Emperor Kangxi waited and waited in the inner room.
He was puzzled. Shouldn't the Empress and Consort Qi have come in immediately upon hearing that he had woken up? Why didn't they see him, and why was there such a chaotic scene outside?
Kangxi called out to Liang Jiugong weakly.
To everyone's surprise, Liang Jiugong walked in with a beaming smile and great enthusiasm: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Kangxi had several question marks on his forehead.
Liang Jiugong grinned so hard his gums showed: "Consort Qi is pregnant!"
Emperor Kangxi opened his eyes wide and excitedly tried to sit up.
However, he was extremely weak, and he had only just woken up. He couldn't sit up; he could only lie down while the imperial physicians took his pulse.
Emperor Kangxi could feel his own body.
Although he was now so weak that he could hardly sit up, it was completely different from when he was seriously ill before. Kangxi listened attentively to the imperial physicians' pulse diagnosis, taking every opportunity to ask about Consort Qi's condition, and was in a rare good mood.
Until he saw the Crown Prince.
Hearing that Consort Qi had fainted suddenly due to excessive emotional fluctuations caused by not sleeping for several days and was currently resting in a side hall, Emperor Kangxi's mood was already quite low.
Upon seeing the Crown Prince, memories of the past few days flooded back. Seeing the Crown Prince, who appeared remarkably calm in comparison to those around him, Kangxi's anger surged even more intensely.
He said a few words indifferently, and then dismissed the crown prince.
The Crown Prince surprisingly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly left the main hall. Once outside the courtyard, his tense body suddenly relaxed, and a hint of relief appeared in his eyes.
The crown prince felt that he could hardly recognize himself anymore.
He lowered his head, looking fearfully at his palm. The Crown Prince dared not let others see his expression—just now, at the moment he heard that his father had awakened, he had felt a faint sense of loss for a moment.
What's the disappointment...?
Disappointed... how could I have thought that way!?
When the prince came to his senses, he was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat, his back soaked through. In a daze, he went in to see his father, the Khan, and all he could do was bury all his emotions deep inside.
The Crown Prince lowered his head and hurried back, nearly bumping into the Third Prince Yinzuo and the Fourth Prince Yinzhi at the door.
The commotion it caused caught the Queen's attention.
But now, the Empress was more concerned about Consort Qi's pregnancy. With no time to pay attention to the Crown Prince, she summoned the imperial physician to inquire in detail: "Will Consort Qi's suffering have any impact on her and the child in her womb?"
The Emperor awoke, and Consort Qi was pregnant.
Two joyous events arrived in quick succession, bringing a broad smile to the imperial physician's face. He respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, Consort Qi has been under prolonged stress and was further agitated, leading to her sudden fainting. However, Consort Qi is in good health and has no underlying issues. The baby is also healthy. It is expected that she will only need to take three days of prenatal medicine and rest well."
The Empress breathed a long sigh of relief.
Once she was certain that Consort Qi was alright, a hint of joy appeared on the Empress's face. She happily instructed Haitang and Nanzhou to take good care of Consort Qi before turning and entering the Emperor's bedchamber.
Regarding Consort Qi's offering of medicine, the Empress still needed to inform the Emperor. First, she told the Emperor the good news of Consort Qi's pregnancy, and then, with a solemn expression, the Empress recounted the matter of offering the medicine.
Emperor Kangxi already knew about the former.
Therefore, his attention fell on the latter—Qi Fei offering medicine? And the medicine was from European missionaries? Kangxi was stunned. From the medical records reported by the imperial physicians earlier, he had noticed many suspicious points. After hearing the Empress's explanation, Kangxi understood even more how dangerous the situation had been!
He was both frightened and somewhat annoyed.
Kangxi's expression was complicated: "Has Consort Qi considered what might happen? Empress, why don't you..."
The Empress gave a bitter smile.
Kangxi's voice abruptly stopped.
Who can think so much when they're waiting for that?
Kangxi was both pleased and annoyed, his annoyance mixed with an indescribable emotion. He tried to get up to see Consort Qi, but his body was too weak and he collapsed back onto the bed. In the end, he could only angrily drink the medicine in one gulp.
He'll have to wait until he's fully recovered before he can settle scores with Consort Qi.
