The next morning, Xu Lejin was gently awakened from her sleep by Yingchun and Zhishu.

Sitting upright in front of the dressing table, Xu Lejin looked at Yingchun, who was frowning and hesitant to speak, and asked softly, "Yingchun, was everything alright with the Emperor in the main hall last night?"

"What time did Your Majesty get up this morning?"

Yingchun respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is well. He got up at dawn this morning."

After a pause, Yingchun's expression turned solemn. She carefully chose her words and said softly, "My lady, last night the Emperor was drunk and somehow he favored your half-sister, Wanyin."

"Has the Emperor favored Xu Wanyin?"

Xu Lejin looked surprised, but quickly recovered and said with a smile, "It is the Emperor's good fortune to have favored Eleventh Sister. Has the Emperor given any instructions on how to settle Eleventh Sister? Should she be transferred to the Emperor's palace as a maid, or should she stay in Yikun Palace as a maid to serve the Emperor in bed?"

"Your Majesty, His Majesty has not said how to settle Miss Wanyin."

Yingchun lowered her head slightly.

After a moment of contemplation, Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a glance, bowed and knelt down, "Please punish us, Your Highness. We don't know what happened. We don't know how Miss Wanyin ended up in the main hall yesterday."

Aunts Chunhua and Qiuyan, who were standing to the side, frowned slightly.

Xu Lejin smiled lightly and said casually, "It's hard to guard against a traitor within the family, even if you're on guard day and night. Since Eleventh Sister is determined to climb into the Emperor's bed, how could I let you know?"

"The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, with three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines. The number of concubines and palace maids who have served him is neither more nor less important."

Chunhua and Qiuyan exchanged a glance and nodded with smiles.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Lejin said in a deep voice, "Since Eleventh Sister has gained the Emperor's favor, I will ask the head maid of Yikun Palace to arrange a little palace maid to serve her carefully."

"Whether she becomes a palace maid or stays in Yikun Palace, she was ultimately favored by the Emperor."

The welcoming of spring is a respectful response.

Inside Kunning Palace.

Yun Cui hurried into the inner room and respectfully bowed to the Empress.

The Empress's face darkened, and she spoke in a cold voice, "Yuncui, you are my dowry maid who I brought into the palace from the Hesheli family. You know my rules. I don't like to be disturbed when I'm getting ready."

"This servant knows, but..."

Yun Cui lowered her head, glancing at the Empress out of the corner of her eye, her expression conflicted.

With a wave of her hand, the Empress signaled Chu Qiao and Bi Xin, who were doing her hair and makeup, to stop. She looked at Yun Cui with a serious expression and said, "Speak, what is it that has made you so flustered and disorderly?"

"Your Majesty, is this about Yikun Palace?"

Yun Cui replied softly, pondering how to speak in a way that would not anger the Empress.

The Empress paused for a moment, then put on her long nail guards and asked, "What happened in Yikun Palace again? Last night, His Majesty got drunk and went to Lady Xu's quarters in Yikun Palace. Could it be that Lady Xu disregarded her pregnancy and forced herself on him, causing problems for the imperial fetus in her womb?"

Her face showed concern, but the Empress was secretly gloating.

Yun Cui looked up in surprise, glanced at the Empress, then lowered her head respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, it wasn't Consort Xu's service to the Emperor last night that caused the problem with the unborn child. It was..."

With a heavy heart, Yun Cui took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty, last night the Emperor favored Consort Xu's half-sister, Xu Wanyin, in the main hall of Yikun Palace."

Upon hearing this, the Empress's cheerful smile was immediately replaced by gloom.

Yun Cui, Chu Qiao, and the others lowered their eyes and dared not utter a sound. After a long while, the Empress spoke in a deep voice, "Good, good. Consort Xu's sister has been favored by the Emperor. Before long, there will be another sister in the harem."

"Yun Cui, the younger sister of Consort Xu, what kind of beauty is she? Why did she win the Emperor's favor?"

Yun Cui and Chu Qiao, who was standing next to her, exchanged a glance.

After pondering for a long time, Yun Cui spoke respectfully, "Your Majesty, Consort Xu's half-sister is only of average to above-average appearance. The only outstanding feature of her face is her pair of upturned phoenix eyes, which have a bewitching quality."

"Last night, Xu Wanyin took advantage of the Emperor's drunkenness and climbed into his bed. According to the palace servants who serve the Emperor, and the spies you placed in Yikun Palace, Consort Xu was unaware of this matter."

The Empress nodded, a cold smile playing on her lips.

Right there, the Empress suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower body, followed by a thick liquid flowing down her thighs. The Empress's expression changed slightly.

"Yuncui, I'm about to give birth..."

Yun Cui was taken aback for a moment, then quickly arranged for Chu Qiao, Bi Xin, and others to invite the imperial physician and the midwife.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Kunning Palace was bustling with activity. Consort Niohuru, Consort Tongjia, and a group of concubines including Xu Lejin had come to Kunning Palace to pay their respects to the Empress, but upon learning that the Empress was about to give birth, they were all stunned.

Consort Niohuru smiled gracefully, "Although Her Majesty the Empress's due date is ten days from now, it is reasonable for her to give birth a few days earlier. Now we only hope that Her Majesty the Empress will give birth to a healthy son."

"Yes, Sister Niohuru is right. The Empress's pregnancy is being given extra attention by both the court and the harem."

Consort Tongjia covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

At this moment, Zhao Chang, a young eunuch serving the emperor, hurriedly arrived at Kunning Palace.

"Your servant Zhao Chang greets the Empress Chuxiu, the Empress Chengqian, and all the concubines!"

Consort Niohuru paused for a moment, looked at Zhao Chang, and asked in a deep voice, "What brings Eunuch Zhao to Her Majesty's Kunning Palace at this hour? Does His Majesty have any orders?"

"Her Majesty the Empress went into labor early this morning and is currently giving birth in the delivery room."

The young eunuch Zhao Chang glanced in the direction of the side hall of Kunning Palace. Seeing the situation inside Kunning Palace, he realized it was exactly as Consort Niohuru had said. After thinking for a moment, Zhao Chang spoke respectfully.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has decreed that the palace maid Xu from the Imperial Stables be transferred to serve before the Emperor. This servant has come to report this matter to Your Majesty the Empress on the Emperor's orders."

Consort Niohuru and Consort Tongjia exchanged a glance before looking at Xu Lejin, who was bowing her head slightly.

A moment later, Consort Niohuru smiled and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Zhao. Her Majesty the Empress is currently giving birth in the delivery room. I will report the matter of the palace maid Xu to Her Majesty after Her Majesty gives birth."

"This servant thanks Your Highness of Chuxiu Palace."

Zhao Chang searched among the concubines, his gaze lingering on Xu Lejin for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Chang spoke respectfully. "Your Highness, Empress Chuxiu, Your Highness Chengqian, this servant has other duties to perform before the Emperor, this servant will take his leave."

"Please wait, Eunuch Zhao!"

After Zhao Chang left, Kunning Palace fell silent instantly.

Consort Niohuru glanced at Xu Lejin with a faint expression, then turned her head back to continue watching the Empress giving birth in the delivery room. Consort Tongjia, on the other hand, glared fiercely at Xu Lejin, her displeasure fully displayed on her face.

Consort Li, Consort Wanyan, and others looked displeased.