When Shu Chengfeng came to Yan Nangui again, she had changed into a padded jacket.
Somehow the topic of Consort Consort came up, and Shu Chengfeng pulled her over: "To tell you the truth, I won't be promoting you this time. If you don't move, neither will the Murong family. Don't be angry."
"What's there to be angry about? What difference does it make whether I get promoted or not? You can't let anyone surpass me anyway." Yan Nangui had actually thought of that too.
"If you behave well, it won't happen," Shu Chengfeng said with a smile.
"When the New Year comes, I'll adjust the ranks of the people below. Now the Empress, the Noble Consort, and the Virtuous Consort all have no children. If I promote you, it won't be good to leave out the Murong family. I don't need to say anything more, do I?" Shu Chengfeng squeezed her hand.
The wild geese nodded as they returned south.
Indeed, although she was labeled as infertile, if she were promoted to the first rank, the Murong family could not ignore it.
Although the Murong family was not favored, they still had a biological prince and came from the prestigious Murong family, a family of scholars.
With a higher rank comes more worries. None of the people above her have children, so promoting her too high would inevitably be inappropriate.
It's not that we should be wary of her right now, but the Third Prince is still young, and we'll have to see if he's good at things.
Setting it too high early on will inevitably harm it.
"You said you wouldn't use me as a pawn," Yan Nangui snorted.
"You call this a chess piece?" Shu Chengfeng glared. "Even if you were promoted, you'd still be Consort Shu or Consort Hui, still behind them. With your temper, you'd be better off remaining the number one second-rank consort. I don't know you? Stop acting like a devil."
Yan Nangui laughed and said, "Okay."
That's true. Anyway, it's just a rank. Whether she gets promoted or not, she'll always be ranked behind those two. As for the little bit of silver or goods she gets over a year, she doesn't care.
Anyway, the emperor gave quite a lot.
She doesn't care, but some people do.
At least, Consort Mu was dreaming of being promoted.
However, while many people aspire to promotion, few actually have the opportunity.
In the current imperial harem, there are far fewer low-ranking concubines and far more high-ranking concubines. Therefore, promotion is bound to be slow.
People aren't actually unaware of this; they just choose not to see it that way.
As the weather grew colder, the two pregnant concubines became even more cautious.
Especially Luo Wanyi, her belly is probably in the twelfth lunar month.
While talking to Shu Chengfeng, Yan Nangui asked, "Has the imperial physician said whether Luo Wanyi's baby is a prince?"
Shu Chengfeng shook his head: "The imperial physician did not explain clearly."
That means it isn't.
"Oh." Yan Nangui thought to himself, although Luo Wanyi is a skilled mother, she is truly not favored. This child is not a son, and it is really hard to say whether she will be able to have a son in the future.
With so many people in the harem, it's only natural that she would be taken care of. But whether the emperor would stay overnight at her place is another matter entirely.
"Why bother asking others? Just give birth yourself," Shu Chengfeng said.
Yan Nangui just rolled her eyes at him and ignored him.
Shu Chengfeng smiled and didn't continue the conversation.
The next day, I went to Fengxiang Palace to pay my respects and finally met Consort Xiangxian.
She had been saying that she wasn't raising the child well, so she hadn't shown up much.
Now he's officially back in action.
She was wearing a crimson long coat today, and you could tell she had gained some weight, but she was still beautiful.
His complexion was slightly pale, but overall he looked energetic.
After everyone exchanged greetings, Yan Nangui smiled and said, "Sister Xiang looks much better."
"Yes, I was also unlucky, sigh... never mind, at least things are better now." Consort Xiang shook her head.
"The matter of offspring still depends on fate. Consort Xiangxian is still young, and she will naturally have the opportunity in the future," said Consort Huo.
Consort Xiang smiled, and after everyone had arrived, the Empress came out.
He was also the first to greet Consort Xiangxian.
They also said it was getting cold and told everyone to take care of themselves, especially those with children or who were pregnant.
This morning, Consort Jing didn't say much and didn't seem to be in good spirits.
The Empress offered a greeting and then left it at that.
After everyone dispersed, Yan Nangui suddenly asked, "When was the last time Consort Jing served the Emperor?"
"This...is this in the lotus garden? It's been two months," Jiangxiang said.
"Your Majesty, you suspect..." Jiangxiang paused, not finishing her sentence.
“Hmm, I have a feeling she’s pregnant,” Yan Nangui said.
"Huh? This..." Jiangxiang didn't know what to say.
"If she has it, so be it. It's none of our business." Yan Nangui smiled. "The Empress doesn't have it, Consort Xiangxian doesn't have it, but if she does, can she hold her position?"
"But it's hard to say, after all, the Empress Dowager is still there. She'll always protect her," Yan Nangui said.
Jiangxiang nodded, thinking to herself that if Consort Jing really was pregnant and gave birth to a prince, the harem would be anything but peaceful.
In Feiluan Palace, Consort Jing almost fainted and hurriedly summoned the imperial physician.
It was Physician Zhou who arrived.
After examining her, Physician Zhou said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! You are pregnant and two months along. However, the pregnancy is a little unstable."
Granny Lu had been suspicious for a while, even though there had been some bleeding last month, it was very little.
But I'm also afraid of making a mistake, since I made one last time.
So she didn't say anything, but just took good care of him. Now she stared at Physician Zhou: "Is it really true? If something goes wrong, you'll have to bear the consequences."
Physician Zhou, who also knew about what happened last time, hurriedly said, "There is absolutely no mistake, I dare to guarantee it."
Granny Lu was then happy.
Consort Jing was overjoyed.
Within half a day, everyone in the harem knew about it.
Some are happy, some are sad.
Upon learning of this, the Empress Dowager immediately sent two nannies to take care of the child.
Although Consort Jing disliked it, she did not refuse.
His Majesty and the Empress also visited in person.
Physician He also came this time.
After confirming the diagnosis, Shu Chengfeng said, "Since Physician Zhou examined you first, I will entrust your pregnancy to him."
Imperial Physician Zhou hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I obey your decree. I will certainly take good care of Consort Jing's pregnancy."
The Empress felt a pang of sorrow, but looking at the Emperor, she knew he was determined to protect this pregnancy.
"Imperial Physician Zhou, please do your best. I entrust Consort Jing and her son to you," the Empress said.
Physician Zhou hurriedly agreed again.
That evening, the emperor also went to the Flying Phoenix Palace.
Meanwhile, in Fengxiang Palace, the Empress couldn't sleep.
Granny He spoke to her: "Your Highness, actually... it's not that you can't take action."
"His Majesty is watching, the Empress Dowager is watching, how can we make a move? One wrong step and it could be a disaster!"
“Of course we can’t just do it, but since ancient times, childbirth has been a life-or-death ordeal for women. It’s not uncommon for them to die during childbirth,” said Granny He.
“Consort Jing is foolish. Her life is of no concern to me. I do not want her to give birth to a prince…” the Empress said.
“But no one can cut off a child’s life, Your Majesty. You must make a decision soon, or the consequences will be disastrous in the future,” said Granny He.
Granny He has always been a ruthless person.
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