Chapter 16 - The Imperial Concubine is having an affair with the Prime Minister
On that day, Jiang Xin Ren was exhausted. It was Zhuang He Ming who carried her back to the Jian Jia Palace, removed her hairpins, cleaned her body, and brought her to the bed to rest well.
She was so tired that she didn’t want to move a finger. With her eyes closed, she felt drowsy and sensed the man’s heavy gaze on her face.
Zhuang He Ming sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her for a long time. He reached out and gently touched her delicate little face.
“Don’t do this again.”
Don’t take risks, don’t put yourself in danger. People can easily die, from exhaustion, from illness…
No matter what, he would eventually agree to her requests, so she shouldn’t force herself to coerce him again.
He took off the jade pendant hanging from his waist and placed it in the woman’s slightly open hand. “This jade pendant can command all my subordinates.”
With that said, he gave her another deep look and left.
Jiang Xin Ren caressed the jade pendant in her hand and called out to the system, “086, check my status.”
[Host’s status bar shows: Pregnant]
086 had become completely numb. It had grown tired of shouting about maintaining the plot and protecting the male lead’s life every day. Its attitude towards the male lead had gradually changed from concern to impatience.
You’re the male lead! Can’t you protect your own life? If you die, blame yourself for not having the ability. It no longer wanted to care!
This world was originally supported by the female lead Zhao Yue Li. The Emperor was just an accessory to her, not important at all.
086: takes a weary drag of a cigarette Don’t ask how this drastic change in attitude came about.
Right now, the host was pregnant, nearly a full year earlier than in the original plot.
Due to the host’s existence, the plot had been pushed forward exceptionally tightly. The female lead must have been exhausted recently.
[What does the host plan to do next?]
“First, muddle through it. 086, give me a hallucinogenic drug.”
Well, it was definitely for the Emperor to take.
086 patted its chest and guaranteed: [Leave it to me! System-produced, must be top-quality!]
Jiang Xin Ren sneered.
Two months later, the Kunning Palace, which had been silent for a long time, reopened.
This was the first time the Empress had been truly confined for half a year. When she came out of confinement, she was still apprehensive and didn’t dare to make any moves for a short while.
But during her confinement, Jiang Xin Ren remained deeply favored, and Zhao Yue Li suddenly appeared in everyone’s sight, gaining the Emperor’s affection. What was most unbelievable was that these two favored concubines had an incredibly good relationship, going out and coming in together, close like sisters.
The Empress felt a deep sense of crisis and immediately held a banquet to display her authority as Empress and to warn the two concubines. It would be best if she could drive a wedge between them and turn them against each other.
“I was just worrying about when to announce the news of my pregnancy.”
This was truly a case of someone delivering a pillow just as she was getting sleepy. After all, it was her first pregnancy. How disappointing would it be if no one cheered for her at such a moment?
Whether they were happy, shocked, or jealous.
To give the Empress a hard time, Jiang Xin Ren deliberately arrived half an hour late. When the Empress was about to lose her composure and get angry, she finally showed up, putting on an act with a fan.
“This concubine has been remiss. Today, for some reason, my body is unwell. Whatever I smell makes me want to vomit. Please don’t blame this concubine, Empress.”
Vile woman! Fox spirit!
The Empress suppressed her anger and forced a smile. “Consort Jiang is always unwell today and unwell tomorrow. You should really take good care of yourself, lest you truly fall ill one day.”
Jiang Xin Ren smiled faintly, “This concubine’s health is very good. As long as no one secretly harms me, I will naturally be healthy and worry-free.”
“You!” The Empress was livid. This Consort Jiang was very bold, almost directly pointing at her nose and saying, “It’s fine as long as you don’t come and harm me.”
Indeed, she should have gotten rid of her early on!
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Consort Shu had no choice but to step out and smooth things over. She said with a smile, “I heard that Prime Minister Zhuang returned from his inspection of Jiangnan today. His Majesty is thinking of having Lord Zhuang teach the Second Prince.”
