Qian Shengyan: ...
Sure enough, a dog is still a dog even when dressed in a dragon robe, and it can't produce anything ivory.
While Yinzhen was busy in the court, she wasn't idle in the harem either.
Uya was sometimes able to understand things, sometimes not, and she would cause a scene from time to time.
It would have been one thing to coax and persuade her, but Consort Yi was also causing trouble. If it weren't for Qian Shengyan's active intervention, Consort Yi would have clashed with Lady Wuya several times over.
Consort Yi became arrogant because she had two sons, and the fifth prince was already a prince. Qian Shengyan did not tolerate her and, after reporting to Yinzhen, replaced all the servants in Consort Yi's palace.
With no trusted confidants and no information dissemination, she wanted to see how arrogant she could be.
Moving the palace meant dealing with the palace servants and the imperial concubines. Qian Shengyan, who was almost four months pregnant, thought she wouldn't be able to handle it. But to her surprise, the child was very sensible. When Qian Shengyan was busy, he behaved himself and didn't cause his mother any trouble.
Qian Shengyan subconsciously felt that this was probably a daughter. Such a sweet little girl, just as lovable as her older sister.
The two of them were busy with their own things, and Qian Shengyan was already showing signs of pregnancy. It was only then that Yinzhen noticed and asked her this question, and he did so in this particular way!
Qian Shengyan was so angry she laughed. She put down her chopsticks, stood up, and presented her belly to Yinzhen's face, biting her lip and saying with a smile, "I am so 'round' thanks to Your Majesty!"
Yinzhen was initially puzzled, then looked at the belly, his expression gradually turning into disbelief and shock. He also stood up, forgetting to put down his chopsticks: "You, you... this..."
"I'm almost four months pregnant," Qian Shengyan said helplessly. "When will Your Majesty finally find out?"
"Why didn't you tell me!" Yinzhen quickly stepped forward to support Qian Shengyan's arm, but then, remembering her recent busy work in the palace, his expression changed immediately. He hurriedly shouted to Su Peisheng, "Go and fetch the imperial physician!"
After shouting, he realized it was New Year's Eve, and he had basically sent everyone home. He didn't know if there were any imperial physicians specializing in gynecology.
He shouted again, "Go back to the Prince's Mansion and fetch Doctor Zhou!"
Qian Shengyan, both amused and exasperated, pressed down on his arm: "Your Majesty, there's no need... I'm fine, and I feel better when I'm busy than when I'm idle. This is a thoughtful person..."
"Really? You're alright? Aren't you tired? You even threw up?" Yinzhen remembered how Qian Shengyan used to feel nauseous all the time during her last pregnancy, and his expression turned even worse. "Why, you..."
But soon, Yinzhen also understood the timing. In October, he went on a mission to Tongzhou, and after returning, he went directly to Changchun Garden. Then came his succession to the throne, a flurry of activity...
The two didn't even have time to sit down and announce that she was pregnant!
Yinzhen pursed his lips, his face still showing displeasure. The servants around him dared not utter a sound. Qian Shengyan had no choice but to wave her hand to let Qingxue and the others leave. Then she pulled Yinzhen down to sit and snuggled into his arms.
Holding this precious baby, and then thinking about the little one inside her belly, Yinzhen couldn't maintain his displeasure any longer. He sighed again, "You, you..."
If he had known that Qian Shengyan was pregnant, he would never have let her enter the palace to help him manage the affairs of the harem!
Qian Shengyan seemed to guess his thoughts, and leaned her head on his shoulder, saying cautiously, "Does Your Majesty regret bringing me into the palace so soon?"
Yinzhen didn't answer, but Qian Shengyan fiddled with his buttons, humming and saying, "Then who does Your Majesty intend to send? Your Consort? Or... Lady Nian? Lady Li?"
Yinzhen was taken aback, then patted her back helplessly: "You..."
"Yes, I'm jealous!" Qian Shengyan said matter-of-factly. "Your Majesty is the Emperor now, and who knows how many more concubines he will choose to fill the harem in the future. If I don't hurry up and get closer to Your Majesty now, will I still have a chance in the future?"
"Don't talk nonsense again." Yinzhen patted her again, but the force was extremely light, as if he were just stroking her back.
He sighed, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.
Qian Shengyan waited for a while, and seeing that he still didn't speak, she looked up in confusion: "Your Majesty?"
“You…” Yinzhen was at a loss for words.
He had originally thought it all out: the position of Empress could not be changed. Ulanara had not done anything wrong, and she had been filial and diligent over the years. Moreover, she was the primary consort whom Emperor Kangxi had betrothed to him. The Empress could only be her.
As for Lady Nian... Lady Nian must be in a position below the Empress and above everyone else.
He sighed: "I have already ordered Yinzhen to relinquish his military power and return to the capital immediately, but the Northwest is not yet pacified. After much thought, I can only think of Nian Gengyao..."
"Your Majesty, I understand." Qian Shengyan said, but then laughed.
History is history, and it's really difficult to change it.
But she didn't care; whether she was a concubine or a high-ranking official, it didn't matter to her.
If she could change history, she would only ask for one thing: that God grant all the possibilities of changing history to the child in her womb.
The best thing would be for this child to be born safely and grow up safely.
Qian Shengyan raised her head and met Yinzhen's slightly evasive gaze. She smiled again, her tone laced with cunning: "I am a secondary consort and have given birth to a prince. Asking for the rank of imperial concubine is not too greedy, is it?"
"Consort?" Yinzhen was taken aback, then became somewhat flustered. "No, no, I, I originally wanted to..."
“Your Majesty is already very fortunate. I am still young.” Qian Shengyan became the one to persuade him, somewhat helplessly. “If Your Majesty is interested, we can talk about it when the opportunity arises.”
Her understanding nature only made Yinzhen more at a loss. He pursed his lips and tightened his grip on Qian Shengyan.
After a long pause, he said, "Take good care of yourself during your pregnancy. After this child is born, I... will bestow upon you the title of Imperial Concubine."
Qian Shengyan smiled and nodded, without saying anything more.
In the first year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, before the first month had even ended, Yinzhen issued his first imperial edict concerning his harem.
"Consort Niohuru is virtuous and prudent by nature, diligent and gentle, kind and pure, gentle and kind in character, skilled in domestic affairs, and virtuous and refined. She is very much to my liking. By the grace of the Empress Dowager, she is hereby conferred the title of Consort Xi."
Qian Shengyan was dressed in a court dress befitting a concubine. Although it was hastily made, it was exceptionally luxurious.
She performed a respectful bow, accepted the imperial edict with both hands, and was about to stand up when a large hand supported her forearm, pulling her up with a force.
“Your Majesty…” Qian Shengyan called out with her head down. Yinzhen responded but did not say anything more. He simply took her wrist and said softly, “Yongshou Palace is closest to Yangxin Hall. I have already ordered people to repair and renovate it. Once everything is in place, you can move there.”
Qian Shengyan pursed her lips slightly, following Yinzhen towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation, while helplessly thinking about the recent rumors.
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