Despite having a thousand or ten thousand complaints in her heart, Xu Lejin had no choice but to force herself to put on a brave face, straighten her clothes, and greet Emperor Kangxi with a smile outside the main hall.
A wave of heat wafted over, filling Xu Lejin with utter helplessness.
This feeling was exactly like what her granddaughter often complained about in her past life: she was too weak to take down her boss, and she had to bow her head when she was under someone else's roof.
"His Majesty has arrived, just in time. Your Majesty, I have had the palace servants prepare chilled watermelon, it's refreshing."
Xu Lejin gave a perfunctory bow to Emperor Kangxi, then grabbed his hand and walked into the hall in a few steps. A cool breeze swept over her, and Xu Lejin immediately felt her drowsy head clear up considerably.
It's too hot. It's cooler inside the palace with ice.
Kangxi was stunned by Xu Lejin's actions. When he came to his senses, he saw Xu Lejin moving closer to the ice basin, and he immediately understood.
Looking at Xu Lejin with affection, Kangxi said loudly, "It's quite cool in my beloved concubine's palace."
"Uh-huh."
Xu Lejin responded and then said, "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but today I specially placed two extra basins of ice, which is why the palace is so cool."
Emperor Kangxi nodded slightly.
"Adding more ice will certainly make it cooler, but my beloved concubine should not be too greedy for coolness and should think about her health."
Xu Lejin gave Kangxi a coquettish look, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings and will definitely not be tempted by cold. I will definitely stay healthy. Your Majesty can rest assured now!"
Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily, "You."
Xu Lejin smiled and changed the subject, instructing the palace servants, "Where's the chilled watermelon I ordered? Why hasn't it been brought up yet? Liuying, go and urge them."
After a cup of tea
The chilled watermelon was served, and Xu Lejin took a bite, instantly feeling a cool sensation throughout her body.
A quarter of an hour passed, and the plate of watermelon was finished. Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin with a serious expression and said in a deep voice, "Does my beloved concubine know that the daughter of Prince Darhan of the Khorchin tribe passed away from illness a few days ago?"
"、、"
Xu Lejin was taken aback upon hearing this.
After a quick moment of thought, Xu Lejin said, "I am a woman in the inner palace, and I am not familiar with the affairs of the previous dynasty, nor do I dare to inquire about them. Therefore, I am unaware of the death of Prince Darhan's daughter."
"The daughter of Prince Darhan?"
With a look of surprise, Xu Lejin covered her mouth and whispered, "The daughter of the deceased Prince Darhan, was the one the Emperor had previously betrothed to the Second Prince as his wife?"
Kangxi nodded, his face showing deep sorrow.
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin sighed, "So it is the daughter of Prince Darhan who was not fortunate enough to become the Second Prince's wife. That is why she suddenly fell ill and died two years after the betrothal, before the wedding date was even discussed."
No, that's not true.
Kangxi paused for a moment, then continued, "Prince Darhan has submitted a memorial requesting the continuation of diplomatic relations between the Khorchin and the Qing Dynasty, proposing that his deceased daughter, a sister five years his junior, become Yinti's wife."
Xu Lejin hesitated for a moment.
"A sister five years younger? I recall that the daughter of Prince Darhan, whom His Majesty betrothed to two years ago, is the same age as the Second Prince, a full sister five years younger than him."
"The Second Prince is fifteen years old now, and if he is five years younger, he would be ten years old."
Kangxi responded and said in a deep voice, "Actually, it's not impossible. It'll just take another five or six years for Yinti to marry his wife."
“Yinti is a prince. Before he marries his primary consort, I can arrange two secondary consorts for him.”
Xu Lejin lowered her head slightly, pursed her lips, and remained silent.
This matter concerns the Second Prince's wife, the diplomatic relations between the Qing Dynasty and the Khorchin, and is a matter of the previous dynasty. She is not the Second Prince's biological mother, and although she is an Imperial Noble Consort, it is not appropriate for her to interfere too much.
Three days later
When Consort Hui learned from Nalan Mingzhu that the future second wife of Prince Darhan's daughter had passed away, her heart skipped a beat, and she wondered to herself, "How could this be?"
She was overjoyed and looked forward to welcoming the Second Prince to his new wife next year, so that she could hold her grandson as soon as possible.
Now, with only one year left, he actually passed away from illness?
In a flurry of activity, Consort Hui, accompanied by her palace attendants, arrived at Xu Lejin's palace, saying with great anxiety, "Your Highness, how could Prince Darhan's daughter have suddenly passed away?"
"Yinti is already fifteen this year, and he will be able to get married next year. At this time, how could Prince Darhan's daughter have died of illness..."
Xu Lejin let out a long sigh.
"People are subject to misfortune and fortune at any time. Neither His Majesty nor I expected that Prince Darhan's daughter would suddenly pass away. Just a few days ago, His Majesty mentioned to me that he wanted to find wives for the eldest and second princes and discussed the wedding date."
Unexpectedly...
An hour later, Consort Hui returned to Yanxi Palace in a disheveled state after the fire, and sat there blankly.
A few days later, Emperor Kangxi issued two imperial edicts, causing an uproar in the harem.
Firstly, the marriage agreement between the Second Prince and the daughter of Prince Darhan of the Khorchin tribe was continued, and the Second Prince's wife was another daughter of Prince Darhan, who was ten years old.
Secondly, an imperial edict was issued to select women from the Manchu, Mongol, and Han Eight Banners.
June 2nd
Consort Hui sat listlessly, her mind preoccupied with her daughter-in-law, the daughter of Prince Darhan, who was only ten years old and still very young.
How could a ten-year-old child marry into the Qing Dynasty?
Even if she married into the Qing Dynasty, she would never be able to consummate her marriage; her dream of having a grandson would be indefinitely postponed.
In addition, the wedding date for the eldest prince and Lady Guarjia Shi has been set for February of next year.
Next February, the eldest prince will marry his wife, while the second prince's wife will still be a child.
Consort Que and Consort Duan remained indifferent, showing no concern for the change of the Second Prince's consort, nor much interest in Emperor Kangxi's decree to select new women to fill the harem.
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