October 2
This year's imperial concubine selection process included three new women who entered the palace to accompany the emperor: Concubine Liu, Concubine Lan Yin, and Concubine Zi Yan.
Concubine Lan and Concubine Ziyan were both from the Chen clan, so they were addressed by their names to distinguish them.
The Liu family and the two Chen families were arranged to live in Yongshou Palace and Qixiang Palace, both of which were located in the Western Six Palaces, relatively close to Qianqing Palace.
Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
After a moment's hesitation, Consort Que spoke softly, "Your Highness, Consort Liu and Consorts Lan Yin and Zi Yan have been in the palace for half a month, yet His Majesty has yet to summon them."
Xu Lejin paused slightly, then looked up at Consort Que.
With a calm expression, Xu Lejin said, "There's no rush. Three years ago, when Consort Wang and Consort Chen entered the palace, the Emperor only summoned them three months later. Consorts Sanghua and Tangrou entered the palace, and it was even more difficult for them to gain favor until half a year later."
"The three members of the Liu family have only been in the palace for half a month. According to past practice, there are still some days before they are to be served in the emperor's bedchamber."
Consort Que nodded gently.
The next day
Wuyoudai, the daughter of Xu Lejin, married into the Fucha family as Princess Gulun Zhuangshu.
Amidst a grand procession of red bridal gifts, adorned with phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, Yinling and Wunaxi, who were cultivating immortality in the heavens, once again dispatched celestial attendants to deliver elaborate dowry gifts. The spectacle of Wuyoudai's wedding was in no way inferior to that of Wuxiha.
On the day of her return visit to her parents' home after three days, Wuyoudai's face was filled with the shy blush of a newlywed.
Prince Consort Fuldun was handsome and doted on Wuyoudai, which pleased Xu Lejin greatly. After leaving Wuyoudai alone in Yikun Palace to inquire about their wedding night, she then let Wuyoudai leave the palace.
Night falls
Liu Ying hurried in from outside the palace, her face grave. "Your Majesty," she said, "news has come from Changchun Palace that Consort Sanghua is about to give birth."
"Yes, I understand."
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin pondered for a moment before speaking softly, "The imperial physician has diagnosed Consort Sanghua with a princess. She is now ten months pregnant and awaits her due date."
"His Majesty mentioned this matter to me a few days ago. After Consort Sanghua gave birth, the little princess was moved to the prince's residence after her one-month celebration and was taken care of by the wet nurse and palace servants. Consort Sanghua was rewarded with one hundred taels of gold and six bolts of various colored silks."
The firefly lowered its head, lost in thought and silent.
Early the next morning, someone from Changchun Palace reported that Consort Sanghua had safely given birth to a baby princess.
At the same time, another piece of news came from Changchun Palace: Concubine Wang, who had previously given birth to the eighteenth prince, was pregnant again and was already three months along.
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment, then only instructed Consort Wang to carefully nurture the imperial fetus in her womb.
This day
Consort Hui covered her mouth, looked up at Xu Lejin, and said softly, "Your Highness, in the past two years, there have been frequent cases of concubines in the palace becoming pregnant and giving birth to princes and princesses."
"The Imperial Noble Consort manages the harem in an orderly manner, and several concubines who are pregnant have all given birth to imperial heirs safely."
The words were flattering, but the underlying meaning was chilling.
Xu Lejin frowned slightly, deep in thought.
In the past two years, many new princes and princesses have been born in the palace, and many concubines are also pregnant, including Consort Wang, Consort Chen, and two Consorts of the Hesheli clan.
Although they were all concubines of low rank, they were fortunate enough to give birth to princes and princesses.
After a cup of tea
Xu Lejin smiled faintly and said, "His Majesty is in his prime, and it is a joyous occasion that the concubines in the palace are pregnant. Consort Hui's second son is older and has already married a wife. She is also raising the fifth prince in the palace."
"I have heard that the Fifth Prince's concubine, Princess Ulanara, is pregnant?"
With a slight nod, Consort Hui's face beamed with pride.
"Your Highness, Princess Ulanara, who is in Yinzhi's quarters, is indeed pregnant, but it is still early in the pregnancy and we do not yet know whether it is a boy or a girl."
"Um,"
Xu Lejin responded softly, without saying anything more.
Consort Que, Consort Duan, and Consort Ning exchanged glances, covering their mouths. Consort Que spoke meaningfully, "It's strange, really. The First Prince has a primary consort, Lady Guarjia Shi, a secondary consort, Lady Niohuru, as well as princesses and concubines, but since the birth of his eldest son and daughter, he hasn't had any children of his own."
"Second Prince..."
Swallowing the words that were about to come out, Consort Que glanced at Consort Hui with feigned apology.
"Please forgive me, Consort Hui. I did not mean it. Today, the Imperial Noble Consort mentioned that the princess in the Fifth Prince's room is pregnant. This made me think of the First Prince and the Second Prince."
Consort Hui nodded slightly, feigning composure, and glanced at Xu Lejin.
Immediately afterward, Consort Hui looked at Consort Que and spoke softly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My second prince suffered a health injury in his early years and has been undergoing treatment all these years."
"As his mother, I have always hoped that Heaven would be kind and that the Second Prince would have a son or daughter."
Xu Lejin let out a long sigh.
"The matter of offspring depends entirely on the will of Heaven. As long as Consort Hui prays sincerely, the Second Prince will surely have a son or daughter."
Gandong No. 2 Institute
Ever since the Second Prince injured his body, his temperament has become unpredictable.
The Second Prince's secondary consort, Lady Irgen Gioro, along with the princesses and concubines, all complained bitterly. However, their lives, honor, and disgrace now rested on the Second Prince's shoulders, so they had no choice but to grit their teeth and serve him carefully.
Consort Yiergen Gioro sat before her dressing table, gazing sadly at her fading face in the bronze mirror, and sighed softly, "I wonder when this will ever end?"
"Second Prince,"
Thinking of how the Second Prince had become increasingly outrageous since his health deteriorated, Lady Irgen Gioro could no longer suppress the sorrow in her heart, and tears silently streamed down her face.
The palace maid who served Lady Irgen Gioro had grown up with her since childhood. Looking at Lady Irgen Gioro with heartache, she whispered, "Consort, if you can conceive, even if it's just a little princess, there will be hope for the future!"
"Little Butterfly,"
Yiergenjueluo cried even harder.
After a long while, she raised her head, her eyes red and swollen, and her voice choked with sobs, "Xiao Die, you are my dowry maid, and you know about the Second Prince's health."
"If the Second Prince isn't able to get pregnant, how can I possibly be pregnant?"
Xiao Die's eyes darted around, and she lowered her voice, whispering as softly as a mosquito's buzz, "Consort, I've heard that there's a temple in the outskirts of the capital that's very effective in granting wishes for children."
“In my family, the granddaughter-in-law of the old lady next door also had a husband who was in poor health. The doctor diagnosed that it would be difficult for him to have children. However, after going to the temple to pray for a child several times, she became pregnant.”
Six months ago, she safely gave birth to twins.
Upon hearing this, Irgen Gioro's expression flickered.
Before she left her family home and was still a young girl, her father was over fifty and had not had a child for ten years. At that time, a favored concubine went to the temple three times to pray, and then she became pregnant.
Before she was chosen to be the second prince's concubine, that concubine had already given birth to a son, her youngest brother, who was her father's youngest son.
In the past two years, that concubine has been quite favored by my father at home...
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