Emperor Kangxi wanted to elevate Consort Tongjia to the rank of Consort Wen.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's expression darkened slightly, and she exchanged a glance with the Empress Dowager beside her without making a sound.
After a moment's consideration, the Empress Dowager said solemnly, "The Emperor favors Lady Tongjia and has bestowed upon her a title, which I do not object to. However, Lady Tongjia's health is currently fluctuating."
"The Empress has just passed away. If another high-ranking concubine in the palace were to die, the censors in the court and the people of the country would probably be talking about it."
Taking a deep breath, the Empress Dowager continued earnestly, "Your Majesty, my intention is to bestow a title upon Lady Tongjia only after she has fully recovered."
"Firstly, it is for the sake of peace and harmony in the harem, so that Consort Zhao and Consort Tongjia can be distinguished in rank. Secondly, after Consort Tongjia recovered her health, bestowing upon her the title 'Wen' would better demonstrate the emperor's high regard for the Tong family."
After pondering for a moment, Kangxi laughed heartily.
"Your Majesty has considered everything carefully, and I will follow your teachings."
When Ebilun suddenly passed away, Emperor Kangxi was deeply saddened and personally issued an imperial edict to express his condolences. He also bestowed the title of Consort Zhao upon Consort Niohuru of the Chuxiu Palace, granting her control over the palace. The other concubines in the six palaces were given gifts such as clothing and jewelry.
Xu Lejin reclined on the soft couch and sighed softly.
"It's all about timing and fate. Consort Zhao's timing in becoming Empress was a bit off. Although she is currently the highest-ranking person in the palace, and the Emperor has personally issued an imperial edict ordering her to temporarily take charge of palace affairs, she is not yet a formally appointed Empress, so her position is not legitimate."
Yingchun quickly glanced around and whispered, "Your Highness, please be careful what you say. Although Consort Zhao has not yet been made Empress, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager value her highly, and she will become Empress sooner or later."
Xu Lejin smiled gently and nodded slightly.
"Yingchun, I remember that Consort Zhao had six sisters. Consort Zhao was the second daughter of Lord Ebilun, born to his concubine, Lady Shushu Gioro. What were Lord Ebilun's other daughters?"
Yingchun paused for a moment, then spoke respectfully, “Your Highness, Lord Ebilun’s eldest daughter is the eldest daughter of his second wife, Prince Ying, and the daughter of Princess Duoluo. She was ordered to marry the Prince of the Balin tribe in southern Mongolia.”
"The second daughter is Consort Zhao in our palace, born to Lady Shushu Gioro, a concubine of Lord Ebilun."
"Ebilun's third daughter, born in the second year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, is the same mother as Consort Zhao. She is now eleven years old. His fourth, fifth, and sixth daughters are the children of Ebilun's concubines, and are eight, six, and three years old respectively."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin nodded with a faint smile.
After a pause, Xu Lejin continued, "Ebilun was the regent appointed by the late emperor. He enjoyed great favor throughout his life and married three wives. His first wife was the eldest daughter of Prince Ying, Princess Heshuo; his second wife was the eldest daughter of Prince Ying, Princess Duoluo; and his third wife, Lady Bayara, was from a Manchu family."
"I remember that Lord Ebilun's second wife, Princess Doruo, was a woman who remarried Ebilun?"
Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and remained silent in thought.
After a moment's thought, Aunt Chunhua smiled and said, "My lady, people of noble birth don't mind whether they remarry or not. Lord Ebilun's second wife comes from the Prince Ying's Mansion, a noble family. It's perfectly normal for her to remarry after her husband's death."
"During the reign of Emperor Taizong, both the Noble Consort Yijing and Consort Chen were remarried. During the reign of the late Emperor, Empress Xiaoxian was also a remarried woman who entered the palace and was favored by the late Emperor."
Xu Lejin smiled faintly.
"Indeed, just like the late Empress and Consort Zhao, those who are blessed are not distinguished by whether they are legitimate or illegitimate."
Chunhua paused slightly, exchanged a glance with Aunt Qiuyan beside her, and respectfully replied, "What Your Highness says is absolutely right. A blessed person is not distinguished by whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, or by their social status or birth."
"Your Highness is also blessed, for you have borne the Emperor an heir and are deeply loved by him."
Xu Lejin looked up, glanced at Aunt Chunhua, and smiled without saying a word.
Three days later, at dusk.
Xu Lejin leaned back in her soft chair, her gaze falling on the several golden osmanthus trees that had grown for many years in Yikun Palace, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun. Her expression was thoughtful.
Yingchun bowed as she entered from outside the palace, smiling as she reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, the people from the flower room have delivered newly cultivated roses to each palace on the Emperor's orders."
Xu Lejin nodded.
"Newly cultivated roses from the greenhouse?"
Yingchun smiled gently and spoke softly. "Your Highness, they are green and orange roses. This is the first time I've ever seen green and orange roses in my life."
"knew."
Xu Lejin gave a faint reply, her expression calm and composed.
She wasn't from this era; she was a soul who traveled here. In modern society, roses come in many colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and even black and golden roses.
In modern times, roses have many names, such as Blue Enchantress, Carola, Misty Judy, Golden Branches and Jade Leaves, Red Eden, Ocean Song, Queen of Sweden, Louis XIV, etc.
Yingchun paused, then smiled and said softly, "My lady, I've heard that the green roses among them were carefully cultivated by your second elder sister, Miss Chaojin. There are only ten pots of them in total."
"His Majesty left two pots in the Qianqing Palace and had the flower shop staff deliver two pots to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace. Consort Zhao and Consort Chengqian each received one pot. His Majesty also bestowed one pot each to the Prince Yu's residence, the Prince Gong's residence, and the Prince Chun's residence. As for this last pot, His Majesty specially instructed the flower shop to deliver it to you, Your Highness."
Xu Lejin was taken aback upon hearing this.
Xu Chaojin, her second elder sister, is only twenty years old and works in the flower room of the Imperial Household Department.
"The green rose was actually cultivated by my second sister."
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