As the sun began to set, Xu Lejin dragged her weary body and limped out of Cining Palace.
Inside the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager wore a solemn expression.
"Su Ma, is what the Imperial Concubine said true? The Qing Dynasty does not want Mongol concubines to bear imperial offspring, and the Mongols do not want princesses sent for marriage alliances to have children, but..."
The Empress Dowager murmured, not believing it in her heart, trying to find an excuse to deceive herself.
Sumalagu lowered her head, sighed, and said, "Your Majesty, this servant believes that what the Noble Consort said is not without reason."
“In the palace, apart from the reign of Emperor Taizong, none of the Mongolian concubines in the previous emperor’s reign or now have given birth.”
"Over the years, the princesses who married into various Mongol tribes through marriage alliances have rarely given birth. Even those who were lucky enough to become pregnant and give birth to children have children who die young, and very few of them survive to adulthood..."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager aged considerably in an instant.
So that's how it is. She wholeheartedly wanted the Qing Dynasty and Mongolia to be on good terms for generations to come, but both the royal family and the various Mongolian tribes were wary of each other.
The princess's marriage to a Mongol prince, a union between the Manchus and Mongols, was a prestigious affair, but the underlying secrets were cruel and bloody.
perhaps,
Perhaps I was wrong from the very beginning!
After a long while, the old voice of the Empress Dowager slowly rang out in the Cining Palace, "Enough, enough. I'm already buried to the neck. My children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I won't concern myself with the future."
"Even I can't control it anymore."
After saying this, the Empress Dowager stood up with a dejected expression and returned to her bedchamber.
The next day
The Empress Dowager instructed Sumalagu to personally visit the Qianqing Palace and inform Emperor Kangxi that the marriage alliance and pacification of Mongolia by the two princesses born to Consort Zhi were to be called off. Whether the princesses would be allowed to marry into Mongolia in the future was entirely up to Emperor Kangxi.
Emperor Kangxi was surprised, but when he thought of how Xu Lejin had spent most of the day with the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace the day before, he felt relieved.
The only thing I feel is...
Consort Zhi came from a humble background, but she was incredibly lucky and got a consort position for free, becoming the head of a palace.
What Xu Lejin didn't know was that her erudite and well-researched presentation had such an effect, actually changing the Empress Dowager's stubborn belief in the unity of the Manchus and Mongols.
Even more subtly, it altered the fates of many Qing Dynasty princesses.
You Shi (5-7 PM)
Li Dequan, who was serving the emperor, bowed and entered Yikun Palace. He greeted Xu Lejin with a smile and said, "Congratulations, Your Highness! His Majesty has come to your palace tonight."
Xu Lejin nodded and winked at Nongying beside her.
For the next seven days
Emperor Kangxi stayed in Xu Lejin's palace, leaving Xu Lejin completely bewildered. Meanwhile, the concubines in the harem were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment, envying Xu Lejin's favor with the emperor.
Xu Lejin experienced both pain and joy during these seven days.
finally
On the eighth day, someone from the Emperor came again to congratulate Xu Lejin, and Xu Lejin couldn't hold back any longer!
"Eunuch Li, please go back and inform the Emperor that I am unwell and have started my period, so I am not fit to serve the Emperor. Please ask the Emperor to summon other concubines to serve him."
Li Dequan was stunned.
I've only ever seen concubines in the imperial harem vying for the emperor's favor; I've never seen any other concubine receive the emperor's attention.
Completely bewildered, Li Dequan returned to the Qianqing Palace and relayed Xu Lejin's words to Liang Jiugong. Liang Jiugong immediately felt a headache coming on. After pondering for a moment, he braced himself and entered the Qianqing Palace.
Bowing and scraping, Liang Jiugong said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is unwell today and may not be able to serve you."
"Um."
Kangxi paused for a moment, then spoke.
"Since the Imperial Concubine is unwell, let her rest well and have the imperial physician examine her. Also, select some fine jewelry and fabrics from my treasury and send them to her."
Liang Jiugong respectfully agreed.
After a pause, Liang Jiugong continued, "Your Majesty, are you going to choose a concubine today?"
"Never mind."
As night fell, the palace maid Liuying hurried in from outside the palace and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, news has come from the Imperial Palace that His Majesty has stayed alone in the Qianqing Palace tonight and has not summoned any of the ladies of the palace to serve him."
Xu Lejin nodded, unconcerned.
Although Emperor Kangxi was young and vigorous, and was in his thirties, he had spent seven consecutive days in her palace, engaging in sexual relations with her every day. It was time for him to rest for a day or two!
Five days later
As soon as Xu Lejin recovered, Emperor Kangxi rushed to Yikun Palace.
"Your Majesty, your concubine..."
With a solemn expression, Xu Lejin lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager once taught me that one flower in the harem does not make a spring; spring must be shared equally."
"Your Majesty's favor is a great joy to me, but also a source of great anxiety. I humbly request Your Majesty to extend your grace to all the ladies of the palace, and to show your favor equally to all of them."
Kangxi's face darkened, and he stared intently at Xu Lejin.
Every second, after half a cup of tea
Kangxi said coldly, "How dare the Imperial Concubine send me away? The palace needs to distribute favors evenly to ensure the continuation of the imperial line, but I am the emperor. Is it wrong for me to favor the Imperial Concubine?"
Xu Lejin immediately knelt down and prostrated herself on the ground.
"Your Majesty's kindness is not overwhelming, but I beg Your Majesty to consider the issue of our offspring."
The Yikun Palace fell into complete silence.
After a cup of tea, Kangxi spoke in a deep voice, "It's getting late, let's get settled!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
That night, Kangxi tormented Xu Lejin with extraordinary intensity. Inside the bedchamber, the red silk curtains were warm and the atmosphere was filled with spring-like beauty. Outside the bedchamber, Liang Jiugong, along with the palace maids and eunuchs, lowered their heads, their faces flushed.
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