Dai Changzai's premature baby princess was born with uneven legs and feet.
Xu Lejin was surprised and thought to herself, "Fate is always surprisingly similar. In my previous life, because of my neighbor's child, who was born a cripple, I specifically went online to look it up."
This investigation revealed something extraordinary: in Qing Dynasty history, the seventh prince of the Kangxi Emperor, Yinyou, was born to Lady Daijia. He was born with a disability and was ineligible for the throne from birth. Consequently, Lady Daijia fell out of favor after giving birth to the seventh prince, Yinyou.
It wasn't until the 57th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign that Lady Daijia was granted the title of Consort Cheng. Later, when the Yongzheng Emperor ascended the throne, he further elevated Lady Daijia to the rank of Imperial Concubine Cheng.
Now, in this parallel Qing Dynasty timeline, Consort Dai has given birth to a little princess, but the princess is still born with a disability.
Dai Chang was already out of favor, and now that she has given birth to a disabled princess, she will probably be even less favored!
August of the nineteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign passed in a flash.
Dai Changzai had also finished her postpartum confinement. Because she had given birth to a disabled princess, Dai Changzai spent her days in tears and showed no concern for the little princess. She only complained about the unfairness of fate and that God was playing a joke on her.
The result of excessive worry was that after Dai Changzai finished her postpartum confinement, despite taking many nourishing supplements, she became extremely thin and could be blown away by a gust of wind.
September 2nd
Xu Lejin shifted her gaze from the faces of the concubines to Dai Changzai, who was secretly grieving in the corner. She spoke coldly, "I have heard that Dai Changzai spends her days in tears and pays little attention to the Twentieth Princess."
"Even though the twentieth princess was born with a disability, she was still born after Consort Dai carried her for seven months. She is Consort Dai's own flesh and blood. Is this how Consort Dai, as a mother, should act?"
Dai Changzai was swaying precariously, and with the help of palace maids, she knelt in the hall.
"Your Highness, I was so heartbroken that I neglected the Twentieth Princess and failed to take good care of her. It was my fault. I am guilty and beg Your Highness to punish me."
Like a walking corpse, Dai Chang lay prostrate on the ground.
Consort Hui and the others looked at Consort Dai with schadenfreude in their eyes, mocking and disdainfully thinking to themselves, "So what if she got pregnant on her first try?"
She was seven months pregnant when she gave birth prematurely to a girl with a disability.
Dai Chang's life is over!
Xu Lejin sighed, her tone full of disappointment, "Consort Dai, although the Twentieth Princess is physically disabled, she is still a noble royal princess. Consort Dai, you should also know your situation in the palace after the Twentieth Princess's passing."
"Although the twentieth princess was born prematurely, she is doing well and is growing up healthily under the care of her wet nurse."
Xu Lejin coughed lightly, her eyes sweeping over the gloating Consort Hui and the others, and said in a deep voice, "His Majesty and I have discussed this. Consort Dai has made a contribution by giving birth to the twentieth daughter of the Emperor, and from this day forward she shall enjoy the rank of a Noble Lady."
“Dai Changzai moved to Chunxi Palace to live, and the twentieth princess was also handed over to Dai Changzai to raise personally.”
The concubines of the harem left Yikun Palace in order, leaving Consort Dai behind alone.
Looking at Consort Dai, who was still absent-minded, Xu Lejin said coldly, "Consort Dai, I have already made myself very clear. If I were you, knowing the situation, I should pull myself together, take care of my health, and raise the twentieth princess to adulthood safely."
"What's the use of wallowing in self-pity and complaining about the unfairness of fate? Can everything be undone? Can you pretend nothing happened? Although the Twentieth Princess was born with a disability, the Emperor still has affection for you and for the Twentieth Princess."
"Heaven cherishes life. I pleaded with the Emperor to spare you and the Twentieth Princess, allowing you and your daughter to move to Chunxi Palace. If you continue to be obstinate, then I can only consider my good intentions wasted!"
