This earthquake was the most intense earthquake in Chinese history, reaching intensity XII.
The damage was widespread, affecting more than 410 counties, including provinces such as Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning, Shaanxi, and Fujian, as well as North Korea.
Historically, this earthquake caused numerous casualties and property damage, with Shandong province being the hardest hit.
The court officials stationed in Qingzhou Prefecture sent an urgent report by fast horse:
Suddenly, the ground beneath our feet seemed to have contracted malaria, trembling violently for less than a breath or two before turning into a violent shaking!
In an instant, the world spun, houses collapsed, trees swayed, and in some places, small hills suddenly rose up on the flat ground, while in others, they collapsed into bottomless abysses with a crash...
Fortunately, the Emperor made prior arrangements; otherwise, who knows how many people would have been buried alive?
Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!
Even though Emperor Kangxi was somewhat prepared, he was still shocked by the news!
Thanks to Sydney's warning, Kangxi arranged for people to relocate to their homeland and harvest the grain ahead of schedule.
Damage is greatly reduced!
The number of casualties is occasionally less than one hundred.
After all, earthquakes cover a wide area and have a large magnitude, so it's easy for buildings to collapse.
Moreover, landslides, earthquakes, and sinkholes are things with a probability of certain death.
The economic losses are quite severe, but the casualties are not significant, and there is no need to worry about an outbreak of the plague.
It was also because of this incident that the people who were out of danger kept kowtowing to the capital!
Merchants and laborers in the capital, and even students in Jiangnan, upon hearing this news, praised it as the day's destiny had been decided!
Emperor Kangxi was delighted about this for several days.
Furthermore, he bestowed upon Sherry the treatment of a noblewoman and granted her the title "Virtuous".
The Empress Dowager was also fiddling with her prayer beads, her heart filled with countless emotions!
"My grandson is sure to be blessed!"
As she spoke, Sumalagu went out.
The flowing water's bounty was delivered to Yikun Palace.
Emperor Kangxi touched her belly and exclaimed, "My child is indeed blessed! Grandmother is also eagerly anticipating his arrival!"
"Yes, the Empress Dowager has sent so many gifts that I can't possibly hold them all. Oh dear, what a happy problem!"
Sherry looked delighted, her big eyes darting around, eagerly anticipating moving into the main hall.
Emperor Kangxi thought about it and agreed, and then arranged for Liang Jiugong to lead people to tidy up the main hall of Yikun Palace.
"And what about the children? They can't all be left without a place to live!"
Sherry was somewhat surprised; she had even planned to send the twins to the Empress Dowager's palace.
After all, what's the point of having a child if you give birth to it and then have it raised by someone else?!
She didn't want to become the next Consort De.
Sherry thought of Prince Chengrui.
Normally speaking, Emperor Kangxi actually intended to send his princes and princesses to the Princes' Residence to be raised together.
However, Prince Chengrui was in very poor health, which worried Lady Ma Jia greatly, so she stayed at Zhongcui Palace.
Sydney is unsure where her child will be raised.
After all, there's still the Empress Dowager!
They feared both that the princes would become too close to their maternal grandparents and that the princes would be raised by women.
Therefore, it is highly likely that it was sent to the prince's residence!
But what if the Empress were to make a move at that time?!
Sherry felt it would be more appropriate to send them to the Empress Dowager's palace.
Three months later, Sherry moved to the main hall of Yikun Palace, and her promotion to concubine was just around the corner.
Perhaps her identity and family background were nothing special, but the warning of twins made the newly enthroned Emperor Kangxi even more popular.
How could I not please the emperor?!
On the second day of the eleventh month of the seventh year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign (1668), Sydney was pregnant, thanks to the favor of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
No one caused any trouble in the delivery room!
Shirley gave birth to a son and a daughter without any problems!
The midwives and wet nurses were overjoyed when they heard the news.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, Consort Zhang has given birth to twins! The little princess is the older sister, and the little prince is the younger brother!"
The old women couldn't hide their joy.
The Queen, fiddling with the beaded string, repeatedly prayed in her heart, "Two princesses," "Three lives lost in childbirth," "Difficult childbirth and postpartum hemorrhage"...
When the dust settled, I closed my eyes again.
Soon, a happy smile appeared on his face again.
"Let me see." The Empress removed her nail guards and took the little prince. She didn't like him, but seeing the baby, she couldn't help but feel her heart melt.
If she had a son, he would be so adorable!
Sumalagu was waiting early in the morning. She looked at the two children, then took the little princess's swaddling clothes, her eyes full of love.
"The Empress Dowager must be overjoyed!"
The little emperor looked left and right, too excited to sit still.
The imperial physician took the children's pulses and nodded slightly.
"Your Highnesses are in good health. This servant congratulates Your Majesty and Empress!"
The old doctor gave the dragon a small pat on the back.
The young emperor was even happier, because there is a rule that one should hold their grandson but not their son, so he also tried to hold the little princess.
A short while later, Granny Wuyun and her people carried the children away!
Sumalagu took her leave.
Because it was nighttime, and because of Sherry's lowly status, the Empress Dowager did not come, no matter how much she wanted to.
The young emperor sat down for a moment, as if he had remembered something.
He looked at Liang Jiugong beside him.
[By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that Heaven favors our dynasty, bestowing auspicious omens. The virtuous and gentle Consort Liu, blessed by Heaven and Earth, has given birth to a son of the Emperor, a meritorious deed for the nation and a virtue for all people. Such extraordinary achievements are truly a blessing for the Imperial Family and a boon to all. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon her the honor of promotion and issue this decree of commendation, elevating her to the rank of Virtuous Consort, to recognize her merits. It is hoped that Virtuous Consort will continue to uphold her maternal virtues, nurture the imperial heir, and jointly contribute to the destiny of the nation. So be it.]
After Liang Jiugong finished reading in a high-pitched voice, the young emperor stood up.
In fact, in the early years of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the hierarchy of imperial concubines was not very well-established. Apart from the Empress, all other concubines were collectively referred to as "concubines."
The difference lies in the terms Fujin (夫晋), Da Gege (大格格), which is between Fujin and Xiao Fujin (小夫晋), Xiao Fujin (小夫晋), and Gege (格格).
Some concubines who came from bondservant or Han banner families could only hold the lowest rank of Gege upon entering the palace.
This was also because the concubines came from different families and were favored by the emperor.
Among them, Consort Niohuru enjoyed the treatment of a consort.
Take Lady Ma Jia, for example. Because she was born into a bondservant family, she was a princess when she first entered the palace. After giving birth to a prince, she was promoted to a minor consort and enjoyed the treatment of a concubine.
It was because these ranks were so chaotic and the number of women in the harem was increasing that Kangxi began to clearly define them.
Of course, here, thanks to some favoritism and the fact that they were twins, Sherry managed to get a place in his heart!
The concubines knelt on the ground, and the Empress tried her best to control the expression on her face.
Soon, Kangxi left, holding the Empress's hand.
The Empress was stunned for a moment, then followed the Emperor back to Kunning Palace with a touch of shyness.
The following day, the flowing water's rewards were delivered to Yikun Palace.
After Shirley woke up, she looked at the two babies and secretly fed them various kinds of meatballs.
Only then did Sherry begin to eat!
The Empress Dowager arrived on the day the children were celebrating their third birthday. She was so happy to see her two great-grandchildren that her eyes crinkled with joy.
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