Chapter 145 Shen Meizhuang is Pregnant

"My lord, my lord."

"Oh, what's wrong?"

Shen Meizhuang, who was lost in thought, was awakened by Caiyue, her eyes filled with a hint of loneliness.

Caiyue and Caixing exchanged a glance, cautiously observing their master's expression, and said softly, "My lady, it's time for your meal."

"So soon..." Shen Meizhuang was somewhat dazed. "Where do you think His Majesty will dine today? Will he go to Huan'er's again?"

"My lord..."

Looking at the worried eyes of her personal maids, Shen Meizhuang felt a pang of sadness and self-loathing. She couldn't help but ask, "Caiyue, Caixing, do you think I'm a bad person? I don't mind the Emperor favoring others, but when it comes to Huan'er, I can't help but feel heartbroken..."

"My lady, you just value the Emperor too much." Caiyue couldn't bear it and held Shen Meizhuang's hand, gently comforting her.

“Yes, Your Highness, it’s just that you can’t accept it right now because of your good relationship with Consort Wan. His Majesty still cares about you.” Cai Xing also comforted him, “Look, this Jiuhua Chicken is something His Majesty specially ordered the imperial chefs to prepare for you every day because he knows Your Highness loves it.”

Shen Meizhuang gazed at the imperial meal on the table, a bitter smile tinged with her expression. Her mother had taught her to be magnanimous and tolerant, yet she couldn't control her own heart. Even though Huan'er's favor with the emperor was better for her than for others, she couldn't help but feel jealous.

Indeed, love is the most hurtful thing. Her heart is full of the Emperor, but she doesn't know how much of his heart reciprocates her feelings. Thinking of this, Shen Meizhuang shook her head bitterly and said softly, "Take it away, I have no appetite."

"What's wrong? Did you not like today's imperial meal?"

A familiar male voice came from inside, and Shen Meizhuang turned around in surprise, only to see Yinzhen striding in.

"Your Majesty! Greetings, Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities. Mei'er, would you mind if I came to freeload a meal?" Yinzhen smiled and helped Shen Meizhuang up, then pulled her to sit at the table.

Upon hearing Yinzhen's question, Shen Meizhuang smiled shyly, "Of course I don't mind, it's my honor."

Looking at the simple dinner on the table, Shen Meizhuang frowned with some difficulty. "Your Majesty's arrival was sudden, and the meal here is meager. Why don't you ask the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a new meal?"

"Does Mei'er not want me to come?"

"I didn't," Shen Meizhuang hurriedly explained. When she looked up, she met Yinzhen's smiling eyes. Knowing that he was joking, she couldn't help but smile, and the tension and unease in her heart instantly disappeared. "Your Majesty, why do you always make fun of me?"

"Mei'er, you've wronged me. I just happened to get something nice, and thinking that Mei'er would like it, I eagerly sent it to her. Yet Mei'er wouldn't even spend a meal on it."

"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant. I just think the food is too simple and doesn't do justice to Your Majesty." Shen Meizhuang smiled and tugged at Yinzhen's sleeve, her expression a mixture of reproach and delight.

"It's alright, there's no need to make a fuss over a dinner." Yinzhen smiled, took out a small box from his sleeve, and placed it in front of Shen Meizhuang. "Mei'er, take a look and see if you like it. Maybe you can exchange it for a meal?"

"Your Majesty—" Shen Meizhuang smiled reproachfully, but her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the box on the table. With Yinzhen's indulgence, she opened the box with great anticipation. Inside were crystal-clear jade stones, like amber, with shimmering colors. In the center were lifelike flowers, looking just like real flowers, perfectly natural. She wondered how they had been placed there.

Shen Meizhuang picked up the largest jade stone inside, which was engraved with green chrysanthemums, and revealed a sweet smile.

"How is it, Mei'er? Does she like it?"

"This concubine likes it very much, thank you Your Majesty."

"If you like it, that's good. This is a new gadget that Lao Jiu has just developed. The technology is not yet mature, and there are not many of them. Just use these to play with for now."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Hearing that the Emperor thought of her first when he heard that it was something newly arrived, Shen Meizhuang was even happier.

"Alright, let's have a meal then." Yinzhen said, picking up his chopsticks and placing a piece of fish belly meat on Shen Meizhuang's plate. "Try this fish, it's the freshest and most tender."

"Okay." Shen Meizhuang nodded, and asked Caiyue to carefully put the box away. She picked up her silver chopsticks, picked up a piece of fish, and put it into her mouth.

But as soon as she took a bite, Shen Meizhuang's expression changed. She smelled a fishy odor and couldn't help but clutch her chest and gag.

"vomit--"

"Meizhuang!"

"My lord!"

Her discomfort caused concern among the people in the hall. Yinzhen's expression changed, and he loudly ordered, "Summon the imperial physician!"

"emperor……"

"Mei'er, where do you feel unwell?"

"Your Majesty, I'm fine. I just think the fish tastes a bit fishy." Shen Meizhuang leaned against Yinzhen's chest, feeling embarrassed by his overreaction.

"Fishy?" Yinzhen looked somewhat surprised, then patted Shen Meizhuang's shoulder reassuringly, "It's alright. Whatever the reason, have the imperial physician come and take a look so I can be at ease."

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang smiled shyly and leaned closer to Yinzhen's embrace, unaware of the look in Yinzhen's eyes as he gazed at her belly.

Soon, the two imperial physicians on duty arrived and, under the watchful eyes of Yinzhen, cautiously took Shen Meizhuang's pulse, fearing that something might be wrong with this young lady.

After feeling Shen Meizhuang's pulse, the furrowed brows gradually relaxed. To be on the safe side, the two imperial physicians took turns taking her pulse, and after exchanging glances, they confirmed the same answer.

This took a long time, which made Shen Meizhuang, who was lying in bed and didn't care much, start to feel uneasy.

"How is Consort Hui?"

Upon hearing the Emperor's inquiry, the two imperial physicians stepped forward to offer their congratulations.

"Your Majesty, Consort Hui is pregnant."

"Really?" Yinzhen asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, we have confirmed this repeatedly. Consort Hui is nearly two months pregnant."

"Hahaha, good, reward them, reward everyone in Xianfu Palace."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The shouts of the kneeling palace servants finally roused Shen Meizhuang from her dazed state, "Your Majesty..."

“Mei’er,” Yinzhen sat down next to Shen Meizhuang and put his arm around her shoulder, “this is our child, my first son since I ascended the throne.”

"Child, we have a child?"

"Yes, we have a child." Yinzhen took Shen Meizhuang's hand and placed it on her belly. Shen Meizhuang felt overwhelmed with joy, and touching her belly, she couldn't help but shed tears. Her restless heart was completely calmed by the arrival of this child.

This is her child with the Emperor; this is her treasure.

...

The next day, all the palaces that received the news sent congratulatory gifts, and the Imperial Household Department, following the Emperor's orders, sent her a nanny and two maids to serve her.

"This servant, Fangruo, greets Consort Hui."

"This servant, Fuling, greets Consort Hui."

"This servant, Yu Ying'er, greets Consort Hui."