All the officials present outwardly agreed with smiles, chiming in, "Her Majesty the Empress is the great lucky star of our Great Ding Dynasty, she surely deserves a reward..."
However, it was hard to tell how many of them were truly sincere. At the very least, Prime Minister Qin Feng and Prime Minister Leng Guang were not as happy as they appeared. After all, their daughters were the most qualified contenders for the position of Empress.
When the Chu family was annihilated, they had all thought that Chu Yulan's reign as Empress would be short-lived. Without the support of her maternal clan, the great General Chu family, Chu Yulan had lost her value.
They hadn't expected the Emperor to be so devoted, allowing her to hold her position until now! With Chu Yulan having now rendered a great service, her position as Empress was likely even more unshakeable.
Prime Minister Qin Feng and Prime Minister Leng Guang exchanged glances at this thought, and simultaneously let out a "hmph," looking away. Their greatest enemy was still each other.
...
Today, Emperor Situ Chuanqiong personally entered Kuning Palace. He said to Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang), who had hurried out to greet him and bow, "Lan'er, there's no need for such formality!" He then gestured for Wang You, who was behind him, to read out the list of rewards.
Wang You read a long string of items, mostly jewelry, precious fabrics, and the like. However, Xiao Wenqiang thought that, given the usual scale of rewards, this was quite meager.
As if sensing her thoughts, Situ Chuanqiong waved for the palace maids to take the gifts away to be stored, and led her into the inner chambers.
"I know these items are too few, and don't compare to the great contributions Lan'er has made. However, due to the locust plague, the national treasury is currently depleted, so I can only trouble Lan'er." Situ Chuanqiong felt a bit embarrassed himself and added, "Once the situation improves, I will make it all up to you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Wenqiang first expressed her gratitude before continuing, "If the treasury is empty, Your Majesty, I don't need these at all. Moreover, regarding this matter, I merely drew upon the wisdom of the ancients; it wasn't my own idea, so I feel undeserving of receiving it."
"Don't feel undeserving! If you hadn't shared the wisdom of the ancients, we would never have known! And Lan'er, how can what I give away be taken back? These rewards are already very little; you must accept them." Seeing the Empress's gentle and virtuous nature, Situ Chuanqiong added, "I will also promise you one more thing. Whatever you ask, I will fulfill!"
"This... very well! I thank Your Majesty!" Xiao Wenqiang bowed in thanks first, then hesitated, "Actually, I do have something to ask, but I don't know how to begin."
"Lan'er, please speak freely. I am a man of my word, and I will absolutely grant it to you!" Situ Chuanqiong declared grandly.
"I... I dare to ask... to request a child from Your Majesty, a child for us both..." With that, she shyly covered her face.
Situ Chuanqiong paused, surprised by the Empress's request. On one hand, he thought of his promise to Leng Yuanxiang, and on the other, he looked at the Empress with hopeful eyes. After much deliberation, he nodded, "Very well! I promise you!"
Afterward, Wang You went to prepare for the evening's selection of consorts.
As it was still early, Situ Chuanqiong first returned to the Imperial Study to review memorials. He then quietly went to Leng Yuanxiang's Jinle Palace, intending to explain the matter to her.
"I disagree! You clearly promised me you wouldn't touch other women, how can you go back on your word!" Leng Yuanxiang couldn't believe that Situ Chuanqiong was such an eccentric man. He was coming to inform her before going to bed with another woman. Did he expect her to beat drums and send him off? Impossible!
"Little Xiang'er, I am not going back on my word. The Empress has contributed greatly to our Great Ding Dynasty, and she only wishes for a child. That is not asking too much." Situ Chuanqiong also found it difficult to understand. Leng Yuanxiang always said that relationships should be sincere, so why was she angrier when he was being so sincere?
"She made a contribution, you can reward her with something else! Why must you give yourself to her?" Leng Yuanxiang was furious. "Does it mean that from now on, if any consort in the harem makes a contribution, you must give her a child, and you must sleep with them?"
"Of course not!" Situ Chuanqiong explained. "I have considered this. The Empress has no relatives by her side now. If she had a child to accompany her, she wouldn't be so lonely. Besides, all my love is for you. Don't you think that's enough?"
"Not enough, not enough! It's certainly not enough! I want not only your heart, but I want you to be exclusively mine. In my view of love, body and soul are inseparable. What I want is a lifelong bond with only one person, not a man whose heart loves me but whose body is shared with other women who bear his children!" Leng Yuanxiang began to cry again.
Situ Chuanqiong knew that too much time had already passed, and it was almost time to go to the imperial chambers. The Empress would be arriving soon. "Alright, Xiang'er, don't cause a scene today. I have already chosen the Empress's name; I must go."
"I won't let you go, I won't let you go. I truly cannot bear to watch the man I love go to the bed of another woman. Your Majesty, please, send the Empress away, and don't go, alright?" Leng Yuanxiang began to cling to him.
Situ Chuanqiong had no choice but to pull her hand away. As a result, Leng Yuanxiang fell to the ground.
"Ah!" Leng Yuanxiang cried out, clutching her stomach. "Your Majesty, my stomach hurts so much. Could it be..." Leng Yuanxiang herself was frightened, as her period had been delayed for two months.
Situ Chuanqiong's expression changed drastically. He quickly asked Chun Yue to summon an imperial physician.
After the imperial physician examined her, he said to Situ Chuanqiong, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, and Noble Consort Leng. The Noble Consort is over a month pregnant. However, the fetus is still very small, so she must avoid strong emotions and rest well."
Situ Chuanqiong held Leng Yuanxiang's hand and said to Imperial Physician Zhong, "Imperial Physician Zhong, please do not reveal this matter for now. We will announce it once Noble Consort Leng's condition is stable. From now on, you will examine Noble Consort Leng daily. You must ensure the safety of the child, do you understand?"
"Your subject obeys!" Imperial Physician Zhong accepted the order and left with his eyes downcast. The inner palace had always held its secrets, and since His Majesty had spoken, he would naturally keep his mouth shut.
"Your Majesty, I am pregnant now, are you still going to another woman's place?" Leng Yuanxiang asked pitifully, tightly gripping Situ Chuanqiong's hand.
"Alas~ You should rest. I will stay here with you!" In the end, Situ Chuanqiong chose to stay.
"Your Majesty, then... what about Her Majesty the Empress... she is already waiting in your chambers," Wang You couldn't help but remind him.
"How about this! Come with me!" Situ Chuanqiong took Wang You aside and whispered, "Quickly notify Zi Xian to enter the palace and disguise himself as me, as before, to handle this matter."