He chuckled.

The Imperial Concubine parted her lips slightly and spoke slowly, "It's alright, I will persuade the Emperor to go to your palace."

"yes."

Consort Jing respectfully agreed.

In the afternoon, the sun shone warmly on the snow. Xu Lejin rested her chin on her hand, gazing lovingly at her two daughters, Wuxiha and Unaxi, playing on the thick carpet inside the house.

Ru Hua strode in from outside the palace and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, someone from the Imperial Concubine's palace has arrived."

"Um."

Xu Lejin gave a faint reply and then instructed Ruhua to invite the people from the Imperial Concubine's palace in.

A moment later, the palace maid Ling Rou and another palace maid with her head bowed and a slender waist entered the hall.

Ling Rou curtsied and said, "This servant, Ling Rou, greets Consort Yu."

"No need for such formalities."

Xu Lejin sized up Ling Rou, while glancing out of the corner of her eye at the unfamiliar palace maid behind Ling Rou, who had her head down.

"Does the Imperial Concubine have any instructions for summoning you here today?"

"Your Highness, Consort Yu, I have learned that the maids around you are clever and attentive, and that you, Consort Yu, are well-disciplined. The servants of Yikun Palace are all well-behaved, a fact that is evident to all in the harem."

"Ying'er is a newly selected maid from the Imperial Household Department, assigned to the Empress's palace. She has a good temperament, but she is a bit slow-witted. The Empress hopes that Ying'er can stay by Consort Yu's side in the future and learn the rules."

Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

The Imperial Concubine bestowed a palace maid upon her; what a clever tactic! She claimed the maid was newly selected by the Imperial Household Department, but anyone with eyes could see she was the Imperial Concubine's person.

The Imperial Concubine is using various methods to place her own people into her Yikun Palace.

hehe.

With a calm expression, Xu Lejin said softly, "I will respectfully obey Your Highness's arrangements."

"Ziwu, take Ying'er downstairs and arrange some work for Ying'er outside the palace."

"The palace maids bestowed upon me by the Imperial Concubine look delicate and frail; they need proper training."

Ziwu suppressed a laugh and respectfully replied, "Yes."