Emperor Kangxi harbored resentment towards the Empress for giving the palace maid Chu Yun a contraceptive.
Although the people in the emperor's court tried their best to keep the matter a secret and solemnly instructed the palace maids and eunuchs, they could not withstand the inquiries of those with ulterior motives, including the people of Consort Tongjia of the Chengqian Palace.
Rather than referring to Consort Tongjia as her person, it would be more accurate to say that it was the Tongjia clan's connections within the palace.
After all, she was from the maternal clan of Empress Xiaokangzhang, the birth mother of Emperor Kangxi. Although Empress Xiaokangzhang died young, the Tongjia clan's connections in the palace remained. After Consort Tongjia entered the palace, these connections were handed over to Consort Tongjia.
With a cold laugh, Consort Tongjia spoke in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, your actions now show dissatisfaction with the Empress. This is precisely the opportunity Heaven has bestowed upon me, Xiuqin?"
"Your Majesty, this servant is here."
The palace maid Xiuqin lowered her head, waiting for Consort Tongjia's instructions.
Consort Tongjia curled her lips into a strange smile and said coldly, "Have our people tell the Empress that the Emperor is paying too much attention to Lady Xu of Yikun Palace and is dissatisfied with her."
“If necessary, adding fuel to the fire is also acceptable.”
Xiuqin was taken aback. She looked at Consort Tongjia and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. Would Your Majesty like to discuss it with the First and Second Masters?"
“Father and Uncle will only make me wait. I have been in the palace for six years and have already waited for six years. I can’t wait any longer. Now the Empress is pregnant and about to give birth. I will listen to Father and Uncle and not harm the imperial heir, but I cannot continue to sit and wait for death.”
Consort Tongjia's face was contorted with rage.
Xiuqin lowered her head slightly, exchanged a glance with the palace maid Xiuhe beside her, and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Afternoon.
Xu Lejin was sitting in the west side hall, reading the Four Books and Five Classics in her hands.
Yingchun hurried into the palace and reported to Xu Lejin: "Your Highness, Eunuch Liang from the Imperial Household Department has sent word that the Emperor is heading towards our Yikun Palace. Eunuch Liang requests that Your Highness prepare to receive him."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then closed the book in her hand.
"Zhishu, quickly put these books away and take out the sachets and perfume pouches that I usually make and put them out."
Yingchun respectfully replied "Yes," and Ruhua worked swiftly and efficiently.
Aunt Chunhua and Aunt Qiuyan exchanged a glance, shook their heads, lowered their heads slightly, and smiled without saying a word.
Emperor Kangxi arrived at the west side hall of Xu Lejin's Yikun Palace.
"My beloved consort is pregnant, and you must be suffering. I am busy with affairs of state and have no time to accompany you in the harem. I see that your belly has grown quite large, almost as big as Lady Zhaojia's when she was more than eight months pregnant."
Emperor Kangxi's gaze fell on Xu Lejin's belly, and he laughed loudly.
Xu Lejin glanced discreetly at Liang Jiugong behind Kangxi. From Liang Jiugong's eyes, she could tell that Kangxi had been drinking and was slightly drunk, which explained his behavior.
Xu Lejin chuckled softly and said, "It's not hard for me to bear children for the Emperor."
Immediately afterwards, Xu Lejin turned her head and looked at Zhishu.
"Zhishu, quickly prepare a bowl of hangover soup for the Emperor."
Zhi Shu respectfully agreed and withdrew.
Emperor Kangxi, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, gazed at Xu Lejin, hiccuping, "I'm not drunk, I'm not drunk, I'm perfectly sober! My beloved concubine, my beloved concubine, I'm not drunk..."
Kangxi exhaled a breath of alcohol, and Xu Lejin frowned almost imperceptibly.
Liang Jiugong boldly stepped forward and respectfully said to Xu Lejin, "Consort Xu, His Majesty is in a bad mood today and has drunk a lot of wine. He wants to come to your Yikun Palace, and this servant cannot stop him."
