Two months have passed since the new concubine entered the palace.
Apart from Consort Jing, Consort Ma, and Consort Suochuoluo, who were still learning the rules, the other consorts gradually gained favor, but the favor was mediocre, and they could barely get one chance to serve the emperor once a month.
May 2nd
Despite the hot weather, Xu Lejin smiled as she looked at the group of concubines below and said softly, "A few days ago, Consort Ye and Consort Qi in the palace were pregnant one after another. The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and I are all very happy."
"The abundance of offspring in the palace is a blessing for the Qing Dynasty, for the Emperor, and for the harem."
After a pause, Xu Lejin looked at the young Consort He and carefully chose her words, saying, "Consort He's concubines, Consort Rui and Consort Wen, are pregnant. Consort He is young and has to take care of Consort Rui and Consort Wen's unborn children. It must be hard for you."
Consort He paused for a moment.
"It is my honor to share the burdens of Your Majesty and Consort Yu. I am not burdened. Consort Yu, on behalf of Your Majesty, manages the palace affairs, and all matters, large and small, require your personal attention. It is Consort Yu who is burdened."
Xu Lejin responded faintly, glancing at He Fei with a gloomy expression.
Although Consort He was young and born out of wedlock to the Hesheli family, she was very composed and steady in her words and actions, which shows that the Hesheli family valued her quite a bit.
One hour later
The concubines left Yikun Palace in order.
On the long street, Consort Hui covered her mouth, giggled and looked at Consort He, and said in a sinister tone, "Sister Consort He, I heard that the pulses of Consort Rui and Consort Wen's unborn child are both strong, and it is most likely that it is a prince."
"Although Consort He is young, she is a blessed person. Consort Rui and Consort Wen are pregnant with the imperial heirs, and they will likely be raised by Consort He."
Consort He's expression froze, and she looked up at Consort Hui.
After hesitating for a moment, Consort He said softly, "Consort Hui is the one who is truly blessed. The Second Prince is already twelve years old, and in a few more years he will be marrying a princess. Then Consort Hui can enjoy her grandchildren and live a long and happy life."
"Although the Third Princess is not Consort Hui's biological daughter, she was raised by Consort Hui and is very filial to her. If the Third Princess marries a good husband in the future, it will be extremely beneficial to Consort Hui and the Second Prince."
Three days later
The afternoon sun scorched the earth with its intense heat.
Liu Ying hurried in from outside the palace, still feeling the heat on her body. She looked at Xu Lejin with a solemn expression and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, news has come from Consort Guo of Yongshou Palace that Consort Guo is pregnant and is already one month along."
"Consort Guo?"
Xu Lejin sat up abruptly, her eyes fixed intently on Liu Ying.
After a moment's hesitation, Xu Lejin said in a deep voice, "I remember Consort Guo is not young, nearly thirty? Consort Guo has been serving His Majesty in the palace for six or seven years now."
Firefly nodded.
"Your Majesty, Consort Guo entered the palace in the sixteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign when she was twenty-two years old, and she is now twenty-eight years old."
With her brows furrowed, Xu Lejin fell into deep thought.
Consort Guo became pregnant at the age of twenty-eight?
In the palace, twenty-eight years old is already considered quite old. Other concubines, by the time they reach twenty-eight, are already considered 'old and faded,' having lost the emperor's favor.
However, Consort Guo became pregnant at this age.
This shows that the Emperor still has some favor towards Consort Guo. If Consort Guo's next pregnancy results in a prince, combined with the seventeenth princess born to Consort Yi, Consort Guo will have both a son and a daughter.
After half a cup of tea
Xu Lejin spoke slowly, "Currently in the palace, the concubines who are pregnant include Consort Rui and Consort Wen of Xianfu Palace, Consort Ye and Consort Qi of Chuxiu Palace, and Consort Guo of Yongshou Palace..."
"The emperor has more and more children, and there are now five pregnant concubines in the palace."
Ruhua and Nongying exchanged a glance, then looked down at their toes.
Yongshou Palace
In the main hall where Consort Fu resided, Consort Fu was shocked and stunned to learn that Consort Guo was pregnant. She opened her eyes wide in disbelief and said coldly, "If I remember correctly, Consort Guo is twenty-eight years old now?"
"Consort Guo is nearly thirty years old and is still able to conceive. Why is it that I have been in the palace for three months and there is still no sign of pregnancy? In terms of favor, I can serve the Emperor once a month. Every time I serve the Emperor, I drink a fertility-inducing medicine."
The palace maids Rouyun and Rouyin exchanged a glance.
Rouyun considered her words carefully and gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, you have only been in the palace for a short time, less than half a year. You are still young, and sooner or later you will conceive and give birth to a little prince."
"Although Consort Guo is pregnant, she is only a month along. A woman carries a child for ten months, and until the time is right, no one knows what will happen."
Consort Fu was taken aback upon hearing this.
After hesitating for a moment, Consort Fu spoke softly, "What do you mean?"
"Yes, Consort Guo is pregnant, but it's only been a month. There are still nine months until the baby is safely delivered. Perhaps, perhaps, during these nine months, Consort Guo might suddenly fall or eat something wrong, and the baby will be lost."
Rouyun and Rouyin exchanged a glance.
"Your Majesty..."
Inside the main hall of Yongshou Palace, a palace maid who was pretending to wipe a table with her head down suddenly looked up at Consort Fu with her bright eyes darting around.
A few days later
Xu Lejin was leisurely lying on the soft couch reading a storybook when suddenly there was a commotion outside.
Frowning, Xu Lejin put down the storybook in her hand and said coldly, "What's going on? Why is it suddenly so noisy outside? Nongying, go and see what's happening."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Nongying respectfully agreed and quickly walked out of the hall.
A moment later, Nongying returned, her eyes solemn as she looked at Xu Lejin and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the people outside are Consort Fu and Noble Lady Guo."
"Consort Guo testified that Consort Fu was plotting to harm the imperial child in her womb. Please, Your Highness, do the right thing."
Xu Lejin sat up straight, her eyes widening in surprise.
After hesitating for a moment, Xu Lejin said in a deep voice, "Consort Fu wants to harm Consort Guo's unborn child? Consort Fu has only been in the palace for a short time, only three or four months. How could she possibly harm Consort Guo's unborn child?"
"Consort Guo,"
With a soft sigh, Xu Lejin quickly considered the matter for a moment. "Please invite Consort Fu and Noble Lady Guo into the palace. What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket outside?"
Nongying withdrew and a moment later led Consort Fu and Noble Lady Guo into the palace.
Consort Guo knelt down with a thud, her voice choked with sobs, "Your Highness, Consort Yu, you must do justice for me! I've finally become pregnant at this age, carrying the Emperor's child, but Consort Fu..."
"Consort Fu actually plotted in secret to make me fall or eat the wrong thing, causing the emperor's unborn child to miscarry."
Consort Fu's face turned from white to green, and her hands clenched tightly.
Consort Guo then spoke up, "Your Highness Consort Yu, I am getting old, and this pregnancy is something I have been longing for. I really can't take any more trouble."
"Please, Your Highness Consort Yu, do justice for this humble servant and the imperial unborn child!"
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