Rebirth of His Royal Highness Prince Chenghu

On the sixth day of the fifth lunar month in the twelfth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, sunlight bathed the Zhongcui Palace, a scene filled with anticipation and joy. After days of arduous labor, Ma Jia finally welcomed her little mistress. The midwife excitedly called out, "Push harder! We're almost seeing the little mistress's head!" After an hour of arduous labor, Ma Jia smiled wearily yet with a motherly love. The midwife joyfully announced, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! A princess has been born!" The princess's birth brought endless joy and blessings to the palace.

Qingyao, as the queen, was fully aware of her responsibilities and position. She remained calm and composed, striving for the honor of the royal family and herself. She gently stroked her belly, took a deep breath, and whispered to Ling Ma, "This little one is quite well-behaved." The old madam smiled and nodded, gently responding, "Your Majesty is right. The young prince is really worried about you." Qingyao smiled, but her heart was still filled with resentment.

In August of the twelfth year of the Kangxi reign, Qingyao suddenly heard the sound of spring rain, her surprise barely concealed. She remained silent, taking a deep breath, a complex wave of emotions surging within her that was difficult to describe. She calmly instructed, "Prove this decree: Ma Jia is pregnant. The Xianfu Palace will be awarded a monthly silver reward for their dedicated service to the master. The Imperial Kitchen must prioritize meals for the Xianfu Palace." Her fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop, as if she were deep in thought.

"By the way, I wonder how our eldest princess is doing these days?" Qingyao suddenly asked this question.

Qiu Shuang replied respectfully, "My lord, Xia He has gone to visit, but has not returned yet." Qing Yao frowned slightly after hearing this, and the worry in her heart was beyond words.

At this moment, a tender, babyish voice rang out, "Mother~~" Qingyao's brows immediately relaxed, and she gazed at the small figure at the door with a face full of joy. Little Chenghu skipped towards Qingyao and rubbed her, "Mother~" Qingyao responded gently, "What's wrong? My dear son." Little Chenghu said in a babyish voice, "I miss mother."

Qingyao gently raised her hand and gently stroked her son's smooth head. Smiling, she suggested, "Then... how about Mommy and your brother sleep with you tonight?" Little Chenghu nestled obediently in her arms, his little head pressed against her belly, and shyly replied, "Good boy, I'm your older brother."

Xia He caught a glimpse of the emperor's majestic procession outside the door, and hurriedly walked to Qingyao, reminding her softly, "Your Majesty, the emperor is here." Qingyao nodded slightly, and calmly ordered the palace servants to make a pot of fragrant tea and bring a comfortable chair.

Kangxi pushed open the door and entered, greeted by this warm and harmonious scene. He watched Qingyao interact with the children with deep affection, his heart overflowing with warmth and satisfaction. Qingyao gently responded to Kangxi's gaze, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you." Kangxi raised his hand to signal everyone to stand, "Qingqing, you haven't answered me yet." Qingyao smiled softly and said gently, "I was watching Chenghu interact with his brother. The little guy really likes his brother."

Kangxi watched the interaction between Chenghu and the little one, his heart filled with a deep paternal love. He gently raised his hand, caressed her swollen belly, and asked tenderly, "Is that so?" Qingyao nodded slightly and replied, "Madame Ling has already made all the arrangements." Kangxi nodded with satisfaction and instructed, "Remember to have the people in Kunning Palace pay attention. The only children left in the palace who are safe are Chenghu, your son, Chunxi, who you are raising, and Baoqing, born to the Nara family." With that, he lovingly pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

Qingyao looked at him with gentle eyes and said softly, "Don't worry, Sanlang. I will take good care of the child in my belly and raise it to adulthood." She stretched out her little hand and patted his chest gently, giving him reassurance.

Little Chenghu tugged at his father's clothes, attracting Kangxi's attention. Kangxi lowered his head to look at his son and asked with concern, "What's wrong with Tuantuan?" Little Chenghu stretched out his chubby little hands and said in a baby voice, "Ah...Ama...hold me."

Kangxi smiled and picked up his eldest son, and asked lovingly: "Did the imperial physician say when the baby will be born?" Qingyao replied calmly: "The imperial physician said next spring." Kangxi nodded to indicate that he already knew.

Qingyao asked softly, "Sanlang, would you prefer this baby to be a prince or a princess?" Kangxi immediately replied, "A son would be best." Qingyao smiled and asked, "Then, Sanlang, don't you like a little princess?" Kangxi looked at her affectionately and said, "A son can be by my side. No matter how cute a little princess is, she will have to go to Outer Mongolia to marry into a foreign country when she grows up. I really can't bear to let her go." Qingyao also gently stroked her belly and said with emotion, "Yes, a son can stay in the capital even when he grows up. But a little princess will go far away and never return."

Kangxi hugged his son tightly, his eyes full of warmth and expectation. He asked softly, "Tuantuan, do you think your mother is carrying a brother or a sister?"

Little Chenghu, still childish, said to Kangxi excitedly, "He's my younger brother, Tuantuan's younger brother."

Qingyao smiled, her tone full of doting. She said to Xiao Chenghu, "Little guy, since you like your little brother so much, when he is born, I will let you take care of him. How about that?"

Kangxi watched the scene unfold, his eyes revealing both fondness and helplessness. He gazed at Qingyao and whispered, "Qingqing, Tuantuan is still young. How are you supposed to raise his younger brother? Wait until he's older and let him take care of him."

Hearing this, Qingyao glared at Kangxi with a coquettish look, and said with a slight smile: "Sanlang is so good, he actually let his son take care of his younger brother."

Kangxi suddenly asked, "My dear, why didn't Chunxi come out?"

Qingyao smiled and replied, "Chunxi is already six or seven years old, so naturally she is learning to read in her room."

