Outside the Qixiang Palace, in the small courtyard, Kangxi and the others had already heard the baby crying coming from inside the house. Regardless of what they were thinking, they all looked overjoyed.
The Grand Empress Dowager did not come, but the Empress Dowager did. She and Emperor Kangxi stood at the front of the crowd, with the Empress, Consort Shu, Consort Tong, and others behind them.
Squeak—
The door was pushed open, and Granny Sun, carrying the swaddled baby, walked quickly.
"This servant greets Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager," Sun Mama said. As soon as she finished speaking, Kangxi waved his hand repeatedly, "Quickly, bring the child to me so I can see him."
Upon hearing this, Granny Sun quickly handed over the swaddled baby she was holding, and also made sure to explain the child's physical condition, including his weight and other details.
Hearing what Granny Sun said, Kangxi couldn't help but grin even wider, and his eyes looked at the swaddled baby with such tenderness that they seemed to drip with water.
Beside her, the Empress Dowager spoke a few words of concern to Xiu Ning in the delivery room. Upon learning that Xiu Ning had closed her eyes to rest, she instructed Granny Sun to take good care of her.
"Your Majesty, this child has handsome features, just like you when you were a child."
The Empress Dowager pointed to the child's eyebrows, eyes, and nose, and spoke to Emperor Kangxi with a smile.
Emperor Kangxi nodded, in an extremely good mood. "Quickly take the child back. Also, all the palace servants in Qixiang Palace, the midwives who delivered the baby, and the imperial physicians will be richly rewarded!"
Once the word "reward" is uttered, others will naturally run themselves ragged for these words.
Emperor Kangxi only needed to look at the child, then pat his bottom and return to the Qianqing Palace.
Of course, before leaving, Kangxi did not forget to instruct the Empress to properly organize the upcoming baby shower banquet.
Empress: ...
The Empress smiled and nodded, "Your Majesty, I obey your command."
...
The main hall of Kunning Palace was brightly lit.
“Your Majesty, no matter how proud the other party is, he is still just a son of a concubine. Even if he can get the Emperor to speak up, you don’t need to go to such lengths.”
As Tan Yun spoke, she ground ink and handed paper to Hesheli Fangyi.
He Sheli Fangyi frowned upon hearing this, while her hand continued writing. "You can't say that. We can't ignore what the Emperor has ordered. Besides, even if he's an illegitimate son, he's still the Emperor's own child. You must never say things like that again."
At the end, Hesheli Fangyi's tone became noticeably harsher, "If you can't correct this bad habit, then don't stay by my side to serve me."
Thud—
Tan Yun was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and begged for forgiveness, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. It was my slip of the tongue. I will never do it again."
Hesheli Fangyi sighed, her eyes filled with worry and annoyance. She was still unfamiliar with everything about this body, and sometimes she didn't do things very carefully.
Looking at her personal maid kneeling on the ground, Hesheli Fangyi was unsure of the other's thoughts, but considering that she was new to the place, she kept the maid around.
"Get up. Keep these words in mind," Hesheli Fangyi said calmly, handing the written document to Tanyun. "Send it to the Imperial Household Department first thing tomorrow morning. Make sure it's 30% smaller than the scale of Baocheng's third-day celebration."
Tan Yun lowered her head and replied, "This servant understands."
...
When Xiuning opened her eyes again, a full day had passed since she gave birth.
"Spring rain?"
She called out to someone, and Xiu Ning moved her body. As expected, a soreness surged up from her body.
"My lady, you're awake?" Chunyu's voice came from beside Xiuning's ear.
Xiuning looked up and reached out to be gently helped up by Chunyu. "Where's the child?"
Chunyu pointed outside the door, "Granny Sun took the little prince to the side hall to breastfeed him."
Xiuning glanced around and casually inquired about the situation in the harem, "While I was asleep, was there any activity in the palace?"
Chunyu handed the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician to Xiuning, who shook her head slightly, "Not at all."
Yesterday, after you gave birth to the little prince, the Emperor was so happy that he rewarded all the palace servants in Qixiang Palace.
The Empress has been assigned by the Emperor to oversee the young prince's third-day celebrations, and the Empress Dowager has also bestowed many gifts upon him. She also sent people to visit the young prince last night and this morning.
Although the timing of her arrival was inconvenient, as Xiuning was still asleep, the Empress Dowager's sincerity was still evident.
After Xiuning finished her medicine, she reached out and wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief. "When you have time later, go to Shou Kang Palace and invite the Empress Dowager over."
Without explaining the reason, Chunyu obediently nodded, "This servant understands."
Shou Kang Palace
When the Empress Dowager learned that Qixiang Palace had invited her, she was somewhat surprised.
However, considering that Ning Chuge was the link between them, the Empress Dowager rested for a while and chose a relatively cool time to go to Qixiang Palace.
"You want to see me? Could it be that you're worried about not being able to raise the young prince?"
On her way here, the Empress Dowager had pondered Xiu Ning's true purpose in summoning her. She felt that the most reliable issue was the upbringing of the young prince, just like Ning Chuge before. If the Empress Dowager hadn't chosen to take over, he would have been destined to live in the princess's residence.
"You don't need to worry too much. Even the former Fourth Princess was raised under Consort Zhang's care."
Your newborn son will not be given away for adoption.
Or rather, given the current number of princes in the harem, they are not yet at a point where Kangxi could use them as bargaining chips.
The Empress Dowager lowered her head slightly, thinking of the Grand Empress Dowager's interest in the princes. In the end, she could only sigh silently in her heart. Given the Emperor's high regard for the Hitara clan, at least the princes of the Hitara clan would not be entrusted to them for upbringing.
Having thought all this through, the Empress Dowager dared to make such a guarantee to Xiuning. Her purpose was naturally to reassure Xiuning, as Ning Chuge was involved between them, and the Empress Dowager did not want Ning Chuge to have a rift with her birth mother.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has misunderstood. Although the matter of inviting you here is related to the young prince, it is not about raising him," Xiu Ning said with a smile, leaning back on the soft pillow. Her words were slow but firm. "This humble concubine dares to ask Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to give the young prince a nickname."
Naming a child?!
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, and a look of shock appeared in her eyes as she looked at Xiuning.
Why did you think of me?
This should have been the Emperor's business. Could it be that Xiuning is plotting something she doesn't know about?
The Empress Dowager inevitably thought about it more. Although the other party only mentioned a small name, there were many points involved, from the meaning of the name to the language used in the name, none of which could be ignored.
Regardless of what the Empress Dowager might think, Xiu Ning simply stated her own thoughts: "The inner palace has been quite turbulent these past few years. To be honest, Your Majesty, even though I have safely given birth to Ning Chuge and the little prince, I still can't let go of their safety in my heart."
Please, Your Majesty, name him. Firstly, it is because Ning Chuge is grateful for your care, and secondly, this concubine privately hopes that the little prince will be safe and sound.
I have no other wish right now but that the little prince grows up healthy.
We humbly request Your Majesty's permission.
After speaking, Xiuning straightened up and sat half-upright on the bed, giving the Empress Dowager a curtsy. Although it looked awkward, it was full of sincerity.
Empress Dowager: ...
"In that case, let's call him Idel."
Ider, in Mongolian, means robust or strong.
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