It took Zhangjiashi a full six hours from the onset of labor to the safe delivery.
As night fell, Emperor Kangxi and Empress Xu Lejin sat in the main hall of Yikun Palace. Qingtan hurried into the hall and respectfully reported, "Your Majesty and Your Majesty, Consort Zhangjia has safely given birth to a little prince."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly and turned her head to look at Kangxi.
"Um,"
Kangxi responded with a sound of agreement, his brows furrowed, and he remained silent.
After a cup of tea, Xu Lejin carefully considered her words and spoke softly, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhangjia is a blessed woman, having given birth to a son for Your Majesty. Would Your Majesty like to reward Consort Zhangjia?"
Emperor Kangxi paused slightly and looked at Xu Lejin.
No rush.
Xu Lejin was stunned when she heard this.
Lady Zhangjia has already given birth to the little prince, and he was born safely. Why does the Emperor still say there's no rush?
Does the Emperor mean to wait until the baby prince born to Lady Zhangjia has reached his third-day celebration or full-month milestone before bestowing rewards?
Although Zhangjia's behavior was somewhat strange, she was still his fellow villager. Transmigrating into Zhangjia's body, apart from occasionally causing some shocking things, had no impact on him.
Fifteen minutes later
Xu Lejin glanced outside the palace and thought to herself, "It's getting late. What's wrong, Your Majesty?"
Could it be that the Emperor intends to sit here with her all night, staring at each other, or has he not yet decided whether to return to Qianqing Palace or stay in her Yikun Palace?
With her head slightly lowered, Xu Lejin's mind wandered aimlessly.
At this moment, Kangxi suddenly said, "It should be about time, the matter should be over..."
Xu Lejin glanced at Kangxi in surprise, then quickly lowered her head.
Qingtan, her face filled with panic, ran into the hall and knelt down with a thud. She spoke tremblingly, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, Consort Zhang suffered postpartum hemorrhage and has passed away."
"、、"
Xu Lejin covered her mouth in surprise and stared blankly at Kangxi.
Did the Emperor mean that Lady Zhangjia died from postpartum hemorrhage, and that the Emperor was waiting for Lady Zhangjia to die from postpartum hemorrhage?
Kangxi glanced at Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice, "Liang Jiugong, convey my decree that Lady Zhangjia be posthumously honored as a Noble Lady, and that the Imperial Household Department be ordered to handle her funeral. The sixteenth prince shall be placed under the care of Consort Que from this day forward."
"twitter."
Liang Jiugong respectfully agreed and quickly left Yikun Palace.
Xu Lejin was in a daze, serving Emperor Kangxi until he went to bed, completely bewildered as she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, he was once again sent off to the morning court in a daze.
Chen Shi
Consort Que and the other concubines of the harem gathered at Yikun Palace to pay their respects, and Xu Lejin only then seemed to wake from a dream.
Consort Hui smiled slightly, looking at Consort He, and said, "Consort He, there's no need to be sad. You are young and have not yet served the Emperor. You may not be able to take good care of the sixteenth prince."
“Consort Que is a few years older than you and has already raised the Twenty-Second Princess, so she has experience. Consort Zhangjia died of postpartum hemorrhage, and it is good that the Sixteenth Prince will be raised by Consort Que.”
A hint of unease flashed across Consort He's face.
She clutched the handkerchief in her hand until it was almost deformed, and spoke softly, "Yes, Consort Hui is right. I am young and not as good as Consort Hui. The Second Prince is already grown up and will marry a concubine next March. Consort Hui will be of grandmotherly age soon."
"、、"
Glaring at Consort He, Consort Hui covered her mouth and said in a sinister tone, "Consort He is still young. After a few years of serving the emperor, she will have her own child sooner or later. There is no need to rush it."
“Sister Hefei is young. If she raises the sixteenth prince and then has another prince of her own in the future, the choice between an adopted son and a biological son will be impossible to balance.”
Consort Hui and Consort He argued back and forth about the sixteenth prince and Lady Zhangjia's postpartum hemorrhage.
Xu Lejin's head was buzzing as she listened. She let out a long sigh and said in a cold voice, "His Majesty has his reasons for entrusting the sixteenth prince to Consort Que for upbringing."
"Consort He is still young, practically a child herself, while Consort Hui is busy with the Second Prince's marriage to a secondary consort."
Having said all that, Xu Lejin sincerely hoped that Consort Hui and Consort He could stop there and not continue discussing the matter of the sixteenth prince, Lady Zhangjia.
Consort He lowered her head in deep thought.
Consort Hui smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your consideration. However, the Second Prince's marriage to a concubine is being handled by the Imperial Household Department. I am merely inquiring about it as a matter of routine."
"The Third Princess, whom I raised, has grown up and is betrothed. My household is now lonely."
After a pause, Consort Hui continued, "If the sixteenth prince were to be raised by me, I would naturally be more than happy to do so, but I do not have the good fortune of Consort Que."
Xu Lejin's face darkened, and she almost burst into anger.
She took a few deep breaths and said in a deep voice, "Consort Hui is very kind. There are quite a few low-ranking concubines in the palace, and quite a few of them have princes and princesses. I will mention this to the Emperor later to see if the princes and princesses can be entrusted to Consort Hui for upbringing."
The lower-ranking concubines, who had princes and princesses under their knees, felt a chill run down their spines and all stared at Consort Hui.
Consort Hui awkwardly flicked the handkerchief in her hand and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness. With Your Highness's words, I will return to Yanxi Palace and eagerly await your return."
Xu Lejin: "..."
Time flies like an arrow; the twenty-fifth year of Kangxi's reign quickly came to an end, and the twenty-sixth year arrived as scheduled.
January passed in a flash, and February arrived.
"Your Highness, in ten days it will be the day when the First Prince marries his wife. I have already instructed the Imperial Household Department to prepare all the necessary arrangements for the Second Prince's wedding, as you have instructed."
Consort Que paused for a moment, then turned around and gave a wink to the palace maid beside her. The maid immediately presented the list of betrothal gifts from the palace to Lady Guarjia Shi, as well as a register of all the items prepared by the palace for the eldest prince's marriage.
Xu Lejin nodded, took the betrothal gift list and a booklet of supplies, and quickly flipped through them.
After a cup of tea
Setting down the booklet, Xu Lejin pondered for a moment and said, "The First Prince is the Emperor's eldest son, and his marriage to Lady Guarjia Shi is the first joyous occasion in the palace."
"The Emperor has already made his intentions regarding the betrothal gifts for the Guarjia Shi family. On the day of the eldest prince's wedding, the banquet will be raised by another ten percent. The Emperor has not yet granted separate residences to the eldest and second princes, so please have someone be careful in the princes' residences."
Consort Que respectfully replied, "Yes."
After a pause, Consort Que said softly, "Your Highness, after the First Prince married Guarjia Shi, it was the Second Prince who married two concubines. I have heard that Consort Hui has also bestowed two palace maids from Yanxi Palace, Wusu and Wuzha, upon the Second Prince as princesses."
"Um."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly. "I have heard about it. The Second Prince has many concubines, but none of them are pregnant. It is understandable that Consort Hui is anxious."
"about,"
After hesitating for a moment, Xu Lejin spoke softly, as if it were none of her business, "The Second Prince's affairs are handled by Consort Hui. It has nothing to do with us. We should pretend we didn't see anything and turn a blind eye."
Consort Que nodded and said, "Yes."
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