After a heated exchange of words
In the end, Xu Lejin made the final decision that no matter how hard the Imperial Household Department worked day and night, the auspicious robes for Consort Xin, Consort Qi, and Consort Xin must be completed by the seventh day of the fourth month.
Consort Hui opened her mouth as if to say something, but under Xu Lejin's sharp gaze, she lowered her head and agreed.
After a moment's consideration, Consort Que said softly, "Your Highness, I have made all the arrangements for Princess Chunxi's marriage. Everything will be done in accordance with the arrangements for the Empress's legitimate daughter, Princess Gulun."
"Um,"
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin said in a deep voice, "Although Princess Chunxi is the Emperor's adopted daughter, she is the first of the Emperor's children to get married, and she married into the Khorchin Mongols. She should be treated according to the standards of a Gulun Princess."
"His Majesty and I attach great importance to Princess Chunxi's marriage to the Khorchin. Consort Que and Consort Duan must ensure that Princess Chunxi's marriage is carried out without the slightest mistake."
Consort Que and Consort Duan exchanged a glance and respectfully agreed.
Seven days later, thanks to the Imperial Household Department's swift efforts, the auspicious robes for each palace were delivered one after another. Although the stitching of the auspicious robes for Consort Xin, Consort Qi, and Consort Xin was not very fine, they looked no different from a distance.
The female officials read out the imperial edicts conferring titles upon Consort Ning, Consort De, and Consort Jin, and presented them with golden books. Consort Ning and the others performed the six-fold bowing, three-kneeling, and three-kowtow ceremony, thus completing the conferment ceremony successfully.
Consort Ning, Consort De, and Consort Jin sat in the main hall of Yikun Palace, awaiting instruction from Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin sat upright in the main seat, while Consort Ning, along with Consort De, Consort Jin, and others, knelt down respectfully.
Dressed in the auspicious robes of imperial concubines and consorts, they appeared dignified and composed.
Clearing her throat, Xu Lejin said, "Consort Ning, of the Borjigit clan; Consort De, of the Chen clan; Consort Jin, of the Yu clan; Consort Xin, of the Xile clan; Consort Qi, of the Qijiahai clan; and Consort Xin, of the Wenzha clan, are all blessed by Heaven and have been appointed to the inner palace. It is hoped that they will cultivate virtue and self-discipline, maintain harmony within the palace, serve the Emperor diligently, and ensure the continuation of their lineage."
Consort Ning, Consort De, and others spoke in unison.
"Your Majesty, I am overjoyed to receive your instruction from the Imperial Noble Consort."
After speaking, the six of them knelt down and respectfully kowtowed to Xu Lejin, performing three grand kowtows.
Fifteen minutes later
A palace maid entered the hall to report that Consort Que had come to pay her respects with the Seventeenth Princess, the Twenty-Third Princess, and the Thirteenth Prince.
After a moment of surprise, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Ning and said with a smile, "It's getting late, Consort Ning and Consort De. You've both had a long day. Go back to your palace and rest early."
"Yes, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and Your Highness, we shall take our leave."
Consort Ning, Consort De, and the others bowed and withdrew. At the palace gate, they met Consort Que, the Seventeenth Princess, and others. The group quickly bowed to Consort Que, who waved her hand, indicating that they did not need to be so polite.
The palace maids led the seventeenth princess, the twenty-third princess, and the thirteenth prince to the side room to play.
Inside the main hall, Consort Que and Xu Lejin sat facing each other.
After a moment of contemplation, Consort Que spoke softly, “Your Highness, in about ten days it will be Princess Chunxi’s wedding day. Princess Chunxi is very lucky. She was once the daughter of a concubine of Prince Gong’s mansion. She was loved by the Emperor and Empress Xiaozhao and was raised in the palace, enjoying the treatment of a legitimate princess. Now she is getting married as a Princess of the First Rank.”
"???"
Xu Lejin raised her eyes, glanced at Consort Que, and said, "What do you mean by that, Consort Que? Although Princess Chunxi is an adopted daughter, she is registered in the imperial genealogy and recorded under the name of Empress Xiaozhao."
"Although Empress Xiaozhao was the second empress, she was still the emperor's legitimate daughter. Princess Chunxi was granted the title of Princess Gulun and married into the Khorchin tribe, which was in accordance with the rules of our ancestors."
Consort Que nodded quickly and spoke respectfully.
"Yes, Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort's teachings are correct. I was just lamenting that the Seventeenth Princess, whom I raised, is now eleven years old. A few days ago, the Seventeenth Princess met Princess Chunxi on the main street. Princess Chunxi, relying on being the daughter of Empress Xiaozhao, acted arrogantly."
“The Seventeenth Princess suffered an injustice and came to me for help. I felt very sorry for her.”
After a pause, Consort Que said in a low voice, "Your Highness, as you know, the Seventeenth Princess's birth mother, Consort Yi, and her adoptive mother, the commoner Guo Luoluo, have both passed away. She is my child now, raised under my care. I must plan for the Seventeenth Princess's future."
"What Consort Que means is..."
Xu Lejin looked surprised and stared blankly at Consort Que, wondering to herself if Consort Que was planning to send the Seventeenth Princess to pacify Mongolia and marry her off to Mongolia in the future.
With her head slightly lowered, Consort Que spoke softly, "Just as Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort thought, I thought I should give the Seventeenth Princess the best, so as not to betray the 'mother-daughter relationship' between me and the Seventeenth Princess."
"、、"
With a deep sigh, Xu Lejin said in a low voice, "Consort Que, is this your idea, or the Seventeenth Princess's idea?"
Consort Que lowered her head slightly, a hint of unease flashing quickly in her eyes.
After a moment, Consort Que spoke softly, "It was my idea, and the Seventeenth Princess agreed. The Seventeenth Princess's birth mother, Consort Yi, passed away after childbirth, and her adoptive mother, the commoner Guo Luoluo, was preoccupied with vying for favor and neglected the Seventeenth Princess. The Seventeenth Princess has been sensitive since childhood."
"Furthermore, the Seventeenth Princess was also very determined. She believed that marrying into a Manchu or Mongol family in the capital was just a matter of marrying into a powerful Manchu or Mongol family, but marrying into Mongolia was a different story."
After speaking, Consort Que lowered her head.
After a long silence, Xu Lejin said in a deep voice, "I will bring this matter up with the Emperor. However, whether the Seventeenth Princess marries into Mongolia or stays in the capital, she will only be a Heshuo Princess."
Consort Que nodded gently.
"Your Majesty understands."
A few days later
While Emperor Kangxi was staying at Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin quietly mentioned to him that Consort Que wanted the seventeenth princess to marry a Mongol. Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi's brows furrowed deeply.
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