The Daily Life of a Concubine

Chapter 35 - Who doesn't want a child?

"I really need to think about how I can be of some use to His Majesty, sigh." She pretended to be troubled by this, her expression constantly shifting.

After a long while, Bai Jingxian's eyes lit up. "Li Changzai has reminded me. The only thing I can do to ease His Majesty's worries is to give birth to more healthy princes for him."

With that, she looked at Li Changzai with a grateful expression. "I won't stay and watch the fish with you, little sister. I must go consult the imperial physician to check my health. After all, the Empress always encourages us to add more offspring to the royal family."

Without waiting for Li Changzai to respond, she turned and left with her entourage.

After walking for a while, Chun Feng asked in confusion, "How could you say such things to an outsider, Your Highness? If it really happens, who knows how many people in the harem will covet it."

In truth, Bai Jingxian had her doubts. If the Emperor's health was fine, why was it that, apart from the women from his former residence, none of the other women in the harem had borne him any children? Even the more recent concubines had shown no signs of pregnancy.

The Emperor was already twenty-five years old, and at his age, it was improbable that he would have only two princesses and one prince.

Since the birth of the Second Princess, no one else had gotten pregnant. After the Emperor ascended the throne, no sons had been born.

She didn't think this was a coincidence.

The Third Prince was already eight years old, but his frail health made it uncertain if he would survive to adulthood, let alone be groomed as the heir. The eldest princess was five years old, the first child born after the Emperor's ascension, and it was said that the Emperor was very fond of her.

He was also quite kind to her mother, Lady Ye Zhaoyi, though Lady Ye was not very sociable. She was less composed than Consort Shu, but she was kindhearted.

Then there was the Second Princess, born to Lady Sun Xiuyi. Although her background wasn't as illustrious as some, her father and brothers were highly favored by the Emperor, and it was said that the Emperor intended to elevate the Sun family.

Bai Jingxian didn't know much about court politics, so she couldn't understand why the Emperor would want to elevate a family of humble origins like the Sun family.

Still, the fact that Lady Sun Xiuyi had given birth to a healthy princess showed how much the Emperor cared for her.

Bai Jingxian also noticed that, besides Consort Shu, the two women who had borne children kept to themselves and never got into conflicts with the other concubines. Other than paying their formal respects to the Empress, they never stepped foot outside their own quarters.

Although she didn't understand why they acted this way, Bai Jingxian intended to have someone look into it.

"Why not? Once we return to the palace, Xiao Li will have to help me call for the imperial physician. I've been in the palace for two months now; it's about time I started worrying about having children."

In the harem, every woman wanted to bear a child for the Emperor. Though she didn't love Emperor Rui, she definitely wanted to give birth to a child, as that would be her safeguard.

Though they didn't fully grasp their mistress's intentions, her servants would, of course, follow her orders.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Soon, Bai Jingxian summoned the imperial physician to Lanyue Pavilion.

This caused quite a stir in the harem.