Chapter Forty
Ninth Prince Yin Tang was just thinking that since the Crown Prince could study Western mirrors, there shouldn't be any problem with him studying Western clocks, right?
I know I can make money, but I also know this isn't something I can figure out on my own. The key is... my father won't allow it.
But things are different now. With the Crown Prince and Crown Princess supporting him, if Father Emperor wants to scold someone, he certainly won't just scold him alone.
It's an honor to be scolded along with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, so what's there to be afraid of?
Besides, with Western clocks being so expensive, he didn't believe anyone would be unmoved. So why couldn't those who were tempted figure them out?
Therefore, the study of Western clocks must have been extremely difficult and cost a considerable amount of money.
Mother doesn't support him, and Fifth Brother certainly doesn't have much money. Eighth Brother is even less so; he might even have to give money to Mother in the side hall of Yanxi Palace sometimes. Tenth Brother... what use is a hundred taels?
Although I've managed to save up tens of thousands of taels of silver over the past ten years, how could that be enough? And I can't bear to spend it all.
How could Ninth Prince Yin Tang not be moved by finding a sucker to whom he could squander his wealth and live a carefree life?
As for selling it... Oh dear, the Crown Princess spent tens of thousands of taels on her own research, and she's gambling on it without even seeing the future. Doesn't that make her a good person?
A 50/50 split... provided you can figure it out yourself.
What else could my second sister-in-law be but a discerning eye for talent?
Besides my second sister-in-law, who else is so generous?
Therefore, when the Tenth Prince Yin'e came over and said such things, Yin Tang was immediately displeased and retorted.
"Oh, the Crown Princess is so generous." Upon hearing this, Yin'e nodded. "Then Ninth Brother, you must work hard and not let down Second Sister-in-law's support. Otherwise, next time you want to do something, no one will dare to support you."
The news of Ninth Brother's search for people to study Western clocks has spread throughout the harem. Finally, a kind-hearted person has come along to support Ninth Brother.
If we fail this time, we won't have any suckers left in the future.
"Of course, I will try my best. Tenth Brother, don't bother me for a while, I'm busy." The whole harem is watching him make a fool of himself, how could Yinzhen not know?
Hmph, let you laugh at me! I'll secretly work hard and amaze everyone, scaring you to death!
"Okay, okay, Ninth Brother, I'll come with you." Yin'e also expressed his desire to help, not to dismantle the Western clock, but to work hard with Ninth Brother.
Yin Tang glanced at the clumsy Yin E and rolled his eyes at him, "No, it doesn't matter if you break other things, but Western clocks are expensive. You can't get ten of them back."
That's for sure. Tenth Brother only has a hundred taels in his treasury. Let alone ten, even a hundred would be hard to exchange.
Feeling slighted, Yin'e was unhappy. "Ninth Brother, you're looking down on me. Why can't I help? I definitely won't break it."
Just as the two of them were arguing about this, the Fifth Prince Yinqi came to visit. Seeing Yintang and Yin'e, two unreliable people, arguing about who should dismantle the Western clock, his expression was both helpless and serious.
He added in a scolding tone: "Ninth Prince, do you know what you're doing? How could you cheat the Crown Princess out of her money? Return the Western clock immediately."
The Fifth Prince felt truly exhausted. Didn't he know that his father, the Emperor, favored the Crown Prince the most?
Moreover, things have escalated to this point, making us a laughingstock.
"No." Yinzhen was quite happy to see his fifth brother arrive, but the way he said it immediately soured his mood. Honestly, not only could he not offer support, but he was also being so nagging.
The stubborn Yinzhen didn't want to talk to his fifth brother anymore. The tenth prince, Yin'e, who was standing next to him, also thought that his fifth brother was being too unreasonable. "Fifth brother, how can you say that about the ninth brother? Even the Crown Princess believes the ninth brother, but you, as his own brother, don't believe him."
Moreover, this attitude, this tone, this manner of speaking—it's just like Fourth Brother. When did you become so close to Fourth Brother that you learned his everyday language and expressions?
"Well, Fifth Brother, I was just worried about you, Ninth Brother. If Father finds out, he will definitely punish you." Yinqi seemed to realize that his tone was not very good just now, so he softened his tone.
Then, he pulled out several silver notes from his sleeve, totaling several thousand taels.
"Fifth Brother can't help you much, but this is my token of appreciation. You should return it to the Crown Princess as soon as possible." Yinqi knew the place Yuqing Palace held in his father's heart, and his father, who loved the palace so much that he would surely reprimand the Ninth Prince.
"No need, Fifth Brother. I've already partnered with Second Sister-in-law. Once I've developed the Western clock, we'll split the profits 50/50. If you interfere, you'll be taking a cut of my profits," Yinzhen shook his head and refused.
Although Fifth Brother meant well, this gesture... is unnecessary. Second Sister-in-law's silver notes are enough for him to research and develop for a long time.
The agreement was to split the profits 50/50, so I couldn't possibly take away my second sister-in-law's share. That would mean I had to give up half of my share to my fifth brother.
