Days passed by, and the green shoots of the purple gradient gradually turned yellow.
Consort Tong's belly grew bigger day by day, and no matter how unwilling Emperor Kangxi was, the Consort's belly still reached more than seven months.
Emperor Kangxi did not visit Chengqian Palace more often because his cousin was pregnant.
Consort Tong's mind is currently focused on her pregnancy, and she doesn't pay much attention to the matter, only assuming that she has been away from the court for too long recently.
Since she didn't visit any other concubines, Consort Tong didn't care and stayed wholeheartedly in Chengqian Palace, not daring to go out even once this time.
They even specifically asked Emperor Kangxi for two experienced old nannies.
This time, Consort Tong did not push the Fourth Prince Yinzhen away during her pregnancy. Instead, she would occasionally call him back to Chengqian Palace to cultivate a relationship with the child in her womb.
They took better care of him in his daily life than before, just in case the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, felt uncomfortable.
After much difficulty, she raised the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, to adulthood. This child, who came from her own womb, also needed an older brother to protect him.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, would be a perfect fit.
This time, Consort Tong's mind was not as impulsive as before; she became calm and intelligent, able to analyze the pros and cons of things.
Instead of simply acting on one's own whims and moods.
She has to consider her child's well-being; she knows her own body well enough that she might not be able to raise the child to adulthood.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, absolutely cannot be separated from me.
As they got to know each other better, the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, did indeed fall in love with the child in Consort Tong's womb.
Life in the harem was lonely. Having a younger brother and sister was something the Fourth Prince Yinzhen was happy with, especially since he was now grown up and no longer needed to compete for favor with his younger siblings.
As long as Consort Tong does not completely abandon him after having her own child, the Fourth Prince Yinzhen is perfectly capable of accepting having a younger brother or sister.
In another month it will be His Majesty's birthday. Consort Tong does not plan to attend. She simply sends out the gift she prepared herself in advance when Emperor Kangxi comes to Chengqian Palace.
Emperor Kangxi had lost a lot of weight in the past few months, as he was troubled by matters concerning both the court and the harem.
Especially as Consort Tong's belly grew larger and larger, and Imperial Physician Li confirmed that it was a prince, Emperor Kangxi's mood was unpredictable every day.
Those who served the emperor these past few months have all suffered terribly.
Others didn't know why Kangxi acted this way, but Liang Jiugong knew a little about the inside story and dared not say anything. Only His Majesty could handle such matters personally.
Otherwise, when the emperor regrets it later, the first person to die will be the one who tried to persuade him.
Liang Jiugong also pretended not to know anything.
Every day, like everyone else, I served them with utmost care and trepidation.
As the leaves turn yellow day by day and the vibrant flowers gradually wither,
Consort Tong launched her attack, and Consort Yi also launched hers at the same time.
Upon hearing the report from his subordinates, Emperor Kangxi immediately went to Chengqian Palace.
When they arrived at Chengqian Palace, they found it filled with beautiful women, each with their own unique charm, some plump and some slender.
Emperor Kangxi was not in the mood, and seeing the Chengqian Palace crowded with people, his face turned even darker.
The concubines, who had been smiling and paying their respects, were now kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.
Seeing the Chengqian Palace quiet down, Kangxi sat in the main seat, picked up his tea, took a sip, suppressed his rage, and glanced at the concubines on the ground with an uncertain look in his eyes.
"Since you like kneeling, then keep kneeling until the Imperial Noble Consort gives birth safely."
The concubines kneeling below were dumbfounded. They had only come to Chengqian Palace to catch a glimpse of Emperor Kangxi, hoping that he would remember them.
Maybe he can rise to prominence again and enjoy a period of glory.
Upon meeting them, Emperor Kangxi said nothing but forced them to kneel.
The lower-ranking concubines looked at the several concubines with children kneeling in front of them.
They didn't make any move, immediately deflated, and knelt obediently behind, not daring to make any more small movements.
Consort De, of the Uya clan, had just given birth to the Fourteenth Prince and was currently in her postpartum confinement period, so she did not come.
Consort Yi is giving birth in her own palace.
The birth mothers of the Third Prince, Consort Rong (née Magiya) and the birth mother of the First Prince, Consort Hui (née Nara), exchanged glances for a moment, both seeing the bitterness in each other's eyes.
Their princes and princesses have all grown up, but His Majesty doesn't give them any dignity.
Consort An (née Li), Consort Jing (née Zhangjia), Consort Duan (née Dong), and Consort Xi (née Hesheli), who were even less favored, simply kept their heads down, not wanting others to see their embarrassment.
Hearing the cries of pain coming from inside the room, Kangxi frowned, glanced at Consort Rong and Consort Hui kneeling at his feet, and waved his hand to signal them to get up.
Emperor Kangxi was just taking his anger out on his sons; normally he would be quite willing to give some face to the birth mothers of his sons.
Otherwise, it would be a slap in the face to the princes. Kangxi was quite satisfied with the ones who had grown up, especially the eldest and second eldest.
"Get up."
After saying this, Kangxi had no mood to say anything more to them.
His heart is now entirely with Consort Tong. Imperial Physician Li says this pregnancy might be difficult.
Emperor Kangxi's eyes were red. The Crown Prince's mother, Empress Xiaochengren Hesheli, had also died in childbirth. Thinking of this, Kangxi's expression turned completely somber, and the air pressure around him dropped several degrees.
Now, his cousin might die in childbirth. He was already unwilling for his cousin to give birth to a son, and he felt no joy whatsoever for the child who was about to be born.
One basin after another of bloody water was brought out from the Imperial Noble Consort's room. As he watched, the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, grew increasingly serious, his entire being turning into a moving block of ice.
He stood outside the room, waiting, ignoring the group of concubines sitting inside Chengqian Palace.
Although he no longer loved Tong E'niang as wholeheartedly as before, he still didn't want anything to happen to her.
Under the care of Consort Tong, he indeed lived a better life than most of the princes in the harem.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, still felt grateful to Consort Tong.
In the harem, without a favored mother or the Emperor's affection, life was like walking on thin ice, with every step difficult.
The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, slowly turned bright red on his hand, and before he knew it, his palm had been scratched raw.
Two hours later, news came from Consort Yi that she had given birth to a princess. Upon hearing the news, Emperor Kangxi was still delighted and bestowed upon her a great many gifts.
Consort Tong was carrying out basins of bloody fluid, but she hadn't given birth yet.
Emperor Kangxi was getting impatient; in just a quarter of an hour it would be time for his morning court session.
As Kangxi stepped out of the gate of Chengqian Palace, a ray of morning light shone on the palace.
From inside came the joyful shouts of surprise that the little prince had been born.
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