Xu Lejin's nonchalant words caused Consort Nara's expression to change.

Consort Zhang, who was standing to the side, exchanged a glance with Consort Hanyan, who was keeping her eyes lowered and remaining quiet.

After a moment's consideration, Consort Zhang said with a smile, "Sister Nara, Sister Xu, it's getting late. Let's go to Chuxiu Palace and pay our respects to the Lady of Chuxiu Palace."

"Today is our first time paying our respects to Her Highness at Chuxiu Palace. It wouldn't be good if we were late."

Consort Zhang's hesitant words successfully reminded everyone.

Consort Nara suppressed her displeasure and said coldly, "Sister Zhang is right. We shouldn't delay our greetings to the Lady of Chuxiu Palace because of irrelevant people and things."

After speaking, Consort Nara, accompanied by her maids, continued on her way.

Xu Lejin slightly curved her lips into a faint smile. After pausing for a moment, she followed closely behind the others and headed towards Chuxiu Palace.

Chuxiu Palace was unusually lively today.

Apart from Consort Tongjia, who was unwell and bedridden, and Consort Chuyun, who was confined by Emperor Kangxi to the east wing of Yikun Palace, all the other concubines in the palace came to pay their respects to Consort Niohuru, to show their respect for the future Empress.

Consort Niohuru sat gracefully in the main seat, her gentle gaze sweeping over the concubines below her. She smiled and said, "It's rare that all of you sisters have time to gather here in my Chuxiu Palace today."

"His Majesty recently had the Imperial Household Department send me some fine pre-Qingming Longjing tea, which I found quite delicious. Silver Frost and Red Glow, serve tea to all the concubines."

Palace maids Yinshuang and Hongxia, along with several other young maids, filed in, each carrying a teacup.

Xu Lejin's gaze subtly fell on Yinshuang and Hongxia, her brows furrowing slightly. She thought to herself that Consort Niohuru was not yet the new empress, and Emperor Kangxi's imperial edict of her investiture had not yet been issued, yet preparations for the head palace maid had already begun.

Hopefully, Consort Niohuru will be able to become the new empress as she wishes...

Consort Nara held her teacup, took a sip, and smiled as she spoke. "The things in Your Majesty's Chuxiu Palace are indeed excellent. This humble servant is foolish and has not read many books, so I do not know how to describe them. Today, thanks to Your Majesty's good fortune, drinking this tea, I feel that the aroma of the tea is overflowing and the fragrance lingers on my lips and teeth."

"If Consort Nara is pleased, then so be it."

Consort Niohuru smiled and glanced at the concubines without making a sound, then said, "Caiyue, later take some of the pre-rain Longjing tea and send it to Yanxi Palace for Concubine Nara to drink and enjoy."

Caiyue lowered her eyes and replied respectfully.

Consort Li and Consort Wanyan frowned slightly, exchanged a glance, shook their heads imperceptibly, and continued to sit upright in their seats, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings.

Consort Ma Jia's expression darkened slightly, and she chuckled softly.

"Your Highness, I heard that in addition to ordering the Imperial Household Department to send you the finest pre-rain Longjing tea, His Majesty also personally bestowed upon Your Highness Wuyi Dahongpao tea and some Liuan Guapian tea upon Consort Xu."

"I wonder, is the pre-rain Longjing tea in Your Majesty's palace more precious, or the Wuyi Dahongpao tea in Your Majesty's palace, or the Liuan Guapian tea in Consort Xu's palace, or is it better?"

Consort Ma Jia's words caused an instant silence in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then slightly raised her eyes to look at Consort Niohuru on the throne.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "The pre-rain Longjing tea in the Chuxiu Palace is a high-quality green tea, while the Wuyi Da Hong Pao tea in the Chengqian Palace is a rich and flavorful black tea."

"As for the Lu'an Melon Seed tea from my area, it has a clear and bright color."

After a pause, Xu Lejin continued, "Pre-rain Longjing tea, Wuyi Dahongpao tea, and Liuan Guapian tea each have their own merits and differences, and it's really hard to tell them apart in terms of quality or value."

"If we really want to distinguish between them, then the pre-rain Longjing tea from the Lady of Chuxiu Palace is naturally more precious. There is a folk saying that spring tea is worth ten thousand taels of silver, which shows how rare and precious the tea leaves picked in spring are."

After saying these words, Xu Lejin lowered her eyes slightly.

Consort Ma Jia looked displeased, glared at Xu Lejin, and swallowed the words that were about to come out.

Consort Niohuru smiled gently and said, "The gifts bestowed by His Majesty are all of the finest quality. Whether it is the pre-rain Longjing tea here, the Wuyi Dahongpao tea from Sister Tongjia's palace, or the Liuan Guapian tea from Consort Xu's place, they are all top-grade treasures."

The concubines exchanged glances and spoke in unison.

"Yes, what Her Highness the Princess of Chuxiu Palace said is very true."

An hour later, Xu Lejin and the other concubines bowed and took their leave from Chuxiu Palace.

Supported by Yingchun and Zhishu, Xu Lejin walked along the long street.

Just then, Consort Zhao Jia's voice came from behind, "Consort Xu, please wait?"

Xu Lejin stopped, turned around and looked at Consort Zhaojia with a puzzled expression.

Consort Zhao Jia stepped forward, exchanged a polite bow with Xu Lejin, and said softly, "Sister Xu, I called you here today to thank you for the great kindness you showed me on the day I gave birth."

"If it weren't for Sister Xu's advice that day, I would have been confused, and the seventh princess might not have been born safely. I will never forget Sister Xu's great kindness in this lifetime."

Xu Lejin's expression faltered slightly.

Then, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Sister Zhaojia, you're too kind. It was nothing. On the day you gave birth, I was thinking of the imperial heir and spoke a little harshly to you. I'm relieved that you don't blame me."

"I dare not accept such a great favor from Sister Zhaojia."

With her head slightly lowered, Xu Lejin wondered to herself, "What is Consort Zhaojia up to today?"

If I truly wanted to thank her, I wouldn't have waited until now.

Consort Zhao Jia has been out of confinement for more than half a month. She has plenty of time to personally visit the west wing of Yikun Palace to express her gratitude, instead of waiting until today outside Chuxiu Palace...

Consort Zhao smiled and continued, “Sister Xu, I remember you were only seven months pregnant, but today your belly looks unusually large.”

“Sister Xu, although you are carrying twins, it is normal for your belly to be a bit big. But I have heard that if a woman is pregnant and the first fetus is too big, she will suffer during childbirth.”

Turning her head away, Consort Zhaojia, where no one could see, flashed a cunning sneer in her eyes, and said with a solemn expression, "Sister Xu, although the imperial heir is of utmost importance, what if something happens to you during childbirth?"

"Your Highness, you have no children. If something were to happen to you, Sister Xu, the imperial child in your womb would likely have to be given to Your Highness to raise after birth."

Consort Zhao's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet every word pierced the heart.

Xu Lejin sneered, her gaze fixed on Consort Zhaojia. "Thank you for your concern, Sister Zhaojia. I come from a humble background; to bear His Majesty an heir is already a great blessing. If…"

"If it really comes to that point where I have no other choice, it would be my blessing to sacrifice my life for the imperial heir."

Consort Zhao Jia, her face dark with anger, glared fiercely at Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice, "I kindly advised you, yet you are so ungrateful! Humph..."