After Liu Ying finished speaking softly about the newcomers to the Western Six Palaces, she bowed and took a step back, looking down at her toes with a thoughtful expression.
After considering for a moment, Qingtan said softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Qi in Consort Que's palace is elegant and refined, calm and reserved, much like Consort Xi in her prime. Consort Li, though young, is bright and lively."
“Consort Ma of Zhongcui Palace is a cousin of Consort Rong, and her features bear a resemblance to Consort Rong. Consort Suochuoluo in Consort Hui’s palace is radiant and her beauty is in no way inferior to Consort Zhi and Consort Liang in their prime.”
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
"Consort Qi, Consort Ma, and Consort Suochuoluo all come from prominent families of the Eight Banners, so they are naturally of high standing. Consort Li's family background is slightly less prestigious, but her father is highly regarded by the Emperor."
Qingtan looked up, glanced at Xu Lejin, and lowered her voice to speak softly, "Your Highness, I heard that the Suochuoluo family initially decided to send someone into the palace not from the Suochuoluo Noble Lady, but rather..."
"In the Suochuoluo family, Lord Guiduo has two daughters, one legitimate and one illegitimate, both seventeen years old and in the prime of their lives. According to the rules, the legitimate daughter, who is half a year younger, should have entered the palace. However, last winter, Suochuoluo Guiduo's legitimate daughter accidentally fell into the lotus pond and caught a cold."
"Although she survived after being treated by the doctor, she lost a lot of weight, which is why Consort Suochuoluo was chosen to take her legitimate sister's place in the palace."
Xu Lejin's expression froze upon hearing this.
After frowning and pondering for a long time, she spoke in a deep voice, "So, it seems that even Heaven is on Consort Hui's side, so Consort Suochuoluo in Consort Hui's palace?"
"Have someone go to the Sochoro family to inquire about the eldest daughter of Sochoro Guido."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
February 16
The nine newly arrived concubines went to Yikun Palace to pay their respects.
Xu Lejin sat upright in the main seat, smiling as she looked at the nine newlyweds standing in three rows and three columns in the center of the hall. She then gave a wink to the chief eunuch, Xiao Jiangzi, beside her.
Xiao Jiangzi raised her voice and announced, "All the newly arrived ladies of the palace pay their respects to Consort Yu."
Nine young and fresh-faced newcomers knelt down.
Swinging like beckoning cats, they knelt and kowtowed three times and nine times, saying in unison, "Your concubines and servants greet Consort Yu, may Consort Yu be blessed!"
Xu Lejin nodded.
"My dear sisters, please get up."
After a pause, Xu Lejin spoke softly again, "Now that you sisters have entered the palace, you should serve the Emperor well and give birth to his children as soon as possible to continue the family line."
"Yes, we will follow the teachings of Consort Yu."
With a soft reply, Xu Lejin said gently, "Sisters, please also meet the ladies in the palace."
"yes."
Xiao Jiangzi glanced at Xu Lejin discreetly, then raised his voice and said, "All the ladies pay homage to Consort Que."
"Greetings to Consort Que! May Consort Que be blessed with good fortune!"
Consort Que glanced at the people who were curtsying and kneeling, and said with a smile, "My new sisters, now that you've entered the palace, it will be very lively and full of flowers in the future."
"Sister Consort Yu, I've heard of a Consort Fu who comes from the prestigious Fucha clan and was immediately promoted to a high-ranking position upon entering the palace?"
Xu Lejin nodded slightly. "Indeed, Consort Fu comes from the Fuca clan. Her father is Mi Sihan, the Minister of Revenue, and her brother is Ma Qi. The Emperor values her and bestowed upon her the title of Consort."
"Consort Fu,"
From among the newlyweds, a dignified and graceful woman stepped forward, curtsied to Consort Que, and said, "This concubine, Fucha of Yongshou Palace, greets Consort Que. May Consort Que be blessed."
Consort Fu stood gracefully.
Xu Lejin and Consort Que exchanged a glance, their expressions darkening.
