pappabearbooks Chapter 81 Consort Li is pregnant!
Chapter 81 Consort Li is pregnant!
Who?
Who's pregnant?
Zhu Houzhao was quite happy to hear the news that someone in the palace was pregnant.
But Zhu Houzhao then frowned, seemingly pondering who this Consort Li was.
He had so many concubines that he only had a one-night stand with many of them, and he couldn't even remember who Li Xuanshi was.
"Who? Where does she live now?" Zhu Houzhao asked.
Gu Dayong quickly replied, "It is Consort Li, who is still residing in Chuxiu Palace."
"Your Majesty, on the 13th day of the 12th month of the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign, you summoned her to your bedchamber."
"Yeah?"
Zhu Houzhao didn't have much of an impression of her, but since she was the first palace maid in the harem to become pregnant, he still decided to go there in person.
"Prepare the sedan chair and arrange for the carriage to be brought to Chuxiu Palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Houzhao abandoned Shangguan Haitang and strode out of Cining Palace.
Suddenly neglected, Shangguan Haitang stood there, her heart pounding, looking somewhat at a loss.
In the imperial harem, some concubines are already pregnant?
For some reason, Shangguan Haitang's chest was throbbing with pain.
Her face was slightly pale, and she gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her knuckles taut.
After a brief moment of thought, Shangguan Haitang resolutely followed Zhu Houzhao to Chuxiu Palace.
……
On the road leading to Chuxiu Palace, Zhu Houzhao sat on the imperial carriage, feeling slightly excited.
When he first heard the news, he didn't think much of it, but now that he's realized it, he can't help but feel a surge of emotion.
He's about to have his own son, and it's normal to be excited about becoming a father for the first time.
Moreover, as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, his offspring were of paramount importance, as they were related to the very foundation of the nation.
This was the first pregnancy of one of Zhu Houzhao's concubines, a major event that shook the entire harem.
When Zhu Houzhao's imperial carriage arrived outside Chuxiu Palace, the palace was already packed with people. Many concubines and imperial consorts had come to comfort Consort Li upon hearing the news.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
As Gu Dayong announced the arrival, the palace maids and eunuchs inside Chuxiu Palace bowed to Zhu Houzhao outside the door.
"This servant greets Your Majesty!"
Zhu Houzhao ignored them and, led by Gu Dayong, arrived at a side hall.
The fact that there are four beds in this side hall indicates that four concubines lived together in this room.
In front of one of the beds, the concubines were gathered. When they saw Zhu Houzhao coming in person, the concubines immediately made way for him and bowed.
"This concubine greets Your Majesty."
After the concubines dispersed, Zhu Houzhao saw Li Xianran lying on the bed.
Her face was familiar; Zhu Houzhao had some recollection of her, but not much.
When Li Xianran saw Zhu Houzhao arrive, he was both surprised and delighted. He struggled to get out of bed to pay his respects, but Zhu Houzhao stopped him.
"Just lie in bed and don't move."
The next moment, a man who looked like an imperial physician knelt down in front of Zhu Houzhao and kowtowed to offer his congratulations.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Consort Li is pregnant and is over three months along."
With the imperial physician taking the lead, the other concubines also congratulated Zhu Houzhao: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! My sister is pregnant, the palace is going to be even more lively."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and nodded, then waved his hand and said, "Bring me the official history book."
Tongshi was originally the name of a female official in the palace, who was mainly responsible for recording the daily life of the palace, the emperor's private life, and the fertility of the empresses and concubines.
Zhu Houzhao would keep a record of which concubines he had slept with and when he slept with them, so that he could compare them later.
Upon hearing Zhu Houzhao's order, the female official in charge of the imperial archives immediately presented the imperial archives to Zhu Houzhao.
"Please take a look, Your Majesty."
This female official, who was responsible for recording the official history of Zhu Houzhao, was in her early twenties and possessed a refined and elegant appearance with exceptional temperament.
But Zhu Houzhao was in no mood to pay attention to these things. He took the historical records and began to look through them.
Historical records are densely filled with accounts of Zhu Houzhao's visits to his concubines after he ascended the throne.
The dates of each of the eighteen concubines, including Shangguan Haitang, are recorded in the official history of the Tong Dynasty without exception.
On another occasion, Zhu Houzhao suddenly took a liking to a palace maid, which was also recorded.
Of course, that palace maid has now been promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine, but Zhu Houzhao has completely forgotten her name and appearance.
According to historical records, Emperor Zhu Houzhao summoned Consort Kang to his bedchamber the most times, followed by Consort Liu.
It is worth mentioning that Liu Ningwei, during this period, has won the favor of Zhu Houzhao and has been promoted from a beauty to a consort.
There is only one record of Li Xuanshi's night with the emperor, which is on the 13th day of the 12th month of the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign.
It has been more than three months since then, and Li Xianran is also more than three months pregnant at this time.
If the dates match, then there's no problem.
Zhu Houzhao never expected that Consort Kang, Xia Tianxin, whom he had favored many times, and Consort Liu Ningwei, would not conceive his children.
However, Li Xianran, who had only slept with him once, became pregnant on the first try.
Zhu Houzhao returned the official document to the lady-in-waiting, then quickly walked to the bedside, sat down, and took Li Xianran's hand.
"Haha, Consort Li, you have given me a wonderful surprise."
Li Xianran smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I just found out that the child in my womb is also a gift from Your Majesty. I only hope that I can give Your Majesty a son and continue Your Majesty's lineage."
A mother's status depends on her son; as an imperial concubine, only by giving birth to a prince could she have the possibility of becoming empress dowager.
Therefore, Li Xianran hoped to have a son more than Zhu Houzhao.
But for Zhu Houzhao, with so many concubines and countless heirs in the future, he didn't care whether Li Xianran's child was a boy or a girl.
"Hahaha, whether they are princes or princesses, they are all my children, and I will love them dearly."
Then Zhu Houzhao looked at the concubines beside him and said, "You all stop kneeling and get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The concubines stood up, looking enviously at Li Xianran, who was holding hands with Zhu Houzhao.
They originally thought that Li Xianran, who had only been favored once, had completely lost the emperor's favor and become a marginal figure in the harem.
But who could have imagined that she would seize this opportunity to serve the emperor and successfully conceive Zhu Houzhao's heir?
It seems that she will be the most favored concubine in the entire harem from now on.
Even Consort Kang and Consort Liu pale in comparison.
As expected, Zhu Houzhao immediately issued an order: "Promote Consort Li to the rank of Imperial Concubine, and bestow upon her the courtesy name Shu."
Li Xianran's face lit up with surprise. Overwhelmed with joy, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"
The concubines present all felt deep envy, even jealousy.
Especially Consort Liu Ningwei, who saw a concubine she had never taken seriously suddenly rise to the top and obtain the rank of Consort.
This left her with mixed feelings and a very unpleasant experience.
But if anyone's to blame, it's only their own wombs for not being able to produce enough babies!
They had served Li Xianran more times than he had, but unfortunately, none of them had conceived.