The most appropriate solution would be to have one of the children raised by another concubine, and from then on, the mother and child would not be able to recognize each other. Fortunately, Jiang Xinyue had already secretly consulted Yan the Imperial Physician and found out that she was only carrying one child. The reason she said what she did earlier was merely to reasonably explain her bad mood.
"With Your Majesty's words, I am no longer afraid," she said, taking the initiative to hook her arms around the Emperor's neck, smiling coquettishly as she leaned into his embrace.
On New Year's Eve, the Emperor had to spend the night in the Empress's palace. Fearing that Jiang Xinyue would feel lonely, Xuanwu Emperor specifically instructed Wang Dequan to bring Jiang's family to Hexi Palace. It was around 9:30 in the evening.
Jiang Yankun, accompanied by Lady Ruan, Jiang Junze, Jiang Xinyan, Jiang Yanxi, Jiang Yunxia, and Jiang Yuncai, a group of seven, headed to Hexi Palace.
"Wang Gonggong, Sister Fenyun in the Empress's palace seems to have eaten something wrong and is in severe pain. The Emperor and Empress are still receiving the courtiers' kowtows. Could you please fetch an Imperial Physician for Sister Fenyun?"
When palace maids or eunuchs fall ill, they cannot privately summon an Imperial Physician; it must be approved by their master. Otherwise, even if they die from the illness, no Imperial Physician would dare to treat them without permission.
At this moment, the Empress was also busy. Wang Dequan glanced at Jiang Yankun: "Lord Jiang... this..."
Jiang Yankun responded politely: "If you have other matters to attend to, please go ahead. Any palace maid can lead us."
The palace was vast, and Lady Ruan, relying on her memory from a year ago, had long forgotten the direction to Hexi Palace's main gate. Seeing that it wasn't far, Wang Dequan summoned a young palace maid: "Lead Lord Jiang and his family to Hexi Palace to see Concubine Zhen. Serve them well, and be careful not to make any mistakes, or you'll lose your head."
The young palace maid bowed her head and said in a soft voice, "Yes, please follow me, esteemed guests."
Hexi Palace had already prepared a reunion dinner. Jiang Xinyue had changed out of her luxurious attire and was dressed simply, yet Jiang Yunxia and Jiang Yuncai were still amazed by her beauty.
Cousin Xinyue is so beautiful; it's a pity she's confined to the palace, only for the Emperor to see. Based on looks alone, the Emperor doesn't deserve Cousin Xinyue.
Of course, the Emperor is still handsome, with his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, but compared to the fairy-like Cousin Xinyue, he falls short.
She looks beautiful with both light and heavy makeup, each having its own charm.
From a distance, Consort Liang watched Jiang's family enter Hexi Palace, her eyes red like a rabbit's: "Only she misses her family, only she is special. I've been in the palace for over ten years, and each time I can only catch a glimpse of my parents at palace banquets. But she, in just a year and a half, has been allowed by the Emperor twice. Last time, it was just Lady Ruan and her siblings. This year, the whole family, including relatives, can come."
She sobbed: "What does she think the palace is? A marketplace? Coming and going as she pleases."
But this privilege was given to Concubine Zhen by the Emperor. Even if she was unhappy, she could only stand there and complain.
The previous incident with Consort Ye being splashed with filth was still fresh in her mind, so she didn't dare to cause trouble now.
When family members meet, there are always greetings and inquiries.
Jiang Yankun, stroking his specially grown mustache, proudly said: "Your sister-in-law gave birth to a big, healthy boy two months ago. You are now an aunt. Your sister-in-law said the child's name should be chosen by you."
"How can that be?"
Does Lady Zhou have no objections?
Wasn't she the one who looked down on concubines' daughters the most, unable to bear seeing them live well?
Moreover, she always suspected that Jiang Xinyue had killed Jiang Yutong.
"Your mother is ill," Jiang Yankun sighed. "It snowed heavily for several days in winter, and the lake in the mansion froze. Lin insisted on skating on the ice, but the ice broke. Your mother fell into the icy lake trying to save her and has been coughing up blood for months. The doctor said it has developed into tuberculosis and is incurable. Now, she's only holding on with ginseng."
This meant that Lady Zhou, being close to death, had no say in family decisions.
Jiang Xinyue couldn't help but think: ruthless but effective.
Lady Zhou was fine before, even sending messages into the palace, demanding that her brother must pass the spring exams next year, and asking the Emperor to give him a backdoor during the imperial examination.
If Jiang Xinyue didn't comply, Lady Zhou threatened to marry Jiang Xinyan off to a fifty-year-old man as his sixteenth concubine, to torment her to death.
How could she be dying so soon?
Jiang Xinyue had every reason to suspect that Lady Zhou had threatened not only her but also her father, prompting him to take action and eliminate her.
However, this was good news for Jiang Xinyue... no, for Lady Ruan.
Without Lady Zhou's oppression, and with her father's partial affection, and most importantly, her favor with the Emperor, if her father was smart, he would treat Lady Ruan and Jiang Xinyan well.
"That's really unfortunate."
Jiang Xinyue feigned sadness for a second, then smiled: "It's a good thing that sister-in-law gave birth to father's eldest grandson, but the main name should be chosen by father. I can give him a nickname."
Her father politely showed his regard for her, and she couldn't really overstep and take his role.
"That sounds good."
"The sun rises in the east, but the name 'Xu' is too heavy. How about calling him 'Dong' as a nickname?"
"Dong..."
Jiang Yankun nodded: "Not bad. The sun rises from the east. The name 'Dong' is neither ostentatious nor petty. Very good."
"Sister!"
Jiang Junze, still young, touched her belly: "Has my little nephew's name been chosen?"
"How do you know it's a nephew?" Jiang Xinyan looked at her sister's belly expectantly: "What if it's a niece?"
Jiang Xinyue smiled, breaking Jiang Xinyan's hope: "Yan the Imperial Physician and several other skilled physicians have checked. It's a nephew."
"Ah?"
Jiang Xinyan was extremely disappointed but soon became happy for her sister.
Having a nephew is great!
That means her sister will be firmly established in the harem, with a son and favor, and will surely rise further in the future.
Jiang Yankun was also excited. He was about to become the grandfather of a little prince, which made him happier than having his own grandson.
In the palace, besides Consort De, only the Empress had a prince, and the Empress's son wasn't her biological child.
The Fifth Prince, born to a lowly concubine in Yanxi Palace, was not favored by the Emperor.
No!
There was also the Fourth Prince, but he was only four or five years old, and his mother, a former court slave, died of hemorrhage after giving birth.
The Fourth Prince had been raised by an Old Eunuch in a remote palace and was rarely seen.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yankun's heart surged with excitement.
That high and unattainable position, could he also dream of it for his little grandson?