Kangxi chuckled and said, "Oh? Really?"

Qingyao called out, "Chunyu, go and get Chunxi over here quickly."

Chunxi's tender voice came softly: "Mother~" The milky little voice made people feel fond of her. Qingyao was full of joy: "Chunxi is here, come in quickly."

Chunxi, like a well-behaved little rabbit, lightly leaped into Kunning Palace and threw herself into her mother's arms. She rubbed her mother's cheek tenderly, as if expressing her inner joy.

Qingyao gently stroked her fluffy head and said softly, "Be good, go pay your respects to your father."

Chunxi responded obediently: "My daughter pays her respects to Father."

Kangxi smiled and waved to her: "No need, come and play with your brother."

Chunxi ran over happily, stretched out her delicate fingers, and gently touched her brother's cheek. At that moment, she exclaimed in her delicate voice: "So soft and comfortable!" Then, she gently kissed her brother on the face.

Kangxi: "Before you were about to give birth, you asked your mother to come to the palace with a sign. Before Chenghu was about to celebrate the New Year, you didn't let her come to the palace."

In this warm and peaceful Kunning Palace, Qingyao responded softly, "Your Highness's order is obeyed."

However, in Zhongcui Palace, the scene was a scene of chaos. The midwife anxiously called out, "Concubine, try harder! We can almost see the young master's head!" After two hours of arduous labor, a baby boy was finally born. However, the child cried once before dying.

Ma Jia was heartbroken and cried out, "Where is the child?"

Anxin replied weakly: "Concubine, the child died after crying once."

Ma Jia couldn't accept this cruel reality and exclaimed: "How could this happen!"

When Nanny Ling heard the news, she immediately hurried back to Kunning Palace to report to Qingyao.

Qingyao asked with concern: "Madam Ling, what's the situation?"

Matron Ling reported respectfully, "This old servant pays respects to His Majesty and the Empress. Concubine Ma Jia gave birth to a son, but unfortunately he died young."

Kangxi pondered for a moment, dismissed the palace maids, and held Qingyao's hand tightly. Qingyao's eyes were filled with anticipation, and she said softly, "Your Majesty, why don't you confer titles on the harem after a while? The sisters in this palace who have children can't always be concubines, right?"

Kangxi thought for a moment and replied with a smile: "My dear, just rest assured and take care of the child. I know what is going on."

Qingyao replied respectfully: "Yes, I will obey your Majesty." Her tone was firm and gentle.

On the third day of the fifth lunar month in the thirteenth year of the Kangxi reign, sunlight streamed down Qingyao's Kunning Palace, adding a touch of color to the tranquil palace. Sitting in the main hall, Qingyao smiled and said to Matron Ling, "Matron, have Chunyu and the others keep an eye on the eldest princess and the others. Don't let them come over to the main hall, or they might scare the children." Matron Ling nodded and expertly assigned Chunyu and the others to watch over the eldest princess and the others.

Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief, her expression as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. "Mammy, are everything ready?" Mammy Ling smiled and nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. The imperial physician is conducting a thorough examination right now, and everyone else is waiting in the west wing hall." Qingyao raised the corners of her mouth in a gentle smile. "If I can give birth safely, I will reward you handsomely." She stroked her belly gently, her gaze returning to the account book.

Suddenly, Qingyao's stomach convulsed violently, as if it was about to swallow her whole. Seeing this, Madam Ling immediately stepped forward to support her and asked with concern, "Madam, what's wrong with you?" Qingyao shook her head gently, trying to hide her pain, but the pain continued to come in waves.

Nanny Ling was extremely anxious and advised again, "Your Majesty, you should take a rest first." However, Qingyao remained calm and composed. She whispered, "No hurry. Call the imperial physician and the midwife first." Everyone present immediately took action. Some went to report the news, some went to boil water. Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Qingyao's strength and composure infected everyone, and they all worked silently for her safety. At this critical moment, Qingyao showed her wisdom and courage, which made people admire and respect her even more.

At the same time, Kangxi also learned the good news. He hurriedly dropped the cinnabar brush in his hand and anxiously asked Liang Jiugong beside him, "The Queen is about to give birth?" Liang Jiugong immediately replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. The people from Kunning Palace have come to report." Kangxi's eyes were filled with anxiety and anticipation: "Quick, go to Kunning Palace!"

When Kangxi stepped down from the dragon chariot, he saw that all the concubines had gathered in the side hall of Kunning Palace. The Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were anxiously waiting at the door of the delivery room. He bowed to them and said, "Madam, Empress Dowager, why did you come to Kunning Palace in person? Why not wait until the Empress gives birth before announcing the good news?" The Grand Empress Dowager smiled and replied, "We're all waiting anyway. We can wait in Kunning Palace and see the baby firsthand."

At this moment, the midwife joyfully announced, "It's born! It's born!" Kangxi, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager hurried over to see. The midwife slapped the little prince's buttocks, and his resounding cries echoed through the palace. Kangxi gazed at the child with rapt delight. The midwife excitedly announced, "Empress Dowager, congratulations! You have given birth to a prince." Qingyao's lips curled slightly, and she smiled gently, "Hurry and take him to show the Emperor, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager."

The little prince was gently carried out under the careful care of the midwife. The Empress Dowager held him in her arms lovingly. He was well-behaved and adorable, not crying or making a fuss, like a shining pearl. The Empress Dowager exclaimed with joy, "This is Xuanye's second legitimate son." The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement, "Indeed, Xuanye's second legitimate son. How is the Empress? Is she in good health?" Xia He hurriedly replied, "Grand Empress Dowager, the master is exhausted and has just fallen asleep."

Kangxi looked at the third prince in his arms with deep affection, his heart filled with joy and gratitude. To express his respect and gratitude to the queen, he decided to reward her well.