Both Changzai and Lan gave birth to miscarriages on the same day.
The noblewoman Niohuru is experiencing good fortune; she is already two months pregnant.
"How could this happen? At least Consort Shuang miscarried because she fell and bled, but Consort Lan... Consort Lan miscarried without any warning!"
Xu Lejin frowned deeply, completely baffled.
Night falls
After Emperor Kangxi arrived at Yikun Palace and had dinner with Xu Lejin, his face was grave. He said, "Although Consorts Shuang and Consort Lan come from humble backgrounds, and the children in their wombs were not what I had hoped for, they have now suddenly miscarried..."
"In addition, Lady Fu and Lady Bai in Yanxi Palace also suffered miscarriages."
Xu Lejin lowered her head slightly, her mind racing with thoughts.
After a moment of contemplation, Kangxi said, "Sometimes I wonder if the successive miscarriages and loss of children by the concubines in the harem are a punishment from the Eternal Heaven for me."
"emperor,"
Xu Lejin looked surprised and carefully spoke, "His Majesty is a wise and powerful ruler. The miscarriages of several ladies-in-waiting in the palace may be due to their misfortune, not the will of Heaven."
After a pause, Xu Lejin tentatively said softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Niohuru in Consort Wen's palace is pregnant; she is two months along. Consort Niohuru is the daughter of the regent, Minister Ebilun, and also Consort Wen's younger sister."
"Um."
Emperor Kangxi responded faintly, his brows furrowing deeply.
After a moment, Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin and said, "The Niohuru clan is an old and noble Manchu family. Although the young Niohuru is only a Noble Lady, her children, whether princes or princesses, are extremely precious. I..."
"The Niohuru clan already has a Consort Wen, and a Noble Lady Niohuru?"
With a somber expression, Kangxi's face was clouded with worry, and his mind was in turmoil. He wondered to himself, how could things have come to this?
The former Empress Niohuru, who had been in the palace for many years, had never conceived. Consort Wen,
After Consort Wen entered the palace, she was eager to conceive and mistakenly took a fertility-enhancing drug, which inadvertently helped him.
But was it the noblewoman Niohuru?
He only occasionally summoned Lady Niohuru to the Qianqing Palace to serve him due to political reasons, and he was careful to keep an eye on her. How could Lady Niohuru still become pregnant?
If this child of Lady Niohuru is a princess, that would be good.
But if it were a prince,
Xu Lejin heard Kangxi's mutterings, her brows furrowed, and she lowered her eyes, remaining silent.
July and August
Before long, for some unknown reason, Emperor Kangxi frequently visited the palaces of high-ranking concubines. Among them, Consort Wen and Consort Que were the most favored, followed by Consort Duan and Consort An.
The noble ladies, concubines, and other high-ranking officials below them were often taken to the side hall of the Qianqing Palace by the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage to serve the emperor.
August 16
The concubines from all the palaces gathered at Yikun Palace. Xu Lejin sat in the main seat, smiling as she looked down at the concubines, her gaze falling on Consort Na.
"Yesterday was the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Second Prince's Mid-Autumn Festival gift was very good, and the Third Princess played the zither very well. His Majesty was very pleased. Consort Na has taught the Second Prince and the Third Princess very well."
Consort Na smiled and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, and then spoke.
“This morning, the Emperor sent Liang Jiugong to my palace to deliver a message that Consort Na has made meritorious contributions in teaching the Second Prince and the Third Princess, and that Consort Na’s title has been restored and she has been bestowed with six bolts of various colored silks.”
Consort Na's face lit up with delight upon hearing this.
Consort Wen raised an eyebrow, covering her mouth with a coquettish smile, and said, "Congratulations, Consort Hui! Consort Hui's second son is one of the Emperor's two eldest sons, the Third Princess..."
"Although the Third Princess was not Consort Hui's biological daughter, she was raised under Consort Hui's care."
After a pause, Consort Wen spoke in a sarcastic, cold voice, "Consort Hui is now benefiting from the Second Prince and the Third Princess. I'm truly envious. She has a son and a daughter, while I—"
After speaking, Consort Wen's face showed sadness.
Consort Hui looked embarrassed and carefully said, "Consort Wen is still young and in her prime. She will have her own children sooner or later. Even if they are not her own, like Consort Duan, who raised them from a young age, they are almost the same as her own children."
Consort Wen nodded, remaining silent.
Time passed by, and after another pot of tea was refilled...
Consort Wen looked at Consort Wan and Consort Ning diagonally opposite her with a sinister gaze, and said with contempt and disdain, "Consort Wan and Consort Ning have been in the palace for almost two years. Now they can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and serve the Emperor."
"Princess Wan and Princess Ning, like the former Noble Consort Xuanyi, are noble ladies from the Khorchin Mongols. I wonder if they will have the same good fortune as Noble Consort Xuanyi, becoming Noble Consorts and conceiving?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Wan and Consort Ning turned pale.
After hesitating for a long time, Consort Wan mustered her courage and timidly spoke, "Your Highness Consort Wen, my sister Consort Ning and I are unfortunate, unlike Your Highness Consort Wen who was able to serve the Emperor so soon after entering the palace. Your Highness…"
"Your Majesty, my concubine and sister Ningpin only wish to serve you wholeheartedly, and ask for nothing else."
Consort Wen's pretty face darkened, and she glared fiercely at Consort Wan.
"Having been in the palace for so long, Consort Wan has certainly learned to be quick-witted. This shows that the palace is a place that greatly influences people's character; one is influenced by one's company."
After speaking, Consort Wen looked at Xu Lejin and Consort Duan with a meaningful gaze.
With a slight upturn of her lips, Xu Lejin smiled and said softly, "Consort Wen is joking. Consort Wan and Consort Ning are the most composed. Even the Emperor says that Consort Wan and Consort Ning have good personalities."
"Oh, really?"
Consort Wen glanced at Consort Wan and Consort Ning with a mocking expression, and said with a sneer, "Consort Wan and Consort Ning, I'm afraid it's not that they have good personalities, but rather that they are timid and honest, and not fit for the occasion."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