No, no, even brothers should keep clear accounts.
The Fifth Prince, Yinqi, who had done a good deed but received no reward, looked at Yintang for several seconds, then silently took back his silver notes. "Fine."
If his father scolded him, he would kneel in front of the Qianqing Palace and plead for his ninth brother, saying, "Let him be punished."
"Then what else can I do to help you?" Although they don't seem to be very close usually, the Fifth Prince knows that only the Ninth and Eleventh Princes are biological brothers from the same mother, and he is very loyal to the Ninth Prince.
"No need, Fifth Brother, just don't bother me. I'm going into seclusion soon." Yin Tang said with great confidence, as if no one could steal his credit.
This time, he has researched and developed Western clocks, and there are quite a few Western goods that look quite high-end. Only then can he ask his second sister-in-law for money.
I'm so happy! I can get half of it without having to manage or operate it myself.
With a continuous stream of funds to come, Yinzhen felt that no one should try to take this good thing from him; anyone who tried would be his enemy.
At this moment, the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, who had received the news, also arrived. Seeing that the Fifth Prince and the Tenth Prince were both there, he greeted them together, "Fifth Brother, Ninth Brother, Tenth Brother, so you're all here?"
The Eighth Prince, a truly gentle and refined young man, had a mild temperament and a smile as gentle as a spring breeze caressing a willow tree. "I came to see my Ninth Brother. I heard that you are studying Western clocks and know that Western clocks are exquisitely crafted, so I wanted to come and see if there is anything I can do to help."
"No need, Eighth Brother, I can handle it myself. Don't bother yourselves. Also, Tenth Brother, let go of my Western clock and leave quickly. Don't cause trouble for my brother."
He was talking to the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, when he caught a glimpse of Yinzhi reaching out to touch his Western clock. He was so angry that he quickly pushed the Tenth Prince away.
None of you should touch it.
Yinzhi showed no embarrassment or awkwardness. Seeing the two of them joking around, he smiled gently and said, "Alright, if you need anything, just let me know."
"No problem, no problem," Yinzhen replied casually, his attention now focused on Yin'e, before pushing Yin'e and the others away.
Honestly, he can't help with anything, he only causes trouble (specifically referring to the tenth brother).
The fact that Yuqing Palace sent three Western clocks to the Ninth Prince's residence for him to study made me think that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were really arrogant, thinking that they were amazing just because they had invented a Western clock.
Even so, shouldn't we at least give such a precious item as a Western clock to the Ninth Prince to play with? Isn't that a waste?
Even Emperor Kangxi was alarmed and asked Liang Jiugong in surprise, "Crown Princess, are you really that generous? You only sent three Western clocks?"
Emperor Kangxi knew that the Ninth Prince had tried to research Western clocks and had gone to the Yikun Palace to ask Consort Yi, as well as the Tenth and Fifth Princes for money, but all his efforts were unsuccessful.
However, he just laughed it off, thinking that Lao Jiu just wanted to have fun.
But now...
He frowned slightly. When did the Crown Princess become so generous? Don't think he didn't know that every princess in the backyard of Yuqing Palace lived according to her allotted allowance.
As for the birthday gifts given to the princes, their wives, and other relatives, they were all within the prescribed range and not particularly outstanding.
This even led to Yinreng being so poor that he had to ask her for money, which shows how poor Yuqing Palace was, and how difficult it was for the Crown Princess.
Recently, the installation of glass windows in the Qianqing Palace and Cining Palace has prompted his officials and relatives to follow suit and purchase them from glass workshops, thus making a profit.
"Your Majesty, I heard that the Crown Princess wants to partner with the Ninth Prince in business. They plan to develop a Western clock and split the profits 50/50." Liang Jiugong reported the information he knew to Kangxi. "His Highness the Crown Prince seems to be very supportive of it."
"The Western clock purchased with the funds given to the Ninth Prince was earned from the glass workshop..." Liang Jiugong's words made it clear that His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess believed that if the Ninth Prince could invent a Western clock, he would definitely make a fortune.
Kangxi naturally understood the meaning behind this. It seems that Yinreng felt too ashamed that he was so poor that he couldn't even support a woman, and wanted to work hard to improve himself.
That's true. If the women in the harem knew that he was so poor that he couldn't even support his concubines, what face would he, as emperor, have left?
"Alright, let them figure it out themselves then." Kangxi waved his hand, deciding not to interfere this time and to see what kind of tricks they could come up with.
He's very busy, so it's already quite kind of him to take the time to care about these little things.
Consort De of Yonghe Palace immediately concluded that His Highness the Crown Prince was trying to win over the Ninth Prince and his maternal clan, the Guo Luo Luo family, which was truly treacherous.
"Is Yikun Palace deaf? Or can't she understand this much?" Consort De didn't believe that Consort Yi had no ambition whatsoever. She had given birth to three sons. Even though the Fifth Prince was deposed when he was sent to be raised by the Empress Dowager, thus losing his chance to inherit the throne, there were still the Ninth Prince and the Eleventh Prince.
