Yinling's aloof words were clearly heard by everyone in Yikun Palace.

Xu Lejin shook her head almost imperceptibly.

The Qing Dynasty governed the country with filial piety. Although Consort Wen was only a concubine of Emperor Kangxi, she was also an elder of Yinling. If Yinling lectured Consort Wen in this way and it got out, people would probably make a big fuss about it.

People in the palace are so quick to believe anything they hear; she's really tired of it!

Emperor Kangxi's eyes were solemn as he frowned in deep thought. Consort Wen stared wide-eyed in surprise, while the other concubines in the harem looked down at the ground, wishing they could plug their ears so they wouldn't hear anything.

A cup of tea, a quarter of an hour passed.

Consort Wen recovered from her shock and astonishment, her eyes turning vicious and venomous as she glared at Xu Lejin and Yinling. With a grim face, she said, "I am the Third Prince's stepmother. Is this the kind of good son that Your Highness has raised, given that the Third Prince is so disobedient and unfilial?"

Changing the subject, Consort Wen looked at Emperor Kangxi with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, you must do justice for me. The Third Prince can humiliate me like this even in front of you. Who knows what he might be doing behind your back?"

"Your Majesty, although I have only been in the palace for a short time, it was Your Majesty who issued the imperial decree to welcome me here."

With tears streaming down her face, Consort Wen wept so pitifully.

Xu Lejin frowned, looked up quickly at Kangxi, and wondered what Kangxi would do next.

What Consort Wen said was half true and half false. Although Yinling's words contained a sense of contempt for Consort Wen, in the end it was Consort Wen who stirred up trouble.

Although Yinling made a mistake, it was all to protect his mother.

Emperor Kangxi pondered for a moment. At this moment, Wu Naxi, who had been quiet all along, spoke softly, “Consort Wen, although Third Brother was wrong, he did not humiliate you. What Third Brother said was the truth. You are a concubine in the harem, trusted and relied upon by Father Emperor and Empress Dowager, and you hold power in the palace. You should be reasonable and just, not use your personal desires to settle personal scores.”

"Although your mother is now a Noble Consort, and her rank is higher than yours, which may make you unhappy, your mother has served Father Emperor for many years and has given birth to your son and others. Even if she has not made any great contributions, she has certainly worked hard."

Turning her head away, Wu Na hoped to see Kangxi.

"Father, I've recently learned a saying: 'To govern one's family, to manage the state, and to bring peace to the world—the imperial court and the harem are inextricably linked. Only when the harem is at peace can Father govern the country with all his heart.'"

"Fourth brother and twentieth sister will soon be a month old. After that, daughter and third brother will go to the heavens to cultivate with their master. Mother, seventh sister, younger brother and sister, we hope that Father Emperor can protect us more."

Consort Wen was taken aback.

Upon hearing that Yinling and Wunaxi were about to leave the Qing Dynasty to cultivate in the heavens, Xu Lejin's eyes were filled with reluctance.

Kangxi frowned, his mind replaying the words of Yinling and Wunaxi: "If you can't sweep a room, how can you sweep the world? You must manage your family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world."

The farce in Yikun Palace ended abruptly with Consort Wen being punished and stripped of her title.

Consort Wen, um, is now Consort Niohuru, or Consort Niohuru for short.

When Consort Niu returned to Chuxiu Palace, her face was ashen and so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip from it. She almost ground her teeth to powder and said coldly, "Today, I have failed miserably. Not only did I fail to suppress the Noble Consort, but I was also lectured by the Third Prince and the Eighth Princess."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty has also issued an edict stripping me of my title. Without my title, I am no longer as powerful as before. Like Consort Tong and Consort He, how can I expect the other concubines in the harem to trust me if I were to take charge of the palace in the future?"

The palace maid serving Consort Niu bowed her head slightly.

At this moment, Consort Niu's wet nurse spoke cautiously, "Your Highness, this servant feels that something is amiss. Last year, the earth shook, and half a year has passed since then. Why are people in the palace and the capital bringing up this old matter again?"

"Last year, the Imperial Concubine was hailed as a living bodhisattva who saved people from suffering in the capital. How come she has become a demon reincarnated this year?"

The old woman whispered her doubts, and Consort Niu's expression changed as she frowned and pondered.

Much later, Consort Niu also realized that things were indeed strange. That day, as she passed through the Imperial Garden, she overheard several palace maids whispering among themselves.

Looking back now, it's possible that someone deliberately leaked the information to her.

Furthermore, the reason I led the palace servants to the Consort's palace today to confront her seems to be because someone instigated and encouraged me.

My mind suddenly became clear and enlightened.

Consort Niu's face was gloomy, and she said coldly, "Investigate. I want to know who is spreading rumors behind my back, causing me to be reprimanded by the Emperor and stripped of my title."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Consort Niu's wet nurse respectfully acknowledged and withdrew.

Early the next morning

The news that the Third Prince and the Eighth Princess were about to go to the heavens to cultivate had spread throughout the palace.

The news of Consort Niu being stripped of her title spread throughout the six palaces, both east and west.

Cining Palace

The Empress Dowager sat upright, looking old and frail. After a moment of silence, she spoke in a cold voice, "Consort Niu is also a fool. She believes everything she hears and was easily persuaded to go to the Imperial Concubine's palace by a few words."

"Last year, the Imperial Concubine saved the people of the capital and was revered by them as a deity descended to earth. Furthermore, her sons, Yinling and Wunaxi, were blessed with divine favor and were taken in as disciples by immortals. The Imperial Concubine is at the height of her power."

"Consort Niu was born into the Niohuru clan, a noblewoman from a high-ranking family. She was meticulously raised by the Niohuru family, yet now she is being led by the nose, severely reprimanded by the Emperor, and stripped of her title."

With a soft sigh, the Empress Dowager's eyes turned solemn.

"Now, looking around the harem, there is no one who can rival the Imperial Concubine. I never imagined that a former palace maid of the Hesheli clan would become the Imperial Concubine in just a few years."

Sumalagu lowered her head and remained silent, her lips pursed.

Yanxi Palace

Consort Hui learned that Xu Lejin was unharmed, while Consort Niu was stripped of her title.

"The Imperial Concubine gave birth to several fine children, the Third Prince and the Eighth Princess, who were taken in as disciples by immortals and were also highly regarded by the Emperor. The Fourth Prince was born on the first day of the Lunar New Year and was given a name by the Emperor from birth, who placed high hopes on him."

"If this continues, where will I and my second prince have a place in the harem?"

Consort Hui looked bitter and resentful, and said in a cold voice, "I am not reconciled. What was the background of the Noble Consort? She was a palace maid by Empress Xiaocheng's side back then. Over the years, she has been granted a surname, raised to a higher banner, and promoted to the rank of Consort, then to Noble Consort."

"How can the Imperial Concubine's maternal family, the Xumur clan, compare to my Yehenara clan?"

The palace maid Cunxin lowered her head, lost in thought.

After a long while, Cunxin said softly, "Your Majesty, the most important thing in the harem is offspring. The Emperor is now thirty years old, but he has few sons. If our Yanxi Palace could have a few more sons, who knows what the future holds?"

"I heard from the older palace maids that during the reign of the late Emperor, the fourth prince, born to Empress Xiaoxian (née Dong'e), was also favored by the late Emperor from birth and was granted the title of Prince Rong, but..."

Cunxin raised her eyes and quickly glanced outside Yanxi Palace.

“The late Emperor’s fourth son died in infancy. The Consort’s fourth son is still young and may not grow up safely. Our second son still has a chance.”