24th year of Kangxi
Just after the Lantern Festival, the dispute in the previous dynasty regarding Xu Lejin becoming empress suddenly ceased.
In just a few days, it was as if the matter of Emperor Kangxi wanting to make Xu Lejin his empress had never happened.
The palace servants who served Xu Lejin in Yikun Palace were indignant about this.
With a slight smile, Xu Lejin said casually, "It was all expected. I had anticipated everything. Why are you all acting like this?"
"All of you, put away that bitter, resentful look and perk up!"
The palace servants awkwardly replied, "Yes."
That day
In the afternoon, Consort Que arrived at Yikun Palace with a furious expression, remaining silent and sullen.
Xu Lejin gestured for the palace servants to bring tea, and asked softly, "What's wrong, Consort Que? Did some ill-informed person in the palace offend you?"
"Sister Consort Yu,"
Consort Que sighed softly and said, "Sister, you are unaware of this, but Consort Hui, Consort Mu, and others openly discussed you in the Imperial Garden today, saying that you..."
Swallowing the words that were about to come out of her mouth, Consort Que lowered her head slightly.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then said calmly, "Consort Hui and Consort Mu have mouths; they can say whatever they want. Even if we can stop them from saying it, can we stop them from thinking it?"
"But Consort Hui and Consort Mu have really gone too far."
Consort Que's face showed no sign of anger.
Picking up the teacup beside her, Xu Lejin took a small sip and said, "Sister, this is a new Lu'an melon seed tea that the Emperor has bestowed upon me. There isn't much of it, so please have a taste."
“In the palace, there are many people and a lot of gossip. If we take everyone’s opinions to heart, wouldn’t we be depressed to death?”
"The number of imperial concubines, four consorts, and six concubines in the palace is fixed. What if my sister gets sick from anger?"
"Consort Hui and the others are now hoping we'll make way for them. If I, their younger sister or elder sister, get sick from their gossip, wouldn't that just be giving them what they want?"
Consort Que was taken aback upon hearing this.
After a moment, unable to suppress her laughter, Consort Que spoke in a sweet voice, "What my sister said is true. We must not get angry or upset, and we must not let them get what they want."
"Let them say what they want, we'll live our own lives. We just love seeing them helpless against us."
After speaking, Consort Que smiled slyly.
Afternoon
Xu Lejin woke up from her afternoon nap and leaned lazily against the soft couch, flipping through the account books sent by the Imperial Household Department. She looked relaxed and content, with Ruhua and Nongying carefully attending to her.
Liu Ying hurried in from outside the palace, her face grave. "Your Majesty," she said, "news has come from Xianfu Palace that Consort Chang has miscarried."
"???"
Startled, Xu Lejin sat up straight. "How could Consort Chang suddenly miscarry? Didn't I instruct Consort Mu to take good care of Consort Chang and Consort Xiao's unborn child?"
Liu Ying pondered for a moment.
"Your Majesty, it is said that Consort Chang accidentally fell in Xianfu Palace and immediately started bleeding and miscarried."
With a frown, Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
Night falls
Nongying whispered to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Consort Mu is requesting an audience at our palace gate?"
"Consort Mu?"
Xu Lejin paused, looking puzzled, and said, "Consort Chang miscarried today after bleeding. Shouldn't Consort Mu be in Xianfu Palace at this time, dealing with Consort Chang's miscarriage?"
"What is her purpose in coming to my palace to request an audience at this time?"
Nongying lowered her head, lost in thought and remained silent.
A moment later, Consort Mu, bowing and looking terrified, entered the main hall of Yikun Palace and knelt down straight before Xu Lejin with a thud.
With a trembling voice, Consort Mu spoke in fear, "Your Highness, Consort Yu, please forgive me. I am incompetent and failed to take good care of Consort Chang's unborn child, which resulted in Consort Chang's miscarriage."
"This concubine is guilty, please punish me, Your Highness Consort Yu."
With her head bowed, Consort Mu looked terrified.
Upon seeing this, Xu Lejin narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinizing Consort Mu with a critical gaze, wondering to herself, "What is Consort Mu up to today?"
Chang promised to fall and miscarry; the news she had received beforehand was that it was an accident.
Could there be some hidden story here?
Clearing her throat, Xu Lejin looked down at Consort Mu and said coldly, "While it is true that Consort Chang was at fault for miscarrying, it is understandable that you failed to properly supervise two other concubines in your palace, Consort Chang and Consort Xiao, who are pregnant."
"Xiao, please answer."
Xu Lejin frowned, her brows furrowed in thought.
After a short while, she said in a deep voice, "Regarding the matter of Consort Chang's fall and miscarriage, I will report it to the Emperor and let him make the decision. Right now, Consort Mu, your most important task is to take good care of Consort Xiao's unborn child."
"Although Consort Xiao comes from a humble background, the child in her womb is the Emperor's bloodline."
Consort Mu lowered her head slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
"Yes, Your Highness Consort Yu will follow your teachings and take good care of Consort Xiao's unborn child, ensuring that both mother and child are safe and sound."
Xu Lejin responded softly.
The following afternoon
Emperor Kangxi felt sorry for Consort Chang, who had miscarried and lost her unborn child. He ordered Li Dequan, who served him, to convey the imperial decree to the six palaces, promoting Consort Chang to the rank of Changzai, and awarding her one hundred taels of silver and six bolts of various colored silks.
February 2nd
Consort Que carefully chose her words and spoke softly, "Poor Consort Chang, who served the Emperor for many years, became pregnant with the imperial heir, but she miscarried before three months into the pregnancy."
Upon hearing this, Consort Mu's expression changed, and she subconsciously glanced at Consort Hui out of the corner of her eye.
Consort Duan raised her eyes and glanced at Xu Lejin and Consort Que, carefully choosing her words, and said, "What Consort Que said is very true. We also feel very sorry for Chang Chang's miscarriage."
"Um."
Xu Lejin nodded, cleared her throat, and said softly, "Since Changzai suffered a miscarriage, it is a foregone conclusion. The Emperor has decreed that she be promoted to the rank of Changzai as a consolation."
Changing the subject, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Mu and continued.
"In Xianfu Palace, Consort Xiao is currently pregnant. Neither the Emperor nor I wish for anything to happen to her unborn child. Consort Mu,"
"You are the head of Xianfu Palace, and Xiao Ying's child is the imperial heir. You must take good care of him."
Upon hearing this, Consort Mu immediately stood up and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Half an hour later
The warm sunshine shone on the earth.
Consort Hui and Consort Mu walked hand in hand down the long street, followed by lower-ranking concubines from Yanxi Palace and Xianfu Palace, including Consort Xiao, who was two months pregnant.
Consort Hui glanced at Consort Xiao out of the corner of her eye, then whispered to Consort Mu, "I've heard that pregnant women who eat more fish and shrimp will have smarter babies."
“When I was pregnant with Yinti, I often ate fish and shrimp, so Yinti was born strong and healthy. In recent years, Yinti has been very good at studying and riding and archery.”
Consort Mu was stunned for a moment, not understanding why.
Consort Hui curled her lips into a smile, her expression inscrutable as she glanced at Consort Xiao, who was carefully protecting her pregnant belly behind her. A cold, ruthless smile then appeared on her lips.
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