Two days later

The full moon celebrations for Bao Shou, Wu Xiha, and Una Xi were even more elaborate than their previous third-day celebrations.

Consorts like Ma Jia and Na La, who had children, felt a tightness in their chests, yet they had to maintain a dignified and proper smile on their faces, their hearts filled with frustration.

When Lady Xie entered the palace this time, she brought with her three eldest daughters: Xu Chujin, Xu Chaojin, and Xu Yujin.

"Oh, isn't this Consort Xu's second elder sister from her maternal family?"

At the full moon celebration, Xie Shi, Xu Chujin, and others sat quietly in a corner, watching the ceremony with expressions of pride. At this moment, a woman with a long face and dressed in the formal attire of a prince's wife walked over, looked down at Xu Chujin, and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

Xu Chaojin was taken aback for a moment, then quickly curtsied and bowed his head, saying respectfully, "May Prince Gong's wife be well and blessed."

"No, this lady dares not accept such auspicious greeting from the Second Princess of the Xu Mu'er family."

With a cold snort, the wife of Prince Gong continued with a disdainful expression, "The Second Princess used to work in the palace's flower room, where she cultivated the Green Beauty, which the Emperor and my Prince both greatly admired."

"I thought that the one who cultivated the Green-grade Beauty was some kind of stunning beauty, but it turns out she's nothing special. In my opinion, even the concubines of Prince Gong in the Prince Gong's Mansion are more beautiful than Second Princess Xu."

Xu Chaojin's face turned pale, his expression filled with humiliation.

Madam Xie smiled gently, looked at the wife of Prince Gong, and said indifferently, "Your teachings are correct. My daughter is certainly not as good as yours."

After a slight pause, Madam Xie changed the subject, looked at the wife of Prince Gong, and spoke softly.

"The Princess Consort is both beautiful and talented. She comes from the prominent Ma Jia clan and received a good education from a young age. She and Prince Gong are a loving and harmonious couple, and together they have raised the eldest prince of Prince Gong's mansion."

Upon hearing this, the wife of Prince Gong revealed a stubborn and proud expression.

"You're smart enough to know your place. My wife and the prince are naturally very much in love."

With a gentle smile on her face, Madam Xie subtly shook her head at her daughter, who was standing to the side with a face full of anger, signaling Xu Chaojin not to argue over trivial matters.

After seeing off Prince Gong's wife, Madam Xie looked at Xu Chaojin with a serious expression and lowered her voice to say, "She is Prince Gong's second wife. Although she is not as noble as his first wife, she is Prince Gong's lawfully wedded wife."

"His Majesty means that you will eventually have to enter Prince Gong's mansion. You will have to make a living under her in the future, and things like today will happen many times. Why bother getting angry with her?"

Xu Chaojin looked aggrieved, but in the end, with red eyes, he responded in a muffled voice.

After the full moon celebrations for Bao Shou, Wu Xiha, and Wu Naxi, all the concubines, imperial relatives, and noblewomen went to Consort Zhao's Chuxiu Palace to talk with her. In the west wing of Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin left behind only Xie Shi, Xu Chujin, and a few others.

With a respectful expression, Xie looked at Xu Lejin, whose head was wrapped in a headband, and carefully chose her words, saying, "Reporting to Consort Xu, I have already chosen husbands for the eligible daughters in my family in accordance with your wishes."

"Mother, there's no need to be so polite."

Xu Lejin spoke softly.

Immediately afterwards, Xu Lejin instructed Zhishu and Ruhua to move a few stools for Xie Shi, Xu Chujin, and others.

After declining a few times, the Xie family members carefully took their seats.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Lejin said gently, "Mother, may I tell you about the families where my sisters are betrothed? What are the character and talents of your brothers-in-law?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Xie carefully organized her thoughts before speaking respectfully to Xu Lejin.

"Chu Jin is the eldest, and it is not easy to find a husband for her. Therefore, I have chosen the fourth son of the eldest branch of the Suochuoluo family of the Plain White Banner for her. He is the same age as Chu Jin. He was previously engaged to another woman, but she died of illness before the marriage. As a result, the marriage has been delayed."

"Although he is the eldest son of the direct line, he has three elder brothers and two younger brothers born of the same line. He is somewhat weak-willed. Fortunately, his father is older and has been reported to be in poor health in recent years."

"After Chu Jin marries into the family and endures a few years, the young couple can separate from the family and live their own lives behind closed doors."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin nodded and looked at her eldest sister, Xu Chujin, who was standing to the side with her head down and her face flushed with embarrassment.

After a moment's thought, Xu Lejin said softly, "The Suochuoluo family is a family with many branches. They have branches in the Manchu Eight Banners and the three banners of the Imperial Household Department."

"With a large family, there are bound to be many conflicts. My future brother-in-law may not be as timid as he appears to be in the Sochoro family, and it's not impossible that he's hiding his true abilities."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shi and Xu Chujin were stunned.

Xu Lejin then added, "Even if she is truly timid, eldest sister is steady and methodical in her actions, and will surely be able to live a good life in the future."

Xu Chujin blushed and lowered her head.

After thinking for a moment, Xie replied softly, and then she brought up Xu Yujin's marriage.

Xu Yujin was married to the third son of the Tatara family, a prominent Manchu family. This third son was somewhat weak, and the princesses of prominent Manchu families were unwilling to marry a weak man. Therefore, after Xu Muer's family was promoted to a higher banner and given a surname, the Tatara family took the initiative to propose marriage.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Lejin said, "Although the Tatara family's purpose in seeking marriage is not pure, it is undeniable that this is a good match for Ninth Sister."

"Although Ninth Sister's husband is a bit weak, he grew up safely. His parents take good care of him because of his weak health. After Yu Jin marries into the family and gives birth to a legitimate son, she will be able to secure her position as the principal wife."

Madam Xie nodded with a smile, saying that she was only able to get such a good marriage thanks to Xu Lejin's good fortune.

After a short while, Madam Xie finished recounting in detail the stories of the illegitimate daughters of Aunt Qin and Aunt Chun, and the families they were betrothed to.

Qin Yiniang's illegitimate daughters, Xu Linglan, Xu Cuilan, and Xu Haolan, were eighteen, seventeen, and sixteen years old respectively. They were betrothed to the legitimate son of the Shumulu family, the second legitimate son of the Antu Guarjia family, and the third legitimate son of the Ilari family.

Neither good nor bad, it suits their status as illegitimate children.

The daughters of Aunt Chun, Xu Xueyan, sixteen, and Xu Zhiyan, fourteen, were betrothed to the third legitimate son of the Keliye family and the fourth legitimate son of a collateral branch of the Shajifucha family.

Although the sons of the Keliyete and Shajifucha families were born of the principal wife, they were mediocre in talent and only capable of maintaining the status quo.

Xu Lejin did not comment much on the marriages of her half-sisters, simply smiling and letting it pass.

Finally, Xu Lejin's gaze fell on her second sister, Xu Chaojin, and she hesitated before saying, "Mother, although the Emperor mentioned Prince Gong and my second sister to me, we still don't know how things will develop."

"Eldest sister and ninth sister, although their husbands' families are not prominent, they are both betrothed as principal wives. As for second sister's matter..."

Upon hearing this, Xie's expression turned solemn.

Xu Chaojin lowered her head, pondered for a long time, and then smiled brightly. "Whether you are a concubine in a palace or a royal mansion, or a wife in an ordinary peddler's household, you can't avoid sharing the same husband with other women."

"Since you can't avoid it no matter what, why not choose what's most suitable for you and what will bring you the most benefit?"