Early the next morning
After seeing Kangxi off, Xu Lejin sat blankly in her chair, lost in deep thought, her mind filled with the words Kangxi had spoken the night before.
The palace maid serving the Second Prince is pregnant.
Is she pregnant with the second prince's child?
The Second Prince himself is still a child, how did he end up with a child...?
With a soft sigh, Xu Lejin looked at the palace maid Nongying and said in a deep voice, "His Majesty's intention is to keep the information about the Second Prince's room strictly confidential and not leak a single word."
"in addition,"
After a slight pause, Xu Lejin continued, "As for the First Prince, summon his wet nurse to my palace later."
Nongying respectfully agreed and withdrew.
The main hall of Yikun Palace was silent. Ruhua and the palace maids lowered their eyes and dared not utter a sound.
Cining Palace
The Empress Dowager learned from Sumalagu early in the morning that Consort Hui had ordered the execution of a palace maid in the Second Prince's room the day before, and after hearing the whole story, she sighed deeply.
With a solemn expression on her aged face, the Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, the Emperor has reached the age of thirty, and his eldest and second sons have grown up."
"I'm getting old too."
With a lingering gaze, the Empress Dowager's eyes pierced through the Cining Palace and its walls, as if she had returned to her youth, to the Horqin Grassland where she used to laugh and play.
Those youthful days seem like they were just yesterday.
Su Ma La Gu lowered her head, thought quickly for a moment, then raised her head and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, you are in your prime and not old at all. The eldest and second princes are only eleven or twelve years old and are still young."
The Empress Dowager smiled.
"When the emperor was twelve years old, he married Empress Hesheli. Yinzhi and Yinti are eleven or twelve years old, which is not young. We will first select the consorts and then hold the grand wedding after the Imperial Household Department has made preparations for a year or two."
Sumalagu lowered her eyes and replied softly, "Yes, the Empress Dowager is very thoughtful."
After a cup of tea
A young palace maid outside the hall bowed and entered to report: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Consort Xi requests an audience."
"Consort Xi?"
The Empress Dowager's expression changed slightly as she frowned and pondered.
A moment later, the Empress Dowager instructed a palace maid to invite Consort Xi into the palace. The maid returned and led the heavily pregnant Consort Xi into the palace.
With a respectful expression, Consort Xi, supported by the palace maid Chunxing, knelt down and said respectfully, "This concubine, Niohuru, greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"Consort Xi, you're so kind. Please get up!"
Immediately afterwards, the Empress Dowager instructed a palace maid not far away to fetch a cushion for Consort Xi.
Consort Xi smiled and thanked the Empress Dowager. She carefully sat on the chair with one side of her buttocks, her six-month pregnant belly showing, and sat gracefully.
The Empress Dowager's gaze fell on Consort Xi's belly. "I remember Consort Xi is pregnant, six months along, isn't she?"
"Can the imperial physician diagnose whether the child in your womb is a prince or a princess?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Xi showed a look of regret.
Her hands, hanging limply in her sleeves, clenched unconsciously. A look of disappointment appeared on Consort Xi's face as she respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I am unfortunate. The imperial physician has diagnosed that I am carrying a princess."
"Um."
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke. "Whether it's a princess or not, they are all of the Emperor's bloodline, and are equally precious and noble."
“Consort Xi, you are still young. You will have a son sooner or later.”
Upon hearing this, Consort Xi's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, relaxed a little, and she said softly, "Thank you, Empress Dowager. That's what I think too. Whether it's a prince or a princess, they were all born from my ten months of pregnancy. They are my own flesh and blood."
"It's best that Consort Xi thinks this way."
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly, her gaze meeting that of Su Ma La Gu beside her.
A moment later, Sumalagu bent down and whispered in the Empress Dowager's ear, "Empress Dowager, it is time for your daily chanting and prayers."
"Um."
The Empress Dowager responded.
After quickly considering her options, Consort Xi stood up with Chunxing's help and said with a smile, "I have troubled the Empress Dowager today. I will take my leave now."
"Please take care, Consort Xi."
The Empress Dowager beckoned to a young palace maid and instructed in a deep voice, "You, escort Consort Xi back to Chuxiu Palace safely. Also, go to the palaces of Consort Yu and Consort Que and have them pay close attention to the pregnant concubines in the palace."
"yes."
The young palace maid lowered her eyes and respectfully agreed.
The Empress Dowager sat there in a daze, her shrewd gaze fixed on Consort Xi's departing figure. She spoke in a deep voice, "The sun must have risen in the west today. Consort Xi has actually come to my Cining Palace, something that has never happened before."
Sumalagu frowned and pondered for a moment.
"Your Majesty, I heard that Consort Xi summoned the imperial physician yesterday. I guess, perhaps, perhaps Consort Xi learned that the child in her womb is a princess, so she thought of coming to pay her respects to Your Majesty today."
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager gave Sumalagu a meaningful look.
"That's not entirely unreasonable, Consort Xi."
With a light laugh, the Empress Dowager continued, "It would be good if Consort Xi's unborn child was a princess."
"However, the imperial physician's diagnosis may not be accurate. Whether it is a prince or a princess, we will only know after the fruit is ripe."
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