The sun gradually began to set in the west.
Inside Xianfu Palace, the palace maids and eunuchs moved with utmost care, afraid of disturbing the ailing and unconscious Consort Gui.
"Sister Lingyan, Her Majesty has not woken up all day."
Around fifteen years old, a naive and inexperienced young palace maid softly asked Lingyan a question.
Ling Yan's expression was grave. She glanced at the young palace maid, nodded, and said in a low voice, "Last night, Her Majesty was feeling palpitations and panic, and didn't fall asleep until after midnight. Today..."
"If Her Majesty hadn't still had a faint breath, Ling Rou and I would have been worried that she would have passed away."
The young palace maid raised her eyes and quickly glanced into the bedchamber.
A quarter of an hour later, on the bed, the imperial concubine, who had been in a deep sleep, was suddenly awakened, covered in sweat and breathing rapidly. She weakly whispered, "Lingyan..."
"、、"
Ling Yan paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, you're awake. How are you feeling? Should we summon the imperial physician?"
The imperial concubine shook her head.
The Imperial Concubine glanced outside the hall and spoke softly, "I remember, was it Consort Yu who gave birth yesterday? Did Consort Yu give birth? Was it a princess or a prince?"
Ling Yan lowered her head slightly and quickly thought for a moment.
"Your Majesty, Consort Yu gave birth to a baby princess safely last night at around 9:30 PM. His Majesty was overjoyed and immediately bestowed upon Consort Yu many gold and silver ornaments."
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine smiled and murmured, "Good, good. Consort Yu gave birth to a princess this time, and the delivery was safe, yet the Emperor didn't promote her rank. It's clear that she's nothing special in the Emperor's eyes."
"Oh, right."
Her expression paused for a moment, then the Imperial Concubine spoke again.
"I recall that yesterday evening, news came from Yanxi Palace that Consort Zhi had also given birth prematurely. Was Consort Zhi giving birth to a prince or a princess?"
Lingyan replied respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhi gave birth to a baby princess safely this morning."
The imperial concubine was stunned for a moment, then threw her head back and burst into wild laughter.
"Excellent, excellent, wonderful! Consort Yu's unborn child is a princess, and Consort Zhi's is also a princess. I am truly overjoyed! They have both become pregnant, but both have given birth to princesses!"
"Hahaha."
Inside the main hall of Xianfu Palace, the concubine's delirious laughter echoed, leaving the palace maids and eunuchs exchanging bewildered glances.
Night falls
Emperor Kangxi was reviewing memorials in the Qianqing Palace when Liang Jiugong, bowing low, hurried into the hall.
"Your Majesty, news has come from Xianfu Palace that the Imperial Concubine was overjoyed to learn that Consort Yu and Noble Lady Zhi had given birth to a princess, and she laughed out loud!"
Upon hearing this, Kangxi raised his head and looked at Liang Jiugong.
After a long silence, Kangxi said in a deep voice, "Now that the Imperial Concubine is on her deathbed, she has become increasingly arrogant. What have the people of Xianfu Palace been doing? The Imperial Concubine has been ill for so long, how is she still alive?"
"Liang Jiugong, go to the Imperial Concubine's palace yourself and see how she is doing."
Liang Jiugong respectfully replied, "Yes."
With his head down, Liang Jiugong left the Qianqing Palace and stood under the corridor outside the palace. He looked up at the night sky, his brows furrowed deeply. He thought to himself, "The Emperor dislikes the Consort. Things are about to change in the palace."
The moon climbs above the willow branches.
Inside Xianfu Palace, the lights were on, and the palace maids and eunuchs held their breath, not daring to make a sound. Imperial physicians went in and out, and in the vast Xianfu Palace, only the faint breathing of the Imperial Concubine could be heard.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please hold on! The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are on their way to Xianfu Palace, Your Majesty!"
Lingyan and Lingrou knelt before the bed, their faces filled with sorrow.
The imperial concubine lay on her bed, her breath faint, her eyes gazing longingly at the entrance of the main hall of Xianfu Palace. She gasped for breath and slowly asked, "Where is the Emperor? Has he promised to come and see me one last time?"
Ling Yan and Ling Rou lowered their heads.
"Your Majesty, I have already sent someone to invite the Emperor. Please rest."
The imperial concubine paused for a moment, then shook her head.
After hesitating for a long time, the Imperial Concubine murmured, "The Emperor has completely abandoned me and hates me. What hope do I still have?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty will not come to see me one last time."
With a face full of despair, the Imperial Concubine silently shed tears. Lingyan, Lingrou, and the other palace servants who served in Xianfu Palace opened their mouths, but swallowed the words that were on the tip of their tongues.
The imperial concubine sighed softly.
"Your Majesty, how cruel you are!"
Upon hearing this, Ling Yan and Ling Rou looked surprised, but quickly regained their composure, lowered their heads slightly, and pondered the matter rapidly in their minds.
With a wry smile, the Imperial Concubine spoke in a low voice, "Where is Consort Yu? Where is Consort Yu?"
He shook his head.
The Imperial Concubine spoke with a sorrowful tone, "I forgot, Consort Yu gave birth last night and is currently in her postpartum period. I forgot that Consort Yu and I are no longer the close sisters we once were. Why would Consort Yu come to see me one last time?"
"Consort Yu, Consort Yu, in the end I was confused back then, and I am only reaping what I sowed."
After she finished speaking, a crystal tear slid down the corner of the Consort's eye.
Lingyan frowned slightly, lost in thought. After a moment, she spoke softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Yu will definitely come to visit you. Please hold on, Your Majesty."
"No, Consort Yu won't come to see me one last time."
The Imperial Concubine shook her head almost imperceptibly, then gazed longingly at the outside of Xianfu Palace before finally closing her heavy eyelids and letting the last tear slide down her cheek.
"Your Majesty..."
From inside Xianfu Palace, the heart-wrenching cries of palace maids and eunuchs could be heard.
Xu Lejin hurried along, dragging her newly given birth body, and finally arrived outside Xianfu Palace with the help of Qin Huai and Ru Hua.
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