Afternoon

Xu Lejin lay reclining on the soft couch, flipping through the storybook in her hand. Ru Hua bowed as she entered the hall and quietly reported that the concubine Xiao Na La of Yanxi Palace was suffering from hysteria.

With a slight upturn of her lips, Xu Lejin spoke softly.

"The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Consort Xiao Nara was hoping to have a son, but after all the twists and turns, she gave birth to a princess instead. Naturally, she couldn't accept it."

Ru Hua respectfully replied, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. I have heard that the palace maids and eunuchs have set up a betting game in private, betting on whether the concubine Xiao Na La will give birth to a prince or a princess."

"Now that Consort Xiao Nara has given birth to a princess, those who bet on Consort Xiao Nara giving birth to a prince have all lost everything."

After saying that, Ruhua covered her mouth and laughed.

Xu Lejin paused for a moment, sat up straight, and looked at Ruhua. "Such a thing really happened? The palace rules are strict. How could the palace maids and eunuchs dare to openly gamble with the imperial heir?"

"Your Majesty, a little gambling is just for fun."

Ru Hua glanced timidly at Xu Lejin, then said, "Serving in the palace is a dull and boring job. When there's nothing to do, a little gambling is harmless and the masters above tacitly approve of it."

Xu Lejin nodded slightly and smiled without saying a word.

Consort Xiao Nara gave birth to the eleventh princess. The celebrations for the eleventh princess's third-day celebration and full-month celebration were held in Yanxi Palace. They were all in accordance with the rules and had nothing particularly outstanding or exceptional.

After the eleventh princess's one-month celebration, she was sent to the princes' quarters to be cared for by wet nurses and palace servants.

On the tenth day of the eleventh lunar month, the weather suddenly changed. In the evening, a few snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and by midnight, the snow was falling heavily.

The next morning, the entire palace was covered in silver and white.

Consort Dong carefully protected her belly with her hands folded together, stood up, and respectfully reported to Consort Zhao, "Your Majesty, this humble servant Yu Xi is two months pregnant."

Consort Zhao was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

"Very well, Consort Dong is an old servant who has served the Emperor in the palace. She also conceived the second princess for the Emperor in the past. Now, after several years, she is pregnant again. This is a great joy in the palace."

The hands hidden in the sleeves clenched involuntarily.

Consort Zhao smiled radiantly and then said, "Consort Dong should take good care of herself this time. If Zhongcui Palace lacks anything, please send someone to report to me."

Consort Dong smiled gently.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will follow your instructions and take good care of the unborn child in my womb."

Xu Lejin and the other concubines smiled and congratulated Concubine Dong on her pregnancy. Only Concubine Hanyan of Chengqian Palace had a fleeting look of envy in her lowered eyes, followed by a thoughtful expression.

Xu Lejin returned to Yikun Palace.

Afternoon

Ru Hua lowered her head slightly and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Consort Nara and Consort Dong had a dispute on the main street this morning. Consort Nara implied that Consort Dong, who is pregnant, has stolen her good fortune."

"oh."

Xu Lejin frowned and responded.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Lejin spoke casually in a soft voice, "Consort Nara is jealous of Consort Dong's pregnancy and deliberately fabricated this story. Whether or not one becomes pregnant varies from person to person and depends entirely on fate. Even if the Emperor had chosen Consort Nara, she might not have become pregnant."

"Your Majesty is absolutely right."

A moment later, Ruhua whispered again, "Your Majesty, this afternoon Consort Dong sent over a Ruyi brocade from Jiangning Prefecture as a tribute to express her gratitude to Your Majesty."

Xu Lejin paused slightly, then smiled and spoke.

"Since it is Consort Dong's kind gesture, then we will examine it carefully, register it, and put it in the storeroom."

Ru Hua respectfully responded.

For three days, snowflakes as white as goose feathers fell, piling up thick snow on the rooftops and long streets of the palace. On this day, after paying her respects at Chuxiu Palace, Xu Lejin walked carefully, supported by Lianzhi and Ruhua.

"ah……"

Suddenly a scream came from behind.

Turning around, what came into Xu Lejin's view was Consort Dong lying on the snow, as well as Consorts Ma Jia and Zhao Jia, whose faces were filled with panic.

Xu Lejin frowned slightly, just about to speak.

Green Lotus, a palace maid beside Consort Dong, was deathly pale. She raised her hands, and tiny specks of bright red blood on her fingertips stood out starkly against the backdrop of the white snow.

"Blood, blood, the little one is bleeding."

With her brows furrowed, Xu Lejin gave Ruhua a wink, and Ruhua immediately ran towards the Imperial Hospital. Xu Lejin, supported by Lianzhi, turned around and walked quickly toward Consort Dong and the others.

"Consort Dong's condition is not good. Lianzhi, go and report to Consort Zhao immediately."

Lianzhi readily agreed and entered Chuxiu Palace.

Half an hour later, in the east side hall of Zhongcui Palace, the atmosphere was heavy. Consort Zhao, Consort Xu Lejin, Consort Ma Jia and Consort Zhao Jia sat solemnly. From inside the room, Consort Dong's painful groans could be heard.

Another cup of tea's time has passed.

The imperial physician, over fifty years old, emerged from the inner room, his face pale and trembling. He knelt down, looking unsteady, and said with a sigh, "Your Highness, Consort Zhao and Consort Yu, I am incompetent. I could not save the imperial fetus in Consort Dong's womb."

How could that be?

Consort Zhao looked terrified and slumped into a chair.

Xu Lejin sighed softly and remained silent, thinking to herself that Consort Dong was also unlucky. She had finally gotten pregnant, but before she was even three months along, she unexpectedly fell and miscarried.

It's all about timing and fate.

Consort Dong suffered an unexpected miscarriage. Although Emperor Kangxi, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager were saddened, they were powerless to help her. They instructed Consort Dong to take good care of herself and that she could have another child in the future.

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