Chapter 100 The Unborn Prince Chenghu

Lady Hesheli gave Consort Niohuru a deep look.

She had been in the palace for over a month, and Granny Jing had already informed her of the main concubines' situations.

Niohuru and her daughter entered the palace around the same time, and three years have passed since then, but she has never conceived.

She guessed that it must have been her daughter's doing.

Granny Jing also mentioned that she smelled a faint, unusual medicinal scent mixed with sandalwood in the Empress's bedroom.

Jing Mama was her trusted confidante who accompanied her during her dowry, so her words were certainly true.

She was almost certain that her daughter's ordeal was a scheme by Niohuru to avenge the past sterilization.

What a vicious method, done so subtly and without leaving a trace.

Madame Hesheri was filled with rage, but she maintained a calm demeanor.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The Empress is now out of danger and just needs to rest."

She sneered inwardly. Niu Kulu was right; there was plenty of time.

Next time, I will never give you another chance.

Before she left, she would give detailed instructions to Granny Jing. With Granny Jing's prudence, the Empress would be safe and sound, and the legitimate son of the Hesheli family would eventually come.

However, the Hesheli family remembered this debt owed to Niohuru.

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Just as Emperor Kangxi was about to get up and leave, he was interrupted by a series of hurried footsteps. The imperial physician bowed and urgently reported.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has awakened and is calling to see you."

Emperor Kangxi paused, his gaze sweeping over the silent infant wrapped in a bright yellow swaddling cloth in Lady Hesheli's arms.

It was too difficult to refuse at that moment, so he could only turn around and enter the Empress's bedroom.

Upon entering the bedchamber, an overwhelming, pungent stench of blood mixed with the smell of medicine assaulted the senses, almost suffocating the senses.

Despite his discomfort, Emperor Kangxi walked to the front of the imperial bed.

The empress was pale, her hair was soaked with sweat, and her weak breathing was particularly clear in the silent palace.

Upon seeing Kangxi arrive, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in her dim eyes.

"emperor…"

She struggled to sit up, her voice hoarse but unable to hide her joy.

"Your Majesty, you've arrived. Your concubine has given birth to a little prince for you. This is our legitimate son. Are you happy?"

Her eyes were filled with anticipation.

"You...you can give him a name?"

When Kangxi saw how weak she was after giving birth, yet still managed to show maternal longing, he was reminded of his own mother, Lady Tongjia.

The frustration in her heart caused by the weakness of her eldest son was mixed with a touch of reluctance.

To speak the truth now would undoubtedly be a fatal blow to the Empress.

He remained silent, unsure of what to say for a moment.

The Empress keenly sensed the stagnant atmosphere and Kangxi's silence.

Her gaze turned to her mother, and she saw that Lady Hesheri's face showed no joy, only sorrow.

My heart sank suddenly.

A wave of panic and fear rose in her heart, but she forced herself to smile, which was more like a grimace.

"Where is the little prince? Mother, please bring the little prince here quickly, I haven't had a proper look at him yet."

Madame Hesheri sighed inwardly, knowing that she could not hide it in the end. Well, it was better to end it quickly than to suffer for a long time.

She stepped forward and gently placed the tightly wrapped, silent swaddling clothes next to the Empress.

The queen's hands trembled as she lifted a corner of the lid.

Seeing the baby's pale, bloodless face, so different from the rosy complexion of a typical newborn, I was struck by how it looked.

She understood instantly, and a huge panic surged through her. Her fingers gripped the quilt tightly, and her voice trembled.

"Your Majesty, is my child ill? Imperial physician! Where is the imperial physician?!"

The imperial physician immediately knelt down in front of the bed.

"Your subject is present."

"What's wrong with my little prince? Is he hungry? Quickly feed him milk!"

The empress's voice trembled with tears; she refused to believe it.

The imperial physician hung his head and remained silent; only the crackling of the candlelight could be heard in the hall.

Mrs. Hesheri pressed down on her daughter's agitated arm, spoke with a heavy heart, and her tone was somber.

"Your Majesty... the young prince is congenitally weak, and the imperial physician says he may be difficult to care for."

"Why?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress was struck dumb and immediately uttered a question.

