The three children were sent to the Prince's residence the day after they turned one month old.
Having grown accustomed to the daily struggles of Bao Shou, Wu Xiha, and Wu Na Xi, who were either hungry, wet, or crying, Xu Lejin felt a sudden emptiness upon seeing the quiet West Annex Hall where her three children had been sent to the Prince's Residence.
In the afternoon, Emperor Kangxi visited the west side hall of Yikun Palace.
Xu Lejin looked at Kangxi with a sorrowful expression and hesitated before speaking. "Your Majesty, I wonder if Bao Shou and Wu Xiha are settling in well in the princes' quarters?"
“Especially Unashi, who is the smallest of the three children and was born last. In the past, she needed to be coaxed to sleep by her maids every night. Now that she has gone to the prince’s residence, I don’t know if her wet nurse and palace servants are taking good care of her.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi's expression turned solemn.
After a moment of contemplation, Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin with affection and said, "My dear consort, you don't need to worry too much. The wet nurse and palace servants were all carefully selected by the Imperial Household Department, so there won't be any mistakes."
"If my beloved concubine is still worried, I will send someone to the princes' quarters to give them a warning later."
With a faint smile on her face, Xu Lejin nodded gently.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After a slight pause, Xu Lejin continued, "Your Majesty, I have now given birth. My two aunts, Chunhua and Qiuyan, used to serve me in the Imperial Palace. I am considering whether to let them return to serve me in the Imperial Palace."
With her head slightly lowered, Xu Lejin looked hesitant.
Kangxi nodded and laughed loudly, "Although Chunhua and Qiuyan served in the imperial court, I gave them to you, my beloved concubine, on that day. They are now your attendants."
"My beloved concubine has rendered meritorious service by bearing me an imperial heir. It is only natural that she has two more aunts by her side. The other concubines in the harem will understand this and will not gossip about it."
Xu Lejin looked up and glanced at Kangxi.
After a moment's thought, Xu Lejin hesitated before speaking, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty. However—"
“Your Majesty, Aunt Chunhua and Aunt Qiuyan have been very fond of Baoshou and Wuxiha. I think that I already have Yingchun, Zhishu and Ruhua serving me, which is enough. Why don’t we let Aunt Chunhua and Aunt Qiuyan go to the Prince’s quarters to take care of Baoshou and Wuxiha and teach them in the future?”
Looking at Emperor Kangxi with hopeful eyes, Xu Lejin asked, "What does Your Majesty think?"
"My beloved consort has considered everything carefully."
Kangxi laughed heartily and grasped Xu Lejin's hands. "Chunhua and Qiuyan were former servants of the Empress Dowager. It is excellent that they are now going to the Prince's quarters to take care of Baoshou and Wuxiha."
Xu Lejin smiled gently and nodded.
After a short while, Xu Lejin and Emperor Kangxi ended their conversation about the children and changed the subject to the Xu Muer family outside the palace.
With a serious expression, Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice, "Yesterday, my subordinates reported that after my beloved concubine's father and brother went to the Shengjing Mulan Hunting Ground, they were quite diligent in raising the horses and there have been no mistakes in the past few days."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then smiled broadly.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My father and brother have done wrong. Your Majesty is magnanimous and has only allowed them to go to the Mulan Hunting Ground in Shengjing to herd horses. They will naturally repent sincerely and do their best to fulfill the tasks assigned by Your Majesty."
Kangxi responded.
After a moment's thought, he continued, "I've heard that all of your sisters of marriageable age are engaged. May I ask whose husbands are they?"
Xu Lejin glanced at Kangxi discreetly, then lowered her head and pondered.
Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the land, all people are subjects of the king.
As the emperor, Kangxi already knew that her sisters of marriageable age were engaged, so how could he not know which young men they would marry? He was only asking her now because he wanted to hear it from her own mouth.
After a moment's consideration, Xu Lejin put on a polite smile and spoke gently, "Your Majesty, my eldest sister is betrothed to the Suochuoluo family of the Plain White Banner, and my ninth sister is betrothed to the Tatara family."
"My eldest sister's husband and my ninth sister's husband are both excellent young men. If it weren't for the Emperor's favor, which elevated my family's status and bestowed upon us a surname, such good marriages would never have been available to my sisters."
Emperor Kangxi chuckled to himself.
"My beloved consort has worked hard to give birth to my princes and princesses. I am only extending my favor to her maternal family."
With a slight frown, Kangxi pondered for a moment before continuing, "The Suochuoluo clan is a prominent clan among the Eight Banners. The Suochuoluo clan members are spread throughout the entire Manchu Eight Banners and the Bondservant Three Banners."
"The Tatara family, though slightly less prestigious, is an old Manchu family. The two marriages arranged by my beloved concubine's sisters are both excellent."
Xu Lejin smiled gently and nodded in agreement.
The following afternoon.
Zhi Shu bowed and entered from outside the palace, reporting to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, did His Majesty summon Prince Gong to the palace today?"
"Prince Gong?"
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, put down her brush, looked at Zhishu, and said in a deep voice, "Prince Gong is the Emperor's brother. It is only natural for the Emperor to summon Prince Gong to the palace."
"The women of the inner palace are not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the court. What does Prince Gong's entry into the palace have to do with me?"
Zhi Shu paused slightly, then met Ying Chun's gaze.
Yingchun shook her head almost imperceptibly, looked at Xu Lejin, and said with a smile, "Your Highness, Prince Gong has been summoned to the palace, perhaps because of your second sister, Miss Chaojin."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Inside a side hall of the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Kangxi and Prince Gong sat facing each other, one holding black pieces and the other holding white pieces, playing chess.
Half an hour later, Prince Gong put down the white pieces in his hand and said with a smile, "Your Majesty's chess skills are superb, and I have lost. I am ashamed to say that I lose nine out of ten games against Your Majesty."
"My fifth brother is distracted."
As Emperor Kangxi washed his hands with the help of palace maids, he spoke in a deep voice. "I have heard that my fifth brother's wife had a falling out with him after returning to the mansion the other day."
Prince Gong looked apprehensive.
After pondering for a long time, he said respectfully, "I am sorry to trouble Your Majesty with the affairs of my family. Although Lady Ma Jia was a bit jealous, she has borne me a son, but she has also damaged her health because of it and can no longer have children."
“I have always felt guilty towards Ma Jia, for she gave birth to a child at such a young age.”
Emperor Kangxi nodded, his expression solemn.
"Although Ma Jia was the wife of the fifth brother, she did not come from a high social class. It was only because your first wife, Nara, died three months after you married that she was able to marry you."
"If you can't even sweep one's own house, how can you sweep the world? Fifth brother, you, seventh brother, and second brother are all my brothers. I still hope that you can have a peaceful and harmonious family."
Prince Gong lowered his eyes and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty's teachings are correct. After returning to my residence, I severely reprimanded Lady Ma and punished her by making her copy 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Rules for Women' a hundred times."
Kangxi smiled.
"That's not necessary. Although Ma Jia is jealous and prone to envying, she hasn't done anything outrageous. She'll be punished by being confined to her room for half a month to reflect on her mistakes. This is a small punishment to serve as a warning."
"After all, Fifth Brother, your household also needs a steward."
Prince Gong respectfully agreed, but in his heart, his dislike and aversion to Lady Magiya grew even stronger.
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