Xu Lejin lowered her head slightly and remained silent, pursing her lips.
Consort Wen and Consort Hui exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with schadenfreude, waiting for Xu Lejin to be punished by Emperor Kangxi.
The two even secretly hoped that Emperor Kangxi would be enraged by Xu Lejin's disrespect in court and, in a fit of anger, banish her to the Cold Palace.
Emperor Kangxi pondered for a long time, then looked at Xu Lejin with deep regret.
"I noticed that the Imperial Concubine looks somewhat tired. Today is a family banquet, so if the Imperial Concubine is tired, please return to Yikun Palace to rest early. I will come to see you tomorrow afternoon."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin looked bewildered.
Soon, with Ru Hua's help, Xu Lejin stood up, bowed, and said softly, "Yes, Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern. I will take my leave now."
After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Xu Lejin looked up at the clear night sky, which was shrouded in mist.
Today is New Year's Eve, a time for the whole palace to celebrate. Why did Emperor Kangxi ask her to return to the palace early?
I was indeed a little distracted at the banquet, but surely that wouldn't warrant being sent back to Yikun Palace.
The next day at noon
Emperor Kangxi visited Yikun Palace and had lunch with Xu Lejin.
With a doting gaze, Kangxi cleared his throat and said, "Yesterday was New Year's Eve. I originally intended to take advantage of the suppression of the Three Feudatories to elevate you to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, but my grandmother disagreed."
Xu Lejin exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, I am unworthy of being the Imperial Noble Consort. I beg Your Majesty to find another virtuous and capable person. I only wish to serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly and stay by your side."
"I dare not ask for more than that."
Emperor Kangxi gazed intently at Xu Lejin and sighed deeply.
"I understand my beloved consort's affection for me, but I always want to give her the best. I was thinking of letting her serve as Imperial Noble Consort for a few years before making her Empress, but what about Grandmother?"
"My grandmother said that my beloved concubine's family is not prominent, and that I should wait a few years until my beloved concubine's younger brother grows up, enters the court as an official and makes meritorious contributions, before I can make my beloved concubine empress."
Xu Lejin looked at Kangxi with a surprised expression.
Frowning, after a long silence, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "The Empress Dowager is very thoughtful. I come from a humble background and am truly unworthy of the responsibility of an Imperial Noble Consort."
After a pause, Xu Lejin spoke in a low voice.
"As Your Majesty knows, I was originally a palace maid and am used to being lazy. I have entrusted the affairs of the palace to Consort Wen and Consort Hui."
"I just like to sleep until I naturally wake up every day, eat and drink all day, then serve Your Majesty and bear children for Your Majesty."
After speaking, Xu Lejin lowered her head slightly.
A cold smile flashed across her eyes as she thought to herself that since the Empress Dowager was willing to make empty promises to keep Kangxi in check, she could also use a strategy of retreat to advance.
Although she is lazy, a concubine who doesn't want to be the empress is not a good concubine.
If she could become empress, she would naturally be willing. As for the concubines in the harem, she could have them pay their respects every five or ten days, as well as handle all matters of the palace.
Then, they can also appoint concubines and other high-ranking officials to assist in managing the six palaces.
"Um."
Kangxi nodded. "I understand my beloved consort's feelings for me, but the more I understand, the more I want to give her the best. Alas..."
"Enough, enough. I assure you, my beloved consort, that your rank in the harem will always be the highest."
Xu Lejin smiled gently, stood up, and curtsied to Emperor Kangxi.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness. Long live the Emperor!"
One hour later
After Kangxi left Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin watched his departing figure, and when no one could see her, she rolled her eyes and sneered inwardly.
Ha, emperors are heartless. She doesn't believe a word an emperor says.
If Kangxi truly loved her deeply, he would have disregarded everything and done his utmost to secure the position of Empress for her, instead of giving up just because the Empress Dowager disagreed.
Maintaining a balance between the imperial court and the harem is important, but...
If it were true love, one would lose their senses and rationality. However, Kangxi was too rational, which made him seem too fake. Besides, there were countless concubines in the harem.
New talents are emerging one after another.
She doesn't believe a damn thing!
Chuxiu Palace
Consort Wen and Consort Hui sat together, both with solemn expressions.
"Consort Wen, what do you think the Emperor meant yesterday? Did he perhaps intend to elevate you to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, or even make you Empress?"
Consort Hui's eyes flickered, and she spoke in a deep voice.
Consort Wen's expression changed, she clenched her handkerchief tightly, and said coldly, "Your Highness, Your Highness comes from a humble background. Your Highness's maternal family, the Xu Mu'er clan, had no important officials in the previous dynasty."
"Only the Consort's sisters married into the royal family, the imperial clan, and the homes of high-ranking officials."
After a pause, Consort Wen changed the subject.
"Sister Consort Hui, do you know which families the Imperial Concubine's sisters have married into? I've only been focused on the Imperial Concubine, and I've forgotten about her maternal family."
Consort Hui's eyes flashed with disdain before she spoke softly, "This, I do know a little about."
"The Consort's sisters, whose husbands included the fourth master of the Suochuoluo family of the Plain White Banner, the Prince Gong family, the third master of the Tatara family of the Plain Yellow Banner, the eldest son of the Prince Xianyi family, the Prince Chun family, and the fifteenth and seventeenth masters of the Prince An family."
"The rest of my half-sisters all married men from respectable families."
Consort Hui's words were half true and half false.
It is true that Xu Lejin had several sisters born of the same mother. However, among Xu Lejin's sisters born out of wedlock, only those born to Aunt Chun and Aunt Qin married into families of decent social standing as legal wives. The rest either married into lower social classes or became concubines.
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