Consort Xuan smiled and said, "Alright, alright! With your current condition, anyone who dares to serve you crabs is a sinner. Just behave yourself for the last two months. Once you're out of confinement, I'll have someone make whatever you want to eat!"
Wan Anran sighed repeatedly.
Just then, Ju Bai rushed in: "Master! Master! I heard from the Imperial Household Department that the Chuxiu Palace behind us is also going to be renovated."
"What's so strange about that?" Wan Anran said dismissively. A few days ago, the Jingyang Palace was renovated, and before that, the Fengxian Hall, the Prince's Residence, and the Imperial Study were also renovated. It is said that the Emperor has also set aside land from the former Qinghua Garden to build a summer palace, but he has been unable to start construction due to his limited funds.
This news is really nothing special.
Ju Bai said solemnly and in a low voice, "This servant heard that the reason for the renovation of Chuxiu Palace is... that someone from the late Empress's family is going to enter the palace!"
Consort Xuan's eyes widened.
She waved her hands repeatedly: "That's impossible. The Hesheli clan's daughters are not right. Only the late Empress's branch had four sisters. The only one who is still unmarried should be the youngest. I saw her last year when she was only seven or eight years old."
What would someone of this age do if they entered the palace?
Ju Bai shook her head: "I only heard about it from people in the Imperial Household Department, so I can't say for sure."
Consort Xuan's brows were furrowed.
She thought that the renovation of Chuxiu Palace might be... for Consort Wan? Consort Xuan glanced at Consort Wan, who was muttering that salted egg yolk and crab were not the same thing, but was actually eating one after another with great relish, and slowly fell into deep thought.
Just looking at it gives me a headache.
Consort Xuan, wanting to avoid seeing it, expressionlessly withdrew her gaze.
Neither of the two pieces of news surprised their masters.
Ju Bai's face was serious, her fists clenched. If she hadn't stubbornly clung to her name, she might have been renamed "Informant" long ago. As the number one informant in Xianfu Palace, Ju Bai decided to drop the final bombshell: "This servant has one more piece of news."
This time, Consort Xuan and Wan Anran were not very interested, but Noble Lady Nara was quite enthusiastic and asked with great interest, "Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me what you heard?"
Ju Bai said softly, "Consort Guo of Yikun Palace is pregnant."
This news is indeed quite surprising.
The listless Consort Xuan and Wan Anran suddenly perked up. Wan Anran did a quick mental calculation and gasped, "I remember Consort Guo only entered the palace in early August, which is less than two months... Does that mean she got pregnant as soon as she entered the palace?"
That speed, that efficiency.
Everyone knows that you have to give it two words: awesome!
Consort Xuan was dumbfounded.
Consort Nara gasped, "That Consort Yi... this is... too much..."
Consort Yi was dumbfounded.
She felt truly uneasy. After seeing the imperial physician off in a daze, she sat silently in the main hall, lost in thought.
Consort Yi was very confident in herself.
She was promoted to concubine within three months of entering the palace, and remains the most favored person in the palace to this day. It's just a pity that there hasn't been any good news for over a year. Concubine An, Concubine Jing, and even the other concubines have spoken ill of her behind her back. Even the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager don't like her for having gained favor but not achieving anything.
How come my sister only went once...?
Consort Yi was in turmoil, and the palace servants around her were also silent. After a long while, she let out a long sigh and softly instructed the palace servants to take good care of Consort Guo.
The nanny agreed and then gently comforted her, "Your Highness, people often say that pregnancy luck is something you have to cultivate. Look at Consort Wan of Xianfu Palace, she was sickly in Chengqian Palace but got pregnant after coming to Xianfu Palace! Perhaps Your Highness can also get pregnant by taking advantage of Consort Chang's pregnancy luck."
Consort Yi smiled and nodded: "If only it could be like that."
Consort Guo's pregnancy attracted the attention of many concubines, not so much for Consort Guo herself, but more to ridicule Consort Yi, who was always arrogant.
Consort Yi was also aware of what everyone was thinking.
