Ituma Shushu said softly, "Hongzhao, come to your mother's side."
The Seventh Prince Hongzhao walked steadily to Ituma Shushu's side and said, "Mother, I've come to say hello to Youyou."
The Seventh Prince, Hongzhao, had gotten used to it and greeted the baby in Ituma Shushu's belly every day.
Although Ituma Shushu knew he was a prince, she couldn't say it outright, so she didn't teach the seventh prince Hongzhao to call him "younger brother" or "younger sister," and instead let him continue calling him "youyou."
"Friend, were you a good boy/girl today?" Seventh Prince Hongzhao asked again with a serious expression.
“You’ve been very good today,” Ituma Shushu said softly.
Ituma Shushu's eyes tilted slightly upwards, as if starlight was twinkling in them, revealing a bright smile. "Hongzhao, the imperial physician told your mother today that you have two little friends in your belly. You'll have two little friends to play with. Aren't you happy?"
The Seventh Prince, Hongzhao, rolled his eyes and said, "Two friends."
Then the Seventh Prince Hongzhao said excitedly, "Happy, happy, Mother."
The wind is gentle and the moon is bright.
Little Li hurriedly ran in, leaned down and whispered something in Eunuch Fu's ear. After hearing what Little Li said, Eunuch Fu's expression changed, and he waved for Little Li to leave.
Eunuch Fu hurriedly ran into the inner room, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Little Li just brought news from Consort Shu of Qingyun Yaxuan."
Upon hearing that the news came from Consort Shu of Qingyun Yaxuan, the Empress's brow twitched slightly. "Is there something wrong with Consort Shu's unborn child?"
"Your Majesty, both Imperial Physician Sun, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, and Imperial Physician Wang, who previously treated Consort Shu and Consort Yu for their pregnancies, have said that Consort Shu is carrying twins," Eunuch Fu hurriedly bowed and replied.
"Twins." The Empress was also shocked.
"Neither Emperor Shunzhi nor Emperor Kangxi had twins born in their harems. Although I don't know if any of the concubines in the harem have ever conceived twins." The Empress paused for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly.
At this moment, Granny Chun, who was waiting to the side, was also shocked. However, she seemed to remember something and frowned, saying, "Your Majesty, last time you asked me to investigate Consort Shu in detail, I remember that Consort Shu's mother also had twins and gave birth to Consort Shu's fourth and fifth brothers safely."
The Empress's eyes showed a hint of surprise. "Granny Chun, are you saying that Consort Shu might also be pregnant with twins?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant has such suspicions now," said Granny Chun with a solemn expression.
At this moment, Eunuch Fu also said with a solemn expression: "This servant suspects that His Majesty also thinks that Consort Shu is currently pregnant with twins. Now His Majesty has not only sent two nannies and two palace maids to Consort Shu's Qingyun Yaxuan, but also sent a large number of people outside Qingyun Yaxuan."
The Empress frowned slightly. "Give the order that even if you're trying to gather information, you must stay far away."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch Fu and Granny Chun bowed and replied.
In Consort Qi's palace, Consort Qi asked the eunuch below, "Are you saying that Consort Shu is pregnant with twins?"
"Your Majesty, the news has spread throughout the palace," the eunuch said, bowing his head.
"Alright, I understand. You may leave," Consort Qi instructed.
Consort Qi frowned and said to Lin, the old nanny beside her, "Give the order that no one in our harem should be moved without permission."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lin Mama replied with a bow.
In Consort Xi's palace, Consort Xi said to Granny Tao beside her, "Keep a close eye on our manpower. We must not offend the Emperor at this time."
“Yes, Your Highness,” the nanny replied.
In Consort Yu's palace, Consort Yu murmured, "I'm pregnant with twins. I wonder if I'll have the fate to give birth to them, haha."
Then, Consort Yu instructed Granny Ping, who was waiting to the side, "All those who were sent out to gather information should be withdrawn."
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Granny Ping replied with a bow.
As night fell, Emperor Yongzheng finally finished reviewing all the memorials submitted to the emperor.
Yongzheng gently put down his pen, rubbed his sore eyes, then stood up and walked to the window.
Gazing at the bright moonlight and the tranquil Yuanmingyuan Garden outside the window, Yongzheng suddenly thought of the fact that Consort Shu was pregnant with twins today, and also considered the Seventh Prince Hongzhao and the Fifth Princess Fulana in the harem.
The Seventh Prince Hongzhao and the Fifth Princess Fulana are currently the only two children in Yongzheng's harem. The Seventh Prince Hongzhao is already 1 year and 10 months old, and the Fifth Princess Fulana is already 8 months old.
According to the imperial physician, both the Seventh Prince Hongzhao and the Fifth Princess Fulana are in good health and will grow up to adulthood if nothing unexpected happens.
Yongzheng thought to himself: Although Hongshi, Hongli, and Hongzhou have all moved out of the Yuanmingyuan, the relationships within the harem are still very complex.
For the sake of the Seventh Prince Hongzhao, the Fifth Princess Folana, and the two children in Consort Shu's womb, the harem still needs to be cleaned up again.
So Yongzheng made a gesture and ordered, "Anwu, make the arrangements. Begin purging the harem tonight."
"Yes, my lord." A shadow flashed through the room.
The first rays of dawn, like a shy maiden, quietly lift the curtain in the depths of the night.
The sky began to lighten with a pale, fish-belly white, signaling the start of a new day.
At this moment, the sky is like an unfinished canvas, waiting for the sun's paintbrush to add color to it.
A gentle breeze swept by, carrying the coolness of the night and the freshness of the morning, as if announcing the end of the night and the beginning of the day.
The leaves rustled gently in the breeze, as if offering the earliest blessings for this new day.
Gradually, the colors of the sky began to become richer.
It starts as a light blue, like a painter gently applying paint to a canvas, and then gradually becomes deeper and more expansive.
Then, the sun slowly peeked out, its golden rays shining warmly and dazzlingly across the earth.
At this moment of dawn, the whole world seems to be shrouded in a veil of mystery.
Everything awakens in the dawn, revealing its most authentic and natural side.
Birds sang merrily on the branches, as if welcoming the arrival of a new day; flowers swayed gently in the breeze, emitting a faint fragrance that was refreshing and delightful.
However, the entire Yongzheng harem was not relaxed and carefree because of Chu Xiao's arrival; on the contrary, everyone was in danger and trembling with fear.
Because last night, some palace maids, eunuchs, and nannies were taken away overnight by men in black who suddenly appeared.
The experienced palace maids, eunuchs, and nannies were all terrified and remained silent. They were also warned that the newly arrived palace maids, eunuchs, and nannies should not speak too much, lest they cause trouble.
The entire court and palace appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, undercurrents were surging.
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