"Yes, Your Majesty, we will certainly take good care of the Seventh Prince," Xia Ju and Dong Mei replied solemnly.

After giving these instructions, she was helped by Chunhua to the palanquin to pay her respects to the Empress in the clear and bright moonlight.

This was, in fact, the second time Ituma Shushu had paid her respects to the Queen.

Unlike last time, when it was the first time a concubine had to pay her respects to the Empress, this time it was her first time paying respects after being promoted to Consort Shu.

From then on, she would have to pay her respects to the Empress on the first and fifteenth of each month.

When Ituma Shushu arrived at Fengqingyueming, she found that Consort Ning, Consort Yu, Consort Yun, Consort Jing, and Consort Qi had already arrived.

The primary wives of the three princes also arrived: the primary wife of the third prince Hongshi, of the Guarjia clan; the primary wife of the fifth prince Hongli, of the Fuca clan; and the primary wife of the sixth prince Hongzhou, of the Magia clan.

After Ituma Shushu and the others exchanged greetings, it wasn't long before Consort Yu, Consort Qi, Consort Xi, and the Empress arrived.

"Greetings to Consort Yu."

"Greetings to Consort Xi."

"Greetings to Consort Qi."

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."

Then Ituma Shushu joined the others in paying their respects to Consort Yu, Consort Qi, Consort Xi, and the Empress.

After everyone was seated, the Empress said gently, "You should all have heard about this election, right?"

"Are a few more ladies going to join the harem?" Consort Jing asked with a smile, covering her mouth.

"That's true, it's been quite a while since any new ladies have entered the harem," Consort Qi chimed in.

Consort Qi instead brought up another topic, saying softly, "It's been a long time since the Third Prince's household has had any new concubines."

Consort Xi nodded and said, "The Fifth Prince's residence also needs new women."

Consort Yu glanced at Ma Jia, the primary consort of the Sixth Prince Hongzhou, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "I will also choose a few suitable people for the Sixth Prince to serve."

The Empress seemed to glance at the primary consorts, then said calmly, "His Majesty has already mentioned to me that this selection is mainly for the imperial clan and the princes."

Ituma Shushu noticed that the primary consorts of the Third Prince Hongshi, Lady Guarjia, and the primary consort of the Fifth Prince Hongli, Lady Fucha, had relatively calm expressions, but it was impossible to tell what they were thinking.

The primary consort of the Sixth Prince Hongzhou, Lady Majia, clearly had a dark complexion.

However, none of the three primary wives said anything; instead, they all agreed.

Ituma Shushu thinks that the Empress might also be complaining in her heart that the Emperor and the Consorts love to bestow women upon the princes.

Back when the Empress was still Emperor Yongzheng's primary consort, Emperor Kangxi and Consort De liked to bestow women upon the Fourth Prince. The current Consort Qi, Consort Xi, and Consort Yu all began serving Emperor Yongzheng at that time.

The Empress continued gently, "Indeed, the harem hasn't welcomed any new women in a long time. His Majesty's intention is to select some concubines, such as Changzai and Yinglu."

Ahem, Ituma Shushu felt that everyone was looking at her at the same time.

The Empress talked about other things, but none of them were related to her.

On her way back, she also collected a large amount of life force.

Because of her pregnancy and the birth of the Seventh Prince, she hadn't received such a large amount of vitality points at once for quite some time.

Ituma Shushu has not forgotten that she is still a penniless woman burdened with debt.

So she was so happy she could hardly contain herself, but in the end, her concern for the Seventh Prince prevailed.

Just as Ituma Shushu was about to return to Chunfeng Qiuyu Pavilion, she met Consort Ning and Consort Yu, who had come together. She exchanged greetings with Consort Ning and Consort Yu.

Unlike Consort Ning, Consort Yu was a beautiful woman with tears in her eyes, the kind of woman who easily aroused a man's protective instincts.

"I've heard before that Consort Shu is extremely fond of appreciating flowers, plants, and trees. It seems that this rumor might not be entirely unfounded!" Consort Yu said with a coquettish smile, covering her mouth.

Ituma Shushu thought to herself that some of her habits as Consort Shu had probably already spread throughout the entire harem, and that soon many princesses and concubines would be imitating her.

But this is for the best; it makes me even more unremarkable.

Suddenly, Ituma Shushu had a flash of inspiration.

Then she said softly to Consort Yu, "This is because I have walked through the gates of death twice before. After that, I found that whenever I was close to flowers, plants and trees, my physical condition improved and I felt completely refreshed."

At this moment, Ituma Shushu's eyes seemed to be misty, and she continued softly, "At that time, I felt that it must be God's blessing upon me!"

At that time, I decided that I must spend more time with flowers, plants, and trees throughout my life, so I have had the habit of appreciating them from time to time ever since.

Consort Yu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "I see. No wonder there are such rumors in the harem."

Ituma Shushu felt she had said enough, so she said no more. She bowed to Consort Ning and Consort Yu and said, "Consort Ning and Consort Yu, since you have nothing else to say, I will return now."

After Ituma Shushu left, Consort Yu said sourly to Consort Ning in a low voice, "Sister Ning, look at this Consort Shu, she has neither good looks nor talent."

She certainly wouldn't try to please the Emperor. I heard that every time the Emperor went to see the Seventh Prince, she would just offer a dry "Greetings to the Emperor," and that was it.

Consort Ning seemed to be deep in thought, and said softly, "Consort Shu has always been honest and taciturn. I had actually met her twice before she met me."

She was indeed very devout; I still remember that day vividly!

That day, I saw Consort Shu holding a wildflower, her expression very serious, as if she were listening intently to something. After a moment, she gently released the wildflower.

Consort Ning paused for a moment, then continued softly, "Consort Yu, as you have seen, Consort Shu is indeed not good at pleasing the Emperor, but she is truly blessed. She became pregnant after only one night of serving the Emperor and gave birth to the Seventh Prince safely."

It's worth noting that Consort Shu fell seriously ill in her first year in the palace, and later suffered a second serious illness, yet she has indeed given birth to a healthy Seventh Prince.

Consort Yu remained silent for a long time after hearing Consort Ning's words.