After the investiture ceremony concluded, Liang Jiugong, who had been serving the emperor, returned to the Qianqing Palace to attend to matters concerning the emperor.
Xu Lejin nodded with a smile.
With a smile on her face, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Que and the others and said, "It's still early spring and the wind is strong outside. All of you sisters must be tired from coming to the ceremony. Why don't you sit in the main hall?"
"I have instructed the Imperial Kitchen to prepare fresh fruits, snacks, and milk tea."
After speaking, she turned around, took Ruhua's hand, and walked gracefully towards the main hall.
Among the concubines, Consort Hui, with a stern face, spoke sarcastically, "Your Highness, now that the investiture ceremony has been held, your status is legitimate and it is indeed different."
Consort Que, Consort Duan, and others remained silent, pursing their lips.
Consort He covered her mouth and chuckled softly. The other newly appointed concubines, who had not yet undergone the investiture ceremony, looked on with envy.
We entered the main hall.
Xu Lejin said softly, "Sisters, please sit down!"
"Thank you, Your Highness, Imperial Noble Consort."
The people sat down in order, and palace maids filed in, serving snacks, fruits, and milk tea.
Her gaze swept over Consort Ning, Consort De, and Consort Jin, and she said, "His Majesty has been so kind as to hold my investiture ceremony separately. The investiture ceremonies for my sisters Consort Ning, Consort De, and Consort Jin will be held next month. My sisters, please don't be in a hurry."
Consort Ning, Consort De, and others respectfully responded with "Yes."
A moment later, Consort Que stood up and spoke respectfully.
"Your Highness, today is your investiture ceremony, a day of celebration for the entire palace. The princes and princesses all wish to come and pay their respects to Your Highness. What is Your Highness's opinion?"
After a moment's thought, Xu Lejin said softly, "Your Highnesses and Princesses are very kind, but although I am an Imperial Noble Consort, I am not the Empress. I really dare not trouble you all to come to Yikun Palace together."
"In my opinion, the matter of paying respects should be dropped."
After a pause, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Que and said, "Princes and princesses, if you are interested, you may come to my palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will send someone to the Princes' quarters to inform all the princes and princesses."
Consort Que nodded in agreement.
Consort Duan and Consort Ning exchanged a glance, then carefully began to speak, "The princes and princesses are so filial to Her Highness the Imperial Noble Consort; we are truly envious."
"There are many princes and princesses in the palace. If they all gathered in the Imperial Noble Consort's palace, it would inevitably be crowded. It is the Imperial Noble Consort who has thought things through and exempted the princes and princesses from paying their respects."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
Consort Ning looked up at Xu Lejin and then said, "Today is the investiture ceremony for the Imperial Noble Consort. We haven't yet formally congratulated the Imperial Noble Consort on this joyous occasion."
...
All the concubines stood up. Consort Hui reluctantly curtsied and said in unison, "Congratulations on the joyous occasion of the Imperial Noble Consort."
"No need for formalities, please rise!"
Half an hour later
Consort Que, Consort Hui, and Consort Duan, along with a group of concubines, bid farewell and left Yikun Palace.
Xu Lejin let out a long sigh of relief and said repeatedly, "Ruhua and Nongying, quickly take off the court hat on my head. I have only worn this court hat for a few hours, and I feel like my neck is about to break."
Ru Hua and Nong Ying smiled as they removed Xu Lejin's court hat and began to speak.
"Your Majesty, the court crown worn at today's investiture ceremony is far inferior to that of the Empress. Your Majesty will be appointed Empress in the future, and that will be the true phoenix crown, made of pure gold and pearls."
Xu Lejin waved her hand and shook her aching neck.
"That's all for the future. If the Emperor were to establish me as his successor, I would be overjoyed."
Xu Lejin's implication was that if Kangxi did not make her empress, she would not force him.
Upon hearing this, Ruhua and Nongying exchanged a quick glance and hurriedly changed the subject.
Two weeks later
A palace maid reported that Lady Yuan, a concubine in Yongshou Palace, was pregnant and was already half a month along.
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin said, "Consort Yuan entered the palace through the imperial selection three years ago. Although she is the daughter of an ordinary bannerman of the Han Banner, her ancestors were from a prominent family during the Wei and Jin dynasties."
"Consort Yuan's unborn child, Consort De was instructed to take good care of her and ensure that Consort Yuan and the unborn child are safe and sound."
Liu Ying respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.
Ru Hua lowered her head slightly, carefully choosing her words, "Your Majesty, this servant has heard that Lord Suoertu, Lord Tong Guowei, and others from the previous dynasty petitioned His Majesty to hold a selection of noble ladies from the Manchu, Mongol, and Han Eight Banners to serve in the palace."
"Lord Suo'etu said that most of the concubines in the palace come from bondservant families, and asked the emperor to consider the overall situation and save face for the Manchu and Mongol families."
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment.
"What Suo'etu said is indeed true. The concubines in the palace, including my maternal family, were once bondservant families of the Imperial Household Department. They received the Emperor's favor and were granted surnames and elevated to the Manchu banner system. Among the four consorts, Consort Hui and Consort Duan also came from bondservant families."
"Among the concubines, Consort Xin, Consort Qi, and Consort Xin were all originally palace maids. There are indeed fewer women from prominent families of the Eight Banners."
Nongying raised her eyes, glanced at Xu Lejin, and quickly lowered her head.
With a calm expression, Xu Lejin pondered for a moment before saying, "The selection of concubines is a matter of offspring. If Your Majesty is willing to select new concubines for the palace, I would naturally be more than happy to do so."
April 2nd
The imperial concubines gathered at Yikun Palace to pay their respects to Xu Lejin.
Sitting upright in the main seat, Xu Lejin smiled as she looked at the concubines and said softly, "In a few days, it will be the investiture ceremony for Consort Ning, Consort De, Consort Jin, and others. After the investiture ceremony, April 19th will be the auspicious day of Princess Chunxi's marriage."
"How are the preparations for the investiture ceremonies of my younger sisters, Consort Que, Consort Hui, Consort Duan, and Consort Ning, as well as the wedding of Princess Chunxi, progressing?"
Consort Hui stood up, her expression slightly taken aback.
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