After A wu became pregnant, she could deeply feel that her status was completely different now.
When she went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager actually got up and wanted to personally help her, even saying that she didn’t need to come pay respects anymore and should rest well in her own bedchamber.
She repeatedly instructed her, “Although we don’t allow firecrackers in the palace, we can’t control what happens outside. If there’s a loud noise and it startles the child, you must be extremely careful.”
A wu couldn’t believe it—the Empress Dowager had completely changed, becoming even more kind and gentle than a neighborly grandmother.
The Empress Dowager continued her earnest reminders, talking about all sorts of things regarding food and drink, though these were already being carefully overseen by the Imperial Physicians, so A wu didn’t need to worry herself.
But as an elder, the Empress Dowager just couldn’t help but say it all again.
At last, the Empress Dowager also instructed the ladies by her side, “Be extremely careful. Imperial Noble Consort Ning has just conceived, so don’t let there be any fright or anger.”
These words—who in the harem would dare cross Imperial Noble Consort Ning while she’s basking in such favor?
There are only one or two in the entire palace.
Princess Dening stood to the side, her face stiff, silent all along.
Now hearing this, she reluctantly replied, “Understood.”
Princess Dening was feeling unhappy.
These past few days, her mother, Consort Kang, had been in a bad mood, smashing bowls and cursing indirectly in her room, which made Dening feel miserable as well.
Her mother even brought up things from more than ten years ago—she said that when she was pregnant, she was only a chosen attendant, and it was only after giving birth to Dening that she was promoted to Beauty.
She endured all those years to finally become Consort Kang.
Consort Kang blamed everyone, but in the end, she blamed Dening—blamed her for not being a son, and for not being able to win Emperor Jingxi’s favor.
She said bitterly, “If your father the Emperor liked you even a little, I wouldn’t still be just Consort Kang, nor would I be overshadowed by Consort Zhuang!”
What could Princess Dening say to this?
She truly didn’t know how to win her father’s favor.
The Emperor was busy with state affairs every day, and unless she stayed with the Empress Dowager, she might not see her father even once in several months.
Where could she go to curry favor?
Hearing these words again from the Empress Dowager now, Princess Dening felt even more sorrowful.
Thinking of her mother’s blame, and now the Empress Dowager’s anticipation of more grandchildren, she only felt more hopeless and desolate, wishing she could simply die.
A wu glanced over and naturally saw Princess Dening’s dislike and even a bit of resentment toward her.
Feeling somewhat baffled, A wu also realized that now that she was pregnant and showered with favor, she was bound to make enemies.
She didn’t want to stir up trouble, so she quickly slipped away.
She understood now—if it were before, having just gained the Emperor’s favor, like a poor person suddenly rich, of course she’d want to show off at the temple and vent some pent-up anger.
At that time, the Emperor’s favor wasn’t stable—who knew when it might end?
So she’d use it while she could.
But now, with favor that seemed unending and a dragon heir in her belly, as long as she gave birth to this child, she’d have a lifetime of wealth and glory.
Why would she bother with irrelevant people?
‘If you don’t like me, I’ll just leave. If you want to show off, I’ll avoid you. Anyway, my only focus is to nurture my child!’
But even if A wu tried to avoid trouble, what was meant to happen would still happen—after all, it was the New Year.
The Imperial Son and Crown Princess actually came.
When the Imperial Son saw A wu, his expression paused for a moment before quickly looking away.
Of course, he didn’t dare take another glance.
She was his father’s consort, and now pregnant with his own sibling—what could he even think?
He didn’t dare have any thoughts at all.
Only a repressed bitterness and melancholy.
The Crown Princess beside him naturally sensed her husband’s gloom.
Her gaze lingered on A wu’s belly for quite a while before she subconsciously touched her own.
Her belly was already quite big, a few months ahead of A wu’s.
Originally, she was overjoyed, feeling like she was the most important person in the world.
Suddenly, such a joyous event happened in the harem, completely stealing her spotlight.
No fireworks allowed in the harem, selecting the best obstetric Imperial Physicians to station at Langhua Hall—all that fuss!
As Crown Princess, carrying the imperial bloodline, she naturally had Imperial Physicians and female officials attending her.
But the Crown Princess still felt it wasn’t enough—not enough compared to A wu.
A wu only glanced at her but could already sense the Crown Princess’s strong resentment.
The Crown Princess was giving the Emperor grandchildren, while A wu was giving the Emperor sons and daughters.
Once the children were born, hers would be a generation lower.
The Crown Princess surely felt indignant.
