Chapter 25: The Imperial Noble Consort and Niohuru...

The Imperial Noble Consort and the Noble Consort Niohuru were about the same month along, and Consort Yi was now more than four months pregnant. The sudden increase in the number of pregnant concubines in the palace not only improved Emperor Kangxi's mood but also pleased the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, who ate more meals on weekdays.

Moreover, since both the Imperial Noble Consort and the Noble Consort Niohuru were pregnant at the same time, they tacitly stopped their secret rivalry and put the children in their wombs first, making the palace much quieter than usual.

The Imperial Noble Consort cherished this hard-won second pregnancy immensely. From the moment she was diagnosed, she took meticulous care of herself and even stopped paying her respects to the other palaces. Wen Shan was overjoyed, calculating that she could still relax for another seven or eight months.

Yinzhen and Yinsi were somewhat puzzled by Wenshan's sudden good mood. Seeing that the high-ranking concubines were getting pregnant one after another, although their mother was raising them, Yinzhen and Yinsi's imperial genealogy was still registered under their respective birth mothers' names, which actually had no direct connection with Wenshan. Normally, Wenshan should be sighing and feeling worried right now.

Yinzhi knew that Wenshan was from a later era and thought she probably didn't care much about these things. Yinzhen, on the other hand, didn't know why Wenshan was in such high spirits recently, but since his mother was happy, it wasn't a bad thing, and there was no need to investigate further.

However, both Yinzhen and Yinsi secretly thought that if their mother had given them a younger brother or sister, they would love him even more and ensure that he would live a carefree life with all his wishes fulfilled.

Luckily, Wen Shan didn't know what they were up to, otherwise she would have given them a good whack on the head. She had taken such good care of them, but these two brothers repaid kindness with enmity and wanted her to have a child.

After the Empress Dowager was overjoyed, she looked at Wen Shan, who was chatting with her at Cining Palace as usual, and casually asked, "Both the Imperial Noble Consort and the Noble Consort Niohuru are pregnant. When do you plan to have a child of your own?"

Wenshan almost choked on the pastry in her mouth, but Sumalagu quickly poured her some water, and Wenshan drank a large cup before she could swallow it.

"Ancestor, your question is too sudden."

The Empress Dowager is now just like her mother who used to urge her to get married. After urging her to find a boyfriend, she started urging her to get married. After getting married, she started urging her to have children. After having children, she started urging her to have a second child. It's endless.

The Empress Dowager initially urged her to adopt Yinzhen, then she urged her to please Emperor Kangxi, and now she has escalated the situation to the point of being pregnant with a child herself.

The Empress Dowager, standing to the side, chuckled and said, "With so many concubines in the palace pregnant these days, aren't you envious?"

What woman wouldn't want a child of her own, especially the concubines in the imperial harem?

"I'm already overwhelmed with the help of Yinzhen and Yinsi, and I'm completely content now, so I have no other desires," Wenshan said with a smile.

She was telling the truth. Having two adorable sons through painless pregnancy, she was just bored and decided to get pregnant again.

The Empress Dowager shook her head and said that her ambition was only as small as a grain of rice, and that she had no ambition.

She pushed Wenshan forward, but Wenshan didn't budge. She lay down on the ground, feeling so comfortable that she didn't want to get up.

"Recently, many of the concubines have become pregnant, and the Emperor has been visiting your palace frequently these past few days. The timing, location, and people are all in place. You should weigh the pros and cons yourself," the Empress Dowager said, taking a sip of tea.

The Empress Dowager's mention of this only made Wen Shan more distressed. Pregnant concubines were not suitable to serve the Emperor, but unfortunately, all the pregnant concubines were favored. Therefore, Wen Shan, who was in the second tier, had to be chosen to take her place. The frequency of Emperor Kangxi's visits to Xianfu Palace also changed from two or three times a month to every few days. He spent most of his time in Yonghe Palace with Consort De, who had just lost her daughter.

Kangxi's frequent visits to Xianfu Palace did not allow the Empress Dowager to see the rapid progress in their relationship; instead, it brought misfortune to Yinzhi, who was about to turn two.

The reason was that Yinzhi's performance was so clever and intelligent that Emperor Kangxi, who always liked to push his children to excel, insisted on cultivating this gifted youngest son. Therefore, he made an exception and allowed Yinzhi to enter the Imperial Study for early education.

Yinzhi was stunned when he was told he had to start school a year early. He didn't want to spend all his time in the Imperial Study dealing with those unlucky brothers; it was a waste of the time he could spend with his mother!

But his resistance was useless, and the next day he had to go to the Imperial Study with Yinzhen to report for duty.

Wen Shan looked at Yin Si's resentment, which was heavier than a ghost, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. While she was tidying his clothes, she whispered, "Don't you already know all the things your master taught you? Just go out and clear your head."

The lessons in the Imperial Study were of course nothing to Yinzhi. He pursed his lips and thought to himself that it was a mistake. He would have to act a little silly and dull in the future, otherwise he would become the target of criticism.

