Two hours later.
The Empress's unborn child was delayed.
Consort Niohuru, Consort Tongjia, and the other concubines, each with their own thoughts, appeared calm on the surface but secretly gloated as they waited respectfully in the main hall of Kunning Palace.
The Empress's cries of pain during childbirth could be heard intermittently from the side hall.
Consort Niohuru glanced at Consort Zhaojia and Consort Xu Lejin, who were heavily pregnant, and after a moment of consideration, she spoke softly: "Her Majesty the Empress is giving birth today. Although it is not her first child, it still takes a certain amount of time from the onset of labor to the safe delivery of the imperial heir."
"Consort Zhao Jia and Consort Xu, you are both pregnant. The imperial heir is of utmost importance. Go back and rest early. With me and Sister Tong Jia in Kunning Palace, Her Majesty the Empress's child will surely be born safely."
Consort Zhao Jia and Consort Xu Lejin exchanged a glance, then rose with the help of palace maids, saying in unison, "Yes, thank you for your concern, Your Highness. We will take our leave now."
"Um."
Consort Niohuru responded.
Xu Lejin returned to the west wing of Yikun Palace, had some snacks, and then leaned back on the soft couch.
After a long while, Xu Lejin murmured softly, "Eleventh Sister Wanyin, she took advantage of the Emperor's drunkenness last night to serve him in bed, and this morning Her Majesty the Empress went into labor. What a coincidence!"
"Yingchun, go and find out why Eleventh Sister was in the main hall last night."
Yingchun respectfully agreed and withdrew.
Zhi Shu and Ru Hua served carefully to her. After a moment of hesitation, Zhi Shu lowered her voice and said, "My lady, yesterday evening, Miss Wan Yin came to deliver something to you as instructed by Lord Xu. I was in the main hall at the time, tidying up with Aunt Chun Hua and Aunt Qiu Yan, when I happened to run into Miss Wan Yin."
“Miss Wanyin asked me a few questions, which I didn’t pay attention to at the time. But now that I think about it carefully, I realize that Miss Wanyin had an ulterior motive.”
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then looked up at Zhishu.
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Lejin smiled and said, "Well, since she's determined to climb into the Emperor's bed, we can't stop her. Zhishu, tell Uncle that Eleventh Sister served the Emperor last night and is now a palace maid."
"My lady, if I may be so bold as to say something I shouldn't, it is because you are carrying the imperial heirs, and it is a rare occurrence that you are carrying twins. Even though Miss Wanyin served the emperor last night, she is merely a palace maid, while you are a concubine, and you are already more than five months pregnant."
After a pause, Zhishu raised her eyes slightly and glanced cautiously at Xu Lejin before saying, "Your Highness, the most important thing now is to focus on raising the imperial fetus and giving birth to a healthy prince for the Emperor. You don't need to worry too much about Miss Wanyin's matter."
Xu Lejin nodded with a slight smile.
An hour later, Xu Lejin woke up from her afternoon nap and, still half-asleep, looked at Yingchun and asked, "What time is it? Has Her Majesty the Empress's unborn child been safely delivered?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, it is already three-quarters past noon."
Yingchun replied respectfully, carefully choosing her words before speaking softly. "Your Majesty, she is currently giving birth. I heard from the palace servants in Kunning Palace that Your Majesty has been overthinking during her pregnancy, which has caused her to have several miscarriages. Now, there are signs that she may be experiencing a difficult labor."
Xu Lejin paused for a moment, then nodded solemnly.
Yingchun then added, "Your Highness need not worry too much. The Emperor has personally come to the Empress's palace to oversee things. In addition, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager have both sent people to the Empress's palace."
"Her Majesty the Empress is blessed with great fortune; she will surely give birth to the imperial heir safely."
Xu Lejin smiled gently, "I hope so."
"The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager all attach great importance to the Empress's pregnancy. Although the Empress has many worries during her pregnancy, the imperial fetus has always been stable and will surely turn misfortune into good fortune."
With a slight upturn of her lips, Xu Lejin glanced at the sky outside.
"Yingchun, have someone keep a close eye on the situation in the Empress's palace. Report to her immediately once the Empress gives birth."
Yingchun respectfully replied, "Yes."
As night fell, the palace fell silent, but Kunning Palace was brightly lit.
Emperor Kangxi had a serious expression, his hands behind his back, and his gaze was directed toward the delivery room.
Consort Niohuru pondered for a moment, then looked towards the delivery room and said softly, "It's late and the dew is heavy. Your Majesty must take care of your health. The Empress and the others have their own celestial signs and will surely give birth to the prince safely."
"Yes, I hope so."
Kangxi responded and looked at the concubines, "The Empress gave birth today, you have all worked hard. I, Niohuru, and Tongjia will guard Kunning Palace. The rest of you, go back to your palaces!"
"We are not tired. The Empress's childbirth is a major event in the palace, and we should wait here for her."
Led by Consort Li and Consort Wanyan, all the other consorts spoke in unison.
Emperor Kangxi laughed loudly but said nothing more.
Consort Niohuru remained calm, while Consort Tongjia glared at the other concubines with displeasure before lowering her head, her expression unreadable, her thoughts unknown.
It's past midnight.
Xu Lejin propped her chin up, forcing herself to stay alert, and waited for news of the Empress's delivery.
Zhi Shu hurried into the palace, bowed to Xu Lejin, and said with a joyful expression, "Your Highness, the Empress gave birth at 1:15 PM."
"Oh, is it a prince or a princess?"
Upon hearing that the Empress had given birth, Xu Lejin's muddled mind immediately cleared, and she looked intently at Zhishu, pressing her for answers.
Zhi Shu smiled faintly and said, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress has given birth to a little princess."
"A little princess? Not a little prince?"
Xu Lejin looked surprised, her eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.
She remembered that Empress Hesheli, the first wife of Emperor Kangxi, gave birth to two sons, both of which were princes. How did they become princesses now? And the fifth daughter of Consort Ma Jia, according to the records of the Qing Dynasty, should have been a prince.
Coming to her senses, Xu Lejin suppressed her confusion and said with a smile, "Whether it's the princess or not, the Emperor and Empress are a loving couple. The Empress is young and healthy. After a period of rest, she will be able to conceive again and give birth to the Emperor's legitimate son."
"Yes, what you say is very true."
Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a glance and smiled as they replied, "Yes."
Fifteen minutes later, Xu Lejin finished arranging everything, extinguished the candle, lay on the bed, her eyes shining brightly in the night, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Consort Ma Jia gave birth to a daughter with her fourth child, while the Empress gave birth to a daughter with her second child.
Does this mean that history has changed, that Consort Ma Jia is no longer the Kangxi Emperor's Rongfei who gave birth to six children in ten years, and that the Empress will not die from postpartum hemorrhage during her second childbirth this year...?
Consort De, of the Uya clan, was born into the Imperial Household Department; Consort Liang, of the Wei clan, was a lowly servant in the Xin Zhe Ku; Consort Shunyi, of the Wang clan; Consort Chunyuqin, of the Chen clan; and Consort Dunyi, of the Guarjia clan, was twenty-seven years younger than Emperor Kangxi.
Will they never appear again?
Could it be that because her soul transmigrated to the Qing Dynasty and she became pregnant with Emperor Kangxi's child, a butterfly effect was created?
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