Three days later
On the day of the baby princess born to Consort Ji's third birthday celebration, rumors and gossip spread like wildfire throughout the palace.
October 2
Xu Lejin sat solemnly on the main seat of Yikun Palace, looking down at the concubines below. She spoke coldly, "In recent days, rumors have circulated in the palace that Consort Ji is using her unborn child to gain the Emperor's pity, disregarding the safety of the imperial heir."
“Consort Ji has just given birth and is currently in her postpartum period, so these things are taboo.”
After a pause, Xu Lejin continued, "I have investigated the matter of Consort Ji's delivery. It is true that Consort Ji's baby was in an abnormal position and she almost had a difficult delivery."
"His Majesty has already had this matter investigated. Neither His Majesty nor I wish for any further rumors circulating in the palace that could be detrimental to Consort Ji or the Twenty-Sixth Imperial Daughter."
"My sisters, do you understand what His Majesty and I mean?"
His deep gaze lingered on Consort Wan and Consort Liang for a moment.
Although Consort Wan and Consort Liang were indignant, they had no choice but to suppress their anger.
The concubines responded in unison, "Yes, Your Majesty, we will follow Your Majesty's teachings and be careful in our words and actions."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
His gaze swept over the group of lower-ranking concubines, lingering for a moment on Consort Chang and Consort Wan.
"Consort Chang is four months pregnant. She must take good care of herself and strive to give birth to a healthy prince for the Emperor."
Consort Chang stepped forward and respectfully replied, "This humble servant thanks Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort for your concern. This humble servant will certainly take good care of the dragon child in my womb and give birth to the little prince safely for His Majesty."
Xu Lejin nodded and looked at Consort Que.
"Consort Que, Consort Wan is from your palace. Consort Wan is eight months pregnant with the imperial child. The imperial physician reports that Consort Wan is carrying a prince. Consort Que, you must instruct the palace servants to take good care of her."
Consort Que nodded with a smile, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will remember your teachings and take good care of Consort Wan's unborn child."
That would be best.
Then, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Hui and said, "Consort Hui, you assist in managing the six palaces and are in charge of the Imperial Kitchen. You must instruct the Imperial Kitchen to be careful and cautious."
"Especially the food and drink of pregnant concubines in the palace."
Consort Hui stood up and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
Early that morning, Xu Lejin met with Consort Que, the four consorts and two concubines as usual (Consort Ji was still in confinement, so the greeting was temporarily waived).
After a moment's hesitation, Consort Wan spoke softly, "Your Highness, yesterday morning, someone from Yongshou Palace came to my palace to report that Consort Bu had unfortunately caught a cold."
"Consort Bu is the birth mother of the Sixth Princess and currently resides in the rear palace of Yongshou Palace. I am unable to make up my mind for the time being, and thus I seek Your Majesty's opinion."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly, her brows furrowed in thought.
Consort Que and Consort Duan raised their eyebrows, their expressions indifferent.
Consort Hui smiled gently and said, "Yongshou Palace is the closest palace to the Emperor's Qianqing Palace. The former Consort Yi and Consort Yi, who lived there, did not have very smooth lives."
"Noble Lady Bu has always been in good health, so how come she caught a cold in less than three months after moving into the rear palace of Yongshou Palace?"
Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Hui and said in a deep voice, "It's already winter now. With the changing seasons, it's understandable that Consort Bu, who is over thirty, is not as healthy as before and suffers from minor illnesses and pains."
"Consort Wan, since you are in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy, please have the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital carefully examine and treat Consort Bu."
Consort Wan lowered her head slightly and responded in a low voice, "Yes."
After a cup of tea
Xu Lejin smiled and looked at Consort Que, saying, "Consort Que, how is everything at the Prince's residence lately? Are the Prince and Princess's daily life alright?"
Consort Que nodded slightly. "Your Highness, everything is fine. However…"
After glancing at Consort Hui, Consort Que was somewhat embarrassed to speak.
Consort Hui took over the conversation with a smile, "Your Highness, Imperial Noble Consort, I have something to report. The nanny in the Second Prince's courtyard reported the other day that the Second Prince has taken two palace maids as concubines..."
"Among them, Miao was a gardener who tended the flowers and plants in the Imperial Garden, and Bai was a singing girl in the Southern Palace."
Xu Lejin nodded.
"The Second Prince is young and vigorous, so it's understandable that he would take a fancy to a palace maid."
"Now that the Second Prince has taken them into his household, let them serve him wholeheartedly and give birth to his children as soon as possible."
Consort Que and Consort Hui responded in unison, "Yes."
After a moment, Consort Que said softly, "Your Highness, there is one more thing. A few days ago, the nanny who serves the Fifteenth Princess reported that the Fifteenth Princess accidentally ate something cold and suffered from an upset stomach."
"Although the imperial physicians treated her in time and the Fifteenth Princess is out of danger and has no serious problems, she may have some difficulties in having children in the future."
Xu Lejin frowned, while He Fei covered her mouth.
Consort He spoke in a low voice, "Is the Fifteenth Princess unwell? I remember the Fifteenth Princess is seven years old now. When she was born, I hadn't yet entered the palace, but I heard from the palace servants that she was very small and thin at birth, like a kitten."
"Poor Fifteenth Princess, because of Consort Zhi, she has been taking medicine with her since she was a child and has been carefully raised until now at the age of seven. However, she has also developed a cold-related illness, which will be detrimental to her future offspring."
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui's expression changed.
Back then, when Consort Zhi gave birth to the fifteenth princess, it was in her Yanxi Palace.
What does Consort He mean by bringing up this old matter again?
Over the past few years, He Fei has grown from a seven or eight-year-old child into a graceful young woman. She's twelve years old this year, isn't she?
A few days later
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