When Empress Hesheli passed away, Emperor Kangxi ordered a three-day suspension of court sessions to express his grief.
Consort Niohuru and the other concubines in the harem stared wide-eyed in astonishment, their faces filled with disbelief.
Xu Lejin raised her head slightly, glanced at Kangxi, and then lowered her head. She was not too surprised, after all, Empress Xiaochengren, of the Hesheli clan, was known as Kangxi's "white moonlight" in Qing history.
There's no smoke without fire.
Now, it is both reasonable and expected that Emperor Kangxi would suspend court for three days in honor of Empress Hesheli.
After much persuasion from the Empress Dowager, Emperor Kangxi abandoned his plan to suspend court for three days in memory of the Empress. After discussing the Empress's funeral arrangements with the Empress Dowager, Emperor Kangxi entrusted them to Consort Niohuru.
Consort Tongjia was unwilling to accept this situation and wanted to seize some of the palace power for herself at this time. However, when she saw Kangxi's sorrowful expression, she couldn't say the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and all that was left was a bitter feeling in her heart.
Consort Niohuru hesitated for a moment, then looked at Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager and said softly, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, according to the rules, when the Empress suddenly passes away, the concubines of the harem should kneel before her coffin for seven days to show their respect. However…"
“Consort Zhao Jia and Consort Xu are pregnant with the imperial heirs. If they kneel in mourning for seven days, I am worried that it will harm the imperial fetuses in their wombs.”
After a pause, Consort Niohuru forced herself to continue, "Consort Ma Jia has just given birth and is still in her postpartum period, so it is not advisable for her to kneel for a long time. The princes and princesses are also young, and I am worried that if they kneel for Her Majesty the Empress for a long time, it will harm their health."
Emperor Kangxi's expression was solemn.
The Empress Dowager glanced approvingly at Consort Niohuru and spoke in a deep voice, “What Consort Niohuru said is not without reason. The imperial heir is of utmost importance. Consorts Zhaojia and Xu are indeed not suitable for kneeling at the coffin for a long time, and the princes and princesses are too young to be suitable either.”
"Therefore, Lady Zhaojia and Lady Xu were made to kneel for one hour each day, and spend the rest of their time in their respective palaces copying Buddhist scriptures for the Empress, as a sign of their respect for her."
"Furthermore, princes and princesses, each day you shall kneel for half an hour with your wet nurses!"
After a moment's thought, the Empress Dowager continued, "As for Lady Magiya, she gave birth to the fifth princess on the sixth day of last month. It is now the fourth day, and Lady Magiya's confinement period will only last a day or two. The Emperor and I, out of consideration for Lady Magiya's hardship in carrying the imperial heir, have decided that she may kneel before the Empress's spirit tablet for two hours each day."
Emperor Kangxi glanced at Consort Xu Lejin and Consort Zhaojia, and nodded.
"The Empress Dowager's arrangement is very reasonable. Everything will be done according to the Empress Dowager's instructions. Niohuru is still young, so we will have to trouble the Empress Dowager and the Empress Mother to send a nanny to help and guide her."
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance and nodded.
The Empress's funeral proceeded in an orderly manner. The mourning hall was set up in Anhua Palace. In less than half a day, the harem was covered in white mourning clothes. Brightly colored items were all taken into the storeroom and replaced with plain ones.
Royal relatives and noblewomen would enter the palace every day to kneel before the Empress's coffin to express their grief over her passing.
Emperor Kangxi personally went to Anhua Palace every day to pray for the Empress's well-being and for her to ascend to the Pure Land soon!
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was now the sixth day of the fifth lunar month.
After kneeling in Anhua Palace for an hour, Xu Lejin and Consort Zhaojia, supported by palace maids, walked down the long street toward Yikun Palace and Zhongcui Palace.
"Sister Xu, I remember you were seven months pregnant, right?"
Consort Zhao smiled gently, her gaze falling on Xu Lejin's large belly, and spoke softly.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Just as Sister Zhaojia said, I am only seven months pregnant. Sister Zhaojia is nine months pregnant, is everything going well during your pregnancy?"
With a smile in her eyes, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Zhaojia and asked softly.
Consort Zhao smiled sweetly.
"Thank you for your concern, Sister Xu. I am doing well during my pregnancy. I can eat and sleep well, and the baby in my belly is very well-behaved. I estimate it is most likely a little princess."
Xu Lejin smiled but remained silent.
Consort Zhaojia paused, then smiled and said, "Sister Xu, you are seven months pregnant, but your belly is about the same size as mine. When I was young, I heard people say that most women who are pregnant with twins will give birth prematurely. Sister Xu, you should prepare for childbirth as soon as possible."
Xu Lejin smiled gently and nodded slightly.
"Thank you for your concern, Sister Zhaojia. I will have the palace servants ready to serve you at any time."
Looking up at the sky, Xu Lejin chuckled softly. "Sister Zhaojia, the sun is getting stronger now. For the sake of the imperial child in your womb, let's all return to our palaces!"
"Sister Xu has thought things through very well."
Consort Zhao Jia nodded with a smile, and then, supported by a palace maid, parted ways with Xu Lejin and headed towards Zhongcui Palace, one of the Six Eastern Palaces.
Back at Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin sat upright on the soft couch, her brows furrowed.
After a short while, Yingchun came in from outside the palace in a flustered manner, her forehead beaded with sweat. She respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, Consort Zhaojia accidentally fell on her way back to Zhongcui Palace and has threatened miscarriage."
"You tripped and fell?"
Xu Lejin exclaimed in surprise, then her face turned worried, "Consort Zhaojia is nine months pregnant and suddenly fell. I'm afraid the child in her womb..."
Yingchun lowered her head slightly.
After a moment's thought, Xu Lejin spoke in a deep voice, "Yingchun, Zhishu, help me to Zhongcui Palace. Consort Zhaojia is currently experiencing pregnancy complications and is likely to give birth prematurely. The Empress of Chuxiu Palace and the Empress of Chengqian Palace are both kneeling in Anhua Palace to mourn the Empress and have no time to attend to matters of the inner palace. Consort Zhaojia needs someone to take charge of her delivery."
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