She was probably furious.
Thinking this, A wu decisively turned and left, ignoring everything.
She was carrying a golden treasure, a dragon’s egg—anyone who didn’t like her, she’d avoid!
What if resentment harmed her unborn child.
***
On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhen’an Marquis Manor sent New Year’s gifts.
Lu Yunjian personally brought them into the palace, using the opportunity to meet with the Empress.
The Empress started right off, “If I’d known that wretch would seduce His Majesty, I should have eradicated her completely back then! She should never have had this chance!”
Lu Yunjian: “Oh?”
The Empress shot him a mocking look.
“You should be happy—Imperial Noble Consort Ning is pregnant.”
Lu Yunjian’s face instantly became strange.
“She… is pregnant? With His Majesty’s child?”
This news was still only in the palace and had not spread outside.
The Empress: “Who else’s could it be? She’s in the palace—would she dare to have an affair?”
Lu Yunjian’s expression was clearly shaken.
“She actually got pregnant?”
The Empress: “Yes… Do you know why fireworks are forbidden in the palace this year?”
Lu Yunjian frowned, “Because… of her?”
The Empress sneered, “She’s pregnant, so she’s too precious. The Emperor can’t wait to hold her in his hands, afraid anything might startle the child! Now, truly, the whole world revolves around her.”
Lu Yunjian’s face turned pale, his head lowered, expression dark and gloomy, lost in thought.
The Empress said, “She’s blessed, her health is good, she can bear children. If this child is a prince, that will be interesting.”
Although the Crown Prince is the foundation of the dynasty, once officially appointed, barring extreme circumstances, he cannot be arbitrarily deposed without causing upheaval at court.
But regardless, if A wu gives birth to a prince, it means the Imperial Son will no longer be the only one.
Emperor Jingxi had his son young, only sixteen or seventeen years older than the Imperial Son.
He was skilled in riding and archery, trained every morning without fail, and was strong and healthy.
Who’s to say he won’t outlive the Imperial Son?
Perhaps, in a few years, the little prince will grow up, and if the Emperor changes his mind, anything is possible.
In short, with a new prince, the position of Crown Prince becomes uncertain.
Lu Yunjian was silent for a long time, then lowered his eyes with difficulty.
“She’s actually pregnant. His Majesty will only favor her more and more, and she’ll soar in the harem.”
The Empress looked at the gloom in his eyes and asked, “Isn’t that wonderful?”
Though it deviated from their original plan, this was good too.
In the future, there will be opportunities.
Stirring up the court’s muddy waters would give Zhen’an Marquis Manor a chance.
She smiled at Lu Yunjian.
“Are you so happy, or just jealous?”
Lu Yunjian’s sharp gaze suddenly shot over.
“Your Majesty, what are you saying? I don’t understand.”
His words were calm, but the Empress saw that even his fingertips were trembling.
The Empress had long seen through him.
She curled her lip in disdain, withdrawing her gaze.
“Enough, no need to speak of this. We don’t yet know if it will be a boy or a girl. If it’s a princess, so be it. If it’s a prince, we’ll make plans then.”
What she feared most now was that Emperor Jingxi seemed still capable of fathering children.
In that case, this wouldn’t be the only one.
Over thirty, robust and vigorous, that little consort seemed easy to conceive—they had many years ahead to have more children!
Thinking of this, the Empress bit her lip, desperately suppressing the sourness and jealousy rising within her.
She saw clearly—when Emperor Jingxi looked at that young woman, the love in his eyes almost overflowed.
That was the gaze of a man toward a woman, the intimacy only seen between husband and wife.
It was something she had never received!
She’d always thought Emperor Jingxi was less than human, not even a man.
He had none of the seven emotions and six desires of ordinary people.
He was the Emperor, the ruler on the throne in Jinluan Hall, the sovereign who wielded the imperial brush to govern the realm!
But now she knew, he too could be a man, a husband, able to dote on his wife, to be filled with the simple joy of an ordinary husband because his wife was carrying his child.
That kind of happiness was unbearably mundane, yet so tempting.
You might scorn it, look down on it, but deep down, you still want a taste.
But she never had it!
The Emperor looked at her as if she were a stone, a stone wearing a phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, utterly cold.
He looked at the consorts in the harem as if they were his ministers!
There was a narrow, long corridor in the palace—the front led to the main hall, the back to the harem.
Before Emperor Jingxi, for all emperors, the front was the nation, the back was the family.
Walking through the corridor, they were the Son of Heaven; walking back, the head of the household.