Contrary to her usual self, she was completely devoid of her sharp tongue. She ignored the ridicule of others and even went out much less often, devoting herself wholeheartedly to taking care of Consort Guo. The Empress Dowager was quite pleased with this and praised Consort Yi highly.
Of course, many people felt that Consort Yi was just putting on an act.
Whether you know it or not, it's clear that the lively atmosphere at Yikun Palace is not going to be seen for the time being, and it's also the end of October.
The 30th day of the tenth lunar month marks the beginning of winter.
On the day the first light snow fell, Wan Anran stood by the window watching the snowflakes fall, and couldn't help but recall the scene when she first woke up.
It's been almost a year already.
Because of her heavy body, the palace servants were even more cautious, and going out on snowy days was absolutely forbidden. Wan Anran looked up into the distance and asked abruptly, "Is there any news from Chengqian Palace?"
Zisu hesitated and shook her head.
She whispered, "If Master is healthy, everything will surely go smoothly."
Wan Anran nodded in agreement.
Holding her belly, she felt anxious and whispered, "Baby, you have to be strong and come out quickly!"
Wan Anran's voice changed tone at the last note.
Her lips turned pale instantly, and she gripped Haitao and Zisu tightly: "Quick, quick!"
---
Chengqian Palace.
Wuya's pregnancy is not going smoothly. She went into labor last night, and it's already early morning with no good news. Dark clouds are hanging over the entire Chengqian Palace.
Hearing Wuya Changzai's cries go from sharp to weak, and watching the palace servants pour out basins of bloody water, Consort Tong, who had never given birth, felt dizzy and lightheaded. She was helped to sit down by three or four palace servants. Her face was completely drained of color, and her slender, snow-white fingers gripped the Buddhist prayer beads tightly. Her heart was filled with waves of fear and panic.
Despite her dislike for Consort Wuya, Consort Tong had no intention of harming her. She quickly urged the palace servants to summon more imperial physicians, and also asked Consort Rong and Consort Hui, who had given birth before, to come and lend a hand.
With the help of the two, the chaotic Chengqian Palace finally regained its composure, and the midwife's joyful cry finally came from inside: "My lady, it's almost there, my lady!"
Success was within reach.
From Consort Tong to Consort Rong and Consort Hui, all three breathed a sigh of relief and began chatting quietly. For example, Consort Rong mentioned that when she left the palace, she heard that Noble Lady Wan of Xianfu Palace had also been moved, which was quite strange, as the two of them had left one after the other.
In the delivery room, Wuya was panting heavily. She struggled like a fish out of water, her hands gripping the sheets tightly as she tried to muster her last bit of strength to give birth to her child.
Just a tiny bit more, just a tiny bit more.
As long as the child is born, and as long as the Fourth Prince Yinzhen is in our hands, what does all the pain we are experiencing now matter?
Just then, she heard a gasp from outside: "What? Wan Gui has given birth?"
Wuya often felt a breath stuck in her throat.
Her face turned ashen, and she felt a tearing pain in her lower body. A huge object slid out, and the intense pain made Wuya Changzai's eyes roll back and she fainted.
The one who lost her voice outside was Consort Rong.
She pressed her temples, and asked again incredulously, "You mean Wan Guisheng gave birth?"
Consort Hui couldn't believe it either.
She shook her head repeatedly: "This is Consort Wan's first pregnancy. How could she possibly give birth in less than two or three hours?"
The palace servant who delivered the message was also bewildered: "But it's true! The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress have all rushed to Xianfu Palace."
The three looked at each other in bewilderment.
Just then, a cheer rang out from inside: "It's a little prince... Ah! Quick! Princess Uya has fainted!"
Chaos erupted in Chengqian Palace.
Meanwhile, in the delivery room of Xianfu Palace, the usually energetic Wan Anran looked completely bewildered. She stared at the newly arrived Noble Lady Nara, her lips twitching slightly, "...Where's the baby?"
"The Empress Dowager is holding her."
Lady Nara said with a smile, "That child is chubby and looks very endearing."
After she finished speaking, she could not hide the worry on her face.
