Xu Lejin nodded slightly.

"Chun Changzai's due date is in the next few days, and it's perfectly reasonable that she went into labor today. Consort An has taken very good care of Chun Changzai during this pregnancy, so the baby must be very healthy."

"Have someone keep an eye on Qixiang Palace. Once Consort Chun gives birth safely, immediately send the prepared congratulatory gifts to Qixiang Palace."

Ru Hua smiled and replied, "Yes."

Consort Duan glanced at Xu Lejin out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that Xu Lejin's expression was indifferent and she did not have any special reaction, she lowered her head and thought for a moment before swallowing the words that were about to come out.

Chun Changzai's first pregnancy resulted in a longer delivery time.

From conception to safe delivery, it took a full day and night. On the afternoon of May 27th, a little princess was safely born, weighing 7 pounds and 3 ounces, and crying loudly.

Upon receiving Ru Hua's report, Xu Lejin pondered for a moment and said, "Although she is a little princess, she is still of noble royal blood. I remember that among the items that Mother sent to the palace a few days ago, there was an exquisite necklace."

"Ruhua, go find her and send her to Qixiang Palace to congratulate Consort Chun on the safe birth of the seventeenth princess."

Three days later

On the occasion of the seventeenth princess's third-day celebration, Emperor Kangxi visited Qixiang Palace. Immediately afterwards, he issued an edict promoting Consort Chun to the rank of Noble Lady. The seventeenth princess would remain in Qixiang Palace, to be raised jointly by Consort An and Noble Lady Chun.

Chun Changzai was promoted to Noble Lady, and the seventeenth princess remained in Qixiang Palace.

Upon hearing this news, the concubines in the harem, except for Consort Cui and Consort Bu, the birth mothers of the Third and Sixth Princesses, remained calm.

After all, she was just a princess, and it wouldn't be a big deal for her to stay in Qixiang Palace to be raised.

Consort Cui, whose beauty still lingered, was now ashen-faced. She slumped onto the soft couch, muttering to herself, "Why? Why is it that everyone in the palace can raise their own children, but I cannot?"

“The Third Princess is raised in the Princes’ Residence. I can only see her once or twice a year. Does the Emperor really dislike me so much?”

With a bitter expression and a sorrowful look in her eyes, Consort Cui said, "Chun has served the Emperor for only three or four years, and she gave birth to a princess. Yet she is worthy of being a Consort and is on equal footing with me."

The palace maid serving Consort Cui gently advised, "Your Highness, although Consort Chun is a consort, she has no official title and is half a rank lower than you. Consort Chun still has to bow to you when she sees you."

"A title? Although I have a title, I am old and my beauty has faded, and the Emperor has long forgotten about it."

The noblewoman smiled sadly.

"Perhaps His Majesty has long forgotten that there is someone like me in the harem!"