Rebirth of His Royal Highness Prince Chenghu

Qingyao ordered Chunyu, "Hurry up and go to the Imperial Household Department to select some palace maids and tidy up the Chengqian Palace, Chuxiu Palace, and Yonghe Palace. The new concubines are coming soon, and their living quarters cannot be left in a mess."

Qingyao's fingers gently rested on the nail polish, she fell into deep thought, then slowly said: "Let's repaint it." Xia He immediately began to prepare, while Qingyao stared at the nail polish on her hand, as if looking for something.

"Empress" Qiu Shuang's voice, like the singing of birds in the early morning, broke the tranquility around.

Qingyao raised her head and looked at her suspiciously, "What happened?"

"A palace maid hurried in to report that Consort Zhaojia of Xianfu Palace had given birth to a daughter. This news was like a bolt from the blue, and a flicker of disbelief crossed Qingyao's face. She couldn't help but stare blankly, and asked with a hint of confusion, 'How old is the child?'"

"I heard that on the sixth day of the fifth lunar month, three days after you gave birth to the third prince, Concubine Zhaojia gave birth.

Qingyao frowned and asked doubtfully, "Why didn't the news of her pregnancy get out?"

Qingyao pondered for a moment, then made a decisive decision: "Qiushuang, go and find out the whereabouts of His Majesty. Xiahe, quickly change my clothes, we have to act quickly."

Xia He quickly helped Qing Yao change into her Manchu dress. Qing Yao smiled softly and nodded. She looked elegant and noble in her purple Manchu dress. She whispered, "That's all, Xia He. Go to the kitchen and get a bowl of Tremella fuciformis soup. Let's go to the Qianqing Palace together."

Xia He readily agreed, and Qingyao led people to the Qianqing Palace.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, Kangxi's eyes, filled with fatherly love, gazed intently at his son beside him. Wei Zhu recognized the newcomer immediately and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, you've arrived." Qingyao responded gently, "I've come specially to bring your Highness some Tremella fuciformis soup." Wei Zhu then replied, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I'll go and inform you." With that, he gently pushed the door open and entered, while Qingyao waited quietly outside.

Liang Jiugong was full of doubts and asked, "How did you get in?" Wei Zhu replied softly, "The Queen has arrived." Liang Jiugong immediately reported, "Your Majesty, the Queen has arrived." After hearing this, Kangxi happily responded, "Please invite her in." So Liang Jiugong went out to greet her in person.

Then, Liang Jiugong knelt and said, "Your servant pays respects to the Empress." Qingyao raised her hand slightly, indicating that it was unnecessary. Liang Jiugong said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Emperor invites you in." Qingyao took the food box and walked in steadily.

Kangxi looked at Qingyao with concern and asked, "Qingqing, why did you come here in person? It's so hot, don't get burned." Then he immediately stood up and greeted Qingyao. Qingyao replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects." After the ceremony, Kangxi said gently, "Get up quickly. There's no need to come here in person. Just let someone from the palace bring you here."

"I have come here to apologize to the Emperor," Qingyao said frankly. Kangxi helped her up. "What crime have you committed?" Qingyao explained the circumstances surrounding Zhaojia's pregnancy. "I neglected to supervise her. I beg Your Majesty to punish me." Kangxi said gently, "It's not your fault. It's mainly because Zhaojia didn't know the rules." He paused. "In that case, she should continue to live where she is, while the Third Princess should move to Qianxi Wusuo."

Hearing this, Qingyao softly comforted him, "Your Majesty, your health is important. Don't get too angry, or I'll be heartbroken." Kangxi finally relented under her gentle persuasion, "Okay, I'll listen to you. Did you make this Tremella soup yourself?" Qingyao shook her head slightly, "No, the chefs in the small kitchen prepared it."

At this moment, Yinreng stumbled towards Qingyao and hugged her legs. Qingyao gently stroked his head: "Fat son, mother is here." Then, she gently held Yinreng in her arms, her motherly love overflowing with words.

Qingyao was full of doubts and asked Kangxi: "Your Majesty, isn't Yinreng being taken care of by Tuantuan? How come he appears here with you?" After Kangxi patiently explained, she nodded slightly to show her understanding.

A chill ran through Qingyao's heart, realizing he might no longer be infatuated with her. Helplessly, she sighed softly, "Forget it, let him be." She held her chubby son to him. Despite the bitterness in her heart, she remained resolute in facing reality.

Qingyao said calmly, "Then let my husband take care of him. I will have less worries." Kangxi nodded silently and hugged his son tightly. As he was about to leave, Kangxi said reluctantly, "You just stay here with me. What are you going back for?" Qingyao smiled helplessly and said, "The color of my nail polish has faded a little. I plan to repaint it."

