boyutpedia Chapter 267 Fang Nanxi's Transmigration to the Qing Dynasty 21
Chapter 267 Fang Nanxi's Transmigration to the Qing Dynasty 21
This year's New Year's Eve banquet proceeded smoothly and peacefully. Before the Emperor, everyone was extremely cautious, daring not to make the slightest mistake. Fang Nanxi, being among them, remained highly vigilant, knowing full well that in the inner palace, one could never be too careful.
Finally, the long banquet came to an end, and Fang Nanxi returned to Shaoguang Courtyard. As soon as she stepped into the familiar courtyard gate, her tense nerves instantly relaxed, and her mood became cheerful.
Just then, a wave of hunger washed over her, and she instructed Qiuzhu, "Go, cook a bowl of noodles." Having said that, she picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then asked Xingluo, "Has anything gone wrong at the manor?"
Xingluo stood respectfully with her hands at her sides and replied, "As instructed by the Consort, the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince are both well at Shaoguang Courtyard... except this year..."
Xingluo frowned slightly, hesitating to speak. Fang Nanxi raised her eyes, gesturing for her to continue.
"Consort, Princess Yi in the manor is pregnant. The news spread at the New Year's Eve banquet, and it's said she's almost two months pregnant," Xingluo said cautiously, her eyes constantly observing Fang Nanxi's expression, afraid of angering her.
Fang Nanxi did not show any anger after hearing this; instead, a sense of doubt arose in her heart.
Logically speaking, Princess Niohuru should be pregnant at this time, since historically, Emperor Hongli would be born in August of the following year.
But now it is Princess Yi who has good news, even though historical records show that Princess Yi did not live to see Yongzheng ascend the throne, and there is no record of her ever being pregnant.
Was it that she was pregnant but failed to give birth smoothly? Or were there other unforeseen circumstances that led to her untimely death?
Fang Nanxi understood that since she gave birth to the Fourth Prince, the course of history in this world had quietly changed. Now, the fact that Princess Yi was pregnant, or Princess Niohuru was not pregnant, seemed unsurprising.
"So be it, let her be pregnant. As long as Hongxu and the others are safe and sound, my position as a concubine is as secure as a mountain," Fang Nanxi said calmly.
At this point, Fang Nanxi looked at Xingluo. Xingluo was a year older than Fang Nanxi, and was twenty-four this year. After this year, she would be twenty-five, the age when palace maids would leave the palace.
"Xingluo, you'll be twenty-five next year. When it's time for you to leave the manor, what are your plans?" Fang Nanxi asked softly.
Back in the 48th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, when Fang Nanxi gave birth to twins, she asked Xingluo what he thought. At that time, Xingluo expressed his willingness to follow her forever, so Fang Nanxi did not bring it up again, thinking that Xingluo's thoughts might change over time.
Upon hearing this, Xinglu knelt down with a thud, tears welling in her eyes, her voice choked with sobs: "Consort, please, please don't let me leave the palace. I want to follow you for the rest of my life. I was sold into the Fang family by my parents, and I have no feelings for them."
"Besides, I've seen too much hardship outside while I'm in the manor, and I really don't want to go out and suffer. Do you remember Chunli, who serves Consort Song? I used to have dealings with her in the main kitchen."
"Chunli is twenty-five years old this year. Her parents ask her for money every month and even threatened to sell her to Chunfeng Brothel. Chunli had no choice but to choose to remain in the mansion as a maid."
Xingluo's words were filled with fear of the outside world and loyalty to Fang Nanxi. She had no other attachments in this world and only wished to serve Fang Nanxi forever.
Fang Nanxi was filled with mixed emotions. The fate of most women in this world was beyond their control. She secretly made up her mind that if her child were to ascend the throne in the future, she would fight for more rights for women and improve their status.
"Alright, Xingluo, I know how loyal you are. Since you're devoted to me, I'll naturally take care of you in your old age and see you off when you die. If you ever have the thought of getting married, just tell me." Fang Nanxi's tone was gentle, full of pity for Xingluo.
As for Qiushuang, she was two years younger than Xingluo; Qiuzhu was three years younger than Xingluo; Dongsong and Dongzhi were even younger. Among the eunuchs, those with dignity could leave the palace to enjoy their old age; those without dignity could only work in the mansion until they could no longer work.
During the first month of the lunar calendar, news of Princess Yi's pregnancy spread throughout the household. The Princess Consort was overjoyed upon hearing the news. Indeed, at the New Year's Eve banquet, Consort De had criticized her for being unvirtuous, but now that a princess in the household was pregnant, the rumors naturally dissipated.
Since becoming pregnant, Princess Igor has changed her low-key style and spends her days strolling around the mansion with her still-not-yet-showing belly.
Fortunately, the Fourth Prince and his wife were busy with affairs during the first month of the lunar year and had no time to take care of her, otherwise, given Princess Yi's personality, who knows how smug she would have become.
Princess Yi had been in the household for many years, even earlier than Princess Niohuru and Princess Geng. Princess Geng and Princess Yi had always been at odds, and they had engaged in numerous open and covert struggles to win the emperor's favor.
