The Empress Dowager was seriously ill, and Consort Hui kowtowed until her head was injured. She had been recuperating in Yanxi Palace, and the atmosphere in the palace was exceptionally somber.
At this crucial moment, the concubines in the harem all knew how to seek advantage and avoid harm, and stayed quietly in their respective palaces. Only Suochuoluo, a concubine in Yanxi Palace, remained obediently.
Suochuoluo agreed that he would be summoned by Emperor Kangxi to the Qianqing Palace to serve him in bed within three to five days. Each time, he would stay overnight in a side hall of the Qianqing Palace until the next day before being sent back to the Yanxi Palace.
Furthermore, Suochuoluo always limped back to Yanxi Palace, as if he had been terribly tormented during the night.
Thanks to this unique favor, Consort Suochuoluo was quickly promoted to the rank of Changzai. Her temperament became increasingly unpredictable, and she would occasionally contradict the higher-ranking concubines.
December 22
In the afternoon, Li Dequan, who served the emperor, bowed and came to Yikun Palace, saying with a fawning face, "Congratulations, Consort Yu, His Majesty will be visiting your palace tonight."
"Yes, I understand."
Xu Lejin gave a casual reply, then turned her head and winked at Ruhua. Ruhua immediately stepped forward and handed Li Dequan a bulging purse.
Li Dequan nodded and bowed.
"Your Highness Consort Xie Yu, Your Highness Consort Xie Yu!"
After a pause, Li Dequan hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness Consort Yu, please forgive my impertinence, but His Majesty has been in a bad mood these past few days. Please take good care of him, Your Highness."
Xu Lejin nodded upon hearing this.
"I understand, thank you, Eunuch Li. Nongying, see Eunuch Li out for me."
As night fell, Emperor Kangxi arrived at Yikun Palace with a somber expression.
Xu Lejin was on high alert, serving Kangxi with utmost care, wondering if something had happened in the previous dynasty.
Emperor Kangxi had a gloomy face today, looking preoccupied.
Emperor Kangxi glanced at the palace maid beside Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice, "My beloved consort, there are some things I wish to discuss with you privately..."
"、、"
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then gave a wink to Ruhua and Nongying beside her. Ruhua and Nongying bowed and retreated.
In the vast main hall of Yikun Palace, only Kangxi and Xu Lejin remained, sitting facing each other in silence, with only the crackling sound of oil lamps burning.
"When my grandmother was seriously ill, she mentioned Wanpin and Ningpin to me many times. My grandmother hoped that Wanpin and Ningpin could have a son or daughter to rely on."
With a piercing gaze, Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin and asked, "My dear consort, do you have any good ideas about this matter?"
"emperor,"
Xu Lejin looked surprised and lowered her head, thinking quickly.
After a short while, Xu Lejin raised her head and cautiously began to speak, “Your Majesty, among the princes and princesses born to the lower-ranking concubines in the palace, there are the sixth princess born to Consort Bu, the sixteenth princess born to Consort Chun, the eighteenth princess born to Consort Xiu, the nineteenth princess born to Consort Dai, the fifth prince born to Consort Liang, the twenty-first princess born to Consort Niu, the sixth prince born to Consort Wen, the twenty-third princess born to Consort Ye, the seventh prince born to Consort Qi, and the eleventh prince born to Consort Guo.”
"And the four princesses whose birth mother was Consort Rong, and the tenth and fifteenth princesses born to Consort Zhi."
Glancing at Kangxi out of the corner of her eye, Xu Lejin said softly, "Your Majesty, I believe that it would be excellent for Consort Wan and Consort Ning to raise any princess or prince. However…"
"In my humble opinion, every princess and prince is born after ten months of pregnancy. If the imperial genealogy is changed and the names are directly recorded under the names of Consort Wan and Consort Ning, it would be too cruel to the birth mothers of the princesses and princes."
Kangxi nodded, deep in thought.
