The concubines who lived in the Yuanmingyuan Garden returned to the Forbidden City earlier.
When Chen Yuwei appeared outside Yikun Palace again, looking at the palace she hadn't seen for several months, she felt a sense of disorientation.
"This servant greets Your Highness."
Xia Yu, along with all the palace servants of Yikun Palace, respectfully welcomed their master back.
"Your Majesty, you're finally back."
If he doesn't come back soon, Xia Yu will cry. It's not easy, it really isn't easy.
With no one to lead the family in the palace and having to care for a baby less than a year old, Xia Yu has been utterly exhausted these past few months.
I can't say I was physically exhausted, but at least the palace servants at Yikun Palace were quite obedient.
The psychological pressure was too great, and with various tests from other palaces, Xia Yu couldn't hold on.
Chen Yuwei looked at Xia Yu's slightly haggard face and patted her on the shoulder with a smile.
"I'm back. How is everything at Yikun Palace?"
Xia Yu nodded in response and smiled, "Your Majesty, rest assured, everything is fine in Yikun Palace."
Despite being tormented by this situation every day, Xia Yu did not slacken his guard at all in Yikun Palace.
To this day, no one has sent a spy into Yikun Palace. Apart from the annual selection of new members, Yikun Palace is defended with impenetrable security.
Chen Yuwei looked up at the small courtyard. The fallen leaves had been swept away, leaving only bare tree trunks and branches, which looked somewhat desolate and bleak.
"Your Majesty, you must be tired from your journey. Please go to the main hall to settle in. Everything will be taken care of by your servants."
Xia He showed concern for Chen Yuwei's health, noting that she hadn't been eating or sleeping well on the journey. She said that matters in the palace could wait, but her mistress needed to recover as soon as possible.
Chen Yuwei said "Oh," and then reminded Xia He not to forget to return to the children in the Princess's Residence and the Prince's Residence.
She went to the side hall again to check on Yongwei, who was being held in the wet nurse's arms, before pressing her forehead and going back to her room to lie down for a short rest.
Xia He served her mistress and then turned to call over Xia Yu, who was arranging for the palace servants to move and unload the goods.
Xia Yu quickly came to Xia He's side.
Xia He pointed outside with her finger, "What difficulties have you encountered these past few months? Is someone being dishonest and trying to harm our Yikun Palace?"
Xia Yu didn't expect Xia He to be so fierce; she could hear the anger in the last sentence.
Xia Yu hurriedly pulled Xia He to a corner and explained (complained) about the big and small things that had happened to her these days.
In short, apart from the Empress's side not taking any action, everyone else had more or less tested the strength of Yikun Palace.
Of course, the empress's inaction is the biggest move, and her indifference is a form of acquiescence.
Otherwise, where would some people get the audacity? Consort Jia was also involved in this.
Xia He: ...
Xia He asked, "Did you suffer a loss?"
Xia Yu shook her head, "We were tested and found out. A few people were transferred from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and we lost some of the people we had previously placed."
Sister, it's all my fault. There were some things I just couldn't avoid.
Xia Yu's voice was low and filled with deep frustration.
Xia He didn't shift the blame onto Xia Yu. There were limitations to human resources, and with so many concubines in the palace, "It's not entirely your fault, but this incident has served as a reminder to us."
If there's a next time, we still need to have a backup plan. If we only suffer losses without gaining any advantage, no one can withstand it in the long run.
Xia Yu completely agreed, saying that her mistake was not having the means to retaliate against the other party.
People who were caught were either sent directly to the Department of Cautious Punishment or transferred to serve in more remote palaces.
"Give me the list, and I'll make arrangements later."
Xia Yu took a folded piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to Xia He.
“They’re all up here, sister. I’m not sure about the safety of some of the people.”
For example, in the Imperial Household Department, two out of three people fell from grace, while the remaining one remained unscathed.
Who knows if they were bribed by someone else to set up a trap within a trap?
Xia Yu was a cautious person, so in this situation she simply closed the gates of Yikun Palace and lived with the young prince.
Without making any contact or taking any action, they simply dragged it out until today and handed it over to Xia He, who rushed back from outside the palace, to handle.
Xia He was satisfied with this, after all, the most valuable thing about a person is to have self-awareness.
Xia Yu has a talent for management, and Yikun Palace has always been well-organized.
However, Xia Yu is slightly inferior to Xia He in terms of external communication and arrangements.
Xia He breathed a huge sigh of relief when she received the list from Xia Yu.
That's good; at least things are still under control.
Let Xia Yu continue with her work. Xia He first went back to the house to look at the personnel list in her hand, then hurriedly went out with her. They didn't return until it was getting dark.
Chen Yuwei had already woken up and was sitting on the couch playing with Yongwei.
The mother and son hadn't seen each other for a month and a half, and Yongwei was initially a little unfamiliar with each other.
Later, Chen Yuwei teased him with toys, and they became familiar with each other.
Now the mother and son are embracing each other, and the hall is filled with laughter and joy.
Hearing the commotion, Xia He smiled and said, "It's time for Your Highness to have your dinner."
Chen Yuwei looked up, "Are you done with your work?"
Xia He curtsied and said, "I have lived up to Your Majesty's expectations and handled most of the matters properly." The remaining small part is not in a hurry for the time being.
Chen Yuwei held Yongwei in her arms. Yongwei's chubby little hands were restless, constantly touching her hair or scratching her ears.
Chen Yuwei tried to avoid Yongwei's teasing and smiled as she told Xia He that she had worked hard.
He's been busy with palace affairs ever since he got back; I knew I hadn't misjudged him.
Xia He reached out and took Yongwei from behind, then placed him in the arms of the wet nurse behind her, before stepping forward to support her master's arm.
"Your Majesty, I just happened to run into the winter chill at Changchun Palace when I returned."
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