Mongolia has always been a treasure land, but at the same time it is full of various crises.

The Empress Dowager's initial intention was simply to unite Mongolia and the Qing Dynasty completely, for her own sake in the palace and for the sake of Mongolia outside the palace.

However, the situation changed drastically after the Manchus entered the Central Plains. The Qing Dynasty's attitude towards Mongolia also made the Empress Dowager realize that if she wanted to change Mongolia's status outside the Great Wall, she could only rely on a few women.

However, due to natural environmental differences, Mongolian women were inferior to Manchu and Han women in many ways, and this gap, which was difficult to bridge, left the Empress Dowager feeling powerless to change it.

Later, due to the attitudes of several emperors, Mongolian women had no good prospects in the imperial harem. The Empress Dowager wanted to increase the importance of Mongolia in the Qing Dynasty, so she could only find other ways.

Arranging a marriage between princesses was a method that the Empress Dowager hoped to see and that the Emperor himself was also quite satisfied with.

Because of the Mongol women entering the palace, the emperor did not want any offspring with Mongol blood to be born, so he restricted it very strictly. But people are hypocritical, aren't they? I don't want you to give birth to imperial offspring, but I hope that the princesses who marry into the palace can give birth to heirs from the Mongol side, so as to consolidate the rule of the Qing Dynasty. This is why there were far more princesses marrying into the Qing Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Kangxi than during the reigns of the later emperors.

Inside the Cining Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The Empress Dowager fiddled with the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, and then she heard footsteps.

He slightly raised his eyelids. "They're gone?"

Sumalagu nodded, "Before leaving, she didn't forget to tell me that she would come to pay her respects to you again in the future."

"Ha, she can be ruthless," everyone else was terrified of this kind of thing, but Consort Jing kept rushing forward.

“Consort Jing seems different from the others in the harem,” Su Mala Gu said softly after a moment of contemplation.

While she could at least somewhat discern the thoughts of the other women in the harem, she was completely clueless about Consort Jing's intentions.

It's not that we couldn't guess at all, but it's very difficult to figure out Consort Jing's true intentions.

Just like today when Consort Jing suddenly came and wanted several Mongolian nannies to be placed by Princess Ningchuge's side, if you think about it deeply, it means that Consort Jing is directly confirming that Ningchuge will marry into Mongolia. If you think about it superficially, Consort Jing can eventually use other excuses to explain it.

So, does Consort Jing truly hope that Princess Ningchuge will marry into Mongolia?

"Whether she's sincere or not, once things get serious, there'll be no room for her to back down."

The Empress Dowager did not investigate whether the matter was true or false, but if Consort Jing later showed the same intention, she would act as if it were true.

Ningchuge was favored in the palace, although not as much as some of the princes, she still held a place in Kangxi's heart. If she could marry into the Khorchin in the future, it would also benefit their Borjigit clan.

Thud—

The Buddhist prayer beads in her hand tapped against the corner of the table beside her, making a crisp sound.

Sumalagu came over and helped the Empress Dowager up; it was time for her daily Buddhist prayers.

"Let's select a few Mongolian nannies as backup. No matter whether it works out or not, Chunxi will still be there."

Whether Ningchuge marries into Mongolia is still open to discussion, but Chunxi, the adopted royal princess, will definitely be destined for Mongolia in the future.

The respect afforded by the royal family was not given for nothing. Chunxi's sacrifice brought future wealth and honor to her mother and sister. This was the deal between the Prince's Mansion and the royal family, but no one cared whether Chunxi was willing or not.

Sumalagu nodded, "Yes, this servant understands."

...

In the following days, just as Xiuning had said, she began to frequently appear at the Empress Dowager's residence.

The Empress Dowager was pleased with the princess's marriage to a Mongolian prince.

Therefore, after Xiuning clearly expressed her thoughts, the Empress Dowager chose to accept them.

"The Mongolian matrons have been chosen; you may take them with you when you leave today."

The Empress Dowager sat on the couch, her gaze calm as she spoke to Xiuning.

Xiu Ning smiled and nodded, "I will trouble the Empress Dowager and explain this to Ning Chuge properly when I get back."

"There's no need for such trouble. Ning Chuge is also a junior of mine. It's just a matter of selecting a few maids."

After speaking, she waved her hand and gestured for Sumalagu to gently place a tray containing a wooden box in front of Xiuning. "This is the jade pendant that I am giving to Ning Chuge. Please do me the trouble and make this trip for me."

Xiuning rose and curtsied, saying, "Your Majesty, I obey."

The Empress Dowager's gaze swept lightly over Xiuning's abdomen. "You're five months pregnant?"

Xiu Ning hummed in agreement, "About ten days left."

"Indeed, bearing children for the royal family is a duty, but it is also hard work."

"You have been in the palace for many years, and you have done an excellent job in every aspect."

The Empress Dowager's affirmation made Xiu Ning a little shy. "I am unworthy of the Empress Dowager's praise."

The Empress Dowager chuckled softly upon hearing this, "The imperial physician said there are some minor issues with your pregnancy. Do you need to rest and recuperate?"

"I've almost fully recovered," Xiuning said, touching her swollen belly. "Perhaps it's because this child is so lively, keeping me up at night and making it hard for me to eat or sleep."

"It's good that he's lively; he'll definitely grow up to be a strong and healthy child."

"I'm afraid she'll be too lively. The imperial physician said there's an eight or nine out of ten chance it will be a girl. I already have Ning Chuge, and if another one comes, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it."

"Haha, Ning Chuge was indeed very lively when he was a child, but this child is not yet born, so he may be quite the opposite."

"That's what I hope for too."

"..."

"Master, please be careful."

Holding Xiu Ning's wrist firmly, Chun Yu walked carefully ahead, occasionally kicking away any pebbles that appeared on the ground.

Xiuning smiled and shook her head, "No need to be so careful," she said, "I'm not a porcelain doll that will break at the slightest touch."

Moreover, after these days of system repair, it can be said that Xiuning's current condition is better than that of the pregnant concubines in the other courtyard.

"By the way, is Consort Yi about to give birth?"

She remembered that Consort Yi was more than eight months pregnant, and given that her condition was not stable and there was a risk of premature birth, the imperial physician had given her the due date in the next few days.

Chunyu nodded, "Now Consort Yi's residence is filled with midwives and wet nurses, and imperial physicians visit her every day, so it's probably soon."

"Prepare the congratulatory gift in advance, it's a prince," Xiu Ning said, then got into the sedan chair and let the waiting eunuchs carry her back to her residence.

After returning to her own territory, Xiu Ning took a nap, and then asked Chun Yu to call Ning Chu Ge over.

Mother

Ning Chuge appeared in front of Xiu Ning dressed in red.

“This dress suits your skin tone very well. Please sit down,” Xiu Ning waved her hand. “The person has already been sent to you. How you arrange things is entirely up to you.”

Ning Chu grabbed Xiu Ning's wrist. "Mother, are these people trustworthy?"

Xiuning nodded, "They will be going back to Mongolia with you in the future. You are their master, so they can be trusted."

Even if they are currently loyal to the Empress Dowager, they will change their allegiance later.

Those who are discerning and adaptable are wise; this is the first priority for survival in the imperial harem.