Chapter 1163: Chapter 986, Coveting
Daohua woke up in the evening. As soon as she opened her eyes, Xiao Yeyang ca over attentively: “Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?”
A stream of questions made Daohua’s head spin a bit: “Don’t worry, I’ve just been tired these past few days. A bit of rest and I’ll be fine.” With that, she sat up.
Xiao Yeyang quickly fetched a pillow for Daohua to lean on: “You really don’t take good care of yourself. Do you know that you’re pregnant?”
Daohua was taken aback by the question and it took her several seconds to co back to her senses: “I’m pregnant?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded: “Doctor Ge took your pulse, it’s been over a month now.”
Daohua touched her belly, still sowhat in disbelief.
She was pregnant again?!
Xiao Yeyang advised: “Doctor Ge said that you’ve stayed up for several nights in a row, overly exhausted and have slightly agitated the fetus. You need to rest quietly for a while.”
Daohua quickly asked: “It won’t affect the baby, will it?”
Seeing the look of fear on Daohua’s face, Xiao Yeyang hurriedly reassured: “Don’t worry, Doctor Ge said that you have a strong constitution, there’s nothing serious, just need to rest well.”
Daohua breathed a sigh of relief.
Right then, Guo Ruoi ca over with a bowl of silver ear and bird’s nest congee she made herself, reminding Daohua to recuperate well and not to overwork anymore.
Daohua obediently listened.
Xiao Yeyang brought the congee to Daohua: “I’m going to Uncle’s place to pick up Daozi. You chat with Mother.”
Daohua nodded.
After her son left, Guo Ruoi looked at her pale daughter-in-law and still couldn’t help saying: “You’re too careless. It’s not your first ti being pregnant, how could you not notice at all?”
Daohua smiled wryly: “I really didn’t notice. First, my master was injured, Daozi was captured, and after he finally returned, my master’s condition worsened. I thought my discomfort was due to exhaustion.”
Guo Ruoi sighed: “There has been a lot going on recently. But fortunately, heaven has been kind, and the child is unhard.”
Then she paused for a mont.
“For the next few days, let Daozi sleep at my place to avoid disturbing you.”
Daohua looked hesitant: “I trust you with Daozi, but the little guy just experienced being captured; he must be sowhat traumatized right now. It’s a ti when he needs a sense of security, let him sleep with us.”
“Furthermore, if he moves to your place just as I get pregnant, it might make him feel like, with a younger brother or sister on the way, Yeyang and I don’t want him anymore. That would be bad for him.”
Guo Ruoi, having listened, thought it made sense: “You consider things more thoroughly. I just wanted you to rest well, I forgot to consider Daozi’s feelings.”
Daohua smiled: “Mother, you have my best interests at heart, I understand. In a while, when my body is more cumberso, we’ll definitely need your help taking care of Daozi.”
Guo Ruoi laughed: “Helping out with my grandson is my pleasure.”
After that, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a while. When Xiao Yeyang returned with Daozi, Guo Ruoi took her leave.
“Mother, do I have a little brother or sister now?”
Daozi walked to the bedside, and carefully touched Daohua’s belly.
On the way back, his father had warned him several tis, telling him that there was a little brother or sister in mother’s belly, so he must not disturb her.
Daohua asked with a smile: “Does Daozi prefer a brother or a sister?”
Daozi tilted his head to think, and instead of answering, he asked: “Then, if Mother has a brother or sister for , would you love more, or love the brother or sister more?”
Xiao Yeyang overheard this and couldn’t help but laugh, lightly patting his son on the bottom: “You rascal, first you compete with your father for your mother, now you want to compete with your brother or sister?”
Daozi didn’t pay attention to Xiao Yeyang, and stubbornly looked at Daohua: “Mother, you haven’t answered yet.”
Daohua: “Can’t Mother love you all?”
Daozi thought for a mont: “You can love everyone, but there must be one you love the most. Just like, I like eating pastries and fruit, but I love eating at the most.”
Daohua glanced at Xiao Yeyang, who shrugged his shoulders, spreading his hands in a gesture that he couldn’t help.
Daohua rubbed her son’s head: “Mother loves Daozi the most, because Daozi is the big brother, who will help Mother look after the younger brother and sister.”
Daozi’s eyes lit up: “Really? Mother, you cannot lie, let’s pinky swear.” Saying this, he extended his chubby little hand and pinky-swore with Daohua.
After the pinky swear, Daozi said with a smile: “Mother, don’t you worry, I will help you take care of the baby brother or sister.”
Daohua smiled, “Then mother thanks Daozi for that.”
