Oh!

She already knew what kind of family she was, so what was she still hoping for?

And then there's the Empress Dowager, which is even more ridiculous.

She is said to be the great-aunt of the Niohuru clan, but it is actually unknown where she came from as a collateral branch.

Having a good surname, plus the fact that the current emperor was the only Manchu prince still alive during the previous emperor's reign, otherwise how could the current emperor have ascended to the throne smoothly?

Now, she's no longer the timid little princess she once was; instead, she has the audacity to criticize them, without even considering whether she's worthy of the Niohuru surname.

Consort Yi grew increasingly displeased, especially since she believed that although she was from a collateral branch, she was still of legitimate lineage from the Niohuru clan. What was the Empress Dowager compared to her?!

He's really turned the tables and become incredibly arrogant.

"My lord, we are now under someone else's roof and have no choice but to bow our heads."

Caiwei knew her mistress was in a bad mood, but what could she do?

The family is clearly in cahoots with the Empress Dowager. They even sacrificed Consort Hui, a direct descendant, as if they could. What about the young lady and Consort Jin, who is from a collateral branch? They are not as noble as Consort Hui.

Consort Yi did not want to follow their wishes and indulged in eating and drinking without any regard for the consequences. The day this child was born would be the day she died.

Looking down and touching her belly, Consort Yi struggled to get up. "If you want me to bow my head, you'll have to see if I'm willing."

Caiwei, from now on, we'll take turns eating each other's food. No matter what, we must survive first.

Although she felt somewhat aggrieved eating the food provided by the maids, Consort Yi simply couldn't bear the Empress Dowager's feeding her.

Her body had already begun to deteriorate; she wasn't as frightening as Consort Hui, but she was no less so.

If Consort Yi continues to eat the diet arranged by the Empress Dowager under these circumstances, she will surely be very upset.

Once Consort Yi made up her mind, both she and her servant pondered it over and over again, neither wanting to prematurely spend their lives in such a harem.

Besides, Consort Yi's baby is most likely a princess, and Consort Yi still wants to have a son.

Consort Jin, who lived next door to Consort Yi, was more willing to sacrifice than Consort Yi.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that Consort Jin is carrying a prince.

My brother is so precious.

Consort Jin was helped up by her maid and bowed her head to eat the various meals that the Empress Dowager had carefully prepared.

Compared to Consort Hui, Consort Jin was not significantly fatter, but compared to before her pregnancy, she had gained several sizes, and her soon-to-be-pregnant belly was quite alarming.

Fuling, who was Consort Jin's personal maid, had tried to persuade her mistress, but to no avail.

Consort Jin touched her already large belly, her face, now full of fat, no longer showing any of her former delicate features. "Today's meal was a bit greasy. Tell the servants in the small kitchen to be careful and change the dishes tonight."

After saying that, she accidentally let out a burp. Jinpin was a little embarrassed, so she covered her mouth with her handkerchief and gestured for Fuling to leave.

"Your Majesty, when I entered the palace, I noticed that Consort Yi next door had not yet eaten. Would you like to follow her example and skip dinner?"

Fuling glanced cautiously at her master, her heart leaping at the sound of his words.

"Haven't eaten yet? So you're pregnant with a princess, but she can't compare to my little prince."

Consort Jin didn't realize that Fuling's words were a reminder to her; she immediately started thinking about who was more important, the princess or the prince.

But what about the princess and the prince? Just look at how well the Empress Dowager takes care of Jingren Palace, and it's clear that no one can shake her position as the head of Jingren Palace.

Fuling: ...You're quite smug, you've completely misunderstood me.

Fu Ling was speechless, but these were the most direct words she could say. If she continued, well, Fu Ling would never do it; she valued her life.

They respectfully cleared away the food that Consort Jin had finished eating, piece by piece.

Fuling brought warm water to help Consort Jin wash up. Because she needed to rest and protect her pregnancy recently, Consort Jin had even canceled her daily outings to the small courtyard of Jingren Palace, which showed how much she valued her pregnancy.

No matter how much you value someone, it's not as good as having the life to give birth but not the life to raise them.

Fuling lowered her head and looked down. Every time she came out of the inner room, what she thought about most was the pitying look that the imperial physicians who came to take her pulse would inadvertently reveal.

Your Majesty, it seems you've been kept in the dark all along by the illusions created by the Empress Dowager.

...

In June, the weather turned hot again.

With her belly several months along, Chen Yuwei perfectly embodied the essence of someone who couldn't stay indoors and didn't want to stay outside.

Occasionally, when I complain to Xiahe, it's always about when we're going to Yuanmingyuan to escape the summer heat.

Even if she doesn't go to the Old Summer Palace, she can go to the Imperial Palace instead; she really isn't picky.

Anyway, compared to the Forbidden City, which is sweltering and even feels like a steamer, anywhere is better.

Xia He carried an ice basin, the ice inside of which had been cracked open.

"Your Majesty, is there any further news?" The Emperor, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager all remained silent, keeping quiet.

Even with the fan in her hand wielding a whirlwind-like motion, Chen Yuwei still couldn't stop the beads of sweat from her temples and forehead.

It would be an exaggeration to say that Chen Yuwei was sweating profusely and her tears were falling like rain, but she did indeed sweat quite a lot.

Pregnant women suffer from the summer heat, and like Chen Yuwei, they cannot use ice without restraint, which means that the temperature in Yikun Palace is actually not much lower than outside.

Chen Yuwei was relatively favored, and occasionally when Hongli came over, he would ask Wu Shulai to give her more ice. For others, life would be much worse.

Of course, with the harem in such a miserable state, who was doing well? Naturally, it was Jingren Palace.

There were two pregnant women in Jingren Palace, and the Empress Dowager cared for them very much; no one else could compare.

"If we stay in the harem any longer, who knows how many of us will faint this year."

He gestured for Xia He to bring him a cup of refreshing plum juice to cool him down in the summer heat.

Chen Yuwei took a sip of the drink in silence, and the anger in her heart subsided considerably.

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