Dusk falls
Xu Lejin had dinner with her children, including Yinling, Wuxiha, and Unaxi. She looked at her children with loving eyes, her heart filled with happiness.
She is so lucky. Yinling and Wunaxi have been blessed with immortality and will follow immortals to cultivate in the future, eventually becoming immortals themselves.
Ushiha was clever and mischievous, often making her laugh out loud. Although Wulingzhu was only a little over a year old, she was exquisitely beautiful, just like Wuyoudai, who was raised by the Empress Dowager.
Now she's pregnant again.
There are very few concubines in the palace as fortunate as her.
At this moment, Ziwu hurried in from outside the palace and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, in Yonghe Palace, Consort Dai was pounced on by a cat and was so frightened that she went into premature labor."
"Wei Changzai got her face scratched by a cat while protecting Dai Changzai."
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment, her eyes filled with bewilderment.
"Why did Consort Dai get pounced on by a cat, and Consort Wei get scratched on the face? It's autumn now, not springtime when cats are in heat. How could there be cats in the palace?"
"Qin Huai, Ru Hua, help me go to Yonghe Palace for a look."
Standing up, Xu Lejin looked anxious, preparing to go to Yonghe Palace to visit Consort Dai, who had gone into premature labor due to fright, and Consort Wei, whose face had been scratched by a cat.
Qin Huai entered the scene with a hesitant expression.
Yinling and Wunaxi exchanged a glance. Yinling stood up and said softly, "Mother, you are a concubine, while Consort Dai and Consort Wei are only ladies-in-waiting. Even if they were born prematurely and their faces were scratched by cats, Mother, you don't need to condescend to visit them."
"Mother, you are pregnant, so you should prioritize the younger brother and sister in your womb."
Xu Lejin stopped in her tracks, frowning as she pondered, and realized that this was indeed the case.
With her own rank as a concubine and her son and daughter being successful, why should she bother visiting the two concubines?
With an awkward laugh, Xu Lejin nodded and instructed Ziwu and Zhulan to keep an eye on the situation at Yonghe Palace.
Yonghe Palace
Wei Changzai covered his face, which had been scratched by the cat, and thought to himself that he was doomed. His face would definitely be scarred, and the emperor would never favor him again.
She knew she would fall out of favor and be forgotten in a corner, just like the other concubines who were no longer in the palace.
Why did I stand up and protect Dai Changzai without even thinking about it?
Although both Dai Changzai and I were recommended by the Empress Dowager, we did not have much contact.
Consort Hui frowned, glanced at Consort Wei whose expression was constantly changing, and secretly resented Consort Wei for meddling in other people's business.
With an anxious expression, Consort Hui asked in a low voice to the young eunuch who was hurrying into Yonghe Palace, "Where is the Emperor? What did the Emperor say? When will he come to visit Consort Dai and Consort Wei?"
The little eunuch trembled and lowered his head.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is busy with court affairs and has asked me to convey to Your Majesty that you must ensure Consort Dai's safe delivery and that Consort Wei's face is not scarred."
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui was utterly bewildered.
Stunned and speechless, Consort Hui stared at the young eunuch, her anger rising to the top of her head.
Wei Changzai lowered her head, a trace of loneliness flashing in her eyes. She smiled bitterly to herself. She knew it would be like this, because she and Dai Changzai were recommended by the Empress Dowager, so the Emperor did not like them.
The Emperor summoned her only because of the Empress Dowager.
The imperial physician arrived in a hurry. Consort Hui suppressed her surprise and shock and instructed the physician to treat Consort Wei's injuries and then go into the delivery room to help Consort Dai give birth with the midwife.
Inside the delivery room, Dai Changzai's painful cries could be heard, and Hui Pin's face showed impatience.
Meanwhile, the imperial physician treating Consort Wei's injuries, after taking her pulse, looked grave and respectfully inquired, "This humble subject dares to ask, Consort Wei, if your period has arrived as scheduled this month?"
Wei Changzai was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
She gave a wink to the maid beside her, who spoke softly, "My mistress's period is indeed three to five days late this month. Since her periods are irregular, we just assume it's a normal delay."
The imperial physician frowned and pondered for a moment.
"Your period is a few days late. Your pulse is like pearls falling onto a jade plate. I am 70 percent certain that Your Majesty is pregnant."
Upon hearing this, Wei Chang's face lit up with joy, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"
"It is absolutely true. The Lady Consort is less than a month pregnant, and the pregnancy is still very early."
Wei Changzai could not hide his joy as he looked down at his belly, his heart filled with delight.
Just when she thought there was no way out, a new path opened up before her. She had thought that because she was disfigured, she would never be favored by the emperor again.
Unexpectedly, she became pregnant at this time.
Consort Wei was overjoyed. The two Consorts and Consort Gui, who lived in Yonghe Palace, had a hint of envy in their eyes and looked down at their toes with a sense of dejection.
Consort Hui glanced at Consort Wei with jealousy, cleared her throat, and said, "Imperial Physician, Consort Wei was attacked by a cat while protecting Consort Dai, and her face was scratched. Is the imperial fetus in any serious condition?"
The imperial physician considered the matter carefully.
"Your Highness Consort Hui, Consort Wei's unborn child has only suffered a slight fright. She will recover well after resting in bed for half a month."
The news of Consort Wei's pregnancy, arranged by Consort Hui, quickly spread throughout the six palaces, reaching the Qianqing Palace, the Cining Palace, and even the ears of Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager.
Emperor Kangxi's expression was solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "It is quite a coincidence that Lady Wei became pregnant at this time."
"Very well, since Lady Wei comes from a humble background, let her be pregnant! Her face was scratched by a cat and disfigured, but now that she is pregnant, she should enjoy the privileges of a Noble Lady and rest peacefully in Yonghe Palace."
Cining Palace
The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered, and she spoke in a cold voice, "I previously thought that Lady Wei was useless, but I never expected that her luck would turn around and that she would become pregnant. It's just a pity that Lady Wei has such a beautiful face."
"Su Ma, tomorrow you will personally go to Yonghe Palace to visit Lady Wei. Also, have someone keep an eye on Lady Dai's child. Report to me immediately after the child is born."
Sumalagu respectfully agreed.
The next morning, Xu Lejin learned of Wei Changzai's pregnancy from Ziwu. She remained indifferent and did not show any unusual reaction.
With many concubines in the palace, and Emperor Kangxi frequently summoning them, it was normal for some to become pregnant.
Even if it wasn't Lady Wei who was pregnant, it would be one of the other concubines. If she had to get angry every time a concubine became pregnant, that would be too exhausting!
Therefore, it's better to let nature take its course.
Anyway, she didn't have any special feelings for Kangxi, haha.
In short, it was a good thing for any concubine in the palace to become pregnant. Having many children was a blessing, which was what Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager hoped for, so she naturally had no complaints.
She only needs to guard her heart and remain unmoved.
The sun was setting in the west.
Finally, the faint cry of a baby could be heard from Yonghe Palace.
Ziwu's face was grave as she whispered to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, Consort Dai has given birth. She has safely delivered a little princess, but because she was premature, she weighed only five pounds and one ounce, and her cries were weak."
"Also, the little princess's feet..."
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