Chapter 77 The nanny kindly reminds Consort De
When the old nanny arrived at Chengqian Palace carrying several valuable gifts and a set of exquisite prince's clothes, Consort De was sitting by the window, her head bowed as she sewed a small garment, the stitches meticulous. Yuwen Hao, meanwhile, was not far away, brandishing a small wooden sword.
Seeing the old nanny enter, Consort De put down her work, a hint of doubt on her face, and stood up gently, saying, "Why have you come, nanny?"
The old nanny quickly bowed and greeted the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince. She said, "This old servant greets the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince. This old servant is here on the orders of His Majesty and the Empress to deliver a birthday gift to His Highness the Crown Prince."
She gestured to the palace maids behind her to present the gift, and then picked up the gorgeous little outfit: "This outfit was specially made for the eldest prince by the Imperial Wardrobe at the Empress's instruction, and she instructed him to wear it to the New Year's Eve banquet the day after tomorrow."
Consort De glanced at the obviously valuable gifts and the exquisitely crafted clothes, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. Although His Majesty had never skimped on their food, clothing, or daily necessities, he had never inquired about Hao'er's affairs. She immediately understood that this must be the Empress's doing.
She curtsied in return, her tone respectful and grateful: "Thank you for making this trip, Granny. Please convey our gratitude to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress on behalf of my son and me."
The old nanny repeatedly said she dared not, but her gaze inadvertently fell on the little garment that Consort De had just sewn. The size and style were clearly intended for a newborn baby. A thought struck her, and she couldn't help but ask softly, "This old servant may be so bold as to ask Your Highness, but this little garment you're holding... doesn't look like it's for His Highness the First Prince?"
Consort De followed her gaze to the small garment in her hands, a faint, gentle smile, radiating maternal warmth, appearing on her face. She gently stroked the soft fabric and whispered:
"This is... prepared for the little prince or princess in Her Majesty the Empress's womb. I had nothing better to do, so I thought I'd do my part."
Upon hearing this, the old nanny's heart stirred. This Consort De was indeed a kind-hearted person. She respectfully bowed again: "Your Highness is so kind. If Her Majesty the Empress knew, she would surely appreciate Your Highness's kindness."
Consort De shook her head slightly: "I dare not accept such praise, it is merely a small token of my appreciation."
Consort De glanced at the unfinished baby clothes in her hands and sighed softly. In this deep palace, she asked for nothing more than for Hao'er to grow up safely and for her and her son to live peacefully—that would be the greatest blessing. She only hoped that the Empress would accept them.
Just as the old nanny was about to leave, she saw this heartwarming scene of Consort De and her son, and in the end, she couldn't bear it. She stopped in her tracks, turned around, and her face showed hesitation and struggle.
Just as Consort De was about to continue sewing the baby clothes, Yuwen Hao put down his small wooden sword and came over to his mother for a hug. "Mother, I want a hug..." Consort De saw that the nanny had returned with a strange expression. Consort De gently patted her son's back and gestured to the maid, "Take the eldest prince to wipe his face and wash his hands."
After the palace maid led the reluctant Yuwen Hao away, Consort De looked at the old nanny with a puzzled look in her eyes: "Nanny, you've returned. Is there something else?"
The old nanny stepped forward, lowered her voice, and said with unprecedented solemnity, "Your Highness, please forgive my indiscretion, but... it's best not to send these clothes. In this palace, sometimes... doing nothing is the best course of action."
Consort De frowned slightly, even more puzzled: "What do you mean by that, Granny? I just wanted to make a small garment, to do my part..."
“Your Majesty’s intentions are good,” the old nanny interrupted her, her voice even lower, almost a whisper, “but His Majesty loves the Empress so much that he cherishes this pregnancy more than his own eyes, as everyone in the palace knows. But… Your Majesty, you know that the Empress’s pregnancy was unstable before and she almost miscarried. Although it is a joyous occasion of twins, childbirth is always a perilous journey for a woman, and twins are even more dangerous. Now His Majesty is protecting her like a precious jewel, and the Empress is also staying at home, resting quietly in Guanju Palace every day.”
"The imperial physicians take her pulse every day without fail, but the Empress seems... always lacking in energy..."
The old nanny took a deep breath and spoke the cruelest possibility: "What will happen during childbirth... or whether the little prince and princess will be healthy after birth... none of us can guarantee anything."
Seeing Consort De's face turn pale instantly, she didn't dare to speak too plainly, but her meaning was clear enough: "What this old servant is saying is... in case... in case something really goes wrong in the future, His Majesty is worried about the Empress and is in a bad mood. If he sees this little dress you sent, he might... might take his anger out on you, or even... implicate His Highness the First Prince!"
The old nanny continued, "Even if Her Majesty the Empress is blessed with good fortune and a safe delivery, and the little prince and princess are healthy, how delicate is a baby's skin? Your Majesty, you have given birth to the first prince, you should know this best. Even if we are extremely careful and attentive, using the softest fabric and the finest stitches, we cannot guarantee that the child will not experience the slightest discomfort, such as developing small red spots. If even the slightest thing happens..."
Upon hearing this, Consort De's hand trembled, and the soft little garment almost slipped from her grasp. She stared blankly at the old nanny.
The old nanny didn't continue, but Consort De understood her meaning. If the child felt any discomfort wearing her clothes, what would His Majesty think? Would he suspect her of harboring malicious intentions?
She only thought about expressing goodwill, but forgot that the emperor's heart is unpredictable, especially when it comes to matters concerning the safety of the empress and the legitimate son.
She slowly put down her needlework, her voice trembling slightly: "Thank you... thank you for your guidance, Granny. I... understand."
Seeing that she had taken her words to heart, the old nanny breathed a sigh of relief and bowed, saying, "It's good that Your Highness understands. This old servant also hopes that Your Highness and His Highness the First Prince will always be safe and well. This old servant takes her leave."
Consort De nodded, sat alone in the hall, looking at the unfinished little dress. After a long while, she sighed softly. In this deep palace, living and ensuring Hao'er's safe growth were the only things she should do.
She looked at the unfinished little dress, her expression complex. Finally, she gently put it away and locked it deep inside the chest. Some feelings, perhaps, truly can only be kept in the heart.
The old nanny walked out of Chengqian Palace, her steps pausing slightly outside the palace gate. She was a woman who had given birth herself, and had served in the palace for decades, witnessing and assisting many of the late emperor's concubines in childbirth; her experience was considerable. These days, she had been serving the Empress closely at Guanju Palace, and she had noticed the Empress's listless expression, her poor appetite, and her lack of energy.
She sighed silently to herself: childbirth is entirely dependent on a woman's last breath and spirit. Her Majesty the Empress is so weak now, and she is carrying twins, which are the most energy-consuming pregnancy. When she goes into labor... I'm afraid it will be extremely dangerous, and she will suffer greatly.
But these words are now an absolute taboo in Guanju Palace; no one dares to utter a single word. His Majesty protects the Empress so closely that nothing can be said that might cause her concern.
The old nanny had always had a good impression of Consort De; she was a well-behaved, unassuming person who was devoted to the First Prince. Her comment today was only out of consideration for their past relationship and out of pity for the First Prince, a risky act of speaking out of turn. She absolutely could not reveal anything more about the true dangers the Empress might face during childbirth.
She shook her head, composed herself, and strode quickly toward Guanju Palace. All she could do was to serve the Empress with even greater care and diligence, hoping that Her Majesty the Empress would be blessed with good fortune and get through this ordeal safely.
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