"That's right, maybe they want to pretend to side with the Crown Prince, and then stab him in the back?" Consort De thought it over and over, and based on her own experience, she came to this conclusion.
Consort De thought that everyone was in a similar situation to her. That's right, the Emperor is currently in good health and may live for many more years.
Her fourteenth son is still young, and compared to the adult princes, it's impossible for her to choose him.
If they align themselves with the Crown Prince, and if the Crown Prince has too many people around him, the Emperor will definitely become wary. Even without them taking action, the Emperor will probably be unable to resist.
Unfortunately, this time the Crown Princess is carrying a princess.
But it doesn't matter, there's still plenty of time. Right now, the Emperor and the Crown Prince seem to have a deep relationship. As long as we slowly sow discord between them, one day the rift between them will deepen.
When Consort Yi learned that the Ninth Prince had gone to Yuqing Palace to cause trouble for the Crown Princess, she immediately became angry and ordered someone to summon him.
Not long after, the messenger returned. "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince said he's been very busy lately and is going into seclusion. Once he succeeds, he'll definitely make a Western clock for you first..."
Consort Yi rolled her eyes in annoyance. Him?
"Send an apology gift to Yuqing Palace, no, let's just call it a congratulatory gift, to celebrate the Crown Princess... who's about to give birth, so we'll make the gift more generous then." Consort Yi sighed helplessly. What could she do? Could she just throw away her own son?
We still have to clean up his mess. A Western clock, three clocks, what a lavish investment.
Consort Rong had no interest in the matter between Yuqing Palace and Yikun Palace; she could win over whomever she wanted. She only cared about whether her own third son was alright.
The Third Prince, Yinzhi, had anticipated his mother's worries. He had already told her three times that he was fine and nothing was wrong.
Why.
"Mother, I've already said I'm fine, don't ask anymore." He was tired of hearing her nagging. "I'm hungry, please serve the meal."
If you eat, your mouth will be shut and you won't be able to speak.
Consort Rong doted on her son. Upon hearing that he was hungry, she didn't care about anything else and ordered the food to be served immediately.
Yinzhi didn't know what to say to his mother. He couldn't talk to her about politics, and she didn't understand poetry and songs. So all he could do was eat and drink.
When Consort Hui of Yanxi Palace learned that the Crown Prince was so despicable that he would use such a despicable method to win over the Ninth Prince and the Guo Luoluo clan behind him, her expression was extremely angry.
Are the Guoluo family really that poor? A few Western clocks are enough to satisfy the ninth son?
She hasn't dared to make any big moves lately. Before, when she thought the Emperor had passed away, she frequently contacted Mingzhu. She didn't know if the Emperor knew about it.
She's under house arrest again, damn it! She'll be released soon, and she doesn't want to anger the Emperor any more.
He slammed his fist on the table and ordered someone to send a message to the eldest prince: since the crown prince has won over the ninth prince, we should try to win over the fifth prince.
They are all from the Guoluo clan, and the Fifth Prince has the Khorchin behind him. Even if the Guoluo clan doesn't side with them, it's enough that they don't side with the Crown Prince's faction.
The eldest prince, Yinqi... well, he's currently waiting for the Crown Princess to give birth to a princess, so he'll definitely send a big gift to the Crown Prince to celebrate!
As for what his mother said, he was happy to oppose the Crown Prince, and he would fight for whatever the Crown Prince wanted.
However, with the Crown Prince spending so lavishly, Yinqi didn't have enough money to support it.
I don't know what kind of luck Yinreng had, but he actually managed to invent glass windows and peep shows. I heard they're selling like hotcakes in the capital lately, and they're expensive too!
Yinti also wanted to do such a booming business, but unfortunately, he didn't seem to have the luck.
Whether the Westerners knew that they had gotten the glass windows and peepholes from them, they all sold what they were holding and ran away.
Your Qing Dynasty has no martial virtue.
"Fujin, tell me, how come the Crown Prince is so lucky?" Yinti couldn't understand it, and paced back and forth in front of Fujin with his hands behind his back.
It's quite distressing to see. Don't think that royal princes don't have to worry about money. Don't they need money to bribe and win people over?
If there's no benefit to be gained, who would follow you?
"Perhaps you should also study it and see what's different about the West?" The First Princess Consort thought that the First Prince's brain just went blank when it came to the Crown Prince, so she casually replied.
"That's right! If the Crown Prince can do it, why can't I?" The excited eldest prince clapped his hands, his face full of excitement. "I'm going to find Mingzhu right now. Mingzhu is definitely no worse than Suo'etu!"
With that, he excitedly left, leaving his wife, the First Princess Consort, utterly exasperated: "I hope the First Prince won't say that to Mingzhu, will he?"
Unfortunately, when the eldest prince arrived at Mingzhu's residence, he loudly proclaimed, "Mingzhu, I have a very, very important thing for you to do."
Although Mingzhu was dismissed from his post, as the strategist of the First Prince's faction, the First Prince Yinti still couldn't do without him.
