The Empress Dowager personally issued an imperial edict, bestowing two concubines upon Prince Gong, one of whom was the elder sister of Consort Xu, who was currently enjoying great influence in the harem.
The news spread like wildfire, leaving the palace and reaching the major families in the capital.
The following afternoon, at the Tong residence.
Tong Guowei returned from the court with a gloomy face and sat in the main hall. His wife, Hesheli, and their second daughter, Tongjia Xianyu, sat cautiously to his side with their heads slightly lowered.
After a long while, Tong Guowei said coldly, "The Emperor really favors the Xu Muer family. It's one thing for them to be elevated to a higher banner and given a surname, but now he has actually bestowed the second princess of the Xu Muer family upon Prince Gong as a secondary consort."
Hesheli opened her mouth as if to say something, but when she met Tong Guowei's sinister gaze, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue and lowered her head in silence.
Tong Jiaxian's face showed a hint of jealousy.
“Father, she’s just a secondary consort. Prince Gong’s mansion has a secondary consort, Lady Magia, and the daughter of a third-class Taiji from the Khorchin tribe. Lady Xu Muer has no one in the court, only Consort Xu in the harem, who can’t amount to anything.”
After speaking, Tong Jiaxianyu slightly raised her chin, her face showing stubborn arrogance and disdain.
Tong Guowei snorted coldly, looked at Tong Jiaxianyu and Hesheli, and said, "The Xu Muer family had no one in the previous dynasty, but they have many daughters. Marriage alliances are also a way to develop their power."
"Our Tong family achieved its current status by marrying into various Manchu Eight Banner families."
Tongjia Xianyu and Hesheli exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and stared at their toes in silence.
After a moment of contemplation, Tong Guowei continued, "Her Majesty the Empress of Chengqian Palace has been unable to give birth to an imperial heir for many years since entering the palace, and now she is bedridden. We must make other plans."
"Xianyu, tomorrow you will go to the palace to visit Consort Chengqian. If you can gain the Emperor's attention under the guise of visiting Consort Chengqian and stay in the palace to serve the Emperor for a long time, that would be the best."
Tong Jiaxianyu happily agreed.
Hesheli, standing to the side, timidly glanced at Tong Guowei before carefully speaking, "My lord, the Consort of Chengqian Palace has already entered the palace as a concubine. Xianyu is my only daughter. Will she also enter the palace?"
Giving Hesheli a disgruntled glare, Tong Guowei said coldly, "It is their blessing to be able to enter the palace to serve."
“I have only three daughters. Consort Chengqian and Xianyu are the eldest. For the sake of the glory of the Tongjia clan, they must enter the palace and, like Empress Xiaokangzhang, give birth to princes belonging to the Tongjia clan.”
Hesheli lowered her head and responded respectfully, "Yes."
After a pause, Hesheli looked up at Tong Guowei and said timidly, "Master, Qi and Lin in the backyard are pregnant. You will have another child."
"Yes, it's not in vain that I've spoiled Qi and Lin all these years. If they are pregnant and can give birth to two princesses for the Tong family, it will be a blessing for them."
Tong Guowei's eyes darted around shrewdly, and he laughed loudly.
evening
West side hall of Yikun Palace.
Yingchun carefully chose her words and reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, this afternoon, the wife of Prince Gong went to the palace to request an audience with the Empress Dowager. I heard that the wife of Prince Gong cried in front of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, saying that Prince Gong mistreated her and the eldest prince of Prince Gong's mansion."
"Oh, really?"
Xu Lejin looked at Yingchun with curiosity and said softly, "The Fujin is Prince Gong's lawfully wedded wife. Although she is not his first wife, she is still his second wife. Moreover, the Fujin has Prince Gong's eldest son. How could Prince Gong mistreat them and their son?"
He frowned and pondered for a moment.
Xu Lejin then added, "The wife of Prince Gong tearfully recounted how the Empress Dowager handled the matter?"
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager severely reprimanded the Fujin, saying that the Fujin came from a humble background but did not know how to be grateful, did not take good care of the eldest prince of the Prince Gong's Mansion, and was jealous and envious, showing no demeanor of a primary Fujin."
Xu Lejin nodded upon hearing this.
Yingchun looked up and glanced outside the west wing hall, then lowered her voice and said, "Your Highness, I also heard that the Empress Dowager sternly instructed Prince Gong's wife to behave herself and not to use underhanded means to torment the two concubines who are about to enter the mansion."
"When the Princess Consort left Cining Palace, her eyes were red."
Xu Lejin sighed and murmured softly.
"Taking wives and concubines, continuing the family line, and expanding the family are the duties of the imperial family. Prince Gong's wife has an eldest son, so her position as the wife is secure. Why bother with all this trouble?"
"She not only incurred the displeasure of Prince Gong, but also the dislike of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager."
Yingchun lowered her head slightly and remained silent.
The following afternoon at 5 PM.
Liang Jiugong, who served the Emperor, came to the west wing of Yikun Palace and said to Xu Lejin with a smile: "Congratulations, Consort Xu! His Majesty will be having dinner in your west wing this evening. Please be prepared."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then a joyful smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you for making the trip in person, Eunuch Liang."
Liang Jiugong bowed slightly, "Serving His Majesty is my duty, Consort Xu, you flatter me."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly and instructed Yingchun to escort Liang Jiugong out.
As night fell, Emperor Kangxi arrived at the west wing of Yikun Palace. Xu Lejin, dressed in a sky-blue palace gown, waited respectfully at the entrance of the west wing for his arrival.
Holding Xu Lejin's hand, Kangxi asked with concern, "Why are your hands so cold, my dear consort?"
"Liang Jiugong, have Pei Ming, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, come to Yikun Palace to examine Consort Xu."
Liang Jiugong respectfully agreed.
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