When Wan Anran awoke, it was already the afternoon of the next day. She reached out and tightly grasped Haitang, who was serving her nearby: "Where is the Emperor?"
"His Majesty's fever has subsided!"
Haitang, beaming with joy, replied happily, "The imperial physicians say the Emperor is out of danger."
Wan Anran was overjoyed.
She quickly sat up, wanting to check on the emperor's condition. However, she was immediately pressed down by Haitang, whose expression was serious: "Right now, Your Majesty's most important task is to take good care of yourself."
Wan Anran's eyebrows and eyes curved into a smile.
She moved Haitang's hand away and replied with a grin, "Relax, relax, I only fainted because I hadn't slept for several days. Now I'm full of energy and feel great. I could run around the palace without any problem!"
Haitang was both amused and exasperated.
Seeing that her mistress was about to sit up again, she quickly added, "Mistress, mistress, my good mistress, please lie down! You have two bodies now!"
Wan Anran was dumbfounded.
It took her a long time to come to her senses, and she touched her stomach, speechless. Upon hearing that Consort Qi had awakened, the Empress rushed over, her smile impossible to hide: "Yes, yes, Haitang is right! Consort Qi, you lie down and rest in bed for three days. You are not allowed to get up or move around, understand?"
Wan Anran: …………
It was three days later before she was told she could get out of bed.
This time, Emperor Kangxi was truly kind.
His body was recovering at a visible speed, although it was still not as good as before, but at least he could talk to people.
Of course, the workaholic Emperor Kangxi immediately started working.
When Wan Anran happily went over to pay her respects, she saw Emperor Kangxi frowning as he flipped through memorials. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes showing helplessness: "Your Majesty, why are you still reading memorials at this hour?"
"Very well, I won't look anymore." Seeing Consort Qi approach, Kangxi's eyes immediately lit up with smiles. He ordered the palace servants to remove the memorials, then called Consort Qi to sit beside him, touching her still-flat stomach, feeling very pleased.
This child is his good fortune.
No... it should be said that Consort Qi is my own lucky charm.
Kangxi's gentle features and tender appearance startled Liang Jiugong. However, Liang Jiugong knew perfectly well what had happened during the Emperor's serious illness. Honestly, with Consort Qi's courage and resolve, who wouldn't give her a thumbs up?
He was in despair at the time.
Thinking about it this way, Consort Qi is also my savior!
Having figured this out, Liang Jiugong was full of energy.
As for what Kangxi was thinking, he didn't say it out loud—he still had to cherish what he had, and besides, any rewards would have to wait until he returned to the capital.
Wait a minute? Perhaps some things need to be prepared for first?
Kangxi's eyes were glazed over, his thoughts drifting outside, as he quickly wrote down a long list of tasks on his to-do list.
"Your Majesty—Your Majesty?"
"Ahem, I'm listening."
"Your Majesty, I have nothing to say."
"..." Kangxi's lips twitched, and he subconsciously chose to change the subject: "Speaking of which, I clearly said that I would bring them to the Mulan Hunting Ground, but I broke my promise again."
But saying that made him feel a little melancholy again.
Wan Anran's previously stern face broke into a smile again. She looked at Kangxi and said, "Your Majesty and I are at the Mulan Hunting Grounds right now, aren't we? Your Majesty has not broken any promises."
Mulan Weichang is located in Mulan Weichang.
But—Kangxi sighed helplessly: “What I wanted was to ride horses with you across the grasslands, not to be carried by Consort Qi.”
Why is the Emperor still so bothered by this?
Wan Anran sighed, resting her chin on her hand. She pouted, "Next time, can Your Majesty take me riding with you? But I'm pregnant now, so our riding promise can only be in two years? Hmm... no, at least three more years, no, no, how about four years..."
Wan Anran counted on her fingers.
As she calculated, she muttered to herself, "The first year is definitely not going to work, the second year is also not going to work because the child can't be away, the third year is also not going to work because the child is too naughty, the fourth year..."
Kangxi: …………
He had just thought the child in his belly was a lucky charm, but now he felt a bit disgusted. Look at this! The baby isn't even born yet, and it's already causing so much trouble for him and Qi Fei.
"What are you thinking about, Your Majesty?"