Upon hearing the eldest prince speak of something extremely important, he immediately sat up straight and said, "Elder prince, just give the order, and this servant will do his utmost to obey."
"Go and research some Western goods that sell well, whether it's glass mirrors or Western clocks. You must find one." Yinti ordered without any politeness. How could he lose to Yinreng?
Mingzhu: Huh? ???
“Mingzhu, you don’t know, the Crown Prince is really too cunning. I heard that the glass workshop is making a fortune every day. He’s using that money to win people’s hearts. I wonder how many people will be won over by the Crown Prince.” Yinti noticed that Mingzhu seemed a little unwilling, so he immediately came up with a high-sounding excuse.
Then, another important piece of information was mentioned: "Mingzhu, don't you know? The person who researched the Western peephole for the Crown Prince is none other than Suo'etu. Are you, Mingzhu, less capable than Suo'etu?"
Upon hearing this, Mingzhu knew it was a provocation, but he still glared and retorted angrily, "How could that be? How could I be inferior to that old scoundrel, Suo'etu?"
"Of course I believe it. Besides, the Crown Prince certainly doesn't have the formula for the magic mirror. Otherwise, he would have had it made long ago. Mingzhu, it's up to you. If we lose to the Crown Prince in such a small matter, how can we compete with him in important matters?" Yinqi patted Mingzhu's shoulder with satisfaction.
Hmph, whether it's pampering his wife, having children, or doing business, Aisin Gioro Yinti is no worse than that guy Yinreng!
“Okay…” Mingzhu wanted to say that such a major event as the struggle for the throne could not be compared to studying Western trinkets. But he had been tricked into it. If he wanted to refuse, wouldn’t that make him seem inferior to Suo’etu?
He can do it, and he can do it himself, and he will do it even better than Suo'etu.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, this servant will do my best to develop it as soon as possible." Mingzhu thought to himself, since he couldn't get any information out of the Westerners (in the past, many Westerners were just merchants who were responsible for trade, not researchers at all), things were different now. Wasn't there a skilled craftsman in Songgotu's workshop?
"Very good, Mingzhu, I knew you were much better than Suo'etu." After flattering Mingzhu, he left with a smug look on his face. If the Crown Prince could hand things over to Suo'etu, why couldn't he?
The only one who was somewhat dissatisfied with this matter was Mingzhu. In fact, if there were other suitable princes among them, Mingzhu would have really wanted to replace him.
As for the eldest prince... sigh, if he goes to the Crown Prince's side, he will definitely be overshadowed by Suo'etu, how can he accept that?
Western clocks?
A peep show?
A music box? These all seem pretty good. Let him think about how to complete the task assigned by the First Prince and still outmaneuver Suo'etu.
After sending a Western clock to the Ninth Prince, Yin Tang, as a gesture of cooperation, Jia Luo knew little about what happened afterward.
Because her eight-month-old belly was round and full, she didn't want to do anything, and at most she was concerned about the midwife.
Everything had to be washed clean—clothes, hair…everything was changed, and I was dressed in clothes prepared by Yuqing Palace. Every day, I was washed clean and my nails were trimmed.
Oh dear, Jialuo has seen those TV dramas where maids, palace maids, and concubines poison each other by hiding the poison under their fingernails. It's clear that it's impossible to guard against.
Under Jialuo's serious demeanor, the servants in the main courtyard were also very cautious. People outside thought that their Crown Princess was pregnant with a princess, but they were different; they knew it was a little prince.
If the eldest son of the Crown Prince and the eldest grandson of the Emperor were murdered, wouldn't he be scattered to various palaces and courtyards... and even trampled on by others?
This must be taken seriously. I'm sure that midwives who are perfectly capable of delivering babies would agree and accept this, otherwise they would be guilty.
The midwives did not resist at all; on the contrary, they were very compliant. You know, delivering babies for the imperial concubines was both a coveted and a grueling job, even for the Crown Princess. Successful delivery, reward! The birth of a little prince, a great reward!
If the Crown Princess were to die from postpartum hemorrhage, it would be fine if the Crown Prince and the Emperor were merciful and spared them, but if they were ruthless, they would lose their lives.
Especially now that they've been living in the main courtyard, and considering the Crown Prince's attitude towards the Crown Princess, if something really happens, they might have to be buried with him.
They exchanged glances with the other midwives. "You all know how His Highness treats the Crown Princess. Don't put yourselves and your families in danger for a few dollars."
“That’s right. If any of them dare to do anything bad, I will never forgive them.” One of the midwives glanced at them with a fierce look in her eyes.
"That's good." After exchanging some harsh words, seeing that the others seemed to genuinely want the Crown Princess to give birth, they nodded and returned to their previous calm and gentle demeanor.
Little did they know, with the Crown Prince around, and with his ability to listen to others' thoughts, how could he possibly attract a scheming old woman?
Even the wet nurse personally inquired about the situation as a check-up, and when she saw how nervous Jia Luo was, she gently comforted her while supporting her.
