Consort Dong's visit to the emperor was fleeting, like a brief moment in time, and did not cause much of a stir in the palace.
October 7th
Upon waking up in the early morning, Xu Lejin's eyelids kept twitching. After leaving Yikun Palace, she went to Chuxiu Palace to pay her respects to Consort Zhao. On the long street, she heard the chirping of magpies.
"Lianzhi, what day is it today?"
Lianzhi paused for a moment, then replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, today is the seventh day of the tenth month. It is not a special day, nor is it the birthday of any of the imperial concubines, the emperor, the empress dowager, or the empress dowager."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, suppressing her doubts.
Outside Chuxiu Palace, Xu Lejin encountered Consort Guo Luoluo of Yongshou Palace. Consort Guo Luoluo was walking back with her eyes slightly lowered and a thoughtful expression on her face.
Upon encountering Xu Lejin, Consort Guo Luoluo immediately curtsied and said, "This humble servant greets Consort Yu. May Consort Yu be blessed."
"Consort Guo Luoluo may dispense with the formalities."
Xu Lejin gave a curt reply, then changed the subject, saying, "At this hour, it should be time to pay respects to Consort Zhao. Why is Consort Guo Luoluo heading back?"
Consort Guo Luoluo's expression froze for a moment.
"Your Highness Consort Yu, Consort Zhao is not in Chuxiu Palace. The palace servants in Chuxiu Palace said that last night, the little girl in Yanxi Palace went into labor, and Consort Zhao went to Yanxi Palace overnight."
Xu Lejin suddenly realized.
"I see. No wonder I heard magpies chirping incessantly when I got up this morning. It turns out that another baby is going to be born in the palace. Consort Xiao Nara craves sour foods during her pregnancy, and the baby looks strong and healthy. I suppose the baby in her belly is a prince."
Consort Guoluo smiled bitterly and replied, "Yes."
On the long street, Xu Lejin exchanged a few words with Consort Guo Luoluo before returning to Yikun Palace. After returning to Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin solemnly instructed the palace maids Ziwu and Zhulan to keep an eye on the movements at Yanxi Palace.
Consort Xiao Nara was also very curious about whether her child would be a prince or a princess.
If it were a princess, all of Xiao Nara Concubine's previous vows and arrogance would become a joke; if it were a prince, then Yanxi Palace would be quite lively.
Consort Nara has a son, Baoqing, the fifth prince. If Consort Nara were to give birth to another prince...
At noon, Consort Xiao Nara of Yanxi Palace was giving birth.
After Xu Lejin's afternoon nap, the young concubine Xiao Nara still hadn't given birth.
At dusk, Ziwu bowed and reported to Xu Lejin that Consort Xiao Nara was still in labor and that Emperor Kangxi had already visited her at Yanxi Palace.
As the moon rose above the willow branches, Xu Lejin prepared to rest, but the dragon fetus in the womb of the young concubine, Xiao Nara, was still not born.
Xu Lejin casually tossed aside the half-read storybook in her hand, grabbed the blanket, and drifted off to sleep.
Before going to sleep, Xu Lejin still had some thoughts on her mind.
After a good night's sleep, the little concubine's unborn child should be born by tomorrow morning.
A day and a night should be enough.
The next day, at dawn, Xu Lejin opened her sleepy eyes.
"Lianzhi, has the young concubine given birth? Is it a prince or a princess?"
Lianzhi bowed her head.
Ruhua, Zhulan, and others, carrying hot water and towels, were already waiting in the bedroom.
Lianzhi paused slightly for a moment, then spoke softly, “Your Majesty, Consort Xiao Nara has not yet given birth. The palace maids and midwives of Yanxi Palace say that this is Consort Xiao Nara’s first pregnancy, so it is normal for the labor to take longer.”
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
"Yes, that's right."
With Lianzhi's help, Xu Lejin got up from the bed and sat in front of the dressing table. She said gently, "Is Consort Zhao still waiting for Consort Xiao Nara to give birth in Yanxi Palace?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhao returned to Chuxiu Palace at midnight last night."
Xu Lejin nodded gently, signaling Lianzhi and Ruhua to help her with her hair and clothes.
The morning breeze gently caressed her cheeks as Xu Lejin rode in a sedan chair, swaying and swaying along the long street towards Chuxiu Palace.
Outside the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, under the corridor, apart from Consort Hesheli who was under house arrest, Consort Nara of Yanxi Palace, and Consort Xiao Nara who was giving birth, all the other consorts were already waiting there.
"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Consort Yu. May Consort Yu be blessed with good fortune."
Xu Lejin alighted from the sedan chair, and Consort Li, Consort Wanyan, and others stepped forward with smiles to greet her. Xu Lejin, with a gentle expression, parted her lips slightly, preparing to let everyone rise.
At this moment, Consort Zhao's head maid, Lianxing, walked over respectfully and said in a respectful voice, "Consort Yu, all the concubines, my lady is concerned about Concubine Xiao Nara's childbirth and has specially asked me to tell Consort Yu and all the concubines that today's greetings will be waived."
"..."
Xu Lejin opened her mouth, her face blank with surprise.
Consort Li, Consort Wanyan, and others looked indignant, their faces turning from white to green, before finally lowering their heads in silence, saying nothing.
After a short while, everyone left Chuxiu Palace.
Consort Ma Jia covered her mouth and said sarcastically to Consort Zhao Jia beside her, "Consort Zhao is so concerned about Consort Xiao Na La's childbirth that she has neglected the sisters in the palace. We came to pay our respects to Consort Zhao, but we have been unable to reach her for two days in a row."
"It's also because we come from humble backgrounds that Consort Zhao is too lazy to send palace maids and eunuchs to inform the various palaces, thus exempting us from our morning and evening greetings."
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhaojia lowered her head and remained silent.
Immediately afterwards, Consort Ma Jia smiled and said, "I wonder if Consort Xiao Na La is carrying a prince or a princess? Her delivery is now on the minds of everyone in the palace."
"If it's a prince, that's fine, but if it's a princess, wouldn't it become a joke in the end?"
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