Consort Zhang gave birth to a healthy daughter, and the news was naturally sent to Emperor Kangxi immediately.

Although I don't value my daughter as much as my son, she is still my own flesh and blood.

After hearing the good news, Kangxi couldn't help but smile.

Everyone around seemed happy, even the Empress, who was always worried, was satisfied. Daughters always have less pressure than sons.

Zhang, who had just given birth, needed to rest, and the people waiting outside naturally couldn't stay any longer.

In the end, Emperor Kangxi simply took charge and had the little princess brought to the main hall for him to see.

Although the child was just born and looked like a red-skinned monkey, Kangxi still looked at her with great interest and even praised the little princess for her good looks, saying that every part of her eyes, ears, nose and mouth resembled his.

Since Emperor Kangxi was a man, he could not enter the delivery room, so he could only pull aside the imperial physicians and the palace servants to explain the aftermath to Zhang.

Including how to manage postpartum care, how to raise the baby, and so on, everything is done in the best possible way.

Seeing this, the Empress suddenly interjected, "Your Majesty, why not take this opportunity to add to the joy? Consort Zhang has had a difficult childbirth, so let her continue to enjoy the treatment of a Noble Lady."

Kangxi nodded upon hearing this, especially considering that he had been waiting for so long at Xianfu Palace. "The Empress is right. Zhang's childbirth was difficult, and her original treatment as a concubine was too low."

The Empress smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

In just a few words, the Emperor and Empress solidified Consort Zhang's status as a Noble Lady, a change that had only been temporarily granted. This news brought mixed feelings of joy and sorrow to the assembled concubines.

Those concubines who were not pregnant were naturally delighted, seeing hope for promotion. They might even be able to advance further in rank after a safe delivery.

The worry is that Ma Jia, who has already given birth, is still alive and well. However, she was unable to rise to a higher position because of her son, and is now only treated as a concubine (although some of her wealth comes from the emperor's private treasury, so she lives a little more comfortably than others).

The Empress did it on purpose, deliberately letting Consort Zhang, who had given birth to a daughter, be above her, mocking her for still being just a lowly consort even after giving birth to the eldest prince!

Secretly resenting the Empress's despicable methods, Ma Jia's eyes flashed wildly. She felt she couldn't just sit and wait for her doom. She still had Cheng Rui; how could she possibly be worse than Consort Zhang?

...

"My lady, dinner is ready."

Chunyu walked to Xiuning's side, and while they were talking, she was about to help her mistress to the octagonal table in the main hall.

"Not for now," Xiuning wasn't very hungry. She had just returned from Xianfu Palace and was pondering the current situation in the harem.

It must be said that the benefits brought by Consort Zhang's giving birth to a daughter have dampened the enthusiasm of those who originally had ulterior motives.

If having a daughter grants one the rank of a noblewoman, then if one has a son, or even two more children, could one then attain the rank of a concubine or imperial consort?

Xiu Ning had not forgotten the sight of the concubines whose faces lit up with joy when she went out.

With her eyes half-closed, Xiu Ning stood up and placed her hand on Chun Yu's body. "Tell our people to be careful; the Empress may be about to make a move."

The words spoken in the palace today were definitely spoken on purpose by the Empress. Was she trying to incite Consort Ma Jia to attack Consort Zhang? Or was she trying to incite others to attack Consort Sun?

Chunyu nodded, "Yes, this servant understands."

...

As time moved forward, just after November, December arrived, and another major event occurred in the harem: Consort Sun, who lived in Xianfu Palace, suffered a miscarriage.

Furthermore, Consort Sun's miscarriage was quite strange, because she had been frightened by the noise of Consort Zhang's childbirth before, so she had been hiding in her palace to rest and had not gone out.

Despite this, Consort Sun still miscarried, and it happened so quietly in her sleep that she was completely unaware of it. If it weren't for a palace maid coming in to serve her the next morning and being startled by the bloodstains, she wouldn't have even realized it.

"That's strange?"

Miscarriage is harmful to the body. You know it hurts even if you accidentally bump or knock something, so how could you be completely numb to it?

Chunyu couldn't figure it out either. "Even Consort Sun herself couldn't explain it, let alone the palace maids around her. The imperial physicians examined some of Consort Sun's usual clothes and food, but they couldn't find anything wrong with them."

Well, the entire investigation is stuck in the middle, unable to move forward or backward.

Because the incident occurred close to the New Year, the Empress naturally couldn't focus all her attention on it. After a brief investigation, she turned around and handed the matter over to the Emperor for handling. Consort Hesheli Fangyi then began to help the Empress Dowager arrange the New Year's banquet.

Qixiang Palace Main Hall

Xiuning, dressed in winter clothes, stood by the window admiring the scenery outside.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, red ribbons and lanterns are hanging everywhere in the courtyards.

Although Qixiang Palace had no principal seat, thanks to the presence of the favored concubine Xiuning, the Imperial Household Department still sent a great many New Year's gifts.

Chunyu, along with Xuancao and the others, decorated the entire Qixiang Palace, which improved Xiuning's mood considerably.

Life in the harem is mostly leisurely, which is why there are so many conflicts in the harem. Since there is nothing to do, people have to find things to do to pass the time.

"If you can't get used to this kind of quiet and secluded place, you'll probably feel depressed to death."

As Xiuning uttered those words, she turned around and waved to Xuancao, who was waiting at the door.

"Where's Chunyu? Hasn't she come back yet?"

Xuancao replied, "Yes, my lady. Why don't I go and take a look?"

Xiuning waved her hand, "Never mind, help me get ready first. Today is New Year's Day, and we have to attend the Hehuan Palace Banquet later. Let's get ready early so we don't get late."

It was winter, and it was very cold outside. Xiu Ning wrapped her coat tighter around herself and turned to go inside.

Sitting in front of the dressing table, Xuancao removed the hairpins that had been holding her hair in place one by one.

After combing her hair back into a qitou style, she wore a beautiful pearl hair flower in the center of the bun, and a hair ornament with tassels on each side of her temples. Finally, she added sparkling gemstone jewelry to her ear piercings. She then changed into a rose-red qipao and wore a pair of beautiful jade bracelets on her wrists. Xiu Ning was now fully dressed.

Holding Xuancao's hand, Xiuning went to the tatami room. "It's time, let's go."

Xuancao nodded, "Yes, this servant understands."

Just before Xiuning was about to leave, Chunyu finally rushed back from outside.

Perhaps due to the time lost on the road, Chunyu's clothes were covered in frost.

"It must have been so long, the people from the Imperial Household Department must have had a hard time with you?" Xiu Ning gestured to Chun Yu to pour herself a cup of warm tea to warm herself up.

Chunyu held the teacup in her hand and shook her head. "My lady, on my way back, I heard that Prince Chengrui, who lives in the Prince's Residence, is ill and will probably not be able to attend the New Year celebrations this year."

"Prince Chengrui just celebrated his first birthday in September, and he's sick again?" Xiuning raised her eyebrows; he's been sick quite frequently.