Lady Nara asked softly, "Is my sister really alright?"
Wan Anran shook her head: "It's nothing!"
Honestly, she felt like she couldn't possibly fight a tiger if she got up... well, that was definitely out of the question. But Wan Anran still vigorously waved her arms, putting all her energy into demonstrating her boundless vitality.
Noble Lady Nara smiled.
Seeing Consort Wan's rosy cheeks, Nara finally felt relieved. After instructing Wan Anran to rest well, Consort Nara smiled and withdrew, whispering a few words to Consort Xuan.
Consort Xuan also smiled.
The Empress echoed, "This Consort Wan, I really can't tell the difference."
The Empress found it strange.
They gave birth in no more than the time it takes to drink two or three cups of tea? Not only were they bewildered, but even the midwives were completely astonished and kept exclaiming in surprise.
Outside, Emperor Kangxi and Empress Dowager stood head to head. The Empress Dowager was overjoyed, hugging him tightly as if she wanted to call him her darling. Wan Fu and Crown Prince Bao Cheng had somehow slipped over and were hopping around, eager to see their younger brother.
The Empress Dowager bent down to let the two children see.
Red, wrinkled cheeks, tightly closed eyes, and a hairy face... Prince Bao Cheng couldn't help but show his disgust: "So ugly!"
"All children are like this at first."
The Empress Dowager said with a smile, "Baocheng was ugly when he was born... um."
Renxiao died in childbirth.
Everyone, including the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, usually talked about this topic. The Empress Dowager's expression stiffened, but Kangxi chuckled: "You were even uglier when you were little than you are now. You were all wrinkled and didn't even have hair or eyebrows. Your father was frightened when he first saw you. But in two or three days, you'll become fair and plump."
Speaking of that time, even Emperor Kangxi felt a pang of sadness.
He reached out and patted the prince's head, and couldn't help but sigh, "Our Bao Cheng has grown so much."
The Empress Dowager was also filled with sighs.
After a long sigh, the Empress Dowager turned her gaze to the little one in the swaddling clothes. She reached out and poked the soft, doughy cheeks, and the little hand grabbed her with surprising strength.
The Empress Dowager's eyes lit up.
She was beaming with joy, her eyes glued to the little boy. Seeing the Empress Dowager's delighted expression, Kangxi casually said, "If Your Majesty likes him, then take the little prince back to the palace to raise him."
The Empress Dowager was taken aback.
Then she waved her hand and said, "No, that's not good. It's best for a child to be raised by his mother."
The Empress Dowager then shoved the child back into Hai Tao's hands: "Take him in so that Consort Wan can have a good look at him. This child will surely grow up to be handsome."
Haitao smiled and agreed.
She turned around and escorted the young prince back into the house, where Wan Anran had been eagerly waiting.
No matter how many dissatisfactions she had before giving birth, Wan Anran's heart melted when she saw this soft little bun. She looked at it from left to right and found it adorable in every way.
Hugging Baozi and kissing him on the left and right, Wan Anran felt a sweet warmth spreading through her heart. The empty feeling she used to have, like she was about to step into thin air, completely disappeared after seeing Baozi.
"Speaking of which, did His Majesty mention his name?"
"His Majesty said that we would choose names together in a while, and the nickname can be chosen by Your Highness."
"I see..." Wan Anran pondered carefully. She had heard that in ancient times, people liked to give children humble names, as it was believed that this made it easier to raise them. For example, Wang Xun's childhood name was Jiaobai (茭白), Xie An's childhood name was Ada (阿大), and Bai Juyi even recorded that his nephew's childhood name was Agui (阿龟)...
Wan Anran pondered it carefully.
A turtle wouldn't do. She stared at the little bun's cheeks for a long time, then a brilliant idea flashed through her mind: "Let's name him Mao Tao!"
Firstly, the child's cheeks are fuzzy, making him look like a little peach. Secondly, Wan Anran hopes that he can be as indifferent as the historical Yin Tao, staying away from the struggle for the throne.
Wan Anran became more and more satisfied the more she thought about it.
She nodded repeatedly: "It's a really good name."
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