Harem Daily Life

Although Shu Fei's fetus was pregnant one month earlier than the Empress', her belly was not big. The imperial physician was waiting outside, and the midwives and maids were in the inner hall. The atmosphere was tense and depressing.

The Queen Mother frowned and sent someone in to check the situation every few minutes, feeling very uneasy.

Tao Yanyan and the others were waiting outside again, not knowing how long they would have to wait.

Wang Zhaoyi said, "We came to the palace to be concubines. If we didn't have a child, we would have a miserable old age. But for this woman, giving birth is like having one foot in the gates of hell. This is too scary."

Lady Li said, "That's right. Having a child has its advantages, and not having a child has its advantages. But Your Majesty hasn't summoned me for almost a year. I'm afraid I won't have children in this lifetime."

After saying that, he glanced at Tao Yanyan and said, "Empress Tao is still favored. When she was sick, Your Majesty had to put aside the affairs of state and go to the palace to accompany her to recuperate. With such a loving relationship, I'm afraid they will have a son or daughter sooner or later."

Tao Yanyan glanced at her and said, "I got it a long time ago. The eldest princess and the second prince are now raised under my name. I have both a son and a daughter."

Lady Li choked, "How can adopted sons and daughters compare to biological children? Besides, the eldest princess is the daughter of a consort who committed a crime. You should be careful not to waste your efforts by raising her. As for the second prince, let alone him. He was adopted by the common people. It would be good enough if he could be given a title and inherit the throne. What can you expect from him?"

Tao Yanyan was too lazy to argue with these people. They didn't know Jin'an's background. They probably felt stupid for raising a commoner child.

By midnight, everyone was feeling drowsy, but there was still no news of the birth from the delivery room. Tao Yanyan fell to one side with her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.

Qingfeng came forward and helped her lean against him: "My queen, we don't know when the baby will be born. If it takes one night to give birth, do we have to stay here and wait all night?"

Tao Yanyan tightened his cloak and glanced at the inner hall: "It's not easy to leave since neither His Majesty nor Concubine De has spoken."

After a while, Eunuch Zhang came out to convey the emperor's order: "All the ladies should go back first. Wait until Concubine Shu gives birth before reporting the good news to the other palaces." After that, he came to Tao Yanyan and said respectfully: "His Majesty has instructed that the ladies go back and drink a bowl of ginger soup to avoid catching a cold."

Tao Yanyan nodded, helped Qingfeng up, and went back to Changle Palace first. Everyone was very jealous that she was the only one who was instructed by the emperor.

Shu Fei took a long time to give birth to her baby, and she didn't give birth until the evening of the next day. It was a prince. The Queen Mother and the Emperor were very happy, and they rewarded the harem with three months of silver.

Tao Yanyan went to take a look on the third day, and after just one look, she frowned.

The general head circumference of a baby is about 50 centimeters, but this baby's head is obviously too small. Tao Yanyan sighed inwardly. The defect rate of children born from close relatives is obviously higher. This child will probably suffer in the future.

The imperial doctors only thought that Shu Fei was weak and the child was small, and they did not consider the child's problem at all. Shu Fei looked at the prince she had finally gotten, and her heart was filled with satisfaction.

In Fengyi Palace, upon learning that Concubine Shu had given birth to the third prince, the queen's eyes darkened: "She is also lucky to have a boy in one go, but His Majesty likes the one in my belly and has high hopes for this one. Even if Concubine Shu has a prince, it doesn't matter. He is not a legitimate child, and he will only be a prince in the future."

Thinking of the rumors in the palace, the queen said coldly, "That Li Meiren is restless and dared to curse me. I can't swallow this anger. You go to Baozhi Pavilion and tell her my decree to make Li Meiren kneel for two hours every day to pray for the prince. If she doesn't obey, force her to kneel for the full hour, not a minute less."

Nanny Fang and several strong maids rushed to Baozhi Pavilion. As expected, Concubine Li cried out to the sky and refused to kneel, saying that she was the emperor's favorite concubine and could not be treated casually by the queen. But no one paid any attention to her. Nanny Fang and others were fierce and powerful. They took advantage of the chaos to slap Concubine Li a few times, and she became obedient.

In Changle Palace, Tao Yanyan drank bird's nest and listened to everything Chang Tai had inquired about. She just smiled and said, "We are just getting started. Concubine Shu hasn't come to her senses yet and is looking for trouble with her."

Sure enough, after a few days, Concubine Li not only had to endure the punishment of the Queen, but also the punishment of Concubine Shu. She was tortured beyond recognition. She consulted with her confidants at night, and they unanimously decided to follow the advice of Concubine Dowager Li and introduce Lu Lianyi to His Majesty.

Although Concubine Li was unhappy, she had been quite favored since she entered the palace. She was arrogant and domineering, and had no connections at all. She had no friendships with any of the palaces. She was in urgent need of someone to help her. After thinking about it, it seemed that the only person could be Lu Lianyi.

In order to successfully bring Lu Lianyi into the palace, Concubine Li put a lot of thought into it. She first pretended to be sick, and then said she wanted to see her family. He Linzhang thought that they had been in love after all, so he agreed to her request.

When Mrs. Lu brought Lu Lianyi to the palace to visit the patient, she lied that her illness was serious and brought the emperor to see her.

But unexpectedly, she actually proposed to let her sister enter the palace to accompany him, and forced He Linzhang to marry her sister.

He Linzhang's face was filled with frown as he thought about the young and unattractive Lu Lianyi.

"Jingyi, are you so sick that you're talking nonsense? How could I have you and welcome your sister into the palace? Don't think too much. As long as you take the medicine well, you will get better. You'd better put aside this bad idea and don't force your sister on me!"

He Linzhang spoke seriously and was not moved at all. Lu Lianyi, who was hiding behind the screen, almost tore her handkerchief into pieces when she heard the rejection.

Lady Li was also very conflicted. She wanted her sister to enter the palace but she also didn't want anyone else to share her favor. She was quite conflicted.

After He Linzhang sternly refused, he also knew that there was someone hiding behind the screen, so he did not leave any room for negotiation. After that, he asked the imperial physician to take good care of the patient and returned to Changle Palace with a cold face.

Seeing the emperor coming over angrily, Tao Yanyan thought that something difficult had happened in the previous dynasty. After asking a few questions, he found out that it was the beauty Li who had angered His Majesty.

Tao Yanyan said with a smile: "She herself has no favor left, and she wants to push her sister into the fire pit? Tsk tsk tsk tsk, I don't know what she is thinking."

He Linzhang hugged her and said, "Before, I wanted to go to other palaces for the sake of having children. Now Shu Fei has given birth to the third prince. When the queen gives birth to a legitimate son, there will be four princes. So now I don't want to go to other palaces at all. I just want to come to you."

After saying that, he kissed Tao Yanyan's cheek.

Tao Yanyan instantly felt a surge of pressure and bit her lip as she said, "Your Majesty, I saw how hard Shu Fei was giving birth that day, and I... was afraid of the pain. So... so if I can't give birth in the future, will Your Majesty be disappointed?"