Afternoon
News of Consort Fan Jia's death in the Cold Palace reached the East Side Hall of Zhongcui Palace.
Consort Ma Jia held her belly and laughed out loud. After laughing, she said coldly, "Good, good, this is really good. Lady Fan Jia was pregnant, miscarried, and was banished to the Cold Palace by the Emperor. Now, she has been in the Cold Palace for only one night before she died."
"If all those lowly women in the palace died young like Lady Fan, that would be truly satisfying."
The palace maid Caiwei trembled slightly, then lowered her head and remained silent.
Consort Ma Jia then said in a deep voice, "Consort Yu, you are almost four months pregnant now, aren't you? Why wasn't it Consort Yu who miscarried? Why wasn't it Consort Yu who was banished to the Cold Palace and died?"
"If the deceased is Consort Yu, then everyone in the palace will be overjoyed."
Caiwei staggered, her face filled with terror. She quickly knelt down, looked at Consort Ma Jia, and spoke tremblingly.
"My lady, you mustn't say that."
Caiwei quickly glanced outside the east side hall and lowered her voice, "My lady, cursing the imperial heir is a capital offense."
"Of course I know."
Consort Ma narrowed her eyes, staring sharply at Caiwei, and said coldly, "Caiwei, do you want to betray me? Don't forget, back then when you caught a cold and were waiting to die in the Imperial Garden, it was I who saved you."
"These words were spoken behind closed doors. If you hadn't spoken, and if I, a concubine, hadn't spoken, no one would have known."
Caiwei knelt down in fear and trepidation, repeatedly saying, "I dare not."
With a cold snort, Consort Ma Jia spoke in a deep voice, "I know you wouldn't dare."
Changing the subject, Consort Ma Jia added, "Caiwei, I remember you've been by my side for twelve years."
"You and I entered the palace in the same year, and if you do the math, you are now twenty-six years old."
"In this dynasty, palace maids can leave the palace at the age of thirty. When you reach that age, I will definitely ask Father to find you a good marriage so that you can have a grand wedding."
"My lady, this servant..."
Caiwei knelt down with a 'plop' and kept kowtowing.
She didn't want to leave the palace, and she didn't want to get married.
Once you leave the palace at thirty, how can you possibly marry well? You'll either become someone's concubine or a second wife...
Consort Ma ignored Caiwei's unwilling expression and said to herself, "A few days ago, Father wrote to say that my second sister-in-law has passed away. You will leave the palace in four years when you turn thirty."
"If it's suitable, she can marry my second brother. You serve by my side, and my second brother is my father's illegitimate son. They are a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
Caiwei trembled, and her kowtowing motion froze.
Sunset
As Emperor Kangxi passed by Yikun Palace, he happened to hear cheerful laughter coming from inside.
Stopping in his tracks, Kangxi turned his head and asked in a deep voice, "Liang Jiugong, did Consort Yu go to the Princes' Residence today to welcome the princes and princesses for a reunion?"
Liang Jiugong's expression froze.
"Your Majesty, this servant is foolish and has not heard of Consort Yu receiving the princes and princesses. There was laughter and joy in Consort Yu's palace; the voices sounded somewhat like Consort Xuan's..."
"Um."
Kangxi responded and turned to enter Yikun Palace.
Liang Jiugong straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and gazed at the slowly setting sun, lost in thought.
Inside Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin leaned back in a chair, attended by Lianzhi and Ruhua.
In the courtyard, Consort Xuan and several palace maids and eunuchs were playing a game of eagle catching chicks.
Consort Xuan played the role of an eagle, with her eyes covered.
Emperor Kangxi gestured for Xu Lejin to be quiet, then strode toward Consort Xuan. The palace maids and eunuchs lowered their heads and quickly retreated to the side.
Consort Xuan hugged Kangxi tightly, exclaiming, "We've caught him! We've caught him!"
Pull off the blindfold.
Consort Xuan was stunned for a moment. After realizing what had happened, she quickly knelt down and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not know that Your Majesty was coming. I have offended Your Majesty. Please punish me."
"It's alright."
Emperor Kangxi helped Consort Xuan up and laughed loudly, "It was I who forbade them to announce it."
With the help of Lianzhi and Ruhua, Xu Lejin stood up, held her belly, curtsied to Emperor Kangxi, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I greet you. May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand years of good fortune and peace."
Emperor Kangxi helped Xu Lejin up.
That night, Emperor Kangxi accompanied Consort Xuan to Xianfu Palace.
The next morning, Xu Lejin was awakened while still asleep. She opened her sleepy eyes, called out to the outside, and a moment later, Ruhua hurriedly entered the bedroom.
"Ruhua, what's all the commotion outside?"
Xu Lejin asked softly.
Ru Hua helped Xu Lejin sit up and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, it was Zhu Lan who came back with news that Consort Ma Jia of Zhongcui Palace went into labor early this morning."
“We servants were speaking too loudly outside and disturbed Your Highness’s rest. We are guilty and beg Your Highness to punish us.”
After saying that, Ruhua bowed and knelt down.
Xu Lejin frowned slightly and said softly, "It's alright, it's just that I've been sleeping lightly these days."
"You just said that Consort Ma Jia has started labor? I remember that Consort Ma Jia has been bedridden and resting since she became pregnant because her body was severely weakened."
"Indeed, as Your Majesty said."
Zhongcui Palace
Consort Ma Jia was in the delivery room, crying out in pain. Upon receiving the news, Consort Zhao excused the other concubines from paying their respects and rushed over.
Half an hour later, the door to the delivery room opened.
The midwife and the imperial physicians emerged from inside with grave expressions and respectfully reported to Consort Zhao, "Your Highness, Consort Zhao, the baby of Consort Ma Jia is in an abnormal position and may not be developing well."
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