Clearing her throat, Xu Lejin said coldly, "I remember that Consort Fu is the highest-ranking among the new concubines, so why is she standing at the back?"
"Who are the three sisters leading the group?"
The three distinguished guests in the first row looked terrified.
"Your Highness, Consort Yu, this humble servant, Noble Lady Jing of Xianfu Palace, of the Guarjia clan..."
“A concubine named Zhong Cuigong, of the Ma family.”
"This concubine, a Noble Lady of Yanxi Palace, of the Suochuoluo clan..."
The three introduced themselves. Xu Lejin and Consort Que exchanged a glance. Consort Que sneered and said, "Consort Jing, Consort Ma, Consort Suochuoluo, how dare you!"
"Consort Fu's rank is above yours, so she should stand in the first place."
After a slight pause, Consort Que continued coldly, "I remember Noble Lady Suochuoluo, who, like me, was born of a concubine. There are fortunate people in the palace, though there is no distinction between嫡 (legitimate) and 庶 (illegitimate) children, but Noble Lady Suochuoluo..."
Consort Hui opened her mouth, "..."
Xu Lejin spoke first, coldly, "Noble Lady Jing, Noble Lady Ma, Noble Lady Suochuoluo, what are you all standing there for? Why don't you switch places so I can do it for you myself?"
"yes."
Consort Jing, Consort Ma, and the other two blushed and respectfully agreed.
Consort Fu then moved to the first position. From left to right, the first row consisted of Consort Fu, Noble Lady Jing, and Noble Lady Ma. Noble Lady Suochuoluo moved to the first position on the left side of the second row, the position where Consort Fu had previously stood.
Xu Lejin frowned, clearly disliking Consort Suochuoluo.
With a light laugh, Consort Que said coldly, "Oh, Consort Suochuoluo, did you not understand what I said? Shouldn't you be standing in Consort Qi's place now?"
"Consort Qi is from the prominent Qi Jia clan, and she is a legitimate daughter of the main branch of the family."
Upon hearing this, Consort Suochuoluo was on the verge of tears, looking at Consort Hui with hopeful eyes, hoping that Consort Hui would speak up for her.
Consort Hui smiled awkwardly and said softly, "Your Highness Consort Yu and Your Highness Consort Que, Noble Lady Suochuoluo has just entered the palace and does not know many of the palace rules. Please do not hold it against her."
"oh."
Consort Que gave Consort Hui a meaningful look, pursed her lips, and smiled silently.
Afternoon
In Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager learned from Sumalagu about what had happened in Yikun Palace that day. She frowned and said in a deep voice, "It wasn't that Consort Yu and Consort Que were deliberately making things difficult for them. Without rules, there can be no order in the palace."
“Consort Jing, Consort Ma, and Consort Suochuoluo, your actions today have indeed exceeded the rules. Consort Yu and Consort Que have only verbally reprimanded them, which is already very lenient.”
"Su Ma,"
Sumalagu stepped forward respectfully to await the Empress Dowager's instructions.
The Empress Dowager, with her aged and decrepit face, pondered for a moment before coldly saying, "Since Consort Jing, Consort Ma, and Consort Suochuoluo do not understand the rules, then let them learn the rules properly."
"Su Ma, go to Consort Yu's palace and have her instruct the Imperial Household Department to hang up the green plaques for Consort Jing, Consort Ma, and Consort Suochuoluo."
"You can serve the emperor when you've learned the proper etiquette!"
Sumalagu respectfully agreed, a cold glint flashing across her lowered eyes as she thought to herself.
The Emperor advocated for the unity of the Manchu and Han peoples. Of the noble ladies who entered the palace this time, five were from the Manchu Banner and four were from the Han Banner. Noble Lady Jing, Noble Lady Ma, and Noble Lady Suochuoluo were punished. Thus,
The Emperor valued rules, and the first among the new concubines to serve him in bed was either Consort Fu or Noble Lady Qi.
Sochoro, the noblewoman, was ultimately useless.
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