As Wuyunzhu's son-in-law, Heshen not only had already achieved fame and honor, but also gained the emperor's favor and was seen everywhere he went.

For example, Heshen and Wuyunzhu participated in Emperor Qianlong's eastern tour to visit famous mountains and worship his ancestors.

Chen Yuwei has been a key figure remaining in Beijing for many years and has basically not participated in inspection matters.

She had been ridiculed mercilessly by Consort Ling for this matter before.

After Consort Ling experienced the pain of going on tours with Hongli, she began to envy Chen Yuwei's ability to avoid it.

Unfortunately, Consort Ling didn't have Chen Yuwei's abilities; when the Emperor spoke, she could only cooperate fully.

Seeing that she was about to suffer the same fate as Consort Xian, Consort Ling was also trying to save herself.

Chen Yuwei was not optimistic about this at all, because Consort Ling still needed to rely on Hongli to survive, unlike Chen Yuwei, who was powerful enough to break free from Hongli and live a carefree life on her own.

"Your Majesty, news has arrived from Chuxiu Palace that Consort Yu is not feeling well."

Xingkui entered the room and took small, quick steps to stand beside Chen Yuwei.

After several years of experience, Xingkui has become calm and reliable.

Especially after Chen Yuwei arranged for the two elderly women, Xia He and Xia Yu, to leave the palace to live out their days in comfort, Xing Kui quickly rose to power and became the de facto head of Yikun Palace.

“Is that not appropriate? Ever since Prince Rong had his accident and failed to leave an heir, Consort Yu’s health has been quite poor.”

This time, some inappropriate remarks have surfaced again. Is it just a rehash of old arguments or is there really a problem? Chen Yuwei fiddled with the tassels hanging down her temples, her expression calm and composed.

Xingkui moved her lips slightly. "This time it's more serious. They say he's about to die."

There were rumors of "The boy who cried wolf," but in the end, the wolf never came.

Things are different now; there really are wolves coming.

Chen Yuwei looked up at Xingkui and said, "Prepare the sedan chair to go to Chuxiu Palace."

Xingkui nodded in agreement, "This servant understands."

The sedan chair left Yikun Palace and was escorted by servants all the way to Chuxiu Palace.

After getting off the sedan chair, Chen Yuwei habitually looked up at the sky above her head.

Well, the weather was perfect, with not a cloud in the sky, but it inexplicably felt a bit gloomy.

Just like when she went to Yonghe Palace, Consort Xian and Consort Yu met the same fate.

With her hand on Xingkui's hand, Chen Yuwei entered the room to find it desolate.

Xingkui was furious about this, "Those lackeys in the Imperial Household Department are up to their old tricks again."

They were warned in advance, but they still refused to do it.

“If someone is willing to work honestly, they are not from the Imperial Household Department.”

The servants who served them changed batch after batch, but the result was the same old thing in a new guise, a complete waste of energy.

"Don't worry about them. If you anger the Emperor, he'll have to deal with them all over again once he has the time."

When the wailing and pleading fill the air, she won't lend a hand to save them.

Upon hearing this, Xingkui wished the Emperor would return immediately and tighten the leather on the bodies of the Imperial Household Department personnel.

They are so lazy and fearless. How did these people even get into the Imperial Household Department? Are the people in charge of selecting them all blind?

If Chen Yuwei heard Xingkui's inner monologue, she would definitely explain to her that these people who were able to get in were all descendants of those managers.

No one is truly alone. When one finds that the benefits gained are substantial enough, the first people one thinks of are those close to them.

In any era, the nepotism effect sounds like a frightening chain of connections.

When a promising department is filled with its own people, it becomes extremely difficult for that department to continue to develop.

Not only will the department fail to develop, but it will also be dragged down by its large number of internal personnel, gradually falling into adversity and eventually teetering on the brink of decline.

"Wait at the door, I'm going to see Consort Yu."

After whispering a message to Xingkui, Chen Yuwei pushed open the door and entered the airtight inner room.

The appearances of dying people are extremely similar, and Consort Yu's current emaciated appearance is exactly the same as that of Consort Xian back then.

Consort Yu was not ugly, otherwise she would not have been able to give birth to Yongqi, but she looks nothing like she did when she was young.

This is the harem, a place capable of devouring and killing, like a colossal beast that opens its mouth to continuously devour the vibrant lives standing before it.

Upon closer examination, it seems that all the concubines who entered the palace around the same time as Chen Yuwei have left.

"Your Highness, I knew you would come."

Unbeknownst to them, Consort Yu, who was lying in bed, had already woken up.

She stared intently at Chen Yuwei, who was not far away, with her astonishingly large eyes.

"We arrived at the manor around the same time, so it's only right that we come and see you off."

Chen Yuwei was past the age of speaking falsehoods; she sat on a round stool to the side, her eyes bright.

"Your Highness, I can't take it anymore. Life in the harem is too hopeless. I have nothing left to cherish and shouldn't waste the time I have left."

Even closing my eyes now would be better than this hopeless life that repeats itself day after day.

It seems that Consort Yu has become increasingly regretful ever since Yongqi left.

She couldn't say she regretted anything, but if she could do it all over again, she probably wouldn't have gone to such lengths to give birth to Yongqi.

What's the point? It just means one more person is suffering.

"Have you thought it through? Living is better than dying. Even ants try to survive," let alone humans.

Chen Yuwei looked at Consort Yu lying on the bed, but Consort Yu only smiled after hearing her words, "I think this kind of life is not as good as the flowers that are blooming in the Imperial Garden."

Even ants cling to life because they have no thoughts and cannot feel the emotions of despair in humans.

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