Xu Lejin finished speaking in a sharp and stern voice, then remained silent with a cold face.
Fifteen minutes later
After leaving Yikun Palace and returning to Yonghe Palace, Consort Dai locked herself in her room, neither eating nor drinking, and pondered for three days and three nights. Finally, she came to a conclusion and, taking the infant twentieth princess, moved to Chunxi Palace.
From then on, Consort Dai and the twentieth daughter of the emperor began a life of seclusion.
This day
Xu Lejin looked calmly at Consort Hui, Consort An, and Consort Duan, who had rushed to Yikun Palace upon hearing the news, and said softly, "Consort Wen, the younger sister of Empress Xiaozhao, entered the palace to serve this year. It was decided by His Majesty long ago."
"As for the other sisters who were granted official positions in the palace?"
Deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, Xu Lejin spoke up gracefully.
"Consort He and Consort Tong are still young. Although they have entered the palace, they have not yet been formally conferred titles or enjoyed the privileges of a consort. They are only waiting to enter the palace. The Emperor has allocated Changchun Palace and Chengqian Palace for them to live in."
"The Consort Wan and Consort Ning, who came from Mongolia, are daughters of the Khorchin Prince and Beile, and are of noble birth. After discussing with the Empress Dowager, the Emperor decided to have Consort Wan and Consort Ning reside in Yonghe Palace and Zhongcui Palace, respectively."
Consort Duan kept her head down, lost in thought.
Consort Hui's eyes darted around, and she looked at Xu Lejin, saying, "Consort Yu, I've heard that Consort He is only seven years old and is Empress Xiaocheng's half-sister. Consort Tong..."
"Consort Tong is a bit older, and is now twelve years old. She is the half-sister of the former Consort Chengqian and Consort Gong."
Xu Lejin nodded.
"Consort Hui is well-informed; it is indeed so. His Majesty cherishes the past, and three years ago he issued an edict granting the title of Consort Wen's younger sister a palace post this year. Consort Wen is Empress Xiaozhao's own sister."
"Empress Xiaocheng was the Emperor's first wife, and they were young lovers. The former Consort Chengqian and Consort Gong were the Emperor's cousins."
Without going into too much detail, Xu Lejin smiled and explained the pros and cons involved.
Consort Hui's ever-present gentle smile almost crumbled; her hands, hidden in her sleeves, gripped her handkerchief tightly, and her back teeth clenched firmly.
Consort Wen is one thing, but what about Consort He and Consort Tong?
Two immature girls, one twelve and the other seven, were actually granted the title of imperial concubine.
When she saw them again in the future, she would have to bow and scrape, addressing them as Consort Tong and Consort He.
This is outrageous! This is outrageous!
Her second prince was about the same age as Consort Tong and Consort He, but now the emperor has appointed two maids to enter the palace, which is a slap in the face to her and her second prince.
Once outside Yikun Palace, Consort Hui's face fell.
"Consort He? Consort Tong? The Emperor really values Empress Xiaocheng and the Tong family. A mere greenhorn girl has been summoned to the palace and given the treatment of a consort."
"Yinti, your mother has suffered a lot, having you born into her womb. From now on, you will have to call those who are about your age 'Empress Tong' or 'Empress He'."
"My poor child."
Consort Hui's tears fell silently from the corners of her eyes.
Cunxin, who was serving behind Consort Hui, quickly looked around and whispered, "Your Highness, please be careful what you say. These words cannot be spoken. Consort Tong and Consort He will enter the palace on the fifteenth of next month. It is the Emperor's decree."
"Ah, my life is so miserable!"
Consort Hui returned to Yanxi Palace in tears, and Xu Lejin frowned upon hearing the news.
There are no secrets in the palace, especially since Consort Hui openly vented her discontent on the long street. Therefore, within three days, news of Consort Hui's dissatisfaction with Consort Tong and Consort He entering the palace reached Emperor Kangxi's ears, the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace, and even outside the palace.
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