Chapter 187 Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Bai Ruiji 14
After Mo Hua and the others returned, the rewards from the Emperor and Empress Dowager also arrived.
After reviewing the memorials, the Emperor rushed to Yongshou Palace.
"May Your Majesty be well." Bai Ruiji curtsied.
"No need for formalities." The Emperor carefully helped Bai Ruiji sit on the couch.
"No need to be so careful, the imperial physician said the fetus is very healthy." Seeing the emperor's attitude towards the fragile porcelain, Bai Ruiji smiled helplessly.
"Having gone through so much, I am truly worried. It is never too much to be cautious."
Afraid of bringing up Bai Ruiji's painful past, the Emperor glossed over the matter of cinnabar.
“That’s true.” Bai Ruiji touched her abdomen and nodded.
The Emperor pondered for a moment and said, "I will exempt you from the morning greetings at Changchun Palace during your pregnancy. I will also send an aunt to take care of you personally."
"We will follow His Majesty's arrangements."
In October, Consort Hai began to dress up and gained favor by giving advice on preparing a "May All Your Wishes Come True" gift for the Empress Dowager from the Imperial Household Department.
When Yonglian died, the emperor posthumously conferred upon him the title of Crown Prince Duanhui.
In the fifth month of the fourth year of the Qianlong reign, Bai Ruiji gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The emperor promoted her to Consort Mi, named the fourth prince Yongxi, and the fourth princess Jingying.
Perhaps the promotions were too rapid, causing the empress to feel threatened, or perhaps the vacancy of four consorts was undesirable.
At the Empress's suggestion, the Emperor bestowed titles upon the six palaces, promoting Consort Chun to Imperial Concubine Chun and Consort Shen to Noble Lady Shen.
Consort Hai was promoted to Noble Lady Hai, and Consort Wan was promoted to Consort Wan. The group of them, along with Bai Ruiji, participated in the investiture ceremony.
On the Ghost Festival, Ruyi burned paper money in the Cold Palace, but Bai Ruiji deliberately made Consort Ji fall seriously ill, so Ruyi naturally had no favor to do for the Empress Dowager.
Not only that, the Empress Dowager dropped something and returned, just in time to see Ruyi burning paper money.
Considering it was the seventh day after Narbu's death, she did not punish her, but she also realized that burning the mantra earlier was a deliberate act to show her. The Empress Dowager, who had been manipulated, felt even more disgusted with Ruyi.
Consort Hai of Yanxi Palace was pregnant, and the news was only announced after she had been pregnant for three months.
When paying respects at Changchun Palace, Consort Hui, the Empress's confidante, was the first to express her dissatisfaction, saying, "You only reported this after the pregnancy was stable. Do you not even trust the Emperor and Empress?"
Consort Jia narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips, "Yes, we're not commoners like Ulanara in the Cold Palace, we wouldn't dare lay a hand on the imperial heir."
Consort Hai immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, "Because of the previous incident with the cinnabar, I was really timid. I only dared to announce the good news after my pregnancy was stable."
"Yes, those things break my heart just thinking about them."
Bai Ruiji smiled and said, her words laced with sarcasm, "But Consort Hai need not worry. Consort Ulanara has already been confined to the Cold Palace, and no one will be plotting against the imperial heir anymore."
Bai Ruiji rarely targeted anyone, but the other concubines were not surprised by her coldness and hostility towards Consort Hai.
After all, Consort Hai and Ruyi were very close, and Consort Hai would visit Ruyi in the Cold Palace from time to time. These things could not be hidden from others.
Hai Guiren forced a smile and replied obediently, "Yes."
"Alright." The Empress, having watched the drama unfold, came to Hai Guiren's rescue. "Hai Guiren is pregnant. Get up quickly. You've always been timid, as all the other ladies know, so they won't misunderstand."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress." Consort Hai stood up and was helped back to her seat by Ye Xin.
As usual, after inquiring about the pregnant concubines, the Empress concluded her greetings.
With Bai Ruiji as a favored pawn, the Empress Dowager originally had no intention of arranging for new women to enter the palace.
However, because their daughter was infatuated with the emperor, the Yehenara family took the initiative to ask the Empress Dowager to send their daughter to the palace.
The Empress Dowager naturally wouldn't refuse such a favor and pawn offered willingly, so she had Yehenara Yihuan perform songs and dances at the Double Ninth Festival banquet to celebrate the festival.
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