After a pause, Jing'er lowered her voice and whispered, "Your Highness, Consort Ma Jia already has both a son and a daughter. If this pregnancy results in a prince..."

Jing'er hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Xu Lejin smiled faintly.

After a moment's hesitation, Xu Lejin looked at Jing'er with a half-smile, "Even if Consort Ma Jia gets her wish and gives birth to a prince, the ones most worried should be the Empress, Consort Chuxiu, and Consort Chengqian. As for me..."

"I am just a concubine, and I am currently pregnant with the emperor's child, so there is no need to worry too much."

Jing'er paused for a moment, then awkwardly agreed.

Zhi Shu and Ru Hua exchanged a glance, their expressions solemn. They both looked at Jing'er and lowered their heads to carefully serve Xu Lejin.

Another half hour passed, and it was almost midnight.

Yingchun entered the palace with a smile and reported to Xu Lejin: "Your Highness, Consort Ma Jia of Zhongcui Palace has given birth to a little princess. The little princess is doing very well in Consort Ma Jia's womb and weighs a full seven pounds and seven ounces."

"Because the little princess was a bit big, Consort Ma Jia had a long time to give birth."

Xu Lejin was taken aback upon hearing this.

"A little princess? Not a little prince?"

Realizing her slip of the tongue, Xu Lejin smiled awkwardly and said, "The little princess is also quite good. Consort Ma Jia gave birth to the little princess, who will be the Emperor's fifth daughter. If we count the princes and princesses who have died young over the years, the Emperor will have five sons and five daughters, which is a perfect combination of five 'good' characters."

Yingchun smiled and agreed.

After a pause, Yingchun continued softly, "Your Highness, Consort Ma fainted after learning that she had given birth to a princess..."