"Now that Consort Yi is only newly pregnant, the Empress Dowager has already sent her such a lavish reward. When Consort Yi gives birth safely, even the Noble Consort will not be able to match one-tenth of her."

Chunyu chewed her tongue softly, still feeling somewhat displeased with Consort Yi's actions.

Although her mistress had said that she didn't care about the relationship between the Empress Dowager and Consort Yi, Chunyu, as her mistress's servant, still thought that Consort Yi's behavior of poaching her mistress was unethical. She couldn't let it go just because her mistress didn't care; she had to give this person a good talking-to.

"You're just being quick-witted. Be careful that someone with ulterior motives doesn't overhear you and use it as a weapon against you."

Xiu Ning glared at Chun Yu, her words a warning, but they lacked any real deterrent power; they sounded more like the affection of a family member.

Chunyu pouted, her gaze towards the window mocking. She snorted, "The mistress is just too good-natured. That's why Consort Yi dares to repeatedly cross the line with the mistress." Otherwise, why would she spend so much time in contact with the mistress? Isn't it to gather as much information as possible?

"It's her business if she jumps, and I won't hold it against her, because she will definitely regret it in the future."

Are the Mongols and the Empress Dowager easy to win over? The Mongols have always had a huge appetite, otherwise why would Emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and even Qianlong have all suppressed their growth?

If Mongolia were to prove itself, it would be fine, but the problem is that Mongolia is the kind of country that is neither competitive nor willing to back down, which makes it very awkward to look at.

"Back when the Empress Dowager was still the Empress Dowager, she tried her best to repair the relationship between Mongolia and the Qing Dynasty, and even went so far as to make things difficult for the late Emperor."

But what was the final outcome? Whether it was the lonely, helpless concubines in the harem, or the Empress Dowager confined to Shou Kang Palace raising her children, who met a good end?

Did she really think that the Empress Dowager would be happy just because she had an honorific title? That was something she earned by living a life of widowhood. From her teenage years until now, she has been living in poverty. The people she hates most are probably the Mongols and the Grand Empress Dowager, the two culprits. Even the late Emperor and the Qing Dynasty have to be ranked lower.

It's only because the Grand Empress Dowager is still alive that the Empress Dowager can be kept in check. I wonder if the Empress Dowager will take revenge on those who harmed her after the Grand Empress Dowager passes away.

Xiuning shook her head and took the teacup from Chunyu. "Sometimes, when doing things, we can't just look at the immediate benefits; we also need to consider the past and the future."

It's only been a short time; the eldest prince in the palace is only eight years old. Once these princes come of age and get married, it will be another fierce competition.

In the original timeline, even the crown prince Yinreng, who was cared for and nurtured by Kangxi with all his might, could not withstand Kangxi's suspicion and the struggles between his brothers. Now, Yinreng is much inferior to him in the original timeline, so why can he still be the same as before?

Xiuning is already anticipating the chaos and madness to come.

The throne, that's a wonderful thing.

In an era where imperial power was supreme, every man harbored a dream of dominating the world. However, such dreams were difficult to realize, and the road ahead was fraught with thorns. To achieve one's aspirations, one had to endure unimaginable hardships.

"Sometimes, I can't help but sigh that power is truly a wonderful thing."

Everyone, regardless of gender, likes it and wants it.

The reason why the imperial harem has always been so chaotic is because it is the place closest to the pinnacle of power.

"Jingren Palace and Yikun Palace are both about to give birth, right?"

Suddenly, Xiuning changed the subject again.

Chunyu nodded upon hearing this, "The Imperial Concubine was born more than half a month later than Consort Guo Luoluo, but both of them are due within this month."

After all, the two women were pregnant around the same time, so it's understandable that their due dates are similar.

Speaking of the two pregnant women, Chunyu had something to say. "Guo Luoluo is doing well, with a rosy complexion, and you can tell at a glance that she is taking good care of herself. But the Imperial Concubine is getting paler and paler as she gets into her later stages of pregnancy. I heard that Jingren Palace prepares nourishing soup for the Imperial Concubine three times a day, but the soup has no effect at all, and the Imperial Concubine's body is deteriorating very quickly."

It's like an hourglass; no matter how much sand is put on top, it can't stop the sand from falling wildly from below.

Tong Jia Rongyue's current condition is very similar to an hourglass. Although the tonic soup has no effect, it has helped alleviate the aftereffects of pregnancy to some extent. Otherwise, Tong Jia Rongyue would not have enough energy to breathe, and she would probably have been given an ultimatum by the imperial physician long ago.

"The Imperial Concubine is really going all out to get pregnant."

Xiu Ning couldn't say anything about it. The prescription was handed over by the Tong family, but no one forced Tong Jia Rongyue to use it. That prescription, passed down from the previous dynasty, was usable, but the price to pay was too high.

Chunyu nodded with a pounding heart, while also thinking that if the Imperial Concubine's pregnancy did not go well, she might even kill someone.

"Prepare the gifts in advance so we don't make mistakes when things get hectic," Xiu Ning said, flicking her nails and blowing on the gaps between her fingertips.

"By the way, how is Consort An doing? The Fifth Prince isn't very close to her yet?"

Thinking of the gossip surrounding Yonghe Palace again, Xiuning continued to indulge in the gossip.

Chunyu looked puzzled. "Your Highness, Consort An's situation is still the same as before."

The Fifth Prince was not as close to Consort An as he was to Consort Uya, even though Consort An intentionally restricted their contact.

Previously, the restrictions were obvious, but later, because the Emperor happened to see it, Consort An was directly reprimanded by the Emperor, and then dared not go too far.

"Ha, I didn't expect that. Consort An's efforts have been in vain?"

After going through so much trouble to finally have this little prince, they still couldn't tame him.

"I heard that Consort An has complained many times in private, and even hinted at kicking Consort Wuya out of Yonghe Palace," but in the end it did not happen.

Since the palaces in the harem are almost full, where else can Consort Uya go?

Besides, her own son is still in Yonghe Palace. Consort An is not like Tongjia Rongyue from Jingren Palace. She can't just promise Wuya Chenglin a title directly, so Wuya Chenglin won't leave.

"Spring Rain, do you really think it's true that a mother and child are connected by heart?"

Why couldn't she believe it? Could Wuya Chenglin's ambition possibly give her a motherly heart? It was more of a joke than a joke.

Chunyu shook her head and then nodded, "There must be no other way, otherwise how could Consort An tolerate it?" She must have already found something to say to the Emperor. You know, Consort An now wishes she could crush Wuya Chenglin into the ground.

"Perhaps Consort An overlooked something," as the saying goes, the simplest method is also the most direct. What does a little baby know? The mother-child bond is just an excuse for others. Wuya Chenglin still has a way to make Yinzhen act as if he can't live without her.

Look at them, because of their pitiful state, every time Emperor Kangxi went to Yonghe Palace, he stayed in Wuya Chenglin's room. Consort An raised a son who could never mature, and she even had to help Wuya Chenglin compete for the emperor's favor for free. It was truly tragic.