@cosmicpetals

Qinghai Palace, 1627

Third Madam Shu [laughing]: Oh Hui you always find a way to make me laugh.

Sixth Madam Hui: I have to! You are carrying the son of Master Zhiyuan, who I will spoil like no other.

Sixth Madam Hui: Plus you carrying Master Zhiyuan’s children keeps me from having to do so myself. Pregnancy seems like such a hassel, if I can avoid it I will.

Third Madam Shu: Hui don’t say that. Pregnancy is such a beautiful thing where we create and bring life into the world. What could be more beautiful than that?

Sixth Madam Hui: Literally anything else. No matter what Shu you won’t change my mind on this matter. It is a blessing though that the child will have a mother like you, someone sweet and grounded.

Third Madam Shu: I am sure you would be a great mother as well Hui-

Qinghai Palace, 1627

Second Madam Nian [upset]: It is not fair! I don’t understand how we married in at the same time and she is pregnant before me.

Second Madam Nian: I have done everything. I have made sure to keep my inner qi balanced. I have never missed drinking the tonics perscribed by the physician. I mean, what am I missing? I should be pregnant right now.

Fifth Madam Meng [cautiously]: To be honest madam...maybe it is just not the right time.

Second Madam Nian [scoffs]: Not the right time. My father would laugh at that excuse. I must have a child and I must have a child soon.

Qinghai Palace, 1627

Eunuch [runs in]: Master Zhiyuan! Third Madam Shu is pregnant!

[Master Zhiyuan looks up]

~

Third Madam Shu [giggling]: Zhiyuan! Put me down!

Master Zhiyuan [smiling]: You have made me the happiest man alive!

Third Madam Shu [playfully]: Oh really? How so?

Master Zhiyuan: By carrying my child. A son. A daughter. It does not matter. I love you Shu and this child will represent our love for one another.

Third Madam Shu [melting]: Oh Zhiyuan, I love you so much.

Great Madam Wentian [suddenly]: It seems his grace has beaten me to offering congratulations on the joyous news.

Great Madam Wentian [happily]: We are surely blessed Third Madam Shu to both be pregnant and give his grace strong and healthy children.

Dehua Gong, 1635

Empress Wentian: His majesty is at Yixuan Palace? He requested for them to decorate it in Noble Consort Shu’s liking, I wonder how it turned out.

Momo Yin : Would your Majesty like to go see for yourself?

Yixuan Palace, 1635

Eunuch: Your Majesty, Yixuan Palace is complete.

Emperor Zhiyuan [looks up from reading]: Good. I want to go see it for myself.

Eunuch: Yes, your Majesty.

~

Eunuch: Right this way, your Majesty.

Eunuch: Your Majesty, let me know if there is anything you would like to change –

Emperor Zhiyuan: No.