In the tenth year of the Yonghe reign, Xu Lejin saw off Emperor Kangxi.
Historical records show that even though Emperor Kangxi, one of the greatest emperors in Chinese history, carefully maintained his health after abdicating in the 51st year of his reign, he ultimately could not transcend the cycle of life and death.
After all, Kangxi did not have the same opportunities as Yinling and Ushiha.
Although he was an incomparably noble emperor, calling himself the Son of Heaven, and enjoying wealth and honor throughout his life, he was ultimately just a mortal who would die of old age, old age, sickness, and death.
After Emperor Kangxi's death, his successor, Yin Chu, gave him the temple name "Shengzu," and he is known to later generations as Emperor Shengzu of Qing.
In the eleventh year of the Yonghe reign, Xu Lejin was honored as Empress Dowager Renyu by her son Yinchu and moved into Cining Palace. She was both the Empress Dowager Mother and the Empress Dowager Holy Mother.
In that year, all of Emperor Kangxi's concubines received honorary titles from Yin Chu.
Consort Que, of the Tongjia clan, supported Xu Lejin throughout the palace and the Changchun Garden Palace, and they spent forty years together. She was honored by Yin Chuzun as the Dowager Noble Consort Quehui.
Empress Dowager Quehui couldn't bear to part with Xu Lejin, so she refused her adopted son Yinxiang's request and instead of going to Yinxiang's residence to live out her old age, she moved into Cining Palace with Xu Lejin.
The remaining concubines of the late emperor who had no children moved into Shou Kang Palace.
On a certain day of a certain year
The Dowager Consort Quehui, her steps faltering and her hair white, was supported by a palace maid as she entered the main hall of Cining Palace. She said in a frail voice, "Empress Dowager, so many years have passed, yet you remain as beautiful as ever, while I have grown old and am becoming increasingly useless."
"Yesterday, Yinxiang's wife, Lady Fucha, brought Yinxiang's children to the palace to see me. I was surprised to find that my grandchildren were making a ruckus around me and disturbing my peace and quiet."
"well……"
After speaking, the Imperial Noble Consort Quehui let out a long sigh.
Xu Lejin paused slightly and said softly, "Am I not old too? A few days ago, when Mingwei gave birth to the Tenth Prince, he celebrated his one-month birthday. Yinchu and Mingwei brought the Tenth Prince to Cining Palace. I am so old that I can't even carry the Tenth Prince anymore."
The Imperial Noble Consort nodded slightly.
After a pause, the Imperial Noble Consort spoke again softly.
"Speaking of which, the Emperor and Empress had a very deep relationship. Although there were several concubines in the Emperor's harem, none of them bore him any children. All ten princes and four princesses born to the Emperor were born to the Empress."
"Is the Empress forty years old now?"
Xu Lejin smiled gently and said softly, "Yes, Mingwei is forty-six now. A few years ago, when Mingwei gave birth to the Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince, I thought she wouldn't have any more children since she was over forty. The Emperor already has nine legitimate princes and four princesses."
"Unexpectedly, last year, when Mingwei was forty-five years old, she became pregnant again and gave birth to another prince."
The Imperial Noble Consort nodded slightly.
"Your Majesty is so blessed. The Emperor and Empress are a loving couple and a model for all the people. Now, all the subjects of the country are vying to emulate the Emperor and Empress and to be of one heart with their husbands."
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin looked up at the palace and said with a smile, "Sister, you are also very fortunate. In the past years, Lady Fucha has given birth to three legitimate sons and three legitimate daughters for Yinxiang."
"I heard that Yinxiang and Lady Fucha came to the palace a few days ago, wanting to take you, my sister, to the Prince's residence?"
The Imperial Noble Consort nodded slightly and spoke after a moment's thought.
"Although Yinxiang's residence is nice, with his children and grandchildren around him, if I, an old woman, were to go there, it would make Yinxiang and Lady Fucha uncomfortable. So I'll just stay in the palace and keep you company, sister."
"Um,"
Xu Lejin responded softly, then changed the subject and said, "I remember that Yinxiang's third and fourth sons are both of marriageable age, aren't they?"
"This year is a general election year, and the emperor previously stated that he would arrange marriages for eligible young men of marriageable age from the imperial clan."
The Imperial Noble Consort paused for a moment, then nodded gently.
"Yes, time flies. In the blink of an eye, we've all reached the age of being great-grandmothers. When Yinxiang first came into my life, he was just a tiny baby in swaddling clothes. Now he's a grandfather."
"Sister, Yinxiang's third son is fine, he was born to a princess, so marrying him to the daughter of a minister would suffice. But the fourth son..."
Lowering her voice, the Imperial Noble Consort looked up at Xu Lejin and whispered, "Yinxiang's fourth son was born to Lady Fucha. I heard that my sister's family, the youngest daughter of my sixth brother born out of wedlock, is also among the candidates for the imperial concubine selection this year."
"、、"
Xu Lejin was taken aback upon hearing this.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Lejin lowered her voice and said softly, "That is indeed true. However, my niece is my sixth brother's daughter born out of wedlock. Although my sixth brother has risen to the third rank in the government over the years, he is ultimately just a Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies with little real power."
"Yinxiang and Lady Fucha may not be willing for their legitimate son to marry a daughter born out of wedlock."
Xu Lejin paused slightly, then continued, "I was originally planning to speak to the Emperor about my sixth brother's youngest daughter, asking him to arrange for her to marry an ordinary member of the imperial family."
The Imperial Noble Consort Quehui smiled but remained silent.
Time flies, and several years have passed.
Consort Quehui passed away peacefully at the age of sixty-three. Among Emperor Kangxi's concubines, only Empress Dowager Xu Lejin, Consort Ning, and the younger Consort Jin, Consort Qin, Consort Mi, Consort He, and Consort Xiang remained.
23rd year of Yonghe
Yin Chu was nearly sixty years old and had long been a grandfather.
On this day, Yin Chu and the Empress arrived at Cining Palace together. Yin Chu carefully began, "Empress Mother, when I was this age, Father Emperor abdicated in my favor."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
