An hour later, Xu Lejin returned to the west side hall of Yikun Palace.
Yingchun frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Your Highness, I don't understand. You and Consort Xitala clearly knew that the woman dancing in the Imperial Garden was Princess Tongjia the Second."
"Why do you, Your Highness, and Consort Xitala, both pretend not to know?"
Xu Lejin tapped the table gently with her slender, fair fingers.
"It's better to avoid trouble. Since Consort Zhao knows that someone in red is dancing in the Imperial Garden, she must have already inquired and knows that the dancer is Princess Tongjia."
With a faint smile on her face, Xu Lejin continued, "Consort Zhao is asking a question she already knows the answer to, pretending to be confused when she knows the truth. Consort Xitala and I are naturally following suit."
"Although I am still a concubine and my rank is not as high as Consort Zhao, I am the birth mother of Bao Shou, Wu Xiha and Wu Naxi. Even if Consort Zhao holds power in the palace and is the new empress appointed by the emperor and the empress dowager, she cannot do anything to me without distinguishing right from wrong."
"Besides, I only said that I didn't know that Princess Tongjia was dancing in the Imperial Garden in red, that's all."
Yingchun hesitated for a moment before speaking respectfully.
"Your Highness is thoughtful and farsighted."
Xu Lejin smiled faintly, her gaze gazing towards the west side hall. After a long while, she murmured softly, "Consort Ma Jia is truly blessed. She has given birth four times before, and now that the fifth princess is less than half a year old, Consort Ma Jia is pregnant again."
Yingchun lowered her head slightly, deep in thought.
“Your Highness, you are also blessed. Although Consort Ma Jia has frequently conceived and given birth, the eldest prince died young, and Consort Ma Jia now only has the fourth prince, the third princess, and the fifth princess.”
“Your Highness, you have our Prince Bao Shou, Princess Wuxiha, and Princess Wunaxi, just like Consort Ma Jia.”
After a pause, Yingchun lowered her voice and spoke in a whisper, barely audible. "Your Highness, I must say something I shouldn't. Consort Ma Jia's frequent pregnancies and childbirths have already made the other concubines unhappy."
"This servant suspects that Consort Ma Jia's pregnancy may not be safe until delivery, or she may not even be able to give birth."
Xu Lejin frowned, turned her gaze from outside the hall, glanced at Yingchun, and reprimanded in a deep voice, "What nonsense are you spouting? How dare you say such things?"
"The child in Consort Ma's womb is the Emperor's bloodline, and is extremely noble."
Yingchun bowed her head and respectfully replied, "Yes."
The following afternoon.
Zhi Shu bowed and entered from outside the hall, reporting to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, Consort Xitala from the East Annex of Yongshou Palace has come to visit?"
"Um."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Quickly invite Consort Xitala into the palace."
The official in charge of the book withdrew respectfully. A moment later, he led the concubine Xitala, who was dressed in an olive-colored qipao, with a green velvet flower in her hair and silver tassels, looking bright-eyed, white-toothed, and charming, into the palace.
"Younger sister greets Sister Xu, wishing Sister Xu good fortune."
Consort Xitala smiled warmly, curtsied, and gracefully bowed to Xu Lejin.
With Yingchun's help, Xu Lejin stood up and personally helped Consort Xitala to her feet. In a gentle tone, she said, "Sister Xitala, there's no need for such formalities. Zhishu, please serve Consort Xitala the Lu'an Melon Seed tea that was recently sent by the Imperial Household Department."
Zhi Shu acknowledged and withdrew.
Consort Xitala smiled and thanked Xu Lejin, then sat down opposite her.
After a short while, Consort Xitala's eyes darted around, and she spoke softly, "Sister Xu, I heard that yesterday afternoon, Consort Zhao found out that the person dancing in red in the Imperial Garden was Princess Tongjia, the Second Princess."
"Consort Zhao did not summon Princess Tongjia to Chuxiu Palace to reprimand her, but instead sent Lianxing to Chengqian Palace to inform Consort Zhao of Princess Tongjia's dancing in the Imperial Garden."
Consort Xitala raised her head slightly, glanced at Xu Lejin, and then said, "I heard that Her Highness the Empress of Chengqian Palace lost her temper on her sickbed and severely reprimanded the Second Princess Tongjia."
Xu Lejin nodded.
She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and with a calm and composed expression, Xu Lejin parted her lips slightly. "Sister Xitala is exceptionally well-informed. I am not as good as Sister Xitala. I know nothing about what is happening in Consort Zhao's palace or Consort Chengqian's palace."
"Sister Xu is too modest."
Consort Xitala lowered her head, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
Before we knew it, it was September 20th.
In the Imperial Garden, chrysanthemums, such as Jade Pot Spring Chrysanthemum, Tang Yu Autumn Lotus, Tai Zhen Smiling, Ten-Foot Curtain, and Snow Seeking Plum Blossom, were displayed everywhere.
There are precious chrysanthemums as well as common ones.
The entire Imperial Garden was a riot of colors, though it could not match the breathtaking beauty of a hundred flowers in full bloom in spring, it had its own unique charm.
"When autumn comes on the ninth day of the ninth month, my flowers will bloom and all other flowers will wither. This year, the chrysanthemums cultivated in the greenhouse are of many varieties and colors, and they are placed in the Imperial Garden in various ways, making them exceptionally beautiful."
"My dear sisters, what do you think of the chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden?"
Consort Zhao and a group of concubines went to the Imperial Garden to admire the chrysanthemums.
Consort Ma Jia carefully protected her still-flat stomach and did not reply. Consort Zhao Jia, who was standing next to Consort Dong, exchanged a glance with her and spoke softly.
"The chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden are naturally excellent. I heard that Your Majesty instructed the servants in the flower room to place these chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden. Looking at these chrysanthemums makes me feel particularly happy."
Consort Zhao smiled as she gazed at a cluster of ten-foot-long curtains not far away.
After a moment's consideration, Consort Zhao Jia smiled and said, "Your Majesty, we are surrounded by these chrysanthemums, and we feel refreshed and invigorated. Every ten steps reveals a beautiful scene."
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