"Yes, this servant will go and do it right away." Granny Kong was also looking for clever palace maids and training them, planning to have someone available when Wanyi was promoted, but it was all being done in secret.

While Wanyi was having dinner, Granny Kong told her about the recent events in the palace. She said that in mid-September, the remaining concubines would be led by Consort Tong to the imperial estate for smallpox vaccination.

"Your Majesty, I am about to go to the Imperial Estate. I wonder what arrangements the Third Prince has made?" Consort Ma wrote. She was leaving in two days, and she was extremely worried about taking the Third Prince to the Prince's Residence.

"I came here today to discuss something with you. I plan to take you to where the prince is first, and then bring you back when you return." Kangxi also valued the Third Prince Yinzhi, who lived not far from him; otherwise, it wouldn't have been a discussion but an imperial decree.

"Your Majesty, I think the servants the prince mentioned are very good, but they are still servants after all, and there will always be shortcomings. Your Majesty, why don't you let the Third Prince take them to the Empress Dowager, so that the Third Prince can fulfill his filial duty?" Consort Ma Jia originally wanted to say take them to the Grand Empress Dowager, but suddenly changed her mind and said the Empress Dowager.

"Alright, then tomorrow we'll take him to let Yinzhi get acquainted with him." Kangxi thought this was a good idea and immediately agreed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Consort Ma was quite satisfied with the result. Originally, she did not want to be vaccinated, but her maid Huandie persuaded her that the prince would be vaccinated when he grew up, and since she wanted to take care of him, she had to be vaccinated first.

"It's late, let's rest!" Kangxi looked at Consort Ma Jia, whose figure had become fuller after giving birth, and his desire burned even brighter.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Consort Ma Jia lowered her head shyly.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was the sixteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Consort Zhaojia announced that she was two months pregnant, adding to the already festive atmosphere. The Kangxi Emperor was so pleased that he rewarded Consort Zhaojia with many gifts and even gave her a special allowance.

"What is this, a flower viewing banquet?" Wanyi asked as Hongxiu handed her a pink invitation card with gold foil stamping.

"Yes, Consort Tong plans to set up a platform in the Imperial Garden in a few days to hold a flower-viewing banquet."

"Why did Consort Tong suddenly decide to hold a flower-viewing banquet?"

Wanyi disliked these lively places the most, especially since there was a pregnant woman in the harem. Such large-scale events offered too much room for manipulation.

“Your Highness, Empress Xiaochengren has been gone for three years,” said Granny Kong.

"So that's how it is! It's only March, and you're already so impatient!" Consort Tong is forming a faction!

"The time is almost up, how can we not be anxious? Since last year, Consort Tong has gradually become more docile, respectful to superiors and gentle and polite to inferiors." Granny Kong felt that Consort Tong was very likely to become the Empress, but Consort Zhao, with her powerful family background, also had a great chance.

"Should we go or not?" Hongxiu asked doubtfully. If they didn't go, they would offend Consort Tong. If they went, wouldn't that mean they were siding with Consort Tong?

"Go! Why wouldn't you go? It's just a simple flower viewing. I imagine Consort Zhao will go too!" So what if she went? Consort Tong was only hinting at it subtly, without saying it outright. They could just pretend they didn't know.

"Go! Consort Tong has sent an invitation to Consort Zhao." She had heard that the first one sent was to Consort Zhao.

"That settles it then. With Consort Zhao around, Consort Tong won't be able to catch us little shrimps." She was eager to outwit Consort Zhao!

"My lady, who do you think has the best chance of becoming empress?" Hongxiu asked curiously.

"And what do you think?" Wanyi countered.

"This servant thinks it should be Consort Tong! Consort Tong is favored by the Emperor. Although her family is not as powerful as Consort Zhao's, the Emperor likes her!" Judging from the current situation, everyone thinks that Consort Tong has a high chance of becoming the Empress.

"I think it's Consort Zhao." Wasn't Consort Zhao only the Empress for half a year in her past life?

"Why?" Hongxiu asked, puzzled.

"Just a guess," Wanyi said playfully, with an air of "believe it or not."

Yonghe Palace

"This is a good opportunity, Guo Luoluo Yihua. I'd like to see how you're going to escape this time!"

Consort Wuya glared fiercely at the invitation on the coffee table. Every time she encountered Consort Guoluo, she would be targeted by her, so much so that she now avoided her. The main reason was that Consort Guoluo was half a rank higher than her, so when she asked a question, she had to answer. It was true that being half a rank higher could crush a person.

"Your Highness's plan is brilliant! First, Consort Zhao Jia has lost her imperial heir, and Consort Guo Luoluo is now accused of harming an heir. Second, Consort Tong was implicated in this incident at the banquet, and Consort Tong will surely hate her to death." Chu Yao admired Consort Wu Ya's plan.

"Do as I say, and be careful not to let anyone find out." Consort Wuya felt much of her gloom dissipate when she thought of Consort Guoluo's fate.

"Yes, this servant will definitely do a good job." Chu Yao has been having a lot of bad luck lately because Consort Wuya has not been favored for a long time. The harem is a place where people are treated like royalty. Although there are clear orders that the harem should not be harsh on the concubines, the Imperial Household Department has all sorts of tricks up its sleeve, and there are always unspeakable sufferings. All of this is thanks to Consort Guoluo. Now that she can finally vent her anger, she is very happy.

"It's a rare opportunity to gather all the sisters together, so let's all enjoy the flowers and have a few drinks."

In March, when spring was in full bloom, Consort Tong hosted a banquet and invited all the concubines of the harem.

"I think I last saw such beautiful flowers last year. In the blink of an eye, I've been in the palace for several years now," Consort Dong sighed as she looked at the sea of ​​flowers in the distance.

“Who says otherwise! We’ve been in the palace for so long, we’re all like yesterday’s flowers, unlike these fresh and delicate girls. Look at their skin, it’s so tender it’s almost dripping with moisture.” Consort Yehenara entered the harem in the same period as Consort Ma Jia and the others.

"Sister Yehenara is right. Who doesn't know that the newly promoted Consort Daijia is the Emperor's new favorite, even Consort Guoluo has to take a backseat." It is conceivable how much Consort Daijia is favored by Emperor Kangxi.

“It’s just a novelty for a while. Once the novelty wears off, they’ll be no different from us. Sister Suo Zhuolun, am I right?” Consort Wang whispered.

"Who the Emperor likes is a matter for the Emperor to decide, and we shouldn't discuss it too much."

Consort Wanyi, Consort Ma Jia, Consort Yehenara, and Consort Wang were assigned to the same table, not according to seniority, but simply by sitting randomly.

“Sister Suo Zhuolun is right. It’s best if His Majesty doesn’t discuss this matter further,” Consort Ma Jia added.

"Sister Ma Jia, has the Third Prince been eating well lately?" As soon as Wan Yi started talking about the children, Consort Ma Jia and Consort Yehenara became interested, and the three of them completely ignored Consort Wang.

"It is Your Highness Consort Tong who is so thoughtful. I cannot drink alcohol, so you specially prepared flower tea for me. I thank Your Highness Consort Tong very much." Consort Zhaojia said with a hint of gratitude, but she did not drink the flower tea, but only took a sip with her lips.