"yes."

Half an incense stick later, the Empress Dowager knelt in the Buddhist hall, chanting incantations.

In the courtyard of Cining Palace, under the corridor, Sumalagu tilted her head slightly, gazing at the azure sky, lost in deep thought.

Throughout her life, she accompanied the Empress Dowager from a very young age.

She and the Empress Dowager spent decades together.

Once, when she was young and infatuated, she fell in love with a man, but circumstances at the time did not allow it, and she and that handsome and refined young man missed each other.

After all these years of ups and downs, I thought I had let go, but...

If she had a choice and could control her emotions, she would want to be loyal to the Empress Dowager for life, instead of wavering and indecisive like she is now.

That day, in the afternoon

Xu Lejin's expression turned solemn upon hearing the reports from her subordinates Liuying and Qingtan.

After a while, Xu Lejin spoke coldly, "So, it seems the palace has been unknowingly infiltrated by the influence of bondservant families? Therefore—"

"The Uya clan, the Wanliuha clan, and the Suochuo clan are the three great bondservant families of the Imperial Household Department. The Uya clan and the Wanliuha clan have no concubines in the palace, while the Suochuo clan..."

After a pause, Xu Lejin squinted and continued, "The Suochuoluo clan is one of the eight major Manchu clans, and its members are spread throughout the Eight Banners and the Three Banners of Bondservants. The branch that Consort Rui belongs to was incorporated into the Plain Yellow Banner of Bondservants in its early years."

"Now that Consort Rui is pregnant, Lady Suochuoluo of the Imperial Household Department wants to do everything she can to protect Consort Rui's unborn child, hoping that Consort Rui will give birth to a prince or princess safely?"

Liu Ying and Qing Tan exchanged a glance.

Liu Ying respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, what this servant has inquired about is indeed the case. The Plain Yellow Banner, Bordered Yellow Banner, and Plain White Banner, which belong to the Imperial Household Department, have reached a tacit agreement among their bondservants."

"Yes, I understand."