At the mention of this, the Empress’ expression softened.
Prime Minister Zhuang was a pillar of the country, possessing both virtue and talent. With his guidance, Zhao’er would certainly achieve success. Moreover, having the Prime Minister as his teacher meant gaining his assistance. The day Zhao’er ascended to the throne would be just around the corner.
Seeing the Empress smile, Consort Shu turned to Jiang Xin Ren and said, “Since Sister Consort Jiang is unwell, why don’t we summon the Imperial Physician to take a look? It will put your mind at ease.”
Jiang Xin Ren smiled, “Very well, let’s summon an Imperial Physician then.”
A perfectly good banquet had turned into this tense situation. The Empress felt she had lost face and wished she could dismember her into eight pieces. Jiang Xin Ren calmly accepted it and even smiled back at her.
The Imperial Physician hurried over to the Kunning Palace, not daring to catch his breath. He took out a silk handkerchief from his medicine box. “Please extend your hand, Your Highness. This humble one will take your pulse.”
After carefully taking her pulse and asking the palace maids about changes in Her Highness’ diet, he reached a conclusion.
“How is it? Is there any serious problem with Her Highness’ health?” Qiu Ye pretended to be worried.
The Imperial Physician’s face showed joy as he knelt down to congratulate, “Congratulations, Your Highness! Your Highness is pregnant!”
“What?!”
Hearing this, the Empress accidentally knocked over the teacup, staining her dress with tea leaves. However, she couldn’t care less. She stared at the Imperial Physician, thinking she had misheard.
Jiang Xin Ren displayed a surprised and joyful expression and also asked, “Is what you said true?”
The Imperial Physician affirmed, “Absolutely certain. Your Highness has been pregnant for over two months.”
Zhao Yue Li happily said, “Consort Jiang, this is wonderful news! His Majesty will surely be overjoyed when he finds out!”
It was precisely because she knew His Majesty would be overjoyed!
The Empress was devastated. What would happen to her Zhao’er? He would no longer be His Majesty’s only prince, and with his poor health, would His Majesty still dote on Zhao’er as before?
Consort Jiang’s child must not be born!
The Empress’ vicious gaze fell upon Jiang Xin Ren, who was being congratulated with a face full of joy.
It would be best if both mother and child perished!
The Emperor had long been eagerly awaiting an heir. Naturally, the people below also knew His Majesty was anxious. So, regardless of Prime Minister Zhuang reporting on his duties, they joyfully informed, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, great joy! Consort Jiang has been diagnosed as pregnant! Over two months!”
For a moment, the two people in the Imperial Study were stunned.
The Emperor was the first to react. He slammed the table and stood up, unable to contain his joy. “Really?!”
“Absolutely certain, Your Majesty!”
“That’s wonderful! Finally! I finally have another prince! Hahahahaha!”
The Emperor was so happy that he spun around the room. When he reached Zhuang He Ming, who was still in a daze, he patted his shoulder forcefully. “Jing Mu! I have a prince!”
Only then did Zhuang He Ming come back to his senses and congratulated, “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
“Hahahaha, congratulations to us both!” The Emperor was so overjoyed that he spoke without thinking. “Quick, draft a decree for me. Consort Jiang is pregnant with the dragon’s heir. I am extremely pleased. Promote her to Consort Hui and reward her with ten thousand taels of jewelry!”
Zhuang He Ming’s gaze fell on Rong Shun, who was also standing to the side with a face full of joy. His eyes inquired.
Rong Shun nodded: The child Her Highness is carrying is yours!
Zhuang He Ming: …
What he wanted to know was how Her Highness was feeling today and if she was unwell because of the child. What did the nodding and smiling mean? Was it good or bad?
Rong Shun was immersed in the joy of having a young master soon and completely failed to understand his master’s intention.