Sarah quickly expressed her gratitude. This was indeed what Sarah had been worried about recently. Her sister-in-law had been quietly accomplishing great things and was suddenly bestowed the title of Consort Shu, which had truly startled everyone.
Sarah is still in a daze, not quite able to process what happened.
Ituma Shushu then said softly to her mother, Bukur, "Mother, when it comes to the marriages of my fourth and fifth brothers, you should ask Aunt Yao to take a look. She has excellent judgment."
“Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. You know your father’s temperament. There are still many important matters in the family that he has to worry about. Even now, your aunt is still worried about your father,” Bukur said with a soft laugh.
Indeed, Ituma Shushu's father and elder brother were both honest and kind people. When she was at home, she often heard her aunt say that her father and elder brother were just like their grandfather.
As soon as Bukur finished speaking, she seemed to remember something and asked in a low voice, "Where is the Seventh Prince?"
Ituma Shushu smiled at Bukur and said, "I was just thinking that I haven't seen my mother for many years and I must have a lot to say, so I asked the palace maid to carry the Seventh Prince into the inner room first."
Bukur nodded repeatedly to Ituma Shushu in a low voice, saying, "That's only right. Now that you're a mother, you're considering things even more carefully."
Ituma Shushu said softly to Bukur, "Mother, don't worry. I've been in the palace for several years now, and I'm no longer a little girl hiding under your wing."
She turned back to Chunhua, who was standing guard outside, and called out, "Chunhua."
Chunhua hurriedly ran in, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this servant is here."
Ituma Shushu gently instructed Chunhua, "Chunhua, have Xiaju and Dongmei bring the Seventh Prince in."
"Yes, Your Highness, this servant will go right away," Chunhua replied with a bow.
Not long after Chunhua left, Xiaju came in carrying the Seventh Prince.
Ituma Shushu took the Seventh Prince and held him in her arms, gently instructing, "Xiaju, Dongmei, and Chunhua, you may step back and stand guard outside."
Xia Ju, Dong Mei, and Chun Hua bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
After Xia Ju, Dong Mei, and Chun Hua withdrew, she turned around and smiled happily at Bukur, saying, "Mother, this is my seventh prince, Hongzhao. Isn't he adorable?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the Seventh Prince seemed to have noticed her and stuck out his tongue at her.
Ituma Shushu laughed heartily. She was used to teasing the Seventh Prince, so he recognized her as his mother.
Bukur's eyes welled up with tears again, and he excitedly said "Good, good, good" several times.
When Shala saw that Bukur's eyes were moist again, she quickly took Bukur's hand and whispered, "Mother, look how cute and blessed Consort Shu's seventh prince is."
The seventh prince, Hongzhao, is now almost five months old and has grown up quite a bit.
It's chubby and plump, like a little dumpling, with big, dark eyes that are wide open and squint into crescent moons when you tease it.
Her small nose was upturned, her rosy little mouth looked smaller than her eyes, and her hair was soft.
When Ituma Shushu heard Sarah mention good fortune, her eyes lit up and she immediately came up with a plan.
Shushu quickly pulled Shala along and said happily, "Sister-in-law, do you also think our Seventh Prince looks blessed? Let me tell you, it's a blessing bestowed upon me by God because He saw my piety."
Bukur and Shala looked puzzled. Bukur cautiously asked in a low voice, "Your Highness Consort Shu, do you think Heaven has bestowed blessings upon you?"
Shushu smiled brightly at Bukur and Shala and said, "Mother, sister-in-law, I'm not joking about this. I've walked through the gates of death twice before, and since then I've found that whenever I'm close to flowers, plants and trees, my physical condition improves and I feel completely refreshed."
Upon hearing Ituma Shushu say that she had walked through the gates of death twice, Bukur couldn't hold back her tears, which instantly fell down her cheeks.
Ituma Shushu could only whisper to Bukur, "Mother, it's all over now, I'm fine."
She continued softly, "From then on, I developed a love for appreciating flowers, plants, and trees."
After that, as if blessed by the heavens, she was first suddenly favored by the emperor, then she was fortunate enough to become pregnant with the emperor's child, and finally she gave birth to a healthy seventh prince and was conferred the title of Consort Shu.
These are all blessings bestowed upon me by God!
Seeing Ituma Shushu's beaming face, both Bukur and Sala were stunned.
Ituma Shushu pulled Bukur's hand and whispered in her ear, "Mother, I'm not stupid. I got pregnant with the Seventh Prince after only one night of serving the Emperor, and I even gave birth to a healthy Seventh Prince safely. This is because God has been protecting me."
Bukur was taken aback, and only then did she understand why her daughter was so stubborn in believing that it was God's favor, protection, and blessing upon her.
Ituma Shushu then chatted with Ms. Bukuer and Ms. Shala about some other things.
At this moment, Xia Ju, who was waiting outside, gently pushed open the door, quickly walked in, bowed, and reminded her, "Your Majesty, it's getting late."
Ituma Shushu nodded, then said to Xia Ju, "Xia Ju, bring over the items that I asked you to sort out from the storeroom earlier."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xia Ju nodded in response, bowed, and withdrew.
Before long, Xia Ju, Dong Mei, and Chun Hua came in with the items they had prepared earlier.
Ituma Shushu first pointed to the items brought in by Xiaju, Dongmei, and Chunhua: 200 taels of silver, 2 bolts of gauze, 2 bolts of spring silk, 2 bolts of palace silk, 2 bolts of cloud satin, 2 bolts of plain satin, 2 bolts of commercial silk, and 2 catties of cotton.
Then she took her mother Bukur's hand and whispered, "Mother, I am now a concubine, and I lack nothing."
The Empress and the Emperor bestowed many gifts upon me; these are just a part of them.
There are too many rules in the palace, and Auntie Yao is getting old. I can't bear to see her running around so much. These things are my way of showing my respect to her and to you, Mother.
With tears in her eyes, Bukur replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
When Lady Bukur and Lady Shala walked out of the gate of the Yuanmingyuan, they both breathed a sigh of relief. They were finally out; going into the palace was really tiring.
Ituma Shushu's second younger brother, Ituma Fuhe, had been waiting outside the Yuanmingyuan Garden for a long time. When he saw Bukur and Shala come out, he hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Mother, sister-in-law, how is eldest sister?"
Bukur said in a low voice, "The Empress and the Prince are both well. Let's go back quickly. Your father and Auntie are worried. We'll talk about it in detail when we get back."
Ituma Fuhe nodded in agreement, knowing that it was really inconvenient to go into details outside.
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