Qing Dynasty: The Imperial Concubine is Pregnant Again

Early in the morning, the courtyard of the Fourth Prince's residence was decorated with lights and red lanterns could be seen everywhere.

Tong Nuanyan got up early to take care of things, whether it was kitchen affairs or the layout of the front yard, she directed people to do it. Hong Zhao's full moon ceremony must be held in a grand manner with a big banquet.

After helping Hongzhao put on the red and orange tiger onesie, Tong Nuanyan took Xia Xi to the front yard to greet the guests.

Standing at the doorway where she had entered for her wedding, Tong Nuanyan was filled with emotion. She had never expected that she would become a mother and hold a full-month ceremony for her child so soon. With Xia Xi, who was holding Hong Zhao, standing beside Yinzhen, she smiled brightly, "Fourth Master, I have prepared everything."

Yinzhen was very satisfied when he saw Tong Nuanyan dressed up so formally today. It was better to dress formally for such an occasion. Tong Nuanyan wore a water blue Manchu dress with a grape pattern, paired with a small velvet flower hairpin on her head that symbolized happiness, wealth and longevity, and a gold filigree ruby ​​hairpin hanging on the left.

The whole person looked particularly bright and charming, dignified and elegant. Yinzhen looked at Hongzhao in Xia Xi's arms again. The tiger jumpsuit made Yinzhen laugh: "Why do you let Hongzhao wear this? It doesn't look elegant enough."

Tong Nuanyan, who was standing nearby, looked at the guests who were about to arrive and secretly pinched Yinzhen: "Fourth Master, what does the baby need to be so majestic? Don't you think Hongzhao's clothes are very simple and honest?"

Yinzhen pretended not to notice her actions and just pursed his lips: "Yanyan, wait until the banquet is over and see how I will punish you."

As Yinzhen was speaking, the guests at the door came towards him.

After receiving the invitations sent by Yinzhen, all the guests who could come came, but this time the prince and his family were still not there. Instead, it was Prince of Zhi Yinzhen who came with his first wife and eldest son, Prince Hongyu. The Prince of Zhi, the emperor's eldest son, was no less respected than the prince. It was a pity that as long as the prince was around, he would always be inferior to the prince.

The first wife, Irgen Jueluo, was the legitimate daughter of Shangshu Kerkun and of noble birth. However, she gave birth to four daughters in a row and finally gave birth to a prince in the fifth pregnancy. However, she developed a disease and could no longer have children. Now she is no longer favored.

The four-year-old child following the First Concubine had a rat-tail haircut and looked sickly. He must be Prince Hongyu who was born in the 35th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign.

"Big brother is here too, please come in." Yinzhen clasped his fists and gestured slightly. Yinzhi had the title of a prince, and Yinzhen was now a beile, which was one level higher than his in title.

"Greetings to the Prince of Zhi, his wife." Tong Nuanyan bowed beside Yinzhen, then quietly looked at the person in front of her.

The Prince of Zhi is now 28 years old, in the prime of his life. In addition, his muscular body is faintly visible through his clothes due to years of martial arts training. Perhaps because he vowed to become a great general, he put a lot of thought into martial arts, which resulted in him not being outstanding in literature.

"Fourth brother, this must be the concubine? You are so lucky. She gave birth to a prince just one year after marrying you. My eldest brother can't compare to her." Prince Zhi looked at the gorgeous woman beside Yinzhen. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also very blessed. To be honest, he would have envied such a woman a few years ago, but now that he had both legitimate and illegitimate sons, it was not so bad.

"That's not right, brother. To be honest, I envy you. I have few children and only one daughter. I don't know when I can have as many children as you do." Yinzhen said half-jokingly, glancing at Tong Nuanyan to see her reaction.

Tong Nuanyan started chatting with the First Lady at this time. When Hongyu saw the clothes Hongzhao was wearing, he pleaded with the First Lady in a low voice: "Mother, I want that piece of clothing." The voice of the three or four-year-old child was soft and weak, not as sharp as that of an ordinary child.

The eldest wife looked at Tong Nuanyan embarrassedly and said, "Sister-in-law, Hongyu didn't mean that." It was a bit strange to see her like this, a wife of a prince acting so humble.

Tong Nuanyan shook her head and squatted down to look Hongyu in the eye: "Brother Hongyu, you like the clothes on Hongzhao, right?" Hongyu tightly held the sleeve of the first wife, without saying a word, just nodded.

Tong Nuanyan stood up again and said to the first wife with a smile: "Fujin, the clothes on Hongzhao are simple to make. I will ask Chunxiu in the courtyard to prepare a drawing and give it to you later. Is that okay?"

The clothing design drawings are not important things. Even if I don’t give them now, I will have to give them after Hongyu and Prince Zhi talk about it. It’s better to do them a favor.

The first wife was surprised. She had never thought of asking a stranger for the blueprint, but she didn't expect that just because Hongyu liked it, the other person would... "Sister-in-law, how can this be possible?"

"What is possible or not?"

Before Tong Nuanyan could answer, a familiar face appeared at the door again.

Except for the unexpected Prince Zhi's family, most of the others have been seen by me.

Prince Cheng Yinzhi and his third wife, the fifth prince Yinqi and his fifth wife, and this time the seventh prince also came with his wife. Tong Nuanyan had never met Prince Cheng, the fifth prince and the seventh prince before, and she stayed with the women at the banquet.

Now that the banquet was organized by Tong Nuanyan, it was naturally she and Yinzhen, the host, who welcomed the guests.

The one who just asked the question was Prince Cheng, and the others followed behind him.

"Greetings to Prince Cheng, the Third Lady, the Fifth Beile, and the Seventh Beile." Tong Nuanyan bowed slightly, and seeing that Yinzhen was also a little confused, she explained:

"Prince Cheng, you don't know that Hongyu likes the style of Hongzhao's clothes. I'm going to have someone draw a picture for him to give to his wife. His wife is also worried about disturbing the banquet."

After hearing this, everyone looked up at Hong Zhao's clothes. Prince Cheng said in amazement, "Fourth brother, your concubine has good taste. This baby's clothes are very festive, yet childish. Very good. So, how about the drawings? How about giving Third Brother a copy?"

Yinzhen was slightly stunned, then he curled his lips and said, "Since Third Brother also said that this dress is good, why don't I send someone to deliver the blueprint to each of the brothers' courtyards after the banquet?"

"That's great! Even Hongyu likes this dress when he sees it, let alone the other babies!" Prince Cheng said generously. He liked reciting poems and composing couplets, and was curious about such new things. He thought it would be a big attraction if his sons in the backyard wore them.

"Well, everyone, it's getting late. We can't just stand at the door and not go in, right?" After Yinzhen's reminder, the group went inside. Tong Nuanyan saw that no one was coming, so she followed Yinzhen in.

But unexpectedly, a wave of uninvited guests arrived.

In addition to those people with good relationships with the title, there are naturally people with whom the relationship is not so good but who should be invited despite reasonable reasons.

The Eighth Prince Yinsi, the Ninth Prince Yinluo, and the Tenth Prince Yinyi were the three staunch members of the Eighth Prince's faction. Along with the Eighth Prince came his wife, Guo Luoluo, a rumored jealous woman who had been married to the Eighth Prince for three years without allowing him to take concubines. She had a very good relationship with Yinsi, who had no concubines or princesses except for two concubines, and now had no children.

The Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince both came alone. They did not like their wives very much and rarely attended such banquets.