Xu Lejin was curious about who this palace maid who frequently received Emperor Kangxi's favor was, as were the Empress, Consort Niohuru, and the other concubines.

Inside Kunning Palace, the Empress stood with a gloomy face, not uttering a single word.

After a long while, the Empress spoke in a deep voice, "Palace maids in the Emperor's presence? Does the Emperor really like those lowly palace maids that much? Ma Jia, Zhang, Na La, Zhao Jia, Dong—half of the concubines in the harem were originally palace maids."

"Of His Majesty's children, apart from my poor child Chenghu and the one I am carrying, the rest were all born to lowly palace maids!"

Yun Cui quickly glanced around and whispered, "My lord, you mustn't say such things."

Indeed, half of the imperial concubines were originally palace maids.

However, princes and princesses born to palace maids are of noble royal blood. The Empress may look down on the concubines who were born palace maids, but she cannot look down on the imperial offspring.

With a cold laugh, the Empress's gaze fell on Nongyu, a palace maid with her head bowed.

"You just mentioned that the favored palace maid in the Emperor's presence, what is her name?"

Nongyu replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, that palace maid's surname is Guo Luoluo. She is the legitimate daughter of Sanguanbao, a bondservant officer of the Imperial Household Department, and she is only sixteen years old this year."

"Guoluo Luoshi? The daughter of Sanguanbao?"

The Empress frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said coldly, "What kind of woman is Guo Luoluo? How could she be so frequently favored by the Emperor?"

"There are palace maids who have won the emperor's favor, but this Guo Luoluo is the first one to have won the emperor's favor for several days in a row."

Nongyu lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment.

"Your Majesty, Lady Guoluo has bright eyes and white teeth, red lips and white teeth, and a voluptuous figure. She is a rare beauty. From afar, I can tell that Lady Guoluo's beauty is no less than that of Consort Ma Jia and Consort Zhang."

After a pause, Nongyu spoke softly, "Of course, even if Guo Luoluo is beautiful, she cannot compare to Your Majesty's unparalleled beauty, as dazzling and radiant as the bright moon."

The empress frowned and pondered.

Yun Cui hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, “Your Majesty, even though Guo Luoluo is beautiful, she is only a palace maid in front of the Emperor. There is no shortage of young and beautiful palace maids in front of the Emperor, and those who can stand out and be made a concubine are even fewer.”

"Guo Luoluo is currently favored, but she may not be fortunate enough to be made a concubine. Your Majesty is pregnant with the emperor's child, so you should not worry too much."

The Queen nodded.

With a slight smile, the Empress smiled faintly. "Indeed, she is but a lowly palace maid. There are as many beautiful palace maids in the harem as flowers and grass. I will just watch coldly and see if this 'favored' Guo Luoluo can stand out among all the palace maids."

"After the Emperor bestows upon her the title of Consort, it will not be too late for me to have a proper meeting with her."

Yun Cui and Nong Yu exchanged a glance and smiled as they replied, "Yes."

Yikun Palace.

Upon hearing Zhishu's report, Xu Lejin's lips curled up slightly.

Guo Luoluo, daughter of Sanguanbao?

If nothing unexpected happens, this Guo Luoluo clan member is very likely the same Guo Luoluo clan member who was Consort Yi during the Kangxi Emperor's reign.

Historically, it is said that Consort Yi was favored by the emperor and accompanied him on his southern tour.

The character Yi in "Kangxi's Private Visits" is based on the historical figure of Consort Yi.

Xu Lejin gazed at the bright spring scenery outside and murmured softly, "Guo Luoluo Yiyun? Now I'm quite curious, what kind of beauty is this Guo Luoluo woman?"

"Your Highness, Lady Guoluo is merely a favored palace maid and may not have the opportunity to be promoted to the rank of concubine."

Yingchun carefully considered her words before speaking softly.

Xu Lejin smiled faintly, "Whether Guo Luoluo can be made a concubine is not something we, the people of the harem, can decide. If the Emperor truly likes a woman, it is not impossible for him to directly make her a concubine, even if it breaks the ancestral rules."

Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a glance and said respectfully, "Yes, what Your Highness says is very true."

March 1st.

Just as dawn was breaking, Xu Lejin was woken up by Yingchun and Zhishu. Her head was still groggy as she sat in front of the dressing table, letting Yingchun and Zhishu do her hair and dress her.

Half an hour later, Xu Lejin left Yikun Palace and headed towards Kunning Palace.

The spring chill was still in the air. Xu Lejin snapped awake, clutching her back and sighing inwardly. It was time to start going to Kunning Palace every day to pay her respects to the Empress again.

Starting at 5:00 AM each day, one should arrive at Kunning Palace before 7:00 AM and finish paying respects at the beginning of 9:00 AM.

"Sister Xu".

Consort Shangjia and Consort Fanjia arrived at Kunning Palace early. When Xu Lejin arrived, the two quickly curtsied and gave her a half-bow, exchanging greetings.

With a gentle smile, Consort Shangjia looked at Xu Lejin and said, "Sister Xu is in poor health and has been recuperating in Yikun Palace. My sister Fan Jia and I should have visited her there long ago, but alas..."

“Serving the Emperor is hard work, and Her Majesty the Empress is worried that my sister Fan Jia and I might have caught your illness. That’s why my sister Fan Jia and I have been unable to visit you at Yikun Palace. We hope you will forgive us.”

After speaking, Consort Shangjia slightly raised her chin, her face full of pride.

Xu Lejin smiled and said, "It's enough that Sister Shangjia has such a kind heart. I am weak and do not have the good fortune to serve the Emperor as often as Sister Shangjia and Sister Fanjia. I feel very ashamed."

The phrase "frequently serving the emperor in bed" was uttered.

Consort Shangjia and Consort Fanjia's expressions changed simultaneously. They glanced at Xu Lejin with gloomy eyes and lowered their heads without saying a word.

After Xu Lejin, Consort Hesheli, Consort Dong, and others arrived one after another.

Consort Ma Jia, heavily pregnant, arrived at Kunning Palace at the same time as Consort Niohuru.

Just as the concubines had lined up in order, news came from inside the main hall that the Empress had risen. Consort Niohuru led the other concubines in single file and sat down in their respective seats, quietly waiting for the Empress.

Inside the inner chamber, the Empress sat upright, her face somber.

"Has Madam Xu recovered?"

Yun Cui lowered her head, her movements as she did her hair and makeup became increasingly careful. She held her breath, not daring to make a sound, and was filled with doubt and confusion.

Consort Xu was already too ill to get out of bed!

They all thought that Consort Xu wouldn't make it through, but to their surprise, a month later, Consort Xu miraculously recovered and even came to pay her respects to the Empress today.

Nongyu knelt on the ground, her voice filled with fear, "Your Majesty, this servant doesn't know what happened either. A month ago, this servant went to Yikun Palace to check on things as Your Majesty instructed. At that time, Madam Xu was indeed too ill to get out of bed."

"This servant deserves to die, this servant deserves to die, please, Your Majesty, spare this servant..."

Yun Cui opened her mouth as if to say something, but swallowed the words back down.

The Empress's expression was solemn. After a long silence, she said coldly, "I am currently pregnant and, for the sake of the imperial heir, I do not wish to have my hands stained with blood. Nongyu, you should find another way out. From this day forward, I do not wish to see you in Kunning Palace."

"Your Majesty?"