"Consort Xu, you are the only mistress in Yikun Palace. This servant knows that you are pregnant with the Emperor's child and it is not appropriate for you to take care of him. Please instruct the maids and eunuchs to prepare the main hall of Yikun Palace so that the Emperor can rest there for the night."
Xu Lejin nodded with a smile.
"Eunuch Liang has considered everything carefully. Given His Majesty's current condition, it would be best for him to rest in the main hall for the night."
After a pause, Xu Lejin carefully spoke, "Eunuch Liang, regarding His Majesty's drinking, have you informed Her Majesty the Empress, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager?"
Liang Jiugong was taken aback.
"Thank you for the reminder, Consort Xu. This servant will immediately send someone to report to the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress."
Xu Lejin then instructed her two aunts, Chunhua and Qiuyan, as well as Yingchun, who was by her side, to personally go to the main hall of Yikun Palace to prepare the room for Kangxi.
After Liang Jiugong led the eunuchs to help Kangxi to the main hall, Xu Lejin sighed softly, "The Emperor was drunk today and came to the west wing of my Yikun Palace. Tomorrow morning, when he pays his respects to the Empress, there will inevitably be a war of words. I'm afraid the Empress and the Lady of Chengqian Palace will be sarcastic and sarcastic towards me again."
"My lady, I don't understand."
Ru Hua glanced timidly at Xu Lejin, then said, "Your Highness, it was His Majesty who came here himself. Why did the Empress and Consort Chengqian mock you?"
Xu Lejin sighed softly and remained silent.
At this moment, Xiao Jiangzi bowed and entered the hall, reporting to Xu Lejin: "Your Highness, Lord Xu of the Imperial Stables has sent Miss Wanyin to deliver something to you."
“Miss Wanyin is waiting outside the palace right now.”
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then nodded with a smile.
"Please invite her into the palace!"
Xiao Jiangzi respectfully agreed and withdrew. A moment later, he led a woman with delicate features, charming and alluring phoenix eyes, and slightly upturned eyes into the hall.
"This servant, Wanyin, wishes Consort Xu good health and auspiciousness."
Xu Wanyin suppressed the jealousy in her heart, knelt down and bowed to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and said to Xu Wanyin, who was kneeling on the ground, "Eleventh sister, please get up. We are sisters, and there is no need for such formalities between sisters."
"Xiao Jiangzi, get a stool for Eleventh Sister."
Xiao Jiangzi respectfully agreed.
Xu Wanyin smiled, revealing her teeth, and said respectfully, "This servant thanks Consort Xu."
After a short while, Xu Wanyin explained her purpose to Xu Lejin. Xu Lejin smiled and nodded, signaling Ruhua to step forward and take the things from Xu Wanyin's hands.
Xu Wanyin hesitated for a moment before tentatively speaking, "Consort Xu, if I may be so bold as to ask something I shouldn't, just now when I entered Yikun Palace, I thought I saw Eunuch Liang, who serves the Emperor, and..."
"Why are only Ruhua and Xiao Jiangzi serving you, Consort Xu? Where are the other palace maids?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin's expression darkened.
"Eleventh Sister, since you know it's not something you should ask, then don't ask. In the palace, being careful with your words is the way to survive; saying the wrong thing can cost you your head..."
Xu Wanyin's face turned pale, and she immediately knelt down and prostrated herself on the ground.
With an inscrutable expression, Xu Lejin glanced at Xu Wanyin and said in a deep voice, "I have accepted the things your uncle asked you to send. Please go back and tell your uncle that I will do my best to protect the imperial fetus in my womb and give birth to an heir for the emperor safely. Please rest assured, uncle."
"It's getting late, you should head back to the Imperial Stables!"
Xu Wanyin respectfully replied, "Yes."
After leaving the west wing of Yikun Palace, Xu Wanyin's eyes darted around, and she deliberately slowed her pace, actually observing out of the corner of her eye what was happening inside Yikun Palace.
Outside the main hall of Yikun Palace, Xu Wanyin once again saw Liang Jiugong, who was serving the emperor, and a bold guess formed in her mind.
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