The last day of April

After paying her respects to the Empress at Kunning Palace, Xu Lejin, supported by Lianzhi and Ruhua, strolled leisurely along the palace walls.

She wore a simple, moon-white palace dress, an exquisite headdress, and simple silver jewelry.

Although she is over twenty years old, she gives people a fresh, graceful, and charming feeling.

Suddenly, a palace maid dressed in green rushed out from the corner and knelt down in front of Xu Lejin with a thud, saying anxiously, "Your Highness Consort Yu, save me! Your Highness Consort Yu, save me!"

"..."

Xu Lejin paused for a moment, her gaze falling on the kneeling palace maid before her.

Without making a sound, he gave Ru Hua a wink.

Ru Hua spoke in a deep voice, asking, "Which palace maid are you from? In broad daylight, you act so hastily and have offended my mistress. What kind of behavior is this?"

"Your Highness, please forgive me, Your Highness, this servant..."

The palace maid in green robes looked up, glanced quickly at Xu Lejin, then lowered her head, trembling with fear. "Your Highness, I had no choice."

"Um."

Xu Lejin nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "What is it? Speak freely. If it is something I can decide, I will definitely do it for you."

The young palace maid looked grateful and spoke respectfully.

"Your Highness, I am a lowly palace maid from Jingren Palace. My sister Seattle unexpectedly gained the Emperor's favor three months ago and is now three months pregnant."

"I beg Your Highness, please do justice for Sister Seattle and for the imperial heir in her womb."

Xu Lejin was taken aback and looked at the little palace maid kneeling in front of her, kowtowing repeatedly, with great interest.

Thinking to himself, "The palace maid from Jingren Palace, Lady Seattle, is pregnant. This little maid should go to Kunning Palace to report to the Empress, or to Qianqing Palace to report to the Emperor."

Now they are kneeling before me, begging me to make the decision. What is their intention?

After pausing for a moment, Xu Lejin said softly, "Lady Seattle is pregnant. This is a joyous occasion in the palace. It has been more than a year since any concubine in the palace has become pregnant."

"Lianzhi, go to Kunning Palace and report to the Empress that the palace maid Seattle of Jingren Palace is pregnant."

Lianzhi nodded and respectfully agreed.

Half an hour later

The Empress learned from Lianzhi that Lady Seattle, a palace maid in Jingren Palace, was pregnant and already three months along. Her face showed surprise, and she asked in a deep voice, "Lady Seattle is pregnant?"

Of all the concubines in the palace, not one has been pregnant in the past year or so.

The palace maid of Jingren Palace, Lady Seattle, became pregnant simply because the emperor had favored her once when he was drunk.

Was it that the concubines in the palace were unlucky, or was it that God was playing tricks on them?

The Empress suppressed her displeasure, smiled at Lianzhi, and said, "I understand. Go back and tell Consort Yu that I will report this matter to the Emperor and ask him to make a decision."

"Yes, this servant will take her leave."

Lianzhi lowered her head and bowed as she left Kunning Palace.

The Empress sneered and said to Caiyue beside her in a deep voice, "Lady Seattle is pregnant? She's been pregnant for three months, and only now she's used Consort Yu's mouth to reveal it to everyone in the harem."

"This Seattle guy is not only incredibly lucky, but also incredibly cunning!"

Caiyue lowered her head slightly, lost in thought and remained silent.

Lianzhi hadn't gone far when she clearly heard the Empress's words. She frowned slightly and continued walking out with her head bowed, pondering to herself.

Lady Seattle, a palace maid in Jingren Palace, was three months pregnant.

Within half a day, the news spread rapidly throughout the six palaces, reaching Emperor Kangxi in the Qianqing Palace, as well as the ears of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager's face was aged and her expression was solemn.

After pondering for a long time, he murmured, "The palace maid of Jingren Palace, from the Seattle clan, is indeed very fortunate. She became pregnant after only one time."

"Although the palace maid was of humble origin, Lady Seattle was pregnant with the imperial child, which was of royal blood."

"Su Ma, go and find out how the Emperor plans to settle the Seattle clan."

Sumalagu respectfully agreed and left Cining Palace to inquire.

The Empress Dowager opened her tightly closed eyes and carefully began to speak, “Your Majesty, all the women in the palace, from the concubines to the maids, are aware of the regularity of menstruation.”

"Ms. Seattle is now three months pregnant and has secured her baby before revealing the news. She is truly meticulous."

The Empress Dowager nodded.

"Indeed, a palace maid from the Seattle family, after being favored by the emperor, was not granted a title or rank. She thought she would remain an unknown palace maid forever, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better and she became pregnant!"

"Mrs. Seattle concealed her pregnancy until three months later when she revealed it through Consort Yu. She is a clever woman. There is an eight or nine out of ten chance that the child in her womb is the emperor's bloodline."

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, her brows furrowed in deep thought.

The afternoon of the second day

Emperor Kangxi issued an imperial edict to the six palaces.

Lady Seattle, a palace maid of Jingren Palace, was granted the title of Ya Changzai and given residence in Xianfu Palace. Lady Seattle was carrying the imperial fetus and was entrusted to Consort Xuan for care. Consort Xuan was instructed to ensure that Lady Seattle's unborn child was safe and healthy.

After listening to the report from the palace maid Ziwu, Xu Lejin pondered for a moment and then suddenly realized what Kangxi meant!

"Sister Yufei, what do you think the Emperor meant? Consort Ya is very shrewd. She only revealed her pregnancy after she was three months pregnant, and was immediately granted the title of Consort."

"She has connections everywhere and can protect the dragon fetus in her womb on her own. Why would she need me to take care of her?"

That afternoon, Consort Xuan complained softly to Xu Lejin.

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