Chapter 294 Celebrating Birthday

Not long after Yongqi finished speaking, Rong Mama brought over Physician Hu.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress."

"Please rise, Physician Hu."

The Empress extended her hand, allowing Physician Hu to take her pulse.

After Physician Hu took her pulse, Xiao Yanzi told him what she had seen. The two of them discussed it and determined that the Empress didn't have much time left.

"Physician Hu, please tell me the truth, what about the Empress Dowager...?"

"At most two and a half months..."

"What?" Yongqi asked in disbelief, "Two and a half months?"

"Twelfth Prince, your humble servant is incompetent."

Yongqi helped the kneeling Physician Hu to his feet. "Physician Hu, please get up. In the coming days, please prepare some medicinal meals for the Empress Dowager."

The Empress smiled and said, "Yongqi, don't make things difficult for Physician Hu. This is my fate."

Before, she couldn't believe that her Jingsi and Yongjing had left her, but in the end, she still had to accept reality.

"From now on, follow your fifth brother closely, live a good life, get married and have children..."

"Don't do things you shouldn't do, or you'll hurt your father and fifth brother's feelings."

Yongqi nodded. "My son knows. I won't let them down."

Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi left with Mianzhi, and Physician Hu, seeing that he was no longer needed, also withdrew.

Little Swallow sighed, "It seems my plan to visit my cousin will have to be delayed again..."

Yongqi comforted him, saying, "There will always be an opportunity."

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Three days later will be Consort Yu's 52nd birthday.

Mianhua and Mianyao, Fupeidong, Xiao Yucheng, and their respective parents all arrived at Yonghe Palace one after another.

Because the Empress was ill, they couldn't have a big gathering, so they just held a small party at Yonghe Palace and had a simple meal together.

Xiao Yanzi raised her wine cup and looked at Consort Yu. "Mother, before we knew it, we've known each other for so many years. I hope that on your birthdays in the future, Yongqi, the children, and I can all be with you."

Yongqi also raised his wine cup to toast Consort Yu, saying, "Mother, I'm afraid you already know what I want to say. All my thoughts are contained in this cup of wine."

Consort Yu smiled and said, "As long as you are all well, that is my greatest happiness."

"Lamei greets all the masters." Lamei from Yanxi Palace arrived at Yonghe Palace with some gifts.

"Your Highness, this is what my lady asked me to deliver..."

Consort Yu stood up and said, "This Imperial Noble Consort Ling is pregnant herself, how can she still be thinking about my birthday..."

Lamei comforted her, "Don't worry, Consort Yu. My lady didn't put in much effort. She just had someone write a list and send the items over."

“In the past, Consort Yu also sent many fine things to my lady. This is called reciprocity.”

Consort Yu nodded and smiled, "Go back and tell your lady that I have received her good intentions."

"Alright, then please continue eating, my lords. I'll head back to report now."

"This old servant greets Consort Yu." No sooner had Lamei left than Rong Momo arrived with her entourage.

"Consort Yu, this is a gift from Her Majesty the Empress..."

After accepting all the gifts and taking stock of everything, it was almost noon.

"His Majesty has arrived."

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

After Yongqi and the others bowed in succession, Qianlong took his seat.

"Today is Consort Yu's birthday, and as I expected, all of you children have gathered at Yonghe Palace."

"Don't you have any activities that require you to be separated?"

These people, especially the men, had indescribable images in their minds, and they would only separate during those times.

For other activities, they basically all went out as a group whenever possible.

Seeing their strange expressions, Emperor Qianlong guessed what they were thinking.

He smiled and said, "It's good that you two have such a good relationship. If Yongqi encounters difficulties in the court in the future, you should help him out."

"Speaking of which, have Erkang, Ertai, and Saiya said when they will be back?"

Fu Erkang replied, "Father, Ertai just sent a message a couple of days ago saying that Saiya is pregnant. His father-in-law couldn't bear to let Saiya, who is pregnant, travel outside, so he left them behind."

"I reckon even if they want to come back, they won't do it until Saiya has given birth, recovered, and the baby is old enough to go outside and get some fresh air..."

Little Swallow was a little surprised, "Oh? When will I be able to see her again?"

Xia Ziwei replied, "When Ertai wrote the letter, he said he was already one month pregnant, but the letter was delivered by fast horse and it took almost a month to arrive, so he should be two months pregnant now."

Little Swallow sighed helplessly, "So, if nothing unexpected happens, I won't be able to see them until tomorrow, September, or October?"

Fu Erkang said helplessly, "There's nothing we can do about it. This Saiya is similar to you in some ways, but she's also different."

“You can sit still after you get pregnant, but Saiya can’t. When she was pregnant with Wantong, she was so restless…”

"Ertai was not only feeling sorry for Saiya, but also for himself, so after Wantong was born, he never had any more children."

"According to Ertai, it was because Saiya saw that other children had companions that she wanted to have another child."

Emperor Qianlong couldn't help but laugh out loud, "When Saiya and Ertai return, there will be more and more children here. At that time, I'm afraid we won't be able to get any rest from talking about them..."

Consort Yu said, "In Xiao Yanzi's words, it's both joyful and painful. The Emperor would rather have many children chattering away than be lonely and quiet."

Emperor Qianlong nodded, "That's true."

Xiao Jian added, "Little Swallow, our father used to hope for as many children as possible, but he felt sorry for our mother, so after you were born, he didn't plan to have any more..."

Besides, even if they had the will later, they were no longer destined for it.

Little Swallow smiled slightly and comforted him, "Brother, now you have Sister-in-law Qing'er, Little Sun and Little Moon with you, and all of us..."

“You are no longer that lone bird, so from now on, when we talk about our parents, we should smile and tell them with a smile that we are doing very well now.”

Emperor Qianlong chimed in, "Little Swallow is right. Xiao Jian, I believe your parents would be happy to know that you are doing well now."

"Your Majesty is right."

"Your Majesty, Consort Yu, Xiao Jianjing, thank you for treating Xiao Yanzi like your own daughter, making up for the lack of fatherly and motherly love she received."

Emperor Qianlong laughed and said, "With Xiao Yanzi being so clever and mischievous, the palace would probably be much less fun without her."

"Most of us sitting here are gathered here because of Little Swallow. We should toast Little Swallow."

Little Swallow reciprocated, saying, "I should also toast you. Thank you for always standing by my side and accompanying me through so many years of ups and downs."

"Mother, don't cry." As Xiao Yanzi spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. Mianzhi, who was beside her, reached out to wipe her eyes. "Mother, Zhi'er is with you."

"Mother, Yao'er is here too."

“Mother, I’m here with you. Yao’er, Zhi’er, and I will all stay with you.”

Seeing these people comforting each other, Consort Yu also felt a little sad.

Emperor Qianlong brought the weeping scene under control, saying, "Alright, this is Consort Yu's birthday, why are you all crying?"

"We still need to give the main character of this banquet a chance to speak..."

Consort Yu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have nothing more to say. I am content to see Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi, and the other children well by my side."