The imperial heir is pregnant with the dragon's child—is it His Majesty?!

"If you can't be the regent, then be my empress!" Xiao Yu said wittily, biting her pen.

The palace servants standing to the side also trembled.

How can these be the same?!

Having figured things out, Xiao Yu appeared in the court on the very first day after the court recess ended. The officials, who were used to Xiao Yu's constant court recesses and reconvenings, hadn't adjusted their biological clocks and were yawning in the sweltering hall.

For the past two days, the sky has been overcast, with the clouds hanging low. The increasingly cold temperature made Xiao Yu realize that the snowy days she hated the most were coming again.

He could justifiably suspend court proceedings on a snowy day, but before the long suspension, he had to resolve some matters.

The chairs that had been removed a few days ago were brought back by Xiao Yu. This time, the chairs were not placed in their original positions, but were instead moved up a few steps and placed to Xiao Yu's right. A screen was also placed in front of the chairs.

Wei Shuang did not attend court today. After Xiao Yu left, Ji Lian brought a bag of new memorials early in the morning, trapping Wei Shuang inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The officials below looked at the screen on the steps, exchanging puzzled glances. Only Chen Que raised his eyebrows with great interest.

This scene resembles preparations for a regency.

Who is going to rule from behind the scenes? It's hard to guess.

"I have some good news to share with all my ministers recently." Xiao Yu leaned back in his chair, tapping the armrest of the dragon throne with delight, his face beaming with joy.

After Xiao Yu fiddled with the chair for a quarter of an hour, the officials below the hall had already guessed that His Majesty had finally reconciled with Wei Shuang and had specially called them over to announce it and go through the motions.

“A few days ago, Wei Shuang fell ill in the private prison. I summoned the imperial physician, who reported to me that Wei Shuang was more than two months pregnant. As the imperial heir is of utmost importance, I had no choice but to bring Wei Shuang back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation from the prison to recuperate,” Xiao Yu said slowly, placing his hand on his abdomen.

"The Regent is pregnant! Congratulations, Your Majesty!" The Minister of War below was overjoyed and kept offering his congratulations, clearly not quite having processed what was happening yet.

"More than two months, isn't that exactly after His Majesty split up?" More than one person didn't realize it.

"Even if he is the regent, it's a good thing that His Majesty has an heir!" Once there's two, there will be three.

While the clever ones were pondering how to start the conversation, Xiao Yu straightened up and continued with a smile: "Although Wei Shuang is a concubine, she is already pregnant, so she is my eldest son. Wei Shuang's pregnancy is a minor matter, but the status of a prince is of utmost importance. I cannot allow my eldest son to come into this world without a clear identity. I have been really troubled these past two days and do not know what to do. Do any of my beloved ministers have any ideas?"

As soon as Xiao Yu said this, the initially confused people all realized what was going on.

Yes! The former regent was a usurper; how could he possibly bear a royal heir? Conversely, Your Majesty is precisely the virtuous one…

So the one who is truly pregnant with the imperial heir is... His Majesty?!

Traitor Wei Shuang! How dare she actually offend His Majesty!!!

The audience immediately erupted in righteous indignation, booing incessantly.

But the previously silent but clever one had already realized Xiao Yu's plan. Shen Que and Wang Ruofu exchanged a glance and nodded knowingly to each other.

Five years before Xiao Yu's split, he had been talking about choosing a female ruler as empress in the court for five years. This slow, insidious process had already half-cooked the court officials. After Xiao Yu's split and became the female ruler, many rumors began to circulate in the court that Wei Shuang was dissatisfied with the position of regent and had long harbored rebellious intentions.

Before Xiao Yu made the matter of taking Wei Shuang as empress public, there was already a group of people in the court who believed that after Wei Shuang was imprisoned in the harem, the Xiao family's empire would be free of a major threat.

However, the point of contention is that it was already shocking enough for a concubine to be made a concubine, how could she be made empress directly? Wouldn't that violate ethics and moral principles?

However, the issue of Xiao Yu being a female empress is now on the table. The position of empress is crucial for the stability of the nation and cannot be left vacant. But if another virtuous female empress is chosen for Xiao Yu and sent to the palace to become empress, then wouldn't the Emperor and this empress's time together... be entirely benefiting Wei Shuang?!

