The person who came was the second-class palace maid beside the Queen Mother.

Although Concubine Qian resented the Empress Dowager's favoritism, due to the presence of the Emperor, she could only grit her teeth and face the person in front of her with a smile.

"Thank you for the reward, Queen Mother. Please also thank the Queen Mother for my grace. When I feel better, I will go to Ci'an Palace to express my gratitude in person."

The young palace maid politely bowed to Concubine Qian and turned to leave.

Zhao Yuancheng had other things to do in the Zichen Palace, so he didn't bother to wait. He just sat for a while and then left. At this time, Concubine Dong, who had been standing aside without saying a word, bowed to Concubine Qian and followed her out.

Lady Qian narrowed her eyes, and Xing'er understood and quietly followed the two of them.

Through the curtain, Xing'er saw Concubine Dong looking at the emperor with affection. It was unknown what the two of them said to each other. Zhao Yuancheng raised his hand and patted Concubine Dong's shoulder, with a warm smile on his eyebrows and eyes.

Xing'er returned to the room and told her master everything that had just happened word for word.

As expected, after hearing this, Lady Qian's eyes turned red and she said, "This little bitch, I was wondering why she was so kind to come and talk to me today, but it turns out she was trying to seduce the emperor."

Xing'er didn't dare to say a word. She looked up at her master's face, but saw that her master, who was full of hatred just now, suddenly became quiet and pointed at the reward that the Queen Mother had just sent over.

"After all, we are sisters living in the same palace, and I am older than her. I will pick out some good things and send them to Concubine Dong. I hope she can come and talk to me when she is free. I am really bored staying alone here."

Xing'er didn't dare to delay and quickly knelt down to agree.

When Concubine Dong saw Xing'er coming to give her something, she was flattered, but when she heard Concubine Qian's instructions, she was even more overjoyed.

He quickly replied, "If sister doesn't mind, I will go."

In the following days, Concubine Dong would go to Concubine Qian's bedroom from time to time. Firstly, her family background was low and could not compare to Concubine Qian's. If she could rely on her, she would have a way to survive in the future.

Secondly, ever since Concubine Qian had a miscarriage, the emperor had come to the Bixiao Palace to visit her from time to time. As a result, she had the opportunity to sleep with him several times.

Dong Cairen was of course very grateful to Concubine Qian, but she didn't know that Concubine Qian, whom she regarded as her benefactor, was pushing her to the brink of death step by step.

Ever since Concubine Shu was confined to her palace, she has been throwing tantrums in her palace all day long.

Whenever a concubine passed by the gate of her palace, she could hear the sound of bowls and pots being smashed inside. On this day, Concubine Shu smashed all the decorations in the house.

Mo Xiang tried to persuade him at first, but knowing her master's temper, she waited until her master had vented all his anger before ordering the palace maids to come up and clean up.

"Your Highness, what can you do? Have you forgotten what Nanny Song said to you that day? The Emperor likes gentle women. If you always lose your temper like this, the Emperor will never come again."

"He can come or not, do I have to beg him to come?"

This was extremely disrespectful, but fortunately, those who were allowed to enter the bedroom to serve were Concubine Shu's confidants, so they were naturally not afraid that this would reach the emperor's ears.

"Are you being childish again?" Mo Xiang brought a cup of hot tea and patiently advised, "I heard that the emperor has been visiting the Bixiao Palace quite a lot lately, and even Consort Dong has received some favor."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu's eyes grew even colder. "Could it be that each of these people is the reincarnation of a fox spirit?"

"Your Majesty, please listen carefully to what Madam says. If you keep going on like this, the Emperor might get tired of it and stop coming."

When mentioning this, Concubine Shu couldn't help shedding tears, "After all, I am still his cousin. I have been under house arrest for so long, and he has never come to see me once."

"Your Majesty, the Emperor values ​​filial piety above all else. And now that the Empress Dowager has confined you, how could the Emperor disobey her orders? Please stop making such a fuss. If you continue like this, people will spread rumors that you resent the Empress Dowager. If that were to happen, you'd be hopeless."

Concubine Shu sighed softly, half leaning on the kang, and said weakly, "I've taken note of your words."

As he spoke, his voice turned cold again, "But I really can't swallow the humiliation of those two seductive women in Bixiao Palace."

"You are a concubine, the emperor's cousin, and you have the empress dowager's support. Looking at the entire harem, even the imperial concubine who is about to be appointed as queen can't surpass you in the slightest. Why bother with them? The most important thing right now is to quickly get pregnant."

No matter how impulsive Concubine Shu was, she knew that in the deep palace, favor was like a floating cloud, and only offspring were a solid support.

It was the Imperial Noble Consort who gave birth to children one after another, which established her current status. Otherwise, with her humble background, she would never have been able to reach where she is today.

Concubine Shu stroked her belly, feeling somewhat dejected. "In the final analysis, Concubine Qian is very lucky. She got pregnant after only two or three nights with you. Unlike me, I have received many favors, but my belly is still not moving."

"Your Majesty is still young, you will eventually have a child. Even the Imperial Noble Consort had to serve the Emperor for several years before she got pregnant. Just relax and have the Imperial Physician prescribe some pregnancy-enhancing medicine. You won't have to worry about not having a child."

After all, they were master and servant who grew up together, and with just a few words, Concubine Shu's irritable temper was calmed down.

Winter is gone and spring is here, and the weather is gradually getting warmer in March.

All the peonies in the imperial garden were in full bloom. The empress dowager was in a good mood, so she held a spring banquet in the imperial garden, and all the concubines in the palace came to the banquet.

On this day, everyone also saw Concubine Shu who was under house arrest by the Empress Dowager.

She had thought that this confinement would at least temper Shufei's temper, but she didn't expect that she would run into Concubine Dong from the Bixiao Palace as soon as she arrived at the Imperial Garden.

No, it should be Miss Dong.

After Concubine Qian had a miscarriage, the emperor promoted her to the position of imperial concubine in order to appease her. Concubine Dong had been serving by his side during this period and naturally won the emperor's favor.

She was promoted to the rank of beauty on the second day of serving the emperor. Although Concubine Shu was under house arrest, every move in the harem naturally escaped her eyes.

Looking at the two sisters standing in the garden talking and laughing, she immediately forgot all the words Mo Xiang had advised her.

At that time, the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Noble Consort had not arrived yet. Concubine Xi had caught a cold at the beginning of spring and had finally recovered. Of course, she could no longer come to the garden to enjoy the fresh air.

Among the concubines, Shufei is naturally the most respected.

Everyone knelt to greet her, but Concubine Shu ignored her and slowly walked up to Concubine Qian and Lady Dong. She said coldly, "Sister Qian, you're able to attend the banquet now. I guess you've recovered. And Lady Dong, it's been a while since we last met, and you seem to be in better spirits."

Although Qian's position was low, her father was a third-rank minister in the court, so his aura was naturally no less than that of Concubine Shu.

But Miss Dong is different.

As the daughter of the county magistrate, whose parents' home was thousands of miles away, the sharp gaze of Concubine Shu was enough to make her unable to lift her head. When she heard Concubine Shu's sarcastic words, she was so scared that her legs went weak. She wanted to salute, but she fell heavily to the ground.

"My concubine, I am rude. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Lady Dong was crawling on the ground, her whole body trembling. Even Concubine Qian had a flash of sarcasm in her eyes.

"Thanks to Her Majesty Lai Shufei's concern, the palace physician's excellent medical skills, and the Emperor's frequent visits, my health is now fine."