Qing Dynasty: The Imperial Concubine is Pregnant Again

In a blink of an eye, a month has passed. I have been bored after staying in Piaoxue Courtyard all day. I have to go out for a walk today. Besides, Hongzhao has been born for a month and few people in the backyard have seen him, let alone the Defei in the harem.

It was a morning at the end of July in the thirty-ninth year of the Kangxi reign, when the sun was shining brightly.

In Piaoxue Courtyard, Tong Nuanyan in the inner room was changing Hongzhao into new clothes, a cute red outfit. Because Hongzhao was born in the year of the dragon, she originally wanted to dress him in cute baby dragon clothes, but because the royal family was too sensitive about this, she ended up dressing him in ordinary clothes.

"Concubine, everything is ready. Concubine is still under house arrest, so it's just us who will go this time." Yun Xin said with some concern as she adjusted the tassel pendant on Tong Nuanyan's head.

"What are you afraid of? This time I'm bringing Hongzhao to pay respects to her maid, and to visit Imperial Concubine Tongjia at the same time." Actually, she had been married to the Fourth Prince for about a year, and she hadn't been to Xianfu Palace to visit Imperial Concubine Tongjia. Now that her son was born, it would be unreasonable if she didn't go.

Yun Xin was relieved but a little worried when she heard this. It was said that Imperial Concubine Tong Jia was quite fond of the concubine when she was a child. Maybe it was because they were both illegitimate daughters of the family, so she treated the Second Princess better than the First Princess who was a legitimate daughter.

"Concubine, I am very worried that the Imperial Concubine will be the same as before?" She has been in the palace for many years, from a concubine without rank who entered the palace to fill the marriage quota of the Tonggiya clan, with no children, to her current position as the head of the imperial concubines, surpassing a group of concubines who have sons and are favored. Who knows if she will change?

"Let's go." Tong Nuanyan had imagined it, but it was useless to imagine it. Only by seeing it in person could you know. Hong Zhao was held in her arms in silence, immersed in the scenery along the way.

This time, he brought three people with him, Yun Xin, Xia Xi, and a selected wet nurse who had taken a loyalty potion. After entering the palace, Tong Nuanyan could no longer breastfeed like she did in the courtyard, so it was necessary to bring a wet nurse with her.

Walking on the palace path of the harem again, Tong Nuanyan's mood is different now.

The palace maids and eunuchs on both sides of the palace road were still secretly looking at them like they did last time. Maybe it was because they had rarely been to the harem, so apart from some people they had seen before, this time they recognized them just by their attire.

Everyone in the palace knew that the Fourth Prince's concubine had given birth to a prince. Seeing that there was a wet nurse and a baby in swaddling clothes among them, everyone knew it was the Fourth Prince's concubine.

Yonghe Palace is in the East Back Palace, Xianfu Palace is in the West Back Palace, the two are far apart, according to the rules, one should go to Yonghe Palace to see Defei. Hongzhao was quiet along the way, the sun was strong, Xia Xi held an umbrella for Hongzhao and the nurse, so they would not be exposed to the sun.

Soon they arrived at the gate of Yonghe Palace. When the eunuch guarding the gate saw Tong Nuanyan coming, he quickly bowed and greeted her: "Greetings, Concubine. The queen is waiting inside. Concubine, bring the little prince in."

This meant that only she and her son could go in. Tong Nuanyan picked up Hongzhao from the nurse's arms and said, "Yunxin, you guys just wait at the door. I'll take Hongzhao in."

Yun Xin felt anxious inside but didn't know what to do. Xia Xi stood at the door motionless as if obeying orders. The wet nurse didn't dare to say anything more and just stood behind Xia Xi.

Inside the Yonghe Palace.

As soon as Tong Nuanyan entered the room holding Hongzhao, she saw Concubine De sitting at the top, looking at her with a faint smile.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Virtuous Consort. May Her Majesty live a thousand years of good fortune!"

"Get up and bring Hongzhao over for me to see." Defei looked at her calmly as she saluted. She still did not look at her, a Tong Jian girl, in a good mood. Instead, she smiled when she saw Hongzhao.

"Yes." Tong Nuanyan didn't know what Concubine De was going to do. She just obeyed and carried Hongzhao to Concubine De's side, squatting down so that Concubine De could see Hongzhao.

Hong Zhao has been breastfed every day for the past month, and Tong Nuanyan has been instilling supernatural powers in him from time to time. He looks very adorable, with a rosy little face and black eyes. When he saw Concubine De looking at him, he smiled without teeth.

"It seems that you have raised Hongzhao very well." Defei did not like Yinzhen, but she could not show it too obviously. She still cared about Yinzhen's offspring, but she would not help Yinzhen for power.

