As the moon rose above the willow branches, Xu Lejin did not receive the messenger who had gone to the emperor to inquire about the news.
Instead, Liang Jiugong, who was serving the emperor, appeared.
Looking at Liang Jiugong, Xu Lejin hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Eunuch Liang, does His Majesty have any instructions?"
"Reporting to Consort Xu, His Majesty has gone to Chengqian Palace to accompany the Lady of Chengqian Palace."
After a pause, Liang Jiugong slightly raised his eyes to look at Xu Lejin, and then said, "His Majesty specially sent me to Yikun Palace to ask Consort Xu to rest early."
After a moment of surprise, Xu Lejin nodded with a smile.
"I'm sorry to trouble Eunuch Liang to make this trip in person. It's late at night and the dew is heavy. Eunuch Liang must be tired from your journey. Yingchun, please see him off personally."
The welcoming of spring is a respectful response.
Half an hour later, Yingchun entered from outside the hall with a solemn expression.
"Your Highness, Eunuch Liang just told me that Consort Chengqian's condition has become more complicated. This evening, His Majesty set off for our Yikun Palace, but on the way, Xiuhe, Consort Chengqian's attendant, suddenly appeared and blocked His Majesty's carriage."
"Xiuhe reports that the Empress of Chengqian Palace suddenly vomited blood and fainted in the evening for unknown reasons. When the Emperor learned that the Empress of Chengqian Palace had vomited blood and fainted, he turned back to Chengqian Palace halfway."
After Yingchun finished speaking, she lowered her head and stared at her toes, not daring to utter a sound.
Xu Lejin's expression froze for a moment. After pondering for a long time, she spoke softly, "What a coincidence! His Majesty was supposed to have dinner here tonight, but on the way, he was stopped by Xiuhe, who serves Consort Chengqian. Consort Chengqian has been bedridden and had never coughed up blood before, but this evening, she happened to cough up blood and faint."
"It's truly amazing how coincidences always happen!"
With a cold laugh, Xu Lejin looked up at the quiet night outside and said in a deep voice, "It's getting late. Since His Majesty has gone to Chengqian Palace to accompany the Empress Chengqian who is coughing up blood and has fainted, Yingchun and Zhishu, you should also help me get some rest."
Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a cautious glance and softly agreed.
The next day was the first day of the seventh lunar month.
Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, sat upright in the main seat of Chuxiu Palace, her face haggard and exhausted. Even with thick makeup, she could not hide the dark circles under her eyes.
"Yesterday evening, the sisters of Chengqian Palace must all know that Sister Tongjia vomited blood and fell into a coma."
Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, sighed softly and then said, "Sister Tongjia, since the day Consort Zhaojia gave birth, she was frightened and has been bedridden ever since, with her health fluctuating."
"Yesterday, Tong Jia's younger sister was so angry about the incident of the Second Princess Tong Jia falling into the lotus pond that she suffered a heart attack, vomited blood, and fainted. After the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital did their best to treat her, she is now out of danger and will recover after some rest."
Consort Hesheli lowered her head slightly, her eyes filled with hatred.
The other concubines looked at each other, each lost in their own thoughts.
Changing the subject, Consort Zhao, Niohuru, looked at Xu Lejin and said with a smile, "Consort Xu, in times of emergency, one must act expediently. Yesterday, His Majesty was supposed to have dinner at your residence, but on the way, because Sister Tongjia vomited blood and fainted, he went to Chengqian Palace instead."
"Please don't take this matter to heart, Consort Xu."
Xu Lejin stood up and said with a smile, "Yes, Your Highness, this humble servant will follow your instructions."
"His Majesty is busy with many affairs every day. The situation of Consort Chengqian vomiting blood and falling into a coma is even more special. It is only natural that His Majesty went to Consort Chengqian to visit her."
Consort Zhao smiled gently.
"The Emperor does have feelings for Consort Xu, but he is held back by the matter of Sister Tongjia vomiting blood."
