The head eunuch replied with sweat on his forehead, "Your Majesty, it's another little princess."
The Emperor frowned, looking confused.
"Old Zhengzi, do you think something's wrong with my body?"
Otherwise, why does Noble Consort always give birth to daughters?
Old Zhengzi knelt in fear, "Your Majesty, you are full of vigor. There's nothing wrong with you."
"Even if there were a problem, it would be with the women. You are the Supreme Ruler, so naturally you are fine."
Hearing this, the Emperor was not comforted. Instead, he asked like a steel straight man, "What does this have to do with women?"
"Can a woman's belly determine whether it's a boy or a girl?"
Old Zhengzi was terrified; he didn't understand this question either.
But that's what the elders always said.
If you can't have a son, blame the woman. It has nothing to do with the man anyway.
The Emperor still didn't understand, "Then why can't the other imperial concubines in the harem conceive?"
Sweat was about to drip from Old Zhengzi's forehead, so he had to improvise, "Perhaps the Empresses' physiques aren't good enough. Otherwise, how could Noble Consort Shi give birth to five in a row?"
It shows the Emperor is fine; the problem lies with the imperial concubines.
The Emperor was temporarily convinced by this argument and got up to go see Shi Zhenxiang.
But when he arrived at Zhenxiang Pavilion, he found no one there.
"Where is everyone?"
The young eunuch sweeping the floor was startled by the Emperor's voice and knelt down, "Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has returned to her maternal family for postpartum confinement."
The Emperor frowned and looked at Old Zhengzi, "Is there such a thing as returning to the maternal family for postpartum confinement in the harem?"
Old Zhengzi quickly looked at the young eunuch, who immediately replied, "Your Majesty, the Empress said she felt sorry for not bearing you a prince, so she wanted to go back to her family and ask if there were any folk remedies, so she could bear you a prince as soon as possible."
Sheng Jinyan frowned slightly, not expecting Shi Zhenxiang to go back to her family seeking a secret recipe for bearing a son.
Oh well, since she loves him so much, he would let her do it.
So he waved his hand and turned back to the Imperial Study.
The young eunuch was surprised, not expecting that excuse to actually work.
It seemed the Emperor really wanted a prince.
In the Empress' palace, when she heard that the Emperor had personally gone to Zhenxiang Pavilion, she felt jealous.
Especially upon hearing that the Emperor had not objected to Shi Zhenxiang returning to her maternal family for postpartum confinement, she felt even more bitter.
"Nanny, do you think the Emperor has any feelings for Noble Consort Shi?"
The old nanny analyzed seriously, "The Shi family are the Emperor's men, but the Emperor hasn't given them special favor, which shows he's still keeping the Shi family in check."
Otherwise, he wouldn't favor Shi Zhenxiang only once a year.
It's just that no one expected that woman to be so lucky; she gets pregnant every time.
The Empress was very envious, "Should we go ask Noble Consort Shi for some secret recipe?"
Otherwise, not being able to conceive isn't a good situation.
Besides, the Emperor comes to the harem far too rarely—only once a month, and he has to spread his favors evenly.
Even she, the Empress, only gets her turn once every half a year for the second time.
The nanny sighed, "It's a good thing the Emperor isn't lustful, to avoid being seduced by those seductive vixens."
But the matter of heirs does need attention.
"How about this old servant also returns to the Prime Minister's Estate to inquire about a secret recipe for you?"
The Empress agreed, "If that doesn't work, go ask Shi Zhenxiang for it."
Either way, she must give birth to a prince.
"Yes."
Over on the other side.
Shi Zhenxiang hurriedly returned to her maternal family with her five daughters, afraid that if she delayed, she would be stopped.
Fortunately, the dog emperor was busy with official business and didn't come to see her, so she could safely do her postpartum confinement at home.
As soon as she arrived at the Shi family, the butler saw her return, his old face full of excitement, "Ninth Miss has returned?"
