In the palace of Consort Xi.

After hearing the eunuch's report, both Consort Yu and Consort Xi stood up in shock.

"What did you say?" Consort Xi couldn't help but ask again.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has sent guards to surround the Imperial Household Department and arrested many people."

The eunuch spoke again cautiously.

Then, Consort Xi took a deep breath and softly instructed, "I understand. You may leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After the eunuch left, Consort Yu's thoughts gradually returned, but her face was somewhat pale.

Then, she grabbed Consort Xi's hand and whispered, "Consort Xi, the families of the princesses in the residences of Sixth Prince Hongzhou and Fifth Prince Hongli all work in the Imperial Household Department."

I wonder if their family members have done anything wrong this time? Will it implicate Sixth Prince Hongzhou and Fifth Prince Hongli?

Consort Xi had calmed down by now. She gently grasped Consort Yu's hand and whispered, "Consort Yu, this matter concerning the Imperial Household Department is bound to have far-reaching implications."

However, the high-ranking officials of the Imperial Household Department were all Manchu princes, ministers, ministers, or Manchu guards and secretaries of the department. The family members of the princesses usually did not hold high positions.

Moreover, it's not just those two households that have those princesses. You should know, Consort Yu, that in our Emperor's harem, there are also some ladies-in-waiting, ladies-in-waiting, and princesses whose family members work in the Imperial Household Department.

Therefore, even if the families of those princesses did commit wrongdoings, it shouldn't implicate Sixth Prince Hongzhou and Fifth Prince Hongli.

After hearing Consort Xi's words, Consort Yu breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "What Consort Xi said is true. Not only do the Sixth Prince Hongzhou and the Fifth Prince Hongli have those princesses in their respective residences, but the Third Prince Hongshi also has them."

Upon hearing this, Consort Xi nodded, pondered for a moment, and then lowered her voice to say, "Sister Consort Yu, I just don't understand why His Majesty suddenly took action against the Imperial Household Department?"

Consort Yu frowned, shook her head gently, and whispered, "Sister Consort Xi, this matter is too sudden."

"No one probably expected His Majesty to suddenly take action against the Imperial Household Department this time!"

Consort Xi frowned, her expression shifting several times. Finally, she couldn't help but sigh, "The Emperor's thoughts are becoming increasingly unpredictable."

Upon hearing this, Consort Yu nodded.

...

In the palace of Consort Yu.

Upon hearing the news, Consort Yu and Consort Ning dismissed all their servants.

Consort Yu's eyes darted around, and she whispered, "Sister Ning, this is a wonderful thing!"

Consort Ning raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice, "Sister Yu, you are right. It is indeed a great thing for the two of us."

However, this was a huge blow to some concubines, high-ranking officials, and princesses. Even if they weren't implicated in the future, their lives wouldn't be as comfortable as before.

After looking around, Consort Yu leaned down and whispered in Consort Ning's ear, "That's right! Their families all want them to emulate Empress Xiaogongren!"

Even if they can't, I still hope they can give birth to a prince or a princess.

Therefore, although they have not yet been able to give birth to any children for the emperor.

However, because of the support she received, her life was much more comfortable than that of the other concubines.

"I reckon that back when Consort Shu was still a low-ranking concubine, she certainly didn't live as comfortably as these concubines, ladies-in-waiting, and princesses from the Plain White Banner, Plain Imperial Banner, and Bordered Yellow Banner of the Imperial Household Department."

Consort Ning nodded and whispered, "It's not just Consort Shu! Even before I became a consort, I didn't have the same comfortable life as them!"

Consort Yu sighed and whispered, "Sister Ning is right. We two concubines from the Han Banner Army and Consort Shu, who is from the Manchu Banner Army and has no background, all entered the palace alone."

Of course, they couldn't compare to the concubines from the Plain White Banner, Plain Imperial Banner, and Bordered Yellow Banner who had connections within the Imperial Household Department.

Because if they didn't have a powerful background in the Imperial Household Department, they wouldn't have been able to become the Emperor's concubines; besides, they all entered the palace with the Emperor's backing.

Consort Ning whispered, "Consort Yu is absolutely right. We were all selected from the Plain White Banner, Plain Yellow Banner, and Bordered Yellow Banner of the Imperial Household Department to enter the palace as maids."

Palace maids without any connections, like Green Lotus who serves me, and Plum Blossom who serves you, mostly could only live their lives as palace maids in peace and quiet.

Consort Yu nodded and whispered, "Sister Ning, it's a good thing anyway, after the Emperor's cleanup."

The bondservant officials of the Imperial Household Department will be more cautious in the short term; they shouldn't dare to engage in the same underhanded tactics as before.

At this moment, Consort Ning seemed to remember something and whispered, "Sister Yu, if I remember correctly, Consort Yun seems to be from the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Imperial Household Department."

Consort Yu frowned slightly and whispered, "Yes, Consort Ning, Consort Yun is indeed from the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Imperial Household Department."

...

Pure, unique, and beautiful.

Ituma Shushu was in the small study with the tenth prince Honghao and the eleventh prince Hongyao, helping them practice calligraphy.

At this time, Ituma Shushu was unaware of the matters concerning the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Because she is still recuperating in Chunqi Xiuse, the eunuchs and maids in her palace are still not allowed to go out into Yuanmingyuan.

Ituma Shushu looked at the two princes who were writing large characters with great concentration and nodded with satisfaction.

The tenth prince, Honghao, and the eleventh prince, Hongyao, are both a little over five years old now. Originally, according to Ituma Shushu's plan, she also wanted them to go to the Imperial Study to study when they turned five.

Although she is currently recuperating, it doesn't prevent the Tenth Prince Honghao and the Eleventh Prince Hongyao from studying in the Imperial Study!

Anyway, it's enough to have the Seventh Prince Hongzhao, the Eighth Prince Hongxu, and the Ninth Prince Hongxuan take the two of them. They also have several eunuchs, such as Xiao Xiangzi and Xiao Dongzi, to serve them.

However, when Ituma Shushu finished telling Emperor Yongzheng her idea, Emperor Yongzheng pondered for a moment and then rejected it.

Well, according to Emperor Yongzheng, the tenth prince Honghao and the eleventh prince Hongyao were both a step behind their older brothers when they were young.

Therefore, there's no need to rush for the two of them to study in the Imperial Study; let's postpone it for a while.

Ituma Shushu knew that Emperor Yongzheng truly doted on the Tenth Prince Honghao and the Eleventh Prince Hongyao, and probably after they had gone through the experience of learning to walk.

Emperor Yongzheng did not seem to have the same expectations for the two of them as he did for the seven princes Hongzhao, the eight princes Hongxu, and the nine princes Hongxuan.