Emperor Kangxi walked aimlessly down the long street.
Before he knew it, he had arrived outside Yikun Palace. Looking up at the palace gate, Kangxi stopped in his tracks, his face hesitant, his brows furrowed, and he was caught in a dilemma.
"emperor,"
Liang Jiugong bowed and stepped forward, speaking softly.
Emperor Kangxi shook his head and sighed, "There's no need to disturb the Imperial Concubine. I'm fine. I'll just stand here for a while and then return to the Qianqing Palace!"
"yes."
Liang Jiugong responded and winked at the little eunuch behind him.
Inside Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin sat leisurely under the eaves, flipping through the storybook in her hand, a faint smile occasionally appearing on her lips, as time passed by second by second.
Sudden,
Ru Hua bowed and came to Xu Lejin's side, lowering her voice and whispering, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Liang just sent someone to secretly convey a message that the Emperor is at our palace gate."
"、、"
Xu Lejin was taken aback upon hearing this.
He sat up straight and said in a deep voice, "The Emperor has arrived. Why wasn't anyone informed of his arrival?"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor forbids public announcements. Eunuch Liang has been sending people to report to you privately. The eunuch he instructed said that the Emperor just came from the Empress Dowager's palace and seemed very troubled."
Ru Hua replied in a low voice.
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, her expression thoughtful.
After drinking half a cup of tea, she said softly, "His Majesty has his reasons for not allowing the announcement, but I cannot let His Majesty stand outside indefinitely."
"Ruhua, come here, let's do this..."
Lowering her voice, Xu Lejin whispered a few words in Ru Hua's ear, and Ru Hua nodded in agreement.
A moment later
Xu Lejin, accompanied by Ruhua and Nongying, seemed to be going out for a walk. Just as they stepped out of the Yikun Palace gate, they saw Kangxi standing outside with a surprised expression, and they quickly went up to him.
Curtsied and asked with a puzzled look, "Why didn't Your Majesty inform me before coming to my palace? I could have welcomed Your Majesty properly."
"I,"
Emperor Kangxi was speechless.
After a pause, Kangxi said in a deep voice, "My beloved concubine, are you going out?"
"Your Majesty, I was just about to take a stroll in the Imperial Garden when I unexpectedly ran into you. I heard that some of the apricot blossoms in the Imperial Garden have already bloomed. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to go for a walk in the Imperial Garden with me?"
After speaking, Xu Lejin tilted her head slightly, looking at Kangxi with anticipation.
Emperor Kangxi frowned and pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "I am delighted to accept your kind invitation, my beloved consort."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xu Lejin responded cheerfully, then turned her head and gave Liang Jiugong a reassuring look. Liang Jiugong immediately understood and called the palace maids and eunuchs to follow at a distance.
In spring
The Imperial Garden is beautiful, with a different view at every turn, and flowers of all colors blooming in vibrant hues.
"Your Majesty, look at that Cymbidium goeringii. It is in full bloom now, standing tall and graceful, delicate and beautiful, just like a charming and tender beauty, gazing out from the railing."
Xu Lejin pointed to a Cymbidium goeringii not far away and spoke with a smile.
He gave a faint reply and remained silent.
A moment later
Xu Lejin then pointed to a peony not far away and said, "Your Majesty, that peony is in full bloom. I am reminded of a poem: 'The peony in the courtyard is charming but lacks elegance, the lotus on the pond is pure but lacks passion, only the peony is truly the national beauty, when it blooms it stirs the capital.'"
"emperor,"
Kangxi was clearly not thinking about the Imperial Garden and did not react at all. Xu Lejin gave a coquettish sigh and looked at Kangxi with displeasure.
The palace maids and eunuchs serving behind Xu Lejin and Emperor Kangxi had their hearts in their throats, thinking to themselves, "The Imperial Concubine is really bold. She knows that the Emperor is uneasy, but she still makes such a fuss."
Kangxi was awakened from his thoughts by Xu Lejin's sweet cry. He looked at Xu Lejin with affection and said softly, "If my beloved consort thinks it's good, then it's good."
"If my beloved concubine likes these flowers and plants in the Imperial Garden, I will have the flower workshop send some to your palace later."
Xu Lejin pouted and took Kangxi's arm.
"Your Majesty, I don't want that. The flowers in the Imperial Garden grow there, and everyone in the palace can enjoy them. But if they come to my Yikun Palace, I'll be the only one who gets to see them."
Changing the subject, Xu Lejin turned her head and looked at Kangxi.
"Your Majesty, what were you thinking about just now? I said quite a few things to you, but you didn't respond. Is something troubling you, Your Majesty?"
After a moment of contemplation, Kangxi nodded and said, "Indeed, there are some troubling matters."
Clearing his throat, Kangxi gave Xu Lejin an apologetic look and spoke in a deep voice.
"In my harem these days, many new concubines and palace ladies have been appointed. Today, the Empress Dowager sent someone to invite me to Cining Palace and gave me a lecture. Only then did I realize what had happened."
Xu Lejin smiled, secretly rolled her eyes, but her expression remained cautious.
"The Emperor is the Son of Heaven. It is perfectly normal for the Son of Heaven to have three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines. The continuation of offspring and the flourishing of the family line cannot be separated from the concubines in the harem. It is perfectly reasonable for the Emperor to bestow titles upon a few concubines or palace women, or even to confer titles upon other concubines."
Emperor Kangxi's expression changed, and he said coldly, "How can a palace maid recommended by Consort Hui be worthy of being a concubine or imperial consort?"
Xu Lejin lowered her head, her face showing disdain.
"Yes, Your Majesty is right. It is already a blessing for palace maids to be able to serve Your Majesty. Your Majesty's great favor in bestowing upon them the titles of 'Daying' and 'Guan Nüzi' is already an honor."
Xu Lejin glanced quickly at Kangxi and then spoke softly, “Your Majesty doesn’t need to worry too much. Since things have come to this, if Your Majesty likes them, you can summon them to serve you occasionally. If you don’t like them, you can keep them.”
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