Rebirth of His Royal Highness Prince Chenghu

Cining Palace

Kangxi asked respectfully, "Madam, is there anything important you would like to discuss with your grandson?"

The Grand Empress Dowager spoke slowly, "I have already decided to let the Queen raise Chunxi."

Kangxi said with a hint of worry, "Madam, the Empress has only just given birth to Chenghu three days ago and is still in confinement. It seems inappropriate for her to raise Chunxi."

The Empress Dowager said firmly, "It has been decided. I am only informing you."

Kangxi said helplessly: "Grandson will obey the arrangements of the Royal Madam."

The Empress Dowager said: "Then you should go and bring Princess Chunxi to the Queen."

Kangxi: "Yes, Madam." He then went to the side hall, carefully picked up Chunxi, and walked lightly towards the palace where the queen was.

Chunxi's little hands tightly wrapped around the emperor's neck, and she asked curiously, "Emperor's father, will the queen like Chunxi?"

Kangxi responded gently: "You should change your address to Empress Dowager. How could your Empress Dowager not like you?"

Chunxi's face was filled with an innocent smile as she continued to ask, "Really? Father Huang, will the Empress Dowager like Chunxi?"

Kangxi smiled and replied, "Of course, there are also younger brothers to play with you."

Chunxi: "Brother?" she asked curiously.

Kangxi: "Yes, your mother just gave birth to a younger brother."

Kunning Palace

Liang Jiugong sang loudly: "The long live Lord has arrived!"

The palace maids outside the door knelt down one after another and shouted in unison: "Long live the Lord, may His Majesty be blessed with good fortune."

Kangxi strode into the inner room holding Chunxi in his arms and said gently, "My dear."

Qingyao bowed respectfully: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

Kangxi glanced at her and frowned slightly: "You are still in confinement after childbirth, so please excuse me."

Qingyao looked closely and found that Kangxi was holding a little girl in his arms. She asked curiously, "Whose little girl did your Majesty bring here?"

Kangxi: "Have you forgotten that this is Chunxi, the daughter of my fifth brother whom I personally adopted?"

Qingyao: "So this is Chunxi. Why did His Majesty bring Chunxi to me?"

Kangxi: "The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager have already discussed it and decided that you will raise Chunxi. In the future, she will be recorded in your name in the Imperial Book of Documents, becoming our eldest daughter."

Qingyao hesitated and said, "But, since I already have Chenghu, wouldn't it be inappropriate to raise Chunxi?"

Kangxi said helplessly, "My dear, you just need to rest and recuperate. The Royal Madam and the others have already discussed everything. I just learned the news."

Qingyao said, "In that case, let Ling Ma take people to tidy up the side hall and let Chunxi stay there."

Kangxi nodded and said, "My dear, it will be as you say."

Qingyao called softly, "Madam Ling."

Madam Ling immediately responded respectfully, "Your Majesty."

Qingyao opened her red lips softly: "Quickly take the people to tidy up the side hall and accommodate the eldest princess."

Nanny Ling replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty," and then she walked out.

Kangxi asked with concern: "Chunxi, why don't you call for help?"

Chunxi called out sweetly, "Empress Dowager."

Qingyao curled up a gentle smile at the corner of her mouth. She gently took off the jade bracelet on her wrist, put it on her carefully, and then hugged her tightly in her arms.

At this moment, Chunxi's heart was filled with gratitude, and she said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Qingyao raised the corners of her mouth and said gently, "Thanks to His Majesty for giving me such a well-behaved and lovely daughter. I am deeply grateful."

Kangxi asked with concern, "Where is Tuan Tuan? Why can't I see him?"

Qingyao replied softly, "Tuantuan lives in the next room and should be awake by now."

Kangxi stood up and said, "You two can chat slowly. I'm going to go check on Tuantuan."

Qingyao said to Chunxi in a gentle voice, "Chunxi, just stay here with me. I didn't know you were coming today, so I asked the nanny to clean up the side hall. You can stay there for the time being. If you need anything, just tell me and I will prepare it for you."

Chunxi nodded respectfully and said, "Yes, Chunxi thanks the Empress Dowager."

Kangxi returned to the inner room with his beloved son in his arms. With a loving smile on his face, he said, "I just came in and he's already awake, but he's not crying or making a fuss."

Qingyao whispered softly, "Tuantuan is very well-behaved. He only whimpers when he's hungry or his diaper is wet." She raised her head and looked at Kangxi expectantly, "Your Majesty, have you found the iron-eating beast you promised me?"

Kangxi smiled and replied, "I've found it. It's on its way to the capital. My dear, where do you plan to keep this iron-eating beast?"

Qingyao smiled gently and suggested, "Why not keep them in the back garden of Kunning Palace? There are few people there, so we don't have to worry about anyone disturbing them."

Kangxi nodded and smiled, "That's a good idea. I'll do as you say. Please make sure someone takes good care of them."

Qingyao asked softly, "Is it one or two?" Her eyes were full of anticipation.

Kangxi smiled and replied, "Two, I heard they are a male and a female. This way, with a little Chunxi, they will have something to play with."

