In a secluded little room in the rear hall
On the dimly lit bed lay a pale-faced, delicate woman with a small, oval face. Several men of similar age sat beside the bed.
"Consort Hui,"
The youngest, Xi Ying, had glistening tears on her face and her voice was choked with sobs.
She had just gone to the main hall when she overheard Cunxin, the head maid of Consort Hui, cursing them as playthings for others to enjoy, and Consort Hui did not refute her.
They come from that kind of place, but they still have their pride.
If they had a choice, which of them would willingly be sold to such a place from a young age, never having enough to eat, and having to learn various skills from childhood?
The other women also looked angry and started talking all at once.
"Since Consort Hui looks down on us, why did she even bring us into the palace? Even if we are no better than the Emperor, we have still served him. How dare she humiliate us, a mere maidservant of Consort Hui?"
"...Consort Hui herself is out of favor, so she sought our help to regain favor, yet she humiliates and humiliates us like this."
"Consort Hui..."
Inside the small room, several people were filled with righteous indignation.
Lying on the bed, the pale-faced woman, newly bestowed the title of Red Concubine by Emperor Kangxi, lowered her eyes slightly, a fierce glint flashing in them, before raising her head and speaking timidly.
"I've heard that the Emperor has grown tired of us."
Tears slowly slid down her cheeks. The petite and delicate beauty wept, her face like a pear blossom in the rain, a unique and beautiful sight.
After a moment of silence, the group suddenly realized something, exchanged glances, and the eldest woman spoke in a deep voice, “We are inherently worthless and have no place in the world. Now that we have entered the palace and are serving the Emperor, we should try our best to win his favor.”
"A woman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years."
The others echoed his sentiments.
"Sister Yue is right, that's how we should do it."
Time flies
Consort Hui was bedridden for half a month before finally recovering.
Illness strikes like a landslide. Consort Hui, already over thirty, became even older after falling ill, looking like she was in her forties.
Standing together with the group of young and delicate concubines and palace ladies in Yanxi Palace, they looked like an old grandmother with her granddaughters.
That day
Xu Lejin sat in the main seat of Yikun Palace, smiling as she looked down at Consort Wen, Consort Hui, Consort Que, and the others.
Consort Que covered her face with her handkerchief and said with a charming smile, "Consort Hui looks much more haggard. A few days ago, Consort Hui fell ill. I should have gone to visit her, but I was busy managing palace affairs and couldn't spare the time."
"Sister Huifei is kind and generous, she shouldn't blame me for not visiting her, right?"
Consort Hui's old face froze for a moment, a fierce look flashing across her face.
"You flatter me, Consort Que. I am ill, and all the palace affairs have been handed over to Consort Wen and Consort Que. It is only natural that Consort Que is a little busy."
"I only regret that my body is so weak and I suddenly fell ill, causing my younger sister, Consort Que, so much trouble and hardship."
With her head slightly raised, Consort Que looked proud.
"It is my honor to share Your Highness's burdens, and I dare not complain of hardship. Consort Hui, I have overheard the palace servants gossiping that your sudden illness is due to the Second Prince's matter."
Covering her mouth and chuckling softly, Consort Que continued, "Consort Hui's motherly heart is widely known throughout the palace, but unfortunately, the Second Prince is disappointing, as he has been mingling with palace maids at such a young age."
"Alas, the hearts of mothers are truly pitiful!"
Consort Hui's face went from white to green, a truly dramatic display. She nearly ground her teeth to powder, wishing she could slap Consort Que's smiling face hard.
Consort Wen's expression changed, and she was about to speak.
Xu Lejin said coldly, "Consort Que, what nonsense are you spouting? The Second Prince is only ten years old. How could he do something like mingling with palace maids? The Second Prince is a royal grandson and a member of the imperial family. How dare you speak so carelessly and make such irresponsible remarks?"
Consort Que lowered her head sheepishly, her eyes filled with intense hatred.
After a pause, Xu Lejin continued sternly, "Consort Que's words were disrespectful, criticizing the Second Prince; she is to be fined three months' salary. Consort Hui has just recovered from a serious illness; from today onwards, she should rest and recuperate in Yanxi Palace, striving for a speedy recovery. Palace affairs..."
With a hesitant expression, Xu Lejin considered her options carefully.
"Your Highness, I am fully recovered and can now assist Consort Wen and Consort Que in managing the six palaces!" Consort Hui said hurriedly, fearing that if she was a step too late, her power in the palace would be taken away.
Consort Wen turned her head slightly, her face showing disdain.
One hour later
Consort Wen, Consort Hui, and others left Yikun Palace.
Consort Que looked up at Consort Hui with her small, delicate face and said coldly, "Consort Hui has just recovered from a serious illness. She should take it easy when handling palace affairs. What if, what if, Consort Hui makes a mistake in her haste? That would be terrible!"
"If something goes wrong, that's fine, but I'm afraid that Consort Hui might get so anxious that she falls ill again and dies. That would be terrible."
He gave a disdainful smile.
Glancing at Consort Hui's back, where Consort Li and the others were bowing their heads, Consort Que spoke with a deep look in her eyes, "The ladies-in-waiting and palace maids in Consort Hui's palace have all served the Emperor. Although their ranks are low, they are still concubines in the harem."
"Sister Huifei cannot, just because she is old and faded, take advantage of her position as the mistress of Yanxi Palace to humiliate them."
Consort Hui's face turned ashen as she glared fiercely at Consort Que.
Consort Que gracefully adjusted the hairpin in her hair, and said with a charming smile, "Sister Hui will be a grandmother in a few years, and it's time for her to do good deeds for the Second Prince and the Third Princess."
"Consort Que, you..."
The farce outside Yikun Palace quickly reached Xu Lejin's ears.
Xu Lejin frowned, pondered for a moment, and then spoke in a cold voice, "Indeed, it's time to give Consort Hui a warning. Consort Hui will stop at nothing to win the emperor's favor."
"I heard that Consort Hui is seriously ill and is wantonly humiliating Consorts Li and Yue. Although Consorts Li and Yue come from humble backgrounds, they have served the Emperor. How can they be allowed to be beaten and scolded by Consort Hui at will?"
After a pause, Xu Lejin added, "Moreover, His Majesty's intention is to let bygones be bygones and allow Consort Li and Consort Yue to live out their remaining years in peace in the palace."
Ruhua and Nongying exchanged a quick glance.
"His Majesty is wise and His Highness is benevolent; it is Li and Yue who are blessed."
With a slight nod, Xu Lejin slowly opened her mouth, "Doing one good deed a day is better than a seven-story pagoda. I am just going with the flow and doing someone a favor."
"The key is still the Emperor's wisdom."
A few days later
The weather was clear, and Xu Lejin smiled as she watched the apricot blossoms that the palace servants had brought back from the Imperial Garden. Amidst the sparse shadows of the apricot blossoms, she used to play the flute until dawn; now, looking at the apricot blossoms brought back by the palace servants, she was reminded of Consort Li of Yanxi Palace.
Li was carefully nurtured from a young age, and despite her young age, her flute playing was quite remarkable.
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