The photo I used as the chapter cover is the Second Princess, Wang Hexiao (3 years old).
The photo I used it's not mine, credit to the rightful owner.
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The moon was shining under the deep blue sky, It was currently midnight and the Imperial Palace was busy, Consort Hua was giving birth, even if she was only at eight months, a premature birth. Servant were running left and right to bring more towels and water to help the screaming Consort. Meanwhile, in the side hall of Consort Hua Palace, the Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort were sitting at their newly-provided thrones waiting for the baby to finally born.
The Imperial Consort was at Consort Hua's Palace for almost three hours now, it all happened when, during a walk at the Palace of Earthly Honor with all the concubines of His Majesty, suddenly the pregnant Consort tripped over a big stone in the garden; this provoked the early labour of Consort Hua.
In the main all of the Consort's Palace, the three best doctors of the Imperial Palace were attending the screaming concubine, while kneeling on the floor facing a traditional Japanese Byobu Screens, preventing them from seeing the concubine, while giving instructions to the maids that were helping the Consort to give birth.
"Please push more NiangNiang! I can see the head!", the doctors were smiling hearing that, even if it was a long delivery, it seems their instructions weren't useless.
"Excellent NiangNiang! Please push more! After the head comes out, it will be a matter of second for the little junwang (t/n. prince of second rank) to be born!"
While the screaming Consort was giving all of her strength to let the baby born, in the side hall, the little sixth years old Princess just joined her Royal Father and Imperial Noble Consort in the waiting for her mother's birth.
"Royal Father, when is mother going to give birth? I want a little brother!" the little Second Princess was whining at her father's leg, she was a little spoiled by her mother, the Emperor knew that, but she loved her like all of his children, even if their mothers where poisoning each other, he didn't give the blame to his children.
"Xiao'Er, the doctor just said that your little brother will be born soon, just wait a little longer– the Emperor then stroke gently his daughter's head, – your mother is working hard now, be mindful and sit composed like a true Gōngzhǔ."
"Yes, Royal Father." then the little princess did like her father said. Just after she started to taste the tea her servants provided, she heard a baby crying. The Emperor and the Consort immediately stand up and while a servant, along with the three doctors and a nanny, entered the side hall with a little baby in her arms. All of them bowed to the Emperor and the servant with the baby, spoke, " Your Majesty, Consort Hua gave birth to the Fourth Princess! Congratulations to Your Majesty! – then all the servants bowed to the Emperor, – May the Emperor and the Fourth Princess live hundreds years!"
Even if it wasn't a Junwang, The Emperor smiled while bringing to his arms his daughter. "The Fourth Princess was born in an auspicious day! Thus we will name her Wang HuiSheng!"
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Meanwhile, the fifth month pregnant Jiao Wei was sitting in her private garden in the main hall of her palace, admiring the shining moon in this night, still trying to elaborate the events of this afternoon. She toke the almost finished embroidery, a moon and a sun, two symbols of life and harmony, and suddenly a maid came hurrying from the side hall, "NiangNiang! I came with news! – she was running, while trying to remain composed, Jiao Wei thought she was quite cute, – Consort Hua gave birth!"
Hearing that, Jiao Wei looked at the maid with a worried look, what if the Consort gave birth to a Prince? "Come here, – said Jiao Wei, – tell me what happened."
"NiangNiang, after three hours of labour, Consort Hua gave birth to the Fourth Princess, she was named Wang HuiSheng! – the maind bowed before Imperial Concubine Jian, – This Nubi gives congratulations to NiangNiang! The Consort gave birth to a Princess, also it looks like you're carrying twins! Thats what NiangNiang's personal Imperial doctor said!"
Jiao Wei was happy when she heard, almost a month ago, how there was a high chance that she was carrying twins, a blessing for the nation! But nobody other than herself, the maid and the doctor knew about it, so she always tried to hide the big belly, wearing more layers of clothing than usual.
But in these months, after her sister was punished, the Emperor seems to have forgotten her, he visits her less and less every week; meanwhile she takes walks with her friend Imperial Concubine Xian, her lover was under Imperial Concubine Chun sheets, and so, she became pregnant.
Obviously the Emperor was enthusiastic after hearing the news, but he didn't promote her, even after she lost her first child because of poison, "Probably he will wait until the child is born", Jiao Wei thought. Now Imperial Concubine Chun is 2 months pregnant, and is doing fairly well, after she became pregnant, she started to talk to her old friends, aka Jiao Wei and Imperial Concubine Xian, like she didn't almost tricked the latter in a scandal, almost bringing her to the cold palace. Thankfully, the Emperor prevented that and also forgave Imperial Concubine Chun.
Lost in her thoughts, Jiao Wei didn't notice that her maid left and another guest arrived at her garden, "Greetings to Imperial Concubine Jian."
Noble Lady Shun arrived along her personal maid, the first one wearing a simple white hanfu, with real gold flowers embroidered on it, her hairdo was full of gold and jadeite hairpins, "For sure even if it's midnight you don't care about respecting your true status right?"
"What does NiangNiang mean? Even if this concubine doesn't have favor, I have royal blood, meanwhile you are a mere duke daughter, even if legitimate."
As Jiao Wei elegantly stands up, even if five months pregnant, she slaps Noble Lady Shu's face, "How dare you? You're legitimate but unfavored, without any backing from both the King and Queen, meanwhile I have in my blood two clans who swore loyalty to the Imperial Family since the founding days, also here it's the Forbidden City, you're a mere Noble Lady, meanwhile I'm an Imperial Concubine, remember it."
Noble Lady Shen was still speechless, she didn't think that Jiao Wei would be so ruthless, even if it wasn't the first time she picked on her, she would usually walk away and do nothing about it.
"Ha! – Noble Lady Shen laughs, – you dare? I'll teach you a lesson!"
As the concubine walks towards Jiao Wei to slap her back, someone blocks her and push Noble Lady Shun away, "You dare to slap a pregnant concubine! We didn't know you would be so arrogant Noble Lady Shun."
The Emperor was giving a cold gaze to the trembling concubine on the ground, "Y-Your Majesty! She slapped me first!" said Noble Lady Shun while pointing towards Jiao Wei, "So you think we're dumb, like you didn't bring trouble for yourself first." said the Emperor sreaming, at that the concubine started to apologize trying to repair the damage, but the Emperor didn't listen to her. "Guards! Bring Noble Lady Shun back to her palace, she has to copy Virtuous of Women one hundred times, she will be also grounded until Imperial Concubine Jin child is born, like Second Female Class Attendant Wei."
"No! No! – Noble Lady Shun was screaming while two Imperial Guards were trying to immobilize her, – please Your Majesty spare me! I didn't do anything!"
"Still trying to defend yourself? Guards bring her to her palace at this moment!" After the guards brought the concubine back to her palace, the Emperor went towards his favorite concubine, "We're sorry we didn't visit these days, Imperial Court was draining us out and Consort Hua just gave birth, – then the Emperor take his lover hands, – mind if we spend the night at your palace?"
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like promised, i came back! thought i didn't had the chance to edit the previous chapters, i tried to at least publish something, so here we are! :)