"Your Highness, don't worry. With me here, I will protect you and make sure nothing happens to you or the baby in your womb."
When he said this, his expression was very serious and earnest. How could he let something happen to the Crown Princess?
Even someone as capable as the Emperor couldn't protect the Empress Dowager properly; who can say for sure what would happen if she had a difficult childbirth? You think you can just protect her like that?
Jialuo, who was already so nervous that she was on edge and her mind was extremely sensitive, was not moved at all. Instead, she stared at him with wide eyes and didn't say a word.
Yinreng: ...
He flicked Jialuo's forehead lightly with his finger, and accused her with a slight laugh, "You're so heartless. I've been working so hard for your childbirth, and you don't even remember it. Instead, you're talking badly about me, aren't you?"
Instinctively covering her forehead, Jialuo's wide eyes were filled with disbelief, as if to say: How did you know?
"I have personally investigated the midwife and wet nurse, and they are fine. You can rest assured during childbirth, and I will be there to watch over you." Knowing what Jia Luo was worried about, Yinreng did not say anything to blame her in the end, but instead coaxed her softly.
His arms could no longer encircle Jialuo's waist; he simply stood beside her, gently stroking her large belly without saying a word.
That night, after Jialuo fell asleep, Yinreng, who was lying next to her with his eyes closed and breathing steadily, suddenly opened his eyes, looked at the huge belly, and gently placed his palm on the belly.
"My little one, have you been a good boy and listened to your mother today? Don't make a fuss, understand?" The proud Yinreng would never coax his child so tenderly in front of Jialuo. He would only coax her gently when she was asleep.
Her gentle voice was full of loving anticipation. Wearing a slightly thin summer dress, Jialuo could clearly feel the baby's movements.
The tiny bumps patted against my palm, like cute little hands greeting me, and I was so happy.
"Baby misses Daddy too, doesn't he? Don't worry, you'll be able to come out and see Daddy soon. Come out quickly so your mother won't suffer, understand?"
After receiving a response from his son, the gentle Crown Prince's smile became even brighter, and he was as happy as a silly dog, all his elegance and nobility vanishing.
After he finished speaking, his palm was patted twice more by the protrusion, and he knew that it was the baby in the Crown Princess's belly greeting him.
Hehe, my child is the cutest, most obedient, most sensible, most beautiful, most outstanding, most capable, and most amazing baby in the world.
(The baby in my belly: Can't a person get some sleep in the middle of the night?)
Finally, after venting his fatherly love, Yinreng felt that he had communicated with his child again today, and that the child would definitely be able to call him "Father" as soon as he was born.
Then I'll definitely hold his son up in front of Yinqi and make him furious!
The Crown Prince, satisfied, lay down and finally fell asleep.
When he discovered the baby's first fetal movement, Yinreng remained calm and nodded nonchalantly. However, he became excited and overjoyed after returning to his study alone.
Later, after getting used to the baby's movements, Yinreng felt that... the baby must be saying hello to him, the father.
Now, he has to accompany the Crown Princess to sleep every night. The nannies think he wants to have sex with the pregnant Crown Princess. Humph, how vulgar.
He was clearly just there to see his good boy.
It's almost here, the baby is almost born.
After a tense and anxious wait, Jialuo was finally about to give birth when she was more than nine months pregnant.
At this moment, Yinreng was still attending the morning court session. Before leaving, he had already used his mind to say goodbye to his child: "Father is going to court. I'll come back to see you."
Before going to court, he instructed the people in the main courtyard, "Take good care of the Crown Princess. It's been raining a lot lately, and the roads outside are slippery. Don't let the Crown Princess go out, understand?"
The people in the main courtyard naturally responded immediately. Of course, the Crown Princess is more than nine months pregnant, and it's not suitable for her to go out on slippery roads.
Emperor Kangxi interpreted the Crown Prince's excitement as follows: The Crown Prince knew he wasn't very capable, and now that he finally had a son, how could he not be excited? His joy was, of course, because he was glad to have a son to carry on the family line.
Previously, Emperor Kangxi had also talked to the Crown Prince about things like, "Now that the Crown Princess is pregnant, you should go and see the other princesses in the harem." He wanted the Crown Prince to have more children while he was still young, and he had also rested for three or four months.
When he heard his father say this, Yinreng recalled what the Crown Princess had said before: "If His Highness the Crown Prince goes to the backyard to find other princesses while she is pregnant, she will definitely be so angry that she will miscarry." Her love for him had taken root to such an insane degree. Yinreng was a young man who was just beginning to experience love. How could he really be so heartless as to treat his Crown Princess like that?
When Kangxi saw that Yinreng remained silent, his expression became more troubled, and he recalled his previous assumptions... well, not exactly assumptions, but in Kangxi's view, they were facts.
Forget it, it would be good enough if I could have even one child.
Emperor Kangxi never expected that Bao Cheng was keeping himself pure for the sake of the Crown Princess. Even her beloved father, Dong E, did not favor her exclusively, and Nalan Rongruo, who was devoted to "one life, one love, one partner," also had concubines in addition to his wife.
