Chapter 2

  On either side of the Empress Dowager sat Consort Nian and Crown Princess, both of whom were in stable positions. The only difference was that the Crown Princess did not have a son. The Crown Princess, who was known for her kindness among the imperial sons' consorts, smiled and said a few words to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager's face lit up with joy, and she grasped the Crown Princess's hand: "......I just like you.......".

  The Kangxi Emperor, although not having a blood relationship with the Empress Dowager, showed great respect for her. Ruling the world with benevolence and filial piety conformed to the Han people's values, so it was good governance. As a ruler of a foreign ethnicity governing the Han people, if one does not show sufficient respect for Han culture, how can they achieve long-term stability?

  Ruan Yu thought the Tang Dynasty was better, on a summer day playing a game of polo was exhilarating, after all there were more carefree days with fine clothes and horses, in her own mansion she had built a white jade pool, on extremely hot days she would spend the whole day in the water, or in the self-rain pavilion eating some iced fruits and watching the servant girls dance, it seemed like everything was better than now.

  The imperial concubine raised her eyes and smiled at Quan Pei below: "They say you've made great progress, but it's still far from enough?"

  Gu Yan lowered her head and said in a gentle tone: "I've already recovered, so I came early this morning to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."

  De Fei on one side looked at Quan Pei with a slight smile, while the Empress Dowager said kindly: "You didn't rest for many days, and yet you came over so early in the morning. It's hard on you."

  The imperial concubine interrupted: "This child is filial, you know that. If you don't let him come, he might not be at ease in his heart."

  The crown princess smiled elegantly, her fingers, adorned with tortoiseshell nail guards, slightly raised: "I heard that a palace maid was bumped into, I don't know if she's been dealt with yet. Someone so ignorant of the rules wouldn't dare to stay in the harem."

  Taking advantage of the incident with Rong Xiang, Gui Fei and Taizi Fei started arguing. The Empress Dowager, who didn't want to get involved in anything, rubbed her forehead: "The weather is so hot, even sitting for a while is unbearable. You all should disperse and rest."

  The ladies who had withdrawn left behind only the faint scent of perfume and the tinkling sound of their jewelry, and the great hall of Cining Palace was quiet once again. The empress dowager gazed at the brightly lit gate, and let out a soft sigh.

  Guan Piao followed Empress De, who smiled and asked her: "Are you feeling better?"

  "It's much better now."

  The lotus flowers in the lake are blooming just right, and De Fei stops to take a look: "I heard that there is a real vacancy in the Ministry of War, I want to ask someone to help my Ama get settled in. This is also a face-saving measure for everyone."

  Quan Pei smiled: "Why must you tell me, in the imperial court there are always one or two people on your side, if you want to settle down it shouldn't be a difficult matter."

  The imperial concubine frowned and said: "I just ask you how do you feel?"

  "Are you dissatisfied with the position of Protector General?"

  "It's not actually in power."

  "What do you want to do?"

  De Fei was taken aback.

  Quan Piao said: "You have two sons, and a princess is being raised by the Empress Dowager. All this is already the greatest actual power. Why seek anything else? The Emperor allowed you to give birth to so many sons because he saw that you were not a threat. If you change, the Emperor will also change. If the Emperor changes, what's the point of seeking these things?"

  The imperial concubine sighed and saw the lotus flowers blown by the wind, half of whom said: "Forget it, don't ask if you don't ask."

  From afar, she saw Consort Yi. Consort De lowered her eyes: "The Wang woman in my palace has become pregnant, and she keeps sending people over. I'm worried that she doesn't have good intentions, and if something happens to the Wang woman, it will be blamed on me."

  The sun was rising higher and higher, getting hotter and hotter. Quan Pei felt a bit annoyed: "Wang Shi can enter the emperor's eyes at this time, you'd better be careful of her having other ways, if she can be used, then use her, if not, then the road is also chosen by yourself. Yi Fei may not want to do anything to Wang Shi, but I'm afraid that they might join forces to trip you up. You watch for a few days first, and if there's still something going on, you can tell me again."

