Half an hour later, after Consort Que, Consort Hui, and others bowed and withdrew, Xu Lejin thought it over and over and finally sent someone to the Imperial Hospital to invite an imperial physician to check her pulse.
Better safe than sorry.
She gave birth to the tenth and eleventh princes, and it has been almost half a year since then, so it is possible that she could become pregnant again.
However, her intuition told her that the chances of that were very small.
Most importantly, she didn't want to be pregnant again so soon.
Xu Lejin summoned the imperial physician, and all the palaces paid close attention.
The imperial physician entered Yikun Palace, and no news came out of Yikun Palace until he left.
Consort Que and Consort Duan were greatly disappointed, while Consort Hui and Consort Wan, who had been anxiously waiting, finally relaxed.
We can't let the Imperial Noble Consort have another child...
Yanxi Palace
Consort Hui sat with a sullen face, thinking to herself that if the Imperial Noble Consort were to become pregnant again half a year after giving birth, that would truly be a disaster!
In the palace, the Imperial Noble Consort had the most children, four sons and five daughters. If she were to conceive again...
Where would they find a place in the harem? Wouldn't the harem become the domain of the Imperial Noble Consort?
Not only were their social status suffocating them, but their offspring were also far beyond their reach!
After a moment's hesitation, Consort Hui looked at the palace maid Cunxin and said in a deep voice, "I heard that last night, Consort Wanliuha, a concubine in Consort Que's palace, safely gave birth to a son."
"Cunxin, later you will personally deliver a congratulatory gift to Consort Wan to congratulate her on the safe delivery of her son."
Cunxin lowered his head and respectfully replied, "Yes."
After hesitating for a moment, Cunxin lowered her voice and said, "Your Majesty, although Consort Wan has given birth to the little prince safely, I have noticed that His Majesty and the Imperial Noble Consort do not value Consort Wan and have not promoted her to a higher rank."
Consort Hui nodded upon hearing this.
"That's true, but the child born to Consort Wan is ultimately a prince."
...
Yikun Palace
Xu Lejin leaned back on the soft couch, squinting as she pondered the imperial physician's words. After taking her pulse, the physician said she was fine, and that her frequent drowsiness was related to the season.
I've always heard of spring drowsiness, autumn fatigue, and summer naps, but it's winter now?
Could it be that she can hibernate?
With a soft sigh, Xu Lejin shook her head almost imperceptibly and whispered, "Last night, Consort Wan gave birth safely, and the little prince is healthy. It's clear that Consort Wan took excellent care of the imperial fetus during her pregnancy, and Consort Que also put in a lot of effort."
"Consort Wan is giving birth; what about the Emperor?"
Swallowing the words that were about to come out, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "After all, Consort Wan is the birth mother of the fifteenth prince. If she were just a concubine, the fifteenth prince would inevitably be looked down upon."
"Ruhua and Nongying, come with me to the Qianqing Palace."
Fifteen minutes later
Xu Lejin stood outside the Qianqing Palace when Liang Jiugong bowed and greeted her with a fawning smile, saying, "Your Highness, it's freezing cold, what brings you here?"
Xu Lejin nodded softly, "Last night, Consort Wan gave birth safely, and the fifteenth prince is healthy. I thought I'd come to report the good news to His Majesty."
"Eunuch Liang, is the Emperor here right now?"
"Your Highness, the Emperor is currently discussing matters with Lord Suo'etu, Lord Mingzhu, and others."
Liang Jiugong replied respectfully, but inwardly thought, "The Imperial Noble Consort's arrival at this time is truly inconvenient. The Emperor is currently troubled by matters of the court, and the harem..."
The Emperor wanted the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to select an auspicious day for the investiture ceremony of the Imperial Noble Consort, but the court officials objected.
Lord Suo'etu and Lord Mingzhu strongly objected, saying that the Imperial Noble Consort was not worthy of the title.
Xu Lejin raised her eyes and glanced at the plaque of Qianqing Palace, then sighed softly, "Please trouble Eunuch Liang to tell His Majesty that I have been here."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Liang Jiugong smiled and agreed, then respectfully saw Xu Lejin off.
The next day
The fifteenth prince, born to Consort Wan, had his third-day celebration presided over by Consort Que.
After the third-day celebration, Li Dequan, who served the emperor, came to Chengqian Palace and announced loudly: "His Majesty has decreed that Wanliuhashi has been promoted to the rank of Noble Lady for giving birth to the fifteenth prince and is to be awarded one hundred taels of gold."
"A distinguished person?"
Consort Hui exclaimed in surprise, "From a lowly concubine to a Noble Lady, this is a promotion that skips several ranks! Eunuch Li, is this the Emperor's will?"
After speaking, Consort Hui glanced meaningfully at Xu Lejin out of the corner of her eye, secretly wondering if it was the Imperial Noble Consort who had pleaded for the position of Noble Lady for Wan Liuha yesterday.
Lady Wanliuha unexpectedly gained the emperor's favor, but the emperor did not like her and she was not promoted even when she was pregnant. How could she suddenly be promoted from a concubine to a noble lady?
Li Dequan glanced coldly at Consort Hui and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness Consort Hui, it is indeed His Majesty's will. Consort Wan has safely given birth to the fifteenth prince, and His Majesty is overjoyed."
Consort Hui: "..."
After drinking half a cup of tea, Li Dequan bowed and took his leave.
Yonghe Palace
After Consort Wan returned, she sat there silently with a gloomy face.
After a long while, Consort Wan said coldly, "It must be because of the Imperial Noble Consort's favor that Lady Wanliuha was promoted to the rank of Noble Lady."
"The Imperial Noble Consort, though of humble origins, is now going to great lengths to elevate those of lowly birth."
"Absolutely despicable!"
The palace maid serving Consort Wan quickly glanced outside and lowered her voice, "Your Highness, you mustn't say such things. Even though the Imperial Noble Consort was once of lowly birth, she is now an Imperial Noble Consort, with a rank equivalent to a secondary empress."
"If Your Highness's words were to get out and be exaggerated and relayed to the ears of the Imperial Noble Consort, she would be in deep trouble."
"Your Majesty, please be careful what you say!"
Consort Wan's pretty face was gloomy.
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