"Yes, Your Majesty, your good health is of paramount importance to the entire nation."
"With me and my sisters here with Consort Ping, everything will be alright."
Consort Jia spoke up at the right moment, and although her words were a little awkward, the meaning was correct.
Emperor Kangxi's health was crucial to the stability of the entire country; if anything happened to anyone else, Kangxi could not afford to suffer any harm.
To expect Emperor Kangxi to stay up all night to watch over a concubine giving birth is ridiculous. Consort Ping wasn't the Empress, so she didn't have that kind of status (even when the Empress gave birth, Emperor Kangxi wasn't always there; other concubines were the ones watching over her then).
Once it happens, it will happen again.
After Xiuning began persuading the Emperor to leave, the others also started to speak one after another.
They kept repeating the same things, but the central idea and purpose were the same: Your Majesty, you should go back quickly. It's not worth your staying here to guard this place. They are enough to handle anything that needs to be done.
Xiuning knew the inside story of Consort Ping's childbirth, even though this person had been drugged.
However, this medicine has miraculous effects and has no harm to Consort Ping herself, only benefits her; it is just unfair to the child in her womb.
Therefore, the probability of Consort Ping having a difficult childbirth was very low. According to the normal delivery time for a woman's first pregnancy, the prince would be born safely around midnight.
Of course, whether the prince would survive after birth depended on whether the Crown Prince had given him enough medicine.
After listening to the advice of his beloved concubines, Emperor Kangxi thought for a moment and then got up and left the main hall.
Before leaving, Kangxi entrusted the affairs of Consort Ping entirely to Xiuning and Tongjia Rongyue.
What could the two say? They could only quickly get up and thank the Emperor for his high regard.
The crowd left Consort Ping's palace in a flurry, dispelling half of the oppressive atmosphere in the main hall.
The people who had been holding their breath finally breathed a sigh of relief, and some of the bolder ones even started to openly and subtly mock Consort Ping, who was giving birth in the side hall.
"Alright, Consort Ping is also in a difficult situation right now. I know everyone is feeling bad, but that's how it is in the palace. Let's all just bear with it for now."
Don't expect them to follow closely behind as soon as Kangxi leaves. They always have to pretend to be close sisters, otherwise how can they survive in the harem?
As soon as Xiuning finished speaking, the once somewhat chaotic hall fell silent.
Everyone understood the warning in Xiu Ning's words, and thought that although they were in a hurry to go back, they didn't have to offend Consort Jing and go back to the palace.
Fine, let them wait. They need to see what Consort Ping can produce after all this time.
About half an hour later, the cries coming from the delivery room became increasingly hoarse.
The concubines who had given birth to imperial heirs understood that this was the final step in the birthing process, and all that was needed was for Consort Ping to have another stroke so that she could give birth to the imperial heir in her womb.
"Everyone, it's getting late. Those who want to go back can leave now."
Xiuning timed it so that everyone who needed to leave could leave quickly, since they couldn't all stay until the end.
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. I will take my leave now."
Consort Rong stood up, and without being polite to Xiu Ning, said a few words and turned to leave.
With Consort Rong setting an example, those who hadn't reacted yet were still a bit confused, but those who had realized it was the perfect time.
"Yinxiang is not used to being in the palace yet. I am worried that something might happen to the child. In addition, Consort Zhangjia is also raising two little princesses by her side," Consort De said with an embarrassed look and a particularly kind smile. "I will take my leave now."
"Your Highness, Consort Jing, there are some matters in the palace that I have not yet dealt with."
"The same goes for me. Without my permission, those palace servants probably wouldn't dare to leave at will."
"..."
Those who left all found suitable excuses, and after they left in batches, only Xiuning and Tongjia Rongyue, who had been entrusted with important tasks by Kangxi, and a few concubines living in Consort Ping's palace remained in the main hall.
The concubines also wanted to leave, but their homes were right here, so where could they go?
They looked at each other respectfully, and then stepped forward to present one of the pretty young ladies. Xiu Ning remembered that the lady's surname seemed to be Zhou.
"Your Highness Consort Jing, Consort Ping is giving birth. As concubines in the palace, we are indebted to Consort Ping for her care and should be there to accompany her during her delivery."
But, but…
Zhou agreed for only half a day, but still didn't say what he was going to say next.
Well, she didn't dare to say it, because she was afraid of being scolded by Consort Jing, which wasn't worth it.
Tong Jiarongyue scoffed, "You want to go back?"
He was stammering; it was obvious he had ulterior motives.
As the sole owner of Jingren Palace, Tong Jia Rongyue had never encountered a concubine like this before.
Consort Zhou nodded, "This concubine is not in good health, and staying here will only affect Consort Ping."
After speaking, Consort Zhou glanced around, and the concubines who had been sitting in the chairs also spoke up to defend her.
Xiu Ning's eyes darted around, and she said with a hint of regret, "In that case, let's go back."
Hearing what Xiuning said was like receiving a pardon.
Zhou happily agreed, and before leaving, he didn't forget to praise Xiuning.
Of course, the other young ladies were not left out either, treating Xiuning as their savior.
Xiu Ning covered her mouth and smiled, thinking to herself that these people were really interesting. They could run away, but they couldn't hide. Consort Ping would definitely come out of the delivery room alive, and someone would expose the stupid things they did today for the reward.
"Is Consort Jing really so kind-hearted that she just let the suspect go?"
Tong Jiarong spoke calmly, her style of speaking completely opposite to her expression.
“How can we let her escape? We can question Consort Ping anytime she comes out.”
It's not like they left Consort Ping's palace to go somewhere else. As far as Consort Ping is concerned, if she were to pass on a message to these people, would they dare to refuse her?
Xiu Ning rested her chin on her hand, thinking that Tong Jia Rongyue was making a fuss over nothing.
Tong Jiarongyue responded with a forced smile, "Really? I don't think so."
Go back and process the evidence; when you come out again, you'll be completely innocent.
Xiu Ning and Tong Jia Rongyue seemed to be both being honest and playing a game of cryptic conversation.
For the two of them, this was certainly not a difficult matter, but for the other palace servants around them, who did not know the inside story, or who were just following Consort Ping's orders to monitor the main hall, they could only hear things in a daze, and might not even be able to pass the words to Consort Ping.
However, this had nothing to do with Xiu Ning and the other woman. They exchanged a glance and then Xiu Ning got up and went to the entrance of the main hall.
The early autumn nights are still cold.
Xiuning stood at the gate of the courtyard, looking at the delivery room where people were coming and going not far away.
The sounds coming and going from inside had long since dissipated. Xiu Ning looked at the lanterns hanging in the courtyard for illumination and asked the system in her mind, "Is she about to give birth?"
The system responded instantly, "Yes, the results from Consort Ping will be available in another quarter of an hour."
"Wow, time flies. I'll be back at the palace soon too."
Xiu Ning replied to the system without realizing it, and then returned to the main hall.
Tong Jiarong was already showing signs of drowsiness. Qianli, who was serving her, brought over the teacup that had been served earlier. It was still warm and drinkable.
"Hmm, I have some matters to attend to and have not been able to deal with them. I will see you later, Consort Jing."
Tong Jia Rongyue thought she would see something by staying, but it turned out that it was better for her to just watch the excitement in the palace.
When Tong Jia Rongyue got angry, she simply went back to the palace, not even giving Xiu Ning any face.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
