Xu Lejin changed into a light purple palace dress, styled her hair in a simple bun, and slowly walked out of Yikun Palace, strolling along the long street towards Xianfu Palace.

As they approached Xianfu Palace, Xu Lejin gave Ru Hua a wink.

Ru Hua understood immediately. She took a few steps back, her face cold, and spoke in a deep voice to Ying'er, who was bowing and walking among the attendants, "Her Majesty will grant you a favor and allow you to serve her closely once."

"?"

Ying'er suddenly looked up, her face showing surprise and astonishment.

Responding quickly, Ying'er respectfully agreed and strode forward to Xu Lejin's side, where Ru Hua had previously stood, and carefully supported Xu Lejin.

With a slight upturn of her lips, Xu Lejin spoke softly.

"Ying'er has been serving me for some time now. I heard that Ruhua has assigned you cleaning and tidying duties in Yikun Palace. Are you able to adapt?"

Ying'er lowered her head, her expression changed, and she said respectfully, "It is my honor to be able to serve Your Highness. The sisters who do the cleaning and sweeping work with me are very kind to me. I am doing very well."

"Um."

Nodding, Xu Lejin stepped into the gate of Xianfu Palace and said softly, "You'll get used to it. No pain, no gain. The Imperial Concubine arranged for you to come to my side so that I could train you. After these few days, I think you've learned the rules very well."

"Today, the Imperial Concubine summoned me, and I brought you along specifically to have her examine you."

Xu Lejin raised her hand and adjusted the bun on her head.

"You are so beautiful, it is a pity that you are a palace maid. I am thinking of finding a suitable opportunity to ask the Emperor for a favor and to arrange a good marriage for you."

Upon hearing this, Ying'er nearly dropped her jaw in astonishment.

Qin Huai, standing to the side, covered her mouth, suppressing a laugh, and said sweetly, "Your Majesty, I've heard that there are many guards in the palace waiting for the Emperor to arrange their marriages."

“Ying’er is very pretty. A few days ago, several palace guards asked me about her.”

Xu Lejin smiled faintly and remained silent.

Ying'er's heart skipped a beat, and her mind raced.

A moment later, with a respectful expression, she said softly, "Your Majesty's kindness is overwhelming. This servant is humbled and only wishes to serve Your Majesty by your side forever."

"nonsense,"

Xu Lejin pretended to be angry, glared at Ying'er, and said coldly, "At such a beautiful age, how can you not get married? Don't worry, I will definitely inform the Emperor and find you a man from a good family."

Ying'er opened her mouth, as if to say something, but Ru Hua tugged at her sleeve, and she lowered her head sheepishly.

With a polite smile on her face, Xu Lejin walked into the main hall of Xianfu Palace.

The Imperial Concubine, dressed in a near-bright red palace gown, smiled as she looked at Xu Lejin, her gaze subtly falling on Xu Lejin's prominently protruding belly.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be blessed."

Avoiding the Consort's burning gaze without making a sound, Xu Lejin placed her hands on her abdomen, slightly bent her knees, and bowed to the Consort, thinking to herself, "The Consort looks much better today."

However, the Imperial Concubine's current condition seems more like a final burst of energy before death.

The Imperial Concubine gave a forced smile, slightly raising her chin and looking at Xu Lejin with a stubborn and arrogant expression. "Consort Yu, there's no need for such formalities. I've heard that Consort Yu's due date is this month. Lingyan?"

"This servant is here."

The palace maid Lingyan stepped forward with her head bowed.

The Imperial Concubine chuckled and ordered loudly, "Bring Consort Yu a thick cushion. Consort Yu is pregnant, and the chairs in my palace are a bit too hard."

Lingyan respectfully agreed, and a moment later, she came out with a thick cushion.

Xu Lejin nodded slightly, "Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the Imperial Concubine's gaze fell on Ying'er, the palace maid beside Xu Lejin, whose eyes were lowered. Her expression changed slightly, and she said softly, "The palace maid beside Consort Yu looks somewhat familiar to me?"

"Your Highness, the maidservant beside me is Ying'er, who was given to me by Your Highness a few days ago."

Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then replied with a smile.

Then she added, "I have not failed in my mission. After my training, Ying'er has become exceptionally well-behaved and sensible. She is also loyal and efficient in her work. I like her very much."

"I had long wanted to bring Ying'er to visit the Imperial Concubine, but unfortunately the Imperial Concubine has been unwell."

Upon hearing this, the imperial concubine gave an awkward smile.

The Imperial Concubine glared sharply at Ying'er, then covered her mouth and said, "Consort Yu is too kind. It's Ying'er's good fortune to be trained by Consort Yu!"

After saying that, the imperial concubine shut her mouth and remained silent.

After a cup of tea, the Imperial Concubine could not contain herself any longer. She looked at Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice to the maids serving her, "I have some private words that I want to say to Consort Yu in private. You may all leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The palace maid beside the imperial concubine bowed and withdrew.

Xu Lejin hesitated for a moment, then gave a wink to Qin Huai, Ying'er, and the others beside her. Qin Huai quickly glanced at the Imperial Concubine out of the corner of his eye. Although he was still worried, he calmly withdrew.

In an instant, only Consort Gui and Xu Lejin remained in the vast main hall of Xianfu Palace.

The Imperial Concubine smiled brightly, looked at Xu Lejin, and said, "I never imagined that Consort Yu would be so blessed. The Third Prince, the Seventh Princess, and the Eighth Princess, triplets that bring good fortune to the family."

"The twelfth princess raised in the Empress Dowager's palace, Consort Yu, this child in your womb."

With a resentful look in her eyes, the imperial concubine gave a cold laugh.

"Consort Yu, do you know how jealous I am of you? I'm jealous that you have both a son and a daughter, and that you became pregnant so soon after receiving the Emperor's favor, and then gave birth to triplets, a boy and a girl."

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