Consort Shu summoned the imperial physician, which resulted in quite a commotion in the harem.
The others were hoping that Consort Shu would miscarry, otherwise the child would not only be a threat to the Empress's position, but also an invisible form of class oppression against their descendants.
Unfortunately, despite all this commotion, Consort Shu was constantly getting into minor troubles but never any major ones, which even surprised the Empress Dowager of Cining Palace.
"Consort Shu is slightly different from before." Given her temperament when she first entered the palace, let alone maintaining the pregnancy until five months, just getting through the first three months would have been remarkable.
It seems that the imperial harem can really train people; he has made such great progress in just a few years.
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician in charge of examining Consort Shu's pulse has asserted that Consort Shu's pregnancy is most likely to result in a prince."
After Sumalagu finished speaking, she reached out and took Xiaozhuang's arm, leading her from the window to the bedside.
"The young prince is quite good too," Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang replied softly.
"By the way, look at my memory," Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang patted Sumalagu's hand, "Is Prince Chengrui's health improving?"
Cheng Rui was the son of Ma Jia Shi, born last September. He was sent to the Prince's ward to be raised immediately after birth.
At first, Cheng Rui was quite healthy, but perhaps due to bad feng shui at the prince's residence, after only a few months, Cheng Rui began to suffer from a series of illnesses, both major and minor, and frequently sought treatment from imperial physicians at the Imperial Hospital.
There is only one child in the harem at present, and the Empress Dowager and others still pay attention to him. Occasionally, the Empress Dowager will send Su Ma La Gu to visit him. However, Cheng Rui's health is getting weaker and weaker as he grows up, and they are helpless.
Sumalagu nodded, "It's much better now, but I still have a cough."
Speaking of which, recently Consort Ma Jia of Zhongcui Palace has been frequently visiting the Prince's quarters to look after Prince Chengrui.
The Empress Dowager slowly twirled the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, saying, "She is Chengrui's birth mother," implying that if she didn't go, who would?
That makes sense, but how many mothers and children in the imperial harem truly share a pure and genuine bond?
Sumalagu did not speak, but bowed her head and poured a cup of warm tea for the Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang reached out, picked up the cup, and tasted it. "The two Mongolian concubines who have entered the palace this time, Suma, have someone tell them to take good care of her."
Sighing silently, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang felt helpless. She could see through Emperor Kangxi's thoughts and understood that with the weakening of the Mongol forces, there would be no more Mongol concubines in the harem. But, after all, she was of Mongol origin.
When the Manchus entered the Central Plains, the Mongols, as staunch allies, provided them with countless assistance.
At present, the Qing Dynasty is thriving, while the Mongols still live in the harsh lands beyond the Great Wall. To be honest, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang is not happy about this.
Hopefully, these two newcomers can prove themselves and gain a better place in the Emperor's heart.
...
The turmoil inside the palace had nothing to do with the outside world. At the Hitara residence, Xiu Ning was packing the things she would bring into the palace.
Because she was only a concubine, not a princess of the highest rank who could prepare a proper dowry, Xiu Ning could still bring a personal maid and a few small packages into the palace.
Although Xiuning has a spatial ability, she can't just conjure things out of thin air for everything. While it's convenient and quick to do so, the risk of being exposed is extremely high. If she gets caught, not only will the mission fail, but she will also suffer a lot.
With great foresight, Fucha secretly placed some land deeds and similar documents in a small wooden box, while the remaining silver notes were divided into two parts: the larger denomination notes were kept separately, and the smaller denomination notes were distributed among other things.
"These packages of yours must first be inspected by the Imperial Household Department before they can be sent to the palace."
This is a necessary step for concubines to enter the palace. The inspection is more rigorous than that during the second selection (during the second selection, the things you bring only threaten the other candidates, but after entering the palace, the things you bring threaten the six palaces and even the emperor).
Fucha set aside some silver notes specifically to appease the servants of the Imperial Household Department who were inspecting the packages.
These are all unspoken rules. If you don't want to be investigated too thoroughly, you have to use money to pave the way and bribe them well.
Xiuning accepted this well, and she even thoughtfully prepared a few small purses to put the banknotes in, so as not to be too blatant.
The day before entering the palace, Lady Fucha once again personally handed two small wooden boxes to Xiuning.
"One of them was entrusted to me by an elder of the Fuca clan to give to you; the other was sent by the wife of the chief of the Xitala clan."
Upon hearing this, Xiu Ning nodded slightly and reached out to hug the two wooden boxes to her chest.
This was exactly what she had anticipated. Both families wanted to profit from it, and in a give-and-take manner, they would definitely invest in her in advance.
"Also, remember the names on this list, and dispose of them later."
Fucha then took out a folded piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to Xiuning.
"Is this the intention of the Fucha clan elders?"
Xiu Ning raised an eyebrow, because the Xitala clan's connections had long been handed over to her.
Fucha nodded, then chuckled, "Perhaps they felt ashamed because they hadn't received enough before."
Back when Xiuning was re-selected to enter the palace, Lady Fucha sent over some connections, but at that time, these connections were all inconspicuous and had no practical value, which made Lady Fucha extremely displeased with her family's actions.
The situation has now reversed dramatically. Xiu Ning has entered the palace and gained a position, and the Fucha clan feels that they can increase their investment. This change in attitude makes the Fucha clan scoff at it.
However, it's understandable. Family matters are interconnected, so one thing can have far-reaching consequences, so caution is essential.
"Keep this safe. Whether you know how to use it or not, it's always a good backup plan."
Empress Fucha wished she could give Xiuning everything she had. Her own daughter was about to suffer in the palace, and she had to do everything in her power to help.
"Don't worry, Mother, I understand," Xiu Ning said, putting the note into her sleeve. She planned to have the system check it before using it, and she wouldn't use Fucha's connections unless absolutely necessary.
People have different degrees of closeness and distance. Xiu Ning can use her family's and the Xitala clan's connections without any scruples, but she must be extremely cautious with the Fucha clan, since their loyalty is to the Fucha clan, not the Xitala clan.
Later that evening, Xitala Debao again summoned Xiuning to his study for a heart-to-heart talk.
The father and daughter analyzed the political situation at court, especially the ambiguous relationship between Aobai and Ebilun.
"The Consort Shu in the palace is very likely pregnant with a little prince."
The Niohuru clan of the previous dynasty had already shown signs of settling down, but the lineage of Aobai," Xitala Debao shook his head, "the Guarjia clan's daughters were not selected for the palace as they wished, and this man seems quite dissatisfied."
He spends his days criticizing and scolding this person and that person in the imperial court, but everyone dares not speak out against him. If this continues, Ao Bai's glory will be hard to maintain.
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