The group looked at each other in bewilderment.
Wan Anran smiled and stood up: "Why don't you hurry up and invite Consort Yi in?"
Pregnancy did not diminish Consort Yi's beauty in the slightest; on the contrary, it added to her charm. Her face was full and round, her skin delicate, and she was still beautiful and charming even without makeup. As Consort Yi walked gracefully and swayed into the palace, Wan Anran couldn't help but secretly admire her.
She smiled and invited Consort Yi to sit down, then had someone fetch dried citron slices with honey water and served them to Consort Yi.
Citron bears a striking resemblance to lemons, even in their effects and uses. After washing off the waxy coating, slice and preserve it. Soaking it in water with honey can treat belching, acid reflux, nausea, and poor appetite. It is also a rare treat that pregnant women can drink in early pregnancy.
Consort Yi felt a warmth in her heart.
After taking a sip of the sweet and sour citron honey water, she, who had been suffering from morning sickness recently, relaxed a little.
"What brings you here today, Sister Yi?" Wan Anran asked curiously.
Consort Yi was stunned for a moment.
She and Consort Qi were acquaintances, and because of certain matters, Consort Qi was now somewhat embarrassed to see Consort Qi.
And now that I'm here...
Perhaps it's all thanks to the chocolate that was just delivered. Consort Yi said softly, "The chocolate is delicious."
"……Why?"
"It smells sweet and fragrant, as if it can take away all your troubles." Even now, the courtyard of Consort Qi still exudes this rich fragrance.
Consort Yi mustered her courage.
She made up her mind and then uttered the words that had been lingering on her tongue for so long: "You know about that... right?"
"That matter?... Uh." Wan Anran was stunned for a moment, then immediately came to her senses. Remembering that she had just been discussing Consort Yi a few days ago, and then Consort Yi herself showed up at her door, Wan Anran felt incredibly embarrassed, freezing on the spot.
Her voice was a little dry: "Um...ah, cough cough, I just found out."
"I knew it."
"Is this true?" Wan Anran asked directly, "Are you really willing to do this?"
Wan Anran's direct question put Yi Pin at ease. She was afraid that Qi Pin would change the subject, which would mean that Qi Pin was truly bothered by it. But the fact that she asked the question so directly, with her eyes full of curiosity, showed that Qi Pin didn't care as much as the other concubines.
Consort Yi smiled faintly.
She shook her head: "Of course I can't bear to part with it."
Wan Anran frowned in confusion: "Then why...?"
After giving birth to Xiao Maotao, Wan Anran heard that the Emperor had intended to give Maotao to the Empress Dowager. Her first thought at the time was: to smash Kangxi's head.
Even now, Wan Anran can't imagine what would happen if Kangxi suddenly told her he wanted to take Mao Tao away. She even secretly rejoiced that she could be promoted to concubine, so that she could rightfully keep Xiao Mao Tao by her side.
The question is about Consort Yi, who is a concubine.
Most importantly, Consort Yi was not an insignificant figure like herself; on the contrary, she was one of the most favored concubines in the palace, and even many years later, she remained one of Emperor Kangxi's most beloved concubines.
Why did Consort Yi hand her child over to the Empress Dowager?
Wan Anran became increasingly puzzled as she thought about it, staring intently at Consort Yi, very curious about her answer.
Unlike Wan Anran's curiosity, Consort Yi remained unusually calm. She took a sip of citron honey water, lowered her eyes, and said calmly, "Consort Qi, you don't know."
She suppressed her smile, a hint of bitterness appearing between her brows: "It's just that my sister could have had a good marriage, but she entered the palace because of me."
Consort Yi was referring to Noble Lady Guo.
Wan Anran suddenly remembered that Consort Xuan had mentioned that because Consort Yi was favored but had no children, the Guo Luoluo family sent Consort Guo, who looked similar, to the palace.
In this respect, Wan Anran certainly had no right to blame Guo Luoluo. After all, no one would have expected that Consort Yi, who had never conceived, would also become pregnant now, shortly after Consort Guo's pregnancy. The coincidence was so striking that everyone in the palace whispered that fate was playing tricks on them.
What others were laughing about was not what Consort Yi thought. Her expression was complicated, and her voice was low: "Noble ladies are not allowed to raise princes and princesses. No matter whether my sister gives birth to a son or a daughter, she will have to be raised by me... It's just that I am pregnant now, so there is a possibility that she will be given to another concubine for adoption."
There are two princes in Xianfu Palace.
As a result, Wan Fu stayed, while Consort Qi and the Eleventh Prince were removed.
Consort Yi was a concubine.
Her children will naturally remain in Yikun Palace, while only Consort Guo's children will be moved away.
Who will they be sent to raise?
There are many concubines in the palace without children, such as Consort Tong, Consort An, Consort Jing, Consort Duan... The entanglements between Consort Yi and these people are not as simple as those between Wan Anran and others.
As a favored concubine, she never offended anyone.
Wan Anran immediately understood Consort Yi's thoughts. No matter whose hands Consort Guo's child ended up in, wouldn't that be handing over a handle and a hostage? In the future, would Consort Guo's heart be with Consort Yi, who caused her to be separated from her children, or with her own children...? To be honest, any normal person could figure that out.
Even if Consort Guo is wholeheartedly devoted to her family.
She was genuinely kind to Consort Yi, something Consort Yi probably couldn't believe.
Wan Anran's face was full of complicated emotions.
Consort Yi chuckled and said, "It's not as complicated as you think, Consort Qi! It's just that my sister is anxious and uneasy, but she's pretending not to say anything. I asked the palace maid and found out that she... hasn't slept well for several nights."
Consort Yi stroked the baby in her belly.
