Consort Xi hurriedly moved to Qixiang Palace and took up residence in the main hall of Qixiang Palace.
As soon as they settled down in Qixiang Palace, the palace maids and eunuchs who served Consort Xi knelt down in unison and respectfully congratulated her, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness! Your Highness is now the rightful and proper Consort."
"Um."
Consort Xi lay on the couch, propping herself up with a pillow, and spoke softly, "I never expected that His Majesty would suddenly issue an edict ordering me to move to Qixiang Palace."
"Although Qixiang Palace was once the residence of Consort An, Consort An has passed away."
The head maid serving Consort Xi thought for a moment and then said with a smile, "Your Highness, after Consort An passed away, the things in Qixiang Palace were taken away by the Imperial Household Department."
"The Imperial Household Department got busy as soon as they received the Emperor's decree. All the decorations and ornaments in our Qixiang Palace are brand new."
Upon hearing this, Consort Xi nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the entire main hall of Qixiang Palace.
With a satisfied smile on her face, Consort Xi said softly, "The main hall is the main hall. It is different from the rear hall and the side halls. The main hall is more spacious and magnificent."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Half an hour later
A palace maid who was serving outside the main hall of Qixiang Palace bowed and entered the hall, respectfully reporting to Consort Xi, "Your Majesty, Consort Shi and Consort Chun from the side hall, along with the Sixteenth Princess, are requesting an audience outside the hall."
"Consort Shi, Consort Chun, and the Sixteenth Princess?"
Consort Xi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I almost forgot that there are two Noble Ladies living in Qixiang Palace. Among them, Noble Lady Chun is very fortunate to have given birth to the Sixteenth Princess for the Emperor."
"Quickly, invite them into the hall!"
Seven days have passed in the blink of an eye.
After the seventh day memorial service for Consort Wen ended, her coffin was sent out of the palace for placement. The white banners hanging in Chuxiu Palace were also taken down and replaced with various brightly colored items.
That afternoon
Liu Ying hurried in from outside the palace and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, news has come from Qixiang Palace that Consort Chun's words offended Consort Xi. Consort Xi is furious and has ordered Consort Chun to establish rules in the courtyard..."
"??"
Xu Lejin looked surprised.
After a moment, Xu Lejin spoke in a deep voice, "Consort Xi is pregnant with the emperor's child and needs to rest and recuperate. Noble Lady Chun? Noble Lady Chun has been in the palace for many years; she knows the rules and etiquette, and she is also the birth mother of the Sixteenth Princess."
“Even for the sake of the Sixteenth Princess, Consort Xi should not have allowed Noble Lady Chun to establish rules in Qixiang Palace.”
Xu Lejin coughed lightly, then frowned and pondered.
After a moment, Xu Lejin said coldly, "Nongying, go to Consort Xi's palace in person and analyze the pros and cons for her."
"Yes, Your Highness, this servant will obey your orders."
Afternoon
Although the sun was shining on the ground, it was still icy cold because it was winter.
Consort Xi, perched high on a soft couch, looked down at Noble Lady Chun, who knelt in the courtyard of Qixiang Palace, her face pale and her body swaying precariously. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the Sixteenth Princess, who was crying incessantly in her wet nurse's arms.
"She's so noisy, she keeps crying."
With a glare, Consort Xi looked coldly at the wet nurse of the Sixteenth Princess and said in a cold voice, "What are you all standing there for? Take the Sixteenth Princess back now!"
"Consort Chun is ignorant of the rules. I merely punished her by making her kneel for an hour or two. As the mistress of Qixiang Palace, can't I punish even a consort?"
"The sixteenth princess is a small child, not very tall, but her voice is quite loud. Anyone who doesn't know the situation would think that I brought her and her mother with me."
Consort Chun, kneeling on the cold ground, staggered.
With a worried expression and nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, Consort Shi mustered her courage and stood up from her seat, saying respectfully, "Your Highness Consort Xi, it's freezing cold. Consort Chun's health has always been weak, and she can't withstand such an ordeal!"
"Your Highness Consort Xi, Noble Lady Chun can no longer kneel."
After saying this, Consort Shi knelt before Consort Xi, her face showing pleading.
Consort Xi glared sharply at Consort Shi, then spoke in a sarcastic, cold voice, "Consort Shi and Consort Chun seem to have a very close sisterly bond. Consort Chun is frail and can't withstand any more hardship, so—"
"Consort Shi, will you kneel in her place?"
Consort Shi looked up at Consort Xi in surprise, her face trembling with unease.
After a moment, Consort Shi looked at Consort Chun's deathly pale face, made up her mind and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness Consort Xi, this concubine is willing to kneel in place of Consort Chun. Please grant my request."
"hehe,"
Consort Xi looked at Noble Lady Shi with a stubborn and proud expression.
With a cold snort, Consort Xi said with amusement, "What a sweet sisterly bond! Since you insist on kneeling, then kneel with Noble Lady Chun."
"Two hours, not a minute less."
After half a cup of tea
A young palace maid stepped forward quickly and whispered a few words in the ear of the head palace maid who served Consort Xi.
The head palace maid's expression changed, and she bowed carefully as she approached Consort Xi, speaking softly, "Your Highness, Liu Ying from Consort Yu's palace requests an audience on Consort Yu's orders."
"A maidservant of Consort Yu?"
Consort Xi's expression changed, and she ordered someone to invite Liu Ying into Qi Xiang Palace.
You Shi (5-7 PM)
When Liu Ying returned from Qixiang Palace, Xu Lejin was practicing calligraphy in the main hall. After finishing the last stroke, she said softly, "That's enough for today, put it away!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Qingtan respectfully agreed.
With Ru Hua's help, Xu Lejin sat down gracefully, looked at Liu Ying, and said in a deep voice, "Have things in Qixiang Palace been settled? Consort Xi hasn't been making a fuss, has she?"
After a quick consideration, Liu Ying respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, although Consort Xi was displeased, she still obeyed Your Majesty's instructions and exempted Consort Chun from the rules, allowing her to return to her room."
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