Chapter 38: Update

Chapter 38 Update

Not many days had passed when the Empress sent her servants to deliver gifts to her—various items such as gold and silver lacquerware, jade objects, tea, and embroidered textiles.

Fang Yu returned them all. Accepting them would be tantamount to agreeing to let the Empress raise her child. Since the Emperor had not yet made a decision, there was no need for her to consent prematurely. The Empress had directly petitioned for imperial approval without even notifying her, clearly indicating that she did not consider Fang Yu’s opinion important and did not take her seriously. So why put on such a superficial display now?

During the day, Consort Duan visited again and told her that Noble Consort Tong had also petitioned to adopt her child. Only then did Fang Yu frown.

Was Noble Consort Tong simply opposing the Empress, or did she genuinely want to raise her child? Moreover, her child had not even been born yet—how did they know she would give birth to a son?

"Sister, it seems the child in your womb has become a highly coveted prize. Their motives don’t matter; what matters is who you want to raise your child. You need to think carefully about this first."

Fang Yu sighed and replied, "Your Highness, I am of lowly status, and this matter is not for me to decide. It’s not up to me to choose who raises my child. No mother wants to give her child away. Right now, I just want to focus on nurturing my pregnancy and not dwell on these matters. Since it’s beyond my control, I can only wait and see. Whether it’s the Empress or Noble Consort Tong, they can do as they please. I have no say in it, so I’ll let them be."

Consort Duan rarely felt sympathy for Wuya Shi. Despite Wuya Shi’s current favor, what did it matter if she couldn’t even raise her own child?

"You are right, sister. The most important thing for you now is to take good care of your pregnancy. Their petitions are their own business; ultimately, it’s up to the Emperor. I won’t disturb you any longer. Rest well."

After seeing Consort Duan off, Fang Yu returned to bed for a nap.

Perhaps because she had returned the Empress’s gifts, the next day, the Empress personally visited Yonghe Palace to inquire after her well-being but did not mention the child.

Fang Yu also engaged in small talk with her, avoiding the topic of the child.

The Empress was the first to lose patience. "Sister Wuya, to be frank with you, last year I had a premature birth. Before the imperial physicians arrived, I was already bleeding heavily. To save my life, the physicians made me drink a labor-inducing decoction to deliver the child prematurely. A seven-month fetus simply cannot survive. Although I was fortunate to keep my life, I lost the child and my only chance to become a mother. Several imperial physicians have said that the premature birth damaged my foundation, and I will never have children again. Noble Consort Tong is still young; she still has the possibility of bearing children and may have her own. But I never will. So, I will absolutely treat your child as my own."

Fang Yu was puzzled by the Empress’s self-revelation of such a painful scar. Could the Empress really not have children? Did the premature birth last year damage her body so severely that she could no longer conceive?

She had never heard such rumors. A year had passed, and not a whisper had emerged from the Empress’s side.

She couldn’t help but wonder if the Empress was revealing her scars to persuade her, gain her sympathy, and strengthen her bargaining position. Was it a lie fabricated to make her willingly hand over her child, or was it true?

She remembered that historically, Niuhulu Shi indeed had no children and died young, but Noble Consort Tong also had no children.

"Your Majesty…"

"Sister, you needn’t pity me. I only wish to tell you that I am more suitable than Noble Consort Tong to raise your child."

Fang Yu didn’t truly sympathize with the Empress because she didn’t know whether her words were true or false. She continued evasively, "Empress, the matter of the child is not for me to decide. It is the Emperor’s decision. I cannot influence His Majesty’s judgment. But as far as I am concerned, I believe Your Majesty is kind-hearted and considerate to all the sisters in the inner court. If you were to become a mother, you would undoubtedly be a good one."

"With those words from you, sister, I am reassured. If you lack anything here, have the servants come and tell me. Please do not hesitate to ask."

"Yes, I understand."

With that, the Empress rose to leave. Fang Yu intended to see her off respectfully, but the Empress gestured for her not to bother.

Another half-month passed, and the petitioning furor subsided somewhat. The Empress still visited her every few days, but Noble Consort Tong never came once.

As time passed, Fang Yu’s belly gradually grew larger, reaching eight months.

One day, Liang Jiugong brought over four midwives, all over thirty-five years old and seemingly quite experienced.

