Three days later
After Xu Lejin paid her respects to Consort Zhao, she heard Yingchun mention the maple leaves in the Imperial Garden, which were bright red and very beautiful.
On a whim, he led the palace servants toward the Imperial Garden.
In the Imperial Garden, Xu Lejin encountered Consort Xitala.
"Sister Xu, what brings you to the Imperial Garden today?"
Consort Xitala, with a gentle smile on her face, looked at Xu Lejin and asked softly.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, her gaze falling on the bright red maple leaves not far away. "I heard Yingchun mention that the maple leaves in the Imperial Garden turned red earlier than in previous years, so I decided to take a stroll in the Imperial Garden on a whim."
"Sister Xitala, what brings you to the Imperial Garden?"
Consort Xitala glanced at the red maple leaves and said softly, "The maple leaves in the Imperial Garden did indeed turn red earlier this year. I think there are more and larger maple leaves this year than in previous years."
After a pause, Consort Xitala continued, "Sister Xu, yesterday my maid, Green Willow, came to the Imperial Garden to pick osmanthus flowers and heard someone singing in the garden. After paying my respects to Consort Zhao today, I thought I'd come and see if it was really as Green Willow said, that someone was singing in the Imperial Garden."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
Xu Lejin and Consort Xitala, accompanied by palace servants, walked towards the distant red maple forest, chatting and laughing.
After a short while, the two found themselves under a red maple tree.
Under a blue sky and white clouds, red maple leaves drifted down in the wind, dancing gracefully in the air, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene.
Softly murmuring, Xu Lejin recited, "Stopping the carriage to admire the maple forest at dusk, the frosted leaves are redder than the flowers of February. At this time of year, the maple leaves in the palace have all turned red, and being under the maple trees has a unique beauty."
Consort Xitala raised her eyes and glanced at Xu Lejin.
Covering her mouth, Consort Xitala giggled and said, "Sister Xu is so learned. I only know that maple leaves are beautiful and bright red, but I didn't know that the red of maple leaves could be compared with the flowers that bloom in February."
Xu Lejin turned her head and glanced at Consort Xitala, smiling without saying a word.
The two continued to stroll under the maple trees with the palace servants, and before they knew it, they had walked to the other side.
"My lady, is someone dancing under the maple tree ahead?"
Yingchun's expression was solemn. She pointed to a maple tree not far away, where a woman in red was dancing gracefully amidst the falling maple leaves. She then softly reminded Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin nodded upon hearing this and looked in the direction Yingchun pointed.
Red maple leaves fluttered to the ground amidst the bleak autumn wind. The woman in red, with her back to them, moved with graceful gestures, bending over and kicking her feet. Her delicate, fair hands and fingertips counted the fallen red maple leaves.
Exquisitely beautiful, like a fairy descended from heaven.
A hint of amazement flashed in Xu Lejin's eyes as she turned her head to look at Consort Xitala.
Consort Xitala's face was ashen, her eyes were sinister, and the jealousy in her eyes was so obvious.
After thinking for a moment, Xu Lejin suddenly realized.
Consort Xitala was favored by Emperor Kangxi and made a concubine because she danced gracefully in the Imperial Garden under the bright moonlight at night, which attracted Kangxi's attention.
Today, in the Imperial Garden, there are women dressed in red, dancing gracefully.
It's understandable that Xitala's concubine felt jealous.
Frowning and pondering for a moment, Xu Lejin murmured softly, "This woman dancing in the Imperial Garden doesn't seem to be a palace maid. A palace maid couldn't possibly obtain such a rare, bright red dance dress."
"I reckon the dancer is one of the Eight Banners princesses who was summoned to the palace."
Upon hearing this, Consort Xitala's face stiffened.
Immediately, Consort Xitala seemed to realize something, lowered her head slightly, and pondered to herself.
With a polite smile on her face, Xu Lejin gave Yingchun and Zhishu a wink. Yingchun immediately spoke respectfully, "Your Highness, it's almost noon. The autumn wind is chilly. Your Highness has just finished your confinement period, so it's not advisable for you to stand in the wind for too long."
"Okay, I understand."
Xu Lejin nodded, looked at Consort Xitala who was looking down and seemingly lost in thought, and said, "Sister Xitala, it's getting late, I'll head back to the west side hall of Yikun Palace now."
Back at Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin reclined on the soft couch.
Yingchun carefully chose her words and spoke respectfully, "Your Highness, I noticed earlier that the woman dancing under the maple tree seemed to be the Second Princess Tongjia, who accompanied Consort Chengqian in the palace."
"At this time, with the Empress of Chengqian Palace ill, how could the Second Princess Tongjia have the leisure to dance in the Imperial Garden?"
Xu Lejin nodded.
"I think the dancer is also Princess Tongjia. Princess Tongjia's entry into the palace to accompany the ailing Empress Chengqian is probably just a gimmick. Her real purpose in entering the palace is probably not simple."
Upon hearing this, Yingchun's heart skipped a beat.
After a moment, Yingchun lowered her head and said in a voice barely audible, "Yes, Your Highness has thought things through."
In the Imperial Garden, under the red maple trees, a woman dressed in red danced gracefully. Xu Lejin instructed the palace servants around her not to spread the word, but the next day, when the concubines paid their respects to Consort Zhao, Consort Zhao still mentioned the matter.
Consort Zhao's expression was solemn, and she said in a cold voice, "The Empress passed away less than half a year after giving birth, and yet there are people in the palace who are so ignorant of etiquette, wearing red clothes and dancing in the Imperial Garden."
"I have already reported this matter to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and have also sent people to investigate it in detail. Once I find the woman who danced, I will punish her severely to uphold the rules of the inner palace."
Xu Lejin raised her head slightly and glanced at Consort Xitala across from her.
Consort Xitala looked surprised and her eyes widened in astonishment.
Consort Zhao then turned her gaze to Xu Lejin and asked in a deep voice, "Consort Xu, I heard that yesterday you and Consort Xitala also went to the Red Maple Grove in the Imperial Garden. Did you see the woman in red who was dancing? Which palace's maid is she?"
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