flstandardbreds Chapter 106 Consort Ning is Pregnant
Chapter 106 Consort Ning is Pregnant
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study—
"Brother Ling, you've been rushing back home after court these past few days. Since everyone's here today, please stay a little longer!"
Yuan Huaize gently patted Xin Moling's shoulder to reassure him and make him sit down.
Xin Moling did not refuse; he had another matter to attend to at the palace today.
Yuan Huailie and Lou Shenghan sat on one side. Yuan Huailie's brows were furrowed, and his handsome and resolute face was expressionless.
Lou Shenghan seemed unusually excited. He had heard that Xin Moling had sent the ivory carving back to the Prince's Mansion, but the person next to him sent it back again, saying that Yuan Huailie would not take back anything he sent. If Princess Danhua was not satisfied, he could throw it away. In the end, it was Hua Buyu who mediated and the ivory carving was left in the General's Mansion. After all, it was a good treasure and it would be a pity to throw it away.
"Ah Ling, I heard from Sheng Han that Dan Hua has recently opened any shops?" Yuan Huaijun raised his hand, gesturing for Xin Moling to sit down and talk.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"In that case, I should also prepare a grand opening ceremony for Danhua."
He already knew about Xin Moyan's shop when A Ling went to the border, but what he didn't expect was that Lou Shenghan would care about her so much now, and even his younger brothers' attitudes had changed so much. He also thought of the flyers on the desk...
“Your Majesty, it’s just Yan’er’s little stunt. She’s just opening a shop to pass the time. You really don’t need to reward her with anything more. The reward Your Majesty gave her on her aunt’s birthday banquet was already an act of divine grace and the most extravagant of all.”
After Xin Moling finished speaking respectfully, he slowly raised his head and met those unfathomable eyes. His gaze was sharp, and he wanted to see some clues in Yuan Huaijun's eyes.
Seeing that they didn't speak but calmly looked each other over, the three felt strange but dared not say anything.
At this moment, Wang Si ran in with a solemn expression and respectfully greeted, "Your Majesty."
Yuan Huaijun then withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "What is it?"
Wang Si quickly walked to his side, bent down and whispered something in his ear. Yuan Huaijun's brows furrowed slightly, then quickly relaxed.
"Okay, you can go now."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and pondered for a moment before saying, "After the battle at the border a few days ago, Yelan has been much quieter lately. Scouts have reported that the remaining assassins have returned to Yelan. Although we do not know the Night Emperor's future intentions, we still need to be more vigilant."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, if given the opportunity, I would like to go to the border to serve the country." Yuan Huailie's tone was extremely serious and earnest. Because of his previous discord with Xin Moling, he had not fought alongside him for two years. The fact that Ye Lan occasionally sent troops to launch surprise attacks was also a real problem.
“I know that A Lie is loyal to the emperor and loves his country,” Yuan Huaijun glanced at the group and, seeing that they remained silent, stood up. “There are no major events in the court these days, so you don’t need to come to the Imperial Study. A Ling, send a troop of Wujia soldiers to guard the border.”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I have other matters to attend to. You may all return now!"
"I resign!"
"I'm leaving now!"
The four walked out of the imperial study side by side. Yuan Huaize flicked his folding fan and chuckled, "Brother Ling, I didn't expect Cousin Yan'er's business to be so good. The other day I sent someone to queue for half a day just to buy two cups of milk tea, but they were quite delicious!"
Before Xin Moling could speak, Lou Shenghan quickly responded, proudly saying, "That's right! Yan Yan's milk tea is unique in the entire Yuanqi, the only one of its kind."
Yuan Huailie pursed his lips, his eyes grave. When had she become so close to Lou Shenghan...?
"Lou Xiang, why are you calling my cousin Yan Yan so affectionately?"
Lou Shenghan was about to exaggerate his words with great pride when he caught a glimpse of his elder brother's dark expression and immediately fell silent. The man already had the Azure Water Sword in his hand; a wise man knows when to yield!
He quickly changed the subject, putting his arm around Yuan Huaize's shoulder and saying, "Brother Huaize, I'm going to the Empress Dowager's palace now, would you like to come along?"
Yuan Huaize glanced at him thoughtfully and asked suspiciously, "Why are you being so enthusiastic today?"
"Xiao Bao woke up early today and kept asking for his mother, so I decided to take him with me to the palace. He's currently playing with the Empress Dowager in Yongning Palace!"
"Is Lou Xiaobao in the Empress Dowager's palace?"
"Ah."
He suddenly remembered that Xiao Liu seemed to have said he was going to the palace today.
"Let's go then! Third Brother, you'll come along too. Come to think of it, you haven't visited Mother Empress Dowager for several days since you got married!"
Yuan Huailie initially wanted to refuse, but then he felt that what the fifth brother said made sense. Moreover, he had heard that Lou Xiaobao was calling Xin Moyan "mother," but he didn't know if it was true or not.
"Brother Ling?" Yuan Huaize turned around, about to invite Xin Moling to join him.
"I still have something to do."
"Alright then!" He raised an eyebrow. Perhaps Brother Ling was in a hurry to go to the bubble tea shop to find his sister!
As the three figures walked further and further away, Xin Moling turned back and glanced at the Imperial Study.
"master."
"Qingque, are you sure the Imperial Advisor returned to the palace yesterday?"
"Yes! The Imperial Preceptor returned to Yuheng Palace yesterday evening, but has not yet gone to pay his respects to His Majesty."
Xin Moling lowered her gaze and said calmly, "Go to Yuheng Palace."
Inside the Imperial Study, Yuan Huaijun was holding a promotional leaflet, carefully considering the advertising slogans.
"Your Majesty, the General and the princes have all gone far away."
"Did A-Ling go to Yuheng Palace?"
"This... judging from the direction the General left, it is indeed the location of Yuheng Palace."
"Yes, tomorrow send someone to invite the Imperial Preceptor to a gathering at the Guanghua Hall."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yuan Huaijun put down what he was holding and said seriously, "Wang Si, is the head of the academy certain that what happened just now was correct?"
Wang Si quickly bowed and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, the head physician's skills are the best in the Imperial Medical Academy. Consort Ning has just sent a maid to request an audience outside the door, presumably to inform you that she is pregnant."
Yuan Huaijun frowned slightly, his dark eyes filled with a chilling light. He asked in a cold voice, "What exactly happened?"
Seeing the king's anger, he knelt down with a thud and explained tremblingly, "Your Majesty, as the head of the academy said, Consort Ning's child is only a month old. It must have been on the first day of last month when Your Majesty visited Ninglu Palace. The next day, Consort Ning had a poor appetite and I heard that she vomited several times. So... that fertility-enhancing medicine must have been vomited up by the consort."
"I see."
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, is Consort Ning pregnant?" Wang Si left the question unfinished, entrusting the decision to the decisive young emperor before him. After all, the emperor's mind was as deep as the sea and could not be easily fathomed.
Yuan Huaijun glanced at the door, and his slightly annoyed expression immediately returned to his usual indifferent and cold demeanor.
"Go see what that maid is saying."
As expected, Song Yining indeed sent her personal maid to report the joyous news of her pregnancy.
"Arrange the carriage, to Ninglu Palace."
"Yes!"