"I've gained a lot of weight, but thankfully it's in the right places, not all over. Otherwise, I don't know how fat I'd be after the baby is born!"
Wanyi pinched her own little face, which had become much rounder. As for the places that should be plumper, naturally it was her breasts and buttocks, which had become much more perky.
"You flatter me, my lady. You were quite plump when you were pregnant with the Fourth Prince, but you lost weight as soon as you finished your confinement period, which really angered the Emperor!" Furong said with a smile.
"He has no idea that being thinner is more attractive!"
Wanyi kept saying that being thin was good, but she no longer followed the rule of eating until she was only 70% full, and she gained some weight. Kangxi was also very passionate about her, so she knew that Kangxi preferred women with a full figure.
Indeed! The Imperial Noble Consorts, Consort An, Consort Jing, Consort Hui, and Consort Rong in the harem all lost weight, so Emperor Kangxi rarely went to serve them in bed anymore. Most of the time, he would just go to sit for a while, and even if he was fully favored, he would still have to serve them in bed once or twice.
"My taste is good, she looks much better!" Kangxi put down the Fourth Prince, walked up to Wanyi, looked her up and down, and even turned her around to look at her! He couldn't get enough of looking at her, and even touched her belly.
"Does she tease you like her brother does?"
He remembered that when Wanyi was pregnant with Yinzhen, she would always have to get up in the middle of the night, and she would often move around in her belly, making her very restless. Poor Wanyi couldn't sleep much!
"She's so well-behaved! I always said she was a little princess. She's so sweet and gentle, my little darling!"
When talking about the baby in her belly, Wanyi's maternal love overflowed, almost burying Kangxi. She kept praising the baby. Wanyi thought it was probably because the baby's father loved her that he was so good to her. Now the baby could eat and sleep well, and there was nothing wrong with her. She didn't even vomit when she ate fish.
Unbeknownst to Wan Yi, someone was suffering in her place, vomiting and unable to sleep, looking utterly listless. That person was Bayar Haojie.
"Yes, yes, yes, she is the little princess, she is the best, am I not good enough?" Kangxi suddenly became jealous.
"Your Majesty is the best!" Wanyi happily tiptoed and kissed Kangxi's cheek.
"Naughty!" Kangxi gently flicked Wanyi's nose.
"Your Majesty, let's go! Time is almost up!" Wanyi, still somewhat shy, pulled Kangxi along.
The neglected Fourth Prince was still shocked by the way his mother and father, the Emperor, interacted. This wasn't the first time he had seen it, and each time he was shocked.
"Her Imperial Noble Consort looks absolutely stunning in that light yellow peony-embroidered qipao she's wearing today. Although we're both Noble Consorts, we're still quite different!"
After speaking, Consort Jing glanced at Consort Wen, who had arrived early. It seemed that every year at the flower viewing banquet, Consort Chen was the last to arrive.
"The difference between Imperial Noble Consort and Noble Consort is only one character, but the difference is enormous!"
Sun agreed, saying that she knew the Imperial Noble Consort had been targeting Consort Wen recently. In order for her child to have a good place, she had to try her best to curry favor with the Imperial Noble Consort. If it was a prince, then when the Imperial Noble Consort became Empress, the child would be the legitimate heir's child...
"Yes! Above the Imperial Noble Consort is the Empress. Although both titles contain the word 'Imperial,' they are vastly different!"
Consort Wen raised an eyebrow, glancing casually at the matching purple nail covers in her hand.
“An Imperial Noble Consort is an Imperial Noble Consort, she is still one rank higher than a Noble Consort!” Consort Sun, relying on her pregnancy, was not afraid of Noble Consort Wen at all.
"Hmm, has Consort Sun forgotten that she's only a low-ranking concubine because she's recently become pregnant?"
She can't do anything to the Imperial Noble Consort, so how could she not touch a mere concubine like you? She just doesn't want to get her hands dirty. Besides, a prince without family support is practically invisible. The Imperial Noble Consort looks down on Concubine Sun.
"I was just saying it, I didn't mean anything by it!" Consort Sun lowered her head first, thinking that she would be afraid that Consort Wen would harm her without regard for her own safety. If she couldn't hold on and lost her child, who would she cry to?
"It's best if you don't mean anything by it. I think you resemble Sister Chen to some extent, but you don't have any of Sister Chen's magnanimity. No wonder the Emperor dislikes you." Consort Wen glanced at her and mercilessly pointed out her sore spot.
"Although I am currently out of favor, it is still better than being pregnant!"
As soon as Consort Sun spoke, there was a sudden silence in the room. Consort Sun then realized that there were many people without children, especially the Imperial Noble Consort above, whose face was also displeased!
"If Consort Sun has nothing to do, she can drink tea and look at the flowers. She's always chatting with Consort Wen, so don't disturb her while she's admiring the flowers!"
The Imperial Noble Consort said unhappily, "What does Consort Sun mean? Is she making fun of those of us who have never had children?"
"Yes, Your Highness knows your mistake!" Seeing that the Imperial Noble Consort still didn't punish her, Consort Sun breathed a sigh of relief and quieted down.
Before long, Wanyi and Kangxi arrived at the prosperous section of the Imperial Garden, which was also the place where flower viewing banquets were held. Because there were so many flowers, there were butterflies fluttering around almost every flower. Every now and then, there were several concubines dressed in their finest attire surrounding the imperial concubines. At first glance, it looked like a colorful plate, which was very pleasing to the eye. Wanyi thought to herself that Kangxi was truly blessed.
The arrival of Emperor Kangxi brought the flower-viewing banquet to a climax, and some of the concubines of lower rank were also present, while the high-ranking concubines remained silent.
"I find that Sister Chen looks quite different today; her qipao is very vibrant!" The Imperial Noble Consort looked Wanyi up and down, but her gaze lingered on Wanyi's belly, clearly displeased.
"The clothes His Majesty chose are naturally very beautiful!" What, you disagree? Go ahead and hit me!
"So it was His Majesty who chose her. No wonder I find Sister Chen so beautiful!"
Consort Wen said enviously that although Emperor Kangxi had promised her sister, Empress Xiaozhaoren, that he would take good care of her, her favor was only so-so, and sometimes even less than that of the concubines.
"Sister Wen's clothes are very beautiful! I think they must be made from the fabric bestowed upon you by the Emperor!"
Wanyi knew it was because Emperor Kangxi had also bestowed some upon her, but she received an extra bolt of dark red cloth.
"Sister Chen has a good eye, it's that cloth!" Consort Wen was visibly pleased when she was told she was beautiful. Who doesn't like being told they're pretty?
"Hmm, Li Chang's fan dance is quite good; it's clear he's put in a lot of effort," Kangxi praised Li Chang, who was dancing below.
"Since His Majesty likes it, why not reward her generously? As she continues to practice diligently, His Majesty can summon her to dance if he enjoys watching!"
The Imperial Noble Consort was essentially positioning Consort Li as a dancer, a plaything. Listening to her sweet talk, Consort Li was even more eager to climb the social ladder, so that no one would dare to look down on her.
"Hmm, I think that's feasible!" Kangxi nodded.
"Has Your Majesty come up with any reward for Consort Li?" Consort Wen asked curiously. As long as the Imperial Noble Consort was disliked, Consort Wen would like her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