"Alright, I'll finish reviewing the memorials before I go to your Kunning Palace." Kangxi said. Qingyao replied respectfully, "Then I will wait for you in Kunning Palace."

Little Yinreng called out in a slightly coquettish tone, "Mother~" Kangxi responded gently, "Oh, your mother is not here at the moment." Yinreng seemed a little lost, but quickly recovered. "Looking for someone," Kangxi asked curiously. "What are you looking for?" Yinreng answered without hesitation, "Mother." Kangxi comforted him, "Yuanyuan, just play by yourself over there. After I finish dealing with these memorials, I'll take you to find Mother." Yinreng responded obediently, "Okay."

Kangxi patted his chubby son's little butt in his arms: "Go play." Then he put him down.

Kunning Palace

Qingyao leaned back on the recliner, letting Xia He apply nail polish to her. As her mood gradually calmed down, she began to plan her future.

Chunyu hurried in to report, "Your Majesty, there's a maid in Chengqian Palace causing a commotion." Qingyao asked softly, "Who is she?" Without opening her eyes, Chunyu replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, she's from the Uya clan." Qingyao frowned slightly, "What's wrong with her?" Chunyu replied softly, "I heard she's unwilling to serve others."

Qingyao thought for a moment and said, "Chunyu, go and call Uya over. I want to see for myself what she looks like." Chunyu immediately agreed and turned to leave.

Qingyao lay comfortably on the lounge chair, enjoying the sun. Xia He carefully put on the exquisite gold hollow armor for her. Qingyao smiled with satisfaction: "Xia He, do you think my appearance can scare that palace maid?" Xia He responded respectfully: "Your Majesty's aura is powerful, so she will naturally be intimidated."

Not long after, Chunyu led Wu Ya to Kunning Palace. Upon seeing Qingyao, Wu Ya immediately knelt and greeted, "Your servant greets the Empress." Qingyao asked calmly, "Well...what's wrong with you?" Wu Ya replied hesitantly, "Your servant doesn't want to clean Chengqian Palace."

"If you don't want to clean Chengqian Palace, then which one would you like to clean? My Kunning Palace or His Majesty's Qianqing Palace, or the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace or the Empress Dowager's Ningshou Palace?" Qingyao's tone was filled with a hint of disdain and contempt.

Wu Ya lowered her head and whispered, "Of course the Qianqing Palace is the best."

Qingyao opened her eyes at the sound, stood up proudly, and demanded, "What did you say? Repeat it again!" Wuya hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "The Qianqing Palace is naturally the best." Qingyao stepped on the bottom of the flowerpot, approached her, and challenged her, "The Qianqing Palace is the best? Do you want to clean the Qianqing Palace, or do you want to climb onto the dragon bed?"

Qingyao mocked Uya: "You also want to climb onto the dragon bed? Don't dream, you are just a bannerman of the Zhenghuang Banner, you can never compare to my dignity. I am the legitimate daughter of the Hesheli clan, born into the Hesheli family, my grandfather is Soni, my father is the Grand Secretary, and I was brought in as empress by the Qing Gate. And you, Uya, what are you?"

Qingyao glanced at her with disdain and pushed her to the ground, "Want to climb into bed? Are you worthy? Are you as beautiful as me?" She sneered and wiped her hands gracefully.

Wu Ya fell to the ground, her heart aching. Qing Yao ignored her and threatened, "Listen carefully, Wu Ya, you can never climb onto the dragon bed. As long as I am here, you can only be a humble maid forever!"

Wu Ya exploded in anger: "Why?"

Qingyao raised her chin proudly. "As Empress, I rule the harem, in charge of everything. This is my position and power! What right do you have to question it?" She slammed down the teacup beside her, sending shards flying everywhere. Startled, Uya looked at Qingyao with a determined gaze, mentally formulating a response.

Deep in the Qianqing Palace, Kangxi put down the memorial, his eyes deep and majestic.

Wei Zhu reported nervously, "Master, something happened in Kunning Palace."

Liang Jiugong asked in confusion, "Why are you so nervous?"

Wei Zhu's face was solemn. "Our people in Kunning Palace sent news that the Empress is furious."

Liang Jiugong was curious: "What happened to make the Queen so angry?"

Wei Zhu shook his head: "Our people were not serving the Empress, but we seemed to see the Empress's maid and a palace maid entering Kunning Palace."

Liang Jiugong said seriously: "Then we must report this matter to His Majesty immediately."