.
Consort Niu lowered her head slightly, her face showing regret, and said softly, "Your Highness, I am unlucky and have not conceived. Yesterday, I was just feeling unwell in my stomach, which is why I felt nauseous."
"Um."
Xu Lejin responded calmly, her expression serene.
Consort Niu had not conceived, just as she had guessed this morning when she woke up without receiving any news.
She thought that if Consort Niu were pregnant, it would have been the talk of the palace by now, and everyone would know about it, instead of being completely unknown.
The concubines and Consort Lan all breathed a sigh of relief.
Half an hour later
The concubines of the harem all left Yikun Palace and walked along the long street. Some of the lower-ranking noble ladies, consorts, and ladies-in-waiting went to curry favor with Consort Niu, while others surrounded Consort Lan.
Consort Hui clenched her hands, her eyes filled with malice as she looked at Noble Lady Lan, who was being flattered by the lower-ranking concubines. She spoke in a sarcastic tone, "Consort Niu, Noble Lady Lan, I wonder who will be more outstanding and more favored by the Emperor?"
Consort Duan, standing to the side, frowned and pondered.
Consort An smiled faintly and said, "Sister Hui, don't you wish to be Noble Lady Lan? After all, Noble Lady Lan, like Sister Hui, is from the Yehe Nara clan, and Noble Lady Lan and Sister Hui live in Yanxi Palace together."
"If Consort Lan gains the Emperor's favor, in the future..."
With a meaningful glance at Consort Hui and the haughty Noble Lady Lan, Consort An spoke in a low voice, "If Noble Lady Lan becomes Empress, Consort Hui will undoubtedly be promoted to the rank of Consort or Noble Consort."
Consort Hui remained silent upon hearing this.
In the blink of an eye, a month has passed, and it's already mid-May.
This day
Consort Duan brought the Thirteenth Princess to Yikun Palace, and during their conversation, she mentioned Consort Niu and Noble Lady Lan.
Xu Lejin's expression froze for a moment, then she smiled gently and said softly, "So, Consort Niu and Noble Lady Lan are now at odds over the competition for the Emperor's favor?"
Consort Duan nodded with a smile.
"That's right. Consort Niu and Noble Lady Lan are always going back and forth, with Noble Lady Lan stealing Consort Niu's favor one day and Consort Niu stealing Noble Lady Lan's favor the next."
Changing the subject, Consort Duan lowered her voice and whispered, "Your Highness, what do you think His Majesty is up to? Consort Niu and Noble Lady Lan are always running around like this, yet His Majesty goes to Consort Niu's palace every few days, or summons Noble Lady Lan to serve him in the Qianqing Palace."
"Now, the whole palace is talking about it in great detail, saying that our Emperor is wavering between Consort Niu and Noble Lady Lan."
Xu Lejin looked up at Consort Duan, frowning in thought.
After a short while, Xu Lejin smiled slightly and said softly, "Consort Duan need not worry. Neither Consort Niu nor Noble Lady Lan will become Empress."
"The Emperor's frequent favoritism towards Consort Niu and Noble Lady Lan is merely for show, to impress the Niu Hulu family and Nalan Mingzhu."
Consort Duan lowered her head, her eyes flickering as she pondered to herself.
A few days later, in the afternoon
Ziwu hurried back from outside Yikun Palace and whispered to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, His Majesty ran into Consort Na in the Imperial Garden this afternoon."
“Na Ying danced gracefully in the Imperial Garden, like a fairy among flowers. The Emperor was overjoyed and immediately bestowed upon Na Ying the title of Changzai and took her to the Qianqing Palace.”
Xu Lejin paused, and a drop of pitch-black ink fell onto the pristine white Xuan paper.
With a faint smile, Xu Lejin put down her brush and said gracefully, "Consort Na is young and beautiful. Among the concubines in the harem, her beauty is among the best. She has been serving the Emperor for more than half a year, so it is only natural that she is promoted to the rank of Consort Na."
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