In August, the outside temperature dropped a bit more.
Xiu Ning, nearly eight months pregnant, strolled slowly around the small courtyard inside Qixiang Palace.
Chunyu was supporting her, and Chunyu was very careful, especially since Xiuning's belly was already very big, and she might even give birth prematurely if she wasn't careful.
"My lady, it's almost time. We should go back to our rooms and rest."
Chunyu first looked up and glanced around, then whispered something to Xiuning.
Xiuning's meal times are not fixed now because she needs to control her weight.
Although the kitchen in Qixiang Palace was larger than that of the Imperial Kitchen when it was built in Ningchuge, it could not compare to the well-equipped and comprehensive Imperial Kitchen.
For example, Xiuning still has to pick up her three regular meals from the royal kitchen on time, while her meals at other times are prepared by the small kitchen.
Xiuning felt a bit full after drinking a bowl of soup from the small kitchen, which is why she decided to go for a walk to digest her food. "If I walk around a bit more, I'll just end up lying in bed when I get back, so I might as well walk around a bit more."
She'll most likely be born prematurely this time. If Xiuning doesn't get moving around more now, she'll be in real trouble if things turn out like the Empress's when she gives birth (she can't possibly have to spend points and rely on the system for help again).
Upon hearing this, Chunyu saw that Xiuning remained calm and did not try to persuade her further. However, she became even more careful when helping Xiuning walk.
The two walked back and forth around the Qixiang Palace courtyard until Xiuning's forehead was covered in sweat. Only then did Xiuning purse her lips, wave her hand, and go back to her room.
The pastries and tea that had been prepared long ago had been placed at the right temperature.
Xiuning sat on the tatami mat, with a mouthful of tea that she hadn't fully swallowed, and pieces of melt-in-your-mouth pastries beside her.
The delicious food went down the throat into the stomach, calming the rumbling stomach.
Xiu Ning squinted comfortably, wiping her temples with a handkerchief as she inquired about the progress of the court proceedings.
“Speaking of which, the court has been quite lively lately,” Chunyu said. She didn’t know much about the court, and the information she could get came from letters sent from outside the palace, including the letter that Xiuning had asked her to send to the family. “The master brought up the matter of the princess’s residence during court.”
Therefore, many ministers in the court opposed it, including members of the Hesheli and Niohuru clans. It was only after the emperor's repeated insistence that the matter was finally decided.
The issue Chunyu is referring to here is the relationship between the princess's residence and the princes. Xitala Debao's suggestion is to go against the grain of the Niohuru and Hesheli clans, rather than lingering outside waiting for them to make mistakes and then occupying the moral high ground to counter them.
Xitala Debao simply used the pretext of national righteousness to earnestly request the emperor to directly use the princess's 'hostages' to negotiate sincerely with those vassal kings. Although this approach seemed ungentlemanly, every moment, Manchu soldiers would sacrifice themselves heroically on the frontier. What did it matter if they bore some infamy for the sake of the country and its people? In another sense, this was even more responsible to the country and its people.
It can be said that Hittara Deb's words gave Kangxi a good way out.
Emperor Kangxi had long wanted to settle accounts with the people in the princess's residence. Whether they pretended to be deaf and dumb or secretly sent messages to the vassal kings on the frontier, they had crossed Kangxi's bottom line.
The reason why Kangxi could not take action before was that he had not been able to openly seize their incriminating evidence. In particular, he also had to consider that the princesses were adopted daughters of the late emperor or Taizong, and were his elders. Kangxi was in a very difficult position.
Xitala Debao chose to step forward at this time, daring to bear the bad reputation and find excuses for Kangxi. Putting aside everything else, Xiuning would certainly reap the benefits after the matter was settled.
And that was indeed the case. Xiu Ning stroked her chin, thinking to herself that it was no wonder that Liang Jiugong, who served the Emperor, had been coming over to give her rewards these past few days; it turned out that it was because of her father's influence.
Having figured out the intricacies of the situation, Xiuning took another sip of tea to moisten her mouth. "Find an opportunity to send a message to Father, telling him to be more careful and watch out for retaliation from the Niohuru and Hesheli clans."
Although the probability of this is not high, since wealthy and powerful families probably wouldn't care about such trivial matters, you never know, what if?
Chunyu nodded. "Yes, this servant understands."
...
That evening, Emperor Kangxi appeared with his entourage in a side hall of Qixiang Palace.
Xiuning, with her pregnant belly, smiled tenderly as she greeted everyone at the door.
"Didn't someone send a message telling you to wait inside? Why did you run out again?"
Kangxi looked at Xiuning's belly and then sharply glanced behind him.
Liang Jiugong immediately lowered his body even further, a bitter smile on his face. Once his master decided to come out, it was not something he could persuade him to do with just a few words.
He bowed his head and admitted his mistake honestly, not daring to offer any explanation.
Seeing this, Xiu Ning smiled and grabbed Kangxi's arm, explaining why she couldn't help but come out. She said it was because she missed him, and also made excuses for Liang Jiugong, since she couldn't really offend the chief eunuch.
Kangxi shook his head helplessly, "You, has the child been behaving well lately?"
The two stepped into the house, and for safety, Kangxi even put his arm around Xiuning's waist.
Therefore, Xiuning had to retract her arm and press her body tightly against Kangxi.
"Your Majesty, I have been eating and sleeping well lately, and the imperial physician says that everything is going smoothly with the baby in my womb. I think we will be able to meet the baby in a little over a month."
In the end, Xiuning seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Her eyes crinkled into a smile as she placed Kangxi's large hand on her swollen belly.
Just then, she felt a sudden fetal movement in her belly. Kangxi raised an eyebrow, thinking that Xiuning's actions were indeed quite bold.
"She seems lively, which is good."
Having already suffered the loss of his previous children, Emperor Kangxi carefully felt the fetal movements beneath him, then chuckled and picked up a teacup from the side, handing it to Xiuning.
Xiu Ning was about to reach out to take it when Kangxi avoided her and personally brought it to her lips.
Xiuning: ...
Xiuning was somewhat surprised to receive such service from the big boss for the first time.
"Your pregnancy is tough, don't worry, I understand."
Emperor Kangxi smiled broadly and spoke much more amiably than when he entered.
Xiuning took the opportunity to snuggle up to Kangxi. The two stopped talking, but the warmth between them could still be felt.
That evening, Kangxi naturally chose to stay overnight. The next day, since he did not need to attend court, Kangxi specially accompanied Xiuning for a while until they finished lunch before returning to the Qianqing Palace with his entourage.
Watching Kangxi leave, Xiuning patted her chest. "Have someone prepare a servants' quarters. The Emperor promised last night to send a nanny over, probably to take care of the baby in her belly."
Currently, neither the princes' nor princesses' households have any imperial heirs, so barring any unforeseen circumstances, Xiu Ning's child will be raised by her personally.
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