After a pause, Consort Zhao looked at Xu Lejin with an ambiguous gaze, and said, "This morning, His Majesty specially sent Zhao Chang from the Imperial Guard to my palace to deliver a message, bestowing upon Consort Xu a pair of gold-inlaid jade red lotus bracelets, a white jade lotus hairpin, and a bolt of shimmering brocade."
Xu Lejin looked bewildered and looked up at Consort Zhao, her expression momentarily stunned.
"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
With Yingchun's help, Xu Lejin, supporting her large belly, knelt down and respectfully bowed to express her gratitude. After Xu Lejin finished bowing, Consort Zhao quickly told her to stand up.
"His Majesty is so kind to Sister Xu."
Consort Ma Jia looked at Xu Lejin with a gloomy expression and said in a sarcastic tone, "This spring, only a dozen or so bolts of 'Floating Light Brocade' were presented as tribute from Suzhou. Some were sent to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, and the Empress received two bolts of 'Floating Light Brocade' as a gift from the Emperor before her death."
"Consort Zhao and Consort Chengqian each received a bolt of silk, and we servants could only look on with envy. Now that His Majesty has bestowed a bolt upon Sister Xu, it is clear that Sister Xu is someone His Majesty cherishes."
Xu Lejin slightly raised her eyes, glanced at Consort Ma Jia, and smiled without saying a word.
Consort Nara, standing to the side, chimed in, her face filled with jealousy and resentment. "Indeed, as Sister Ma Jia said, His Majesty treats Sister Xu extremely well."
"Sister Ma Jia has borne the most children for the Emperor. The fourth prince, Seinchahun, is the Emperor's eldest son, as the previous princes died young. Sister Ma Jia has never had a piece of Suzhou Floating Light Brocade, but Sister Xu has now obtained one."
"Of all the favors bestowed upon her in the palace, Sister Xu truly receives the greatest."
The words spoken by Consort Ma Jia and Consort Na La in unison successfully changed the expressions of Consort Zhao Niohuru and all the other consorts. The main hall of Chuxiu Palace became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Xu Lejin looked up at Consort Zhao, Niohuru, who sat upright with an inscrutable expression.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Lejin carefully chose her words and said softly, "Sister Ma Jia, Sister Na La, you are mistaken. In the palace, the one who receives the most favor is naturally Consort Zhao."
"Consort Zhao comes from a noble family. She is the daughter of Niohuru, a prominent clan of the Eight Banners, and the daughter of Ebilun, the regent appointed by the late emperor. She is deeply trusted and relied upon by the emperor and the empress dowager, and holds power in the palace."
Consort Ma Jia and Consort Na La were taken aback, their eyes carefully glancing at Consort Zhao, Niohuru, out of the corner of their eyes.
Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, smiled gently, “We are all the Emperor’s concubines, and the Emperor’s favor is the same for all of us. Consort Xu is pregnant with the Emperor’s child, so it is only natural that the Emperor would bestow upon her the Radiant Brocade.”
"Consort Ma Jia and Consort Na La, you have served the Emperor for many years and are veterans of the palace. You must not speak such baseless words in the future, lest you bring trouble upon yourselves."
Consorts Ma Jia and Na La turned pale and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Three days later, at noon.
Emperor Kangxi visited the west wing of Yikun Palace and had lunch with Xu Lejin.
"My beloved concubine seems to have eaten more these past few days?"
Kangxi's gaze fell on Xu Lejin's large belly. He spoke loudly, secretly pondering to himself that the other concubines in the palace, even when pregnant, would control their diet to maintain a slender figure, while Xu...
Ms. Xu seemed to pay no attention to her figure. Since becoming pregnant, her appetite had become unusually large, and her belly was larger than that of a typical full-term pregnant woman.
Ironically, while Xu's belly was enormous, her face grew increasingly fair and luscious, like a luminous white jade bun...
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