At the beginning of the 19th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, the Seven-year-long Rebellion of the Three Feudatories was basically put down. Except for a few remnant forces in Yunnan and Guizhou, all other areas had been recovered.
Today is the first day of February, and it is also the day when all the palace people gather in Chengqian Palace to pay their respects to Imperial Concubine Tong Jia. Now that the Central Palace is vacant, the person with the highest rank in the palace is the emperor's cousin.
The noble lady Uya Rouwan, who had given birth to a son and was six months pregnant at the time, was promoted to Depin three months ago. Now that she was about to give birth, she didn't have to pay respects today, but for some reason she insisted on going.
Rouwan entered the palace as a palace maid, so she had no dowry. She only had Aunt Qing, who was assigned to serve her after she entered the palace, and she was quite loyal.
Aunt Qing, who was following by the side, saw that her madam looked pale and uncomfortable, and said worriedly: "Madam, why don't we not go? I can see that you look very bad. Now that the madam is about to give birth, you must be careful in everything."
Rouwan in the sedan chair slowly opened her eyes. Her temperament was fresh and gentle, and her appearance was also calm and gentle. However, her eyes were extremely beautiful and full of affection. Now that she was feeling unwell, her brows were slightly furrowed, which added a sense of brokenness that made her look particularly pitiful.
She shook her head gently and said to Aunt Qing in a gentle tone: "The Imperial Concubine is dignified and virtuous, and has always been kind to the people in the harem. In addition, Yinzhen is also raised in the Imperial Concubine's Chengqian Palace. It is reasonable for me to go and pay my respects to her. Aunt Qing, there is no need to say more."
Aunt Qing sighed and stopped trying to persuade her. Her Majesty was just too kind-hearted. Last year, when Concubine Yi was pregnant, she stopped paying her respects to the Imperial Concubine when her belly was only eight months old. Every time she did so, she would send the palace maids around her to say that she was not feeling well, but the Imperial Concubine did not say anything. Now her Majesty was in the same position as Concubine Yi, but she still had to work so hard to abide by the palace rules. She felt really distressed seeing this.
Uya Rouwan was selected as a palace maid through the selection of the Eight Banners and entered the palace in the 14th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, which was five years ago. At first, she was not favored and was far less popular than Concubine Yi Guo Luoluo, who was granted the treatment of a concubine only one month after entering the palace.
But she also had her own advantages. She was gentle and quiet, not competitive. She was a woman who made people feel comfortable like water. When Kangxi was bored, he often liked to sit with her. He was most calm when chatting with her. That was why she was able to be promoted to a concubine so quickly and quietly.
Rouwan knew very well in her heart that what the emperor liked about her was her knowledge, taste, gentleness and humility. She was not of the same type as Concubine Yi, so naturally she could not be as willful and unbridled as Concubine Yi.
When they arrived at the gate of Chengqian Palace, the servants who were carrying the sedan chair dropped it to the ground with extreme caution, for fear of disturbing the dragon fetus in Concubine De's belly. Aunt Qing and another palace maid Lianxin supported Rouwan, and the three of them, the master and servants, slowly walked towards the main hall.
"Oh! Concubine De comes to pay her respects to the imperial concubine with such a big belly. You have to be careful." Concubine Hui, who arrived first, hurried forward to lend a hand.
Yipin sneered. Huipin liked to pretend to be a good person, which she looked down upon. As for Depin, who hadn't been pregnant before? Who was she showing off to by parading around with a big belly?
Concubine Xi, who was the last in rank among the concubines, lowered her eyes and concentrated on drinking tea, without saying a word, as if this group of people had nothing to do with her.
On the other hand, Rongpin, who had the most experience and had given birth to the most children, looked at Rouwan's belly with an expression of disapproval and said something out loud.
"You're about to give birth, why are you out at this time?" It's not like Depin has never given birth before, so she shouldn't know nothing.
Rouwan looked down at her belly, stroking it gently with her right hand. Before she could reply to Rongpin, Imperial Concubine Tong Jia came in.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May you be blessed with good health and good health."
"Everyone, get up." Tong Jia then noticed that Depin was a step slower than the other concubines.
She quickly raised her hand to signal the palace maids to come and help.
"Is Depin's baby nine months old? You're too obedient. I'm also careless and forgot to remind you that you don't need to come to Chengqian Palace to pay respects before you give birth, so as not to move and hurt the baby in your belly."
"Thank you, Imperial Concubine. You are in charge of the affairs of the six palaces and you are very busy. This is just a small matter. How dare I trouble you to worry about it? It's just that I am bored in the palace alone, so I want to come to the Imperial Concubine's palace to have a cup of tea and chat with the sisters in the palace."
Imperial Concubine Tong Jia nodded at her with a smile and said to her, "Wait for you to give birth safely, are you still worried that you won't have time to chat with everyone? The most important thing now is the dragon heir in your belly."
"Yes, Sister Rongpin reminded me just now."
"Rongpin has given birth to the most children, so she naturally has the most experience. If you young concubines don't understand something, you can go and ask Rongpin. Are you willing to do so?" The imperial concubine said this while looking at Rongpin with a smile.
Rongpin was naturally very happy to be able to be used by the imperial concubine. She quickly stood up and bowed, smiling and replied: "I am naturally willing to help the sisters in the palaces."
