When Consort Rui was found to be pregnant, the other concubines were shocked but offered their insincere congratulations to Consort He and Consort Rui.
Xu Lejin and Consort Que exchanged a glance, their expressions indifferent.
Half an hour later
When Consort Hui returned to Yanxi Palace, her gentle smile was instantly replaced by a gloomy expression.
Consort Hui nearly ground her teeth to powder as she coldly said, "Consort Rui is pregnant? In the past year or two, many concubines in the palace have become pregnant, but very few have been able to keep the pregnancy and give birth safely."
"Although Consort Rui is of low birth and rank, the imperial heir is of the emperor's blood and will certainly be valued."
The palace maid Cunxin glanced quickly outside Yanxi Palace.
Carefully choosing her words, she spoke softly, "Your Highness need not worry. Consort Rui is a palace maid by birth. Although her family is the Suochuoluo clan, a prestigious family of bondservantes,..."
"Consort Rui was just lucky. Even if she gives birth to the imperial heir safely, she still can't surpass Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui nodded slightly.
After pursing her lips and pondering for a long time, Consort Hui covered her mouth and said, "Indeed, I am now a Consort, and Yinti has grown up. Even if Consort Rui gives birth to a little prince, she will only be a Noble Lady."
Cunxin lowered her head slightly and smiled as she replied, "Yes."
After a cup of tea
A young palace maid bowed as she entered the hall and whispered a few words in Cunxin's ear. Cunxin's expression changed, and she immediately lowered her voice and whispered to Consort Hui, "Your Majesty, news has come from the Prince's quarters that our Second Prince..."
Cunxin's face turned bright red, and she stammered.
Consort Hui paused for a moment, then looked at Cunxin with a serious expression and asked in a deep voice, "What happened to my Yinti? Has he caused trouble again at the Prince's quarters?"
Cunxin's eyes flickered as she quickly glanced at Consort Hui.
With her head bowed and her voice barely audible, Cunxin whispered, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince's wet nurse has sent word that one of the palace maids who serves the Second Prince is pregnant."
"、、"
Consort Hui was immediately stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief and disbelief.
After a short while, Consort Hui came to her senses and said coldly, "How could that be? Didn't I warn everyone to be careful of those seductive vixens who bewitch the master? Yinqi is only eleven years old."
"How could a palace maid who serves Yinti be pregnant?"
Cunxin frowned and spoke softly, “Your Majesty, this is absolutely true. That palace maid is three years older than our Second Prince. She is plain-looking, timid and weak, and has always been well-behaved. That’s why the wet nurse arranged for her to serve the Second Prince.”
"This morning, while she was helping the Second Prince change his clothes, she suddenly felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. The wet nurse became alert and secretly asked someone to call the imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital to take her pulse. They discovered that she was already two months pregnant."
As she continued speaking, Cunxin's voice grew softer.
At this moment, Consort Hui was filled with rage; she was so angry that she felt as if she could vent her anger on two separate occasions...
Chengqian Palace
Consort Que suddenly learned from her servants that the palace maid serving the Second Prince was pregnant.
With her eyes widening in surprise, Consort Que pondered for a long time before covering her mouth and giggling, "Consort Hui went to great lengths to climb the ranks, scheming and plotting, but what was the result?"
"Consort Hui's second son is quite the troublemaker. I remember last year, when he was ten years old..."
Sang'er, the palace maid who served Consort Que, blushed and lowered her head slightly.
A moment later, Sang'er spoke softly, "Your Majesty, all the palace maids serving the Second Prince have become pregnant. I remember..."
Sang'er raised her eyes and quickly glanced at Consort Que.
With a forced smile, Sang'er whispered, "Your Majesty, this servant remembers that the eldest prince born to Consort Rong is one year older than the second prince, and is now twelve years old."
"With the passing of Consort Rong, the eldest prince is left without his birth mother to care for him, and it is inevitable that he will not think things through properly."
Consort Que was taken aback by Sang'er's words and looked her up and down.
The maidservant in front of her, who was about the same age as her and had grown up with her since childhood, had now blossomed into a graceful young woman.
Gentle and charming, with delicate features, she's quite a beauty!
At this moment, Sang'er's shy and bashful appearance was just like that of a young girl in the throes of first love.
That girl Sang'er, could it be that she's harboring inappropriate thoughts, could it be...?
With a dark expression, Consort Que said coldly, "The eldest prince is the emperor's eldest son. The emperor and the empress dowager have their own plans. I am just a concubine's mother, and I am not much older than the eldest prince."
The cold tone of the sentence sent a chill down Sang'er's spine, making her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
Yes, what am I even hoping for?
She was just a lowly palace maid; how could she possibly hope to become the eldest prince's woman, serve him, and bear him children?
The eldest prince is the chosen one of heaven; the difference between me and the eldest prince is like heaven and earth!
Seeing Sang'er's distraught state, Consort Que felt helpless. She and Sang'er had grown up together since childhood, and although they were mistress and servant, they were like sisters.
However, even so, Sang'er was still just a palace maid.
Even though she was a Noble Consort and held power in the palace alongside Noble Consort Yu, she could not send her own maids into the First Prince's room.
Besides, the eldest prince is only twelve years old; he's still young.
Three days later
Liu Ying hurried in from outside Yikun Palace, her face grave, and reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Majesty, news has come from the Prince's quarters that a palace maid named Fang'er, who served the Second Prince, was gagged and beaten to death on the orders of Consort Hui."
"???"
Xu Lejin was filled with doubts as she looked at Liu Ying.
Liu Ying glanced around quickly, then lowered her head and spoke softly, "Your Majesty, it is said that the palace maid named Fang'er seduced the Second Prince. She was discovered by the wet nurse who was taking care of the Second Prince and reported it to Consort Hui."
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