At this time, the Emperor was extremely busy in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and the Empress even canceled her greetings. The harem even began to tighten their belts to provide meager assistance to the people suffering from disasters.

Even though Chen Yuwei wasn't very sensible, she knew this wasn't the time for her to speak, and she had to keep whatever she wanted to say to herself first.

Therefore, everyone in Yikun Palace was anxious and worried, and Chen Yuwei was the only one with a furrowed brow.

Until the two princes, Yonghuang and Yongzhang, who had recovered from their illnesses, fell ill again, Consort Chun, looking haggard, took care of the children and incidentally spread the news that she had been added to the family.

Tsk

This is so disheartening; it seems this first birthday party really can't go on.

"Xiahe, help me get dressed. We're going to Changchun Palace now."

The first birthday celebration can only last for a few days; if it's delayed any longer, it will really be a disaster.

Xia He knew her mistress was about to leave, so she quickly came over and took her wrist, saying, "Mistress, you..."

Chen Yuwei waved her hand, her face cold, "Don't speak yet. The atmosphere in the palace is tense right now. It's best not to hold this first birthday banquet."

If it were to happen, it would only become an excuse for civilian forces to attack the royal family.

Hongli is currently in a terrible predicament, and Chen Yuwei shouldn't cause trouble at this time.

Xia He felt sorry for them, "But this is the only first birthday celebration for the two little princesses in their lives."

If you miss it, you really miss it.

"They are both still young, they will understand when they grow up."

The palace is in complete chaos now. Yonghu and the others no longer practice wrestling at the Qing Palace. Don't you understand the situation outside?"

Chen Yuwei spoke seriously, and Xia He, who was standing to the side, did not dare to continue to persuade her.

Or rather, if I were to try to persuade them further, I wouldn't know what to say. The master is right; the harem is in complete chaos right now. Everyone is incredibly busy, but if you look closely, you can't tell what they're busy with.

Xia He had always followed her master's orders and kept an eye on the servants in the Imperial Household Department, so she was naturally aware of the department's progress.

slow!

The arrangements and plans for the first birthday party are not as advanced as they were a few days ago, and there are complaints almost every moment.

Because of the Empress's frugality, the most distressed were not the servants who had masters, but those servants who had no backing and truly belonged to the bottom tier.

The Imperial Household Department happened to have a group of low-level servants who were being exploited and ripped off by others.

She changed into a new cheongsam, and applied hair oil to her headdress and high-bun hairstyle, inserting beautiful hairpins into it.

"Master, it's done."

Xia He took a step back, waiting for her master in front of the bronze mirror to reach out and inspect her.

Chen Yuwei looked up, her gaze calmly meeting the woman's image in the bronze mirror.

"Pull out a few hairpins from your head; you can't be too conspicuous when you go to Changchun Palace."

I heard that the Empress has already retrieved all her old clothes from before.

She's really going all out, even wearing some outdated clothes. Fucha Jin Yi is quite ruthless in some ways; Chen Yuwei certainly couldn't do that.

Upon hearing this, Xia He stepped forward and removed the two rather conspicuous gold hairpins and put them away.

"Yes, that's good. Let's go."

Without the hair ornaments hanging down on both sides, Chen Yuwei's outfit immediately paled in comparison.

However, this is exactly the effect Chen Yuwei wanted. Otherwise, everyone else would look drab and miserable, while she herself would be radiant and unaffected. Was she so afraid of others knowing that she was doing well?

If it weren't for the issue of her reputation and the fact that she absolutely couldn't appear slovenly, she should be running to Changchun Palace in a disheveled state to complain, for heaven's sake, her two daughters' first birthday celebration was about to take place.

The imperial sedan chair was already waiting at the door. Chen Yuwei was helped up by Xia He and, with a shout of "Lift the sedan chair!", was leisurely carried to the Changchun Palace next door.

Inside Changchun Palace, Fucha Jinyi was dealing with the affairs of the inner palace with a headache.

Some parts, even after she finished handling them, were not finished; she still had to wait for the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace to confirm them.

Tsk

Even with such a small amount of power, the profits had to be split between two people, which was driving Fucha Jinyi crazy.

"Your Majesty, Consort Shu from Yikun Palace has arrived."

Fucha Jinyi abruptly looked up from the accounts. "Consort Shu?"

Dong Han nodded and handed the teacup she was carrying to Fucha Jinyi, saying, "You've come to pay your respects. This servant has already led you to the main hall."

Are you here for a visit?

Fucha Jinyi thought about the first birthday banquet of Yikun Palace in two or three days, and then thought about this time, sighed, "They must have come for the first birthday banquet. Help me to the main hall."

Fucha Jinyi rubbed her forehead, thinking to herself that this matter concerning Consort Shu was not easy to handle. The originally established rules had been shortened again and again, and to put it bluntly, at this point, it would be better not to do it at all.

However, since it wasn't her child after all, Fucha Jinyi couldn't offer much advice; it was entirely up to Yikun Palace to make its own arrangements.

It took Fucha Jinyi only a short while to get from the inner chamber to the main hall.

Chen Yuwei had prepared what she wanted to say, and after meeting Fucha Jinyi, she spoke succinctly.

Fucha Jinyi was speechless. "Consort Shu, are you really going to cancel the plan?"

When Fucha Jinyi first arrived, she was still pondering things, but she didn't expect to receive such a bombshell as soon as she sat down.

Unexpected yet reasonable, the Emperor has always held Chen Yuwei in high regard, so she must be a person who knows how to be pragmatic and make choices, otherwise the Emperor would not have shown such unwavering favor to Yikun Palace for so many years.

However, this doesn't prove anything; some people only have cleverness but lack true wisdom.

When faced with matters of national importance, one's shortcomings will be unconsciously exposed, and one's public image will be overturned.

Consort Shu, Fucha Jinyi, looked at Chen Yuwei sitting opposite her, nodded and smiled, "If the first birthday banquet is canceled, it cannot be made up."

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