Day 2
Emperor Kangxi issued an imperial edict, arranging for the Second Prince to leave the palace to handle some business.
When Xu Lejin heard that the Second Prince was so happy to receive the imperial edict that he shed tears, he didn't even pack his luggage before urging her to leave the palace to handle the matter.
October
Xie went to the palace to report on the situation of Xu Muer's family to Xu Lejin.
At the beginning of the year, Xu Huainian married the daughter of General Feng'en, ostensibly to bring good fortune to her father, Xu Lu. After the marriage, Xu Lu was bedridden for more than half a year before finally passing away.
According to custom, a son must observe a three-year mourning period after his father's death. Therefore, the fifth brother, Huaizhen, is currently observing mourning at home, and the sixth brother, Xu Huainian, has also missed this year's imperial examination and is continuing his studies at home.
After Xu Lu passed away, Xie quickly divided the family property. Although the family was not officially divided, each branch of the family was now living their own lives.
The illegitimate sons each lived in their own courtyard, waiting for the three-year mourning period to end so they could pack up and leave Xu Muer's house.
The main reason Xie sent the memorial to the palace this time was to report to Xu Lejin that Xu Huainian's wife, the daughter of General Feng'en, who had been married at the beginning of the year to bring good fortune, was pregnant.
With a slight frown, Xu Lejin said in a deep voice, "I remember that just half a month ago, my father had passed away, and it had only been a hundred days since then. Now, my sixth sister-in-law is already pregnant?"
"What did the doctor say? How long has your sixth sister-in-law been pregnant?"
Madam Xie lowered her head slightly and spoke softly.
"Your Majesty, my wife is a month and a half pregnant, conceiving during the hundred-day mourning period. I am unsure what to do, which is why I have come to the palace to seek Your Majesty's advice."
Nodding, Xu Lejin pursed her lips and pondered.
After a while, she spoke in a deep voice, "We'll keep your sixth brother's wife's pregnancy a secret for now. We'll announce it a month later. When I go home, I'll explain the implications to you and your wife. Tell your wife to stay in her room and avoid going out during this time."
"When my sixth sister-in-law gave birth, we told everyone that it was premature. We didn't hold any celebrations for the baby's third-day celebration or full-month celebration. We waited until the baby turned one year old before taking the baby out to meet people."
"Also, Mother, please remember to keep in touch with your sixth sister-in-law's family."
Ms. Xie nodded in agreement.
One hour later
After leaving the palace, Xie returned home and went to the small courtyard where Xu Huainian and his wife lived.
Xu Huainian immediately put down his book, went to greet her, and asked respectfully, "Mother, what did the Imperial Noble Consort say? Should we keep this child or not?"
Xu Huainian's wife, standing to the side, also looked at Xie with anticipation.
At this moment, Xu Huainian's wife was filled with regret. If she had known she would get pregnant after just one time, she shouldn't have agreed to her husband's request and made him wait another half month.
Now, not only have I lost face, but I've also put the ladies in the palace in a difficult position.
Madam Xie spoke in a deep voice, "Your Majesty's intention is that this child stays, but..."
With a serious expression, he relayed Xu Lejin's instructions to the young couple, who finally felt relieved.
As for Xu Huainian's wife, she would be willing to stay in the room for years, let alone go out less during her pregnancy.
The only regret is that we can't hold the baby's third-day celebration or full-month celebration after the baby is born.
But the fact that the child can stay is already the best outcome!
After a moment's hesitation, Madam Xie's expression turned serious, and she said coldly, "Nian'er, it's best not to let your aunt know about her behavior. You know what kind of person your aunt is."
"If I hadn't stopped her, your wife would have suffered so much at her hands."
"It will be within the next year or two. Your father has just passed away, and our family will still be living in the same mansion. After a few years, we will separate and move out. When you pass the imperial examination and become an official in a remote area, you can take your wife and children with you. Being far away, she won't be able to cause any trouble."
Xu Huainian respectfully agreed.
Time flies
As the year drew to a close, Princess Chunxi, Princess Rongxian, and Princess Duanjing, who had just married into the Kharachin tribe, prepared some local specialties and sent them to the palace along with gifts from various Mongol tribes.
Among them were letters from several princesses to their families.
In her letter, Princess Rongxian mentioned that she was three months pregnant. The Balin tribe had been traveling to the capital for another month, and Princess Rongxian's child was now four months old.
The news of Princess Rongxian's pregnancy brought the greatest joy to the eldest prince and Princess Gongjing, who had married into the Niohuru family.
Of the princesses under Emperor Kangxi who had already married, Princess Duanjing had only recently married and had not yet conceived, while Princess Longxi had been married into the Khorchin tribe for over three years.
Of the princesses who married into the capital, only Princess Gongjing gave birth to a son in the third month of the year; the others did not announce any pregnancy. Princess Rongxian's pregnancy means that the child in her womb will be Emperor Kangxi's second grandson.
Besides, the eldest and second princes who are already married in the palace, and their wives and concubines, have all disappeared without a trace in the past year or two for some unknown reason.
The eldest prince is doing well; he already has a son and a daughter.
And the second prince,
Therefore, Emperor Kangxi was very pleased that Princess Rongxian was pregnant and instructed Xu Lejin to prepare generous rewards for the envoys of the Balin tribe to take back to Princess Rongxian.
Once the eve of the 30th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign had passed, the 31st year arrived as scheduled.
January
Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin and said in a deep voice, "Ushiha is nineteen now. Gongjing, who is the same age as her and only a few months older, had a child last year."
"I've been thinking that Ushiha should get married soon. If Ushiha doesn't get married, we won't be able to set a wedding date."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
After a moment, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "It was my oversight. I was thinking of keeping Wuxiha for a few more years, but I forgot that Wuxiha is the elder sister. If she doesn't get married, the Ninth Princess, Tenth Princess, and others below her will also not be able to get married."
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