While the flowers of April have faded in the human world, the peach blossoms in the mountain temple are just beginning to bloom.
April passed in a flash, and the apricot blossoms in the palace gradually faded, leaving behind green apricots the size of soybeans hanging on the branches.
Xu Lejin would summon Consort Li and others every two or three days to play the zither and sing songs in Yikun Palace, living a carefree and leisurely life.
Consort Hui of Yanxi Palace,
Consort Hui was exhausted by the singing and playing of the zither every day. She wanted to punish Consort Li and others, but she was also worried about Xu Lejin.
As time went on, the dark circles under Consort Hui's eyes became more pronounced, and she grew increasingly thin and haggard!
May 2nd
With a smile on her face, Xu Lejin looked down at the tired-looking Consort Hui and said in a deep voice, "I think Consort Hui seems to be in poor spirits? Consort Hui has been working hard to manage the six palaces and has not been able to sleep well at night."
"Your Highness, this concubine..."
Before she could finish speaking, Consort Hui swallowed her words. After a moment's thought, she said respectfully, "Assisting in managing the six palaces is my duty. It is Your Majesty and the Noble Consort who have honored me. I dare not be negligent in the slightest."
After speaking, Consort Hui lowered her head slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
Xu Lejin nodded slightly with a calm expression.
Immediately afterwards, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Duan and said, "Consort Niu's pregnancy is already nine months along. Consort Duan should pay more attention to Consort Niu's pregnancy."
"Whether Niu Changzai is carrying a prince or a princess, they are all of the emperor's bloodline, and are equally precious and valuable."
Consort Duan nodded slightly and said, "Yes, Your Highness, I will follow your instructions and take good care of Consort Niu's unborn child to ensure that both Consort Niu and the unborn child are safe and sound."
"Um."
Xu Lejin responded with a faint smile and remained silent.
Holding a handkerchief in her hand and covering her mouth with a coquettish smile, Consort Wen looked up at Xu Lejin and spoke softly, "Your Highness, I've heard that Consort Niu's unborn child is a princess?"
"His Majesty only has five princes. If Consort Niu's unborn child is a prince, that would be wonderful."
After speaking, Consort Wen glanced mockingly at Consort Duan and Consort Niu, who was sitting in the corner with her eyes lowered.
With a slight frown, Xu Lejin looked sharply at Consort Wen.
After a moment of contemplation, he said in a deep voice, "Whether it's a prince or a princess, they are all of royal blood. Consort Niu is still young. She will blossom before bearing fruit. This child is a princess, and the next one may be a prince."
"Niu Changzai is currently pregnant, and pregnant women should avoid overthinking and worrying."
"Consort Wen should not repeat these words again."
Consort Wen lowered her head slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
Half an hour later
The concubines in the harem rose in turn to take their leave, and the vast Yikun Palace fell silent.
Ru Hua lowered her head slightly and spoke softly after careful consideration, "Your Majesty, just now I saw that when Consort Wan's two concubines and Consort Lan from Xianfu Palace left, they were carefully protecting their bellies."
"This servant guesses..."
Xu Lejin was stunned when she heard this.
After hesitating for a moment, Xu Lejin immediately ordered, "Ruhua, go to the Imperial Household Department in person and bring back the official records of the concubines' nights with the emperor. Also, have the imperial physician go to the inner palace to check the pulses of the noble ladies, concubines, and palace maids in each palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ru Hua respectfully agreed and quickly withdrew.
Xu Lejin frowned, secretly pondering that with the Three Feudatories now pacified, Kangxi was visiting the inner palace more often and summoning his concubines to his bedchamber.
Emperor Kangxi was in his thirties, which should have been the time when his fertility was at its peak.
In the imperial harem, since Consort Niu became pregnant at the end of last year, there has been no news of her pregnancy for half a year!
Today, Ru Hua reminded her that it was time for some of the concubines in the palace to become pregnant and carry on the emperor's lineage, thus ensuring the continuation of Emperor Kangxi's imperial offspring.
The official in charge of the Imperial Household Department quickly delivered the document to Yikun Palace.
Xu Lejin sat on a soft chair, flipping through the records of the concubines' nights with the emperor over the past three or four months. In February and March, Kangxi favored many newcomers to the palace, such as several ladies-in-waiting and palace maids in Consort Hui's palace.
And the palace maid recommended by Consort Wen last year, Consort Wen's younger sister, Noble Lady Niohuru.
Occasionally, he would visit the palaces of the main deities or summon former palace women for his favor.
April and May
Newcomers and veterans each make up half, making them evenly matched.
Her gaze lingered on the date February 20th, and the words "Shuang Changzai of Yonghe Palace, who served the Emperor," and Xu Lejin spoke softly, "If Shuang Changzai is pregnant, the imperial fetus is already two and a half months along."
After pondering for a moment, he secretly made a mental note of it.
Without stopping her hands, Xu Lejin continued searching through the historical records of Tong Shi for the records of Lan's service to the emperor.
In mid-March and late April, historical records were discovered that Lan had been allowed to serve the emperor twice.
After pondering it over in her heart, and combining it with what Ru Hua had said before, Xu Lejin guessed that if Lan was pregnant, then she must have conceived during the time she served the emperor in mid-March.
Chuxiu Palace
Consort Wen's eyes were grave as she said coldly, "What is the purpose of the Imperial Concubine's review of the records of the concubines' nights with the Emperor and her order for the imperial physicians to take the pulses of all the concubines in the palace?"
Could it be...?
His expression showed a sudden realization.
With her hands clenched tightly, Consort Wen nearly ground her teeth to powder. "The Noble Consort must have discovered that a concubine in the palace is pregnant!"
His face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.
After a short while, Consort Wen spoke in a deep voice, "Noble Lady Niohuru has been serving His Majesty for some time now, it's time to have the imperial physician take her pulse."
“Wet nurse, go to the side hall yourself and tell Consort Niohuru.”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The wet nurse respectfully agreed, and after hesitating for a moment, she lowered her voice and said, "Your Highness, if Consort Niohuru is pregnant, it will be a great joy for Your Highness and for the Niohuru family."
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