In July, news somehow spread that Hongli was about to set off for Mulan Qiumi.

The source of the news is now unverifiable, but everyone knows that it is true that the Emperor is leaving the Yuanmingyuan ahead of schedule.

Furthermore, the Emperor would be gone for more than a month, and if they wanted to go with him, they would have to ask the Empress of Changchun Immortal Hall for help.

In an instant, the quiet Changchun Immortal Hall became lively.

The Empress hadn't expected so many people to come. She was taking care of Yongcheng and things were starting to look better; at least Yongcheng wasn't always sick and crying like when Consort Jia was raising him.

Unfortunately, with the influx of outsiders from Changchun Xianguan, Yongcheng's hard-won health deteriorated rapidly, even worse than when he was under Jiapin's care.

Empress: ...

The Empress, having reached her limit, dismissed the group that had come seeking favors by saying she wouldn't go.

The women in the harem: ...Huh?

If the Empress doesn't go, who will? The Emperor can't go alone without his concubines.

It's not that this possibility is nonexistent, but it's certainly not very likely, because judging from Hongli's daily behavior, he is not someone who can tolerate being wronged.

Without the daily service and care of his concubines, Hongli might not be able to stand it. Who knows, when he returns to the palace, he might bring back a few half-sisters for his concubines.

Whom can we turn to for help?

"Since the Empress isn't going this time, and there are only a few high-ranking concubines in the harem, could it be Consort Gao?"

Some people, with wild imaginations, started speculating about other concubines in the harem who might go there.

Ideally, we should deduce a few high-probability individuals and then quickly use the back door to do so.

"Compared to Consort Gao, whom my elder sister mentioned, I still think Consort Xian is the most likely candidate," because Consort Xian comes from a noble Manchu family and is second only to the Empress in status.

"Alas, this time the Emperor sent Mulan Qiumi, and he will definitely bring mainly Mongolian concubines with him. Consort Dun is the highest-ranking among the Mongolian concubines, so she will definitely be there."

"The title of 'Consort Ke Dun' is too low; it's just an extra title. How can she compete with the titles of Consort or Noble Consort?"

"Who knows, this trip might bring back Consort Dun. You sisters all know what kind of person our Emperor is. It's also a good opportunity to bestow favors upon the Mongol tribes. You don't understand."

"..."

Everyone gathered together and speculated, thinking of all the people in the harem who had a chance, but they didn't include Chen Yuwei, who lived an open and honest life.

Chen Yuwei: ...Doesn't my rank of Consort Shu count as a rank?

Chen Yuwei was somewhat bewildered. Logically speaking, apart from the Empress, she held the highest rank and wielded the most power in the harem. If the concubines were to have any suspicions, they should have focused on her.

Unfortunately, everyone seemed to tacitly ignore her.

After considering all the other people in the Yuanmingyuan, including Consort Chun and Consort Jia, he never thought of Chen Yuwei.

Why?

Chen Yuwei didn't understand and looked puzzled when she asked Xia He.

Xia He thought for a moment and gave her answer, "Your Majesty, it may be largely due to the fact that the Emperor has not taken you with him when he goes out of the palace these past few times."

At least, given what happened before, people generally wouldn't associate it with Chen Yuwei.

Chen Yuwei: ...You're right, it's because the Emperor behaved so badly.

"If they miss their chance to curry favor with me, I won't show them any mercy."

Although Hongli's original intention was not to bring too many unimportant people, the list of people he had mentioned to her before consisted mostly of concubines from Mongolia.

But if Chen Yuwei really has her own ideas, we can be a little more tolerant and do her a favor.

Compared to Mongolian concubines, Hongli preferred Manchu and Han concubines, with Han women being the best.

Some clues can be gleaned from the distribution of the number of Emperor Qianlong's offspring during his lifetime.

Unlike Emperors Kangxi and Yongzheng, who clearly disliked but also didn't particularly like them.

After all, the Manchus came from outside the Great Wall and established the Qing Dynasty.

If the Han people were never accepted by the Manchus and were always viewed with suspicion and distrust, then the Mongols were always a major threat to the Manchus, and they were never allowed to let their guard down.

In terms of how they were treated by the Qing imperial family, the Mongols and the Han Chinese were equally matched, like the elder brother not laughing at the younger brother.

After saying this in a low voice, Chen Yuwei felt that this kind of thing was meaningless.

Sigh, never mind, I'll just continue studying the account books the Empress gave me.

The ledger contained detailed records of the various tributes that Mongolia sent to the Qing Dynasty each year.

Because Mongolia still has a tribal system, there are countless tribes of all sizes.

Therefore, it is extremely inconvenient to distinguish based solely on the quantity of tribute; it is necessary to consider the actual situation. Chen Yuwei even asked Hongli for a maid who was familiar with the situation in Mongolia to supplement her knowledge.

Chen Yuwei doesn't take credit for herself; she keeps what's rightfully hers to herself and lets others speak for themselves, her main message being that she has a clear conscience.

Chen Yuwei only breathed a sigh of relief after the list of children to go to Mulan Qiumi was officially distributed. She then called over a few children and gave them personal instructions.

At this point, it was no longer possible for other concubines to plead for mercy.

Everyone could only sigh in regret, blaming themselves for being too formalistic. They thought that if it hadn't happened before, it wouldn't happen this time either. Who would have thought that the Emperor would change his mind this time and allow Consort Shu, who had never had the opportunity to leave the palace, to leave.

Sigh!

It's true what they say: you may try to plant flowers, but they won't bloom; you may plant willows, but they will thrive.

Chen Yuwei: ...I blame myself for thinking too much, and I also blame myself for thinking too little.

On July 18th, two days earlier than originally planned, Hongli, along with Chen Yuwei and several Mongolian concubines including Consort Dun, left the Yuanmingyuan where they had stayed for almost two months and set off for Mulan Qiumi, located in the north.

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