Shi Zhenxiang happily gave the old butler a hug, "Butler Grandpa, I missed you so much."
The butler looked at her with affection. Seeing her big belly had shrunk, he was shocked, "Did you just give birth?"
"Why did you run back like this? What if you catch a cold? Come in quickly."
The servants quickly draped a cloak over Shi Zhenxiang and handed her a hand warmer. A group of people surrounded her, blocking the wind.
She entered the house warm and cozy.
When the Shi family heard she was back, they all brought gifts to see her.
Except for the men who were far away at the border pass, all the female relatives from the eldest sister-in-law down to the eighth sister-in-law came.
"Little sister, why didn't you tell us in advance that you were coming back? We would have picked you up. Look how cold you are."
Shi Zhenxiang looked at the room full of people and laughed, "I'm already getting warm; how could I be cold?"
The eight sisters-in-law looked her up and down. Seeing she was safe and sound, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They then glanced at the little swaddle she brought back, "Oh, you gave birth?"
Is this a little prince or a little princess this time?
Shi Zhenxiang smiled casually, "Still a princess."
The eight sisters-in-law exchanged glances, afraid she might be sad, and specially comforted her, "It's okay. Next time will definitely be a prince."
The eight Shi sisters-in-law were struck by this thought, "That's true."
Right now, there are only five princesses in the palace. If a prince came from her womb, he would inevitably be plotted against.
Moreover, this prince would certainly become a formidable rival for the Empress' future son, so it's indeed safer to have princesses.
Also, the Shi family's prestige is quite high already. If she gave birth to a prince, the Emperor would surely become wary, afraid that the Shi family would support that prince.
After everyone analyzed it this way, they no longer felt sad.
"Princesses are good too. In the future, they can find good consorts, and maybe they can even take you out of the palace to stay for a few days."
Stay a few days at the eldest princess' place today, a few days at the second princess' place tomorrow—just thinking about it sounds wonderful.
Shi Zhenxiang thought so too.
In the future, even if another prince ascends the throne, her five daughters won't pose any threat to him.
When she becomes an imperial consort dowager, she can rely on the princesses for support in her old age.
Besides, she didn't plan to have any more children.
Having five was enough to ensure her safety.
As they chatted, the princesses returned from their studies.
Since they were the only five children in the palace, the Emperor placed great importance on their education.
He had long hired grand tutors for them, and their daily studies were quite heavy.
But now that they were at the Shi residence, the princesses shed their palace dignity and started hopping around happily.
"Mother ~~ we're baaack ~~"
Their clear, lovely voices could be heard from far away.
The several Shi sisters-in-law happily ran to pick up the children.
"Oh my, Your Highnesses the princesses, you're back?"
The eldest princess, second princess, third princess, and fourth princess saw their family and came skipping over, their voices sweet and crisp, "Eldest aunt-in-law~ Second aunt-in-law, third aunt-in-law, fourth aunt-in-law, fifth aunt-in-law, sixth aunt-in-law, seventh aunt-in-law, eighth aunt-in-law~"
The children sweetly addressed each of the eight aunts-in-law in turn.
The eight sisters-in-law joyfully picked them up, "So well-behaved. Are you hungry? What do you want for dinner?"
The princesses started listing dishes, "I want eight-treasure rice, lotus leaf chicken, and meat buns."
Each of the four princesses liked different foods, and listing them all filled a whole table.
But the Shi family doted on these princesses, and since the Shi family had many members, a table full of food could still be finished.
Shi Zhenxiang, seeing her daughters return, gathered them in her arms and kissed each on the forehead.
"Oh, my eldest daughter, second daughter, third daughter, fourth daughter, you're back. Mother missed you so much."
The four princesses were also happy to see their mother and came close to kiss her.
The eldest princess, being more sensible, looked at the crib nearby and asked curiously, "Mother, did you give us another little sister?"
When they left school, they had heard rumors that their mother had given them another sister, and there were also taunts that their mother had no luck with sons.
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