"Have those rumors been stopped?"

"Yes... it was an order from Her Majesty the Empress."

"It's...the Empress!?" Consort Tong's face drained of color, her hands twisting her handkerchief.

At least the rumors stopping gave her a sigh of relief.

However, the Empress's intervention caused Consort Tong to have other worries. She slumped into her chair, her brows furrowed, unable to hide her fear and helplessness.

At first, when she heard the palace servants laughing and talking, she only thought about her own good fortune and wanted to take the opportunity to promote herself and improve her status.

At first, things went as she expected, but then the situation took a sharp turn for the worse, and eventually, the situation was out of her control. After hearing all sorts of distorted rumors, Consort Tong was on the verge of despair.

While Consort Qi accompanied the Fourth Prince to Chengqian Palace, she tried to ask for help but was rejected... Thinking about it this way, it's possible that Consort Qi was also involved.

After all, while others might not know, Consort Tong did.

Consort Qi, who was not the most favored among the four consorts, rose to the top position because she saved the emperor by chance during an earthquake.

If another lucky star like herself were to emerge in the palace, wouldn't that block Consort Qi's path?

Or perhaps it's her older sister!

He feigned compassion and magnanimity, even going so far as to apologize to Consort Qi, and then, taking advantage of the fact that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his departure from the Forbidden City, spread rumors and gossip.

If this gets back to the Emperor...

Consort Tong held her belly, feeling a chill run through her. She knew that she might not only fail to rise in rank and gain favor, but her newborn child might also be taken away and raised by her sister.

Thinking of this, Consort Tong's teeth chattered as she pondered what to do. Should she ask her family? An idea struck her, and she quickly wrote a letter, instructing her trusted confidant to send it out of the palace as soon as possible.

The Empress noticed everything Consort Tong did, but she didn't have much energy to care. She only instructed the palace servants to pay attention to the movements in the harem before lazily snuggling into her bedding again, making little clothes for her future child.

I wonder if it's a prince or a princess?

After much deliberation, the Empress looked at the small dress in her hands and decided to make another set.

On the other side, Wan Anran paced anxiously in circles.

She turned to Haitao and asked, "How long has Yinzhen been gone?"

Hai Tao respectfully replied, "Master, we've been waiting for half a cup of tea to return."

Wan Anran responded dejectedly.

She finally understood the parents in her past life who watched their children enter kindergarten, yet were reluctant to leave. After all, just thinking about Yinzhen, who had gone to Chengqian Palace, made her heart ache, and tears almost welled up in her eyes.

Wan Anran sat in the chair and sighed softly.

She rested her chin on her hand and said, "Haitao, you said it's so soon... Yinzhen will have to go to the Imperial Study soon."

Hai Tao smiled and said, "Young master has grown up."

Wan Anran was somewhat disappointed. She tried hard not to show it, but in the end she couldn't help but sigh: "I would rather he stay a baby forever."

Hai Tao and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

In the end, Zisu cruelly and resolutely shattered Wan Anran's illusion: "Master, the little master will grow up eventually."

Wan Anran lay face down on the table.

She sighed softly, "I... know."

When Yinzhen returned from Chengqian Palace, he sensed something was off. His mother's gaze towards him was always strange. Puzzled, he turned around and asked Granny Zhao for the reason. After learning the cause, Yinzhen was both amused and exasperated, feeling a bittersweet mix of emotions.

After thinking for a moment, he made a point of finding Wan Anran.

Wan Anran thought Yinzhen was going to say something, but he stepped forward and said solemnly, "Mother, your son wants a younger brother or sister."

Wan Anran nodded.

She turned her head and instructed Haitao, "Please invite the Fourth Princess and the Sixth Prince over to play tomorrow."

Haitao: ...

Yinzhen's lips twitched slightly, and he added emphatically, "I am referring to my own brothers and sisters."

Wan Anran: …………?

She reached out and touched Yinzhen's forehead: "Did you catch a cold from the wind?"

