Intention

  On the twenty-eighth day of the seventh month in the eighteenth year of Kangxi's reign, a strong earthquake occurred at noon in the Beijing area. The seismic wave affected not only the capital but also the surrounding provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Liaoning, Shandong and Henan, totaling over 200 counties. The earthquake brought great destruction to the capital.

  "Seventeen thousand people died under their roofs, who knows whose bones and flesh are stuck together? The burial is not finished, the exposure has no end. Relatives do not care, friends do not stay, morning and evening, resentful ghosts are sorrowful..."

  In the capital, 12,793 rooms collapsed and 18,028 were damaged. 485 people died, and in Tongzhou County, more than 30,000 people were crushed to death. The areas of Sanhaiguan, Sanhe, Yangxindian, Yongsugong, Qianqinggong, Cininggong, Wuyingdian, Baohedian, Hanlinyuan, Zhijibureau and Tongzhou Sanhe suffered severe damage to their government offices.

  These messages were slowly reported from below, only to find that unlike in history, there was no death of Cabinet Scholar Wang Pu Zheng, Grand Secretary Le De Hong, Right Chancellor of the Spring Pavilion Hanlin Shiren Zhuang Jiayu, and former Minister of Works Wang Guangyu, because Kangxi had taken almost all important ministers to Rehe.

  Among the concubines, only Concubine Yi had moved her fetus and was vomiting profusely, losing a lot of weight. The Empress Dowager quietly allocated a significant portion of her own allowance to Concubine Yi, who was so preoccupied with her pregnancy that she overlooked the Empress Dowager's unusual behavior.

  Mingyue encountered a small unexpected event, as she was slightly delayed in the earthquake and injured her leg by being knocked down by a flagpole. Kangxi, despite being busy with a multitude of tasks, still stationed his own people beside Mingyue. Whenever Mingyue went out, there were often two people by her side. This made the concubines who saw but didn't understand the reason seethe with envy.

  After the great earthquake, aftershocks continued. Although Emperor Kangxi had returned to Beijing, everyone still lived in tents. Empress Xiaozhuang's face looked terrible, with one hand tightly holding onto the young crown prince, while Da A Ge and San A Ge followed closely behind her.

  Mingfei gently rocked Abao, who had fallen asleep, and softly said: "I think it would be best to have all the consorts' pulses checked and their bodies adjusted. After all, they are serving the Emperor and are close to him, so if their bodies are not well, it will make people worry."

  Filial and exhausted, she nodded: "You arrange it as you see fit, I trust your handling of family matters."

  The Empress Dowager, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly spoke up: "If Yihuan wants any medicinal herbs, the Imperial Consort will have someone fetch them from your family's place."

  Mingfei smiled and said, "Look at what the Empress Dowager says, where can we reduce the medicine for Yihuan? The Empress Dowager can rest assured that she will definitely let Yihuan raise a white and chubby, strong and sturdy little prince."

  The empress dowager seemed to have already taken Bao'er's little brother into her arms and smiled with narrowed eyes.

  Xiao Zhuang seemed to have caught the Empress Dowager's good mood and finally softened up, gently stroking the Crown Prince's little head: "Are you still scared?"

  The crown prince's small mouth was pursed tightly, and upon closer inspection, it really resembled Kangxi's when he pouted. In those bright black eyes, the shadow of Xiaozhuang was clearly reflected, Xiaozhuang's life could be described as ruthless and decisive, but in front of this great-grandson, it seemed to have become an illusion, replaced by endless love and doting.

  She sighed and patted the back of Taizi: "Don't be afraid, with Laozuzong and your Huang Ama around, Yinxiang will behave himself, just focus on studying well!"

  The little prince looked at Abao in Mingfei's arms, bit his lip and suddenly puffed out his chest, saying loudly: "Yinxi is not afraid, Yinxi is the elder brother of Yinzhen!"

  Xiangzhuang was stunned, with a complex expression, patted the crown prince: "You are not only Yongzheng's brother, but also 's brother, and also Yongdan's younger brother."

  The little prince didn't speak again.

  Mingfei let out a sigh, and it was clear that Empress Dowager Ci Xi did not welcome the close relationship between the Crown Prince and Yongzheng. In fact, she seemed to be opposed to it. She saw that Empress Dowager Ci Xi had every intention of pursuing the matter further, so she hastily followed up on the conversation: "The Crown Prince and several princes should also take good care of themselves. They have been frightened many times in recent days and need to rest well. The ancestors and the empress dowager also need to be taken care of."

  The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You've thought of everyone today, except for yourself and the Fourth Prince. In this palace, apart from the ancestors, you are the busiest one. You should also be careful."

  Mingfei always thought that the Empress Dowager was a wise and foolish person. She had always been good to Mingfei, not because of personal feelings, but because she looked far ahead and understood things clearly. With her age, she could leave at any time, and in the future, the harem would be hers and Mingfei's world. Although Mingfei had the Fourth Prince behind her and the Tong family, and although the Empress Dowager had the Khorchin Mongols behind her, it was clear that distant water couldn't save a nearby fire, and she would also need to rely on Mingfei at times.

  Xiang Zhuang nodded in agreement and said to Su Mo: "Have someone go call the imperial physician, have them take everyone's pulse in the harem. At this time, medicine is probably scarce, bring out all the medicinal herbs we can find..."

