20demayo Chapter 1092 The Unfaithful Lover 2
Chapter 1092 The Unfaithful Lover 2
Time quickly came to the day when the Emperor returned to the capital from Jiangnan, and Jiang Chunxi was more than four months pregnant.
Since learning that the Emperor had another child, the Empress Dowager's health has improved day by day. Now, the Empress Dowager is in good spirits and personally went to the palace gate to welcome her son on the day the Emperor returned to the palace.
But actually, she couldn't wait to see Consort Fu.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty." The Emperor stepped down from the imperial carriage and quickly knelt before the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager quickly helped the Emperor up: "It seems that Your Majesty has gained a lot from this southern tour. Look at your spirits, you are much better than before, and you even look several years younger."
"People are in high spirits when they have good news," the Emperor said with a cheerful expression. "The imperial physician said that Consort Fu is carrying twins."
"It's true," the Empress Dowager said, gripping the Emperor's hand tightly, her excitement palpable. "Consort Fu is indeed pregnant with twins."
“It’s absolutely true,” the Emperor said, covering the back of the Empress Dowager’s right hand with one hand. “Not only that, the imperial physician also said that Consort Fu’s child is most likely a boy.”
The surprise came so suddenly that the Empress Dowager was overjoyed and excited: "Quickly, quickly, bring Consort Fu to see me."
"Never mind, never mind," the Empress Dowager quickly added, "Consort Fu is pregnant, so let's not let her get off the sedan chair."
"Quickly give the order to have Consort Fu's palanquin carried directly into the palace and sent to Chengfu Palace," the Empress Dowager said to the Emperor. "I had already had Chengfu Palace prepared. Now that you have a child, I need to keep Consort Fu under my watchful eye so that I can feel at ease."
"The Empress Dowager is so thoughtful." After saying this, the Emperor instructed his chief eunuch to arrange for Consort Fu's palanquin to be carried directly into the palace, so that Consort Fu would not have to get off the palanquin.
"Your Majesty, I congratulate you," the Empress finally had a chance to speak. "I never expected Your Majesty's trip to Jiangnan to bring such an unexpected joy. It seems that Consort Fu is truly a blessed woman. When Consort Fu gives birth to a prince, Your Majesty should reward her handsomely."
Enjoy your happiness now! But once she discovers that Consort Fu is carrying an illegitimate child, the Emperor will likely suffer excruciating pain, perhaps even collapsing into a cowardly state. Then, Prince Chen's grand ambitions will not be far off.
"Of course," the Emperor said with a smile. "The Empress has worked hard while I was away."
The Emperor trusted and respected the Empress greatly, after all, she was virtuous and kind, and had been his good and capable wife since she became the Crown Princess.
Here's the thing: since he ascended the throne, not a single woman in the harem has become pregnant. Has the emperor never suspected anything?
For example, they suspected that the Empress had done something to cause the women in the harem to be unable to conceive.
Of course, they had their suspicions. The Emperor ordered a secret investigation for a long time, but they never found anything wrong. After all, the Emperor could never have imagined that the Empress would be so bold as to drug him.
Of course, the most important thing is that the imperial physicians couldn't detect the medicine the empress administered, which is why the emperor never discovered, or perhaps suspected, that his health had been compromised.
Therefore, regarding the matter of having offspring, the emperor could only conclude that he was destined to have few children and was destined to be childless.
As for the Emperor's three princesses, they were born when the Emperor was still the Crown Prince. At that time, the Empress had not yet drugged the Emperor. In the third year after she married the Emperor, he ascended the throne. It was also in the year of the Emperor's ascension that Prince Chen finally found an opportunity to secretly meet the Empress in the palace and successfully brainwashed her, making her drug the Emperor.
"It is my duty as Empress to manage the affairs of the palace for Your Majesty. I cannot accept Your Majesty's praise of my hard work," the Empress said with a gentle and dignified smile.
"Alright, alright, let's talk about it once we're inside the palace. Don't stand at the palace gate in the cold wind." It's already autumn, which is why the Empress Dowager said this. "I'll go in first. After Your Majesty finishes his business, come to my palace and we can have a proper talk."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager hurriedly walked towards her sedan chair. She was eager to go to Chengfu Palace to see Consort Fu, and had no intention of wasting time with her son and the Empress at the palace gate.
Jiang Chunxi was helped into Chengfu Palace. Looking at the elaborate decorations and various rare and precious ornaments in the hall, she naturally had to pretend to be very surprised and shocked: "It's too luxurious. I am only a concubine. Isn't it against the rules to live in such a luxurious palace?"
"Your Majesty, everything in Chengfu Palace was personally arranged by the Empress Dowager. Now that you are pregnant with the imperial heir, it is not excessive for your residence to be as luxurious as it may be. There is no question of whether it conforms to the rules." This was the voice of Granny Yun, the head nanny of Chengfu Palace. She was originally from the Empress Dowager's palace and was one of the Empress Dowager's confidantes.
You could say that all the eunuchs and maids in Chengfu Palace were the Empress Dowager's people. As for the eunuchs and maids who used to live in Chengfu Palace, the Empress Dowager naturally replaced them all. And the few concubines who used to live in Chengfu Palace were also moved to other palaces by the Empress Dowager.
"How should I address you, Granny Yun?" Jiang Chunxi asked, looking at Granny Yun.
"This servant's name is Yunxiu, and I am the head nanny of Chengfu Palace. Please bestow a name upon me, Consort Fu." Nanny Yun asking Jiang Chunxi to bestow a name upon her signifies that she will now belong to Consort Fu.
The Empress Dowager sent her to serve Consort Fu, which naturally meant she was to be loyal to Consort Fu, or rather, to be loyal to the prince in Consort Fu's womb. Therefore, although she was still loyal to the Empress Dowager, she knew who she should truly be loyal to in the future, which is why she asked Consort Fu to bestow a name upon her.
“There’s no need for a name,” Jiang Chunxi said with a smile. “Granny Yun’s name is very good, and I like it very much. There’s no need to go through the trouble of giving you another name.”
"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your kindness." Yun Mama was naturally happy that her name could not be changed. "Your Majesty must be tired from your journey. This servant has already had hot water prepared. Your Majesty should wash up first to relieve your fatigue and have an appetite."
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived." The Empress Dowager arrived just as Granny Yun finished speaking.
Jiang Chunxi quickly stood up, and just as she did, the Empress Dowager hurriedly walked in.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager." Jiang Chunxi immediately prepared to bow to the Empress Dowager.
"Get up quickly," the Empress Dowager said, stepping forward to help Jiang Chunxi, who was about to kneel and pay her respects. "You are pregnant now, so you don't need to pay any respects to me."
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager pulled Jiang Chunxi to sit down on the couch, beaming with joy as she placed her hands on Jiang Chunxi's stomach: "My dear grandson! I've finally been waiting for you."