On the day Consort Yuan gave birth, the events that occurred in Yongshou Palace quickly became known to the other concubines in the harem, and they all began to ridicule Consort Wang.
Even the palace maids and eunuchs started gossiping about it in private.
Time flew by, and Consort Yuan and her daughter were out of confinement.
That day
Consort Hui covered her mouth and whispered, "Your Highness, I have some good news to report."
"oh?"
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then looked at Consort Hui, "It just so happens that there has been no happy event in the palace for a long time. Consort Hui, what happy event do you have? Tell us so that the sisters in the palace can all be happy."
Consort Hui, beaming with pride, spoke with a smile.
"Your Highness, the nanny serving the Second Prince has come to report that Tian, a concubine in the Second Prince's courtyard, is pregnant and has been almost two months along."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly and said, "The Second Prince's concubine is pregnant. This is a joyous occasion. The Emperor will have another grandson."
Consort Hui's face showed a stubborn and proud expression, with her chin slightly raised.
Consort Que and Consort Duan exchanged a glance and smiled, “It is indeed a joyous occasion. The eldest prince is only one year older than the second prince, and he already has a son and a daughter.”
"Your Majesty, we all thought that the Second Prince would have to wait a few more years, until the Second Princess married into the Qing Dynasty, before he could give His Majesty a grandson or granddaughter."
"Although it is only a concubine who is pregnant, it is still the Second Prince's bloodline, which is cause for celebration."
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui's expression changed.
With her head bowed, a flash of coldness crossed Consort Hui's eyes. She then raised her head and spoke softly, "What Noble Consort Que says is true. Although His Majesty has many children, the only older princes are my second prince and the eldest prince born to Consort Rong."
"The Third Prince, born to the Imperial Noble Consort, was destined for immortality and went to the heavens to study immortal arts. It has been almost ten years. If the Third Prince were still in the palace, he would probably have already married a princess."
After a pause, Consort Hui added, "However, it doesn't matter. The Imperial Noble Consort has many children, including the Fourth Prince, the Tenth Prince, and the Eleventh Prince."
"The Fourth Prince is nine years old now. In a few more years, he will be able to marry his wife and give the Imperial Noble Consort a grandson."
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and remained silent.
Consort Que frowned and reprimanded her sternly, "Consort Hui, be careful with your words. The Imperial Noble Consort is equivalent to the Empress Dowager. Every prince in the palace must address the Imperial Noble Consort as Imperial Mother, and the princes' children must also address the Imperial Noble Consort as Imperial Grandmother."
"The children of the princes in the palace are all grandchildren of the Imperial Noble Consort."
Consort Hui's face turned from white to green, and she finally lowered her head sheepishly and respectfully agreed.
After a cup of tea
All the concubines in the harem left Yikun Palace, but Consort Que stayed behind alone.
Her expression darkened slightly, and Consort Que said coldly, "What is Consort Hui so smug about? The First Prince already has a son and a daughter. His eldest son is from Consort Guarjia Shi, and the Second Prince…"
"In the Second Prince's courtyard, it's just a concubine who's pregnant."
Xu Lejin curled her lips and said casually, "Why should Consort Que bother with Consort Hui? Consort Hui has been obsessed with having a grandson for the past few years. Now that the Second Prince's concubine is pregnant, it is only natural that Consort Hui is happy."
"If Consort Hui is happy, why do you, Noble Consort Que, have to make her unhappy?"
Pouting, Consort Que said in a low voice, "Your Highness, I just can't stand Consort Hui's pretentious airs. His Majesty hasn't visited her palace for ten years, yet she still acts like the head of the four consorts."
She smiled gently.
Xu Lejin said, "Consort Hui is indeed the head of the four consorts, there is no doubt about that. She is older, has served the Emperor for many years, and is also the birth mother of the Second Prince."
"If Consort Que does not wish to see Consort Hui, then she can simply treat Consort Hui as if she were invisible from now on."
Consort Que paused for a moment, then softly replied, "Yes."
As the year draws to a close, palace affairs are plentiful, and Consort Que, Consort Hui, Consort Duan, and others are busy again. The Imperial Household Department often makes mistakes in distributing the allowances and year-end rewards to the various palaces, which then reach Xu Lejin's ears.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Hui and said coldly, "Consort Hui, you were in charge of the palace's annual rewards. Now that something has gone wrong, are you prepared to accept punishment?"
"Your Highness, this concubine..."
Consort Hui opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but found that she couldn't explain herself when the words reached her lips.
Once or twice is one thing, it could be an accident, but three or four times, or even five, six, seven or eight times...
Consort Hui didn't know where things had gone wrong.
In her past life, she had also been an assistant in managing the six palaces and in charge of all matters of the Imperial Household Department. Everything was in order in her past life, so why is there so much chaos now?
After a long time
Consort Hui lowered her head and said, "Your Highness, it is my incompetence that has failed the trust of the Emperor and Your Highness, causing the Imperial Household Department to make a mistake in distributing the annual rewards to the various palaces. I accept the punishment."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, her brows furrowed.
Consort Hui is in charge of the Imperial Household Department. If things go wrong, will she have to take charge of it herself next?
I've always been lazy and can't handle the tedious affairs of the Imperial Household Department.
Furthermore, does he want to continue being a hands-off manager?
Consort Duan and Consort Ning both have their own duties, but Consort He is too young to assist in managing the six palaces. However, Consort He has caught a cold and is currently recuperating in Changchun Palace.
Above the lower ranks of concubines, apart from Consort De and Consort Jin, the rest were all originally palace maids.
Letting out a long breath, Xu Lejin said, "The matter of the annual rewards for each palace is ultimately due to the incompetence of the Imperial Household Department. Consort Hui, you are in charge of the six palaces, and I have given you the authority. If the servants of the Imperial Household Department do not listen to your orders, just send them away."
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