Daozi puffed up his little chest and, clenching his fist, said, “I will be a good big brother.” If his little brothers or sisters didn’t listen, he would use the martial arts Grandfather Chu taught him to subdue them.
After letting Guyu take Daozi down to wash up, Daohua looked toward Xiao Yeyang, “Is everything alright with Master’s side?”
Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “Uncle’s condition is already improving. Knowing that you’re pregnant has revitalized him considerably, having sothing to hold on to really makes a difference.”
Before they even arrived in Xiliang, they had already agreed with Uncle that no matter the sex, Yiyi’s second child would be adopted by Uncle.
Daohua asked, “Master is the Duke; if I really give birth to a daughter, can she inherit the Duke Residence?”
Xiao Yeyang replied, “The Imperial Uncle has always felt indebted to your mother and uncle. If uncle really wants our daughter, the Imperial Uncle will compromise.”
As he spoke, he fell silent. Thinking of his daughter being adopted by Uncle, he still felt sowhat reluctant in his heart.
Daohua, however, did not have this concern. After all, Master would be living with them, and the daughter would still grow up by her side; she would even get a noble title. She thought there was nothing wrong with that.
…
In Beijing, within the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor’s face turned gloomy as he read the letter sent back by Xiao Yeyang. The Ministers called into the Council Hall to discuss state affairs were so frightened that they dared not even breathe a word.
The Crown Prince and a few others were present as well, and finally, unable to hold back, the Crown Prince eagerly asked, “Father Emperor, has sothing happened?”
The Emperor spoke gravely, “The banditry in Xiliang is rampant. Uncle has been shot by an arrow from the bandits, and his injury is severe now.”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince and the others imdiately showed anger, “How did Xiao Yeyang protect Uncle Lord? How could he let Uncle Lord get injured?”
The Emperor glanced at the Crown Prince and his brothers but said nothing.
He knew the situation in Xiliang; every so often, the Jinling Guard would send ssages to Beijing. He knew that governing Xiliang was not easy.
The Emperor, worried about Gu Jian, lost the heart to discuss state affairs and waved his hand, “You all may leave.”
The assembled officials dared not say more and quietly exited the hall.
Once they had left, very soon, news spread throughout, and it beca known that Gu Jian was in bad shape.
That news set quite a few people thinking.
Empress Anhui called the Crown Prince to Zhong Cui Palace right away.
The Crown Prince bowed to Empress Anhui, “Mother Empress, did you summon here for a matter?”
Empress Anhui looked at her son, majestic as a dragon and a phoenix, smiled at him to sit down before she said, “Duke Gu is critically ill, do you have any plans?”
After so thought, the Crown Prince said, “Father Emperor values Duke Gu, I am aware of that. But Duke Gu is far away in Xiliang, even if I want to show filial piety, I don’t get the opportunity.”
Empress Anhui shook her head, “You think too little. I ask you, Duke Gu has no heir, when he dies, what will happen to his title?”
At that statent, the Crown Prince’s eyes suddenly brightened, standing up excitedly, “What does Mother Empress an?”
Empress Anhui smiled and nodded, “You have two legitimate sons. Your eldest will inherit your properties, but what about your youngest legitimate son? Have you made plans for him?”
The Crown Prince paced back and forth, and after a while, looked at Empress Anhui: “Does Mother Empress intend to have my youngest legitimate son adopted by Duke Gu?”
Empress Anhui smiled and nodded, “That is a dukedom that can be inherited for three generations.”
The Crown Prince frowned, “I am willing, but I’m afraid the Crown Princess might be reluctant to part.”
Empress Anhui’s expression turned colder, “Foolish. Hasn’t it been said that Duke Gu is critically ill? Even if he survives this ti, how many more years can he live? Your son will still be your son, it’s just to inherit a title. How can you not understand such a simple truth?”
The Crown Prince nodded, “Mother Empress is right. I will go back and talk to the Crown Princess about this matter right away.” Saying so, he hesitated, “Mother Empress, will Father Emperor agree?”
Empress Anhui smiled, “The Emperor values the Gu Family; how could he stand by and watch the Gu Family lineage end? Go back and speak to the Crown Princess, and leave the rest to Mother Empress to handle.”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince’s expression eased.
Since the fall of the Jiang Family, although Father Emperor had not deposed the Empress, the affairs of the harem were now managed by the Four Consorts.
Empress Anhui, being the Empress, the leader among the Four Consorts, there was nothing she wanted to do that could not be done, making him the foremost among all the princes.
Empress Anhui and her son were not the only ones with this idea; on the sa day, the Virtuous Consort, the Graceful Consort, and the Benevolent Consort also summoned the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fifth Prince to their respective palaces.
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