As soon as she left, Qingwen anxiously jumped out from behind, "Empress, this Liu Xuan’er is completely disregarding your presence! Just because she’s pregnant, she even dares to co to Huayang Palace to show off her power. It’s truly detestable!"
Nanny Xiao’s face turned even paler, worry written all over it.
"Empress, she is also pregnant. If, in the future... what shall we do?"
Although the Empress had given birth to two princesses, now everywhere within and outside the Imperial Harem’s Palace, there was talk of His Majesty’s dragon body being unwell. She had been concerned that His Majesty would choose a successor from a Branch Family to be adopted by the Empress. Yet to her surprise, there now ca news of a pregnancy among the concubines!
If Liu Changzai were to give birth to a princess, it would have been fine, but if it were a Prince... that would be terrible!
"Why fear? Resist the soldiers with the generals and resist the water with the earth."
Su Pan’er spoke calmly, standing up and walking into the study.
She searched and found a painting by Little Yanyan that was sared into a blob of black ink, took a close look at it, picked up a Writing Brush, and began to copy the original painting ticulously.
Qingwen was so anxious on the side that she began stamping her foot, "Empress, how can you still be in the mood for painting... Aren’t you worried at all?"
"What do I have to worry about?"
Su Pan’er found it quite amusing and looked up at both of them. Noticing that all the servants were outside the hall’s doors, she let out a light laugh and revealed the answer, "That Liu Xuan’er is still a virgin."
"Vir... virgin..."
Nanny Xiao and Qingwen exclaid in unison.
Both had their mouths agape in shock, wide enough to fit a duck egg.
Su Pan’er dipped her Writing Brush into ink and continued to trace on the paper, her voice remaining notably indifferent.
"That Liu Xuan’er is a clever person; she knows well what His Majesty lacks most at this mont. Since she has the courage to step forward and even specifically inform , it indicates that she has already thought of a strategy to cope with the situation. If soone wants to help us out of our current predicant, let her do it."
Lately, every night, His Majesty had been tiring her out, but she knew that recently the feudal lords had been exerting every effort, wishing they could push their own children into the palace.
Indeed, His Majesty desperately needed such a child to silence the endless gossip.
As long as one of the Imperial Harem’s Palace concubines was pregnant, those wavering hearts ought to settle down...
Thinking this, she put down her brush, raised her head, and looked at the two who clearly hadn’t co to terms with the news, "Qingwen, make a trip to the Purple Zen Hall and say that I have prepared a few dishes and would like to invite His Majesty to enjoy them together."
"Yes, Empress."
Qingwen complied and left Huayang Palace, still feeling as light as a cloud drifting.
Qin Yi had been recenty burdened by state affairs, weighed down by endless worries. But hearing that Su Pan’er had prepared so dishes, he didn’t say a word more and hurriedly rushed to Huayang Palace, leaving his concerns behind.
He arrived full of joy; although he and Pan’er were still sleeping in the sa bed lately, Pan’er seed to be at odds with him, inventing new ways to tire him each day. Now that she had taken the initiative to invite him for a al, he did not care about state affairs and rushed over eagerly.
But what he hadn’t expected was that the news he received would leave him completely dumbfounded.
"Impossible!"
Qin Yi stood up furiously, slamming his fist on the table, "I haven’t touched her at all, so how can she be pregnant? Guards! Bring Liu Changzai to , have her taken to the Court of Judicial Review for a thorough investigation!"
"Wait!"
Su Pan’er quickly intercepted, turning back and waving to the Imperial Guard who had entered the room, "You all step back for now, I have sothing to discuss with His Majesty."
Once everyone had left, Qin Yi’s expression remained very ugly.
He quickly grasped her hand, looking at her anxiously, "Pan’er, there is nothing between and her. You must believe , I have never touched her..."
"I know."
"As long as you know. I have never done anything to betray you..." Qin Yi, realizing the implication of her words, asked in surprise, "You know?"
"Yes, I know you’ve never touched her."
Su Pan’er smiled like a cunning little fox, "Because, she was never pregnant in the first place."
"She wasn’t pregnant? Then why did you say she was... No! What you an is..." Qin Yi suddenly ca to a realization.
He stared at Su Pan’er’s face, hesitating uncertainly as he looked at her.
"Exactly, don’t you think this plan is very clever?"
Su Pan’er winked at him, then winked again, personally picking up a piece of cooked beef with chopsticks and placing it into his bowl.
"I have thought about it. Since the Imperial Harem’s Palace has added joy, I am sure if we wait a little longer, there will definitely be other concubines who beco pregnant. In this way, it also resolves the present urgent crisis. As for the future, it depends on fate."
Will this child be born, or will it be born?
After the initial shock had passed, Qin Yi also regained his composure. He gave Su Pan’er a white look, picked up a piece of pork belly and fed it into her mouth.
"You and your devious ideas!"
After saying that, he smiled again and instructed Eunuch An, "Issue an Imperial Decree, Liu Changzai is with child, and it brings great comfort to my heart. As a special reward, grant her residence in the Chengxiang Palace Hall. In addition, grant her a hundred rolls of Silk Satin, ten pearls, and several precious toys. Promote her to the status of Jieyu from the fourth rank, and the scope of goods she is entitled to enjoy within the palace is doubled."
"Your servant obeys the decree!"
While the Emperor and Empress were still having dinner, the decree elevating her status had already been delivered to Shuiyan Park, where Liu Xuan’er was temporarily residing.
Shuiyan Park was a comparatively spacious western palace, housing four concubines. Once the decree arrived, it bent the mouths of the other three in envy. When exactly had Liu Xuan’er seduced His Majesty? Under their watchful eyes, she had unexpectedly managed to conceive. This was simply too illogical.
But no matter how illogical, the three of them had to swallow their anger and pretend to go congratulate her, all the while trying to probe for information about His Majesty’s whereabouts.
It was only after the eunuch who had announced the decree had left that Liu Xuan’er discovered that her back was drenched in sweat.
It was a risky move, a move filled with peril, yet she had finally taken that step. She had gambled with her life, and fortunately, she had won!
If His Majesty needed a child, she would give him one. Even if the child didn’t really exist, as long as His Majesty needed its existence, it would continue to exist.
The table was filled with rare antiquities, and various rewards piled up the entire small table, dazzling her. Yet she could not bear to blink.
It was not easy to get to where she was today!
While she was elated, the maidservant attending closely to her lifted the curtain and ca in, "My lady, the other three ladies from Shuiyan Park have co in succession to congratulate you on carrying the dragon spawn, and they have specifically co to wish you well."
Liu Xuan’er brightened up and quickly straightened her posture, "Quickly, invite them in."
In just a mont, three stunning beauties ca in one after another, each with a smile on her face, "We offer our greetings to our sister, and congratulate you on carrying the dragon spawn, a truly joyful occasion."
"Oh my! I truly don’t deserve congratulations from the three dear sisters," she said.
Liu Xuan’er smiled, eyes curving beautifully, gently touching her still flat abdon, "Right now, I have just beco pregnant, and it will take a long ti before this child is born. Please, my sisters, have a seat and talk."
She gestured towards the chairs at the lower end of the table, feeling even more excited as she saw their expressions change.
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