Liang Jiugong said these four midwives had been screened by the Emperor. Each had a clean background; they were all bondservants from the Eight Banners and had experience with hundreds of deliveries.

Since her due date was approaching, the midwives were to be stationed at Yonghe Palace for now.

Liang Jiugong presented a register. She flipped through it; the register recorded all the family members of these four midwives, detailing three generations of ancestors and relatives. Unless they wanted to implicate their entire clans, they wouldn’t dare entertain any malicious intentions during her delivery.

Since they were chosen by the Emperor, Fang Yu trusted them. Still, after asking a few simple questions, she accepted them and had them stay at Yonghe Palace.

That wasn’t all. Two days later, Liang Jiugong brought another group of servants, explaining that after the child was born, not only would wet nurses be needed but also servants to attend to the child. He brought them for her to choose from.

The Imperial Household Department had already made a preliminary selection, and the Emperor had also made his choices. She was to pick those she found satisfactory from among them.

Fang Yu understood the Emperor’s intention: he simply wanted to assure her that regardless of who ultimately raised the child, the servants attending to the child would be people he had personally selected, so she need not worry.

But Fang Yu had her own plans. She knew she was giving birth to a son, the future emperor. At this time, it was even more important to place people from her maternal family by the child’s side. Two months ago, her father and mother had recommended two wet nurses, relatives of the Wuya family.

Princes were often raised by wet nurses who became their close confidants. Historically, the Crown Prince even had his wet nurse’s husband appointed as the Minister of the Imperial Household Department.

"Eunuch Liang, there’s no hurry yet. The child won’t arrive for another two months. Leave the register with me; I’ll look through it first."

Liang Jiugong handed over the register. Seeing that Noble Lady De was not in the mood to choose anyone now, he led the servants away.

Fang Yu thought for a moment and had Xiao Fangzi prepare a pot of stewed soup. She intended to go to Qianqing Palace.

Half an hour later, she arrived at Qianqing Palace and was quickly admitted.

"Your body is eight months along now; why are you still running around everywhere?"

Emperor Kangxi, seeing Wuya Shi approaching with her large belly, felt nervous for her. Because of her heaviness, her steps were not as light as before.

"I can walk. I’m just here to see the Emperor; how is that running around? Your Majesty, you asked me to choose wet nurses and servants for the child. I already have two wet nurses selected—relatives of our Wuya family. They gave birth two months ago and have ample milk. Why not assign them to attend to the child?"

"Two wet nurses aren’t enough. Pick four more."

"Your Majesty… you agree?" Fang Yu asked uncertainly. She had thought it would take much persuasion to gain his agreement, as this could be seen as seeking personal gain for the Wuya family.

"Are those two people trustworthy?"

"They were recommended by my father and mother. Your Majesty can investigate them first. I’ve brought the list—here, these two."

Kangxi sometimes found Wuya Shi rather simple-minded. Others who wanted to place their own people around the child did so secretly, without drawing attention. But she was straightforward, pointing it out plainly, as if afraid he wouldn’t notice.

Over the past few months, Wuya Shi had been well-behaved, no longer making a fuss about who would raise the child. He saw no reason not to grant her this small request.

Kangxi glanced at her list, handed it to Liang Jiugong, and instructed him to look into it later. Seeing Wuya Shi’s eyes bright and her smiling happily, the corners of his mouth lifted.

"Alright, now you should focus on resting well. Don’t run around everywhere. If there’s anything, have the servants come and deliver the message. I’ll visit you when I have time."

"Then I’ll take my leave. Your Majesty, take care of your health too. Don’t overwork yourself; health is most important. I’ll leave this stewed soup here. Drink it if you wish, or reward it to the servants if you don’t."

Kangxi grunted in acknowledgment and had someone escort Wuya Shi back.

As soon as Fang Yu returned to her room and sat down, Xiao Fangzi came to announce that Xiao Shunzi from the kitchen was requesting an audience.

"Let him in."

Xiao Shunzi entered and knelt immediately. Fang Yu thought something had happened. "What’s wrong? Did something happen?"

"My Lady, don’t worry. Nothing happened. It’s just… I have a request, My Lady. I…"

Xiao Shunzi hemmed and hawed, too embarrassed to speak. Over the years, Xiao Shunzi had taken good care of her in the kitchen. Fang Yu urged him to speak; if she could help, she would try.

