Yinling and Unaxi went to the heavens to cultivate.
Xu Lejin was somewhat dazed, often sitting alone under the corridor of Yikun Palace, staring blankly at the sky. Wuxiha quietly accompanied Xu Lejin every day.
Even Emperor Kangxi visited Yikun Palace to accompany Xu Lejin for six or seven consecutive days.
On the ninth day of the second lunar month, that night...
Kangxi embraced Xu Lejin and said softly, "Yinling and Wunaxi have obtained the opportunity to become immortals and have gone to the heavens to cultivate. This is a good thing. My beloved consort, you don't need to worry about them too much."
“They are all grown up and can take good care of themselves.”
Xu Lejin snapped out of her daze and nodded.
Kangxi pondered for a moment, then spoke again, "A few days ago, my grandmother mentioned the Khorchin Mongols to me. The Khorchin Mongols want to marry a princess of our Great Qing for their thirteen-year-old heir, Bandi."
"Grandmother's intention is for Uyudai to marry into the Khorchin tribe after she comes of age."
Upon hearing this, Xu Lejin exclaimed in surprise.
"Your Majesty, Wuyoudai is only four years old, still very young?"
Emperor Kangxi nodded and pondered for a moment before saying, "That's what I thought too. However, the Khorchin tribe is my maternal grandmother's family and has a prominent reputation in Mongolia. Since the Khorchin are asking to marry a Qing princess, I have no choice but to agree."
"After careful consideration, I have decided to bestow a marriage upon my eldest princess, Irm, to the Khorchin prince, Bandi. Once the eldest princess turns eighteen, she will be married off to the Khorchin tribe."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, her expression solemn.
Kangxi sighed, glancing at Xu Lejin. "Manchu-Mongol intermarriage is an old custom, a rule established by our ancestors. For the sake of the country, I have no choice but to sacrifice my princesses. However…"
"Rest assured, my beloved consort. I have many princesses under my care, and I will absolutely not allow your daughters, Ushiha, Uyudai, Ulingzhu, and Yuludai, to marry far away to Mongolia."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment.
"On behalf of Ushiha and Uyudai, I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness."
Well, well, just as Kangxi said, the Manchu-Mongol intermarriage is an old custom that she cannot change. She is already thankful that she can protect the princesses she has given birth to.
As for the princesses born to other concubines in the palace, let nature take its course.
Early the next morning
Xu Lejin had just woken up when Ru Hua whispered, "Your Majesty, news has come from Yonghe Palace that Consort Wei launched an attack in the middle of the night last night."
Nodding gently, Xu Lejin said gracefully, "Consort Wei's imperial fetus is due in the next few days. After ten months of pregnancy, one day she will give birth, and Consort Wei will be carrying the imperial fetus..."
"I heard that the imperial physician reports that Consort Wei's unborn child is a prince?"
Ru Hua quickly looked up and glanced at Xu Lejin.
"Your Majesty, the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital have diagnosed that Consort Wei is indeed carrying a prince based on her pulse. However, whether Consort Wei is fortunate enough to give birth to a prince depends on the will of Heaven."
Xu Lejin nodded. "Yes. What you said makes sense."
Inside Yonghe Palace, Consort Wei was giving birth in the delivery room. Outside the delivery room, Consort Niu, Consort An, Consort Duan, and others waited anxiously. Consort Duan had a calm expression; she was just there to make up the numbers. Consort An had her head down, seemingly lost in thought.
Consort Niu's face was calm, but her hands inside her sleeves were clenched into fists.
"The imperial physician says that Consort Wei is most likely carrying a prince this time. There are few princes in the palace, and Consort Wei was recommended by the Empress Dowager. Now that she is pregnant with a prince, what will happen after the little prince is born?"
After a pause, Consort Niu looked at Consort Wan, who was quietly bowing her head, and chuckled softly. "Consort Wan is the mistress of Yonghe Palace and also a member of the Empress Dowager's family. Since Consort Wei is pregnant with this child, is Consort Wan willing to raise him?"
After speaking, Consort Niu burst out laughing.
"I have been waiting for you. Consort Wan and Consort Ning have been in the palace for several months, but they have never been favored. If they were to raise Consort Wei's little prince, it would be like a child falling from the sky."
“Consort Wan herself is still a virgin, how can she raise Consort Wei’s young prince?”
Consort Niu laughed heartily, Consort An lowered her head to suppress her laughter, and Consort Duan looked up at Consort Wan, feeling sorry for her and wanting to say a few words in her defense, but before she could speak, Consort Wan beat her to it.
Consort Wan smiled gently and said softly, "Your Highness Consort Niu is right. I am of shallow talent and the Emperor does not like me. It is my misfortune."
"I have considered it. Consort Wei's youngest son is the Emperor's offspring, and His Majesty will decide where he goes."
"If Your Majesty thinks that I am suitable to raise Consort Wei's little prince, I will do my best to take care of him. If Your Majesty thinks that I am too young and not suitable, I will have no complaints."
Changing the subject, Consort Wan and Consort Ning exchanged a glance.
Covering her mouth, Consort Wan spoke again in a sweet voice, "Consort Niu holds power in the palace and now arbitrarily decides where the little prince in Consort Wei's womb will go. It must be that His Majesty has granted Consort Niu this power."
"This humble concubine offers her congratulations to Consort Niu."
Consort Niu's face stiffened, turning from white to green, and her back teeth clenched tightly.
Time passed second by second, and the painful groans of Consort Wei could be heard from the delivery room. In the main hall of Yonghe Palace, Consort Niu, Consort An, and others were each lost in their own thoughts.
In the afternoon, at Cining Palace
The Empress Dowager woke up from her afternoon nap.
"Su Ma, is Lady Wei ready to give birth? Is it a prince or a princess?"
Su Mala Gu's expression froze for a moment, then she said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Consort Wei has not yet given birth. The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital are all skilled in medicine. They previously diagnosed Consort Wei's unborn child as a prince. I estimate that it is most likely a little prince."
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"Yes. The emperor has few sons. Although Lady Wei comes from a humble background, it would be a blessing for her if her child were a prince. A mother of humble birth is easier to control."
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