Chapter 21

"But what you said is correct. I am from the Xiao family and I can kill someone without blinking if you're not pregnant you can taste it too" Consort Shu panicked.

"I, I didn't mean it"

"Imperial consort Shu, don't offend anyone, who knows someone among them, will promote to be a higher rank than you and you know what will happen right? Just because I got your side once doesn't mean I am biased. All are the same in my eyes. Why some are special? While some are not"

"Empress, Imperial consort Shu just complimented us saying we're too beautiful for the harem," A woman among the group said and Xiao Feng looked at the person.

"Aren't you from official Shin's family?"

"Empress know me?"

"I have heard that Shin family members are great at talking now I see it with my own eyes. It would be good if Ms. Shin can be selected into the harem so you can accompany me to talk"

"Yes, empress. I will do my best in selection" Xiao Feng nodded.

"Harem teacher, you should make it easy for them and don't be too strict."

"Yes, empress" They bowed down. Xiao Feng walked past consort Shu and halt after a few steps and wait for a little bit.

"Imperial consort Shu!" Imperial consort Shu, flinched as she was deep in thought. "Don't make your majesty wait" Xiao Feng then walked towards where she was heading and the woman chuckled seeing consort Shu walk away from there irritated.

"Empress and imperial consort Shu are here" Both entered the hall and sat down in their place after greeting the emperor.

"Sorry for being late, your majesty. Empress and I walk to each other on the way" Emperor just gave a nod and look at Xiao Feng before looking at concubine Wei.

"Concubine Wei, where is Sheng'er? Why he is not here?"

"He is-" She tried for an excuse. "He doesn't want to come?" She said with an unsure tone.

"Oh, but he said he wanted to come with you. Maybe I remembered it wrong" Xiao Feng looks at the emperor.

"Since by tomorrow, there will be more and more people in the harem you should be more composed as seniors in the harem"

"Your majesty, you haven't visited me for a while so I made some desserts for you" A maid served the desserts. "Take a bite" Emperor took a bite and nodded satisfied with the taste.

"My empress, taste it. It tastes good" Xiao Feng looked at concubine Wei as the concubine lost words for a second but still served some to Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng thanked her and taste it.

"Hmm. It's so sweet. Concubine Wei, if you have time, you should send me some too"

"Sure, empress"

"Your majesty, it's the time" Everyone went to the great hall for the banquet. Emperor entered first followed by the empress, consort Shu and then concubine Wei and everyone in the hall stand up and greeted them.

"Please rise, today everyone put your work aside, and enjoy"

"Thank you, your majesty" Performers start dancing and everyone enjoyed themselves while talking to each other.

"Did you see the young man beside general Qui?" Emperor asked and the empress looked before looking at the emperor's line of view and nodded.

"General Qui wants to retire and give his place to his son. What do you think?" Emperor looked at the young man well.

"He must be good in martial arts. He has a very well-built body and good muscles" Xiao Feng nodded with a satisfied look. Emperor put his palm on her cheek and made her look at him.

"Do you think it's okay to compliment another man in front of your husband?" Maids and eunuch who heard it tried to control their chuckle. Xiao Feng looks to the other side embarrassed.

"Childish" She mumbled.

"I heard it" She ignored him and take a bite of the salad. The dancers excused themselves and went out and 6 young men came to the middle of the hall and bowed to their emperor and empress.

"Greetings, Emperor. Greetings, empress"

"Your majesty, we're are selectors of the Academy of Shan Liang Shu"

"I have already asked the ministry of personnel to prepare your ranks" They thanked me and went back to their seats. After some time empress and empress went away from the banquet and were walking together in the garden.

"I heard your first sister is causing trouble"

"Hmm. I already warned the people who secretly met with her. Let's see what will happen"

"It's okay for me to handle, you don't have to do something against your conscience"

"I can do that. Since my father turns a blind eye to it, I should take care of it. If not something big will happen"

"It's getting cold, let's head back"

The next morning, Xiao Feng was in front of the candidates for the harem. There was imperial consort Shu and concubine Wei also sitting on both sides of her. Nanny Wang announces a few names and the 17 candidates who were called out were to stay in the harem"

"Congratulations, everyone. Nanny Wang, send me a clear report after everyone moved into the palace"

"Yes, empress" Xiao Feng came out of there.

"Weining, did you take care of maids?"

"Yes, empress. As you ordered this one has personally inspected each maid"

"Good" Xiao Feng nodded but was interrupted by a running eunuch.

"Your majesty! Your majesty!"

"What's the rush?" Weining asked seeing the eunuch was such a mess.

"Your majesty! fourth princess consort is in labor" Weining and Xiao Feng looked at each other and Xiao Feng smiled.

"Weining, I am finally going to be an aunt. Will it be a baby boy or a baby girl? Let's hurry to the Peony palace and choose a gift for the baby" Xiao Feng was on all smiles.

On the other side, Xiao Li was trying to give birth and after a whole afternoon of waiting people outside could hear a baby cry. The wet nurse came out with a baby.

"A baby boy will have a great future" Fourth prince smile more.