"I know the young master will be born soon. I… I wish to serve by the young master’s side."

Before Fang Yu could say anything, Pan Liu couldn’t help but glare at Xiao Shunzi. How could he have the nerve to ask? Countless servants in the palace wished to serve the young master. Ever since their master became pregnant, the number of people currying favor with the three of them was beyond count, all hoping to serve the young master. Everyone in the palace said the master was carrying a son. Serving a prince was a desirable position.

They had all been turned away without even mentioning these matters to the master, not wanting to trouble her with such concerns.

Xiao Shunzi, really, had the nerve to make a request this big directly to the mistress. Although the kitchen was responsible for the meals of the Masters, it wasn’t a desirable position. Not only did it offer little chance to gain the Masters' favor, but the kitchen staff would also be blamed if anything went wrong with the food. At best, a slave in the kitchen could only hope to become the Kitchen Superintendent, which was nothing compared to serving by the prince’s side—that was a real plum job.

Pan Liu gently squeezed the mistress’s shoulder, reminding her not to be soft-hearted and agree to Xiao Shunzi’s request.

Fang Yu thought Xiao Shunzi was actually quite decent. Over the years, he had been diligent and loyal to her. Xiao Shunzi was twenty-two years old and had been serving in the palace for seven or eight years. He was not young anymore and handled things with a fair degree of steadiness.

She felt that having Xiao Shunzi serve by Yin Zhen’s side wasn’t a bad idea. After all, she didn’t know any of the men the Emperor had selected for her, but at least she was familiar with Xiao Shunzi.

"Xiao Shunzi, what do you think sets you apart from others? Why should I keep you by the young master’s side? What are your advantages?"

"This slave only knows that I am loyal to you, mistress, and would never betray you."

Fang Yu hesitated for a moment before saying, "In that case, I will have you serve the young master. I hope you will perform your duties well and remember who your true master is."

Xiao Shunzi kowtowed several times, his forehead turning red from the impact. "Thank you, my lady. This slave will definitely serve the young master well. I will value the young master’s life more than my own."

"Rise. You may go back and wait for now."

A few days later, Fang Yu selected nurses and servants from the roster submitted by Liang Jiugong, adding Xiao Shunzi to the list. She handed the list to the Emperor, leaving the remaining arrangements to him and the Imperial Household Department. Her only task now was to ensure the safe delivery of her child.

On the twentieth of September, as her due date drew nearer, Fang Yu followed the midwife’s instructions to move around the room, making it easier for when the time came to give birth.

Outside, the announcement of the Emperor’s arrival was heard, and Kang Xi soon entered.

"Greetings to Your Majesty."

Kang Xi held her hand. "I’ve never seen you so proper before. Why choose now to be so formal? In your condition, there’s no need for such formality."

Fang Yu signaled for the servants to leave. Once they were gone, she wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s neck, her swollen belly pressing against him. "Your Majesty, do I look very ugly like this?"

"Not bad. Just a bit rounder in the belly."

Kang Xi thought Wuya Shi’s face hadn’t changed at all—it was still as delicate and pretty as before, though she had indeed gained some weight.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean, 'not bad'? Can’t you say something nicer to humor me? I know I must look very ugly like this, not as pretty as the other ladies in the palace."

Kang Xi gently touched her belly and said softly, "You’re not ugly. You’re prettier than them. You’ve just gained a little weight."

Fang Yu couldn’t help but roll her eyes. This man really didn’t know how to talk—he could have just said she was pretty, but he had to add that she’d gained weight. Annoyed, she bumped her forehead against his, let go of him, and walked to the bed, sitting down in a huff.

Kang Xi followed her and sat down, leaning in to kiss her.

The kiss turned into a long, passionate one. Fang Yu realized that since becoming pregnant, she was more easily stirred, but once her emotions were stirred, there was nothing she could do about it.

"I want to devour you."

"You can’t. My belly is so big now. Your Majesty should be good."

The Emperor rubbed her chest over her clothes, and Fang Yu didn’t stop him.

"It’s really grown a lot."

"Your Majesty, stop talking like that. Don’t say things that are not fit for young ears. Do you know the baby in my belly can hear you?"

"Really?"

Fang Yu nodded certainly. "Of course."

As soon as she finished speaking, the baby in her womb moved, giving a kick. She quickly placed the Emperor’s hand on her belly. "Your Majesty, look, he moved. I told you he can hear."

