After Xu Lejin finished speaking, she slightly bent her knees and gave a half-bow to Tong Jiaxianyu. Before Tong Jiaxianyu could react, she left Tong Jiaxianyu standing there with a face full of resentment and a blank expression.
As she walked back to the west side hall of Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin's expression was thoughtful.
Yingchun carefully chose her words and said softly, "Your Highness, the Second Princess Tongjia is the daughter of Lord Tong Guowei, the younger sister of the Empress of Chengqian Palace, and also the Emperor's cousin."
"My lady, why have you offended her today?"
Xu Lejin turned her head to glance at Yingchun, and said with a smile as she walked forward. "What happened today was not that I intentionally offended her, but rather that she came to me in a bad mood, and I simply turned the tables on her."
"Second Princess Tongjia, relying on being the niece of the late Emperor's Empress Xiaokangzhang and the younger sister of the Consort of Chengqian Palace, has a reputation for being arrogant and domineering in the palace, which is known to everyone in the palace."
Yingchun lowered her head slightly and respectfully replied, "Yes."
Back in the west wing of Yikun Palace, Xu Lejin reclined on the soft couch, squinting at the lush green of the blooming beauties in front of the window, her mind replaying the rumors circulating in the palace over the past two weeks.
Her second elder sister, Xu Chaojin, cultivated a Green Beauty bonsai, which Emperor Kangxi bestowed upon the Prince Yu's Mansion, the Prince Gong's Mansion, and the Prince Chun's Mansion, one each.
The Prince Yu's Mansion and the Prince Chun's Mansion are fine.
However, rumors circulated in the palace about Prince Gong's residence that he greatly favored the Green Beauty, placing her in his study and personally taking meticulous care of her every day. There were even rumors in the palace...
Rumor has it that Prince Gong's preference was not for the Green Beauty, but for the palace maid in the flower room who cultivated the Green Beauty.
The one who nurtured Green Beauty was none other than her own second sister, who shared the same mother.
If the rumors are true, and her second elder sister and Prince Gong became acquainted through a potted green plant, then would her second elder sister, Xu Chaojin, become a princess to Prince Gong, or...?
Although she had gained the favor of Emperor Kangxi, been granted the title of concubine, and was pregnant with the emperor's child, the Xu family was still considered to be of low status, and her second sister, Chaojin, was of humble origin. Becoming a secondary consort of Prince Gong was an extremely difficult task.
For now, all our hopes can be pinned on the dragon child in my womb!
After deliberating for a long time, Yingchun looked at Yingchun and said softly, "Yingchun, when Physician Xu came to take my pulse last time, he mentioned when my due date was?"
"Your Highness, Physician Xu says your due date is in early or mid-July."
Yingchun paused for a moment, then continued, "It's already the end of June. In about ten days, the dragon child in your womb will be born. We servants are all eagerly anticipating the birth of your dragon child."
Xu Lejin nodded with a smile.
In the afternoon, just as Xu Lejin woke up from her nap, Zhishu hurriedly entered from outside the palace. Before she could even wipe the sweat from her forehead, she panted and reported to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, news has come from the Imperial Garden that Princess Tongjia, for some unknown reason, had a conflict with Consort Hesheli and accidentally fell into the lotus pond."
"Okay, I understand."
Xu Lejin responded lightly and said softly, "In the sweltering summer, the concubines in each palace stay in their own chambers and rarely go out."
"It's rare to find Consort Hesheli and Princess Tongjia in such high spirits. They actually went to the Imperial Garden under the scorching sun."
Xu Lejin spoke these seemingly plausible but ultimately unfounded words with an air of nonchalance.
Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a silent glance, then lowered their heads slightly to look at their toes.
With a gentle smile, Xu Lejin parted her lips and said, "Today, the Second Princess Tongjia accidentally fell into the lotus pond. Does the Emperor, Consort Zhao, and Consort Chengqian know about this?"
"Your Highness, I do not know."
Zhi Shu carefully considered his words and replied softly.
Xu Lejin pondered for a moment, then murmured, "Consort Zhao and Consort Chengqian must already know. As for the Emperor, he is busy with affairs of state and the trivial matters of the harem may not reach his ears."
Yingchun pondered for a moment, then smiled and replied, "What Your Highness says is quite right."
"Your Highness, Physician Xu is already waiting outside the palace. Shall we summon him to come in and take your pulse?"
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
After a short while, Physician Xu knelt down to take Xu Lejin's pulse. Xu Lejin smiled and looked at Physician Xu, saying, "Physician Xu, how is the condition of the dragon fetus in my womb?"
"Why is it that lately I feel light and agile? Apart from having a bigger appetite every day and my belly growing bigger day by day, I don't look pregnant at all."
Physician Xu looked grave as he carefully took the patient's pulse.
After a moment, Physician Xu spoke respectfully, “Reporting to Consort Xu, your pulse is steady, and the imperial fetus is healthy. As for your agility and lack of sluggishness, it is likely related to your physical condition.”
"I have been practicing medicine for many years, and Consort Xu, your health is the best I have ever encountered."
Xu Lejin was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. She lowered her gaze to her large belly and fell into deep thought, her thoughts drifting away without her realizing it.
Is her body really that strong?
If she had been physically strong, the original owner wouldn't have perished after being forcibly favored by Emperor Kangxi, and instead her body wouldn't have been taken over by this elderly woman from another world.
When she was three or four months pregnant, she felt physically exhausted, but when she was five months pregnant, she suddenly felt refreshed and much lighter.
What exactly happened?
After pondering for a long time, Xu Lejin came back to her senses, looked at Physician Xu, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Physician Xu. If His Majesty or Consort Zhao inquire about the condition of the imperial fetus in my womb, Physician Xu will simply report the truth."
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