Huo Qinghe didn't have high expectations for Consort Ming's childbirth; it seemed to make no difference whether it was a boy or a girl.
The Emperor now has one princess and two princes. If Consort Ming's next pregnancy is also a princess, then Princess Fuming will indeed have a companion.
However, Huo Qinghe then realized that Princess Fuming's name was Ming, and Consort Ming's title was also Ming, so there was no attempt to avoid using the characters.
That's quite rare.
Huo Qinghe walked inside unhurriedly. Once inside the main hall, she went to a corner where Consort Meng was talking to Consort Xu. She walked over to Consort Xie's side, and just as she reached Consort Xie's side, another person walked over from the other side.
Huo Qinghe caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye, and she curtsied quietly.
"May Your Highness be blessed. Did you come from Xianfu Palace? May I ask how Consort Yi is doing?" Huo Qinghe asked in a low voice.
Consort Xie overheard this, but she pretended not to hear it.
Just then, the midwife came out.
"Congratulations, Your Highness. Consort Ming has given birth to a princess safely. She weighs four pounds and six ounces."
The midwife said this, but no one in the hall could hear the baby crying at all.
"How is Consort Ming? The princess sounds a bit thin." It was Empress Xue who said this, her voice tinged with cough.
Huo Qinghe, sitting to the left, could recognize the Empress's voice without even looking up.
"Has Her Majesty the Empress arrived as well?" Huo Qinghe asked in a low voice, glancing at Consort Xie standing to the side.
Consort Fu had already told her that Consort Yi was under house arrest and could not go out, and that she had only heard that her appetite had not been very good these past few days.
Consort Xie nodded slightly: "Her Majesty the Empress is the mother of the nation. Although Princess Fuming is ill, she still has to take care of the concubines. I heard that this morning, Zhu Yu, the old woman who serves the Empress Dowager, went to the Empress's Kunning Palace."
The second half of the sentence was spoken by Consort Xie in a low voice.
Huo Qinghe's information network was ultimately not very efficient.
She had only just learned of this. She nodded slightly and looked towards the inner palace: "Consort Ming's pregnancy was premature, and the baby seems a bit thin."
Her younger brother was also born prematurely, and was even lighter than the second princess who was born to Consort Ming at this time.
Consort Xie nodded slightly in agreement: "That's right. The princess was born prematurely, so she is not only weak, but also needs to be carefully pampered. She is prone to getting sick if she is not careful... Pshaw, pshaw, pshaw."
Who hasn't witnessed some sordid things in the boudoir? Xie's words carried a hint of lament.
In contrast, Mr. Fu on the side appeared rather quiet.
Huo Qinghe then seemed to remember something else: "His Majesty went to the morning court?"
Only then did she have time to look inside the hall. There were people offering congratulations, and others staring at the midwife and asking questions, but she didn't see the Emperor in the highest position.
"Of course, even if Her Majesty the Empress is giving birth, the morning court cannot be delayed. I heard that there is a severe drought in Qiongzhou and Yizhou in Xichuan this year, and His Majesty has been troubled by this matter these past two days. Last night His Majesty spent the night in Chuxiu Palace, and went to court before dawn this morning."
Consort Xie was indeed well-informed; her father was the Transport Commissioner of Xichuan Road, so she naturally knew even more about such matters.
Huo Qinghe suddenly realized why the Emperor looked so tired when he visited her.
While the two were talking, Xue Yinjia, who was seated at the head of the table, had already asked the midwife and the imperial physician. Now, they could finally hear the faint sound of the second princess crying inside.
"Your Majesty, Consort Ming has fallen into a deep sleep due to exhaustion from childbirth. This delivery was difficult for Consort Ming, and her vital energy has been somewhat depleted. She needs to rest and recuperate. The Second Princess is a premature baby and is physically weak, so she needs to be taken care of with utmost care."
The imperial physician, halfway through his sentence, suddenly looked up and glanced tremblingly at Empress Xue.
Even Consort Chi, who was sitting upright to the side, could understand what she was hearing.
So she spoke first: "Now that Consort Ming has given birth safely, my sisters don't need to wait here anymore. Consort Ming needs to rest now, so there's no need to send gifts to celebrate. Consort Ming's health is the most important thing. Don't disturb the princess's peace either. I have something to say to the Empress, so you may all leave."
Xue Yinjia didn't react much when Consort Chi interrupted her. She even raised her hand to stop Chunbai, who wanted to speak.
“The Imperial Concubine is right. You came to see Consort Ming so early in the morning. I will inform Consort Ming of your thoughtfulness after she wakes up. Consort Zhuang, I am a little worried about Consort Cao. Please go and check on Consort Cao for me.”
Consort Zhuang naturally responded without hesitation. She stood up and said, "It is indeed Her Majesty the Empress who is kind-hearted and always thinks of Consort Cao. Consort Ming still has to worry about you."
Xue Yinjia waved her hand: "Taking care of the concubines is what I, as the Empress, should do."
The concubines curtsied and said, "Your Majesty the Empress is kind and compassionate; we are deeply grateful."
Alright, Consort Chi's interruption just now is nothing compared to that.
Huo Qinghe has only been here a short while, which is perfect. Otherwise, if she had to stand all the time like last night, she would have been the one who got tired.
The news that Consort Ming had given birth to a princess spread like wildfire throughout the six palaces, both east and west.
After everyone left, Chuxiu Palace finally quieted down.
Inside the main hall, Empress Xue and Consort Chi went into the inner chamber one after the other to check on Consort Ming and the Second Princess, who were in a coma.
Consort Ming had just given birth, and the smell of blood in the inner palace hadn't completely dissipated. Consort Chi couldn't help but raise her hand, but when she turned her head, she saw that Empress Xue in front of her hadn't even frowned...
Consort Chi suppressed the urge to sneer and ultimately lowered her raised hand.
Emerging from the inner palace, Empress Xue went straight to the point with the imperial physician.
"Imperial Physician Zhao, how is Consort Ming's health? From what you've said, it seems that Consort Ming's health hasn't been very good since giving birth?"
Imperial Physician Zhao bowed and said, “Your Majesty, Consort Ming’s pregnancy was not going well to begin with. She was overthinking and frightened during her pregnancy. Although the Second Princess has been born safely, Consort Ming has damaged her health. I’m afraid she will have difficulty conceiving in the future. She must take good care of herself so that she doesn’t develop any health problems.”
Upon hearing this, Consort Chi pressed further, "And what about the princess's health?"
Consort Ming was never favored by the Emperor. She was confused during this pregnancy, and her current rank was something she had begged for. If this child had been a prince, she might have had a chance to be promoted to a concubine in the future. However, she gave birth to a sickly princess, so she has no hope of ever being promoted to a concubine in this lifetime.
To be honest, Consort Chi was relieved that Consort Ming's child was a princess.
The eldest prince is only one year younger than the eldest princess, Fuming, while her second prince is just over one year old. It's fine if the children are a little older than each other, but it's not good if they are too close in age.
Didn't the late emperor's sons cause a lot of trouble precisely because they were too close in age?
Imperial Physician Zhao nodded: "The Second Princess, being born prematurely, is naturally weaker than a full-term baby. Her pre-existing condition requires extra care. However, she will be fine once she grows older. It's just that Consort Ming..."
Xue Yinjia nodded slightly: "I understand. There's no need to tell Consort Ming about this yet. She just gave birth, and hearing this will only make her more worried. Go and tell His Majesty about Consort Ming's childbirth. I'm entrusting Consort Ming's health to you, Imperial Physician."
Physician Zhao bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
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