Two weeks later
Consort Yu was still in her postpartum confinement period when Consort He pleaded with Emperor Kangxi to raise the 28th princess born to Consort Yu. The news reached Xu Lejin's palace...
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, her eyes showing surprise, and looked at Liu Ying, saying, "You just said that Consort He wanted to raise the twenty-eighth princess born to Consort Yu?"
"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."
Liu Ying bowed her head and replied.
After quickly considering it in her mind, Xu Lejin said softly, "Don't worry, the Emperor will not agree to Consort He raising the Twenty-Eighth Princess."
"Not to mention that Consort He is still young and has not yet served the emperor, and will have the opportunity to bear the imperial heir in the future, even Consort Yu, who comes from a prestigious Han Banner family and whose father Yu Chenglong is trusted by the emperor, would never entrust the 28th imperial daughter born to Consort Yu to Consort He for upbringing."
After a pause, Xu Lejin murmured softly to herself, "Consort Yu has been in the palace for five years; she is qualified. Having given birth to the twenty-sixth princess, she should have been promoted in rank long ago."
A few days later
Liu Ying suddenly turned serious and entered the hall to report to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Consort Yu from Changchun Palace requests an audience?"
"Consort Yu?"
Xu Lejin looked surprised and said in a deep voice, "Consort Yu is still in her postpartum confinement period, how can she go out into the wind? Isn't this ridiculous?"
"It's freezing cold. Consort Yu caught a chill and was exposed to the wind during her postpartum period. She'll suffer a lot from this."
Although she complained that Consort Yu had caught a cold before her confinement period was over, Xu Lejin still asked Liuying to invite Consort Yu into the palace to talk.
A moment later, Consort Yu, with a headband wrapped around her head and a pale face, carried the 28th princess in her arms into the main hall of Yikun Palace and respectfully bowed to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin hurriedly helped Consort Yu and her daughter to their feet, then, with a reproachful look on her face, said in a deep voice, "Consort Yu, you are currently in your postpartum confinement period, how could you come out to get chilled? Isn't this ridiculous?"
"Your Highness, this humble servant..."
Consort Yu, her face full of helplessness, spoke in a low voice, "This humble servant is also utterly helpless. I gave birth to the twenty-eighth princess, but the Emperor does not favor me. Today, I heard from the palace maids that Consort He wants to raise the twenty-eighth princess I gave birth to..."
“The Twenty-Eighth Princess was born after I carried her for ten months; she is flesh of my own flesh. How could I bear to give her to Consort He to raise?”
After a moment of sobbing, Consort Yu wiped away her tears.
"This humble servant has no other choice but to bring the Twenty-Eighth Princess with me to Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort for help. Please, Your Highness, have pity on me and do not allow the Emperor to give my child to Consort He to raise."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin sighed deeply and said in a low voice, "You are still in your postpartum period and cannot cry. Although Consort He has asked the Emperor to raise your child, he has not agreed."
“Consort He is young and still a child. How can she raise the twenty-eighth princess? Besides, your background is not bad either. You are from a prestigious Han Banner family, and your father is a high-ranking official in the court. The Emperor would never entrust your child to Consort He to raise.”
Consort Yu looked up in a daze.
"Your Highness, is what you're saying true? Will His Majesty really not give my child to Consort He to raise?"
Nodding, Xu Lejin said earnestly, "Of course it's true. You should go back to Changchun Palace and take good care of the Twenty-Eighth Princess. Your good fortune is yet to come."
"Your Highness, Imperial Noble Consort..."
Upon hearing this, Consort Yu's face lit up with joy. "This humble servant thanks Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort, this humble servant thanks Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort."
After a cup of tea
Xu Lejin watched Consort Yu and the Twenty-Eighth Princess leave, lost in thought.
"It is truly admirable that Consort Yu, with such a loving mother's heart, has come to me for the sake of the Twenty-Eighth Princess, even before she has finished her postpartum confinement."
"Ruhua, go back to the Imperial Hospital and instruct the imperial physicians to carefully treat Consort Yu's health."