She finally broke down and cried uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.

"Why can't my child be raised to adulthood? He's just sick, and medicine should cure him, so why?"

Mrs. Hershey tightened her grip, deliberately digging her nails into her daughter's arm to calm her down, and said in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, why can't the little prince be raised to adulthood? Perhaps it's all fate."

She deliberately emphasized the word "why," her eyes conveying a message only a mother and daughter could understand.

The Queen recovered from the stinging pain in her arm, met her mother's eyes, and her crying stopped abruptly.

She recalled Granny Jing's earlier warning, and the vague, unsettling feeling she'd had earlier...

It turned out that they had already been tricked, and it was too late.

She suddenly looked up at Kangxi, tears streaming down her face, filled with endless grievances and accusations.

"Your Majesty! I have been framed. I should have known sooner. The only people in the harem who could harm me are Consort Jin and Consort Niohuru."

Emperor Kangxi was already troubled by the fact that his legitimate son had not survived.

Seeing that the Empress had just woken up and was not taking good care of the young prince, but instead making random accusations, a nameless anger suddenly rose up.

He knew Nan Nan well; if she really wanted to deal with the Empress, why would she need to resort to such underhanded methods?

With Nan Nan's methods, she could easily have dethroned her as empress. He advised Nan Nan to tone it down.

Upon hearing Hesheli's accusations against Nannan, the Empress felt that she truly did not know what was good for her and rebuked her sternly.

"Empress, what nonsense are you spouting? In your Kunning Palace, who could harm you? Don't lose your composure in front of me."

Lady Heseri saw that the emperor was truly enraged.

If this continues, the emperor's pity for his daughter giving birth will only turn into disgust.

He quickly pinched the Empress again and repeatedly winked at her to make her admit her mistake.

The Empress felt a pain in her arm, which helped her regain some of her senses.

She looked at the furious Kangxi, then at her mother's anxious eyes, and forcibly suppressed the surging hatred in her heart.

She took a deep breath and then began to sob.

"Your Majesty... I lost my composure due to grief. My little prince has just been born, and all I want now is for him to see more of this world before he departs... I beg Your Majesty, please bestow a name upon my little prince..."

Seeing her like this, Kangxi finally felt pity for her, sighed, and softened his tone.

"Very well, I hope he can receive the blessings of Heaven. From now on, the little prince will be called... Chenghu."

"Chenghu...thanks to Your Majesty's grace."

The Empress murmured the name, knowing that the Emperor cared about the young prince and hoped that he would be blessed by Heaven.

Comforted, tears silently streamed down my face.

"Take good care of yourself."

Seeing her pitiful state of near collapse, Kangxi couldn't help but offer words of comfort.

"There's still plenty of time, and we can have more children. I'll head back to the Qianqing Palace now."

"Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, respectfully see you off."

The Queen and Lady Hesheri bowed their heads and spoke.

Kangxi said no more, turned around and left Kunning Palace with Niohuru, who had been standing quietly to the side observing coldly.

After leaving the palace gates, Kangxi stopped and gave instructions to Liang Jiugong.

"Go and inform the Empress Dowager about what happened in the Empress's palace. Be sure to... consider things carefully."

“Yes, sir!” Liang Jiugong responded.

After giving his instructions, Kangxi then addressed Niohuru.

"My beloved concubine, you should also return to Yikun Palace. You must be starving by now."

Niohuru bowed calmly.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off."

She stood there, watching Kangxi's departing figure.

Instead of immediately returning to Yikun Palace, he turned his head and gazed intently at Kunning Palace.

She heard and understood clearly what Madame Hesheri was implying.

Is this a reminder to Hesheli to seek revenge?

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The fact that Emperor Kangxi chose this name shows that he knew his first legitimate son would not survive and he hoped for divine protection.

With Chenghu, who is unlikely to be raised to adulthood, the Empress dares not touch Yongshou Palace, but the other concubines are in for trouble.

In Yixiu's words: Go and keep my Honghui company.

There were 6 book reviews yesterday. I'm making this promise: if the number of new book reviews exceeds 20 on a given day, I'll add an extra chapter.

It's a book review! Not a paragraph review or chapter review.