Two weeks later
The Hesheli family carefully selected two daughters from collateral branches and sent them to the palace.
Consort Que sat to Xu Lejin's left, her brows furrowing slightly. She said, "Your Highness, the Hesheli family really knows how to exploit loopholes. The Emperor only said he agreed to let them send their daughter into the palace..."
“Gabula and Soetu are quite something, they sent two at once.”
Xu Lejin smiled slightly and spoke softly.
"Good things come in pairs. The Hesheli family sent two women into the palace, but so what? These two Hesheli women are nothing more than concubines without any official title."
"The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and all the women in the world belong to the Emperor. Even without the two Hesheli concubines, there would be other concubines in the palace."
Consort Que nodded in agreement.
Changchun Palace
The two newly entered concubines of the Hesheli clan, one of whom was tall and beautiful, was named Hesheli Sanghua. She was seventeen years old and in the prime of her youth.
The other one was a little shorter, but charming and lovely. She was sixteen years old and her maiden name was Heshelitangrou.
The young eunuch who was leading the two women spoke softly, "Consort Sanghua, Consort Tangrou, this is the accommodation that Her Highness the Imperial Noble Consort has arranged for you."
"The Imperial Noble Consort meant that Consort Sanghua, being older, resided in the East Pavilion, while Consort Tangrou resided in the West Pavilion."
Hesheli Sanghua and Hesheli Tangrou looked at the small room in front of them with disdain. Their expressions changed simultaneously. They bit their lips tightly, lowered their eyes slightly, and remained silent.
The young eunuch then added, "In Changchun Palace, besides the two concubines, Consort Yi lives in the west wing. Consort Yi is a senior official who has served the Emperor for many years."
"There are also Consort Chen and Consort Wang, who entered the palace during the imperial concubine selection last year and live in the east and west side halls."
After a pause, the young eunuch spoke with a disdainful expression.
"Furthermore, Her Highness the Imperial Noble Consort intends that the two concubines, after entering the palace, need not come to Yikun Palace to pay their respects. They can go to Yikun Palace to receive Her Highness the Imperial Noble Consort's teachings after they have the opportunity to serve the Emperor in the future."
"Yes, I will obey the Imperial Noble Consort's orders."
The two men looked humiliated and bowed their heads, humming in agreement.
June 2nd
Apart from a few concubines who had not been granted titles, the rest of the concubines gathered at Yikun Palace to pay their respects to Xu Lejin.
Consort Hui covered her mouth and said sarcastically, "Your Highness, when we paid our respects last month, Consort Yi reported that Consort Wang in Changchun Palace was two months pregnant."
"Your Highness, when you said that Consort Wang's pregnancy needed to be reported to the Emperor, I wonder what the Emperor's meaning was?"
Turning her head to the side, Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Hui and sighed softly.
"His Majesty's intention is that Consort Wang's pregnancy is a joyous occasion, and she should enjoy the same privileges as a Lady-in-Waiting. Four palace maids and two eunuchs will be assigned to serve Consort Wang."
After a pause, Xu Lejin continued, "I already gave the order beforehand, doesn't Consort Hui know that?"
Consort Hui looked embarrassed.
After a quick moment of contemplation, Consort Hui spoke awkwardly, "Your Highness, I am aware of this, but I find it somewhat unbelievable. Consort Wang was also selected into the palace through a proper selection process."
"It's fine that no title was bestowed before, but now that she's pregnant with the emperor's child, why hasn't a title been bestowed upon her yet?"
With narrowed eyes, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Hui meaningfully.
The Yikun Palace fell into complete silence.
After a short while, Consort Que glanced at Consort Hui and covered her mouth, saying, "Is Consort Hui questioning His Majesty and the Imperial Noble Consort? His Majesty and the Imperial Noble Consort have their own thoughts on the matter of Consort Wang's pregnancy."
Consort Hui lowered her head, her voice trembling.
"Your Majesty, I dare not."
With a cold snort, Consort Que spoke in a cold voice, "In my opinion, there is nothing Consort Hui would not dare to do in the palace. Consort Hui knows that the Emperor has not yet bestowed the title of Consort Wang, yet she deliberately chose today to inquire of the Imperial Noble Consort. What are her intentions?"
Consort Hui was stunned for a moment, then hesitated and remained silent for a long time.
After a cup of tea, Xu Lejin said calmly, "Noble Consort Que need not be angry. There is no precedent in the palace for the matter of Consort Wang. It is understandable that Consort Hui asked a few more questions because she did not understand the situation."
The concubines were all stunned for a moment, secretly pondering the Imperial Noble Consort's meaning.
Similar to Consort Wang, who served the Emperor and became pregnant, she remained nameless and without status, only being called "Consort" all the time. There will be many more like her in the palace in the future.
Before we knew it, it was mid-July.
The autumn weather was sultry. In the morning, fireflies entered from outside the palace, their faces beaming with joy as they respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Princess Hengshu has arrived!"
"、、"
Xu Lejin was taken aback for a moment, then quickly asked Liu Ying to invite Wu Xiha into the palace.
Ushiha was the happiest of all the princesses who married, because her wedding was a grand affair. So, on her return visit home, Emperor Kangxi generously bestowed upon her a palace pass.
And Ushiha was granted the freedom to enter and leave the palace.
A moment later, Ushiha entered the hall, knelt and bowed to Xu Lejin, saying, "Your subject greets Mother, may Mother be blessed."
"Get up, get up quickly."
Xu Lejin looked Wuxiha up and down, and said in a feigned reproach, "Wuxiha, you haven't been to the palace for two months this time. Is something at the princess's residence that's keeping you from entering?"
With his head slightly bowed, Ushiha wore a kind smile.
"Your Majesty, I am pregnant and have been expecting for three months. Two months ago, I was diagnosed with the pregnancy, but at the urging of my nanny and my husband, I kept the news a secret for the time being. Now that I have been pregnant for three months, I am eager to come to the palace to tell you this good news."
Xu Lejin's gaze fell on Ushiha's still-flat stomach and she asked softly, "Are you really three months pregnant?"
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