Whether it was when Bao Cheng first got married or now, there was always suspicion that he was "impotent." Forcing Bao Cheng would only embarrass him, so the only way was to use "yang-tonifying medicine" to hint at his condition.
Sitting on the dragon throne, looking down at Bao Cheng's warm smile, and thinking that the next generation of Aisin Gioro would soon be born, Kangxi was in a good mood.
Of course, Baoqing's two princesses were also considered descendants of the Aisin Gioro clan, but... in Kangxi's heart, only the youngest prince was the heir to the throne.
The officials were quite pleased with the recent positive atmosphere in the court. With Mingzhu and Suo'etu gone, they had another chance to climb the ranks. The Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the First Prince were also in good spirits and were much more efficient in their work.
The Crown Prince got up early for court, but moved very quietly... or perhaps it was because Jia Luo was sleeping like a pig, and when she woke up, the sun had already risen.
After Jialuo got up and washed, breakfast was already laid out on the table. All foods that were not suitable for pregnant women were not allowed to appear in the main courtyard.
After eating, I got up and walked around a bit. The imperial physician said that more exercise is beneficial for childbirth.
However, as she walked, she was protected by maids on both sides, and two burly old women followed behind her, keeping a close eye on the Crown Princess.
She mostly stayed in her own house in the main courtyard. The rainy weather outside made the roads slippery, so even if the servants didn't say anything, she wouldn't go out on her own initiative. She wasn't one to court death.
With such a grand procession, Jialuo touched her large belly. She was already over nine months pregnant, so why hadn't the baby been born yet?
Sure enough, I had just started talking about it when my stomach started hurting, and I even felt like... my water might have broken.
"Granny, Granny, I think I'm going into labor?" This is Jialuo's first pregnancy, and she really doesn't know the process of childbirth. Is this what it's like when you're about to give birth? Oh dear, it's like my period is starting, gushing out...
My stomach was still aching slightly, so I turned around and quickly asked the experienced nanny.
Upon hearing this, Granny Zhao immediately and methodically gave instructions, "The Crown Princess is about to give birth. Go and get a few midwives to come over, prepare hot water, and help the Crown Princess over. Also, send someone to inform His Highness the Crown Prince..."
The composed and steady Zhao Mama gave people a sense of security, and the other maids immediately set off upon hearing Zhao Mama's instructions.
Jialuo was helped towards the delivery room, where strong liquor was used for disinfection every day, and the bed sheets and blankets were changed daily, all to ensure the best possible environment for childbirth.
After being helped inside, Jialuo wasn't allowed to lie down on the delivery bed. Instead, she was helped to walk around a few times. While groaning in pain, Jialuo comforted herself, thinking: "It's all for the sake of the delivery, for my own good, for my own good..."
Following Zhao Mama's instructions, the young eunuch ran out of Yuqing Palace, thinking that the Crown Prince was going to the morning court session today, and that he should be finishing by now.
So he walked quickly away, his face filled with nervous panic.
Even though it was drizzling, and I forgot my umbrella, I didn't take shelter; instead, I walked faster and faster.
Finally, they saw Eunuch Shun, who was by the Crown Prince's side.
"Eunuch Shun, Eunuch Shun, our Crown Princess has gone into labor." The young eunuch reported, knowing that His Highness the Crown Prince might not have finished court yet, and stood there with Eunuch Shun to wait. "Hmm? Gone into labor? We'll inform the Crown Prince as soon as he comes out." Little Shunzi nodded upon hearing this.
As soon as His Highness the Crown Prince appeared, the anxious eunuch almost rushed forward first. Xiao Shunzi quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Princess has started labor."
Upon hearing this, Yinreng's eyes lit up as if injected with a burst of energy, and his voice unconsciously rose, "Is the Crown Princess about to give birth?"
Yinreng's words drew the attention of the other ministers who had just left court. Oh? The Crown Princess has given birth?
But why is His Highness so happy about a mere princess?
Yinti came over immediately to congratulate him, "Your Highness, congratulations on the birth of your daughter soon."
"Thank you, elder brother." Yinreng had no intention of arguing with Yinti about such a matter at this time, so he cupped his hands in greeting and said goodbye.
Yinti: Did I drive the Crown Prince crazy?
Completely baffled, he couldn't possibly have gone to Yuqing Palace to watch over his younger brother and sister-in-law during childbirth; that would be unreasonable. The only explanation was that the Crown Prince was afraid that he might say too much and upset him. Oh dear, I knew it; how could the Crown Prince not care?
Yinti thought he was extremely clever, especially since the Crown Prince was so angry with him that he forgot to open his umbrella and left. He was happy to see this and left with his hands behind his back.
Other ministers: The eldest prince and the crown prince both seem quite happy, excited, and thrilled. Is there... something wrong with them?
After Yinreng's announcement, many people knew that the Crown Princess was going to give birth, because the news that the Crown Princess was pregnant with a princess had been circulating for some time, and everyone thought so too.