A gentle smile appeared on her face: "The Empress Dowager truly loves all the princes, and is kind and gentle. She will certainly not mistreat the child in my womb."
Even so, Wan Anran could see the worry hidden in her smile. Consort Yi's pride prevented her from sending away Consort Guo's child, but how could she bear to part with her own child?
However, Consort Yi's decision was her own, and she had already reported it to the Emperor. Wan Anran had no right to dissuade her. She bit her lip and said softly, "With the care of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, the young prince will surely have a smooth journey."
Just like the Fifth Prince Yinqi in history.
He was kind-hearted and charitable. Compared to the tragic fates of the Crown Prince, the First Prince, who was imprisoned, the Third Prince who was severely reprimanded, the Sixth Prince who died young, the Seventh Prince who was disabled, and the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Princes, the Fifth Prince, Yinqi, was one of the people with the best future.
A large part of the reason is naturally due to the education he received from the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, which instilled in him a kind heart and a simple and honest character, and he did not participate in the struggle for the throne at all.
Consort Yi was sharp-witted.
She could see Consort Qi's sincerity, and her bad mood caused by the rumors in the palace suddenly calmed down. Consort Yi smiled and said, "Of course!"
Her child will surely grow up smoothly and safely, just like her.
After only a couple of sentences, Consort Yi reverted to her peacock-like demeanor. Wan Anran didn't know whether to say she had a good attitude or that her nature was hard to change.
Wan Anran smiled, pursing her lips.
Consort Yi's brows relaxed, and she added, "I came here only hoping that Consort Qi wouldn't take it to heart. If there were any other possibility... I wouldn't have chosen this path either."
Wan Anran smiled as she saw Consort Yi off.
But as Hai Tao turned around, she couldn't help but mutter to herself, "That's what they say, but it's not..." The timing couldn't be better.
"Your Highness must not fall for Consort Yi's tricks."
“That’s right, that’s right!” Ju Bai couldn’t help but chime in, “Wouldn’t we know after Consort Guo gives birth? If Consort Guo gives birth to a princess, then why would Consort Yi need to worry about these things? If you ask me, it’s because if we wait until Consort Guo gives birth to a prince before bringing it up, it might ruin her image in the Emperor’s eyes.”
The orange-white one made a crisp sound.
Having witnessed much palace gossip, Hai Tao found her insights quite agreeable.
Only Zisu had a different idea.
She thought for a moment and said, "In my opinion, there is no need to worry too much."
"Sister Zisu!"
"Zisu, what are you saying?"
To Hai Tao and Ju Bai's surprise, Wan Anran also agreed with Zi Su's opinion. She shook her head: "Although Consort Yi has her own thoughts, she is ultimately pursuing an open strategy. We just need to do our own thing."
Consort Yi's choice seems incomprehensible.
If Wan Anran were to say, perhaps this is the most common way to survive in the palace.
For the sake of the family?
Wan Anran sighed softly, then thought of how she had been hesitant and uncertain, and had never met Wan Liuha's family.
Should we meet?
After a moment's thought, Wan Anran dismissed the idea. Summoning family at this time might lead people to believe she was dissatisfied with Consort Yi's actions!
Wan Anran took a sip of her chocolate milk tea.
She nestled in her chair, casually picking up a book to read. As for Hai Tao and the others, even if they had more thoughts, seeing their mistress's calm profile, they silently took a step back, and the entire courtyard quickly fell silent.
After learning that Consort Yi had gone to find Consort Qi, the concubines waited for Consort Qi's response. However, they waited and waited without receiving any reply from her. Consort An then smashed a cup on the ground, exclaiming, "What a coward! What a coward!"
They didn't even say a word when they were bullied.
Consort An bit her fingertip, feeling waves of frustration in her heart.
If Consort Guo were to give birth to a prince, and then Consort Yi were to give birth to a prince as well… Her eyes blazed with fury, her mind churning with countless thoughts, her pretty face contorted in a grimace.
The wet nurse, Wu, looked anxious.
Her mistress had entered the palace much earlier than Consort Yi, yet she had never conceived, and now the favor she received was dwindling day by day. After hesitating for a moment, she stepped forward and said, "Mistress, how about we promote a maid... and give her a try?"
"What does Granny Wu mean by this?"
Consort An couldn't stand these words; her eyes blazed with anger: "Do you think I've fallen out of favor?"
Granny Wu hurriedly knelt down on the ground.
She said in a low voice, "My lady, I was referring to the prescription that was sent from home."
When this was mentioned, Consort An's expression changed slightly.
The prescription sent from home wasn't very good... It was harmful to the mother's health but made it easier to conceive. Consort An wanted a child and was more concerned about her own health, so she naturally ignored it and threw it aside.
Suddenly, when she heard Granny Wu mention this prescription, she also showed a strange expression. Consort An dismissed the other palace maids, twisted her handkerchief and asked, "So what if it was born to someone else? It's not like it came from my belly. Making a scene like Consort Tong would make her sick to death."
"Consort Tong is confused."
Granny Wu comforted Consort An, saying, "There's a saying among the common people that holding a healthy baby brings good luck. Look at Consort Yi and Noble Lady Guo; they've visited Chuxiu Palace several times before. Maybe they've gotten lucky..."
not to mention……
A hint of malice flashed in Granny Wu's eyes: "Isn't it just right for this prescription to make the mother's body haggard? It would be best if the little princes and princesses didn't have a birth mother."
Consort An's face was sullen.
She glanced at Granny Wu, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and simply asked with a smile, "Granny Wu, do you have someone in mind?"
Granny Wu smiled and said, "This servant thinks it would be good if Consort Miao were here."
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