Qingyao asked excitedly, "Master, is there anything you'd like to eat today? I'll have someone prepare it right away."

Kangxi looked at her with concern and said softly, "Qingqing, is there anything you want to eat?" His eyes were full of affection and warmth.

Qingyao smiled mischievously and said coquettishly, "I do want to eat something, but if I tell you, you might not let me."

Kangxi chuckled dotingly and said, "Why don't you tell me about it, my dear." He hugged her and held her tightly, his eyes full of love and doting.

Qingyao said softly: "I want to eat pot."

Kangxi responded to Qingyao with concern and said gently, "Then eat. I have asked someone to prepare a light pot for you."

Qingyao said happily: "Thank you for your kindness, Master. As long as I can taste the steaming hot pot, I will be satisfied."

Kangxi smiled fondly and teased, "You, as soon as the weather turns cold, you think about the pot, and you are not afraid of getting tired of it."

Qingyao said coquettishly, "Oh, no! It's so cold, it would be nice to eat something warm. Besides, the food sent from the imperial kitchen is already cold, so you don't have to worry about getting an upset stomach if you eat it."

Kangxi pondered for a moment and decided, "Then you will be allowed to build a small kitchen in the courtyard. From now on, you won't have to go to the imperial kitchen for meals. You can just send someone to the imperial kitchen to get the ingredients."

Qingyao said gratefully, "Thank you, Sanlang."

Kangxi waved his hand and ordered Chunyu: "Why don't you go to the imperial kitchen and prepare the pot?"

Chunyu replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty," and then stepped out.

In May of the ninth year of the Kangxi reign, Zhongcui Palace.

Concubine Ma Jia anxiously asked Nanny Chen: "What happened to Chengrui?!"

Nanny Chen replied, "The window wasn't closed properly last night."

Concubine Ma Jia hurriedly ordered the palace maids: "Quickly call the imperial physician. Make sure to save my son!"

The palace maid immediately responded, "Yes, concubine." Then she hurried to call the imperial physician.

Concubine Ma Jia then ordered another palace maid, "Come, quickly report to the Emperor that the eldest prince is ill."

The palace maid also responded quickly: "Yes, concubine."

After several days of diagnosis and treatment, Chengrui passed away at noon on May 24th. This news made Concubine Ma Jia burst into tears, and she cried out in sorrow, "My son!"

Kangxi sighed softly and said comfortingly: "Rest well, you will have children again."

Concubine Ma Jia burst into tears and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, Chengrui must have been murdered! I will go find the imperial physician right now and ask you to find out the truth!"

Kangxi interrupted directly and said, "Liang Jiugong has already found out that it was the servants who neglected to close the window properly, which led to the invasion of cold wind! This matter must not affect the reputation of the royal family!" When Concubine Ma Jia heard this, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Seven months later, on December 17th

Qianqing Palace

Kangxi said, "Liang Jiugong, quickly go to my private storehouse and select some treasures to present to the Empress. Tell her that today was originally her birthday and we were supposed to hold a grand banquet, but because she caught a cold and is feeling unwell, it has been cancelled. Next year, I will hold a grand celebration for her. If the Hesheli family sends any gifts, have the Empress accept them. By the way, tell the Empress that I will be there for lunch."

Liang Jiugong replied respectfully: "Yes, I will take care of it right away." Then he respectfully withdrew and asked Wei Zhu to come and serve him.

Kunning Palace

Qingyao played with her baby son Tuantuan, calling him softly, "Tuantuan, my dear mother."

Chunyu: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Liang requests an audience."

Qingyao: "Let him in."

Liang Jiugong: "Your servant pays respects to the Empress." After paying his respects, he said respectfully: "May the Empress live a thousand years and be blessed with good health."

Qingyao: "Get up, what does His Majesty want?"

Liang Jiugong: "In reply to the Empress, His Majesty, today is the Empress's Thousand-Year-Old Birthday, and a banquet was supposed to be held to celebrate, but the Empress was unwell, so it was cancelled. Next year, His Majesty will definitely hold a grand Thousand-Year-Old Birthday Banquet for the Empress, and he has specifically instructed this servant to select treasures and present them to the Empress."

Qingyao: "I am not feeling well, please ask Eunuch Liang to express my gratitude to the Emperor on my behalf."

Liang Jiugong: "Your Majesty, the Emperor has instructed that if the Hesheli Mansion sends a gift, please accept it. The Emperor will come to Kunning Palace for lunch today."

Qingyao smiled and said, "Chunyu, please accept all the treasures given by His Majesty."

Chunyu replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty." She then accepted all the treasures and personally escorted Eunuch Liang out. She took out an exquisite purse and carefully handed it forward.

The concubines in each palace presented gifts one after another, and even the Cining Palace and Ningshou Palace sent people to deliver gifts.

Qingyao said softly, "Madam Ling, please go to the Cining Palace and the Ningshou Palace on my behalf to express my gratitude to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager."

Madam Ling replied respectfully, "Yes, Madam, I will leave immediately."

Qingyao: "Chunyu, go to the small kitchen yourself and ask them to make a few dishes that His Majesty would like to eat."