Well, let them have children. The royal family has plenty of princesses.
Some people suspect that the news was deliberately leaked to keep a low profile and avoid attracting attention while secretly giving birth to the prince, but...
It would be a laughing stock if word got out. We'd know whether she'd be a princess or a prince once she was born.
As soon as Yinreng returned to Yuqing Palace, the drizzle began to intensify, almost turning into a downpour.
Tsk.
Yinreng subconsciously shook his head, which was still wet. Seeing that the people in the main courtyard were busy, Eunuch Shun quickly went to find him clean clothes. "Your Highness, would you like to take a bath first?"
If you get caught in the rain, shouldn't you take a hot bath?
"No need," Yinreng refused. The Crown Princess was still bearing his child, and he had to stay by her side.
Unable to persuade the Crown Prince, Xiao Shunzi could only order ginger soup to ward off the cold, while praying that the Crown Princess would give birth soon, as the Crown Prince couldn't hold on for long...
Inside the delivery room, Jialuo never imagined that giving birth to a child would be so painful.
"Aaaaaaah!" Jia Luo screamed in pain. Why did it hurt so much? Waaaaah, she screamed and gripped the sheets tightly.
She... she never wants to have children again in this lifetime... Waaah, it hurts so much.
"Your Highness, just bear with it a little longer, just bear with it a little longer, take a deep breath, don't scream, save your energy." The midwife was afraid that if the Crown Princess screamed, she would use up all her strength and then not have the strength to give birth.
"Yes, Your Highness, you'll have to push hard to give birth soon." The other midwives quickly comforted the Crown Princess and gave her a clean cloth to bite on, as it would hurt even more later.
Seeing the Crown Princess's pained and desperate state, no one dared to say this to her. They could only advise her, "Just bear with it a little longer, you'll give birth soon, you're seven centimeters dilated."
"It'll be soon, the baby will be born soon, Your Highness, please bear with it and take a deep breath." The midwife beside her coaxed her like a mood-maker, and Jialuo was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face.
Waaaaah...
Outside, the Crown Prince, sitting there guarding the scene, listened with a tense and anxious expression as he heard the screams coming from inside.
He couldn't sit still any longer. He paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, occasionally glancing anxiously at the door, thinking that this would allow him to see inside.
Upon learning that the Crown Princess had launched her attack, the princess in the back courtyard quickly tidied herself up, grabbed an umbrella, and hurried toward the main courtyard.
Putting everything else aside, His Highness the Crown Prince must be in the main courtyard guarding the Crown Princess at this moment.
Even though it was pouring rain, I still got splashed all over with an umbrella, but what did it matter if my skirt got splashed just so I could see His Highness the Crown Prince?
Finally, upon arriving at the main courtyard, the princesses' eyes lit up when they saw His Highness the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince." They were about to step forward to pay their respects to the Crown Prince, but unfortunately, Yinreng felt extremely annoyed just listening to their voices.
"What's all the noise about? Shut up." Can't you see he's annoyed?
After being reprimanded by His Highness the Crown Prince, the princesses immediately shut their mouths. Several of them stayed in the corner, following the crowd but not thinking of seducing the Crown Prince, and were very well-behaved.
"Alright, this is none of your business. Go back now." Yinreng was annoyed by this group of flamboyant women, their clamorous chatter and calculating schemes only fueling his frustration. He decided to eliminate them outright.
They had finally made it here, only to be driven away after just one meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince. The princesses were filled with bitterness and resentment, but there was nothing they could do.
"Yes..." She bowed reluctantly and left, but before leaving, she looked at His Highness the Crown Prince with lingering affection.
Unfortunately, the troubled Yinreng only felt that it was good that they left. The two of them here had vicious thoughts in their hearts, either hoping that the Crown Princess would have a difficult childbirth or hoping that the Crown Princess and her unborn child would die.
There wasn't a single good thing about it.
Of course, he ignored those who had no particular thoughts or were simply praying for the Crown Princess's safety... his mind was completely occupied by those wicked princesses—they were all vicious women!
The princesses, who had been driven away, cursed under their breath. They were soaked to the bone by the torrential rain and had gained nothing.
Jialuo had no idea what was happening outside; all she knew was that she felt like she was being torn apart—giving birth…why did it hurt so much?!
It rained all day, from morning to afternoon.
As dusk approached, just as Jialuo felt the pain become unbearable and she was about to suffocate, the midwife cheered her on: "Almost there, almost there, you can see the head! Crown Princess, give it your all..."
The torrential rain gradually stopped, and the setting sun shone through the clouds, illuminating the earth. Looking up from below, it was as if the clouds had been parted to reveal the light.
Scattered clouds drifted across the sky. The moment the rain stopped, people returning home instinctively put down their umbrellas and looked up at the horizon.
The sunlight shone on the clouds, revealing a vibrant red glow. Everyone noticed different shapes, and the beam of light was inexplicably brighter and more dazzling than usual.
"Look, what does that look like? Why is there a dragon?"
