“Jinhua, help me get a mirror,” Shulan said as she struggled to sit up.
“Your Ladyship, you’ve only just given birth. You should lie down and rest.” Jinhua hurriedly handed her the mirror and reached out to help her recline again.
Shulan waved her off. Taking the mirror, she looked at the pale face reflected within.
The face in the mirror was both familiar and unfamiliar.
It looked much like her face from her previous life, with only subtle differences. She had an oval face, willow-leaf brows, delicate features, and skin as smooth as jade. Compared to her modern appearance, she carried an added touch of classical elegance.
“Though it wasn’t intentional, I’ve taken over your body. I don’t know where you’ve gone, but I hope that wherever we are, in whatever time or space, we can both live well.”
Shulan murmured softly to her reflection.
The news that a little prince had been born in Yonghe Palace spread through the imperial harem almost instantly.
That night, countless handkerchiefs were twisted to shreds, and who knew how many teacups were smashed in private.
A woman dressed in a lake-green palace robe reclined gracefully on a couch. In her hand was a newly embroidered decorative knot, which she absentmindedly wound around her fingers.
Her maid, Suxin, entered carrying a bowl of freshly stewed lotus seed soup. Her footsteps were noticeably lighter than usual as she reported in a low voice,
“Your Ladyship, Yonghe Palace has sent word. Consort De has given birth—to a prince.”
Consort Rong’s fingertips paused briefly. The golden thread on the knot loosened slightly before she tightened it again.
“She is fortunate indeed. But whether a child can be born and whether he can be raised to adulthood are two different matters.”
A faint sneer tugged at the corner of her lips. Her smile appeared gentle, yet a trace of darkness lurked within her eyes.
She set down the knot.
Understanding immediately, Suxin leaned closer and whispered,
“Should this servant pass along instructions…?”
Consort Rong waved her hand.
“No rush. There are others in the palace who are less patient than I am. Besides, giving birth isn’t the real accomplishment. Raising a child successfully is.”
Her gaze lingered on the embroidery box.
In her lifetime, she had borne five sons and one daughter.
In the end, only one son and one daughter had survived.
Chengrui, Saiyinchahun, Changhua, and Changsheng had all been healthy at birth. She had watched over them tirelessly, yet only Yinzhi had lived.
So…
Being born did not mean surviving.
“Prepare a box of the finest donkey-hide gelatin and send it to Yonghe Palace,” she instructed. “Tell Sister De to take good care of her health.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
Suxin bowed and withdrew.
Consort Hui was reviewing Yinti’s archery and riding assignments when a maid entered quietly from the side chamber.
“Your Ladyship, Yonghe Palace has announced happy news. Consort De has given birth to the Sixth Prince. Mother and child are both safe.”
The vermilion brush in Consort Hui’s hand paused.
“Another prince. Sister De is certainly blessed.”
After a moment she added,
“Select two bolts of Yunjin brocade from Jiangning and send them to Yonghe Palace.”
Then she supplemented,
“Tell Consort De to rest and recover in peace. The affairs of the palace can be left to us.”
Watching the maid depart, a complicated look flashed through her eyes.
Only Yinti had survived among her children. Even if she wished to have more, the Emperor no longer visited her palace.
And as the number of princes continued to grow, the struggle over the succession became even murkier.
“Jingyue, go inform Lady Wei. Tell her to prepare herself.”
Consort Hui took a sip of tea, calculation flickering in her eyes.
Lady Wei had once been a servant in the Imperial Laundry Department. Through beauty and a single night of imperial favor, she had risen from obscurity.
But controlling a mere palace attendant was easy enough for Consort Hui.
Jingyue accepted the order and left.
Meanwhile, Tongjia was in no such pleasant mood.
She reclined on a couch in Chengqian Palace while a maid removed her elaborate Manchu headdress.
Sunlight filtered through the window screens and fell across her body, yet it could not dispel the gloom in her heart.
“Consort De truly has a blessed life. One child after another, and now another prince. Her footing in the palace will only become stronger.”
Her personal nanny entered and asked softly,
“Your Highness, shall we send her a gift?”
“Of course. Otherwise people will think I’m stingy.”
She paused before continuing.
“Fetch the pair of white jade peace pendants I received recently and deliver them personally to Yonghe Palace.”
