Your Majesty, please do not disturb, the empress only wants to engage in business

Chapter 206 New Connections

Among the six palaces in the east and west, the location of Yuxiu Palace is not particularly good.

Normally, favored concubines with powerful backers wouldn't live in this place, but Yao Jinse never felt anything was wrong with living here.

On the contrary, she felt that this place was very suitable for her. Although all sorts of palace servants always passed by outside the palace walls, this geographical location was the most suitable for gathering information.

The servants in the palace knew that Consort Lin was the most considerate and caring towards them. They were willing to talk to the maids and eunuchs in Yuxiu Palace about anything. Whatever they said in their spare time would often become news that Yao Jinse would write down.

On the other hand, living in such a remote place makes it easier for people to think that she is not actually a threat.

Ultimately, Consort Yi, who also followed the Noble Consort and originally lived in Yuxiu Palace, was so beautiful that people from the Prince's residence couldn't help but be wary of her.

After all, with time passing and a beautiful woman in his arms, even an emperor who possesses the entire world is still a man, and it's inevitable that he will be tempted.

Once the emperor set his sights on a certain beauty, he could occupy too much of her time. Therefore, when they were at the Prince's residence, the Empress and the Imperial Concubine each took different measures.

Before the Imperial Concubine entered the palace, Consort Yi was already in the palace. She was all alone and was naturally suppressed by the Empress, who was still the Princess at the time. So after the Imperial Concubine entered the palace, she quickly made contact with her.

In terms of appearance, Consort Gui was extremely confident in her beauty, so she naturally didn't worry that Consort Yi would steal the Emperor's attention with her beauty. Women always have times when they feel unwell, and on such days, they need a safe and reliable person to occupy a man's mind.

Consort Yi was personally chosen by Consort Rong, but unexpectedly, although she was beautiful, she was not very intelligent. She was not as shrewd as the later Consort Yao. Although she only gave birth to a daughter, she still had a child and had someone to rely on for life.

Consort Rong is currently pregnant.

Consort Zhao was unaware of the inside story of Consort Rong's pregnancy, but she had always been close to Yao Jinse and Consort Chen, so she naturally knew what Consort Chen had been doing recently.

Which concubine in the imperial harem doesn't want to have a child?
When it comes to getting pregnant, Consort Zhao is more anxious than Consort Chen. She doesn't want to fight in the harem, but if she could have a child of her own, firstly, she would have someone to rely on in the future, and secondly, she would be able to pass the long lonely nights. That would obviously make her life much better.

She never thought she could win the emperor's heart, so when she found Yao Jinse, she was straightforward and even prepared to work for the imperial concubine for a while—after all, such a good prescription couldn't possibly have come from a lowly official's daughter like Yao Jinse.

She guessed correctly.

However, after the Imperial Concubine used the prescription, Yao Jinse burned the original copy left by the female physician, made a new copy, and kept it in her own possession. Naturally, that copy became hers.

Since it could be used by Lady Chen back then, it can naturally be used by others now.

Facing Consort Zhao, who came to her door seeking help, Yao Jinse didn't hold back: "I know that you are eager for a child, but whether this prescription will work or not depends on your own fate. You have been trying to have a child for many years and have taken countless tonics. I gave this prescription to Zhiluo and you, but whether it will work or not, I really can't be sure."

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhao could no longer blame Yao Jinse. She hadn't expected to obtain the prescription so easily, and besides, Yao Jinse's words made perfect sense. Nothing in this world is certain; everything depends on human effort. She herself was perfectly healthy; doctors both inside and outside the palace had examined her over the years. She had always been prudent in protecting herself; although not someone with immense power, she ultimately had the ability to safeguard herself.

For so many years, she had not conceived, simply because the time was not right. Back in the Prince's mansion, Xie Yun'an always showed that he had no intention of vying for the throne. To cover this up, he even used the trick of having few children. The fact that she had a few children now was the result of her earlier attempt to tarnish her reputation with a ridiculous story.

Whether this tactic is good or bad, only Xie Yun'an probably knows.

In short, since they had benefited from Yao Jinse, they naturally had to be closer to her on a daily basis. As for Chen Meiren, she always had a close relationship with Yao Jinse.

She has been recuperating these days, and although the Emperor has not asked her to sleep with him, her health is getting better and better.

Her complexion was visibly rosy, and she even looked a bit fuller than before. She wasn't actually that fat, though, since the palace always valued slenderness as beauty. Chen Zhiluo used to be quite delicate and frail, but now that she was a little plumper, she looked rather cute.

The main thing is to replenish collagen.

Yao Jinse looked at Consort Chen's increasingly full cheeks as she laughed and talked with Consort Zhao in the hall, and then at He Yunqing and Bai Fengping sitting at the round table on the other side, not saying much. She couldn't help but find it a little funny.

She hadn't planned to invite He Yunqing today; it was just a coincidence that He Yunqing ran into these two groups of people on the way.

Ultimately, He Yunqing and Bai Fengping are different. Bai Fengping is pragmatic and comes from a merchant family. Although her background is somewhat humble, people who have experienced the lower class tend to have a stronger character.

As an ally, Bai Fengping would not do anything that would harm Qiao Yanran and her group's interests, but she would also not tie herself to Qiao Yanran.

Her secret dealings with Yao Jinse—well, not exactly secret, since it was Qiao Yanran who arranged for her to make those dealings public.

Even those directly involved can't guess what's going on in this matter, let alone outsiders.

However, Lin Jieyu is indeed extraordinary.

Bai Fengping originally thought there were many things to discuss today, and she regretted it as soon as she made the invitation. However, He Yunqing's arrival was not met with Yao Jinse's rejection. On the contrary, under Yao Jinse's coordination, the originally awkward atmosphere became harmonious.

They all knew each other beforehand; in the Empress's words, they were all like sisters. Consort Zhao even lived with He Yunqing. Such a relationship naturally made them closer than strangers.

Because of He Yunqing's presence, Yao Jinse's original plan to discuss the Consort's affairs that day completely fell through. By the time the group heard Bai Tao walk in from outside to report the results in Yangxin Hall, it was already after they had been chatting and laughing for quite some time.

The day's interactions fostered a sense of closeness among everyone, as if new connections had been forged.