March, the season of spring warmth and blooming flowers.
The peach blossoms in the Imperial Garden are in bloom, creating a delicate pink hue as far as the eye can see.
This day
Under the bright sunshine, Xu Lejin, along with Wuxiha, Wuyoudai, Wulingzhu, and the infants Yinchu and Yuludai, invited Consort Duan and Consort Xiu from the side palace to go to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Under the pink peach blossom tree, Xu Lejin smiled radiantly as she watched the cheerful children.
Suddenly, the melodious sound of a flute drifted from not far away.
Ru Hua gave a wink to the little palace maid, who quickly went to inquire who was playing the flute in the Imperial Garden.
A moment later, a young palace maid led a woman of young age, dressed in a pink palace gown, gracefully in. Xu Lejin frowned slightly, thinking to herself, "This isn't from Consort Hui's palace..."
"This humble servant, Li'er, wishes Your Highness the Imperial Concubine good health and auspiciousness."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
After considering for a moment, she spoke gently, "So it's Consort Li. Consort Li, what brings you to the Imperial Garden to play the flute?"
"Li's flute playing was quite good."
Li Yi blushed slightly and said in a low voice, "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. I have been learning the flute since I was a child, for eight years now."
“I heard from the palace servants that the peach blossoms in the Imperial Garden have bloomed and the apricot blossoms have budded, so I thought I’d come and see for myself. On a whim, I played the flute.”
She glanced timidly at Xu Lejin, then spoke softly again, “It was my fault for disturbing Your Highness the Imperial Concubine and Consort Duan. Please punish me, Your Highness.”
After saying that, Li agreed and knelt down.
The little girl was so thin and frail, as if a gust of wind could blow her over. Xu Lejin sighed softly, thinking to herself, "What a tragedy!"
The palace maids recommended by Consort Hui to serve Emperor Kangxi were all quite young.
"Li, please rise. It's alright."
After a moment's thought, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Li and said in a deep voice, "Consort Li appears to be quite young, yet her flute playing skills are remarkable."
"Your Highness, I am fourteen years old this year. I have been learning to play the flute since I was a child under the tutelage of my aunt."
Li replied in a low voice, thinking to herself, "The Imperial Concubine is kind and approachable, not at all like what Consort Hui said, that she is jealous and petty."
Xu Lejin keenly noticed that he had been learning to play the flute since he was a child, and her expression darkened slightly. "You said you've been learning to play the flute since you were a child, or under your aunt's tutelage? Are you an orphan?"
Its small body trembled slightly.
“I was separated from my parents when I was young, and my aunt took me in and raised me.”
Xu Lejin squinted and exchanged a glance with Consort Duan beside her. The two understood each other implicitly and had a general idea of what Consort Li had said.
At such a young age, slender and petite, and having practiced various arts since childhood, this...
Upon returning to Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin immediately sent someone to inquire about the backgrounds of the newly appointed ladies-in-waiting and palace maids recommended by Consort Hui.
Xu Lejin sat upright with a cold face, not uttering a word.
Ruhua and Nongying exchanged a quick glance, then Ruhua spoke softly, "Your Majesty, actually, Consort Li in Consort Hui's palace isn't the youngest. This servant has heard..."
Xu Lejin looked at Ruhua.
With a forced smile, Ru Hua spoke in a voice barely audible, "This servant has heard that Consort Xi in Consort Hui's palace is only thirteen years old."
With a 'clang',
The teacup fell to the ground, Xu Lejin's hands trembled, and her eyes were full of disbelief.
After a long while, Xu Lejin spoke coldly, "Consort Hui is confused. Consort Hui is also a mother. If Consort Hui's third son were still alive, he would be thirteen or fourteen years old now. How could Consort Hui bear to do this?"
"Even Consort Hui's second son is ten years old now, and Li, who is also a consort, is only a few years older than him."
The next day
Xu Lejin originally intended to summon Consort Hui to Yikun Palace to subtly remind her not to do such cruel things, but she was stopped by an unexpected event.
Xu Lejin's face showed shock, and her eyes held a complex expression.
"What did you say? The Second Prince is in the Prince's Residence!"
The words that were on the tip of her tongue just wouldn't come out; all she felt was shock.
Ru Hua lowered her head slightly, lowered her voice, and said softly, "Your Majesty, this servant also heard it from the little palace maid Fang'er."
"Fang'er and Xiao Die, who serves the Second Prince, are from the same hometown. They were both purchased and brought into the palace together, and they have some private dealings."
Xu Lejin nodded.
After a long silence, Xu Lejin spoke coldly, "What a tragedy! The Second Prince is only ten years old, still a child. How could this happen? Does Consort Hui know about the Second Prince's affairs?"
"This servant believes that Consort Hui is unaware of this. However..."
Ru Hua glanced quickly at Xu Lejin, then lowered her head and said, "But even if Consort Hui knew, she would think it's normal, and might even think that the Second Prince has grown up."
Time seemed to stand still.
Xu Lejin dismissed the palace servants who were attending to her and stayed alone.
Yes, the Qing Dynasty gained its rule through horsemanship and archery. Emperor Kangxi married at the age of twelve, and even before the wedding, he already had palace maids serving him. His second son, Yinqi, was also present.
The second prince, Yinti, was fond of riding and archery, and his food, clothing, and daily necessities were all of the highest quality.
Now, the ten-year-old Second Prince, whom she had once observed from afar, was a head taller than the First Prince, and was strong and healthy, like a little calf.
Consort Hui recommended palace maids to serve Emperor Kangxi; the youngest was only thirteen years old.
As Consort Hui's son, the Second Prince was already aware of worldly affairs at the age of ten and favored palace maids. It is estimated that Consort Hui still thought the Second Prince was brave and heroic and was even complacent about it.
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