The news of Consort An's sudden death spread like wildfire throughout the palace.
Xu Lejin was stunned and sent someone to Qixiang Palace to inquire about it.
He immediately understood why the healthy Consort An had suddenly died.
Consort An's sudden death was the will of Heaven.
It is said that Consort An always felt dizzy and lightheaded when she woke up in the morning. When she died suddenly this morning, her death was extremely tragic, with blood flowing from all seven orifices.
Consort An likely died from a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, similar to what happened in later generations.
Qixiang Palace was draped in white mourning clothes.
The palace maids and eunuchs, along with Consort Shi and Consort Chun from Qixiang Palace, knelt before Consort An's coffin, all dressed in plain clothes.
The sixteenth princess, born to Consort Chun, was previously raised by Consort An and Consort Chun together. The little girl had a sorrowful expression on her face.
"Greetings to Consort Yu and Consort Que. May Consort Yu and Consort Que be blessed."
Xu Lejin and Consort Que arrived at Qixiang Palace at the same time. Consort Shi and Consort Chun exchanged a glance, their faces respectful, and bowed to the two of them to greet them.
"Um."
Xu Lejin responded and looked at Consort An, whose face was peaceful and who had passed away peacefully.
With a soft sigh, Xu Lejin turned her head to look at Consort Que and said, "I am deeply saddened by Consort An's sudden death. I entrust Consort An's funeral arrangements to Consort Que."
"Consort Yu, my dear sister."
Consort Que instinctively wanted to refuse, but then she thought that because she was young when she served the emperor, she had damaged her health and found it difficult to conceive. Although she was now a Noble Consort and on equal footing with Consort Yu, everyone in the palace knew that she was inferior to Consort Yu.
in this way,
After Consort An's death, I will take care of the arrangements myself, which will be a good opportunity to establish my prestige in the palace.
After thinking it through, Consort Que respectfully replied, "Yes, sister will follow your instructions and will certainly handle Consort An's funeral in a grand and glorious manner."
Xu Lejin nodded.
With the help of Ruhua and Nongying, Xu Lejin went forward to offer incense to Consort An, and then left Qixiang Palace with the support of Ruhua and Nongying.
Cining Palace
When the news of Consort An's sudden death reached the ears of the Empress Dowager, she paused, murmured, "Why would Consort An suddenly die like this?"
"Su Ma, what did the Imperial Hospital say?"
Sumalagu bowed, carefully choosing her words, and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Hospital reports that Consort An died suddenly due to a ruptured blood vessel in her brain."
"how so?"
The Empress Dowager exclaimed in surprise, her aged face filled with astonishment and disbelief.
Su Mala Gu lowered her eyes slightly and spoke softly, "This servant heard from the imperial physicians that Consort An used to experience dizziness and headaches every morning when she woke up."
"Consort An's condition appears to be a chronic illness."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned and looked grave.
After a long while, the Empress Dowager spoke slowly, "Consort An passed away at such a young age, which makes me sigh that life and death are preordained and wealth and honor are determined by fate."
"Since last year, I've felt my health declining year by year. I get tired very easily, and sometimes I even feel short of breath," I said.
With a soft sigh, the Empress Dowager murmured to herself.
"Last night, I dreamed of Aunt Zhe Zhe, Sister Hai Lan Zhu, Emperor Taizong, and Fu Lin again."
“My aunt Zhe Zhe and my sister Hai Lan Zhu criticized me in my dream for failing to maintain the marriage ties between the Qing Dynasty and the Khorchin. None of the high-ranking concubines in the palace are Khorchin women.”
"I dreamt of Emperor Taizong, questioning me about whether I had done anything to wrong him; I dreamt of Fulin breaking ties with me and my son for the sake of Consort Dong'e; I dreamt of Fulin defying me and deposing Empress Meng Guqing; I dreamt of Fulin contracting smallpox..."
The Empress Dowager spoke softly, word by word.
Su Ma La Gu raised her eyes and quickly glanced at the Empress Dowager, then said softly, "Empress Dowager, you are overthinking things, which is why you dreamed of Empress Xiao Duanwen, Consort Chen, Emperor Taizong, and the late Emperor."
"His Majesty treats the Mongols with great respect and is filial to the Empress Dowager. He has betrothed the eldest princess to the heir of Bandi of the Khorchin, and he also frequently visits the palaces of Consort Wan and Consort Ning. Your Majesty..."
With an embarrassed expression, Sumalagu carefully chose her words before speaking.
The Empress Dowager sighed softly and said, "I understand. The Emperor has his own reasons. I also understand that the glory of Khorchin is gone. The Emperor is wise and does not like to be controlled by others."
"I only feel sorry for the Khorchin. Back in the reign of Emperor Taizong, my aunt Zhe Zhe, my sister Hailanzhu, and I sacrificed our lifelong happiness to maintain relations with the Qing Dynasty. Now..."
He stared blankly at the outside of Cining Palace.
After a long while, the Empress Dowager whispered, "After I pass away, I will have no face to see Aunt Zhe Zhe, Sister Hai Lan Zhu, E Qi Ge, and E Ji!"
Consort An's funeral was conducted in a very proper and respectful manner.
As expected, the Empress Dowager's words in the Cining Palace reached Emperor Kangxi's ears.
That day and night
Emperor Kangxi rested in Yikun Palace and spoke in a deep voice, "I don't understand why my grandmother always thinks about the Khorchin. I understand that the Khorchin are my grandmother's maternal family, but..."
"My grandmother has been married into the Qing Dynasty for decades, so why can't she let go of the glory of Khorchin?"
Xu Lejin lowered her head and remained silent.
Kangxi then added, "During my grandfather's time, among the five imperial concubines, apart from the Grand Noble Consort Yijing and Consort Shu, who were widows of Ligdan Khan, Empress Xiaoduanwen, Consort Chen, and my grandmother were all from the Khorchin."
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