Half an hour later
Consort Hui and Consort An led a group of concubines out of Yikun Palace.
With a stern face, Consort Hui remained silent. Noble Lady Lan followed behind Consort Hui, her eyes darting around, and she sneered, "Your Highness Consort Yu is really giving Consort Xiu and Noble Lady Chun too much credit."
"Consort Xiu and Noble Lady Chun were of humble origins, but by sheer luck, they conceived imperial heirs and were given the finest fabric, warm satin."
The nobleman lowered his head and remained silent.
Consort Hui stopped and glanced at Noble Lady Lan. She said coldly, "Is Noble Lady Lan jealous? Noble Lady Lan has been in the palace for three or five years and has been serving the Emperor for some time. Why is there still no news about her pregnancy?"
"If Consort Lan is pregnant and gives birth to a prince or princess, I will risk my reputation to get her a piece of warm satin."
Consort Lan's delicate face turned from white to bluish.
"Your Majesty, I am unfortunate and have not been able to conceive..."
Lan Guiren nearly ground her teeth to powder. She gritted her teeth in hatred and cursed Hui Pin as a vile woman. It was bad enough that she was of lower birth and higher rank than her, but now she was being humiliated like this.
Just wait, one day she will make Consort Hui pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold, for the humiliation she suffered today.
The farce between Consort Hui and Noble Lady Lan reached Xu Lejin's ears in less than half a day. Xu Lejin's expression was gloomy and she 'snip snip'ed away the excess plum blossom branches in the vase.
Yingying spoke up, and Xu Lejin said, "Consort Hui is the head of Yanxi Palace, but Consort Hui's family background is not as good as Noble Lady Lan's. It is understandable that Noble Lady Lan is dissatisfied with Consort Hui."
"Consort Hui is promoting Noble Lady Zhi and suppressing Noble Lady Lan. Yanxi Palace is in complete chaos every day, it's quite a lively place!"
Ru Hua and Qin Huai exchanged a glance and spoke with smiles.
"Your Majesty is quite right. I've heard that Consort Zhi and Consort Lan are outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds, and their conversations are always full of barbs. Every time they cause trouble in front of Consort Hui, Consort Hui always sides with Consort Zhi."
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin put down the scissors in her hand and said calmly, "Consort Zhi is stupid but beautiful, and she gave birth to two daughters in a row. When Consort Zhi gave birth to the sixteenth daughter of the Emperor, she took labor-inducing drugs, which damaged her body and made it difficult for her to conceive again."
"The two princesses born to Consort Zhi were raised by Consort Hui, who naturally favored Consort Zhi, while Consort Lan..."
After a slight pause, Xu Lejin spoke softly again.
"Noble Lady Lan is Mingzhu's niece. She is only seventeen or eighteen years old now, which is the best age for her. Who knows if she will give birth to a prince or princess? Noble Lady Lan's family background is not bad. After giving birth to a prince or princess, she will definitely become a concubine or imperial consort."
“Consort Hui is a smart woman, so she naturally chose to suppress Consort Lan and promote Consort Zhi.”
The following afternoon
News came from Yongshou Palace that Consort Yi was about to give birth.
Xu Lejin was taken aback for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "I remember that Consort Yi's due date was at the end of the month, wasn't it? How come she's going to give birth about twenty days early?"
"Consort Yi has become thin; this pregnancy..."
Xu Lejin sighed deeply, her expression thoughtful.
Qin Huai quickly looked up at Xu Lejin and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Consort Yi has been experiencing a miscarriage scare during her pregnancy. She is overthinking and has become thin. It is already her limit that she has managed to hold on until now."
“This servant once saw a woman like Consort Yi who, after becoming pregnant, did not gain weight but instead became increasingly thin, and gave birth prematurely when she was seven or eight months pregnant.”
"Um."
Xu Lejin responded, stood up, and hurriedly headed towards Yongshou Palace with Qin Huai and Ru Hua.
Currently, she holds the highest rank in the harem and wields power within the palace. Consort Hui, Consort An, and Consort Duan, whose ranks are lower than hers, assist her.
Therefore, when Consort Yi gave birth, she had to go to Yongshou Palace to oversee the situation.
"Your Highness, Consort Yu and Consort Hui, Consort Yi's unborn child is breech, and... and Consort Yi is too thin. This servant... this servant has no guarantee that Consort Yi can give birth safely."
As dusk fell, the midwife emerged, her hands covered in blood, and knelt on the ground, reporting with fear and trepidation.
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then quickly considered the matter in her mind.
Consort Yi is carrying the emperor's child, the imperial heir. The imperial heir is of utmost importance, and should be protected should anything go wrong. But, but Consort Yi is a living, breathing person.
She simply couldn't bring herself to ask the midwife and imperial physicians to protect the imperial heir.
At this time
Emperor Kangxi helped the Empress Dowager into Yongshou Palace.
Xu Lejin snapped out of her thoughts, quickly stepped forward, and bowed with Consort Hui, saying, "Your Majesty, I greet you and the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and may the Empress Dowager live a thousand years."
"No need for such formalities."
Emperor Kangxi waved his hand, signaling Xu Lejin and Consort Hui to rise.
A moment later, the Empress Dowager asked in a deep voice, "Consort Yu, Consort Yi gave birth today. How is the situation inside? Is the imperial fetus in any danger?"
After a quick moment of consideration, Xu Lejin's expression turned respectful.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Consort Yi, Consort Yi..."
With a forced smile, Xu Lejin said in a low voice, "The midwife just came out to report that Consort Yi is thin and the baby is in an abnormal position, so the delivery may not be smooth."
"Your Majesty, I am foolish and do not know what to do. I beg Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager to make the decision."
Kangxi's eyes were solemn.
The Empress Dowager's face darkened, and she frowned and pondered for a moment on her aged face before saying, "The imperial heir is of utmost importance, and we must protect the imperial heir. If Consort Yi is fortunate enough to survive this ordeal, I will personally promote her to the rank of Consort Yi."
"Empress Dowager..."
Xu Lejin remained calm, and apart from a flash of fierceness in his eyes, Kangxi showed no obvious reaction. However, Consort Hui exclaimed in surprise, her face full of disbelief.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
