Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sat next to her son. Despite being the closest mother and son in the world, their relationship was as cold as ice, lacking any warmth.
Seeing her son exchanging affectionate glances with Consort Dong'e, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang felt she couldn't bear to watch.
With so many concubines in the palace, why was he so infatuated with Dong E, who was already married?
What Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang didn't know was that she was actually the catalyst for her son's relationship with Consort Dong'e. Without her opposition, Emperor Shunzhi might not have loved Consort Dong'e so much.
As a rebellious son, anything his mother objected to was something he wanted to do and had to do.
It was precisely because of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's strong opposition that the relationship between Emperor Shunzhi and Consort Dong'e was able to withstand trials and tribulations and grow ever deeper.
In fact, the flirtatious exchanges between Emperor Shunzhi and Consort Dong'e were not very obvious. At least, Prince Xiang, Boguor, one of the other main characters, did not notice the problem between his wife and his brother.
Boguor was the youngest son of Consort Yijing Namuzhong, and also the youngest son of Emperor Taizong of Tang.
His birth mother was of noble status and young, so he was spoiled from childhood and did not learn any of his mother's shrewdness. He was raised by Namuzhong to be innocent and naive, and he did not notice anything wrong with his wife.
The affair between Emperor Shunzhi and Consort Dong'e was known to many, from Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and some concubines in the palace to ministers outside the palace, but Boguor had absolutely no idea about it.
It's hard to say whether he was naive or simply stupid. He didn't even understand his own wife, so it's no wonder that Dong E Wan Ning preferred Shunzhi to her young husband.
The palace banquet continued, and those in the know remained silent, pretending not to know anything, while those who were unaware had not yet noticed anything amiss.
Throughout the entire palace banquet, Tong Yurou held her breath, her anger towards Dong Eshi burning fiercely, yet she was helpless. She also wanted to prevent Dong Eshi from entering the palace.
But the emperor could fall in love with his own sister-in-law and even depose the empress who was from the Khorchin tribe ahead of time. How could she, a mere Grand Consort, possibly contend with him?
Now, Tong Yurou can only comfort herself that before Dong Eshi entered the palace, she already had a prince by her side, so the days ahead wouldn't be too difficult.
The twelfth year of the Shunzhi reign arrived. At the very beginning of the year, the emperor issued an edict, inviting Borjigit, the daughter of Choerji, the Beile of the Khorchin, to enter the palace as a concubine.
The identity of this Borjigit Consort is somewhat amusing. She was the grandniece of the Empress Dowager, the cousin of the deposed Empress Jingfei, and also the cousin of the Shunzhi Emperor.
Despite being a generation younger than her, she was forced to repeat her aunt's fate and marry the much older Shunzhi Emperor simply because she was burdened with the mission of a political marriage.
The girl is only twelve years old this year, still a child, but she is the only girl of suitable age in Khorchin, so Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang has no choice but to select her as the new empress.
Yes, although the current imperial decree is to formally appoint her as a concubine, she is indeed entering the palace as a candidate for empress.
Historically, this young Borjigit woman entered the palace in May and was made empress in June. She was also known as Empress Xiaohuizhang in later generations.
It would take a month for the imperial decree to be issued and then for it to reach Khorchin. It would take another two months for Xiao Borjigit and her entourage to set off for the capital. Therefore, historically, she entered the palace in May.
It was now February of the twelfth year of the Shunzhi reign, and Yunyi was pregnant and about to give birth.
During this time, Tong Yurou frequently sent messages through the Imperial Kitchen to confirm whether the plan was complete, fearing that something might go wrong and prevent her from becoming the birth mother of a prince.
Yunyi knew that she was anxious. In the past few months, Tong Yurou had learned from her family that Shunzhi and Dong Eshi's relationship was growing stronger, and her sense of crisis was also growing stronger.
Under the influence of these emotions, Tong Yurou became increasingly concerned about the matter of switching children. She could only do her best to seize the opportunity in front of her, fearing that she would never have another chance.
March arrived quickly, and this day was the one Yunyi had chosen. Several days in advance, Yunyi had Sumalagu arrange everything.
On this day, there will be far fewer people serving around Shuangyue Palace. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang will also be tied up with some matters and unable to come to Shuangyue Palace. The midwives selected for Tong Yurou's palace will all be people arranged by Yunyi.
On March 18th, Yunyi took a labor-inducing pill she had made herself. Tong Yurou also had one of these pills.
She still went out for a walk after having breakfast, something Tong Yurou often did this month, so no one suspected anything when she went out now.
When they reached the Imperial Garden, Tong Yurou suddenly felt a pain in her stomach. Qiulan, who was beside her, exclaimed in alarm, "Quick, someone come! Consort Tong is about to give birth!"
At this point, they were quite far from Chengqian Palace, and it was too late to go back. The palace maids following behind hurriedly carried Tong Yurou to Qingxi Pavilion nearby for a temporary stay.
Several other palace maids, looking anxious, headed towards Chengqian Palace to fetch the midwife.
No one lives in Qingxi Pavilion normally, but as usual, bedding and other items are prepared there. Because it was planned in advance, everything in the room is new, so Tong Yurou can use it with peace of mind.
After glancing around the room and finding it satisfactory, Tong Yurou touched her slightly aching stomach, a glint of something dark flashing in her eyes.
This is truly a do-or-die situation. If the plan to switch the baby is exposed, I'm finished. So I must succeed today and there can be no mistakes whatsoever.
As the sensations in her abdomen grew stronger, Tong Yurou knew, even though it was her first time giving birth, that this was the real time to give birth.
The midwife hadn't arrived yet, and Qiulan, a young woman who had never given birth, was extremely anxious inside the house.
Fortunately, those people knew the gravity of the situation. Upon hearing that Consort Tong was giving birth in Qingxi Pavilion, they rushed over immediately.
With the guidance of the midwife, Tong Yurou finally felt relieved. It was her first time giving birth, and she was extremely flustered. Coupled with that plan, she felt even more lost and confused.
After walking around the room for a while, the midwife said it was almost time, and Tong Yurou was then helped to the bed.
While things were bustling at Qingxi Pavilion, Shuangyue Palace on the other side was also quite busy.
After taking the labor-inducing pills she had made herself, Yunyi soon showed signs of labor. Urina and Muge helped her from inside the room, while the other directed the palace maids outside.
The midwives were all prepared in advance and were very experienced. In addition, Yunyi herself was not a first-time mother, so although she went into labor later than Tong Yurou, she gave birth faster.
Yunyi was well cared for during her pregnancy. She had no worries and had the best of everything, so her child was born very healthy.
Qimuge took the baby prince from the midwife, wrapped him up, placed him in a basket, changed into some inconspicuous clothes, and then took the child to Qingxi Pavilion.
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