The Empress Dowager ordered Su Mala Gu to personally deliver an embroidered picture of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy who grants children, to Xu Lejin. The news quickly spread throughout the six palaces and reached the homes of the Manchu and Mongol Eight Banners outside the palace.
There was much speculation both inside and outside the palace that the Empress Dowager attached great importance to Xu Lejin's pregnancy.
After all, Xu Lejin was carrying twins, a rare occurrence in the Qing Dynasty imperial family, a phenomenon that happens only once every century.
If they are twins...
The Empress, Consort Tongjia, Consort Majia, and others were filled with anger and resentment. Both the Empress and Consort Majia suffered miscarriages, but the imperial physicians, after much effort, managed to save their unborn children.
Consort Tongjia was so angry that she fainted!
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. After half a month of careful recuperation, the Empress's complexion was still somewhat haggard, but the pregnancy was no longer a problem. With her eight-month pregnant belly, the Empress couldn't wait to resume the daily morning and evening greetings of the concubines in the harem.
“Consort Ma Jia, your due date is in half a month. I think you are having a harder time with this pregnancy than with your previous ones. You have developed many spots on your face and your complexion is much more haggard.”
"You are a few years older than the Emperor, and this pregnancy occurred when the Third Princess had just finished her postpartum confinement. After giving birth, you must take good care of your body and strive to conceive another child for the Emperor as soon as possible."
The Empress looked at Consort Ma Jia with a smile, her tone full of concern.
Upon hearing this, Consort Ma Jia's expression changed, and she said with a forced smile, "This humble servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress for your care. It is this humble servant's blessing to be able to bear children for the Emperor. This humble servant dares not mention the hardships."
Despite her outward smile, Consort Ma was inwardly furious!
That vile Empress dared to mock her for being older than the Emperor and past her prime. It's true that she developed many freckles during her pregnancy, which even makeup couldn't conceal, but...
The Empress did it on purpose, deliberately trying to belittle and mock her.
The Empress smiled gently and spoke softly again. "Consort Ma, your pregnancy is already over nine months along. Has the imperial physician confirmed whether the child in your womb is a prince or a princess?"
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician Sun, who has been protecting my pregnancy, told me that the child in my womb is most likely a prince."
Consort Ma Jia smiled proudly and continued, "Although I am of humble birth, my mother was very fertile. She gave birth to eight children, and I am her only daughter."
There is a folk saying that daughters resemble their mothers. I think to myself, I am sure I can be like my mother and give the Emperor a few more princes.
The Empress's expression changed, but she smiled without saying a word.
Consort Niohuru glanced at Consort Ma Jia's large belly, then looked down at her own belly with a dejected expression, feeling as bitter as if she had swallowed a bitter pill.
Consort Tongjia sneered, "Consort Ma Jia has not yet given birth, yet she shamelessly claims that she is carrying a prince. If she gives birth to a princess, how will Consort Ma Jia explain herself?"
“Consort Ma already has the fourth prince and the third princess, a son and a daughter. This pregnancy, whether it is a prince or a princess, will be the icing on the cake. Why insist that it must be a prince?”
The words, laced with barbs and veiled barbs, made Consort Ma Jia's face turn pale.
Immediately, Consort Ma sat up straight and said with a smile, "Your Majesty's admonition is correct. Although I am carrying the dragon's child in my womb, whether it is a prince or a princess, it is a joyous occasion. However, in my heart, I still hope it will be a prince."
"Our Emperor has not had many children. So far, he only has two princes and two princesses. If this child of mine is a prince, it will be a fitting reward for the Emperor's favor towards me!"
Consort Tongjia blushed with anger and glared at Consort Majia with venomous eyes.
Xu Lejin slightly raised her eyes, glanced at Consort Ma Jia and Consort Tong Jia, and smiled.
If she remembers correctly and history hasn't changed, Consort Ma Jia's first child was a prince, and her next two were also princes. Historically, Consort Rong of the Ma Jia clan gave birth to five sons and one daughter for Emperor Kangxi over a period of ten years.
The Empress coldly watched as Consort Ma Jia and Consort Tong Jia argued back and forth, neither willing to give in.
After a long while, the Empress looked at Consort Zhang, who had given birth to the fourth princess and was now unable to have more children due to her injuries, and looked dejected. She smiled and said, "Consort Zhang, you just finished your postpartum confinement. Are you fully recovered? Is the fourth princess doing well in the princes' quarters, being cared for by her wet nurse and palace servants?"
"Your Majesty, I am fully recovered."
After a pause, Consort Zhang's expression changed, and she forced a smile as she spoke. "The Fourth Princess is in the Prince's quarters, where she is well cared for by her wet nurse and palace servants, so I am at ease."
"After all, the wet nurse and palace maids who take care of the fourth princess were all carefully selected by Your Majesty the Empress. They are experienced and reliable old people in the palace."
The Empress smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.
Half an hour later, Xu Lejin and the others left Kunning Palace. Consort Niohuru and Consort Tongjia, due to their higher rank, walked in front, while Xu Lejin and the other concubines followed behind.
"This servant, Nongyu, greets Your Highnesses and all the concubines!"
Outside Kunning Palace, Nongyu, dressed in faded palace maid clothes and with a haggard face, bowed and greeted everyone with lowered eyes. Consort Niohuru glanced at Nongyu indifferently and turned her head away.
Consort Tongjia looked at Nongyu, covered her mouth and chuckled, "So it's Nongyu who used to serve the Empress? I heard that you did something wrong and were punished by the Empress, demoted to a third-class palace maid."
"I haven't seen Nongyu in so long, I almost didn't recognize her!"
Nongyu's body stiffened, and her head drooped even lower, looking like a wilted quail.
Consort Tongjia gave a cold laugh and continued, "Life is unpredictable! The former head maidservant by the Empress's side has now become a third-class maidservant. Look at her beautiful face and delicate hands. It's such a pity that she's been reduced to a third-class maidservant."
"Consort Zhang, don't you think so?"
Consort Zhang paused for a moment, looked up at Nongyu, pondered for a moment, and then smiled and said, "What Your Highness says is very true. Nongyu's beauty is indeed outstanding among the palace maids."
"Even I, a woman, am amazed by her beauty, let alone a man."
Xu Lejin glanced at Nongyu from the crowd, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the words of Consort Tongjia and Consort Zhang.
Nongyu was indeed young and beautiful. Even dressed in simple, plain third-class palace maid clothes, her beauty was still undeniable. It was a pity that someone with such beauty was only a third-class palace maid.
But it's all a matter of timing and fate!
Consort Niohuru's gaze fell on Nongyu. After looking her over, she smiled and said, "If Sister Tongjia likes Nongyu, you can ask Her Majesty the Empress to let Nongyu serve you in your Chengqian Palace."
“Sister, I remember that in Tongjia’s Chengqian Palace, there was a palace maid named Hanyan who served the Emperor. She was also extremely beautiful. If Nongyu went to Tongjia’s Chengqian Palace, the palace would be even more beautiful and full of beauties.”
After speaking, Consort Niohuru glanced meaningfully at Nongyu, whose eyes were lowered, and a faint smile appeared on her lips...
Nongyu lowered her head, lost in thought.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
