Chapter 413 Sincerity

Since when did this couple start to look more and more alike? If they sit together, they look like they were made from the same mold. This is the epitome of a couple looking alike.

Qi You hadn't thought about how to answer the question, so he simply told the truth: "No, that time it was a palace maid who went out of the palace and happened to meet Wei Qingqing. We didn't know each other before, and later it was just because we liked her. Who knew that by chance this time she would become pregnant... After all, it is my first child. Your Majesty, please have mercy and make her my concubine!"

He was only sixteen years old. The young boy had clear eyes and a sincere look in his features, which resembled the emperor's. The pampered life he had enjoyed over the past few years had made him look even more handsome and refined. It was not hard to imagine how many noble ladies in the capital would flock to him for the position of his princess consort a few years later.

The emperor has been on the throne for four years and remains determined not to hold a selection of concubines to fill the harem. After the empress gave birth to twins, her position became even more unshakeable. At this time, there are very few noble ladies who still dream of entering the palace to become empresses. Gradually, some people have begun to turn their attention to the seventh prince, who is the emperor's half-brother.

If Qi Yuxuan didn't know that he hadn't even touched the two concubines she had chosen for him last year, she might have agreed to it today.

"Which imperial physician examined Wei Qingqing's pulse?" she asked Lanxin, turning her head to look at her.

Lan Xin pondered for a moment and then said, "Beichen Palace belongs to the previous dynasty. Palace servants of the previous dynasty are usually treated by Imperial Physician Zhao and Imperial Physician He. I remember that when I came to Beiyuan this year, Imperial Physician Zhao accompanied me."

Qi Yuxuan hummed in agreement and continued to instruct, "Have Imperial Physician Zhao take Wei Qingqing's pulse again, and then come back to me with a report. Go now."

"As for you," she said, looking at Qi You, "His Majesty is coming to play a few rounds of chess with me later. Why don't we play a game first?"

Although it is a question, its tone is irrefutable.

Qi You tensed up completely, almost standing up with his hands and feet moving in unison, and sat down in front of the chessboard that the palace servants had already set up.

Playing chess with the Queen? He's only ever played Gomoku since he was a child, and he hasn't touched anything as elegant and patient as this since he stopped pretending to be stupid. He only knows the rules; he's never actually played with anyone before!

Moreover, the Empress actually ordered Physician Zhao to take Wei Qingqing's pulse again, which clearly showed that she didn't trust them. What if Wei Qingqing panicked and gave herself away... He didn't want to see his only fellow countryman in this foreign world die a violent death!

After playing several games absentmindedly, Qi You's black pieces suffered repeated defeats. Qi Yuxuan seemed to know that he was not in the mood to play chess at the moment, and deliberately teased him, reminding him from time to time where he should move.

Qi You was completely bewildered and led by the nose, looking just like a little fool.

Qi Yuxuan glanced at the chessboard without making a sound, then her gaze fell on the young boy in front of her. As if chatting casually, she asked, "Don't you like the two maids I arranged for you last year?"

It is said that the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. Now that the Empress Dowager is not in the palace, she, as the sister-in-law and empress, has to take on the responsibility. After confirming that Qi You does not object to having multiple wives and concubines, she discussed with Qi Jun and selected two beautiful and well-behaved palace maids to perform facial sculpting on Qi You and keep them in Beichen Palace.

However, even after arriving at Beiyuan to escape the summer heat, Qi You never actually touched them.

Qi You exclaimed "Ah," as if he had just remembered something: "No, it's just that maybe I'm not very interested in matters between men and women... other forms of entertainment are more appealing to me?"

He didn't know that the Emperor and Empress would find out about this. While lamenting the lack of privacy in the palace, he could only offer a few perfunctory words.

Qi Yuxuan nodded indifferently: "Then it seems that Wei Qingqing must have some extraordinary qualities."

"Hmm...more or less, haha." Qi You dug his toes into the ground, hoping the other person would stop asking.

Soon, Imperial Physician Zhao arrived. Seeing the Empress and the Seventh Prince playing chess, and considering his own experience of taking their pulses, he could easily guess what had happened.

He bowed and explained the results of his pulse diagnosis.

Wei Qingqing, a palace maid serving the Seventh Prince, is over a month pregnant.

"Is Physician Zhao certain that he did not make a mistake in taking the pulse?" Lan Xin asked, having received a knowing look from Qi Yuxuan.

Physician Zhao was momentarily stunned before replying, "Judging from the pulse, that is indeed the case."

He acted according to his masters' orders, but he would never dare to accept bribes or do anything underhanded.

Qi Yuxuan placed a chess piece down before saying to Qi You, "I understand. Here's what we'll do: Wei Qingqing will be your concubine for now. After nine months, when the baby is born, you can come and ask her to be made a secondary consort."

"Just a concubine..." Qi You wanted to struggle a bit more, but suddenly, the two children on the ivory mat, perhaps having heard the noise, nimbly got up on their own without being held.

The two were wearing little clothes made by their aunts, like a pair of jade lucky dolls. They rubbed their eyes and finally saw the people in the pavilion.

"Seventh Imperial Uncle!" Qi Yuanyuan shouted, trying to jump off the bed like a little rabbit. Before she could move, her brother grabbed her fair arm. Qi Zhan frowned and said, "Walk properly!"

Distracted by the two children, Qi You's thoughts had already drifted off to the horizon.

With Qi Yuxuan's approval in his eyes, he quickly stepped forward and picked up his nephew and niece, one on each side.

Qi You asked them with a smile, "It's been a long time. Did you miss Seventh Imperial Uncle?"

Qi Yuanyuan was at the height of her loud voice when she shouted with great force, "Yes!" almost deafening her own seventh uncle.

"And you, Zhan?" Qi You was the children's favorite uncle and aunt at home, so he was well-versed in the art of fairness and would not neglect any human child.

Qi Zhan had only recently come to understand what the Crown Prince meant, and he had become much more reserved and restrained. Upon hearing this, he simply nodded his chin with a noble and elegant air, without offending his Seventh Uncle.

Qi You was immediately smitten with the two children, and began making promises that would never come true: "Seventh Imperial Uncle recently acquired a few beautiful ponies. Once you're old enough to ride them, Seventh Imperial Uncle will take you horseback riding outside the palace. How about that?"

As soon as the words were spoken, another deep, magnetic voice rang out from not far away: "Horse racing?"

"Qi You, wait until you can outrun me before you take them horseback riding!"

The emperor's figure emerged from the shadowy flowers and trees. Seeing his wife, children, and younger brother getting along well in the pavilion, a relaxed smile appeared on his usually cold and stern face.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty—" Qi You was so frightened that he almost dropped the child. He quickly handed the child to a palace servant and lifted his robes to kneel down.

Why can't he remember things?! The Empress just said the Emperor was coming, and he didn't even make a quick getaway. Now he's in trouble; he'll have to tell everyone about Wei Qingqing again!