Chapter 421: Chapter 419: I’ll Be Fine Just Holding You
Lu Ying’s voice was hoarse: "Zhaozhao... I asked Doctor Xiao Chen, he said if the fetus is stable, anytime between three to seven months is possible..."
Shen Yinning was extremely irritated.
Not to mention she was in no mood to do such things with Lu Ying right now, her pregnancy was already more than seven months.
She had concealed it for a month, she was now eight months pregnant.
But she couldn’t tell Lu Ying this.
She said coldly, "Your comings and goings tonight have already made me very uncomfortable. If you wish me no peace, and end up causing a tragedy of one corpse and two lives, then by all means, suit yourself."
Lu Ying tenderly kissed her earlobe and the side of her neck, restraining himself: "Then you sleep, I won’t disturb you. I just want to hold you."
It was midwinter.
The man’s scorching heat pressed against her back, like a large furnace.
The warmth made drowsiness sweep over her, Shen Yinning gradually fell asleep.
Lu Ying had no intention of sleeping.
From time to time, he kissed the girl’s tender white face, sometimes touching her eyebrows and lips, as if he didn’t know how to treat his treasure carefully. The hostility and unease that had lingered in his chest for months finally dispersed completely at this moment.
She was his again.
How wonderful.
Just past the hour of the tiger, Lu Ying got up and dressed, preparing to attend the court session.
Haitang and Wei Yu served him as he donned the black dragon robe embroidered with gold and put on the Emperor’s Crown with the Twelve Bead Tassels. He was heard to whisper, "Let her sleep as long as she wants, don’t disturb her. All food and drink, follow Doctor Xiao Chen’s instructions, don’t take matters into your own hands. She has a willful nature, you must watch her closely, don’t let her eat anything recklessly."
The two bowed their heads in agreement.
Lu Ying stepped out of Furong Palace, the sky was still dark.
Gui Quan and De Sun, leading a group of young eunuchs, stood with lanterns on either side, waiting respectfully for him to board the sedan.
He hesitated for a moment, then instructed De Sun: "Call Nanny Chen over and have her continue serving Princess Zhaoning in the future."
Haitang and Wei Yu were both young and had never given birth, what could they know.
There must be an experienced elder stationed at Furong Palace for him to feel at ease.
Once everything was arranged properly, he boarded the sedan.
By the time the court session ended, it was already noon.
Lu Ying returned to the Imperial Study and dealt with some documents.
Just as he was planning to go to Furong Palace to have lunch with Shen Yinning, Gui Quan suddenly reported: "Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived."
Huo Mingyan stepped into the inner chamber and immediately saw the man seated at the Dragon Desk.
He had just come back from court and hadn’t yet changed into his regular clothes. The dark robe and Emperor’s Crown accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His brow bones and nose bridge were even more deep and superior than those of the foreign men she had seen outside the border, his restrained solemnity fully displaying his imperial demeanor.
This was her cousin, the person she had liked since childhood, and more than that, her legitimate husband.
Before Shen Yinning entered the palace, he used to follow palace rules and visit her palace on the first and fifteenth of each month.
They too had once shared conjugal life, entwining tenderly on the bed.
But now...
He hadn’t stepped into Kunning Palace for a long time.
Huo Mingyan’s heart ached with a gentle tremble, suppressing the surge of sour pain with difficulty.
She bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, I greet you."
"Empress, there’s no need for such formalities." Lu Ying continued reviewing documents, not lifting his head.
Huo Mingyan took a seat, clearly noting the scratch marks on his cheek.
She took the hot tea offered by the little eunuch, lowering her eyes: "I heard that Your Majesty rested at Furong Palace last night."
"The Empress is always keen and well-informed, you know everything happening in the palace."
Huo Mingyan bit her lip, understanding that this was sarcasm.
"As the head of the harem, it is my responsibility to know which lady was favored by Your Majesty each night. In the past, Your Majesty blamed me for interfering in state affairs, I confessed my error. But this time, I don’t believe I am wrong." Huo Mingyan set down the teacup, solemnly kneeling on the ground, her spine straight, hands clasped, "I am bold enough to advise on behalf of the sisters in the harem and the former officials. I implore Your Majesty to release Princess Zhaoning from the palace and sever ties with her. Otherwise, Your Majesty’s reputation will be in jeopardy, and the kingdom at risk!"
The palace maids loyal to her followed suit, kneeling in a chorus: "We implore Your Majesty to release Princess Zhaoning from the palace and sever ties with her!"
Gui Quan and De Sun glanced at each other, a hint of derision in their eyes.
Lu Ying still didn’t raise his head, his vermillion pen gliding over the document: "The Huo family wants the position of Empress, I gave it. The Huo family wants the status of the ruler outside the border, I granted it as well. Huo Mingyan, if you want more, I’m afraid I cannot give it."
Huo Mingyan was stunned.
She stared blankly at Lu Ying, realizing this man had already guessed her youthful romantic notions.
She blushed with embarrassment: "Your Majesty..."
"No matter whom I favor, the Empress of Great Zhou will always be you. As long as you adhere to your duties, this will never change." Lu Ying closed the document, "Do you have any other questions?"
Huo Mingyan was taken aback.
She knew an emperor’s promise was extremely precious, yet she wanted to ask her cousin if, beyond the respect between husband and wife, he could give her a little more sincerity.
But though she grew up outside the border and was more straightforward than the noble girls in the Capital, she was, after all, a young lady.
Such an embarrassing question, how could she bring herself to ask?
Under Han Sang’s support, she stood up, hesitating for a long time before mustering the courage to say, "For the past few months, I have been following my teacher to learn zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I’ve also dabbled in embroidery and needlework. If Your Majesty clears your heart in the future, I wonder if there’s a hope for me to dwell in it?"
Hope to become the one he cherishes from the bottom of his heart...
Lu Ying frowned: "I remember when I went outside the border in childhood, you once said you didn’t like zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You preferred archery and hunting. Even though you are married into the Capital now, there’s no need to change yourself for me. I promise you, Empress, you may always be yourself in private, regardless of the Capital’s formalities."
Huo Mingyan’s heart skipped a beat.
She tightly clutched her handkerchief, her gaze upon Lu Ying evolving until it turned into fervent, passionate affection.
Indeed, she hadn’t misplaced her admiration.
Her cousin truly was a good man, one worthy of her heartfelt affection!
Huo Mingyan’s tone became noticeably softer: "Then when we’re in private, can I still call you cousin, like before?"
"Cousin" felt much closer than "Your Majesty."
That was also what set her apart from the noble ladies in the Capital.
Lu Ying said: "Naturally."
Huo Mingyan couldn’t help but feel delighted, lightly pursing her lips, and then unexpectedly showing a gentle smile: "I understand that Your Majesty cares for Princess Zhaoning. I am willing to take Your Majesty’s fondness as my own and will no longer trouble Princess Zhaoning in the future."
She paused, her eyes revealing a hint of probing: "However, there’s one thing I still don’t understand. After Princess Zhaoning gives birth, will Your Majesty have her bear your children? But I heard that among the Central Plains nobility, distinctions between wife and concubine are important. It is said that noble families would never let a concubine or mistress bear a child before the main wife. So, regarding Princess Zhaoning and myself... Your Majesty will certainly let me conceive a child first, won’t you?"