Three days later

September arrived as scheduled. Consort An, née Li, and Consort Duan, née Dong, had already moved into Qixiang Palace and Jingyang Palace, respectively. Only Empress Niohuru remained in Chuxiu Palace.

The Empress slammed her hand on the table and said coldly, "Does Your Majesty dislike me so much? I am already the Empress. Your Majesty's decree has been issued. Although the investiture ceremony has not been held, all the people in the world know that I am the Empress."

"Kunning Palace was the residence of the late Empress three years ago, and the Imperial Household Department sent people to repair it every year. Now, His Majesty is telling me that Kunning Palace is currently under renovation."

With a somber expression, the Empress was filled with grief and indignation.

Caiyue and Lianxing lowered their eyes and dared not utter a sound.

Kunning Palace is under renovation, at the Emperor's behest. Although they are the Empress's servants, they dare not speak up for the Empress at this time.

After a long while, the Empress looked at the palace maid Lianxing and asked in a deep voice, "Did Consort An and Consort Duan's relocation to the palace go smoothly? Have all our people been arranged to move into Qixiang Palace and Jingyang Palace?"

"Your Majesty, everything has been arranged."

Lianxing responded respectfully.

The Empress sneered and said, "Have the gifts I ordered to be sent to Qixiang Palace and Jingyang Palace, and to Consort Yin and Consort Shi, been delivered?"

Caiyue smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it has already been sent. However..."

"However, Your Majesty, you have shown favor to Consort Yin and Consort Shi, but it seems that they do not appreciate it. The clothes and jewelry that Your Majesty asked me to personally deliver have not been cut into clothes or worn by them."

"On the contrary, it was Consort Yu and Consort Xuan who sent them over, and they wore them."

After speaking softly, Caiyue lowered her head and stared at her toes, not daring to utter a sound.

Upon hearing this, the Empress's face darkened and turned ugly.

"Such a thing has happened? Do they mean to reject my attempts to win them over and instead side with Consort Yu and Consort Xuan? It's Consort Yu and Consort Xuan again..."

Caiyue and Lianxing lowered their heads and remained silent.

Night

The Chuxiu Palace was brightly lit. The Empress was reviewing the account books sent by the Imperial Household Department by candlelight when Lianxing hurriedly entered the palace and respectfully reported to the Empress, "Your Majesty, Consort Bu from Zhongcui Palace is requesting an audience outside the palace."

"Noble Lady Bu?"

The Empress paused for a moment, then spoke thoughtfully, "It's late and the dew is heavy. Tell Consort Bu that I have already retired for the night. If Consort Bu has anything to report, she can do so when the concubines pay their respects tomorrow."

Lianxing was taken aback.

Caiyue subtly gave Lianxing a wink, and Lianxing respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.

Carefully choosing her words, Caiyue said softly, "Your Highness, Consort Bu requests an audience. This servant guesses that Consort Bu wants to seek Your Highness's protection. This servant does not understand why Your Highness refuses to see her."

The empress looked disdainful.

"Consort Bu gave birth to the seventh imperial daughter, and the emperor casually bestowed upon her the title of Consort, without even a meaningful one. She sought my protection and wanted to rely on me, but I do not keep useless people."

Caiyue nodded slightly, "What Your Majesty says is quite right, however..."

“This servant believes that although Consort Bu has lost the Emperor’s favor, she has the seventh princess under her wing. Your Majesty currently has no one else of use, so keeping Consort Bu might not be a bad idea.”

"Noble Lady Bu is useless, but the Seventh Princess is the Emperor's bloodline."

Upon hearing this, the Empress pondered for a moment, then smiled dismissively.

"Her seventh daughter is indeed of the Emperor's blood, but there are many princesses in the palace now, as many as eleven. The seventh daughter, a noblewoman's daughter, can't amount to much."

Caiyue responded softly, then lowered her head and remained silent.

A quarter of an hour later, the Empress suddenly thought of something and changed the subject, saying in a deep voice, "However, today you mentioned the seventh princess, and I thought of something."

"I have been in the palace for many years but have never borne any children. Although I am now the Empress, I am still a rootless duckweed without offspring. The eldest prince in the palace is the fourth prince, Saiyinchaze, born to Consort Rong, and the second eldest is the fifth prince, Baoqing, born to Consort Hui."

"Consort Rong was a lowly person, but she's incredibly resilient. After being granted the title of Consort, her health has actually started to improve. Consort Hui, though out of favor, is also in good health. I'd like to adopt their princes, but I don't know when that will happen."

After a pause, the Empress continued, "There are many princesses in the palace, and some of them have mothers of low rank, but I..."

With a look of reluctance on her face, the Empress finally shook her head.

Caiyue frowned, pondered for a moment, and then spoke softly. "Your Highness, I have heard that the eldest daughter of Prince Gong is now seven years old."

"Although there are many princesses in the palace, Consort Rong's third daughter is five years old, and the late Empress's sixth daughter is four years old. Why don't you raise Prince Gong's eldest daughter in the palace?"

“The eldest daughter of Prince Gong is now seven years old. Even if Your Majesty raises her, she will not be a problem for the princes or princesses born to Your Majesty in the future.”

Caiyue looked up and glanced quickly at the Empress, then lowered her head and forced herself to speak, "This servant may say something I shouldn't, but Your Majesty, you are raising Prince Gong's eldest daughter. Whether she marries into a Mongolian family or stays in the capital, it will be extremely beneficial for Your Majesty, your sons, and your daughters."

"In addition, Your Highness, you can take this opportunity to win over Prince Gong. Although the eldest princess of Prince Gong's mansion is born to a concubine, and is not as good as the fourth princess born to Concubine Xu, she is still the eldest daughter."

"The eldest son and eldest daughter, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, are of different status."

After hearing Caiyue's words, the Empress fell into deep thought.

September 9th arrived in the blink of an eye.

Early that morning, the Empress was beaming with joy, her face radiant with happiness.

"My dear sisters, yesterday afternoon, I proposed to His Majesty that we take the eldest princess born to Consort Jin of Prince Gong's Mansion and raise her in the palace, registering her under my name."

Deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, the Empress smiled radiantly and said, "This morning, His Majesty sent Li Dequan, who serves in the Imperial Guard, to my palace to convey his approval of this matter."

Consort Hui, Consort An, and others were utterly astonished.

Xu Lejin and Consort Xuan exchanged a glance, stood up, and led the other concubines in saying in unison, "Congratulations to Your Majesty the Empress! Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!"

"Thank you, sisters. Please have a seat."

The Empress smiled and gestured for everyone to sit down.

After pondering for a moment, she said softly, "I am not as fortunate as Consort Yu and Consort Rong, who have both sons and daughters. I have been in the palace for many years but have never been able to conceive. Now that His Majesty has granted me permission to raise the eldest princess of Prince Gong's mansion, I can finally say that I have my own child."

"The eldest princess of Prince Gong's mansion is named Irm. His Majesty's intention is that the palace will temporarily address her as Princess Irm. As for the matter of the order of seniority, a decision will be made after His Majesty discusses it with the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager."

Xu Lejin, Consort Xuan, and others responded respectfully.

The Prince's residence was quickly arranged under the Empress's instructions. The Empress also acted swiftly, sending her maids Lianxing and Yinshuang out of the palace to Prince Gong's residence to fetch Princess Irmu into the palace.

Furthermore, the Empress transferred her head maid, Yinshuang, to the Prince's quarters to take care of Princess Irm's daily life.