Inside the Cining Palace, Emperor Kangxi's words, through the inquiries and propagation of those with ulterior motives, quickly spread throughout the six palaces, and even reached the Niohuru family, the Hesheli family, and the Tong family outside the palace.
The reactions from the Niohuru family, the Hesheli family, and the Tong family varied.
The following day, June 19th.
Xu Lejin had the palace servants move a chair to the corridor, where she could admire the vibrant and lush summer scenery outside the palace while embroidering tiger-head shoes.
Yingchun smiled and spoke softly, "Your Highness has the heart of a loving mother. Since becoming pregnant, you have begun to sew clothes, make tiger-head shoes and tiger-head hats for the little princes in your womb."
"Your embroidery skills are excellent, comparable to the most outstanding embroiderers in the palace."
Xu Lejin smiled slightly and said, "I just do it to pass the time when I have nothing else to do. The embroiderers in the palace are all carefully selected and have outstanding skills."
After a pause, Xu Lejin pondered for a moment before speaking softly, "By the way, Yingchun, how are things at the embroidery workshop in the palace these days, with my eldest sister and the others?"
"Your Highness, Miss Chu Jin and Miss Fu Jin are both well. Your Highness is carrying the Emperor's child, and the Emperor values you highly. Naturally, the head nanny of the embroidery workshop would not dare to make things difficult for Miss Chu Jin and Miss Fu Jin. The embroidery work assigned to Miss Chu Jin and the others is simple and easy."
Yingchun carefully considered her words and replied respectfully.
Xu Lejin nodded gently and continued embroidering the tiger-head shoes in her hands.
Half an hour later, Zhishu bowed and stepped forward to report to Xu Lejin: "Your Highness, Consort Xitala from the East Annex of Yongshou Palace has come to visit. Consort Xitala has now arrived at the gate of our Yikun Palace."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then smiled gently.
"Okay, I understand."
Consort Xitala, accompanied by her maids, arrived at Xu Lejin's west wing and exchanged greetings with Xu Lejin with smiles.
"Sister Xu, you are carrying the emperor's child, and your health is precious. I shouldn't be bothering you, but..."
After a pause, Consort Xitala carefully continued, "Sister Xu must already know that His Majesty intends to appoint Consort Chuxiu as the new Empress after the forty-nine days following the death of Empress Xiaochengren."
"I've been thinking, now that the news has spread throughout the palace, it's a done deal. The Empress of Chuxiu Palace is about to become the new Empress. I'd like to invite Sister Xu to go to Chuxiu Palace tomorrow to pay our respects to the Empress."
Consort Xitala looked intently at Xu Lejin and spoke softly again, "What does Sister Xu think?"
Xu Lejin frowned and pondered for a moment.
With a cheerful smile, Xu Lejin said, "Of course, it's wonderful. I should have gone to Chuxiu Palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager a few days ago, but I'm too heavy-set. Today, Sister Xitala has kindly invited me, and I am naturally more than happy to oblige."
Consort Xitala smiled broadly, her gaze fixed on Xu Lejin's large belly.
After some thought, Consort Xitala spoke softly, "Sister Xu, your belly looks bigger than that of a typical full-term pregnant woman. I wonder..."
With a hesitant expression, Consort Xitala lowered her head slightly.
Xu Lejin smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Xitala. I am pregnant with twins, so it is normal for my belly to be a little bigger than that of a typical pregnant woman."
"I was examined by Physician Xu from the Imperial Hospital. Although my belly was quite large, my pulse and the fetus inside were normal."
Consort Xitala smiled and agreed.
As the sun reached its zenith, Consort Xitala glanced at the sky outside and said with a smile, "Sister Xu, it's getting late, so I won't bother you any longer. Farewell."
“Zhishu, please see off Consort Xitala for me.”
Zhi Shu bowed and agreed, then escorted Consort Xitala away from Yikun Palace.
Half an hour later, Zhishu and Ruhua returned from the imperial kitchen with lunch. The imperial kitchen had prepared a more lavish lunch today, adding one more meat dish and one more vegetable dish to the usual two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.
Xu Lejin hesitated for a moment, then looked at Zhishu and asked, "What day is it today? Why is the imperial kitchen adding extra food for no reason?"
"Your Highness, I heard from the head of the Imperial Kitchen that it was the Empress of Chuxiu Palace's idea."
Zhi Shu replied softly.
After a moment of contemplation, Zhishu continued, "Your Highness, on our way back to Yikun Palace, Ruhua and I overheard the palace servants talking amongst themselves. They said that Consort Chuxiu was very generous and paid out of her own pocket to provide extra food for all the consorts, ladies, maids, and eunuchs in the palace."
Xu Lejin nodded upon hearing this.
Served by Yingchun and Zhishu, Xu Lejin ate a simple meal. The weather was hot, and her appetite wasn't very good, so she only ate a small portion of the three meat and three vegetable dishes prepared for her.
The next day at dawn, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Xu Lejin was woken from her sleep by Yingchun and Zhishu.
"Your Highness, it's time to get up. You made an appointment with Consort Xitala yesterday to go to Chuxiu Palace early this morning to pay your respects to the Lady of Chuxiu Palace. If you don't get up now, you'll be late."
Xu Lejin responded and got up sleepily, letting Yingchun and Zhishu serve her as she dressed and did her hair.
Looking at her beautiful face in the bronze mirror, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Yingchun, the forty-ninth day after Empress Xiaochengren's death has not yet passed, so choose simple clothes and simple hair ornaments."
"Yes, my lord."
Yingchun respectfully agreed and took out a moon-white palace dress, which Xu Lejin found very satisfactory.
Afterwards, Yingchun quickly styled Xu Lejin's hair into a simple double bun, adorned with plain-colored silver tassels, which was both simple and elegant, yet still befitting her status.
Zhi Shu watched from the side and couldn't help but smile and praise, "Since the passing of Empress Xiaochengren, Your Highness has not dressed up formally for a long time. Now that you are dressed up in a new way, I am completely amazed."
"You're such a chatterbox."
Xu Lejin took out a pair of white jade earrings with silver ornaments from the jewelry box, held them up to her ears, and said with a smile, "Yingchun, Zhishu, what do you think of your clothes and hairstyles today, paired with these white jade earrings?"
Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a glance.
"I felt something was missing just now, and now that I think about it carefully, it was earrings. Your Highness has excellent taste. With these white jade earrings, you look even more beautiful. If the Emperor were to see them, he would surely be unable to look away."
Xu Lejin smiled and gestured for Yingchun to put the white jade earrings on her.
After leaving Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin, supported by Yingchun and Zhishu, walked towards Chuxiu Palace. In the distance, on the long street next to Chuxiu Palace, Xu Lejin saw several concubines from the Eastern Six Palaces, including Concubine Ma Jia, Concubine Zhao Jia, Concubine Dong, and Concubine Nara from Yanxi Palace, who had just finished her six-month confinement period.
"Greetings to all my elder sisters, and may you all be blessed."
As she approached, Xu Lejin slightly curtsied to Consort Ma Jia, Consort Zhao Jia, and others, offering a half-bow.
Consort Ma Jia, Consort Zhao Jia, and others returned the greeting with smiles.
Consort Nara looked Xu Lejin up and down, and said with a forced smile, "Sister Xu, are you also going to Chuxiu Palace to pay your respects to the Empress of Chuxiu Palace? Sister Xu, you are pregnant, and the imperial heir is of utmost importance. You should be resting quietly in the west wing of Yikun Palace."
Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Nara. Although I am pregnant, it does not prevent me from paying my respects to the Lady of Chuxiu Palace."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