"It's all thanks to the good teaching of Concubine De. I'm just showing off my skills." Tong Nuanyan said with a smile. As the saying goes, you shouldn't hit a smiling person. She didn't make any mistakes in etiquette, so Concubine De couldn't say anything.

Upon hearing this, Defei's smile deepened, "It is said that the concubine is sweet-mouthed, so Yinzhen likes her so much." After looking up at Tong Nuanyan, she added, "In my opinion, you are a beautiful woman, and everyone who sees you likes you. Could it be that you used this face to get Yinzhen close to the feet of the legitimate wife?"

Tong Nuanyan listened to her calmly, and when she mentioned the Fourth Lady, she immediately looked sad.

"Your Highness, you don't know that ever since I entered the palace, the Fourth Lady has not liked me very much. This time, she is even more worried that the favor of the Honghui Prince will be taken away by the Hongzhao Prince. She even cursed me to give birth to a daughter on the day of my delivery. Tell me, how can the Fourth Master not be angry?"

The Fourth Lady did dislike her, but the following part was pure fabrication. Now she and Yinzhen were in the same boat, and Defei regarded Yinzhen as a thorn in her side. Of course, she could not tell Defei about such a thing that would affect her prestige.

Concubine De was a little unconvinced, and a puzzled expression appeared on her well-maintained face: "Just because of this? Is it really not because of your whispering that Yinzhen confined her?"

"How dare I disappoint you, Your Majesty? You know how much the Fourth Master is looking forward to your coming. But Mrs. Fu had to curse me like this. Fortunately, I gave birth to Hongzhao, otherwise the Fourth Master would be so angry." Tong Nuanyan looked like she was about to cry, with tears about to fall. Hongzhao in her arms also had a pouty face as if he was about to cry.

Concubine De had no doubt about it. She had also guessed that Yinzhen was anxious about having an heir. Why did the Ulanara family happen to encounter this situation, and now Tong Nuanyan's family is the only one in power.

"Yinzhen is 23 years old now, and he does have fewer children. This palace is very heartbroken. Concubine Tong, you just gave birth to Hongzhao, and it must be hard for you to serve Yinzhen." As she said this, Defei motioned for a beautiful girl beside her to come over. She was not dressed like a palace maid, so Tong Nuanyan had to pretend that she didn't know what she meant.

"My lady, this woman is very beautiful. Who is she?"

Concubine De smiled and glanced at Tong Nuanyan, motioning for the woman to salute her.

"Your servant Wuya Xiruo greets the concubine. May the concubine be blessed!" The woman bowed weakly, but she could not hide the excitement and disdain in her eyes.

Wuya? Is she Defei's family?

"Get up, this...sister looks very kind, I wonder if you are engaged?" Tong Nuanyan pulled her to sit down kindly. Hong Zhao opened his eyes wide and looked at this weak woman who could not hide her evil thoughts, and burst into tears.

"Oh, why is Hongzhao crying? I'm sorry, sister, Hongzhao may not like the smell of heavy rouge and powder, so you'd better stay away from me." Tong Nuanyan said apologetically, without noticing Wuya's ugly face, and coaxed Hongzhao by herself.

Wu Ya stood up awkwardly and walked away from Tong Nuanyan. She was obviously younger than Tong Nuanyan, but she was always called "sister". She was indeed not that pretty, but she was not that old, right? Thinking of this, she looked up at Concubine De above her with grievance.

"Concubine Tong, you really don't understand what I mean?" Defei's face was also not looking good. This Uya Xiruo was a distant relative of hers, and could be considered as half a niece. She had a low status, and entering Yinzhen's backyard was the best arrangement. She knew Yinzhen's character well, and he would not only arrange a position for her as a concubine, but would also give her a position of a princess for the sake of her mother.

And she would also keep one eye on the prince's residence to keep an eye on Yinzhen, her disobedient son.

Tong Nuanyan was trying to comfort the crying Hong Zhao while she said aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, I know your good intentions, but if Hong Zhao keeps crying because of a woman in Yonghe Palace today and asks me to take her back, the Fourth Master will not favor this sister. This will only harm her. Your Majesty doesn't want her to be neglected as soon as she enters the backyard, right?"

Both Defei and Uya looked unhappy, but the situation was very tricky at the moment. It was not impossible for Defei to force Tong Nuanyan to take her back, but in this way, she would be treated coldly as Tong Nuanyan said, which was not their purpose.

"Okay, Hongzhao has been here for such a long time, he must be hungry. Concubine Tong, please take Hongzhao away. We can talk about this matter later." Defei was at a loss as Hongzhao's crying voice gave her a headache, so she quickly asked him to leave.

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Tong Nuanyan carried Hongzhao and retreated. After turning around, the aggrieved expression on her face disappeared completely, replaced by a relaxed and calm expression.