The Virtuous Concubine

The Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi was responsible for military affairs, food and salaries, and governor affairs in Guangdong and Guangxi. It can be said that Lu Xingzu, whom the Ming prime minister favored, was a proper frontier official, and his daughter's marriage to Nalan was indeed a perfect match. Moreover, the Ming prime minister knew that the emperor was going to recover Taiwan, and Lu Xingzu, as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, would definitely contribute.

When the time comes to reward people for their merits, the relative he chose can make another step forward. If it weren't for Nalan's family background and his son's reputation among the ladies, his position as a second-class guard would not be good enough!

Nalan wanted to refuse again: "Father——"

Ming Xiang looked at his excited son and felt that he had to pour some cold water on him: "Your father is here to inform you, not to discuss with you. Do you want to wait for a woman you don't know for your whole life?"

Nalan was shocked. He knew that his father's decision could not be changed, but he still wanted to buy himself some time: "Father, I understand your painstaking efforts. But the one I love in my heart is not an unknown woman. She is an indispensable existence in my life."

Ming Xiang sneered: "So? You don't have a concubine in your backyard? Are you going to just keep thinking about it in the future? What do family, justice, and future mean to you?"

Nalan struggled painfully: "That was before I met her... I couldn't stay with her, and my heart was broken." His eyes turned red as he spoke.

After hearing this, Ming Xiang was slightly stunned. He did not expect his son to have such deep feelings for that woman. He said earnestly: "Nalan, I know that you are sincere in your heart. But there are many things that are beyond your control in a family like ours. The honor and future of the family need you to shoulder. Your marriage is not only your personal matter, but also the matter of two families."

Nalan raised his head and looked at his father firmly: "Father, I know. But I also beg you to understand my feelings. If this marriage is enough to bring honor to the family, but I lose my life's happiness, what is the point?"

Seeing that Nalan was stubborn, Ming Xiang threw a cup of tea at him and said, "You are so old, but you still don't understand things. I have raised you in vain! Your mother will inform you of your engagement, and then you can accept the betrothal gifts and other six ceremonies. If you don't cooperate, I will see how your mother will deal with you!"

Nalan was splashed with tea on his face, looking extremely embarrassed. He stood there silently, letting the tea slide down his cheeks without saying a word. After a long time, he slowly said, "Father, I'm leaving now."

Nalan staggered back to his own courtyard. In the night wind, his figure seemed particularly lonely. The pain and confusion in his heart surrounded him tightly like the night. Before long, his body seemed unable to bear the heavy pressure. He developed a high fever and lay in bed with a blurred consciousness.

Nalan, lying on the sickbed, had a red face and sweat on his forehead, as if he was having a nightmare. In his dream, he missed the unattainable woman and struggled with his father's expectations. The disease came like a mountain and went away like a thread. He was ill for more than three months and was fully recovered before Kangxi was ready to go hunting in Mulan in June.

After Jueluo knew about the incident of splashing water and causing fever, she scolded Ming Xiang again and severely punished several maids in his study room to vent her anger. However, she did not give in. Instead, she took advantage of Nalan's illness to rush to get the engagement done.

She first contacted three ladies to propose marriage, and then exchanged door slips, which had Nalan's birth date and other information written on them. Then Jueluo sent many gifts for the marriage proposal and the betrothal gift to Guangdong, saying that the journey was too long, so she simply sent them together. The betrothal gift is when the man's parents formally propose marriage to the woman, and to show their sincerity, they would send wild geese hunted in the south and other items.

The Lu family was also delighted, thinking that this was a great match. They also cooperated with the Nalan family, gave the Nalan family the woman's name and date of birth, calculated the birth dates of both of them, and handed the results back, asking the man to choose a good date.

Of course Malu didn't know, and she wouldn't care even if she knew. She's living a good life now.

Historically, according to favor, the four concubines were indeed ranked according to Hui, Yi, De and Rong. Now, Concubine Yi is more favored, so Concubine Yi always relies on favor to compete with Malu, the virtuous concubine. If we say that according to Malu's achievements and the fourth prince and the twins, she ranks second to give way to Concubine Hui, the mother of the eldest prince.

But she was even more unwilling to argue with Concubine Yi, so she was third. But on the day Kangxi returned from Mount Wutai, even the always strong Concubine Yi showed a concession to Malu and let her stand in front of her.

It's really strange. She thought to herself, it turns out that the ancients valued miracles so much, and the power of this belief can make the always competitive Concubine Yi restrain herself. Ma Lu said, "Since people here are so fond of miracles, when will you make me a naked eye 3D, phoenix dancing in the sky special effect? ​​Then Xiao Si'er will be the legitimate son, and fly!"

The system said helplessly, "Be serious, this is not some fantasy or technological dimension. In fact, the Buddha's light was all due to the atmosphere created by the monks of Qingliang Temple at that time. It's okay that Emperor Kangxi later exaggerated it. When it spread to the capital, it was said that the Buddha's light illuminated the entire mountain. The people of Mount Wutai didn't come to refute the rumor, so we have the effect today."

Malu almost couldn't help laughing when she heard the system's explanation - this was too absurd! She had originally just wanted to create a small auspicious sign to build momentum for herself, and then find a time to give birth to the last two children. Unexpectedly, an unintentional act would accidentally create such a big scene, which even made her feel a little surprised and funny.

This time when Kangxi came back, apart from visiting Imperial Concubine Tong, he also kept turning over the signboards of Yonghe Palace for seven days, which annoyed Malu. Kangxi didn't come to favor her at all, but to observe her!

She pretended to be unaware, and continued to look after the children, handle her own palace affairs, practice calligraphy and embroidery, and accompany Kangxi every day. Her non-competitive appearance was like a pure lotus in the harem, rising from the mud without being stained. Kangxi observed her for so many days, but did not see anything unusual, and could only attribute this matter to Malu's great blessings.

Isn’t it true? A palace maid became a concubine of four wives, with two sons and one daughter, and she holds the power of the palace. It goes without saying how blessed she is.

Kangxi was also very satisfied with Malu's lack of attachment to power and not showing off her cleverness. Concubine Hui was fine in the face of palace power, as she was the oldest and most stable. But Concubine Rong and Concubine Yi had lost their composure. Concubine Yi was originally a hot-tempered person, and after gaining palace power, she became even more arrogant and domineering. Concubine Rong usually looked gentle, but now she also liked to be stubborn and change the rules at every turn, which made the subordinates miserable.

Kangxi saw all these things. Malu was able to maintain this detachment, which made Kangxi look at her with new eyes.

"Malu, you are such a wonderful woman." Kangxi finally couldn't help but admire her when he had dinner on the seventh day of his visit to Yonghe Palace. "It's rare to find someone as indifferent and clear-minded as you in this harem."

Malu smiled lightly, like a flower just blooming in spring: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am just doing my duty. There are many concubines in the harem, each with their own merits. I dare not be arrogant, I just want to share the worries of the emperor."

As she spoke, she picked up the teacup, blew gently on the tea leaves floating on the water, tilted her head and looked at Kangxi coquettishly: "Your Majesty has finished his meal, and I will also see you off."

Kangxi laughed: "I just praised you, and you want to chase me away?"

Ma Lu: "If I were still that ignorant little girl, I would love to be with the emperor every day."

Kangxi's smile was a little playful: "What about now?"