  I don't know what Xiaozhuang thought of, but she suddenly stopped and said tiredly: "I'm also tired, the crown prince and the three princes are here with me, you can go down first."

  August is supposed to be a refreshing and cool season, but at this time, Beijing city was gray and gloomy, and even the air was dull and sorrowful due to this great disaster. Minfei didn't wear high heels, only wearing flat shoes and holding Abao in her arms.

  Mingfei entered her own tent, and Wang Ayi attended to Mingfei as she changed her clothes: "Master is just too kind-hearted."

  Mingfei stretched out her arm and let Wang Ayi put on her clothes: "Ayi, what are you talking about?"

  Pei Yu has already spoken up: "At this time, you still haven't forgotten to take the pulse of the other consorts, and you're not even taking good care of yourself."

  Mingfei washed her hands, took a few sips of the spring water in the space, and then wetted a handkerchief to wipe Abao's face who was asleep. Only then did she sit down on a chair beside him: "This is also considered kind-hearted, but it's just doing what one should do."

  Wuya's baby in her belly is already two months old.

  The old woman only sighed: "Anyway, the master's affairs have their own reasons, but I hope the master will also take care of his own body. What time did he go to bed last night? Master, you'd better take advantage of this empty space to rest for a while."

  Due to space constraints, Ming Fei's body was indeed very good, but after a few sleepless nights without any discomfort, she was still full of energy. However, at this time, there really wasn't anything that needed to be done, so Ming Fei smiled and nodded: "What you said is also true, then let's take a nap for a while."

  Mingfei thought Wang's nanny was about to pop out, Mingfei just blinked, and Wang's nanny had already walked in front of Mingfei, holding her hand, and led her to the bed: "It's good this way, I'll guard you outside." As if afraid that Mingfei would change her mind with a single misstep.

  Mingfei involuntarily curved up the corners of her eyes.

  Mingfei again had the imperial physician pay respects to the consorts, and although the consorts' reactions were not uniform, only Wuya's heart was the coldest.

  She always felt that the imperial concubine's dark and bright eyes could see through her completely with just one glance, and she even suspected without a doubt that the imperial concubine knew about her pregnancy. Her menstrual cycle had stopped for two months, and she was constantly drowsy and craving sour foods - it was almost certain that she was pregnant. She was naturally overjoyed, but originally thought of waiting until this turbulent period passed before announcing her pregnancy, so that she could find a reasonable explanation and make the child in her womb more stable. However, now everything seemed impossible, and she would have to become the most conspicuous one during this chaotic time.

  Uya's favored consort was bound to get pregnant sooner or later, but it still brought a different reaction at this special time. Yu Pin held her belly in anger, almost trembling with rage. You despicable woman! She really is a despicable woman! From having been taken from under the Emperor's eyelids to getting pregnant again under his eyelids, it was truly too much! She smashed a cup and even habitually wanted to slap Uya several times.

  The atmosphere in the imperial court was somewhat depressing, and this rare good news did not make Kangxi smile, but at least it made Xiaozhuang look less gloomy than before. She patted the crown prince's hand lightly and said softly: "It's rare to have such a good thing at this time, and it's also because of Guifei's carefulness that we know about it. In bitter times, we can't make the children suffer too much. Let's promote Uya Shi Guiren's position to Pin, and reward some medicinal materials to Guifei. Isn't her sister still taking medicine recently? That side probably lacks these things too."

  Su Mo said while massaging Xiaozhuang's shoulders: "Is the old ancestor thinking of promoting Wuya Guiren to a higher rank?"

  Xiao Zhuang sighed and said: "The emperor still seems to like that Wei Ya's family, so it's better to promote her position."

  Su Mo nodded slightly.

  Ming Fei had just woken up when she received the news that Uya was two months pregnant. She nodded lightly, washed her face and rinsed her mouth. Abao also woke up, and whenever Ming Fei held him, he would look at her wanting to go out, stretching his hand towards outside the tent.

  She sat down on a chair with the restless Abao in her arms and let Abao sit on her lap: "Is there anything else?"

  "The Empress Dowager has promoted Uya's share of the imperial concubine to Pin." Pei Huan said with some caution.

  Minfei's expression finally became serious: "Did the Empress Dowager say anything else?"

  "He didn't say anything special, just told her to take good care of herself."

  Mingfei fell silent.

  Mingfei's expression left Wang and several others nearby somewhat perplexed, wondering why Mingfei seemed most concerned about the promotion of Wuya's noble title.

  They naturally didn't know that Mingfei had seen Xiangzhuang's attitude from here.

  It seems that Empress Xiaozhuang wants Wu Yashi to take the throne, and it's almost clear why she wants Wu Yashi to take the throne. She doesn't want Mingfei to dominate the harem alone, even if next year's selection will definitely bring in a 100% chance of a lady from the Ebi family entering the palace, but compared to Mingfei now, the weight is still not enough. Kangxi obviously has special feelings for Mingfei, and Mingfei also has an older brother, with the Tong family standing behind her. Empress Xiaozhuang did all this for the sake of the crown prince.

  The author has something to say: I finally managed to write a chapter, it's really not easy, O(∩_∩)O~, don't forget to collect the scattered flowers ah~~~~~~~~~

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