After staying at the Yuanmingyuan for several months, it's time to go back to the palace for a visit.

The Yuanmingyuan Garden in autumn has a more desolate feel than in summer.

This was the first time Chen Yuwei had stayed at the Yuanmingyuan so late. It was clear that the Empress's unborn son was of great importance; even the Emperor's expectations were different.

It remains to be seen whether the Empress's elaborate schemes, which even involved the Emperor's meticulous coordination, will ultimately yield the desired outcome.

"My lady, it's cold outside. Let me help you inside to rest."

Xia He spoke softly. Although the palace servants of Wuling Chunse were busy packing their luggage and belongings to return to the palace, they were busy but orderly and would not disturb Chen Yuwei.

However, Chen Yuwei preferred to stay in the spacious and bright outdoor courtyard rather than resting inside.

At this time, her belly was almost seven months along, but the bulge was not as large as when she had twins earlier.

Every evening, Chen Yuwei could feel the baby in her womb being unusually active, only becoming slightly quieter in the morning.

"When I return to the palace this time, even for the sake of the children, my heavy body will make it even more difficult for me to go out for a while."

"Let's stay a little longer while the weather's nice," Chen Yuwei said, closing her eyes briefly and giving a slight smile.

Upon hearing this, Xia He looked up and then stopped trying to persuade her. Instead, she turned around and helped Chen Yuwei to a stone bench.

Stone benches are a unique feature of the courtyard. This is mainly because the Yuanmingyuan Garden is so large that people can easily get tired while walking around. Adding more stone benches and pavilions for resting would make things much more convenient.

Instead of simply wiping her with a handkerchief, Xiahe sent someone to bring a soft cushion so that her master wouldn't catch a cold if he sat down.

call

Slowly sitting down, supporting her pregnant belly, Chen Yuwei took a breath and said, "I heard that at Bitong Academy, Consort Qing is going to be promoted to Consort Qing?"

Since that unusual Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the Empress Dowager turned away with a cold face and returned to the palace without looking up, and the Emperor never summoned Lu Xuening to serve him again.

Now that half a month has passed since the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the fact that Lu Xuening can still be conferred the title of Consort Qing is truly baffling.

Why?

When Chen Yuwei first heard the news, she thought Xia He was joking with her.

Before the news could become more and more believable, Chen Yuwei had no choice but to believe it.

Xia He was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then realized that she was the one who said it.

However, when the master was talking about it, he was busy with something else and changed the subject.

But for now, Xia He immediately repeated the news she had heard, "Master, the news is probably true."

These past two days, Eunuch Wu, who serves the Emperor, has been sending gifts to Bitong Academy every time, "and each time he sends a huge pile, glittering with gold, which is the envy of all."

Xia He didn't say the last sentence, but Chen Yuwei, as the former master, understood each other very well.

With a cry of "Oh dear!", Chen Yuwei clapped her hands, feeling indignant on Yonghu's behalf. "This child suffered such great injustice before, and the Emperor only sent one batch of gifts. Now it seems he's not even as good as Consort Qing."

Could it be that Lu Xuening has a leading lady script and is the most special in the Emperor's heart?

That shouldn't be the case. Unless the Emperor's aesthetic sense has changed, given Lu Xuening's figure and appearance, tsk tsk, it's unlikely.

Xia He looked embarrassed and felt a little resentful. After all, compared to the other side, her own brother was indeed inferior.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. This matter might be because of the Empress Dowager in the palace."

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are at odds; the Emperor is probably looking for a way to break the deadlock.

Xia He made wild guesses, but given Lu Xuening's background, this seemed to be the most likely possibility.

After all, the Empress Dowager selected four people to enter the palace, but three of them were killed because of the lack of imperial heirs, while Lu Xuening, being too young, escaped the disaster.

If the Emperor wants to salvage the situation, Lu Xuening would be a better choice than the three members of the Niohuru clan, even if it's just for the sake of looking good.

Humans are visual creatures. Although it is said that everything looks the same when the lights are off, people tend to have preconceived notions, so how could they completely ignore them without any obstacles?

In any case, as a servant, Xia He, based on her limited understanding, would choose Consort Qing if she had to choose among the concubines.

Chen Yuwei nodded and then shook her head, "What you said does make some sense, but it's not absolute."

The Emperor did not think he had done anything wrong in this matter. In fact, Hongli thought that it was the Empress Dowager who was dishonest.

The Empress and Empress Fucha were enjoying their newfound favors when they turned around and saw the Empress Dowager wielding a hoe to dig up benefits for her own Niohuru clan.

The key issue is that they're undermining the emperor's own power base; how could the emperor not be angry when he sees this?

This Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was merely an outlet for the Emperor's dissatisfaction with the Empress Dowager, and also a good opportunity to express his attitude to others.

It's similar to the idea that "I wouldn't even give face to my own mother, but I'd give face to you."

It must be said that this approach has been a relatively successful attempt so far.

At least Niohuru, who used to jump around behind the Empress Dowager, has become much more obedient. Even when Consort Jin and the young prince in the palace died at the same time, she did not submit memorials and go crazy like before.

Of course, this is how it appears on the surface, but whether Niohuru can accept it in private is uncertain. After all, Chen Yuwei is not a mind reader and cannot guess the thoughts of a powerful family.

"If the Emperor wants to thaw the ice in his relationship with the Empress Dowager, he only needs to curry favor with her a few more times."

Consort Qing doesn't possess such abilities yet.

At least Empress Dowager Lu Xuening didn't value him much, even though Lu Xuening's biological father was quite capable and was known among civil officials as a foul-mouthed troll, which was quite favored by the emperor.

"By the way, how's Consort Chun from Bitong Academy? She's pregnant around the same time as me, and she's still eyeing the Empress?"

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