Chapter 625 A Dream of Youth 157
Gong Cairen took off a clear jade bracelet from her hand and put it on Xie Ning's wrist, looking slightly embarrassed. "I don't have anything valuable, I hope Young Master Xie won't find it offensive."
Aside from her monthly allowance, she could only live off the emperor's gifts, while with the favored Consort Li by her side, everything she received was inferior.
In the palace, one had to take care of what to eat and wear, which was very expensive. She lived a rather frugal life. The bracelet she gave Xie Ning was a gift from the emperor when she was diagnosed with pregnancy.
Xie Ning initially wanted to refuse, but when he saw the cautious expectation in Gong Cairen's eyes, his heart softened. This girl was only seventeen or eighteen years old.
"Yes, the bracelet is very beautiful, I like it very much." After saying that, he asked the servant to bring him a pen and ink.
Xie Ning wrote down all the postpartum precautions, especially those related to hygiene. When she got to the end, Xie Ning remembered that Gong Cai Ren's belly had not yet shrunk, so she picked up her pen again and wrote down suggestions on how to expel lochia and postpartum recovery.
Handing the three full sheets of paper to the head palace maid beside her, Xie Ning turned around and said, "I am on duty at the Imperial Hospital every three days in the afternoon. If you need me to take your pulse, you can come and find me."
She was usually busy with other things, and only went to the palace once every three days to take the pulse of the Empress and Princess Yanxi.
"Really?" Gong Cai Ren subconsciously clenched the quilt in her hands, her face showing both trepidation and surprise.
“Of course, I’ll give you acupuncture here. It will help you recover faster.” Xie Ning pointed to Gong Cai Ren’s stomach, saying that it would not only help her recover faster but also reduce the likelihood of scarring.
"Young Master Xie is truly a wonderful person," Gong Cairen's personal maid exclaimed after Xie Ning left.
Gong Cairen nodded in agreement. She didn't think Xie Ning was telling her such details because of the bracelet. He even considered her postpartum recovery. He was truly thoughtful and considerate.
The head palace maid carried the baby princess, still wrapped in swaddling clothes, to Consort Gong's side. "Your Highness, look at the little princess. She was a bit bruised when she was born, but Master Xie massaged her for a while, and now she's sleeping soundly."
"Your Highness, our suffering is finally over. Now you not only have a princess, but you've also been promoted to the rank of Jieyu. That Consort Li can't bully us anymore." The nanny led the others to change Consort Gong's position to help her expel lochia.
"Li Jieyu... how is she now?" Consort Gong's voice was a little dry, and her gaze involuntarily drifted to the wind chimes hanging on the window, her heart aching with each passing moment.
In fact, she and Consort Li had a sisterly bond. When they first entered the palace, they were assigned to the same place. There were many things she didn't understand, and Consort Li would teach her. Seeing that she was living in poverty, she would also give her fabric and jewelry.
It is said that if one of the sisters gains favor, she will never forget the other.
When exactly did it change?
Consort Li was greatly favored by the emperor. She was beautiful and proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was a well-known talented woman and could talk to the emperor about anything. The emperor often praised her as a confidante and said that he could only be happy for her.
Consort Gong had no ambition; she was content with just her monthly allowance, which was enough to get by. After all, she hadn't had a good life before entering the palace, and she was already happy to have enough to eat and wear after entering.
Perhaps it was because her incense was too quiet, His Majesty increasingly enjoyed reclining on the couch watching her burn incense. She was clumsy with words and didn't know how to speak, so she became even quieter when she was with His Majesty.
Actually, His Majesty probably just wanted to sleep and rest for a while here, but Consort Li didn't think so and made a scene.
In the end, she did receive his favor, and even though it was only once, she became pregnant.
She and Li Jieyu could never go back.
Sometimes, even Consort Gong didn't quite understand. His Majesty was the emperor, and he had so many concubines in his harem. Even if she received his exclusive favor for a few days, as concubines, they should recognize their own position and not expect to be exclusively favored forever.
The wind chimes jingled incessantly under the eaves. Consort Gong buried her face deeply in the pillow. Perhaps she wouldn't admit it, but Consort Li didn't mind that others received the emperor's favor; rather, she minded that she herself had received it.
Because she was only barely pretty, not skilled in the four arts, and clumsy with words, she could only sit there blankly burning incense; she was just a supporting character.
One day, someone actually discovered the benefits of green leaves. How could this be?
Green leaves should always remain honest and play a supporting role.
"Waaaaah~"
The baby's cries rang out, and Consort Gong stopped crying. She asked someone to bring the child over. She wanted to gently kiss the child, but then she remembered what Xie Ning had said about the child being weak and easily invaded by external evils, so she stopped in fright.
Looking at the child's rosy face, Consort Gong gently closed her eyes. She wasn't suffering; she still had her little princess by her side.
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