One of the two puppies born to Fuqi was taken away by the Fifth Prince after much coaxing and pleading. The remaining pure black puppy was carefully cared for by Yinzhen, who even had Yinsi name it Laifu.

Yinzhi confidently asserted that Laifu and Fuqi sounded like mother and son.

Wenshan thought for a while and realized that Laifu sounded more like a mother, while Fuqi sounded like a son.

However, Yinzhen's affection for his younger brother was no less than that for Wenshan. He usually doted on Yinsi, so he naturally let him have his own name.

When Yinzhi first went to the Imperial Study, Wenshan was supposed to personally escort them there. However, Sumalagu came early in the morning to say that the Empress Dowager had gotten up early and wanted to eat perch and rice soup. For some reason, she suddenly had a craving for it and insisted on eating it as soon as possible. Since this dish takes a long time to prepare, Wenshan couldn't leave.

Yinzhen and Wenshan assured them that they would take good care of Yinsi so that their mother wouldn't have to worry, and only then did Wenshan allow them to leave together. Before leaving, she also reminded them that she would definitely pick them up after school.

Yinzhi couldn't help but chuckle. Even though his mother already knew he had been reborn, she still treated him like a two-year-old child. It was just a matter of going to school, yet his mother was so nervous.

But this feeling is not bad.

The two brothers, each accompanied by a young eunuch, walked through the Imperial Garden toward the Imperial Study. Along the way, Yinzhen continued to explain to Yinsi the temperaments of their two tutors and the rules of the lessons.

Yinzhi listened casually, thinking that these things were pretty much the same as in his previous life, with little change.

As the two were about to leave the Imperial Garden, they bumped into the Imperial Noble Consort, who was taking a stroll in the cool morning air.

The Imperial Noble Consort stayed in Chengqian Palace for a month to rest and prepare for childbirth. The imperial physician checked her pulse every day and found that she was still somewhat weak and depressed. He suggested that she go out for a walk to relax and that it would be beneficial for her future childbirth.

Recently, as summer began and the sun became increasingly scorching, the Imperial Noble Consort, unusually, took the opportunity to stroll through the Imperial Garden in the early morning when the sun was still relatively cool. Unexpectedly, she ran into Prince Yinzhen and Prince Yinsi, who were on their way to the Imperial Study.

Since regaining favor, the Imperial Noble Consort had tried to avoid contact with Yinzhen. After the daily greetings were suspended, there were indeed few opportunities to meet. Today's reunion made the Imperial Noble Consort feel as if she had been in another world.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager." Yinzhen and Yinsi greeted her respectfully.

Yinzhen remained calm, as if she were just an ordinary concubine, one of his many stepmothers.

The Imperial Noble Consort forced a smile: "Get up. Are we going to the Imperial Study? Is Yinzhi going too?"

Yinzhen nodded and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, Father has granted permission for Eighth Brother to begin his studies ahead of schedule. We are on our way to the Imperial Study."

The Imperial Noble Consort nodded, feeling somewhat awkward and unsure of what to say to Yinzhen. She could only stammer, "Then...then hurry up and go, don't be late."

Watching Yinzhen's departing figure, the Imperial Noble Consort sighed and looked away.

Juyue quickly reassured her, "Your Majesty, please don't worry, there's still the imperial heir in your belly."

"The Fourth Prince still holds the Empress in high esteem. Please don't dwell on the past; it's all in the past," Granny Chen comforted her.

The Imperial Noble Consort, supported by Granny Chen, walked through a patch of newly blooming roses, where colorful butterflies fluttered among the vibrant blossoms.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but what the old lady said may indeed have some truth to it. You brought the Fourth Prince back in a fit of pique, and the young prince died young. As soon as the Fourth Prince was sent away, you immediately became pregnant with the imperial heir again," Juyue said. "It is clear that you and the Fourth Prince may not have a mother-child bond, so there is no need to worry about it anymore."

Granny Chen glared at Juyue and scolded, "How dare you say such things!"

The Imperial Noble Consort was previously confined by the Emperor for this very reason, so why bring it up again now?

The Imperial Noble Consort waved her hand and said softly, "Don't blame Juyue. She was just trying to comfort me."

The Imperial Noble Consort's eyes sparkled as she looked at the fallen flowers in the pond.

"Perhaps there really is a predetermined fate in the dark."

...

The Empress Dowager's hope that Wen Shan could seize the opportunity to become pregnant during this period of inactivity was not fulfilled. Instead, Consort De, who had just lost her princess less than a month ago, was diagnosed with pregnancy.

When Wen Shan learned of this news, she was genuinely shocked. Consort De had just finished her postpartum confinement and had just experienced the death of her daughter. It was certainly not good for her health to become pregnant again at this time.

Thus, Consort De's almost seamless pregnancy directly overshadowed the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Niohuru, becoming the most hated thing among the concubines recently.

Some were jealous of Consort De's good fortune, as she became pregnant again right after her princess died young. Others secretly cursed Consort De as a vixen, taking advantage of the Emperor's pity and not caring about her recently deceased daughter when she seduced the Emperor. In short, there were all sorts of opinions.