"What dragon? That's a horse. You're really ignorant."
"Is it a deer?"
"Ah, this light is a bit too bright."
When Kangxi saw that the rain had stopped but there was some commotion and noise outside, he frowned slightly and asked Liang Jiugong to go out and see what was going on.
Liang Jiugong went out for a while and then quickly came back in to report, "Your Majesty, the rain has stopped, and the setting sun is shining brightly. A red cloud has appeared on the horizon, and the shapes are all different. They are arguing about what it looks like."
Sunset? Dazzling?
Emperor Kangxi felt that these two characters together seemed so out of place.
Intrigued by Liang Jiugong's words, he put down his vermilion brush. In fact, he was just tired of revising memorials and wanted to take a break.
As he stepped outside and looked up, the setting sun was indeed quite bright and dazzling (anyone would find it blinding to look directly at the sun), and the clouds were drifting away. Kangxi was slightly taken aback.
The shape of these clouds resembles a gyrfalcon.
However, under the light, the rosy clouds enveloped the clouds, and from Kangxi's perspective, the light shone down on... Yuqing Palace?
Suddenly turning her head, she asked Liang Jiugong, "Today is the day the Crown Princess gives birth, isn't it?"
"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess went into labor this morning at Chenshi (7-9 AM), but has not yet given birth." Liang Jiugong was very well-informed and always ready to answer Kangxi's questions.
"It rained all day today?" Kangxi asked again, gazing in the direction of Yuqing Palace, lost in thought.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Liang Jiugong replied again.
"They were just arguing about what that red glow on the horizon looked like."
"Your Majesty, they are arguing whether the red glow resembles a dragon, a horse, a deer, or perhaps... a koi fish." Liang Jiugong lowered his head. With so many people, surely they couldn't be seeing things? Were they stimulated by the sunlight?
"Nonsense, Liang Jiugong, look at that red cloud in the sky, what does it look like?" Kangxi thought they were getting dizzy at such a young age, although he himself felt his eyes were also a little dazzled by the stimulation.
Liang Jiugong looked up and glanced at it, then looked again, and pondered, "To this servant, it looks like a fierce gyrfalcon..."
He said he was still unsure.
The next second, the rosy clouds dispersed, and the mist once again obscured the dazzling sunlight.
At this moment, in the delivery room of Yuqing Palace, Jialuo was in so much pain that she was about to cry when suddenly the tearing sensation became even more intense.
"It's born! It's out! It's out!" the midwife exclaimed with delight, quickly picking up the baby and handling him carefully.
The key thing is... after seeing the gender, I quickly informed the Crown Princess of the good news, "Congratulations, Crown Princess! Congratulations on the birth of a little prince!"
Jialuo was now completely exhausted, and the pain had almost numbed her.
Hearing the midwife's congratulatory voice, she dazedly lifted her eyelids, but she was too tired to do anything else, so she slowly closed her eyes again.
The midwife was so frightened she almost thought the Crown Princess was dead, but thankfully, there was no major bleeding, she was just tired and probably fell asleep.
After hearing a scream from inside, Yinreng was startled when the sound suddenly went silent. Then, the sound of a baby crying came from inside, which made Yinreng's eyes light up.
She gave birth! She gave birth!
Full of excitement, she walked to the door. A moment later, the midwife opened the door with a bright smile, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness! The Crown Princess has given birth to a little prince. Mother and child are safe and sound."
How could the midwife not be happy? Historically, the reward for a young prince was much higher than that for a young princess.
At the same time, she came out holding a child in her arms, presenting herself to Yinreng.
As expected, the Crown Prince was overjoyed. His monthly allowance tripled, and the midwife was also richly rewarded.
My gaze swept over the baby being held by the midwife, and... well, it wasn't very pretty.
After a few seconds of silence, the topic was changed.
"Where is the Crown Princess? Why is there no sound?" Although the midwife said that "mother and child are safe," she was still worried and peered inside.
"Your Highness, rest assured, the Crown Princess is fine; she's just tired and has fallen asleep," the midwife quickly explained, while carrying the baby inside to keep it from getting chilled.
When Yinreng saw the midwife carry the little prince inside, he looked worried and put his hands behind his back. What was wrong? He was so handsome, why was the little prince so ugly?
With him guarding this spot, there's absolutely no possibility of him being switched.
The Crown Princess is beautiful, delicate and pretty. Surely her son can't be that ugly? He looks like a wrinkled little monkey.
He would rather his son grow up to be exquisitely beautiful, even better looking than the ninth son, than be so ugly.
If I show it off to the boss, won't he laugh at me?
But it can't be hidden. Father Emperor and his brothers will definitely come for the third-day celebration.
Tsk.
"Your Highness, shouldn't we go and report the good news to the Emperor?" Xiao Shunzi cautiously reminded him, seeing that the Crown Prince had given no further instructions.
Yinreng wasn't paying attention, so he just mumbled a few perfunctory "uh-huhs" and was worrying: the ugly baby would be meeting people in three days.
(End of this chapter)
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