"Nothing, I was just feeling hungry and wanted to eat something delicious that Consort Qi makes~" Kangxi said with anticipation in his eyes.
Other things are fine, but this really won't work.
Wan Anran patted Kangxi's big head: "Wait until you recover from your illness. You should drink some nourishing medicine for a while."
An ominous premonition rose in Kangxi's heart.
His lips twitched: "It's not that same old 'super nourishing soup' again, is it?"
Wan Anran nodded with a smile.
She was full of confidence: "There are over a hundred kinds of stews. If we change it every day, Your Majesty will never get tired of it."
Kangxi: …………
No! I'm already tired of hearing it.
Emperor Kangxi was busy bargaining, while Wan Anran was busy giving earnest advice. The two chatted for most of the day, and only stopped when they saw the emperor showing signs of fatigue.
She helped Kangxi to bed before tiptoeing away.
Turning around, Wan Anran noticed that some people were missing from the courtyard. Upon closer inspection, she was immediately puzzled: "Your Majesty the Empress... Where is the Crown Prince? Where are the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince?"
The Empress remained calm and composed: "They returned to the capital ahead of schedule."
A thought flashed through Wan Anran's mind, but it passed by so quickly that she couldn't grasp it at all.
After thinking it over, Wan Anran realized that the affairs of the court were waiting for the Crown Prince and others to handle, so she didn't take it to heart at all. Instead, she wrote down a stack of lists, intending to give Kangxi a proper recuperation.
She also had to write letters to Yinzhen, Yintao, and the Empress Dowager Xuanfei... Looking at the thick stack of letters piled on the table, Wan Anran wrote a reply while also reading a few to the emperor.
Emperor Kangxi was in a good mood after hearing this.
Seeing that he was in a good mood, Wan Anran became even happier reading aloud. However, the Empress, who was listening with a smile, had a rather strange expression.
In the evening, she sent someone out to inquire.
Soon, a palace maid returned and reported, "Your Majesty, the guard on duty said that His Highness the Crown Prince has not sent a letter." After a pause, she added, "Eunuch Liang just went to inquire as well."
The empress frowned slightly.
With her long, curved eyelashes drooping, she twirled the prayer beads on her wrist, a myriad of emotions swirling within her.
Your Highness... what's wrong?
The growing rift between this father and son, who hold the highest positions in the family, is unsettling and deeply worrying.
The only thing that relieved the Empress was that the Emperor did not show any abnormality. After lying in bed for almost ten days, Kangxi was finally able to sit up and walk around indoors and outdoors.
To celebrate Emperor Kangxi's recovery, of course we have to have a big feast!
Just then, Wan Anran, who was craving food, had a table full of delicious dishes prepared. Unfortunately, the Empress resolutely rejected all her wishes for rich and meaty dishes, leaving only a table of exceptionally bland dishes: a plate of stir-fried lettuce, a plate of glass noodles and baby bok choy, a plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes, and a bowl of yam and meatball soup. The only dishes that could be considered strong-flavored were shredded pork with sweet bean sauce and steamed chicken with mushrooms.
Wan Anran pouted, looking unhappy.
The Empress personally scooped a meatball for her: "There will be some dessert later, how about your favorite crystal shrimp dumplings?"
Wan Anran was delighted upon hearing that there were shrimp dumplings.
After another delicious meal, Wan Anran, who was full and round, went out with Kangxi again. One had just recovered from her illness, and the other had just become pregnant. All they could do was stroll around the Chengde Imperial Palace, or pet the lambs raised by the herdsmen, or sit on the grassland and daydream. There were no palace rules in Chengde, so they could sit there until night without any problem.
Wan Anran and Kangxi looked up at the sky.
A crescent moon hung quietly high in the dark blue sky, the Milky Way shone brightly, and countless stars filled the sky. Starlight flew across the vast grassland, illuminating the sky above. Wan Anran and Kangxi seemed to be sitting not on the grassland, but in the Milky Way.
Without realizing it, the two drew closer and closer.
Kangxi and Wan Anran held hands tightly, their shoulders touching, their eyes sparkling.
This time, Kangxi didn't wait for Consort Qi to speak recklessly.
He lowered his head and gently, very gently, kissed Qi Fei's petal-like red lips.
