jdhmnovel Chapter 269 Fang Nanxi's Transmigration to the Qing Dynasty 23
Chapter 269 Fang Nanxi's Transmigration to the Qing Dynasty 23
Three months passed in the blink of an eye, and the two pregnant princesses in the mansion stayed at home to rest and prepare for their pregnancies. The other princesses in the back courtyard seized the opportunity and began to compete with Lady Nian for the emperor's favor, which led to many comical and absurd situations.
Fang Nanxi watched this farce unfold and chuckled to herself, treating it as a pastime during her leisure time.
That day, Xiao Linzi hurried into Shaoguang Courtyard. Fang Nanxi caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye, but did not immediately stop playing with Hongxi and Hongchen. Only after the play had come to an end did she signal the wet nurse to take the two children away to rest.
Seeing this, Xingluo, with great tact, stepped forward, tidied up the toys, and brewed a cup of tea. This tea was Lushan Yunwu, a tribute tea newly bestowed by the Fourth Master.
The Fourth Prince has been handling matters efficiently lately, which has pleased the Emperor, who has bestowed upon him some tribute tea. Fang Nanxi asked the Fourth Prince for a little, picked up the teacup, and the aroma of the tea filled the air.
"Speak, what happened?" Fang Nanxi asked softly. Xiao Linzi was clever and good at gathering information in the manor. His personal visit must mean he had discovered something important.
"Consort, it seems that Consort Zhang has made a move against Consort Yi," Xiao Linzi replied respectfully.
"Zhang Gege?" Fang Nanxi frowned slightly, looking puzzled.
Zhang Gege was originally a concubine named Zhang. She and Yi Gege were bestowed upon the household by Consort De and entered as bondservant maids. Initially, both of them were just concubines. Later, Yi Gege gained favor and was quickly promoted to Yi Gege, while Zhang Gege served as a concubine for three or four years before being promoted to Zhang Gege.
“That’s right, Zhang Gege and Yi Gege live in the same courtyard. It is said that Zhang Gege wants to ‘remove the mother and keep the child’ and raise Yi Gege’s child…” Xiao Linzi lowered his head slightly as he said this, seemingly disgusted by such a sordid matter.
"People can stand together through thick and thin in times of trouble, but after they become rich, they each have their own ulterior motives. Human nature is truly complex and unpredictable," Fang Nanxi sighed softly.
Back when the two first entered the manor, they had a deep affection for each other and supported one another. But after Princess Yi gained favor and was promoted, Fang Nanxi noticed the resentment in Princess Zhang's eyes.
However, the two are weak and still stick together. Now that Yi Gege is pregnant, it seems not impossible that Zhang Gege would do such a thing out of jealousy and hatred.
However, would things be so simple? Which of the other women in the household, like the infertile Princess An and Princess Wu, or Princess Song whose child died young, wouldn't want to adopt Princess Yi's child? Would they just sit idly by?
“Keep an eye on things and see who else is causing trouble behind the scenes. I reckon Zhang Gege is just the one who sticks her neck out,” Fang Nanxi said calmly, her gaze deep and unwavering, like a galaxy twinkling in the night sky.
After a moment's thought, Fang Nanxi added, "Tell our people to hide well and not get involved in this. The Fujin will handle this matter. If someone frames us, it will only benefit others for nothing."
"Yes, Consort." Xiao Linzi acknowledged the order and hurriedly withdrew.
At this moment, in Qiushui Garden, Geng Gege was gently stroking her belly. Her period hadn't come this month, so she was most likely pregnant.
Overjoyed, she murmured to herself, "Heaven has eyes! I am finally pregnant. I hope I can give birth to a little prince."
For the past three months, Niohuru had suffered from severe morning sickness and was physically weak. Upon learning this, Geng Gege specially sent a message home. Soon, a prescription for recuperation was delivered, which was said to ensure the fetus would be healthy and strong, and would not be weak or die young.
Geng Gege felt a little relieved. She thought to herself that Niohuru had used her own prescription for fertility treatment, but without the family's own prescription for recuperation, the child she gave birth to would be weak.
Moreover, the Niohuru clan is a collateral branch, and their recuperation methods might not be as effective as hers; they might suffer the consequences later...
Upon hearing this news, Geng Gege was in high spirits. The next day, she asked Qu Xia to fetch the palace physician, feigning illness.
After carefully examining her pulse, the royal physician said with a smile, "Congratulations, Princess, you are almost two months pregnant. However, your condition is currently a little unstable and you will need to take good care of yourself."
"Congratulations, Princess! Congratulations, Princess!" Qu Xia chimed in from the side.
Geng Gege was overjoyed and quickly had Qu Xia slip a thick purse into the physician's hand, saying softly, "Thank you for your trouble, Physician. Please write down some precautions."
