Mingxiu's eyes flickered: "Being healthy doesn't guarantee you'll never get sick. Your father is a human, not a god." What could Mingxiu say? She couldn't very well say that it was because she stole the blanket that Kangxi got sick, could she? That would be too embarrassing.

Yinreng was taken aback, then nodded. It was true; his father was just an ordinary person who needed care. But in the past few years, he had indeed treated his father as omnipotent.

"Alright, alright, your father is fine now, he just needs a couple of days of rest. But your empress is due to give birth soon, so please take good care of her during this time, okay? Pregnant women need care the most at this time," Mingxiu instructed.

Yinreng chuckled, "I know, don't worry, Mother. I will take good care of the Empress. Then I will go back first. Mother and Father should also get some rest early today, okay?"

"Okay, okay, go on now." Mingxiu waved her hand dismissively, urging Yinreng to leave quickly, lest he disturb her reading.

Seeing that Mingxiu's mind was no longer on him, Yinreng shook his head helplessly and could only hurry back.

In recent years, the territory of the Qing Dynasty has been expanding. Although there are many more talented people and many helpers, there are just too many things to do. So even though it is the New Year, he cannot take a complete rest.

At this point, one has to be thankful that his father had given him many brothers, so he has people to rely on now. Otherwise, he would have to work himself to death and still not be able to finish all the work.

After seeing that Yinreng had left, Mingxiu lost interest in reading and went straight back to her room to see Kangxi. Kangxi's health was relatively good because Mingxiu had often nourished him with spiritual spring water, so he recovered relatively quickly. However, even so, he still had to honestly drink plain porridge for several days before he was completely recovered.

Kangxi almost resisted the drinking. After his illness was cured, a table full of dishes was served. Mingxiu and Kangxi ate a delicious barbecue wrapped in lettuce leaves. After that, Kangxi's illness was completely cured.

The Empress went into labor the morning after Kangxi recovered, and by the time Mingxiu found out, the Empress had already successfully given birth to a... son.

Um.....

Mingxiu looked at her chubby son in her arms and didn't know what to say. Everyone said it was a daughter, but she still gave birth to a son. Very good! Yinreng's hopes were dashed once again.

Mingxiu looked at the wrinkled, red baby in her arms with amusement, and gently squeezed his little hand: "Welcome, my little baby, welcome to this loving family and world."

Next to Mingxiu were the kind-faced Emperor Kangxi and the sullen-looking Yinreng, as well as two other sullen-faced figures next to Yinreng. Hongxi was also very unhappy. He and his father had always hoped for a younger sister, and he had even prepared gifts for her. How come he ended up with a younger brother?

Hongxi glanced at his younger brother with some disdain; he really didn't want another silly little brother like that.

Hongyi looked up at his newly born younger brother and was somewhat disappointed. His sweet and soft little sister was gone. Then he glanced at his older brother next to him and saw that his older brother was looking at him with disgust.

Hongyi... Good, he saw his older brother's disdainful look. Although it was only for a moment, he still saw it. His older brother must have been secretly criticizing him in his heart.

Mingxiu ignored the expressions of the father and his two sons, looked at the children, and then asked if the Empress was in good health before returning with Kangxi.

“Let’s continue our journey after the Empress finishes her postpartum confinement. I don’t want to stay in the palace any longer,” Mingxiu said, linking her arm with Kangxi’s.

Kangxi nodded: "Great! It just so happens that the seventh and eighth princes are also planning to go out to sea to take a look around soon. We can go with them and spend more time at sea this time. We can come back when we've seen enough."

“Okay, then after we return from the sea, we’ll go back to Changchun Garden and stay there for a while, then we’ll travel around, and after that, we’ll stay in the capital.” Mingxiu nodded and shared her thoughts.

They originally came back because the Empress Dowager was unwell, but after so much time, she was still the same, neither better nor worse, and the imperial physicians said it was nothing to worry about, so they simply stopped worrying about it.

As it turns out, some things really can't be said, because once you say them, they happen. Mingxiu had just finished saying that the Empress Dowager's health was okay when the Empress Dowager's maid came to tell her that the Empress Dowager's health was failing.

Mingxiu and Kangxi rushed over. Kangxi didn't have a very deep relationship with the Empress Dowager, but she was still his legal mother, so he always took good care of her. The Empress Dowager passed away this time because her internal organs were old, so even though Qing Dynasty medicine has advanced a lot, there's nothing that can be done.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager did not suffer much when she went there. Mingxiu and Kangxi stayed in the palace to deal with the Empress Dowager's affairs. By the time everything was finished, the Empress had already finished her confinement period.

Mingxiu then handed over the reins of power to the Empress and returned to Changchun Garden with Kangxi.

The weather wasn't at its hottest yet, and Changchun Garden was exceptionally cool. Mingxiu and Kangxi stayed in Changchun Garden for half a month. During this time, Kangxi spent his time fishing, while Mingxiu played mahjong with Consort Rong and Consort Xiaohesheli. After Consort Hui learned that Mingxiu had returned, she also came out of Yinzhi's residence. The four of them had a rare opportunity to get together for a while.

Then, after half a month, Mingxiu and Kangxi once again embarked on their journey overseas.

Inside Changchun Garden, Consort Rong, Consort Hui, and Xiao Hesheli, all now Dowager Consorts, watched Mingxiu's departing figure with envy.

"Sometimes I really envy my older sister. She lives such a comfortable life," Little Hesheli murmured to herself.

Consort Hui and Consort Rong, standing to the side, also sighed with admiration. Who could disagree? Mingxiu's life was the envy of so many.

“Yes, but she’s doing well, and we’re not doing badly either. We’re living such a comfortable life now. When my grandson is a few years older, I’ll move back. Mingxiu should be back by then, and the four of us will live together again. Isn’t this life much better than managing the household outside and having a bunch of troublesome kids?” Consort Hui said.

Consort Rong smiled as she held Little Hesheli's hand: "Yes, our lives are not bad either. Now that we are here, we are the most important people. We can do whatever we want. How carefree we are!"

Little Hesheli nodded with a smile. The three of them exchanged glances, then pulled each other along and went back.