  Guan Yu said that De Fei also became vigilant and felt hot herself, so she said: "Alright, you can go back now."

  Gu Yanwan was about to leave and added another sentence: "That Wang nanny in our courtyard is really not careful, if you have time, please replace her with another one."

  De Fei subconsciously thought Wang Niang was a spy from elsewhere: "I understand."

  Wang's nanny was standing under the tree shade outside the courtyard, talking to the nanny of the Fifth Prince: "......it's too harsh, and doesn't put us in their eyes. If we don't show some attitude, where will our nannies' face be..."

  That old woman also responded: "Isn't this the reason? Don't worry, I will also tell Empress Yifei a few words about this matter, and it's not like it can't be spread everywhere?"

  The old lady smiled with her eyes narrowed, and when she saw Guan Pei return, she immediately put down the tea and hurried over to greet her, looking anxious: "You're back! The imperial physician just came, took Song's pulse and said she's already two months pregnant! Someone has also been sent to inform Master and Empress De of the news."

  The old lady Wang smiled and looked at Quan Pei, as if waiting for a joke, and walked into the courtyard together. Xiao Yue came out to greet them and saw Old Lady Wang hummed softly, holding Quan Pei's hand, and squeezed Old Lady Wang aside: "Song Gege is pregnant, and has sent messages to Master and Empress De."

  Quan Pei smiled and said, "This is a good thing. I was just thinking that whoever gets pregnant first would get the pearl hairpin from my dressing box that brings good luck to children. I didn't expect it to be her who got pregnant first. You can give it to her later and let her take good care of it. Whether it's a boy or girl, I love them both equally, so don't have any other thoughts."

  Wang's aunt looked at Quan Ge with a fake smile, thinking that pretending to be good was useless, and her heart felt uncomfortable!

  Song had a pregnancy, and Li was both sour and bitter. She had been serving the master for the longest time, so why did Song get to have a child first? She saw Xiaoyue carrying this purple sandalwood box to Song's room, and she hurriedly followed, only to see Madame Fu giving Song a hairpin with a huge pearl, the most precious thing being that the pearl was naturally shaped like a baby, priceless.

  Song Shi was somewhat frightened: "How can a slave like me deserve such an expensive and precious thing as Fu Jin?"

  Xiao Yue didn't want to give it to Song Shi, but she just smiled and said: "The mistress gave it to you, don't decline." As she spoke, she handed it back to Song Shi: "You only need to think that your child is not the mistress's child? Can't you understand such a simple truth? Why did you have to make a scene this morning?"

  "Miss, what do you mean?" Song's eyes widened in fright.

  Xiao Yue smiled: "This is what I said myself, Fu Jin didn't say it like that. I only advise Gege one sentence, it's better to be less self-righteous."

  A strange eunuch's voice came from outside the courtyard, and everyone in the house looked out.

  All that was heard was: "The Empress Dowager wants Wang to go back and has sent Wan over to attend to the Prince and Fu Jin."

  The queen said anxiously: "I don't know if it's because I did something wrong?"

  The eunuchs were impatient and said: "We don't know what's good or bad, the Empress De called you, why are you still dawdling?"

  Wang's wife was almost pushed out, and Xiaorong from the house called Wang's mother into the main room. The yard became quiet again.

  Xiao Yue turned around and glanced at Song Shi, smiled slightly and bowed her head, then walked out of the room.

  Song Shi lowered her head to look at the hairpin in her hand, feeling extremely embarrassed. Wang's nanny had just shouted a few words, and it was already more than half a day before she was replaced, and now she is pregnant...

  Someone inquired about Wang's whereabouts and only then did they learn that she had gone directly to Xinzheku. The nanny who was in charge of teaching etiquette in the Fourth Prince's residence was so frightened that she trembled with fear, not daring to say a word more than necessary. The Fourth Princess couldn't even get sand in her eyes.

