Xu Lejin sent a young palace maid named Ruhua to deliver medicine to Nongyu in Kunning Palace. She managed to deceive the Empress and the concubines, but she could not deceive Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager.

After pondering for a long time, Kangxi said coldly, "Since the Empress became pregnant, she has been jealous and repeatedly made things difficult for Xu Shi and the concubines in the harem. She has become increasingly unruly."

"Considering that she is the mistress of the harem and is six months pregnant, I will not hold it against her."

After a pause, Kangxi glanced outside the Qianqing Palace and then said, "Liang Jiugong, tell Chunhua and Qiuyan that they do not need to report every move of Xu Shi in the Yikun Palace to me in the future."

Liang Jiugong paused for a moment, then respectfully replied, "Yes."

After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Liang Jiugong stood under the corridor, gazing towards the Yikun Palace, one of the Six Western Palaces, and fell into deep thought.

After a long while, Liang Jiugong secretly pondered in his heart that Consort Xu was blessed by Heaven. Although she was of low birth, she was pregnant with the Emperor's children, and they were twins, which was a rare occurrence. It was normal for the Emperor to pay attention to her.

"Li Dequan?"

Liang Jiugong beckoned to his apprentice beside him and whispered a few words in Li Dequan's ear. Li Dequan respectfully responded and withdrew. Not far away, the eunuch Zhao Chang had a gloomy face and stared hatefully at Li Dequan's departing figure, his eyes rolling around.

Suddenly, Zhao Chang thought of something.

East side hall of Zhongcui Palace.

Consort Ma Jia was in her postpartum confinement period when her wet nurse carried the fifth princess into the palace and carefully bowed to Consort Ma Jia.

The wet nurse thought to herself, "Ever since Consort Ma Jia learned that she had given birth to a little princess, she has disliked the little princess very much. Why did she suddenly ask them to bring the little princess into the palace today?"

"Put the little princess closer so I can have a good look at her."

Consort Ma Jia looked at the pink swaddle in the wet nurse's hands, and spoke gently, but her heart was full of resentment and anger.

How could her child have gone from being a prince to a princess?

She already has one princess, and now she's going to give birth to another. Ten days have passed since the day she gave birth, but the Emperor hasn't even stepped into the Zhongcui Palace.

The wet nurse brought the fifth princess to Consort Ma Jia. Consort Ma Jia looked at her chubby, beautiful daughter in the swaddling clothes, and even though she didn't like her in her heart, her expression softened a lot.

The wet nurse carefully chose her words and spoke softly, "My lady, the little princess is exceptionally adorable. She eats and sleeps well. We, the eight wet nurses, will do our best to take care of the little princess and ensure her safe growth."

"Um."

Consort Ma Jia responded with a faint "yes".

After a pause, Consort Ma Jia gestured to the wet nurse to take the fifth princess away and take good care of her, while she leaned against the soft couch, gazing out of the hall with a thoughtful expression on her face.

The palace maid Caiwei lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before saying softly, "My lady, on the day our little princess celebrated her third birthday, Consort Xu of Yikun Palace was diagnosed with oleander flower powder poisoning. The Emperor bestowed upon the two imperial maids, Chunhua and Qiuyan, to serve Consort Xu in Yikun Palace."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Ma Jia exclaimed in a shrill voice, "Chunhua and Qiuyan are old servants who have served the Emperor. They were once by the side of Empress Xiaokangzhang, the former Emperor."

"After Consort Chengqian entered the palace, she repeatedly asked the Emperor for the two aunts, Chunhua and Qiuyan, but the Emperor refused each time. Now, the Emperor has actually bestowed Chunhua and Qiuyan upon Lady Xu."

Caiwei lowered her eyes and stared at her toes in silence.

After a long while, Consort Ma Jia's eyes turned cold. "Xu Shi seduced the Emperor, she is truly despicable. I, Consort Ma Jia, have borne the Emperor two sons and two daughters. Although Cheng Rui died young, I still have one son and two daughters."

"His Majesty has not yet bestowed upon me, the concubine, the aunt who serves him in the imperial court, but now he has given Chunhua and Qiuyan to Xu."

Caiwei timidly raised her head and glanced at Consort Ma Jia.

After a moment's consideration, Caiwei gently advised, "Your Highness, it's understandable that the Emperor would be concerned about Consort Xu's twins. You've just given birth and haven't fully recovered yet, so it's not advisable for you to get angry."

"How could I, a concubine, not be furious? Xu is a newcomer who has served the Emperor for less than half a year. Now, relying on her pregnancy with the Emperor's child, she's practically riding on my head. How can I let her be so arrogant..."

With a solemn expression, Consort Ma Jia pondered for a long time, then her eyes darted around and she immediately came up with an idea.

The following afternoon, Emperor Kangxi visited Yikun Palace to accompany Xu Lejin.

Xu Lejin looked up at Kangxi with a smile and said happily, "It is my blessing, my goodness, that Your Majesty has come to my humble abode to accompany me and the dragon child in my womb."

"Um."

Kangxi paused for a moment, looked at Xu Lejin, and said, "The other concubines in the palace all look forward to me visiting their palaces and often send various soups and snacks to Qianqing Palace. Only you, my beloved concubine, are so quiet."

Xu Lejin smiled gently.

"Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state, and I dare not disturb you. I only ask that Your Majesty cherishes me and my unborn child in your heart, and that will be enough for me!"

Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily and looked at Xu Lejin with doting eyes.

"If all the concubines in the harem were as considerate as my beloved consort, I would be completely satisfied."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin lowered her head slightly and rolled her eyes dramatically.

Which of the concubines in the harem doesn't bear the weight of their family's rise and fall, honor and disgrace, and the fervent expectations of their families? While they are young and still have some beauty, why don't they strive to win the emperor's favor and bear children? Or do they wait until they are old and their beauty fades to suffer in the harem every day?

As for her, it was purely by good luck that she became pregnant on her first time receiving the emperor's favor. Otherwise, she would have gone to great lengths to compete for the emperor's favor in order to survive in the palace.

At this moment, Liang Jiugong entered the hall with a grave expression. He glanced at Xu Lejin and forced himself to speak. "Your Majesty, news has come from Zhongcui Palace that the Fifth Princess has vomited milk."

"Why did you spit up milk?"

Kangxi's face darkened, and he looked at Liang Jiugong with displeasure, coldly saying, "How did the wet nurses take care of the Fifth Princess? Lady Ma Jia, as the Fifth Princess's birth mother, has previous experience in childbirth and raising children. How could you possibly handle the Fifth Princess's spitting up milk?"

How did you manage to alarm me?

Kangxi swallowed the last few words, glancing at Xu Lejin out of the corner of his eye.

Xu Lejin smiled slightly, looked up at Kangxi, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, the Fifth Princess has vomited milk, which is a serious matter. Sister Ma Jia must have no other choice, which is why she sent someone to report to Your Majesty. For the sake of the Fifth Princess's health, Your Majesty might as well go to Zhongcui Palace to take a look."

"I'm fine here."

After speaking, Xu Lejin lowered her head, looking down at her nose and inward.

Emperor Kangxi sighed deeply, pondered for a moment, and then said loudly, "I will go to Zhongcui Palace to see the Fifth Princess. If my beloved consort is tired, she should rest early and not wait for me."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command and respectfully see you off."

Xu Lejin smiled faintly and respectfully saw Kangxi off from the west side hall of Yikun Palace.

Outside Yikun Palace, the eunuchs and maids who had been secretly watching every move of Yikun Palace from the corner quickly left after Kangxi left, heading towards the East and West Six Palaces.