Yinzhen shook his head: "Your subject is not ill."

Wan Anran didn't believe it: "Then why did you bring this up?"

Yinzhen's face was stern and he said, "Because I heard from Granny Zhao that Mother thinks you will feel lonely when I grow up, so please have a younger brother or sister, so you won't be lonely."

Wan Anran: …………

What nonsense is this child spouting? She reached out and flicked Yinzhen's forehead: "Wanting to have a baby isn't as simple as you say."

Yinzhen blinked.

Wan Anran held the limp Yinzhen in her arms and beckoned Haitao and the others over, intending to talk to them about things to be careful about during pregnancy.

Where would you say this in front of someone who's still alive?

Hai Tao and the others were still young and unmarried. Hearing these words, their cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and they lowered their heads, not daring to listen any further.

Wan Anran was dissatisfied: "You all need to listen carefully too."

Having children in this era is not a simple matter, Wan Anran said with concern: "After you leave the palace and get married, you will be able to use them."

Hai Tao and the other two quickly knelt down on the ground.

They all said in unison, "We are willing to tie our hair up and become nannies, staying in the palace to accompany our master."

Wan Anran's eyebrows and eyes curved into a smile.

She told the three of them to stand up: "Ignoring Haitao and Zisu, Jubai, are you sure you can trust your family outside the palace?"

Ju Bai has younger siblings.

She cherished the money and fabric she saved each year, and she never missed a chance to meet with her family. Hearing her master's question, Ju Bai bit her lip, and after a long while, she still couldn't utter a word of rebuttal.

Wan Anran called out to Ju Bai to come forward.

Her eyes held a hint of reluctance and sorrow: "You've been by my side for six years now, and you're already nineteen."

Most Manchus married between the ages of fifteen and twenty, and at that age, Ju Bai could find a good marriage even if she left the palace. Originally, it should have been earlier, but Wan Anran was reluctant to part with him, and kept thinking about it and then putting it down.

She perked up when we talked about her today.

As for Haitao and Zisu, their relationship with their families was somewhat strained. Although both families seemed to be currying favor with her after her rise in rank, Wan Anran grew increasingly worried. Seeing that Haitao and Zisu wanted to stay, she felt it was pointless.

Even so, you still have to listen.

Wan Anran smiled and said, "After Yinzhen settles down and starts a family, you can go with him too."

Haitao and Zisu wanted to talk more.

However, Wan Anran acted on her idea immediately, pulling the three of them aside and explaining it to them in detail. They thought that Yinzhen wouldn't understand, so they didn't have many concerns. But Yinzhen was different. At first, he looked completely bewildered, but after hearing it, his cheeks turned red, and his head looked like a volcano about to erupt.

Firstly, the emperor's cooperation is required.

Secondly, the mother's health is important.

Of course, Wan Anran could achieve both the first and second conditions. In fact, because of the many times she appeared on Kangxi, she could even choose a time when she was more likely to conceive.

"When is the most fertile time?"

“That’s right! There is actually an optimal period for women to get pregnant.” Wan Anran said with a smile: “Although it is generally said that the time after menstruation is the most fertile time, as far as I know, the best time to conceive is about five days before and after the middle of two menstrual periods.”

Yinzhen covered his face.

He didn't want to listen at all, but he couldn't help but prick up his ears to listen carefully, because he was worried that he wouldn't have many children in the future, and that his brothers had even mocked him for it.

After finishing that, Wan Anran went on to talk about things to pay attention to during pregnancy. Not to mention diet, conditioning, and exercise, even the objects you come into contact with have their own intricacies.

After saying this, Wan Anran picked up her teacup.

She then talked about exercises pregnant women should do, such as doing corrective exercises regularly after seven months to help the baby move into the correct position...

It goes without saying that the three of them knew about the various things that happened during pregnancy and after childbirth, but they did not understand the master's actions at the time. The details and richness of the content were shocking.