  In the evening, Feng Jin returned with a joyful expression: "Is Lady Song pregnant?"

  Quan Pei smiled and said, "It's true, congratulations to Master for becoming a father." She also pointed to the wine in the self-pouring jug on the table: "I specially got a pot of wine, today to celebrate with Master."

  Yin Zhen pulled on Quan Pei's hand: "The Emperor has finally given me an errand today, and wants me to go to the Ministry of Revenue for training."

  "It's really a double happiness, and it can be seen that this child is also a lucky one."

  Quan Pei said with a smile in her eyes. Quan Pei gently pushed Yun Zhan: "You go see Song Mei Mei, at least accompany her to talk, the wine is still drinkable, otherwise it will be too late after drinking and it will affect the child."

  "Still you wait here carefully, I'll go take a look and come back later."

  Ruan Yu nodded and watched as Yongzheng left the house. She called for a maid to bring in hot water for her bath.

  Yongzheng walked in, and Song Shi hurriedly went up to greet him. Yongzheng, who was in high spirits, saw the two lines of tears on Song Shi's face and was taken aback: "You've got a child, what are you crying about?"

  "The slave was originally happy, but then became worried, fearing that she couldn't safely raise the child in her womb, or else she would become a sinner to her master."

  Yin Zhen frowned: "This is just the beginning of pregnancy, can't say unlucky words, this is father's first child, must be raised well." After all, he softened his voice and advised: "Take good care of your body, if you want anything, just tell father or Fu Jin."

  ”

  Song Shi opened his mouth: "Slave..." As if there was something unspeakable hidden in it.

  But Song's house was small, and she was pregnant and couldn't put ice on it. In the evening, the heat rose and felt suffocatingly hot. The more hidden and depressed Song was, the more stifling Yunzhong felt. He got up and said: "I'll go first, I'll come over to chat with you when I have time."

  Song Shi pursed her lips and didn't dare to detain him, so she quickly got up to see Yongzheng off, watching as he entered the main house.

  Li came out of the house and smiled at Song: "Congratulations, sister." Song forced a smile, not knowing if her words would take effect...

  Kangxi brought back Wang Shi from outside without going through the selection, and she was not a woman of the Eight Banners. She must have been truly liked, having been spared for so long, this woman is almost thirty years old now, and has been favored for so long. The emperor likes her again, and no one dares to speak out against it, Wang Shi has a few similarities with Liang Fei, with an extremely gentle and charming demeanor that none of the other palace women have.

  She leaned halfway against the couch, touching her still flat belly. A palace maid opened the door and came in from outside, bringing a few strands of gentle breeze with her. She let out a slight sigh and asked, "Has the medicine arrived?"

  "This is a medicine for giving birth to a son, if you take it, you will definitely give birth to a baby boy."

  Mr. Wang was delighted, but then became worried again: "No matter what, it must be able to make a living."

  The palace maid said: "It's just a matter of whether Empress De thinks your child has grown up, and the 14th prince is only a few years old."

  Wang shook his head: "Are others reliable?"

  The palace maid did not speak for a while before saying: "I'll go down and decoct the medicine for you. If anyone asks, just say it was prescribed by the imperial physician."

  Wang's eyes fluttered open, and she watched as the palace maid went out and closed the door. She felt stifled again, so she closed her eyes once more, thinking to sleep a bit longer. Suddenly, a commotion came from outside: "Speak! What kind of medicine did you give Concubine Yi? When did the imperial physician ever prescribe such a thing?"

  She was so frightened that she began to tremble all over, and then heard a cry of surprise from outside. She looked out through the crack in the door and saw two eunuchs carrying away the palace maid who had been there just now. The maid's head was badly injured with a big hole, probably not going to live for long.

  The Wang family was shocked and fell to the ground, how could such a thing happen?!