"Give everyone rewards" Fourth prince took the baby in his hand. "My lucky star. Father sees, your first legitimate grandson"

In the palace, Xiao Feng and the emperor were sitting in the great hall and a eunuch came running.

"Your majesty, fourth princess consort give birth to a son. Both mom and baby are safe and healthy" Xiao Feng smiled.

"Hey, you become an uncle and I become an aunt" Emperor caresses his empress's head and Xiao Feng makes her lips in a thin line.

"I have grown up. Don't caress my head every time" Emperor chuckled seeing her pout. Xiao Feng glared at her maid. "They take a long time to do my hair making me wait for hours. It's really troublesome" Xiao Feng pouted more and the emperor just look at him with a look "Be good and behave well". Linlin came inside in a hurry.

"Your majesty! Fifth princess consort" Xiao Feng looked at her with furrowed eyes.

"She is in labor?" Xiao Feng asked not sure about her choice of words.

"But there was still time, wasn't it?" Emperor asked.

"Emperor, empress, there was indeed time but right now she is in labor" Xiao Feng nodded.

"Go and wait there. Inform right after she gave birth"

"Yes" Linlin went back and Xiao Feng looked at the emperor with a worried face.

"Could it be something that happened?" She looked at the emperor with worried eyes.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine" Emperor patted the back of her palm consoling her.

It was already night and Xiao Feng was walking between the bed and the entrance. Emperor was reading the memorials accompanying his empress. A eunuch came running inside and Xiao Feng look at the eunuch as he shook his head. When it was already passed midnight seeing the emperor is yawning but still waiting for her, she looks at Weining.

"Weining what time is it now?"

"3 more hours to next day"

"Xiao Feng, you should take a rest now. You're pregnant too"

"But it's been many hours but she hasn't given birth yet"

"Okay, let's wait one more hour and then sleep, okay?" Xiao Feng nodded and, at that time, the same eunuch came running. Both emperor and empress look at the eunuch.

"Your majesty. 5th princess consort gave birth to 3 daughters and a son. They are still not fully matured" Xiao Feng widens her eyes and opens 4 fingers. She was shocked and it was the most shocking thing she had heard. She slaps her face a few times.

"4?" Emperor chuckled seeing Xiao Feng's reaction. Xiao Feng was going to fall from the shock and the emperor was quick enough to support her not to fall.

"You! I told you to take care of yourself more"

"4 children? How could she bear it? Weining sends some tonics and medicine for the 5th princess consort early in the morning. Don't disturb them at this hour. Jing manor must be busy right now"

"Yes," Xiao Feng looked at the emperor showing 4 fingers.

"It's 4"

"It's quite possible if you want-" Xiao Feng blushed but still pushed the emperor away.

"You wish"

The next day empress was sitting in the imperial garden while prince Sheng was playing. She was drinking some tea when Weining came in a little hurry.

"Did you send the tonics and other herbs?"

"Answering empress. I send the tonics personally but something has happened overnight"

"What's it?"

"After birth 2 babies weren't in good health as the other two but one daughter and a son were in good health than the other two. A daughter died after 2 hours of birthing and to surprise son who was better than other babies also died overnight. I think there is something fishy"

"What?" Xiao Feng stood up abruptly while slamming the teacup on the table and every maid knelt. Even prince Sheng got startled.

"Empress, don't get angry. It's not good for the health"

"I will go there. If the son was healthy, how can he die overnight?"

Empress was already in the main hall standing beside the main seat. Prince Jing accompanies princess Jing inside the hall and she knelt in front of the empress.

"Empress, please give me justice. I gave birth to my 4 kids waiting for more than a half day"

"I know 5th princess consort. I and your majesty were waiting in the palace till we get the news that you give birth. I heard that the son was healthy"

"Yes" She broke into tears and she look at the maid.

"Answering empress. The wet nurse said that we can't put hope for 2 daughters and one daughter and the son was healthy. One daughter died after a few hours who already asked not to give hope. Since the princess consort was exhausted newborns were taken care of by wet nurses. However, the son died overnight" Maid answered and the 5th princess consort passed out.

"Let her rest. Imperial physician, check upon 5th princess consort. Wet nurses, wait on the newborns and bring the servants who were on duty and two … dead babies" Xiao Feng was already prepared and asked the 2 wet nurses from the palace to come with her.

In a city restaurant, people were eating while gossiping.

"Do you know that both the fourth and 5th princess consort had given birth?"

"I heard that fourth princess consort gave birth to a son"

"It doesn't matter, 5th princess consort gave birth to 4 children," The waiter said listening to the customer's talk.

"4 children?"

"Yes"

"Come here and tell us more"

"5th consort has given birth to 3 daughters and 1 son. Wet nurse has said that 2 daughters wouldn't make it and one daughter died after few hours and to surprise the son who was supposed to be healthy died overnight"

"How do you know?"

"There are many important guests in our restaurant"

"Then tell us more"

"Fourth princess consort is empress sister but empress has gone to prince Jing manor to find about it after hearing it"

"Really?" A man who was not in their conversation asked. They all look at the person besides their table.

"You must be new to the capital. Empress was once married to prince Jing"