"I wonder if the Emperors have any important business with their grandson?" Kangxi asked, seeing that everyone had left and the Empress Dowager was still sitting there calmly. He had no choice but to speak first.

"Xuan Ye! Empress Xiaochengren has been gone for almost three years. I imagine some people are getting impatient. I wonder what your plan is?" The Empress Dowager asked tactfully without wasting words.

"Now that the Crown Prince has been established, the Empress must be childless in order to treat my offspring well. If we were to select a concubine to enter the Empress's palace, it would be a waste of her time. We should choose a virtuous and benevolent concubine from the harem to be the Empress." Kangxi carefully explained the matter.

"So, according to you, you're going to choose between Consort Zhao and Consort Tong?" The Empress Dowager felt a knot in her heart, wondering if Kangxi wanted to push Consort Tong to the position of Empress!

"Consort Tong is gentle and is the best candidate for Empress. Her maternal family is also quite powerful. However, most of the members of Consort Zhao's family went to the Three Feudatories Campaign. Although they initially aligned themselves with Oboi, they ultimately stood on the Emperor's side. Moreover, Niohuru is Oboi's goddaughter, so she has no possibility of having children." The Empress Dowager analyzed carefully, essentially suggesting that Kangxi should choose Consort Zhao.

"What Your Majesty says is true. I also intend for Niohuru to be the Empress. The remaining positions can be roughly determined. Since we've come to this, let's discuss it together." Although Kangxi could not make Consort Tong the Empress, a secondary Empress would suffice.

"When I first redefined the ranks, I thought that if there was no Empress, I would appoint her as Imperial Noble Consort, with a rank equivalent to the Empress. If the Empress were still alive, to maintain proper hierarchy, the Imperial Noble Consort could not be appointed arbitrarily. If the Empress committed a serious offense, that would be a different story." The Empress Dowager knew perfectly well what Kangxi was thinking! She had already revised the palace rules long ago.

"Your Majesty's insight is truly remarkable. Consort Tong shall be made a Noble Consort! However, I only elevated my mother to the Bordered Yellow Banner back then. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I will elevate the entire Tong clan to the Bordered Yellow Banner." Kangxi felt that the Empress Dowager's words were correct, but he felt that he owed Consort Tong a debt.

“That’s how it should be, but we just didn’t have a reason before. Now it’s all there.” The Empress Dowager agreed wholeheartedly. She had already objected twice, but once or twice was acceptable, but not a third time.

"As for the rank of Consort, the Suozhuolun family has made the greatest contribution and is qualified to be Consort. I have already decided on the seven rank of Concubine, but there are still two to be carefully selected." Kangxi did not immediately announce the rank of Concubine.

"The Suozhuolun family has indeed made great contributions, but Ma Jia has given birth to too many children. She is also eligible for the title of Consort. I suggest that the title of Consort be left vacant for the time being, and that Suozhuolun be conferred the title together with her when she becomes pregnant. Otherwise, we will be putting her in the spotlight."

The Empress Dowager had a feeling that she would regret it if she made Suo Zhuolun a concubine. Although she didn't know why, her intuition was always very accurate.

"If that's the case, I won't be able to bestow titles upon the seven concubines," Kangxi said hesitantly.

"Rules are made by people. If that's not enough, then eight concubines will do. Concubines are also ranked, so Suo Zhuolun will be the head of the eight concubines." The Empress Dowager said indifferently. For someone of her status, changing things was just a matter of a word.

"Your Majesty is right, let's arrange it this way! Once I've arranged the ranks, I'll have Liang Jiugong bring them over for you to review." Kangxi sighed. He was happy to give Wan'er a concubine rank, after all, there were only a few concubines who could please him.

Just two hours after Emperor Kangxi left Cining Palace, the entire harem was in an uproar. The concubines were so excited that they didn't even take their afternoon naps, and kept asking about their rank.

"Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned Consort Wuya to serve him in bed. I heard that Consort Wuya sang a song on the Emperor's way back to the Qianqing Palace, which won his favor. That's why the Emperor summoned Consort Wuya to serve him in bed."

Because Wanyi never removed Consort Wuya from her surveillance, every move Consort Wuya made was reported back to Wanyi.

"She's really an unkillable cockroach," Wanyi thought to herself. She had thought that Consort Wuya had been suppressed, but she didn't expect her to be able to make a comeback. She was truly remarkable.

"My lady, what is Xiaoqiang?" Granny Kong asked in confusion.

"It's nothing. Just be careful. These are turbulent times. The previous dynasty just announced the promotion of concubines. Concubine Wuya's frequent actions suggest something fishy is going on. Increase the number of people and have them report everything, big or small, concerning Concubine Wuya to me." Wanyi felt that there must be a reason why Concubine Wuya kept bothering her, but she didn't know what it was.

"Yes, we have a third-class palace maid in Consort Wuya's household. She's one of our people. I heard she's been struggling financially lately, so I think she'd be happy to help you with something."

Granny Kong had planted a spy by Consort Wuya's side long ago, but had not made any contact. If Wanyi were to help this time, it would be easy for her to find out Consort Wuya's every move.

"As long as it's useful, money is no problem. Just take as much as you need from the dressing table." Wanyi felt that anything that could be bought with money was not a problem.

"This servant will definitely handle things perfectly." Granny Kong felt that she had followed the right person; those who are destined for great things do not care about temporary gains or losses.

Time passed slowly as Wanyi gathered information about the inner palace and secretly nurtured her pregnancy.

"She's just sick, not terminally ill. Why is it so hard to lure her out? It just means you guys are useless."

After experiencing pregnancy symptoms, she tried to lure Suo Zhuolun out, but no matter what method she used, Suo Zhuolun wouldn't fall into the trap and wouldn't budge an inch.

“Please calm down, Your Highness. It’s just that Consort Suo Zhuolun is too cautious. She hasn’t come out at all. But I heard that she’s too sick to get out of bed, so she’s not going out.” Chu Yao knelt down beside her, trembling, and tried to explain calmly.

"Alright, get up! Go see how Guo Luoluo is doing." She disliked this one just as much. They were both born into the same family of bondservants, so why was she treated as superior?

"Yes." Chu Yao looked at Consort Wuya's ferocious face and knew that if she didn't handle things well this time, she would be marginalized and no longer be taken seriously.

"Go and invite Imperial Physician He here! Some things are known to everyone, and that's when there's no way to defend oneself." Consort Wuya planned to play a scheme against Guo Luoluo.

"This servant will go right away." Chu Yao immediately went out, afraid that she would be stopped by Consort Wuya.

In less than half an hour, the news that Consort Wuya was almost a month pregnant spread throughout the entire harem. The East Annex of Yonghe Palace, which had been like a cold palace, became bustling with people coming and going.

"She's lucky to get pregnant at this crucial time. Humph! Give the order to keep a low profile for now. We'll settle the score properly after she's gone."

When Consort Guoluo heard that Consort Wuya was pregnant, although she was furious, she quickly composed herself and restrained the palace servants to prevent Consort Wuya from plotting against her.

"My lady, would you like it?" Qingfen made a throat-slitting gesture.

"No need. She's only a month pregnant, which is the most unstable time. There are many people who don't want her to give birth." Her foundation is unstable now. If she makes a move against Consort Wuya, she may not be able to escape unscathed. She can only lay low for the time being.