Wan Anran's eyelashes trembled, and her cheeks flushed.
Even though Kangxi had kissed her many times before, this kiss made her heart flutter even more.
Emperor Kangxi chuckled softly.
In the moment when Qi Fei was enraged, he kissed her again. This time, his actions were much fiercer, more domineering, and more intense than before. Their lips remained intertwined for a long time, their tongues timidly touching, then secretly retreating, entangled, and then separating again.
Wan Anran's body went limp.
With a tug of his arm, Kangxi pulled Consort Qi into his embrace, and the two nestled close together.
The kissing stopped.
Wan Anran's heart was pounding wildly, her cheeks and ears burning red. She buried her face in Kangxi's chest, and only when she heard his unusually rapid heartbeat did she belatedly realize that the seemingly calm Kangxi might be completely different from usual.
The Empress noticed a subtle change in the Emperor and Consort Qi.
She wasn't as sad or disappointed as she had imagined about this change; she was quite calm and even somewhat relieved that the other party was Consort Qi.
The leisurely days at Chengde Imperial Palace lasted only a month, until early September when Emperor Kangxi finally set off to return to Beijing.
The carriages and horses slowly entered the Forbidden City.
The Empress Dowager, along with her concubines, princes, and princesses, had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the carriage. Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, the Empress Dowager rushed forward.
Emperor Kangxi stepped off the carriage in quick succession.
He helped up the Empress Dowager, who was choking with sobs and tears. The Empress Dowager carefully looked the Emperor up and down, and Kangxi was also carefully looking at the Empress Dowager.
In just two months, the Empress Dowager aged considerably.
Holding the emperor's hand, her tears streamed down her face uncontrollably: "The emperor has lost weight! The emperor has lost weight!"
Emperor Kangxi's eyes reddened.
Looking at the Empress Dowager's graying hair and her haggard and thin appearance, he could not control his emotions and choked out, "Your son is unfilial and has caused Your Majesty so much worry."
The Empress Dowager finally managed to stop her tears.
She wiped her eyes and pulled Kangxi inside. After a few steps, the Empress Dowager remembered the Empress and others behind her and quickly stopped, calling them forward.
Wan Anran quickened her pace and caught up with him.
At the same time, she looked towards the crowd and immediately spotted Yinzhen and Yintao holding hands, the two brothers also staring at her expectantly.
The mother and her two children looked at each other.
Wan Anran, her heart filled with worry for her children, winked at her two sons.
Upon returning to Chuxiu Palace, Yin Tao immediately went to Hupu (a Chinese sports forum).
Yinzhen, who had received the news earlier, stopped Yintao: "Mother is pregnant."
Yin Tao, still bewildered and a little aggrieved, asked, "Pregnant?"
Wan Anran pulled the silly Yin Tao into her arms: "It means Yin Tao is going to have a younger brother or sister!"
Yin Tao then realized what was going on.
He snuggled against his mother's arms, but another worry crept into his mind: "What if Mother likes my younger siblings more than me?"
Wan Anran looked exasperated.
She reached out and tapped Yin Tao's little head: "Is your mother biased? In your eyes, is your mother only good to you and not to your fifth brother?"
Yin Tao tilted his little head and thought for a long time.
He hesitated, "Wasn't Mother better to me before? Look, you hit me as soon as you came back!"
Yin Tao became more and more certain as he spoke, and immediately produced evidence.
A vein bulged on Wan Anran's forehead as she pinched and rubbed Yin Tao's chubby cheeks, chuckling maliciously, "Hmm? Is that so?"
Yin Tao shifted uncomfortably.
Wan Anran gently pressed her son onto her knees, her eyes gleaming with desire as she looked at his round little bottom.
Should we give it a shot?
Those chubby little butts look so bouncy! :)
In the end, Wan Anran failed to hit Yin Tao's buttocks.
It wasn't that she didn't want to fight, but a commotion came from outside. Wan Anran got up and walked out, only to see a large group of people entering Chuxiu Palace. The leader was none other than Nian Xialing, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Wan Anran was slightly taken aback, and then an unbelievable thought came to her mind.
September 7th, the 29th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.
Emperor Kangxi issued an edict at the Qianqing Palace, promoting Consort Qi, of the Wanliuha clan, to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort.
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