Now that Yigege is pregnant, every time she goes to the main kitchen, she instructs her maid, Biyu, to steal things from Genggege. Genggege, mindful of the unborn child in Yigege's womb, can only swallow her anger, which only emboldens Yigege to become even more demanding.
Fang Nanxi learned from Xingluo that Yigege not only stole Genggege's things, but also the things of Consort Nian and Consort Li, all under the pretense of being for the sake of the child in her womb.
Fortunately, Fang Nanxi usually used the small kitchen, and even when she went to the main kitchen to get food during the first few days of the lunar new year, she instructed Xingluo to go half an hour later, which prevented her from having a conflict with Yigege's maid.
"Hmph, never mind. After all, this is Princess Yi's first pregnancy, and the Princess Consort said she would take good care of her." Fang Nanxi sighed helplessly.
“But that Princess Yi is too arrogant…” Xingluo said angrily. In her mind, Fang Nanxi had suffered some hardships at first after entering the manor, but later things went smoothly, and she even had three sons. How could Princess Yi be so presumptuous?
Fang Nanxi glanced at Xingluo, who immediately realized his lapse in composure and quickly lowered his head, looking as if he had made a mistake.
Xingluo had followed Fang Nanxi for many years and was one of the older members of his staff, but sometimes she was still not steady enough in her actions compared to Qiushuang. It was for this reason that Fang Nanxi arranged for the steady Qiushuang to be by Hongxu's side, while keeping Xingluo by her own.
"Don't worry, once Fourth Master is done with this, he won't let Yigege continue to be so arrogant. He'll most likely confine her to her quarters so she can focus on her pregnancy. Besides, Yigege has offended so many people; those people in the manor are not to be trifled with."
A contemptuous smile appeared on Fang Nanxi's lips. In her opinion, Yigege's actions were utterly foolish.
The second day of the second lunar month is the first time to pay respects after the New Year.
Fang Nanxi rushed to the main courtyard and found that besides Li Shi and Nian Shi, Princess Yi had not yet arrived. The princesses rose and bowed when they saw her enter. Xingluo, seeing this, did not make things difficult for them and gestured for everyone to sit down.
Seeing this, Wu Gege immediately stepped forward to talk to Fang Nanxi: "Sister Fang, as soon as Yi Gege got pregnant, she became domineering. Now even the main kitchen has to give way to her. I heard that a while ago, Sister Fang even made Aunt Xingluo come to pick up the meal half an hour later."
Fang Nanxi remained noncommittal about Wu Gege's words, but she knew in her heart that Wu Gege was trying to sow discord between her and Yi Gege.
Fang Nanxi glanced at Princess Niohuru out of the corner of her eye and saw her casually touch her belly. The movement was quick, but Fang Nanxi still caught it. Fang Nanxi's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that Princess Niohuru was pregnant and probably wanted to wait until the fetus was three months old before announcing the news.
Fang Nanxi ignored Wu Gege, but Geng Gege, still harboring resentment because of Yi Gege's previous targeting of her, couldn't help but say, "Yes, as if she's the only one in the manor who's ever been pregnant."
Not long after, Lady Li and Lady Nian arrived, and Lady Yigege followed them in. Then, the Fujin (principal wife) came out from the inner room, her gaze coldly sweeping over Lady Yigege's position, noticing Lady Yigege's smug expression.
"Greetings to the Princess Consort, may the Princess Consort be blessed," everyone said in unison.
"Get up." The Princess Consort said slowly with a dignified expression, "When I went to the palace before, Mother was always concerned about the health of the younger sisters in the manor, and specially asked me to invite the imperial physician to take a look at everyone. It is not convenient to invite the imperial physician during the first month of the lunar year, but now that the imperial physician has arrived, let him give the younger sisters a proper diagnosis."
Fang Nanxi noticed that when Princess Niohuru heard the Fujin's words, her expression stiffened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
The other princesses were full of anticipation, but Yigege looked disdainful and kept touching her three-month pregnant belly.
The Princess Consort instructed Lanxin to fetch the Imperial Physician. The Imperial Physician was already waiting in the front courtyard, but had not yet entered the back courtyard.
After the imperial physician entered, he first bowed to the Fujin (principal wife), then to the other concubines, and then began to take the Fujin's pulse.
"Madam, you have kidney deficiency and your lower back and knees are sore. You have been overworking recently and need to rest well. There is nothing seriously wrong."
"Consort Li is in good health..."
……
Fang Nanxi took her pulse. She remained calm and extended her wrist. The imperial physician said that she was in good health.
After the physician finished taking the pulse, it was Lady Nian's turn. She looked at the imperial physician with anticipation. Although the Fourth Prince was a prince, the imperial physician did not often come to the mansion.
"Consort Nian, you are deficient in blood and qi, and need to take good care of yourself in order to have a chance of conceiving a child."
Lady Nian had heard these words from the imperial physician many times before, from the family physician. She knew in her heart that she had been frail since childhood, and it would not be easy for her to conceive.