Ru Hua respectfully replied, "Yes."
On the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, the 28th daughter of the Emperor celebrated her one-month birthday. Aside from bestowing gold, silver, jewels, and clothing, Emperor Kangxi did not offer any other rewards to the nobles.
The concubines in the harem all speculated that Consort Yu had fallen out of favor.
Afternoon
Consort Que sighed softly and said, "Your Highness, Consort Yu gave birth to the twenty-eighth princess, and she went through a lot of trouble during her postpartum period. I'm afraid she will suffer from health problems in the future."
"Today is the full moon of the twenty-eighth daughter of the Emperor. The Emperor has not rewarded the Consort. It is likely that the Consort and her daughter will have a difficult time in the palace from now on."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then smiled gently.
“Until the very last moment, nothing is certain. Although Consort Yu gave birth to a princess, Consort Yu is the daughter of Yu Chenglong, who is the Governor-General of Jiangnan and Jiangxi.”
"Does Consort Que know how much tax silver Jiangnan contributes to the imperial court each year?"
Consort Que raised her eyes to look at Xu Lejin, her face showing confusion.
Xu Lejin stretched out her hand, making a slapping gesture, and said softly, "Based on the annual tax revenue of the Jiangnan region, it's only a matter of time before Consort Yu is promoted. The fact that His Majesty has not yet issued an edict may be because the time is not right, or perhaps His Majesty has his own considerations."
"Your Majesty, I understand. Thank you for your clarification, Noble Consort."
Consort Que looked shocked and responded softly, "Yes."
It contributes five million taels of silver in taxes annually.
This is one-third of the imperial court's annual tax revenue. In addition, Yu Chenglong is also the Governor-General of Jiangxi. Jiangxi is not as wealthy, but it still generates one or two million taels of tax silver.
It's only a matter of time before Yu Guiren is promoted.
A few days later
New Year's Eve banquet.
Except for Consort Wan, who was ill, a few others who were not feeling well, and Consort Yu, who had caught a chill during her postpartum period and developed health problems, all the other concubines in the harem attended the event in their finest attire.
Yu Chenglong, the Governor-General of Jiangnan and Jiangxi, presented Emperor Kangxi with a piece of blood-red coral, which greatly pleased the emperor.
After a moment of contemplation, Kangxi announced in a loud voice: "Liang Jiugong, convey my decree: Yu Chenglong, the Governor-General of Jiangnan and Jiangxi, is hereby awarded the title of First-Class Light Cavalry Captain for his meritorious service in presenting blood-red coral, a hereditary title."
"In the inner palace, Yu Chenglong's daughter, Lady Yu, is bestowed the title 'Jin' and shall enjoy the rank and privileges of a concubine from this day forward."
Yu Chenglong was granted the title of First-Class Light Cavalry Captain, a hereditary title. Consort Yu was given the title "Jin" and enjoyed the privileges of a concubine. When the news reached Consort Jin in Changchun Palace, she was overjoyed.
"Very well, today is a joyous day for me. All the palace servants in the East Annex will be rewarded with five taels of silver."
The palace maids and eunuchs who served Consort Jin immediately knelt down to thank her for the reward, thinking to themselves that Consort Jin was indeed worthy of being the daughter of the Governor-General of Jiangnan and Jiangxi, and was very generous.
In other palaces, even for a joyous occasion, the amount given is only two taels of silver, but these noble ladies would give five taels at a time.
At this moment, Consort Jin was unaware that she had unknowingly gained several more loyal servants.
New Year's Eve banquet ends
Consort He walked along the long street with a gloomy expression, speaking in a cold voice, "The Emperor has bestowed upon Consort Yu the title 'Jin' and granted her the privileges of a Consort. Is this a roundabout way of telling me that my plan to raise the Twenty-Eighth Imperial Daughter is unsuccessful?"
"I only regret that I am too young and His Majesty has not yet allowed me to serve him in bed. Otherwise, I would not be in such a passive position in the palace."
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