Haitao, Zisu, and Jubai exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with tears of emotion. They all sobbed in unison, "Master, is this a secret recipe passed down in your family? To just tell us like this... is that really alright?"

Wan Anran's expression went blank for a moment.

It took her a while to come to her senses, and she let out a soft sigh. Looking at the three of them, speechless with emotion, Wan An belatedly realized if she had said something she shouldn't have. She scratched her cheek: "There's no need to get so worked up over something so small... right?"

"Master, what are you saying!"

“That’s right, Your Majesty. Secret formulas for women’s pregnancy and childbirth are of paramount importance.” Zisu pointed out the problem with a stern face: “Have you forgotten what happened in the palace before?”

So much time has passed, but rumors have already spread that Consort An and Consort Jing, who disappeared silently in the palace, were because of a prescription for a medicine to help them conceive and give birth.

Wan Anran shivered.

She thought for a moment and realized that she had only mentioned some things that people should eat more of, less of, or not recommend eating, and then patted her chest and said, "I've told you all these things, so don't spread them around."

The three responded in unison.

Wan Anran hugged Yinzhen, only then realizing that she seemed to have forgotten about his existence. She lowered her head and exclaimed, "I've been talking a bunch of nonsense and I've forgotten about our little darling."

Yinzhen's expression was strange.

After a long pause, he responded softly. Wan Anran thought he was shy and kissed his round forehead: "Anyway, getting pregnant is a difficult thing. You have to understand when Yinzhen grows up and gets married, okay?"

Due to the overall environment.

Wan Anran didn't expect Yinzhen to become a great man in the future; she only hoped that he could be more understanding.

Yinzhen: "...Hmm."

Other children would likely be confused and unable to explain themselves, but for Yinzhen, a myriad of thoughts swirled in his mind. The doubts that had once lingered in his heart finally settled at this moment: his mother and the Wanliuhashi of his previous life were definitely not the same person!

If so.

It's unlikely that the twelfth brother, Yin Tao, would have had no sons or daughters raised to adulthood before his death, except for his eldest daughter.

So who is Mother?

Yinzhen had countless questions in his mind, but he only pondered them on the tip of his tongue and ultimately did not voice them.

If her mother asked her how she knew.

What should I do? Yinzhen lowered his head, clutching his mother's robe tightly with both hands, filled with fear and apprehension.

His little hands trembled slightly.

Wan Anran noticed Yinzhen's unease and felt somewhat annoyed. She was afraid that she had gone too far and frightened Yinzhen. She reached out and rubbed Yinzhen's forehead, saying softly, "Speaking of which, Yinzhen is the best treasure that God has given to your mother."

"……Why?"

"When your mother gave birth to you, she thought it would be painful for several hours, but unexpectedly..." Wan Anran couldn't help but chuckle when she recalled that time: "Your mother only took the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to give birth smoothly."

Yinzhen's eyes were wide open.

He also knew that it takes a woman half a day to a full day to give birth, and it was normal for a woman to have a difficult labor and not be able to give birth for two days.

As for the child born from a cup of tea.

Yinzhen can assure you that he has never heard of it!

Wan Anran found his expression amusing.

She reached out and poked Yinzhen's cheek: "It's true, everyone in the palace was terrified."

Wan Anran turned Yinzhen around.

The mother and son sat facing each other, and she gently kissed Yinzhen's forehead: "Therefore, Yinzhen, you don't need to be afraid. Your mother will always be with you."

Even if I'm a bad kid?

"Pfft... How can you say that about yourself?" Wan Anran laughed heartily, but she was slightly taken aback when she saw Yinzhen's stubborn look. Then Wan Anran's expression turned serious: "That's right, even if the whole world doesn't stand with Yinzhen, your mother will stand with Yinzhen."

“…Hmph.” Yinzhen’s cheeks were flushed.

“Yinzhen, the way you are... well, that’s called being arrogant.” Wan Anran poked her son’s cheek and added with a grin.