"Her Imperial Noble Consort is the most magnanimous, gentle, and virtuous. She treats us concubines with the utmost care and respect. We admire her greatly!"

Consort Yi's flattery became increasingly smooth, and the Imperial Noble Consort was overjoyed to hear Consort Yi's words!

"Is Consort Chen feeling any better? I am preoccupied with palace affairs, and you are also ill, so I should not disturb you! I don't want you to bring your illness to me."

"It's all healed now, thank you for thinking of me so often, Imperial Noble Consort!" You still pull that stunt? I'll remember it!

"That's good. After the imperial physician takes your pulse, I will hang up your green plaque!"

Actually, she was already better a couple of days ago, but she just didn't want to put her green headband on. Now, however, she can't delay any longer.

"Thank you, Imperial Noble Consort!" Wanyi rose and performed a shallow curtsy, a gesture of respect for someone of a higher rank.

"The Imperial Noble Consort is most concerned about us, always inquiring about everything, afraid that we will be neglected! This is the true mistress of the harem, worthy of being the mother of the nation!" Noble Lady Yi praised again.

"Empress of the nation? The Imperial Noble Consort is probably not qualified! Or was it Consort Yi who was made Empress?"

Consort Yi lived in Chuxiu Palace. Consort Wen often set rules for her. Once, when Emperor Kangxi saw her, he exempted Consort Yi from paying respects to the principal. Therefore, Consort Wen and Consort Yi were not on good terms, and Consort Wen even harbored some resentment towards Consort Wan.

"That's not what I meant, Your Highness Consort Wen has misunderstood. Your Highness Imperial Noble Consort is currently equivalent to the Empress, and the next rank above her is the Empress. Besides, Your Highness Imperial Noble Consort manages the affairs of the six palaces, so it's not unreasonable to say that you are the mother of the nation!"

Consort Yi said in a coquettish voice, "That's how I got Emperor Kangxi to exempt me from my daily greetings."

"Then I would like to ask Your Majesty, when did this Imperial Noble Consort become Empress, the mother of the nation? Currently, only Emperor Xiaoyiren and Empress Xiaozhaoren can be called that. Or do you simply ignore the rules? Or is someone doing this intentionally?"

Seeing that Consort Wen's expression was not right, Wanyi was afraid that she would lose her temper and say something she shouldn't have, so she spoke first.

Whether it was Consort Yi's own idea or someone taught her to say it, and no one needed to say who taught her, everyone looked at the Imperial Noble Consort.

"It was just my opinion, and I misspoke. Please punish me, Your Highness!" Consort Yi knew that she couldn't win against Consort Wan, since her words had indeed left room for criticism. She wouldn't be afraid of Consort Wen, but she couldn't afford to offend Consort Chen for the time being. Because of the incident where the imperial physician went to Yongshou Palace to take her pulse, the Emperor hadn't summoned her to his bedchamber for half a month. So she couldn't afford to offend Consort Chen again. As soon as she spoke, Consort Yi readily admitted her mistake.

"You've already surpassed most people by admitting your mistake. Considering this is your first offense, you'll be fined two months as a warning to others!"

The Imperial Noble Consort only lightly punished Consort Yi, which made Consort Wen particularly resentful. However, seeing the look in Consort Wan's eyes, she pursed her lips, turned her head to the side, and stopped talking.

"This concubine accepts the punishment!" Consort Yi was overjoyed to accept it, after all, this painless punishment was enough to make anyone's teeth ache.

"If we live in harmony within the inner palace, the Emperor can focus on his duties in the court. Serving the Emperor well is the duty of every concubine!"

The Imperial Noble Consort was very displeased that Consort Yi's words had been refuted. She was already an Imperial Noble Consort, and the next step would be Empress. Would the Emperor not make her Empress instead?

"Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings!" The Imperial Noble Consort felt much better when she saw the group of concubines below bowing to her.

"Alright, you may leave now!"

Looking at the increasing number of concubines, she felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. She had tried her best to stop loving her cousin, the Emperor, but she couldn't help it! Especially now that Kangxi was showing Wanyi such unreserved affection, with gifts flowing into Yongshou Palace like a river, no one dared to underestimate her even if she didn't spend the night there. On the other hand, she herself, who was in charge of the six palaces, could only be summoned to the Emperor's bedchamber once a month on the first and fifteenth of the month. The rest of the time, she could hardly see the Emperor, not even from afar.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Ningdong asked worriedly.

"I'm fine!" By the time the Imperial Noble Consort came to her senses, the place was already empty; those annoying concubines had already left!

"My lady, aren't you going back to the palace?" Furong asked, puzzled, as she saw Wanyi walking towards the Imperial Garden. "Your lady's pregnancy is unstable right now, so we can't afford any trouble!"

"The plum blossoms in Yimei Courtyard are the most beautiful every year. I'll go and see them too. I might have to wait until next year!"

Once her pregnancy is revealed, the Imperial Noble Consort will likely not tolerate her, and various conspiracies and schemes will follow. Only Yongshou Palace is relatively safe.

"Then watch your step, mistress!" Furong didn't say anything more, after all, when she was pregnant with the Fourth Prince last time, Wanyi was so distressed that she almost died.

“Enjoying plum blossoms in Kangli during winter is the most delightful experience!” Wanyi kept walking in, and the further she went, the more secluded it became, but the more beautiful it was. After all, no concubine would go so far in to enjoy plum blossoms.

"Greetings, Your Highness Consort Chen! Winter is the coldest time of year, please take care of yourself!"

Bayar Haojie never expected that even though he had been transferred to the remote Yimei Courtyard, he would still run into Wanyi. After that night, he kept her deep in his heart. She was the emperor's concubine, and he was a subject. They were destined not to be together. He only wanted to avoid her and watch her from afar, thinking that he would not cause her any trouble. But in the end, he couldn't help but go up and talk to her!

"No need for formalities!" Wanyi hadn't expected to see her child's father here, but it was alright, after all, the Bayar tribe was a large and prestigious family.

"Would Guard Bayar be available to escort me for a while?" Wanyi pointed to the depths of the Plum Courtyard, where there were the fewest people and it was a good place to talk!

"Your subject obeys!" He was overjoyed. It is said that a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a prostitute, a prostitute is not as good as a stolen affair, and a stolen affair is not as good as one that cannot be stolen. Although he did not have a wife yet, in his heart Wanyi was his wife.

"I heard your family is looking for a suitable woman of marriageable age in the capital for you?" Wanyi asked casually, as remaining silent wouldn't do.

"I believe that I should first achieve merit before establishing a family!" He has no intention of getting married right now.

"The orders of parents and the words of matchmakers are not to be taken lightly. However, if you are in charge of the household, no one will force you."

Wan Yi could be said to be relying on Bayar Haojie's love, she was practically saying, "You'd better try to take that family position!" Don't ask Wan Yi how she knew Bayar Haojie liked her, after all, how could a teenager like him know how to hide his overflowing love, and how could he escape Wan Yi's eyes?

"I was transferred to Yimei Courtyard to hone my skills. As for marriage, my elder brother is not yet married, how can I marry first?" Suddenly he realized that having an elder brother was not bad, even though he was born out of wedlock.

"By the way, I'm pregnant, and I'm already a month and a half along!" At some point, only the two of them remained. Wan Yi knew it was Fu Rongqing's presence.