The news that Consort Ma had given birth to a daughter quickly spread throughout the six palaces.
Kunning Palace
Chu Qiao returned from Zhongcui Palace and, before she could even rest, went to the Empress to report that Consort Ma Jia had given birth to a daughter. Upon hearing that Consort Ma Jia had given birth to a princess, the Empress was overjoyed.
With a cold laugh, the Empress said in a deep voice, "Since Ma Jia became pregnant, she has been boasting every day that she was carrying a prince, but now she has given birth to a princess."
"I was always worried that she would really have another prince, but now it's a princess, which saves me the trouble of taking action. It's wonderful, truly wonderful! Even Heaven is on my side!"
"Your Majesty is absolutely right."
Yun Cui pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. Now that Consort Ma has given birth to a little princess, there's nothing to worry about. For the sake of the little prince in your womb, Your Majesty should rest!"
"Um."
The Empress could not hide the smile on her face. "Consort Ma Jia has given birth to a daughter, and His Majesty now has a fifth daughter. This is a joyous occasion in the palace."
"Yun Cui, send the Ruyi bracelet from my dowry to Zhongcui Palace for the Fifth Princess. It is a small token of my affection as her legal mother."
Yun Cui respectfully agreed.
Early the next morning.
The Empress looked at the concubines in the harem with a smile and said, "My sisters must already know that Consort Ma gave birth to a princess for His Majesty at the end of Hai hour yesterday."
"Your Majesty now has two princes and three princesses. I am eight months pregnant, Consort Zhao is seven months pregnant, and Consort Xu is four months pregnant. Your Majesty's offspring will continue to increase."
The concubines rose and spoke in unison.
"Your Majesty the Empress is right. The abundance of imperial offspring is a blessing for the harem, for the Emperor, and for the Qing Dynasty."
The Empress was in high spirits because of the happy occasion, so she changed her serious expression to that of the concubines in the harem and became much more amiable. Xu Lejin had a faint expression and lowered her head slightly.
Consorts Niohuru and Tongjia, among others, were particularly uncomfortable, frequently glancing at the Empress on the throne out of the corner of their eyes.
Having grown accustomed to the Empress's stern and reprimanding demeanor, it felt rather strange to see her suddenly speaking so gently!
After half a cup of tea.
Consort Niohuru looked up at the Empress, carefully choosing her words before speaking softly. "Your Majesty, Consort Ma has given birth to a little princess. How should we arrange the baby's third-day celebration tomorrow?"
"If we follow the same arrangement as when Consort Zhang gave birth to the fourth princess, I fear Consort Ma will be dissatisfied, after all..."
After a pause, Consort Niohuru glanced at Consort Zhang, whose eyes were lowered, and said in a deep voice, "After all, Consort Ma Jia has a son."
The meaning behind Consort Niohuru's words was quite clear.
The ceremony was arranged according to the circumstances. Because Consort Ma Jia had given birth to the fourth prince, Seinchaze, the fifth princess's third-day celebration was to be held in a grand manner, so that the servants in the palace would not feel contemptuous because Consort Ma Jia had given birth to a princess.
The Empress paused for a moment, then remained silent in thought.
Consort Zhang suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with humiliation, resentment, and anger. She looked pleadingly at Consort Tongjia, hoping that Consort Tongjia could help stop the grand opening ceremony for the fifth daughter of the Emperor the next day.
After a moment's consideration, Consort Tongjia spoke in a deep voice, "Sister Niohuru, Consort Ma and Consort Zhang both gave birth to princesses, so why are they treated differently during the third-day celebration?"
"Consort Ma Jia is attached to you, Sister Niu Hulu. Now that you have gained the power to assist in managing the six palaces, you are thinking of favoring Consort Ma Jia and holding a grand third-day celebration for the fifth princess. Do you intend to make the fifth princess's third-day celebration even more grand than the princes' celebrations, or even surpass the Empress's eldest son's celebration?"
“Tong Jia, I didn’t mean that.”
Taking a deep breath, Consort Niohuru said softly, "I am only thinking of the fourth prince. After all, although the fourth prince, Seinchaze, is nominally the emperor's fourth son, the three princes before him died young, and Seinchaze is the emperor's eldest son."
Xu Lejin glanced at Consort Niohuru out of the corner of her eye, then remained silent in thought.
The Empress's smile froze, and she put down her teacup.
After pondering for a long time, the Empress said coldly, "Sister Niohuru, the fifth daughter of Consort Ma Jia, let's hold the third-day celebration for a princess as usual. After all, the fifth princess has just been born, could you..."
Swallowing the inappropriate words that were about to come out, the Empress spoke softly. "After the third-day celebration, there is the full moon celebration, and after that, the first birthday celebration. These are all important. If we hold a grand celebration for the third-day celebration, it will certainly make Consort Ma Jia and the fourth prince Seinchaze look good, but it will be a bit difficult to celebrate the full moon celebration and the first birthday celebration afterwards."
Consort Niohuru pondered for a moment, then spoke with a smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress is very thoughtful. Your Majesty the Empress will follow your teachings and make sure that the palace servants do their best to prepare for the fifth princess's third-day celebration."
The Empress smiled gently and nodded.
Xu Lejin returned to the west side hall of Yikun Palace.
Yingchun lowered her eyes, carefully choosing her words, and said softly, "Your Highness, this servant doesn't understand. Why did Consort Chuxiu specifically mention the Fifth Princess's third-day celebration in the Empress's palace?"
Xu Lejin smiled.
"The Consort of Chuxiu Palace has not yet given birth, and now that she is over twenty, it is inevitable that she is worried. Consort Ma Jia is dependent on the Consort of Chuxiu Palace. If the Consort of Chuxiu Palace still has not given birth in a few years, she will most likely adopt the princes of her concubines, and the first one to be adopted is Consort Ma Jia's fourth son, Saiyinchaze."
"The fifth princess is just a little princess. By holding a grand celebration for her third-day celebration, we can both curry favor with Consort Ma Jia and indirectly disgust the Empress. It's a win-win situation."
"Why wouldn't the Lady of Chuxiu Palace be happy to do so?"
Yingchun paused for a moment, then smiled and agreed.
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