Kang Xi could indeed feel the baby moving—a strange and wonderful sensation. When other women in the harem had been pregnant, he had rarely visited them and had never experienced fetal movement before.

"This must be a prince. Only a prince would be so strong."

Fang Yu silently rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that the Emperor, this relic of the Qing Dynasty, was so biased toward sons over daughters, hoping only for a prince.

"Your Majesty, did you come here for something?"

"I just came to see how you are. Have you been feeling unwell lately?"

Aside from severe morning sickness early in the pregnancy, Fang Yu’s pregnancy had been relatively smooth. The baby hadn’t given her much trouble, apart from occasional back pain and leg cramps at night. Otherwise, she was fine.

"No, everything is fine."

"I came to tell you that I’ve decided to entrust your child to the Empress to raise."

Although Fang Yu had long known she wouldn’t be able to raise her own child, hearing it directly from the Emperor still made her expression fell. She said gloomily, "This consort understands. The Empress is the mistress of the six palaces. This consort knows she will surely treat the child well."

"She has promised me she will treat the child as her own. Since the child will be raised in the palace, you can visit anytime."

Fang Yu knew "anytime" was impossible—the Empress’s Kunning Palace was not a place she could visit whenever she wished. She lowered her head and said nothing.

"Don’t worry. The people serving the child are all the ones you selected earlier."

"Yes, this consort understands."

Kang Xi knew she was feeling down. He gently stroked her back. "Don’t be sad. I promise our child will grow up safely. The Empress isn’t difficult to get along with, either. You and she will both be the child’s mothers."

Fang Yu wanted to say that the Empress was not the child’s mother, but she held back. Since the child was to be raised by the Empress and recorded under her name, technically, she herself was not the child’s mother—the Empress was, the official mother.

She turned her head to glance at the Emperor, then opened her mouth and bit his cheek.

Kang Xi didn’t stop her.

Fang Yu left teeth marks before letting go.

"I came to tell you in advance so you’d be prepared and not hear it from someone else. After the child is born, the baby can stay with you for a few months before being taken away."

"Maybe it’s a princess. If it’s a princess, the Empress probably won’t want to raise her," Fang Yu said with a hint of resentment.

Kang Xi rubbed her cheek but didn’t respond.

Fang Yu felt like sending him away now; the more she looked at him, the angrier she felt. She said, "Your Majesty, you should go. This consort already knows. Please return to the Qianqing Palace."

"Are you chasing me away?"

"No, this consort is afraid of delaying Your Majesty’s important matters. Your Majesty has so many memorials to review. It’s time to go back and read them."

Kang Xi leaned in to kiss her again, sealing her lips until she went soft in his arms. Only then did he stop.

"Don’t hold this against me."

"No, this consort doesn’t hold it against Your Majesty."

Kang Xi didn’t quite believe her. She didn’t look like she wasn’t resentful. He pinched her earlobe. "Really not resentful?"

Fang Yu finally lifted her head. "Really not. Having the child recorded under the Empress’s name is good for the child. It’s just that this birth mother isn’t noble enough."

"After you give birth, I will raise your rank."

"That's what the Emperor said."

Since she couldn't raise the child herself, she might as well gain some benefits. She was currently a Guiren, and a promotion would be welcome.

Kangxi smiled, pulled her in for another kiss, thinking it had been a long time since she had shared his bed—he really missed her.

After kissing her, he said he would stay for a meal, and she didn’t refuse.

When the food was served and they sat facing each other, Kangxi noticed that Fang Yu wasn’t eating much, though she used to have quite an appetite.

"Why aren’t you eating?"

In the later months of her pregnancy, Fang Yu had been intentionally controlling her diet. She believed the fetus shouldn’t grow too large, or else she’d bear the brunt of it. Everyone in the palace urged her to eat more; they probably cared more about the royal heir, but she put herself first. After all, without her, there would be no child. With the medical technology of ancient times, she wasn’t willing to gamble. She didn’t want to endure days and nights of labor pain due to an oversized fetus, so she avoided overeating.

She couldn’t explain this openly to the Emperor, who, like everyone else in the palace, cared more about the heir. She simply said she wasn’t very hungry and had little appetite.

Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t suspect anything. After the meal, he finally left, and Fang Yu strolled through the rear courtyard to aid her digestion.