After Qu Xia followed the physician downstairs, Geng Gege gently stroked her belly, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new life.
A moment later, Qu Xia returned with a piece of paper covered with instructions, and excitedly asked, "Princess, should we tell the Fourth Prince and the Princess Consort this good news?"
"Yes, we must tell Fourth Master and his wife. Also, everyone in Qiushui Garden will receive three months' worth of monthly pay," Geng Gege said with a smile.
Soon, the news of Princess Geng's pregnancy spread throughout the entire palace. Upon hearing this, the other princesses became even more eager to win the emperor's favor, all hoping to conceive a child themselves.
In the Shuyu Courtyard, Lady Nian sat forlornly by the window. As the weather grew hotter, Lady Nian became increasingly irritable. Ever since the Fourth Prince was reprimanded by Consort De, his favor towards her had waned slightly, although she was still more favored than anyone else in the household.
"Consort, you are deeply favored by the Fourth Prince, you will have a child sooner or later, just let nature take its course," Qingsi said softly from the side.
“But those women who are rarely favored by the Fourth Prince even once a month can get pregnant, while I, who am so favored, have still not conceived.” Lady Nian looked disappointed.
She recalled her mother's letter, in which she was repeatedly urged to firmly grasp the Fourth Prince's favor and conceive as soon as possible to secure her position. After all, of the three concubines in the household, she was the only one without a child.
"Go and get a different kind of fertility-enhancing medicine. Prepare it carefully. I must get pregnant!" Madam Nian's eyes were firm, and her tone left no room for doubt.
“But… Consort, every medicine has its side effects. Your health is already weak, so it would be best to recuperate before getting pregnant. That’s what Master and Second Master both advised.” Qingsi was full of worry.
Qingsi felt that the concubine's birth mother was too short-sighted, forcibly inducing pregnancy without regard for the concubine's health, which was extremely harmful to the concubine's body.
"I told you, just do as I say!" Madam Nian was somewhat annoyed. If Qingsi hadn't been a trusted confidante specially left for her by her father, she would have been sent away long ago because of Qingsi's repeated rebuttals.
Qingsi couldn't dissuade Nian Shi, so she had no choice but to go and brew the medicine. But she always remembered the master's instructions, and secretly wrote a letter and sent it to the Nian family, hoping that the master could persuade the concubine.
Fang Nanxi didn't care about the infighting in the backyard. She would occasionally check on Hongxu's studies and play with the twins.
Two months later, Igor went into premature labor, just eight months into her pregnancy. There's a saying, "Seven months is enough for a baby to live, eight months is not," and Fang Nanxi knew in her heart that someone must have been secretly behind it all.
Fang Nanxi hurried to Xiayue Garden, where the Fujin (principal wife) was already in charge. Inside Xiayue Garden, everyone was performing their duties in an orderly manner. Fang Nanxi stepped forward and greeted the Fujin.
The Princess Consort raised her hand, indicating that Fang Nanxi did not need to be so polite. After Fang Nanxi sat down, her gaze swept over everyone: she saw that Zhang Gege's eyes were sparkling with excitement, An Gege had her head down, Song Gege had her eyes closed to rest, and Wu Gege looked nervous.
Xiao Linzi had previously discovered that these were the very people who had tampered with Yi Gege's body; clearly, they all coveted the child in Yi Gege's womb and wanted to possess it for themselves.
Fang Nanxi sneered inwardly; these people were indeed all driven by their own selfish motives. But with Princess Yi's premature birth, the Fourth Prince and his wife would surely investigate the matter thoroughly. It would be a test of who could emerge unscathed from this storm.
"Madam, how could Princess Yi have gone into premature labor? She was perfectly fine just two months ago," Madam Li asked, feigning confusion after bowing, as she arrived late.
In truth, Madam Li knew perfectly well that someone in the manor must have made a move. She had long disliked Princess Yi's arrogant behavior during her pregnancy and wished she would die in childbirth.
The princess glanced coldly at Li Shi and said, "The Fourth Prince and I will thoroughly investigate this matter ourselves."
After a day and a night of arduous struggle, Igor gave birth to a sickly little princess, but she herself died from postpartum hemorrhage.
The young princess was frail and sickly, requiring meticulous care. After a thorough investigation, the Fourth Prince and his wife discovered that Princess Zhang, jealous of Princess Yi, had conspired with Princess An to secretly administer a drug to weaken Princess Yi.
Upon learning the truth, the Fourth Prince was furious and immediately ordered that Zhang Gege and An Gege be confined and never be allowed to step out of the courtyard again.
Now that the little princess has lost her birth mother, she urgently needs an adoptive mother. Upon seeing this, both Song Gege and Wu Gege do everything in their power to try and adopt the little princess.