"There are many concubines in the harem, and I think they are all suitable. However, Consort Rong and Consort Hui have children, and Consort Yi is young and will have her own children. In addition, Consort Yi has Consort Guo who is pregnant. As for the remaining Consorts, Consort An, Consort Jing, Consort Duan, and Consort Xi, we can choose one to take a look." Wanyi analyzed with a serious expression, without showing any favoritism.

"You're being naughty, that's as good as saying nothing." Kangxi even flicked Wanyi's nose, his vigilance subsiding. He hated forming cliques and engaging in favoritism the most, but Wanyi was impartial and the most suitable person to sit in that position, and she treated his children equally.

"Your Majesty, they're still watching!" Wanyi gave Kangxi a coquettish look.

Yikun Palace

"Hmph! I am pregnant with a dragon's child, not a prisoner. Why are you staring at me like this?"

Having been taught the ways of the inner palace, Consort Guo, after a few months of peace, became arrogant again as her due date approached, and no longer took Consort Yi's words to heart.

"My lady, keep your voice down. If Granny Yi hears you, she'll tell Consort Yi again. You don't want to hear Consort Yi lecturing you, do you?"

Cuilan nervously looked outside. The main reason was that Consort Guo was not coming, and Consort Yi would not punish her because she was pregnant. However, as a servant of Consort Guo, she was implicated.

"Alright, I'll have Granny Yi go and bring out the tonics." It was originally a maid's job, but she wanted to order Consort Yi to have Granny Yi, who was there to take care of her, do it.

"That's good!" Cuilan said softly.

"What did you say?" Consort Guo was eating sour dried fruit and didn't hear what Cuilan said clearly, she only knew that she spoke.

"This servant didn't say anything, but the New Year's banquet is in half a month, and Your Highness will be able to go out and attend the banquet. Even Consort Yi has no right to interfere!"

Cuilan suddenly realized that Consort Yi often said things like the roads were slippery in the snow, and always wouldn't let Consort Guo go out. That's how people are; the more they're told not to do something, the more they want to do it.

"That's right. There are still half a month left. I can wait. Once I give birth to the prince, she'll be in for a beating."

Consort Guo thought to herself in a good mood that she was already a Consort, and above Consort was the Imperial Concubine. It was said that a mother's status depended on her son, and the Emperor might even bestow upon her the title of Imperial Concubine!

"Since Your Highness likes sour flavors so much, and folklore says that sour foods indicate a boy and spicy foods indicate a girl, Your Highness's unborn child must be a prince." Cuilan also hoped that the prince would be a prince, as a prince was much more valuable than a princess.

Meanwhile, Duan Jing, who had not seen her mother for a long time and was now with Emperor Kangxi, could no longer hold back her tears and burst into sobs, which startled the Imperial Noble Consort.

"What's wrong with Princess Duanjing! Is she feeling unwell somewhere? Tell Her Majesty!" The Imperial Noble Consort patiently coaxed Princess Duanjing, trying to control her temper.

"Mother, I want my mother! Waaaaah~" Duan Jing cried, her voice trembling with sobs. She had been suffering from a weak constitution for some time, and now, her face turned even paler from crying.

"Don't cry, Your Majesty will take you out to play, okay? There's so much snow outside!" The Imperial Noble Consort hit the nail on the head. Before, Consort Bu was afraid that Duanjing would catch a cold, so she didn't let her play. Now that the Imperial Noble Consort is taking her out to play, the three-year-old child doesn't even remember her mother.

"Really? My wet nurse said that if Duanjing doesn't go to find her mother soon, she won't have a mother anymore." Duanjing, being quite shameless, betrayed her wet nurse, crying so hard she was still sniffling!

"How could that be? Ningdong is taking the princess outside to play!" After Ningdong took Princess Duanjing out, the Imperial Noble Consort suddenly stood up, her eyes like knives as she looked at the trembling wet nurse who was standing with her back bent.

"Your Highness, have mercy! This servant will never dare to do it again!" The wet nurse immediately knelt down and kept kowtowing.

"Who gave you the right to speak nonsense in Princess Duanjing's ear? If you had told me, perhaps I would have spared your life!"

The Imperial Noble Consort suppressed her anger, wondering which concubine in the harem had such a long reach that she dared to interfere in her palace.

"Your Highness, Imperial Noble Consort~" The wet nurse hesitated for a moment, but then she thought that even if Lady Zhaojia came out, she would only be a low-ranking concubine, how could she compare to the Imperial Noble Consort who was equivalent to a vice empress?

"What's wrong? Don't you think about your newborn grandson?" the Imperial Noble Consort threatened blatantly!

"Your Highness, please spare me! It's Zhao Jia, a commoner. She's trying to get the Second Princess to force Your Highness to rescue her!"

Upon hearing that it concerned his grandson, he completely forgot about securing a place for his granddaughter as a princess's playmate.

"Ha, what a good dog you are. Considering how diligently you serve Duanjing, guards, take her back to the Imperial Household Department!"

The Imperial Noble Consort said expressionlessly, "I knew it! Where can you find such a good mother? Now we're taking advantage of her, aren't we?"

"Your Highness, I know I was wrong. Please don't send me back to the Imperial Household Department!"

A maidservant who is returned to the Imperial Household Department is no longer needed by anyone. If she is lucky, she might get a menial job. Most of the time, she will be a wet nurse, which is nothing like the glory of being a princess's wet nurse.

"Take her away, don't offend Her Majesty's eyes!" Bingqiao quickly signaled the two eunuchs holding the wet nurse to take her away.

"Even after being confined to the Cold Palace, Lady Zhaojia is still restless. I was thinking of asking the Emperor to release her after some time, out of consideration for Duanjing. But since that's the case, then she can forget about ever getting out!"

After returning to her chambers, the Imperial Noble Consort felt increasingly uneasy about keeping Lady Zhaojia around, since she knew quite a lot. She knew that only the dead could keep quiet forever.

"This servant knows what to do!" Bingqiao agreed and went to prepare, after all, the sooner one dies, the sooner one is reborn!

"Isn't this Princess Duanjing? It's so cold outside, why are you out playing without even bringing a hot water bottle!" Consort Duan was passing by Jiangxue Pavilion when she saw Ningdong and Princess Duanjing playing together.

"This servant greets Consort Duan!" Ningdong pulled Duan Jing back to her side before bowing to Consort Duan.

"Get up!" Consort Duan was not annoyed by Ning Dong's defensive actions, but still greeted Princess Duan Jing with gentle warmth.

"Here, Your Highness, take this and warm your hands!"

Consort Duan handed the hot water bottle to Princess Duanjing and gently wiped her nose with a handkerchief. After all, Princess Duanjing had played around enough, and the moment she held the hot water bottle, it seemed to warm her heart.

"Thank you, Consort Duan!" Duan Jing politely gave Consort Duan a not-so-standard bow, all of which her mother had taught her: not to offend anyone outside, as they were of little power.

"No need to be so polite with Consort Duan!"

Consort Duan's heart melted as she listened to the soft, sweet voice. She never longed for imperial offspring, because she knew that her health had been damaged during her first pregnancy, which had dashed her hopes of having children.

“Princess Duanjing has been out for a while now, and I imagine the Imperial Noble Consort must be getting impatient with her. I'll take her back with me. Consort Duan, please do as you wish.” After saying this, Ningdong picked up Duanjing and walked past Consort Duan toward Chengqian Palace!