Consort Hesheli's face turned from white to blue.
Consort Shangjia and Consort Fanjia timidly glanced at Xu Lejin and the other two, then lowered their eyes and stood cautiously behind Consort Hesheli.
After a moment, Consort Hesheli's expression softened, and she looked at Consort Li, smiling as she said, "Sister Li is absolutely right. With the Empress's grace and favor, Consort Xu's unborn child will surely be healthy and safe."
"Sister Li, Sister Wanyan, I remember you both served the Emperor in the palace for almost three years. Sister Wanyan was alright, at least she was pregnant a few days ago, but unfortunately she didn't have the fortune to keep the imperial child. But Sister Li, you..."
Consort Hesheli gave a mocking smile, then said, "Sister Li has not conceived yet. Is it because she is infertile? If Sister Li is infertile, and now that Consort Xu is pregnant, does Sister Li think she can rely on the fact that the Prince Consort of Fuxi is behind her to raise the imperial child in Consort Xu's womb?"
"Although Consort Xu comes from a humble background, she is still from the Empress's palace. Even if she cannot raise the princes and princesses herself, the princes and princesses should be raised by the Empress."
After saying this, Consort Hesheli looked at Consort Li with contempt and disdain.
Consort Li's face turned pale and then green, and her body trembled with anger.
Xu Lejin slightly raised her eyes, glanced at Consort Li, and then lowered her head to ponder. Consort Hesheli's words were not without reason. Consort Li was the granddaughter of Li Yongfang, the Prince Consort of Fuxi. Although she was only a concubine at present, her family was powerful.
And she...
The Xu family were merely bondservants of the Imperial Household Department. Although the uncle worked at the Imperial Stables, the father, Xu Lu, held no official position.
The long street was unusually quiet for a moment, with only the faint breathing of a few people and palace maids. Everyone had different expressions and their own thoughts.
After about half a cup of tea, Consort Wanyan smiled and said, "Sister Hesheli is joking. Sister Li is not yet twenty years old, in good health, and favored by the Emperor. Why would she think of raising Sister Xu's child?"
"Heroes come from all walks of life. Now that Sister Xu is a concubine like us, her child should be raised by Sister Xu herself, with the help of wet nurses and palace maids."
"Just like the fourth prince and third princess of Sister Ma Jia in Zhongcui Palace, and the fifth prince of Sister Na La in Yanxi Palace."
Consort Hesheli was taken aback.
Immediately, Consort Hesheli glared at Consort Wanyan with a gloomy look, then turned her head away and ignored Consort Wanyan, cursing inwardly for Consort Wanyan's meddling.
A woman who is physically disabled and unable to bear children is a real eyesore in the palace.
If Wanyan were no longer in Changchun Palace, Hesheli Qianlan would be the only concubine in Changchun Palace, and she wouldn't have to be so restrained in her actions or worry about leaving any leverage for others to use against her!
With a cold snort, Consort Hesheli said in a cold voice, "Sister Wanyan is indeed broad-minded."
“If I, like Sister Wanyan, had a miscarriage that damaged my health and made me unable to have children again, I would feel ashamed before the Emperor and the Empress. I should request to move to the Cold Palace and spend the rest of my life in seclusion with a Buddhist lamp, instead of staying in the harem and monopolizing the Emperor’s favor.”
"Sister Hesheli, you..."
Consort Wanyan was both ashamed and angry, and her face looked extremely ugly.
Xu Lejin opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a sharp voice stopped her!
Consort Niohuru, supported by a palace maid, stepped forward and said coldly, "Consort Hesheli, you have served the Emperor for many years. Having been in the palace for so long, you know what can be said and what cannot be said."
“Consort Wanyan entered the palace through a proper selection process in the tenth year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign, and she was from the Mongol Wanyan clan. Even though she has now suffered a miscarriage and is unable to have children in the future, she is still a legitimate concubine in the harem.”
"The Emperor is wise and intelligent, the Empress Dowager is kind and compassionate, and the Empress is benevolent. How could the harem not tolerate Consort Wanyan and allow her to be moved to the Cold Palace to live out her remaining days?"
Consort Niohuru glanced at Consort Hesheli with a warning look and spoke in a deep voice. "Consort Hesheli, you are just a concubine. Could it be that you have received the Emperor's favor and the Empress's permission to have the same power as me in managing the six palaces, so that you can arbitrarily judge Consort Wanyan in the long street and arrange a place for her?"
After speaking, Consort Niohuru looked intently at Consort Hesheli.
Consort Hesheli's face was pale, and she murmured her lips.
After a long while, Consort Hesheli knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for forgiveness, "Your Highness, please forgive me, Your Highness, I spoke without thinking and said the wrong thing."
"This humble servant knows her sins. Please forgive this humble servant this once, Your Highness of Chuxiu Palace."
Xu Lejin and the others kept their heads down and remained silent.
Consort Niohuru glanced at Xu Lejin and Consort Wanyan, and said in a deep voice, "Consort Hesheli spoke inappropriately on the long street. Consort Wanyan and Consort Xu, what do you think?"
Like passing a ball around, Consort Niohuru passed this farce on to Xu Lejin and Consort Wanyan.
Xu Lejin and Consort Wanyan exchanged a glance, both understanding each other perfectly.
Consort Wanyan pondered for a moment, then said with a smile, "Your Highness, since Sister Hesheli has already realized her mistake, I think it would be better to let bygones be bygones."
"At present, the previous dynasty is in a period of great turmoil. The emperor is overwhelmed with worries about the affairs of the previous dynasty, and the empress is pregnant and has to manage the affairs of the six palaces. It is best not to disturb the emperor and empress with trivial matters of the harem."
Consort Niohuru nodded and looked at Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin spoke softly, “Your Highness, I think what Sister Wanyan said makes a lot of sense. Sister Hesheli is just being straightforward and said something inappropriate, but I am not seriously hurt. Let’s just let this matter go.”
"Her Majesty the Empress often teaches us that the harem should be peaceful and harmonious, and that the sisters in the harem should love each other. Sister Hesheli's words today are rude, which must be due to the palace servants below sowing discord."
After a pause, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Your Highness, I think that a minor punishment is sufficient to serve as a warning for what happened today."
"What does Consort Xu mean?"
Consort Niohuru's gaze fell on Consort Hesheli, and she quickly considered her options.
After a moment, Consort Niohuru spoke in a serious tone, "His Majesty has bestowed upon me the power to assist in managing the six palaces. It is only right that I share the Empress's burdens and difficulties."
“The palace servants around Consort Hesheli are instigating and inciting their mistress to cause trouble. Guards, send the palace servants around Consort Hesheli to the Xin Zhe Ku to do hard labor. Without the Empress’s decree, they are not allowed to leave the Xin Zhe Ku even a step.”
"Furthermore, have the Imperial Household Department reassign several palace maids to serve Consort Hesheli at Changchun Palace!"
Consort Hesheli collapsed to the ground, her face filled with disbelief.
The palace maid serving Consort Hesheli was filled with fear, like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, unable to utter a single word, only able to look at Consort Hesheli with pleading eyes.
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