Consort Zhang failed to give birth to the imperial heir for a long time, causing quite a stir. Even Xu Lejin in Yikun Palace began to feel a vague sense of worry for Consort Zhang.
For women, childbirth has always been a life-or-death situation.
Now, hearing Zhishu and Ruhua report that Consort Zhang had been in labor for five or six hours but had not yet successfully given birth to the imperial heir, Xu Lejin could not help but worry about her future.
As the hour of Xu approached, Ru Hua returned, her steps hurried and her steps faltering.
"Your Highness, Consort Zhang has given birth to a little princess."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, put down the storybook in her hand, and said thoughtfully, "Consort Zhang has finally given birth. If she hadn't given birth soon, I would have fallen asleep waiting."
"Yingchun, tomorrow you will personally go to Yonghe Palace to visit Consort Zhang and the little princess on my behalf, and give the little princess the gold necklace that the Imperial Household Department sent during the New Year."
The welcoming of spring is a respectful response.
With a slight smile, Xu Lejin looked at Ruhua and then spoke, "At the end of the hour of You (5-7 PM), Consort Zhang showed no signs of labor. How could she have given birth to a little princess safely in just one hour?"
"Your Highness, Consort Zhang has shown no signs of giving birth. Her Majesty's sister, Nongyu, has personally come to Yonghe Palace to convey Her Majesty's decree to ensure the safe delivery of the imperial heir."
Shivering slightly, Ru Hua mustered her courage and continued, "After discussing it, the imperial physician and the midwife, following Sister Nongyu's subtle hint, used double the dose of labor-inducing medicine to forcibly induce Consort Zhang's pregnancy."
"Although the baby was born safely, Consort Zhang fell into a coma. The midwife reported that Consort Zhang forced the birth of the little princess and was at risk of postpartum hemorrhage and death at any moment."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then sighed softly.
The Empress was quite shrewd; prioritizing the imperial heir, she used double the dose of labor-inducing drugs to force Consort Zhang's unborn child to be born. If Consort Zhang's child had been a healthy little prince, it would have been fine.
Consort Zhang will be able to survive in the palace by taking care of her child.
Unfortunately, Consort Zhang's child turned out to be a princess!
Inside the Kunning Palace.
The Empress breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Consort Zhang had given birth to a princess.
"Nongyu, clean things up. Zhang has given birth to the princess and can no longer have children. She poses no threat to me. I'm happy to be virtuous this once and let them live peacefully in the palace."
Nong Yu responded respectfully with an "Yes," her head bowed.
After a slight pause, the Empress looked towards the direction of the Qianqing Palace. "His Majesty must already know that Consort Zhang has safely given birth to a daughter."
"Yun Cui, help me to the Qianqing Palace to apologize to the Emperor."
Yun Cui respectfully stepped forward, helped the Empress out of Kunning Palace, and headed towards Qianqing Palace ahead.
The next morning, the Empress Dowager learned that Consort Zhang had given birth to a daughter in Yonghe Palace. Although she was disappointed that Consort Zhang's child was not a prince, a princess was still of royal blood, and Consort Zhang was still in a coma due to forced childbirth.
Even if Consort Zhang wakes up successfully, her body will be damaged, and she may never be able to conceive again!
Therefore, the Empress Dowager did show some favoritism towards the little princess.
"Su Ma, go to Yonghe Palace on my behalf and see the fourth princess born to Lady Zhang. Also, convey a message to the Empress that Lady Zhang suffered greatly during childbirth, and instruct the Empress to arrange capable palace servants to take care of the fourth princess and ensure that she grows up healthy."
Sumalagu respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. The Empress Dowager is kind and benevolent. With Your Majesty's favor, the Fourth Princess will surely grow up healthy and safe."
The Empress Dowager smiled, her face aged.
"I hope so. In any case, she's just a princess. When she grows up, she'll have a dowry and get married. It won't bother the Empress. I hope the Empress will do good deeds for the sake of the imperial child in her womb..."
She paused. The Empress Dowager continued, "Just now you said that Lady Zhang went into labor yesterday, but there were no signs of labor. Was it a palace maid by the Empress's side who subtly reminded the imperial physician to use double the dose of labor-inducing medicine?"
"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case. If it weren't for Her Majesty the Empress's orders, and the imperial physicians had used double the dosage of labor-inducing drugs, the Fourth Princess would likely not have been born today. Although Her Majesty the Empress was somewhat cruel, she saved the Fourth Princess. As for Consort Zhang…"
Su Mala Gu hesitated for a moment, lowered her eyes, and said, "Although Consort Zhang is unconscious, she does not have the symptoms of postpartum hemorrhage. She will wake up after resting, so both mother and daughter are safe!"
The Empress Dowager pondered.
After a long silence, the Empress Dowager spoke in a cold voice. "Your Majesty, what a brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone! For Zhang's delivery, Your Majesty instructed that the dosage of labor-inducing drugs be doubled; it's either success or death."
"If she succeeds, she will have done a great service to the emperor, and he will not be able to punish her. If she fails, she can also say that she had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure because the imperial heir was the priority."
Sumalagu lowered her head and remained silent.
Three days later, the fourth princess had her third-day-old bath.
After giving birth, Consort Zhang was in a coma for two days and two nights. She finally woke up on the evening of the third day after giving birth and learned that she had given birth to a princess. Consort Zhang was very disappointed.
A few days later.
"Your Highness, yesterday afternoon His Majesty went to Yonghe Palace to visit Consort Zhang. Who knew that Consort Zhang, disregarding her postpartum confinement, wanted to compete for His Majesty's favor and serve him."
"The Emperor was furious and immediately reprimanded Consort Zhang, ordering her to take good care of the Fourth Princess."
Zhi Shu, with a gloating expression, whispered to Xu Lejin.
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment. "Doesn't Sister Zhang know that she used twice the amount of labor-inducing drugs to force the birth of the fourth princess, damaging her body and making it impossible for her to have children in the future?"
"Your Highness, Consort Zhang already knows, but she refuses to believe it."
Xu Lejin smiled but didn't say anything more.
Half a month passed quickly after Consort Zhang gave birth, and February was about to end. Xu Lejin decided that after February, she would announce that she had recovered and would go to Kunning Palace every day to pay her respects to the Empress.
February 28th.
Xu Lejin was sitting by the window, sketching flower patterns.
Zhi Shu entered the hall with a solemn expression and respectfully reported to Xu Lejin: "Your Highness, news has come from the Emperor that His Majesty has been frequently favoring a palace maid these past few days. The ladies of the harem and concubines are all speculating about just how beautiful this palace maid who has won the Emperor's favor must be."
Xu Lejin put down the flower arrangement in her hand and smiled faintly.
"Palace maids serving the emperor. Their job is to serve the emperor's daily needs, so it is only natural that they would be favored by the emperor. Consort Ma Jia and Consort Zhang were originally palace maids serving the emperor. They were promoted to consorts after they became pregnant and gave birth to princes and princesses."
"In the harem, many concubines were originally palace maids; even I was a palace maid in the Empress's palace. Many palace maids have received the Emperor's favor, but in recent years, only Consort Ma Jia and Consort Zhang have been granted the title of concubine."
Xu Lejin picked up the teacup beside her, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile, "Later, I'll inquire about the background of this favored imperial maid."
"yes."
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