In Wen Shan's opinion, Consort De was completely unlucky this time because she happened to run into a time when the other concubines were unhappy about the previous ones getting pregnant one after another but didn't dare to say anything. Consort De's pregnancy was too conspicuous, and since her family background was not prominent, she didn't dare to talk about the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Niohuru behind their backs, so they vented their resentment on her.

Wenshan, Zhenzhu, and the others chatted that this child wasn't something Consort De could have conceived on her own; ultimately, it was just a matter of Emperor Kangxi's favor.

Moreover, in Wen Shan's eyes, Kangxi really acted like a beast this time.

Perhaps it was the fact that the fact that the Imperial Noble Consort, Noble Consort Niohuru, Consort Yi, and Consort De were all pregnant was like a knife to everyone's already fragile hearts, so the rumors about Consort De spread more and more fiercely. Fortunately, before it became known to the whole palace, Yinzhi keenly noticed that something was wrong.

“Mother, now you and Consort Niohuru are jointly managing the six palaces. Consort Niohuru is pregnant and can naturally shirk all responsibility. If Father Emperor is furious and investigates the crime of lax management of the six palaces, you will not be able to escape blame.”

Yinzhi sat cross-legged and spoke earnestly to Wenshan.

The Emperor's affection for Consort De is probably at its peak right now. Judging from Consort De's current inaction, she is definitely looking for an opportunity to make a big move. When she complains to the Emperor, the first one to suffer will be Mother.

Although Wen Shan had the title of assisting in the management of the six palaces, Consort Niohuru was always domineering and Wen Shan was happy to slack off, so she was always just a mascot and no palace affairs were entrusted to her. Even after Consort Niohuru became pregnant, she did not relinquish much power.

Being a mascot is fine, but being a scapegoat is absolutely unacceptable.

Wen Shan gasped, realizing that Yin Si's words made sense, and quickly pulled out her notebook to prepare how to handle the situation during the lesson.

Yinzhi sighed and said, "You can go to Cining Palace and tell the Empress Dowager about this."

The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager both doted on my mother like their own daughter. It wouldn't be impossible for him to help my mother resolve this matter, but it didn't quite match my mother's usual... wise-yet-foolish personality. So, after thinking it over, Yinzhi decided it would be better to leave this matter to the Empress Dowager.

So Wenshan, having exhausted her childhood, started relying on her parents, eagerly running to the Cining Palace to ask the Empress Dowager for advice.

"You've become quite clever today." The Empress Dowager was surprised that Wen Shan could think of this.

Wen Shan smiled guiltily.

The Empress Dowager gave Sumalagu a wink, and Sumalagu took out a booklet from the inner room.

"Take it. This contains all the outrageous rumors circulating in the palace these days. You can give it to the Emperor."

Wenshan looked at the booklet and remembered clearly what she said and did at what time.

"So you had already foreseen this, Your Majesty. If I hadn't come today, when were you planning to take it out?"

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly: "If you are truly so stupid, I don't care whether you live or die."

Wen Shan knew that the Empress Dowager was all bark and no bite, so she didn't take it to heart and quickly grabbed the booklet to head to the next mission location.

As expected, Emperor Kangxi was furious after reading it. He then looked at Wen Shan, who was standing below with her head bowed and eyes lowered, pinched the bridge of his nose, and said, "Your Highness is very thoughtful. Consort De has just lost her child and is now pregnant again. These words are really inappropriate. Now that the matter has been investigated, they will be dealt with according to the palace rules."

The booklet prepared for her by the Empress Dowager was also quite clever. It didn't contain any high-ranking or favored concubines; it was mostly composed of lower-ranking concubines who had long been out of favor. It was perfect for making an example of them.

Wen Shan was about to leave after receiving the order when Liang Jiugong rushed in to report that Consort De had suddenly felt dizzy and fainted, and the imperial physician was on his way to treat her.

Kangxi's expression hardened, and his voice turned icy: "Perhaps those unpleasant words reached Consort De's ears. How outrageous!"

Wen Shan was startled, thinking that if she had arrived a moment later, she would have been the one in trouble today.

Kangxi rushed to Yonghe Palace, and Wenshan slowly returned to Xianfu Palace. Not long after, she heard the news that Consort De had woken up and was crying uncontrollably in the Emperor's arms, claiming that she was guilty for failing to protect the princess and that she had now become a wicked concubine who had ruined the Emperor's reputation.

Yinzhi, who was listening nearby, raised his little hand: "Mother, I want to eat crispy duck!"

Wenshan kissed him: "Good son, Mother will go and make it for you right away."

Yinzhen, standing to the side, was completely bewildered: "What kind of riddles are you playing with Mother again?"

"Can't it be that my mother loves me more?" Yinzhi opened the book and read it twice, just to be polite.

Yinzhen: "Last time you said you wanted to eat crispy duck, Mother told you to wash up and go to bed."

"..."