Emperor Kangxi bestowed the title of concubine upon three palace maids who had served him in bed, and the news quickly spread throughout the six palaces, east and west.
The women in the harem speculated that Kangxi's move was a prelude to the later appointment of a successor empress. After all, Consort Chuyun had served Kangxi for many years in the palace of the deceased Empress Hesheli, Consort Sixue was a popular candidate for successor empress, Consort Niohuru was in the Chuxiu Palace, and Consort Hanyan was Kangxi's cousin, Consort Tongjia.
The day after Consort Chu Yun moved into the East Annex of Yikun Palace, she personally visited Xu Lejin in the West Annex.
Xu Lejin smiled and said softly, "Sister Chuyun, you are too kind. You have served the Emperor for many years and have now been made a concubine. It should be me who should visit you. Instead, I have troubled you to come to my West Side Hall."
"Sister Xu is too kind to your older sister."
Consort Chu Yun smiled gently and spoke softly. “Sister Xu, you are carrying the emperor’s child, and your health is precious. I have just arrived at the East Annex of Yikun Palace, and the East Annex is in chaos. How can I let you go there?”
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Consort Chu Yun gave a wink to the palace maid behind her, who then presented her with a small box.
“Sister Xu, this is a warm jade bracelet with twin blossoms that the Emperor ordered the Imperial Household Department to send to me. I thought that since you are pregnant with twins, jade jewelry would be the best for you, so I personally picked it out and sent it to you.”
As she spoke, Consort Chu Yun opened the box.
The jade bracelet shaped like twin blossoms, exquisitely crafted and beautiful, was presented before Xu Lejin. A hint of amazement flashed in Xu Lejin's eyes, and then she smiled and said, "Sister Chuyun, such a precious gift was bestowed upon you by the Emperor. How can I accept it?"
"Sister Xu, you're too kind."
Consort Chu Yun paused, put down the box, tugged at her sleeve, revealing a matching jade bracelet on her wrist, and said with a smile, "Sister Xu, this pair of jade bracelets with twin blossoms are a pair."
"I am deeply grateful to His Majesty for bestowing upon me the title of Consort, allowing me to reside in Yikun Palace with you, Sister Xu. I hope that we can watch over and support each other in Yikun Palace."
Xu Lejin raised her eyes and glanced at Consort Chu Yun, a slight smile playing on her lips.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Lejin smiled faintly. "Thank you, Sister Chuyun. I really like this warm jade bracelet with twin blossoms on it."
"Welcoming spring, put away the twin-flower warm jade bracelet."
Yingchun respectfully responded and took the small box from the maidservant beside Consort Chuyun.
Xu Lejin smiled and pondered for a moment before continuing, "Sister Chuyun, the Emperor recently bestowed some Lu'an Melon Seed tea upon me. The aroma of the tea is delightful, and I find it quite delicious."
"Today, Sister Chuyun came to visit. I am taking the opportunity to present her with some Lu'an Melon Seed tea. I hope Sister Chuyun will not find it offensive."
Consort Chu Yun looked at Xu Lejin with a gentle expression and a smile.
“The gifts bestowed by the Emperor are all of the finest quality. I am overjoyed that Sister Xu is willing to share some with me; how could I possibly complain?”
Xu Lejin and Consort Chuyun chatted back and forth.
Before they knew it, more than half an hour had passed. Consort Chu Yun looked up at the sky and said with a smile, "Sister Xu, it's getting late. I'll head back to the East Annex first."
"I'll come and bother you again another day when I have time, Sister Xu."
Xu Lejin nodded with a smile and instructed Zhishu beside her, "Zhishu, see Consort Chuyun off."
"yes."
Zhi Shu respectfully saw Consort Chu Yun out.
After watching Consort Chu Yun and her servants leave, Xu Lejin's gaze fell on the box containing the twin-flower warm jade bracelet, and she remained silent in thought.
Yingchun carefully chose her words and spoke softly, "Your Highness, does Consort Chuyun mean to form an alliance with you? I heard that this Twin Blossom Jade Bracelet was specially ordered by His Majesty to be sent to Consort Chuyun by the Imperial Household Department. It is the only one among the three consorts bestowed by His Majesty this time."
"Consort Chu Yun has brought one for Your Highness."
Hesitant to speak, Yingchun frowned and pondered.
Xu Lejin smiled and said calmly, "Consort Chuyun's words do indeed imply an intention to form an alliance with me. The warm jade bracelet with twin blossoms is a sincere gift for the alliance."
"Yingchun, go back and ask the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital if the contraceptive medicine that Consort Chuyun was given to her by the Empress after each time she served the Emperor has caused any harm to her body."
Yingchun respectfully replied, "Yes."
After a pause, Yingchun lowered her voice and whispered, "Your Highness, Consort Chuyun is two years older than the Emperor and is now twenty-three. Even if the contraceptive medicine she took before did not harm her body, it will still be difficult for her to conceive."
"Moreover, Your Highness is carrying the imperial twins, a rare occurrence in the palace. Your Highness need not worry about Consort Chuyun's pregnancy. Even if Consort Chuyun is pregnant, she poses no threat to Your Highness."
After speaking, Yingchun lowered her head slightly and looked at her toes.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.
"Of course I don't care whether Consort Chuyun has a chance to become pregnant. There are countless concubines in the palace, and the Emperor is the Son of Heaven, in the prime of his youth. The number of concubines and offspring in the harem will only increase."
"In my heart, I do hope that Consort Chuyun will conceive and give birth to a son or daughter for the Emperor."
After a brief pause, Xu Lejin looked up towards the direction of the Qianqing Palace and murmured, "The women in the palace are all pitiful. If they could have a son or daughter to keep them company, they could pass the dull and long years."
Yingchun looked slightly taken aback, but respectfully replied, "Yes."
Two days later, with the help of Yingchun and Zhishu, Xu Lejin took walks back and forth in the west wing to strengthen her body and prepare for the day when the fruit ripened and fell.
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