The Concubine of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 452: Concubine Li Can’t Come Out
The Emperor's birthday is right after this. Even though there is still a month left, the Emperor's birthday is of great importance. Especially this year is different from previous years. Kangxi is determined to abolish the feudal system, and the court will have to make a big move, so the Emperor's birthday must be taken more seriously.

It was early summer and a light rain had just fallen. In the courtyard outside, the floor paved with gold bricks from the imperial kiln was still dripping with rainwater, and heavy rain was still falling from the sky.

The concubines in the palace came to Kunning Palace to pay their respects, but the sudden rain seemed to fall from the sky, trapping everyone in the gilded and luxurious palace. Therefore, the queen had already called for the party to end because of urgent matters, but the concubines still stayed under the eaves of Kunning Palace and did not go back.

The concubines were either standing, sitting, or leaning, just like the flowers in spring, which were in full bloom, and might be waving wantonly, or tremblingly blooming, or looking up cautiously. However, they were all united, and kept a distance from Qinrou. Qinrou was also guarded by about ten servants, which was very different from others.

The concubines were careful not to get close to her. After all, she was carrying the royal heir in her belly. She was a living time bomb. There were so many people who wanted to harm her and the royal heir in her belly, and it could happen at any time. No one wanted to be implicated and become a scapegoat.

Qin Rou and the servants who served her were also on guard against the others. The child was not so invulnerable. If he fell, the heir might be dead. If the heir was injured, all of them who served him closely would suffer.
When Concubine Li was pregnant, the servants who served her were punished, beaten with sticks, and had their salaries reduced. The new ones did not have a good end either. When Concubine Li had a miscarriage, the servants did not serve her well, and even if it was only for a few days, they were still punished with sticks.

Where is the lesson from the past? Why don't the maids and servants around Qin Rou take precautions? Their future, wealth and lives are hanging on it. That's just a concubine who is not favored. Concubines are just nominal concubines in the eyes of the emperor. The heir to the throne and concubines are more valuable.

There was a stool behind Qin Rou for her to sit on, but it was too far away to prevent her from hearing what others were saying.

"I don't know when this rain will stop." Concubine Li mentioned casually that it was raining heavily outside, but it came at the wrong time, trapping them in Kunning Palace. If it had been a little later, they would have had to go to their own palaces.

Kunning Palace is magnificent and elegant, which is of course good. However, it is not their own bedroom. Moreover, there is the Empress Dowager as their master. If they have nothing to do and nothing to ask for, who would be willing to be trapped in Kunning Palace?

"Summer rain is heavy. Generally speaking, it comes and goes quickly. It may stop in a short while." Concubine Dong replied casually. She glanced at Concubine Li and said with a smile, "We are idle people anyway. We can kill time somewhere. Even if it rains for a whole day, we are not afraid. We can wait."

Concubine Dong seems to have recovered from her injuries. It has been two months since the death of the second princess, and Concubine Dong seems to be trying to get over it. Recently, she seems to be gradually recovering and has started talking to Concubine Li and the others. She also jokes and suggests to Concubine Li, "Do you have something urgent to go back? You can go back in the rain. You have an umbrella, but it might just rain on you."

"There is no emergency." Li Shufei replied. It's not that she couldn't stay in Kunning Palace, but she was still inclined to return to her own palace. After all, that was her territory. Staying in her own palace would always make her feel more peaceful. Thinking of this, Li Shufei naturally couldn't say so, so she sighed, "The Queen is already busy and has no time to spare. So many of us sisters in the palace are trapped here by the heavy rain. The Queen still has to worry about us. I always feel bad."

As in previous years, the Queen started to get busy early in the morning, and even during the morning and evening visits, she could be seen rushing in and out. What's worse, sometimes the Queen could not be seen at all.

Kunning Palace was also populated by servants, all of whom were managers and maids from various parts of the palace. At this moment, even if one casually thought about it, one could tell that most of them came for the rules and trivial matters of the Wanshou Festival.

This state started in March, but it was not so urgent back then. Now people come and go more frequently and more urgently. It's like a sword is suddenly hanging over your head, about to fall, and you have to take immediate measures to avoid being hurt. Concubine Dong also saw the palace servants coming and going in Kunning Palace, in a hurry, and even the heavy rain could not stop them from coming and going in the rain.

"That's true," Dong Shufei also sighed. But there was nothing she could do, "It's raining, God wants to keep people here!" Dong Shufei couldn't help but smile.

The allusion was used, and Li Shufei understood it. She borrowed Dong Shufei's words and agreed, "That's true."

It's not that they didn't want to go, nor that they couldn't go, but their clothes got wet when they returned to the palace. But Concubine Nara was pregnant with the heir, if they all left, would Concubine Nara go? If they got caught in the rain, the worst that could happen was that they would get sick, but could Concubine Nara get sick? For a pregnant woman, a little cold is a big deal.

They stayed to accompany her. Concubine Li glanced at Qin Rou inadvertently. Two maids, two palace maids, and four eunuchs were waiting on her. She put on her cloak. On rainy days, the temperature would drop by several degrees. If she wore less, what would she do if she caught a cold? The servants around her were sensible.

"Have you heard about what happened to Concubine Li?" Concubine Li casually mentioned it to Concubine Dong next to her, gossiping about the people and things in the palace, or perhaps, praising Concubine Nala.

Concubine Dong smiled, and was really curious. She asked Concubine Li, "How is she?"

Concubine Li lived closer to Concubine Younger Li, so it was inevitable that she knew less information than Concubine Li, and Concubine Dong just treated the question as a normal one.

Concubine Li said, "It's still the same. She still thinks her heir is still in her belly. Concubine Niuhulu often asks the imperial physician to check on her. He says that it's probably hysteria and she doesn't know when she will wake up. She makes a fuss when she wakes up. Her body hasn't recovered yet, and any movement will hurt her. In order for her to take good care of herself, Concubine Niuhulu can only ask the imperial physician to add some tranquilizers to the prescriptions she writes for her."

Little Li Shufei is hysterical! Concubine Niuhulu is the main queen of Yongshou Palace. If she does anything, it will inevitably implicate Concubine Niuhulu. There are many noble and vulnerable people in the palace.

If Concubine Li ran away, it would be disrespectful to the Empress, the Grand Empress Dowager, etc.; it would hurt Concubine Nara and Concubine Majia who were pregnant. The former would be disrespectful and covetous; the latter would harm the heir to the throne, and Concubine Niuhulu would also have the intention and action to murder the heir to the throne. Either way, the good reputation that Concubine Niuhulu had worked so hard to build would be destroyed in an instant, tainted with filth and forever tainted.

Concubine Nianhulu must keep a close eye on Concubine Li and make sure she lives a safe and peaceful life.

Little Concubine Li couldn't get out. Concubine Li knew it, and Concubine Dong knew it too.

What a coincidence! Qin Rou also came to this conclusion.