After a lot of trouble
Cao and Dong finally finished exchanging greetings.
After watching the whole spectacle unfold, He Zhuo finally spoke: "This year, Your Highness and I will be accompanying the Emperor and Your Highness to Changchun Garden to escape the summer heat."
As soon as He Zhuo spoke, everyone quieted down, their ears perked up, and they all wanted to go to the garden with him.
"My master and I have discussed it, and we'll be taking all the children with us this time to escape the summer heat. As for you..."
He Zhuo paused deliberately and took a sip of tea with malicious intent.
He glanced at everyone, some with expectant eyes, some with nervous expressions, and some feigning composure.
Then, slowly, he continued, "Chao, the concubine, is the birth mother of the Second Princess, and Fan, the concubine, is the birth mother of the Third and Fourth Princesses. Naturally, they will go together."
"This servant thanks Lady Xie."
Fan Gege was overjoyed, and even though Chao was usually calm, she couldn't help but show her delight.
Guan Gege already knew she would definitely be left behind, but there was still a glimmer of hope, which was shattered the next moment.
"Princess Li, Princess Guan, and Concubine Gao will remain in the prince's quarters." This was all expected, and they accepted it calmly.
The person whose name was called by He Zhuo stood up and answered, "Yes."
"As for~~~" He Zhuo began to whet people's appetites again, "Concubine Cao and Concubine Dong."
Everyone's breathing became lighter, and Cao and Dong couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"Let's go and serve them together."
After building up everyone's curiosity, I finally told them.
Amidst the envious or jealous gazes of the crowd, the two rose to return the greeting.
"Alright, everyone disperse."
As everyone walked out of the main courtyard, they each had their own thoughts.
Fan Gege thought to herself: Does the fact that the Empress bestowed clothes upon Dong Shi mean that the contraceptive medicine in the inner palace will be discontinued? I should hurry up and take some tonics so that I can have a son in one fell swoop.
Knowing she wasn't particularly beautiful, Guan Gege had always maintained her position in the inner courtyard by not vying for anything. Was she truly heartless? Or was it merely a survival tactic? So far, it had been successful; at least she had a good impression of the master, hadn't she?
Guan Gege was skeptical about whether the master would stop taking the contraceptive medicine. She could tell that the master wanted a legitimate son, and the Empress's gift of the contraceptive was just a test. Only if the Fujin gave birth to a prince this time would the contraceptive medicine be stopped.
After Li Gege became pregnant without permission and then suffered a miscarriage, the master never entered her room again, and she completely lost favor.
Li Gege's appearance was only above average, and she didn't have any memorable features. She lived like an invisible person in the backyard.
Later, upon learning from elsewhere that she would have difficulty conceiving again, Li Gege completely gave up hope.
The princess was not a harsh person and did not deduct her allowance. At first, the people in the inner quarters would laugh at her, but now no one would make things difficult for her. Princess Li felt that living like this was not bad.
Concubine Chao, usually indifferent to worldly affairs, watched as the others were tempted by Consort Hui's reward, and inwardly scoffed.
It wasn't until she gave birth to the second princess that she began to understand that the master didn't care about the people in the inner quarters at all; the only person he cared about was his wife. This was something she had vaguely sensed, given that the master hadn't visited her even once during her pregnancy, coupled with the fact that Consort Fan was also pregnant.
It's not just because the master wants a legitimate son; it's because the master doesn't like these servant girls bearing his offspring.
That's not wrong, though, since the Imperial Household Department was originally the royal family's household servants.
She only realized this after giving birth to her daughter, but she didn't tell anyone and rarely went to see the second princess who had crawled out of her belly, for fear of running into the master and making him think that the second princess was born to her, a lowly mother, and that he would hate her for life.
Consort Hui's actions were merely a test. People cherish the children born to Manchu noblewomen and are now hoping for the child in the wife's womb. If it is a prince, they might stop the contraceptive medicine. But if it is a princess, they can forget about it.
I wonder if there will be any fools who think they're favored and spit out the contraceptive pills.
Thinking this, Concubine Chao slowly walked back to her room.
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