The seventh prince, Yinzhen, was born amidst auspicious omens.

Moreover, the Seventh Prince was favored by Emperor Kangxi from the moment he was born. His birth mother, Lady Qijiahai, was promoted from a low-ranking concubine to a Noble Lady, making her the envy and topic of conversation among the concubines in the harem.

In Yanxi Palace

Consort Hui, her face grim, looked at Noble Lady Suochuoluo, who had served the Emperor in the Qianqing Palace yesterday and was only sent back to the side hall of Yanxi Palace this morning. She spoke coldly, "Noble Lady Suochuoluo, what do you think about the Emperor's favor towards you, and the Emperor's special treatment of the Seventh Prince and Noble Lady Qi?"

"Your Highness Consort Hui, this humble servant..."

Consort Suochuoluo felt bitter. Although she was frequently summoned by the Emperor to the Qianqing Palace to serve him, only she and the palace maids and eunuchs of the Qianqing Palace knew the truth behind it all.

The Emperor decreed that all eunuchs and palace maids serving before him must not reveal anything about her,

With a soft sigh, Consort Suochuoluo lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Your Highness Consort Hui, although His Majesty summoned me to his bedchamber, he never mentioned Consort Qi or the Seventh Prince to me."

"This humble servant does not know why His Majesty treats Consort Qi and the Seventh Prince differently."

After speaking, Consort Suochuoluo lowered her head and stared at her toes, her teeth almost grinding to powder. She was filled with resentment. What did it have to do with Consort Qi and the Seventh Prince being treated differently by the Emperor?

If Consort Hui wants to know, she can ask the Emperor.

Why ask her what she's doing? She's a powerful figure, the kind of "powerful figure" you'd expect her to know...

Consort Hui paused for a moment, then glared coldly at Noble Lady Suochuoluo, and rebuked her in a cold voice, "Noble Lady Suochuoluo, I am a Consort, and you are a Noble Lady. Do you think you can be so disrespectful just because the Emperor favors you?"

"I only asked you this because I thought highly of you. How dare you give me such a hard time? Do you even respect me?"

Consort Suochuoluo raised her head and glanced at Consort Hui with disdain.

"Your Highness, please forgive me, this humble servant did not mean it. Your Highness manages the six palaces, while I am but a lowly noblewoman. Your Highness may humiliate me however you wish, I will have no complaints, but..."

With a charming smile, Consort Suochuoluo looked at Consort Hui with a mocking expression and said in a coquettish voice, "His Majesty said that he will summon me to serve him tomorrow night. If Your Highness punishes me, I will not be able to serve His Majesty."

"What should I do if His Majesty blames me?"

After speaking, Noble Lady Socholo raised her head slightly, her face full of stubborn pride.

Consort Hui's face turned pale and then red, and she almost ground her teeth to powder. She glared fiercely at Noble Lady Suochuoluo, "You, you, how dare you! Who gave you permission to speak to me like that?"

Noble Lady Socholu chuckled softly.

“Your Highness Consort Hui, it is naturally the Emperor’s permission that allows me to do this. After all, I am favored, while Your Highness Consort Hui, I am afraid you have not served the Emperor for three to five years.”

With the help of a palace maid, Consort Suochuoluo stood up gracefully. "Your Highness Consort Hui, in the palace, without the Emperor's favor, one is considered lowly."

"Your Highness Consort Hui, though you hold the rank of consort, you are not favored by the Emperor."

After saying this, Consort Suochuoluo swayed away gracefully, leaving Consort Hui in the main hall of Yanxi Palace, so angry that she vomited blood, her face contorted with rage, her heart filled with hatred for Consort Suochuoluo.

October 16

Xu Lejin sat upright in the main seat, looking down at the group of concubines below.

Clearing her throat, Xu Lejin spoke softly, "Consort Hui caught a cold yesterday and couldn't get out of bed. This morning she sent someone to report that I have granted her permission to rest and recuperate in Yanxi Palace."

"Consort Yu is kind and benevolent, a blessing to the harem."

Consort Que smiled sweetly, covering her mouth as she spoke in a coquettish voice.

Xu Lejin nodded, and after a moment's thought, she continued, "Consort Hui is ill, so I'll trouble you, Consort Que, to take care of the palace affairs. If you are too busy, please..."

After a pause, Xu Lejin carefully said, "With the year-end approaching, there are many things to do in the palace. I'm considering having Consort Duan and Consort Wan assist Consort Que. What do you think, Consort Que?"

His expression paused slightly.

After thinking it over quickly, Consort Que smiled and said, "Consort Yu, you have considered things very well. I have to raise the Twenty-Second Princess, and without Consort Hui's assistance, I am indeed overwhelmed."

"Consort Duan and Consort Wan have served in the palace for many years, managing Jingyang Palace and Yonghe Palace with great efficiency. They will surely be adept at assisting in palace affairs. My younger sister, Consort Xie Yu, is very understanding."

Xu Lejin nodded slightly and looked at Consort Duan and Consort Wan.

Consort Duan and Consort Wan exchanged a glance, then quickly stood up and said respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness, we will follow your instructions and assist you in managing palace affairs."

Nodding in satisfaction, Xu Lejin frowned slightly, lost in thought.

After a cup of tea

Xu Lejin spoke in a deep voice, "News has come from the Empress Dowager's palace that the Empress Dowager is unwell. After discussing with me, the Emperor has decided to entrust the task of attending to the Empress Dowager to Consort Ning and Consort Fu."

“Consort Fu is young and has been in the palace for less than a year. Consort Ning will have to put more effort into serving the Empress Dowager.”

Consort Ning and Consort Fu stood up and respectfully responded.

One month later

On this day, Xu Lejin was basking in the warm sun in Yikun Palace when Consort Que entered from outside the palace with red eyes and a sorrowful expression.

"Consort Yu, your aunt... your aunt has passed away."

With a sob in her voice, Consort Que spoke, her voice choked with emotion.

Xu Lejin was taken aback upon hearing this. She gave Ruhua and Nongying a wink and said softly, "How come my sister's aunt passed away so suddenly?"

"Why didn't we hear any news about this before?"

Consort Que raised her red and swollen eyes and began to sob uncontrollably.

“Just half a month ago, my aunt sent a letter to the palace saying that everything was fine at home. But in just half a month, she passed away. Sister, I suspect it was…”

Xu Lejin's expression faltered slightly.

She glanced quickly outside, nodded to Ruhua and Nongying, and whispered, "Sister, be careful what you say, lest the walls have ears. It's normal for you to have suspicions about your aunt's sudden death."

"However, without evidence, my sister should be careful not to alert the enemy."

Nodding heavily, Consort Que had tears in her eyes.

"Your teachings, Consort Yu, are truly wise. I know what to do now. I've lived with my aunt since childhood, relying on each other for survival. I thought that by entering the palace and becoming a Consort, I could protect my aunt and allow her to live out her days in peace. But..."

"My aunt passed away before she was even thirty-five!"

Xu Lejin sighed softly and shook her head almost imperceptibly.

After a short while, Consort Que raised her head, her eyes red, and said, "Consort Yu, I am so sorry. I lost my composure today and made you laugh at me."

"It's alright."

Looking at Consort Que, Xu Lejin opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.

As an outsider, she felt sorry for Consort Que's plight, but she couldn't interfere too much in Tong Guowei's family affairs, lest it backfire.

But,