The smile on Huipin's face faded a little, but she quickly covered it up. What's the point of having more children? The previous ones all failed. She was the biological mother of the eldest prince. Rongpin still wanted to interfere in palace affairs, but it was not her turn.
Everyone sat together and chatted for another half an hour before the imperial concubine asked them to disperse.
"Princess De, please stay for now. I have something else to say to you."
After everyone left, the imperial concubine instructed the nanny beside her, "Go and call the Fourth Prince over and let Depin see him."
Although she had never given birth, she knew in her heart that Depin was willing to come to Chengqian Palace to pay her respects at such an old age. In addition to respecting her as a noble concubine, it was naturally because she was the biological mother of the Fourth Prince and cared about her son. A mother was willing to endure discomfort in order to see her child. As an adoptive mother, she was not a cold-hearted person, so she was naturally willing to fulfill Depin's wish.
Depin stood up and wanted to bow to express her gratitude.
"Well, there's no one else here, so there's no need to be so formal. I know you care about Yinzhen, so I'll ask him to stay alone with you for a while so you and your son can chat."
"Thank you for your consideration, Madam."
"Have you asked the imperial physician to check your pulse recently? I think your pregnancy is about to mature." Depin has a gentle personality and is usually very responsible, so the imperial concubine is willing to talk to her more.
"I just asked the imperial physician to come and check yesterday, and he estimated that I will have less than half a month left."
The imperial concubine nodded and continued, "Are the midwives and delivery rooms ready? If there is anything else you need, please send the palace maids around you to tell me. Don't be too cautious. You are giving birth to a child for the emperor, and others dare not say anything."
Depin was not promoted among the concubines in the harem by the Emperor in the 16th year of Kangxi's reign. She was promoted because she gave birth to the Fourth Prince and later became pregnant with this child. Therefore, she always looked particularly humble, and the Imperial Concubine had to give her a few more words of advice.
"Everything is ready. Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I don't lack anything right now. If there is anything missing, I will shamelessly come to Your Majesty for help."
As they were talking, the wet nurse came in, carrying the Fourth Prince, who was only one and a half years old.
Depin's eyes were fixed on the little body and she didn't move.
Although he was only one and a half years old, Yinzhen had a very upright posture when he stood on the ground. He first bowed to his adoptive mother.
"My son pays respects to my mother."
Tong Jia smiled and nodded, "Good boy, go and greet your mother, she came to see you specially."
Little Yinzhen looked up, his eyes were indifferent, not at all like an ordinary child who was happy to see his biological mother.
"Greetings to De'er Niang."
Aunt Qing on the side pursed her lips, thinking that the Fourth Prince was a little too cold towards the Empress, but Rouwan was very happy. Her little Fourth Prince had grown up so much now, and his face looked rosy. It seemed that he was being well taken care of by the Imperial Concubine.
"Get up quickly and cool down carefully."
"I still have some trivial matters to take care of, so I won't disturb you and your son from talking." The imperial concubine knew that it would be difficult for Depin to get close to the child while she was here.
"Farewell, Her Majesty." Rouwan looked at the Imperial Concubine with gratitude.
After the imperial concubine left, Rouwan got down from her seat and walked towards little Yinzhen. She first touched his head gently, then looked at him with a smile and stretched out her hand to him.
"Yinzhen, would you mind sitting with mother and talking for a while?"
Little Yinzhen looked at the hands in front of him with complicated eyes. After a moment, he finally put his little hands on them.
Rouwan held his hand and smiled happily. She was so happy that she didn't notice her son's abnormality. She just thought that he hadn't seen her for half a month and felt a little strange. But it didn't matter. This was the child she had carried for ten months and it would be fine if she spent more time with him.
The mother and son sat together. Rouwan carefully touched the child's cheek. Her little Yinzhen was so cute.
"Xiao Si, mother has been feeling heavy lately and really can't cook for you herself. After the baby is born, mother will make the food for you as before, okay?" Rouwan was afraid that the child would feel that she didn't value him, so she explained to him.
Little Yinzhen looked at his mother's belly with a cold face. After all, his mother preferred to have a son by her side. It was not the first time he had experienced this in his previous life. No matter how many mistakes the fourteenth prince made, his mother would still protect him. Even when he lost the fight for the throne with her, his mother threatened to refuse to move to the palace in order to restore his title.
He didn't care at all how difficult it was for him to ascend the throne.
Suddenly, Concubine De frowned and seemed to be uncomfortable. Little Yinzhen noticed it. He wanted to ask his mother what was wrong with him, but before he could say anything, Aunt Qing who was beside his mother came over nervously.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? Has the disease started?" This is what Aunt Qing fears the most.
Rouwan rested for a while and her expression softened again. She shook her head gently and held little Yinzhen's hand and placed it on her belly.
"I'm fine. It was just this naughty ghost in my stomach that suddenly kicked me."
At this moment, little Yinzhen also felt that the little guy in his mother's belly kicked again.
"Look, is she saying hello to her brother?" Rouwan's face was full of maternal glow at this moment, which made little Yinzhen, who looked up at her, a little dazed.
The author has something to say:
A new article is about family, involving beautiful brotherly love and warm mother-son love. The protagonist is not yet born, but is the little dumpling in Depin's belly. In the future, he will be addicted to hugging his brother's thighs, enjoying delicious food, and developing his love of planting. The protagonist does not participate in the fight for the throne, and focuses on the childhood period. It may not be written after he grows up. The above is the story, so stay tuned~
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