After a moment she added,
“Tell Sister De to take good care of herself during confinement. There’s no need for formalities. If she lacks anything, she need only send someone to Chengqian Palace.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After arranging the matter, the nanny returned carrying a bowl of blood bird’s nest soup.
“Please drink this while it’s hot. The imperial physicians said your constitution is weak and needs careful nourishment.”
“Nanny Tao…” Tongjia looked up sadly. “Why is it that some women can keep having children one after another? Why can everyone else bear children, but not me?”
Looking at the child she had raised since infancy, Nanny Tao’s heart ached. She gently patted Tongjia’s back.
“Your Highness, do not grieve. You are of noble birth. Matters of offspring are governed by fate. Consort De may be enjoying success now, but the winds of the harem change constantly. Who can say who will be smiling in the end?”
“Yes… but at least she’s had the chance to smile.”
Tongjia gently stroked her abdomen.
“I don’t even know if I’ll ever get that chance.”
In the small Buddhist shrine stood a jade statue of Guanyin, Giver of Children, recently bestowed by the Emperor.
The jade was warm and lustrous, and Guanyin’s expression radiated compassion.
Day after day she worshipped it.
Day after day she burned incense.
Yet her womb remained silent.
Nothing changed.
Nanny Tao could only continue comforting her.
“The Emperor holds you in his heart. You are his cousin, the Noble Consort he personally elevated. No one in this palace enjoys your dignity and prestige. Besides, the Fourth Prince is being raised under your name. No matter what happens in the future, he would never dare disregard you.”
“Then why won’t Cousin place Little Fourth’s genealogy under my name and make him truly my son?”
Tongjia’s voice was so soft it was almost a sigh.
The nanny froze, not daring to answer.
She could only stand silently by her mistress’s side.
Shulan lay weakly against the couch while maids bustled in and out, organizing the flood of congratulatory gifts arriving from every palace.
“Your Ladyship, Consort Hui of Yanxi Palace has sent…”
Looking at the mountain of gifts filling the palace, Shulan couldn’t help sighing.
Having children really was a path to wealth.
Though what did that have to do with her?
If she had a choice, she’d rather return home.
Life as an overworked employee had been exhausting, but at least she had been free.
Not trapped inside these square palace walls.
By the time the servants finally finished sorting most of the gifts, a soft yet vigorous cry rang out.
It was the unmistakable cry of a newborn.
Hearing the little one’s voice, Shulan felt unexpectedly excited.
If she hadn’t loved children, she never would have become a kindergarten teacher.
Although transmigration wasn’t something she had wanted, she might as well make the best of it.
Besides, obtaining two children without going through the effort herself seemed like quite a bargain.
Though her face was still pale from childbirth, she carefully gathered the infant into her arms.
“Good baby, don’t cry. Mother is here.”
Unfortunately, the little fellow seemed unimpressed.
His tiny mouth puckered, and his cries only grew louder.
As a first-time mother, Shulan was completely at a loss.
Seeing this, the wet nurse stepped forward.
“Your Ladyship, perhaps the little prince is hungry.”
She moved to take the child away for feeding, but Shulan stopped her.
At first she hadn’t intended to interfere, but suddenly she remembered modern childcare videos.
Newborns should first be given sugar water. After they passed their first stool, they could begin nursing, which would help reduce jaundice.
“Give him some sugar water first. We can feed him milk later.”
“But…”
“Do as I say. A newborn’s digestive system should be cleared first. If anything happens, I will take responsibility.”
Seeing her insistence, the wet nurse dared not argue further.
She quickly prepared a small bowl of warm sugar water and returned.
Taking the bowl, Shulan scooped up a little with a spoon, blew gently to cool it, and carefully brought it to the infant’s lips.
The little prince seemed to smell the sweetness.
Smacking his lips, he drank eagerly.
Gradually, his crying stopped.
Shulan leaned closer and looked at the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.
His eyes were closed.
His tiny face was rosy red.
His features were well-formed and auspicious-looking.
“He’s quite spirited.”
She couldn’t help smiling.
With this little child by her side, perhaps the endless nights of life within the deep palace would not be quite so lonely.
Since she could no longer return home, she would simply face whatever came.
Soldiers would be met with generals, and floodwaters with earthworks. Whatever happened, she would deal with it when the time came.