Xu Lejin's words were quite profound.

Yingchun pondered for a moment, then exchanged a glance with Zhishu, who had returned after presenting Nongyu. She awkwardly shut her mouth and pondered to herself.

The next day, at the Empress's Kunning Palace.

The Empress smiled as she looked down at Consort Zhang and Consort Ma, who were heavily pregnant. "Consort Zhang, your due date is approaching. How is the baby doing?"

"And Consort Ma Jia, you are seven months pregnant. Are you experiencing any discomfort?"

Consort Zhang smiled sweetly and replied respectfully.

"Your Majesty, the imperial physician has diagnosed that my unborn child is perfectly healthy. Now we are just waiting for the child to be born and give birth to a healthy little prince for Your Majesty."

After saying that, Consort Zhang proudly patted her enormous belly.

The Empress smiled faintly.

Consort Ma Jia smiled slightly and said softly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am well and my pregnancy is very stable. It is very likely to be a prince."

"Greetings, brother!"

The Empress spoke insincerely, "Your Majesty currently only has Consort Ma Jia's fourth son and Consort Na La's fifth son. If Consort Zhang and Consort Ma Jia were to have princes in their wombs, then Your Majesty would have four princes."

Consort Ma Jia and Consort Zhang smiled and agreed.

Consort Hesheli, Consort Li, and others were jealous, but on the surface they wore dignified and proper smiles, insincerely congratulating Consort Zhang and Consort Ma Jia on the upcoming birth of a prince.

The Empress paused, then changed the subject and looked at Consort Wanyan.

"Consort Wanyan was injured before, but after recuperating for some time, she has almost recovered. I have already instructed the Imperial Household Department to put up your green plaque again."

"His Majesty is currently busy with affairs of state and does not visit the inner palace often, so he inevitably neglects you. However, I believe that once His Majesty finishes his affairs of state, he will surely summon Consort Wanyan for his favor."

Consort Wanyan remained calm and composed, smiling as she replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, thank you for your concern."

The Empress smiled and nodded.

Then the Empress continued, "As all my sisters already know, Consort Xu in Yikun Palace was released from confinement yesterday afternoon. During her confinement, Consort Xu was in poor health, and yesterday I sent Nongyu to visit her in Yikun Palace!"

"Consort Xu is indeed in poor health and is too ill to get out of bed. Therefore, I have decided to exempt her from the morning and evening greetings for the time being, so that she can recuperate in Yikun Palace."

Consort Niohuru glanced at the Empress with slightly raised eyes.

Immediately, Consort Niohuru took the lead, followed by all the concubines, and they all stood up and spoke in unison. "Her Majesty the Empress is kind and compassionate towards Consort Xu. It is a blessing for us concubines, a blessing for the harem, and a blessing for His Majesty."

The Empress smiled and said, "It is the Emperor's blessing and my blessing to have so many sisters in the harem. I am pregnant and unable to serve the Emperor, so I will trouble my sisters to serve him."

"We, your humble servants, dare not trouble ourselves in order to share the burdens of Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."

After giving a reprimand to the concubines in the harem, the Empress smiled with satisfaction and, feigning exhaustion, dismissed them to return to their respective palaces.

Inside Yikun Palace.

Xu Lejin lay reclining on the soft couch, and Ru Hua carefully prepared a plate of dried fruit and presented it to her.

Xu Lejin picked up a sour plum, put it in her mouth, and ate it with relish.

Ru Hua slightly raised her eyes and happened to see Xu Lejin's expression of enjoyment. She was stunned for a moment, and a bold guess came to her mind, but her expression remained indifferent.

Zhi Shu entered the hall with the food, muttering to herself.

"My lady, the people in the imperial kitchen have become increasingly greedy. If this continues, we may not have enough money."

Xu Lejin swallowed the sour plum in her mouth and looked at Zhishu.

With her lips slightly parted, Xu Lejin said, "The people from the Imperial Kitchen are asking you for money again?"

“My lady, you don’t know. Before, every time I went to the imperial kitchen to collect my meals, I was given one or two taels of silver. When you wanted extra dishes, it was only five or six taels of silver. Now…”

Zhi Shu angrily put down the food box. "Nowadays, the Imperial Kitchen is asking for exorbitant prices. For every dish you add, it costs ten taels of silver. I argued with them a bit, but the people in the Imperial Kitchen said that ingredients are expensive in spring, and the ten taels of silver per dish is only because they spared the ingredients and time to make it for you, considering that you are a concubine in the harem."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin frowned and pondered.

After a long while, Xu Lejin looked at the head palace maid Yingchun and asked in a deep voice, "Yingchun, how much silver do we have left? How long can we hold out?"

"Your Highness, we only have two hundred-tael silver notes left, and we've almost used up all our loose silver."

Yingchun pondered for a moment, then respectfully continued, "My lady, ever since you were confined to your quarters and rumors of your poor health spread, Lord Xu of the Imperial Stables has stopped sending you money. Furthermore…"

"At your home, Madam did send you fifty taels of silver, but with our current consumption, fifty taels won't last us more than a few days!"

Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

Half an hour later, Xu Lejin looked at Yingchun and spoke softly, "Now that I am 'weak' and have lost the emperor's favor, have my elder sisters and younger sisters been harassed by people in the palace in the Imperial Stables, the Flower Room, and the Embroidery Room?"

"Your Highness, Miss Chu Jin is in the embroidery room, where she is an outstanding embroiderer; Miss Chao Jin is in the flower room, where she is skilled at cultivating flowers; Miss Yu Jin is in the Imperial Stables, where she is looked after by Lord Xu; and Miss Fu Jin is by Miss Chu Jin's side, where Miss Chu Jin is protecting her."

"Although the ladies in the palace are sometimes troubled by the concubines, they are all safe and sound."

Xu Lejin nodded and said with a smile, "It's good that my sisters are alright. These are difficult times, and I can't protect them right now. I can only let them endure a little longer!"

Yingchun smiled and agreed.

After a pause, Xu Lejin continued, "I remember, my younger sister Lijin, who was born of the same mother, was eleven years old last year and will be twelve this year? Women of the Upper Three Banners who are bondservants must participate in the selection process when they turn twelve to serve in the palace. Lijin just happens to be of the age for this year's selection."

"Yingchun, I will write you a letter later. You can deliver it to your uncle at the Imperial Stables and ask him to pass it on to your mother. Lijin is still young. If he can enter the palace to serve a year or two later and avoid these turbulent times, that would be the best."

Yingchun respectfully replied, "Yes, this servant will certainly do a good job of what Your Highness has entrusted to me."

Xu Lejin smiled sweetly.

Looking up at the completely dark sky outside, Xu Lejin murmured softly, "Yingchun, Zhishu, Ruhua, you've suffered because of me."

"Get through this period, and everything will be alright."

Yingchun, Zhishu, and Ruhua exchanged a glance and quickly said respectfully, "We dare not. It is our honor to serve you, Your Highness. You treat us like family."