Another quarter of an hour passed, and Kangxi sighed softly, "It's getting late, let's retire for the night!"
The next day
The eleventh prince, born to Consort Guo, has reached his one-month milestone.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Consort Guo Luoluo, having borne the imperial heir with merit, is hereby bestowed the title 'Mu' and moved to the rear hall of Xianfu Palace. Consort Mu's son, the eleventh prince and eighth in line, is bestowed the name Yin Yu. This is the imperial decree."
The Eighth Prince's full-month celebration had just ended when Li Dequan, who was serving the Emperor, read out the imperial edict at Yongshou Palace.
Consort Fu, the head of Yongshou Palace, changed her expression, but she concealed it well. She lowered her head slightly, seemingly lost in thought. As for Noble Lady Guo, well, it was Noble Lady Mu.
Consort Mu knelt down respectfully with a joyful expression and said happily, "This humble servant accepts the imperial decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."
Congratulations, Consort Mu!
Emperor Kangxi bestowed the title of Consort Mu upon Lady Guoluo, and granted her a name and a place in the imperial family for his eleventh son. Consort Mu moved to the rear hall of Xianfu Palace, and the news spread throughout the palace like wildfire.
Afternoon
Consort Que looked at Xu Lejin and asked, puzzled, "Sister, what do you think His Majesty means? It's one thing to bestow a name and order of seniority upon the Eighth Prince, but to grant him a title and have Consort Mu moved to the rear hall of Xianfu Palace..."
"An unwritten rule in the palace is that a noblewoman with a title can become a concubine after a few years. Even if she cannot become the head of a palace, the palace servants must still respectfully address her as Your Highness."
"Consort Mu's move to the rear hall of Xianfu Palace is a clear message to the palace staff that in a few years, she will be promoted to the rank of Consort, and perhaps even become the head of Xianfu Palace."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, her expression thoughtful.
"His Majesty has his own intentions. Even if Consort Mu is promoted to the rank of Consort and becomes a palace mistress in the future, she will still be no match for us. Instead of guessing here, we should let nature take its course and observe the changes."
Consort Que nodded slightly.
“Sister is absolutely right, isn’t that exactly it? Consort Mu was nearly thirty when she gave birth to the Eighth Prince. Even though she gained a title and moved into the rear palace of Xianfu Palace because of her son, but…”
"Consort Mu may not be blessed. She is nearly thirty years old when she will have another pregnancy and give birth to a prince and a princess."
Xu Lejin smiled and said casually, "Good fortune is something uncertain. Perhaps Heaven favors Consort Mu, and she is over thirty years old and still pregnant. That is also unknown."
"Even if Consort Mu were to conceive again after this, giving birth to a prince and a princess, you and I would now be Imperial Consorts, Consort Mu..."
After a pause, Xu Lejin smiled faintly.
"Many concubines in the palace will never be able to rise from a Noble Lady to a Noble Consort in their entire lives."
East Side Hall of Xianfu Palace
The residence of Consort Jing, of the Guarjia clan
Consort Jing's once beautiful face was now so gloomy it seemed to drip water. She clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her expression ferocious and terrifying, utterly devoid of any beauty.
"Consort Mu, Consort Mu, please move into the rear hall of Xianfu Palace."
Gritting her teeth, Consort Jing said coldly, "I am the only one in Xianfu Palace with a title, and also a Consort. Given my family background, the position of Consort of Xianfu Palace is mine sooner or later. Now…"
"A Consort Mu suddenly appeared out of nowhere? Guo Luoluo, born a bondservant, what virtue or ability does she have to occupy the inner palace?"
The palace maid who served Consort Jing was someone Consort Jing brought into the palace from the Guarjia family. She had grown up with Consort Jing since childhood. She quickly glanced outside the east side hall.
Lowering his voice, he spoke softly, "My lady, please be careful what you say. Beware of eavesdroppers."
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