Soon, it was early June.
Rumors about Consort Niohuru becoming Empress are growing louder in the palace!
Besides Consort Niohuru, some palace women were privately discussing that Consort Tongjia of Chengqian Palace might also be a candidate for Empress.
Even more, rumors circulated in the palace that the Hesheli family would send another young, beautiful woman of marriageable age to the palace to become the empress.
There is also speculation that the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager favored a woman from the Khorchin region to enter the palace as empress.
For a time, rumors circulated in the harem, dividing the palace into four factions: Consort Niohuru, Consort Tongjia, princesses from the Hesheli family outside the palace, and noble ladies from the Khorchin Mongol tribe...
Upon hearing Zhishu's report, Xu Lejin sighed deeply, "Rumors stop with the wise!"
However, the position of empress was too tempting. The Hesheli family, the Niohuru family, and the Tong family all wanted to get their hands on it. As for the Khorchin Mongols, there was already a Grand Empress Dowager and an Empress Dowager in the palace. Given the tragedy of the previous emperor's reign, the chances of a Khorchin woman entering the palace as empress were slim.
The concubines in the palace today, although they have served Emperor Kangxi for some time, are of low birth and it is extremely difficult for them to become empresses. They can only sigh in vain, having the will but not the ability.
June 4th.
With her seven-month pregnant belly, Xu Lejin was leisurely doing needlework in the west wing of Yikun Palace.
At the hour of Si (9-11 AM), Li Dequan, who served the Emperor, bowed and came to Yikun Palace to report to Xu Lejin: "Congratulations, Consort Xu! His Majesty will be having lunch in the west wing of Yikun Palace today. Please make preparations, Consort Xu."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then put down the tiger-head hat she was halfway through embroidering.
"Thank you very much, Eunuch Li. I will definitely prepare lunch carefully."
Turning her head, Xu Lejin looked at Zhishu. Zhishu immediately understood what Xu Lejin meant, smiled and handed over a purse. Li Dequan gently squeezed it, a fawning smile on his face.
"Thank you for the gift, Consort Xu. This servant has other duties to perform before the Emperor, so this servant will take his leave."
Xu Lejin smiled gently and instructed Zhishu, "Zhishu, see Eunuch Li out."
After seeing Eunuch Li out, Xu Lejin frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
After a long silence, Xu Lejin said softly, "Since the Empress's passing, the Emperor has not entered the inner palace for a month. His first visit to the inner palace is to have lunch here. This…"
Xu Lejin had some doubts and questions in her mind.
Yingchun considered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Highness need not worry too much. Currently, among the concubines in the harem, you are the only one who is pregnant with the emperor's child. It is only natural that the emperor values the imperial heir and would like to have lunch in the west wing of our Yikun Palace."
Xu Lejin nodded with a slight smile.
"I hope so."
After a pause, Xu Lejin looked at Chunhua and Qiuyan and said in a deep voice, "Aunt Chunhua and Aunt Qiuyan, you used to serve the Emperor, so you must know his diet. Today, the Emperor is having lunch in the West Annex of Yikun Palace, so we will have to trouble you two aunts."
"We dare not accept such a trouble from Your Highness. It is our honor to serve the Emperor and Your Highness."
Chunhua and Qiuyan exchanged a glance, and Chunhua respectfully responded.
Just as noon arrived, Emperor Kangxi arrived at the west side hall of Yikun Palace.
Xu Lejin, heavily pregnant, curtsied and said respectfully, "This humble servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand years of good fortune and peace."
"My dear concubine, there's no need for such formalities. You are pregnant, please rise."
Emperor Kangxi's gaze fell on Xu Lejin's large belly, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Other concubines, when they were seven or eight months pregnant with the emperor's child, did not have such large bellies. Furthermore, other concubines, when seven or eight months pregnant, suffered from edema and lost their beauty. However, Xu Shi of Yikun Palace…
He observed that Xu was seven months pregnant, her belly larger than that of a typical full-term pregnant woman, yet she remained agile and had a rosy, radiant complexion. She had not only not become uglier, but had actually become more beautiful.
Supported by Yingchun and Zhishu, Xu Lejin stood up, her eyes lowered. "Your Majesty is so busy with state affairs, how come you have time to have lunch with me today?"
Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily.
"My beloved concubine, do you not welcome me?"
Xu Lejin was taken aback, then suddenly raised her head to look at Kangxi, before slowly lowering her head and saying in a deep voice, "Your Majesty's visit to my humble abode is naturally a joyous occasion."
"The sun is scorching outside. I am just worried that the sun will shine on Your Majesty and harm your health."
"My beloved concubine is so thoughtful."
Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin and spoke in a cheerful tone, “My beloved consort is pregnant and has been going through a difficult time. I have finished dealing with the affairs of the court these past few days, so I thought I would like to come and visit her.”
"I have noticed that since my beloved concubine became pregnant, she has become even more plump, smooth, and radiant!"
Xu Lejin blushed, raised her head slightly, and glared angrily at Kangxi.
"Your Majesty often teases his concubines. My appearance is plain and plump because I am pregnant. As for being bright and charming, that has nothing to do with me."
Emperor Kangxi burst into laughter and said, "What my beloved consort says is quite right."
Xu Lejin had lunch with Emperor Kangxi, and his two aunts, Chunhua and Qiuyan, personally served them, serving them dishes. The meal lasted for an hour, and both Xu Lejin and Emperor Kangxi were very happy.
After lunch, Kangxi dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs.
In the west wing hall, only Xu Lejin and Emperor Kangxi remained, sitting face to face...
After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Kangxi said in a loud voice, "My beloved consort, a month has passed since the Empress's passing. The affairs of the inner palace are being managed by Consort Niohuru. I believe that Consort Niohuru comes from a good family and is capable of taking on this important responsibility."
Xu Lejin lowered her eyes and listened quietly without saying a word.
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