Half an hour later, Xu Lejin returned to the west side hall of Yikun Palace.
Sitting in the main seat of the west wing, Xu Lejin slightly raised her eyes and glanced at the palace maid who was bowing her head, dressed in pink palace attire, with a pretty and beautiful face and a graceful figure. She recalled the scene in Kunning Palace half an hour ago.
Half an hour ago.
The Empress smiled and looked at Xu Lejin, saying, "Knowledgeable and refined, very beautiful names."
"Consort Xu is pregnant with twins and only has three maids to serve her, so it's inevitable that she might be a little careless. Yesterday, the Imperial Household Department sent a new maid named Jing'er. I think she's very well-behaved, so I'll bestow her upon Consort Xu."
After speaking, the Empress gave Yun Cui, who was standing beside her, a wink.
Yun Cui called out "Jing'er" to the outside. A moment later, a palace maid dressed in pink palace attire, with a delicate and beautiful face, swayed her slender waist as she slowly entered the hall.
Jing'er bowed and knelt down to pay her respects to the Empress, Consort Niohuru, Consort Tongjia, Consort Xu Lejin, and other concubines.
Xu Lejin glanced at the palace maid Jing'er and frowned slightly.
After a moment's consideration, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Your Majesty the Empress is so kind as to bestow Jing'er upon me. I should not refuse, but I come from a humble background. I am afraid that Jing'er will disgrace Jing'er's beauty and fail to live up to Your Majesty's kindness."
The Empress chuckled softly.
"Although Jing'er is young and beautiful, she is just a palace maid selected by the Imperial Household Department. The palace holds a selection once a year to choose palace maids who are dignified in appearance and demeanor and diligent in their work to serve the emperor and the concubines in the harem."
"Consort Xu, you are too modest. You are not the same as before. Now you are a concubine personally appointed by the Emperor, a concubine in the harem, pregnant with the Emperor's child, and of noble status."
"It is Jing'er's blessing to be able to serve you."
Xu Lejin remained silent, lost in thought.
Consort Niohuru sighed and opened her mouth as if to say a few words of support for Xu Lejin, but she swallowed the words back down. The Empress had given the palace maid to Xu Lejin, ostensibly because she valued Xu Lejin and hoped that she would give birth to the imperial heir safely, so that the Emperor could continue his lineage and have many descendants.
Consort Tongjia covered her mouth and chuckled. "Your Majesty the Empress truly cares for Consort Xu! This palace maid, Jing'er, is so beautiful that I can't help but be moved by her. However, I already have enough palace maids in my Chengqian Palace. Otherwise, I would have asked Your Majesty the Empress to bring Jing'er to my Chengqian Palace."
After saying that, Consort Tongjia chuckled.
The Empress smiled gently and said, "Sister Tongjia is joking. Every maid in your palace is one in a million in terms of appearance and temperament. If Jing'er really came to your palace, her beauty would probably be hidden among the brocade flowers of your Chengqian Palace."
Changing the subject, the Empress's sharp gaze fell upon Xu Lejin, her eyes icy. "Consort Xu? Jing'er is prudent and gentle; I believe she will serve you wholeheartedly."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness."
Left with no other choice, Xu Lejin had to accept the palace maid bestowed by the Empress.
After regaining her senses, Xu Lejin gave Yingchun a wink. Yingchun looked at Jing'er with displeasure and said in a deep voice, "Jing'er, you were bestowed upon me by the Empress. I cannot bear to treat you harshly. From today onwards, you will work together with Zhishu and Ruhua. If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask Zhishu."
"Zhishu is two years older than you. Although she is just a palace maid by the young mistress's side, she served the young mistress before you."
Jing'er paused for a moment, about to retort, but met Xu Lejin's meaningful smile, and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and said respectfully, "Yes, Jing'er will follow Aunt Yingchun's teachings and will definitely study hard by Sister Zhishu's side."
Yingchun nodded and looked at Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and said casually, "I was born a palace maid, so I know best the fate of palace maids. Their lives and deaths are never in their own hands. If you serve your master well and he is happy, that's fine. But if you don't serve him well and he is unhappy, beating or killing him is just a matter of a word."
“Every year, for various reasons, many palace maids die, but they are all glossed over lightly. The feng shui in the palace is very auspicious, and palace maids die one after another.”
"I remember the Empress mentioned that you were a newly trained palace maid from the Imperial Household Department. Your appearance and figure are indeed excellent, but in the palace, good looks and figure do not guarantee a shortcut to success."
"The palace is never short of beautiful women. Nongyu and Chuyun, who serve the Empress, Sixue, who serves the Empress of Chuxiu Palace, and Hanyan, who serves the Empress of Chengqian Palace, are all extremely beautiful."
"Chu Yun, Sixue, and Hanyan all served the Emperor, but they were just palace maids without any official titles or ranks."
Xu Lejin's words startled Jing'er, filling her with fear.
With a slight smile, Xu Lejin added, "Jing'er, you should understand what I mean?"
"This servant understands."
After sending Jing'er out to do her errands, Xu Lejin leaned wearily against the soft couch. Yingchun carefully stepped forward, gently massaged Xu Lejin's head, and spoke softly.
"My lady, Jing'er is clearly a restless girl. I don't understand why you still keep her around."
Yingchun lowered her voice and said softly, "Although she was bestowed by the Empress, you can easily find a fault with her and send her away. Even if the Empress asks about it in the future, you can cover it up."
With a slight upturn of her lips, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Even if Jing'er is gone, there's still Le'er and Xing'er. The Empress deliberately tried to annoy me by bestowing Jing'er upon me. Even if she sends Jing'er away, the Empress will take the opportunity to bestow another young and beautiful palace maid. Rather than going back and forth like this, it's better to keep Jing'er."
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