Wanwan rose from the stool. "Your Majesty, I, Wanyan, greet the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and peace." Wanwan's etiquette was impeccable. Knowing that a delicate, innocent woman like Dong E was not favored by the Empress Dowager, even though she dressed as a cool and aloof beauty, she still greeted the Empress Dowager with a smile and grace.

Bumbutai looked at the beauty before him and was amazed. After all, she was once a pearl of the Horqin Grassland, and she was quite beautiful.

However, no one in the harem could compare to Wanyan Wanwan.

The Empress Dowager said, "Rise, and take a seat."

Wanwan: "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Before entering the palace, Wanwan had always wanted to build a good relationship with the Empress Dowager, after all, she had quite a few henchmen in the harem.

The Empress Dowager exclaimed, "No wonder she's Consort Ming; she truly shines like a pearl!"

"In the past few years, the emperor was young, and later, due to the empty treasury (after suppressing the Three Feudatories), there was no selection of consorts. There were only a few people serving Xuan Ye, and the emperor did not have many children. Now that a new person has arrived, you should get along well with her and try to produce offspring for the emperor as soon as possible."

A large group of people stood up and replied, "Your Majesty, we/your servants respectfully obey the Empress Dowager's decree."

Empress Dowager: "Alright, please sit down."

Speaking of the emperor's lack of offspring, the Empress Dowager was even more dissatisfied with the empress. After all, she knew perfectly well why the emperor had so few children, but since this was the granddaughter-in-law she had personally chosen, she was even more unhappy.

"Su Ma, go and get out what I prepared for Consort Ming."

Sumalagu: "Yes."

A short while later, Sumalagu brought out a white jade Guanyin statue of a grandson that the Empress Dowager had prepared for Consort Ming.

The Empress Dowager said, "Consort Ming, I bestow this Guanyin statue that grants children upon you, and I hope that you will soon bear children for the Emperor."

Wanwan smiled and replied, "Thank you for the Empress Dowager's gift. I also wish to bear children for Your Majesty as soon as possible."

She then jokingly added, "If I get tired of taking care of the child after it's born, the Empress Dowager must help me take care of it. I can't refuse."

The Empress Dowager said to all the concubines, "Alright, whoever gives birth to the child, if you get tired of taking care of it, send it to Cining Palace." The Empress Dowager's eyes swept over the Empress, clearly showing disgust, but no one noticed it in just one glance. However, because Wanwan had the affinity of wood-type supernatural power, she naturally noticed it.

Thinking to himself, 'It seems the Empress Dowager's dislike for the Empress is more severe than I imagined.'

After the Empress Dowager finished giving her instructions, it was naturally the Empress Dowager's turn.

The Empress Dowager always followed the Grand Empress Dowager. "I have also prepared a white jade Guanyin statue for Consort Ming, hoping that Consort Ming can also bear children for the Emperor." The Empress Dowager spoke in Mongolian, which was translated into Chinese by her aunt (actually, she should have spoken Manchu, because the palace was full of Manchus and there were almost no Han Chinese, but I still prefer Chinese, so I spoke Chinese).

As she spoke, a maidservant presented a white jade Guanyin statue.

Wanwan stood up and smiled as she thanked the Empress Dowager, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your gift and will obey your decree."

The Empress Dowager said, "Alright, that concludes today's greetings. You may all leave."

A large group of people stood up to take their leave, saying, "Your Majesty/Your servants take their leave."

...

The concubines then followed the Empress and all left Cining Palace.

After everyone had left Cining Palace, Consort Tong started acting shamelessly again, saying, "Consort Ming is indeed beautiful and charming. Even the Empress Dowager said she is like a bright pearl." This was a veiled criticism of Wanwan for using her looks to attract attention.

But who is Wanwan? Would she suffer a loss? Of course not, so she didn't care what Consort Tong said at all, and directly took her leave from the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty, I have just entered the palace and there are still many things to deal with. I will take my leave first."

They left in a sedan chair.

They completely ignored Consort Tong.

Tong Fei's punch landed on cotton; she couldn't catch her breath, her face turning red. All she could do was snort and start causing trouble.