An hour later, Xu Lejin and the other concubines bowed and took their leave.
After leaving Chuxiu Palace, Xu Lejin walked along the long street with a stern face, muttering to herself, "What kind of terrible idea did Zhishu come up with to make me pretend to be stupid in Consort Zhao's palace? Now I've made such a big joke of myself."
"From today onwards, the entire palace will believe that I have become stupid and dull because I gave birth to the imperial heir and was feeling stifled during my pregnancy."
Yingchun followed behind Xu Lejin, her head down, trying to suppress her laughter.
After a long while, Yingchun gently comforted her, "My lady, I actually think this is quite good. Pregnancy makes you stupid for three years. You just gave birth, so it's normal for you to act silly."
"This servant believes that as long as His Majesty believes that Your Highness has not become stupid or foolish, and continues to favor Your Highness as always, the thoughts of the other concubines are not important at all."
Xu Lejin stopped and looked in the direction of the Qianqing Palace, letting out a deep sigh.
"That's true, but what about my lifelong reputation? The saying 'pregnancy makes you stupid for three years' is certainly plausible, but..."
Changing the subject, Xu Lejin swallowed the words she was about to say and gave a mischievous smile. "Yingchun, you know what, my acting was pretty good today. After I pretended to be stupid, Consort Zhao and the other concubines stopped targeting or belittling me."
Yingchun lowered her head and smiled faintly in agreement.
As soon as Xu Lejin returned to the west wing of Yikun Palace, Liang Jiugong, who served the Emperor, came over with a beaming face and bowed to Xu Lejin, saying, "This servant congratulates Consort Xu. The Emperor has decreed that Consort Xu, you shall move to the west wing of Yikun Palace."
"Thank you for making this trip in person, Eunuch Liang. Yingchun,"
Xu Lejin smiled and turned her head to nod to Yingchun beside her.
Yingchun reacted quickly, taking out a purse from her sleeve and respectfully handing it to Liang Jiugong.
Liang Jiugong, his face full of flattery, said respectfully, "Thank you for the reward, Consort Xu. It is my honor to serve Your Majesty and Consort Xu."
"Consort Xu endured hardship in giving birth to the imperial heir, and His Majesty has always kept her in his heart."
After a pause, Liang Jiugong glanced at Xu Lejin out of the corner of his eye and whispered, "This servant congratulates Consort Xu in advance. Consort Xu, you will have a bright future."
Xu Lejin exchanged a glance with Yingchun beside her without making a sound.
With a gentle expression, Xu Lejin looked flattered and said, "Eunuch Liang flatters me. Serving the Emperor and ensuring his offspring are my duty as a concubine in the harem. I dare not accept such praise from you."
"Now I only hope that my sons and daughters can grow up safely, and I ask for nothing more."
Liang Jiugong smiled but remained silent.
With a furrowed brow and after a moment's thought, Liang Jiugong lowered his head and said respectfully, "Consort Xu, this servant still has duties to perform before the Emperor, so this servant will take his leave now."
"Please take care, Eunuch Liang."
After seeing Liang Jiugong off, Yingchun, Zhishu, and the others immediately bowed and knelt down to congratulate Xu Lejin.
Yingchun spoke softly. "Your Highness, the west wing is much more spacious. You've moved there, and it's much more comfortable for you. His Majesty is so kind to you."
"Um."
Xu Lejin's gaze fell on the West Annex Hall, where she had lived for more than half a year. After looking around, she continued, "If we're talking about spaciousness and magnificence in the palace, then Kunning Palace is the place to be."
"Secondly, there is the Chengqian Palace, where the Empress Chengqian resides. All the decorations and ornaments there are of the finest quality."
Yingchun nodded, remaining silent in thought.
After a short while, Yingchun, Zhishu, and others instructed the palace servants to move their belongings from the west wing to the front west side hall.
Xu Lejin sat on the veranda, waving the ball in her hand and watching with a smile.
For her, the West Annex Hall and the West Side Hall were simply places to live.
Although the west side hall is not as spacious as the west wing hall, it has all the necessary parts. No matter how good the west wing hall is, it is still not the main hall.
However, apart from Consort Zhao and Consort Tongjia, who lived in the main halls of Chuxiu Palace and Chengqian Palace respectively, the other concubines lived in side halls and auxiliary halls.
She naturally could not live in the main hall of Yikun Palace as a concubine.
In the afternoon, Xu Lejin sat in the unfamiliar west wing hall, gazing at a twin crabapple tree placed under the eaves outside the hall, lost in deep thought.
Ru Hua hurriedly entered from outside the palace, curtsied, and reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to Cining Palace to ask you to come to Cining Palace at 5:00 PM."
Xu Lejin came to her senses.
"The Cining Palace? The Empress Dowager has summoned you?"
Ru Hua lowered her eyes and replied respectfully, "Yes."
After quickly considering it in her mind for a moment, Xu Lejin smiled with ecstatic joy and said excitedly, "I understand. Ruhua, report to the Empress Dowager that someone is coming from the palace. I will definitely be there on time."
Ru Hua bowed and withdrew.
Xu Lejin looked serious, frowning as she pondered, wondering to herself, "Why has the Empress Dowager summoned me at this time?"
Of the many concubines in the palace, only the deceased Empress and Consort Zhao, who held the rank of Consort, were summoned by the Empress Dowager.
The other concubines were Consort Tongjia of Chengqian Palace, who had been in the palace for many years but had never been summoned by the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager didn't take these concubines seriously.
Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a quick glance and said respectfully, "Your Highness need not worry too much. The Empress Dowager is the most kind and benevolent person. Your Highness has given birth to a prince and two princesses for the Emperor, which is unique in the palace."
"Empress Dowager, it is an honor for Your Highness to be summoned here."
Xu Lejin nodded thoughtfully.
After a pause, Xu Lejin parted her lips slightly and said softly, "Even so, I come from a humble background, while the Empress Dowager is of noble status. I am still worried that I might break the rules in the Empress Dowager's palace and incur her displeasure."
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