July arrived in the blink of an eye.

Under the strict protection of Qin Huai, Ru Hua, and the people secretly arranged by Emperor Kangxi, Xu Lejin's unborn child finally passed the first three months safely.

"Your Majesty's decree is already known to Consort Hui, Consort An, and Consort Duan. As I am getting old, I am prone to drowsiness during this pregnancy. Therefore, I will entrust the management of all affairs in the harem to you, Consort Hui and Consort An."

Seated in the main seat, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Hui, Consort An, and the other two with a smile on her face.

Consort Hui said respectfully, "It is my honor, along with Consort Duan and Consort An, to be able to share Your Majesty's burdens. Your Majesty, please rest assured that we will manage the affairs of the palace in an orderly manner."

"Um."

Xu Lejin nodded and said meaningfully, "I have faith in Consort Hui's abilities."

Changing the subject, Xu Lejin looked thoughtful as she gazed outside Yikun Palace.

After a moment, Xu Lejin said in a deep voice, "His Majesty mentioned the First Prince to me yesterday. With the passing of Consort Rong, the First Prince, the Second Princess, the Fourth Princess, and others are left without their mother to take care of them."

"His Majesty means that although the eldest prince, the second princess, and others have wet nurses to take care of their daily needs, however..."

After a pause, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Hui.

Consort Hui's eyes darted around quickly. She raised her head and said softly, "Your Majesty and Your Highness are very thoughtful. However, I have a second prince to raise and also have to raise the third princess. I am too busy to help Your Majesty."

Xu Lejin nodded slightly.

Consort An's eyes showed struggle and hesitation. After a long while, Consort An raised her head.

“When Consort Rong was alive, I had some grudges with her. If I take care of the First Prince and the Second Princess, I fear that Consort Rong will not have peace in the afterlife.”

"、、"

Xu Lejin could only look to Consort Duan, hoping that Consort Duan would take on the responsibility of taking care of the eldest prince and the second princess's daily life.

Consort Duan smiled bitterly and said in a low voice, "Your Highness Consort Yu, it's not that I'm unwilling to take care of the First Prince and the Second Princess, but it's that my Thirteenth Princess's health has been fluctuating these days, and I'm afraid I won't be able to take good care of the First Prince and the Second Princess."

"This concubine is incompetent..."

Consort Hui, Consort An, and Consort Duan were all unwilling to take care of the First Prince, the Second Princess, and others. Xu Lejin felt helpless and, after much thought, had no choice but to give up.

Forced relationships are never sweet, and she couldn't force Consort Hui, Consort An, and others to take care of the First Prince and the Second Princess, lest it backfire and cause more harm than good.

A few days later

Inside the Cining Palace, Consort Wei lowered her eyes and carefully massaged the Empress Dowager's feet and legs.

The Empress Dowager's aged face was grave as she coldly said, "Daijia's unborn child is now seven months along. You live with her in Yonghe Palace, do you know whether the child in her womb is a prince or a princess?"

Wei Changzai paused for a moment.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, since Sister Dai became pregnant, she has stayed indoors and focused on resting during her pregnancy. Although I live in Yonghe Palace with Sister Dai, we do not have any contact on a regular basis."

"This humble servant is foolish and truly does not know whether the child in Sister Dai's womb is a prince or a princess."

After speaking, Wei Changzai lowered his head, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

With a cold snort, the Empress Dowager remained silent in contemplation.

After a long while, the old voice of the Empress Dowager rang out, "Although Lady Daijia is not of high status, she is really lucky. She only served the Emperor once and became pregnant."

"Lady Wei, the Emperor has summoned you every month for the past six months. Have you had any pregnancy?"

The Empress Dowager's sharp gaze swept over Consort Wei's belly, and she secretly pondered to herself, "Consort Wei is quite clever, and her appearance is even more outstanding than Consort Dai's, but her belly..."

If Lady Wei is not useful, then she should look for another palace maid.

Wei Changzai trembled slightly, her face showing remorse, and her voice was barely audible, "This humble servant is unfortunate to have failed to conceive. Please forgive me, Empress Dowager."

"Um."

The Empress Dowager fell into deep thought.

An hour later, Consort Wei bowed and left Cining Palace. Su Mala Gu looked up at the Empress Dowager and said softly, "Empress Dowager, Consort Wei is young and beautiful. The Emperor likes her, and she will become pregnant sooner or later."

"As for Consort Dai, although she is dull and unwilling to get close to you, Empress Dowager, she was promoted by you to serve the Emperor. If she gives birth to a prince, the Emperor will not object if you, Empress Dowager, ask to raise the little prince."

The Empress Dowager frowned deeply.

"Wei has not conceived yet. I can wait, but the Khorchin cannot. Although Daijia's child is seven months along, she is not close to me. I really do not want to raise a prince whose birth mother is not close to me."

"There are many concubines in the palace, but very few are truly from noble families. If a daughter of a noble family were to give birth to a prince, why would I need to elevate Lady Daijia and Lady Wei?"

With a soft sigh, the Empress Dowager said coldly, "The Wei family is beautiful, but they come from the Xin Zhe Ku (a place for slaves and servants). Their ancestors were criminals who were convicted and forced into slavery in the Xin Zhe Ku..."

"The Khorchin region has selected several young and beautiful women, and I have mentioned this to the Emperor many times, but the Emperor has yet to give his approval."

Looking out of the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager showed a look of vicissitude.

"The Emperor has ultimately become estranged from me. He is wary of me and of the Khorchin!"

Sumalagu lowered her head, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.

Time passed day by day.

July 16

All the concubines, regardless of their rank, gathered at Yikun Palace to pay their respects to Xu Lejin.

Consort Hui's eyes darted around, her gaze catching Dai Changzai sitting quietly in the corner. She smiled and said, "Your Highness, Consort Yu, Dai Changzai's unborn child is already seven months along. We are all very curious: is it a prince or a princess?"

Xu Lejin pursed her lips and remained silent.

Consort Hui said sweetly, "Consort Dai is lucky, just like Consort Yu back then. She became pregnant on her first time serving the Emperor. I wonder if Consort Dai has the same good fortune as Consort Yu back then?"

"Even if Consort Dai is not fortunate enough to give birth to twins, but instead gives birth to two princes and two princesses, that would still be wonderful."

She covered her mouth and giggled twice.

Consort Hui raised her chin slightly and spoke in a cold voice, "Even if we concede further, Consort Dai did give birth to a prince..."

"His Majesty has few sons. There is only the eldest prince, the concubine's second prince, and Consort Yu's third prince. If Consort Dai gives birth to a prince, she will be granted the rank of Noble Lady, or even Consort."

Inside Yikun Palace, all was silent.

Xu Lejin squinted at Consort Hui for a long time before coldly saying, "Consort Hui seems quite concerned about the imperial heir in Consort Dai's womb? I had no idea that Consort Hui had become the one in charge of the harem."

"The promotion of concubines in the harem has become a one-man show by Consort Hui?"

Consort Hui's face paled, and she was secretly annoyed.

Xu Lejin chuckled lightly, looking at Consort Hui with a mocking expression, and said in a deep voice, "Consort Hui has a good memory. She remembers everything that happened back then perfectly."

"Today, Consort Hui made outrageous remarks in my palace. Could it be that she has connections everywhere and already knows whether Consort Dai's unborn child is a boy or a girl?"