In that case, the royal bloodline will be confused, and Wei Shuang, a mere concubine, will enjoy the treatment of the emperor's harem!

No, no, absolutely not!

“Your Majesty, Wei Shuang’s title of Regent has been abolished and her marquisate has been revoked. However, she is no longer Your Majesty’s uncle. Wei Shuang has conceived Your Majesty’s child while she is still a free person. Why not take Wei Shuang as a concubine? In the future, when she gives birth to a prince, it will be perfectly legitimate.” Shen Que stepped forward and reported first, his lips, which he tried to suppress, almost turned up to his ears.

Is there anything more fun than helping the emperor betray his best friend?

"What Minister Shen says makes sense." Xiao Yu's golden eyes lit up slightly, showing his approval.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Wang Ruofu stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Oh? What are your thoughts, teacher?" Xiao Yu lowered her eyes and subconsciously sat up straight again.

"Your Majesty believes that Wei Shuang's status is special. It would be unacceptable to make her a concubine as a concubine of a concubine of a relative, leaving the position of empress vacant. However, if the position of empress is not vacant, it would be even more inappropriate to bring Wei Shuang, a relative of a relative, into the harem. Your Majesty would be better off directly honoring her as empress, which would kill two birds with one stone."

"What a wonderful idea!" Xiao Yu clapped his hands excitedly, and before anyone else could object, he slammed his hand on the table and made the decision. "In that case, I will draft the edict of empress and choose an auspicious day to welcome Wei Shuang into the palace as empress."

"Court adjourned!"

After speaking, Xiao Yu slipped out of the main hall like a gust of wind, leaving the murmurs of disapproval from the audience behind.

Huddled in the cloak, Xiao Yu wrapped herself up like a ball of fur, took a deep breath, and made up her mind to rush into the biting cold wind. She quickly squeezed herself into the sedan chair with a heater in the middle of the room.

Feng Shun chuckled and waved his whisk: "Your Majesty, return to the palace. Let the sedan chair rise."

"Feng Shun, I want to drink mutton soup later. Tell the imperial kitchen to scrape off as much fat as possible and add more ingredients." Normally, a pregnant woman's body temperature should be higher than that of a normal person, but Xiao Yu was still shivering from the cold and wanted to drink hot mutton soup to warm her up as soon as she returned to her bedchamber.

"Yes! This servant had already made arrangements with the Imperial Kitchen before His Majesty went to court." Feng Shun knew Xiao Yu's habits like the back of her hand. Even though she was unpredictable after becoming pregnant, she couldn't change her mindset.

——

Even faster than Xiao Yu's palanquin was the news that reached Wei Shuang's ears. Upon learning that Xiao Yu had left immediately after issuing the decree to make her empress, Wei Shuang put down the memorial in her hand with a heavy heart.

He looked at Ji Lian, who was standing guard with a sour face: "...Your Majesty is being ridiculous."

Ji Lian: "..."

Ji Lian turned his head away unhappily.

His Majesty is not only willing to bear a child for Wei Shuang, but also wants to make her Empress!

Ji Lian gripped the half of the Imperial Guard Tiger Tally hidden in his sleeve pocket.

It seems that soon, this half of the tiger tally, which has just been warmed up, will be in Wei Shuang's hands again.

As expected, as soon as Xiao Yu got out of the sedan chair, he was embraced by the steaming Wei Shuang and taken back to the Yangxin Hall, which was heated by an underfloor lamp. He then turned his gaze to Ji Lian.

"Ji Lian, give me the tiger tally." As soon as Xiao Yu spoke, his elbow was already hooked into Wei Shuang's arms.

Even when she wasn't speaking, she would snuggle in Wei Shuang's arms.

Knowing that the tiger tally wouldn't last long in his hands, Ji Lian, with a stiff face, respectfully handed half of the tiger tally to Xiao Yu, then walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and closed the door behind him.

“I acted impulsively the other day, but I am the emperor and cannot change my mind so easily. I am giving you the authority to command the Imperial Guards as compensation. Don’t be angry with me.” Xiao Yu’s words made it clear that he would not reinstate Wei Shuang as regent.

However, the capable Wei Shuang still had to review her own memorials, a process that lasted throughout her entire pregnancy.

"Your Majesty, I heard that you wanted me to enter the palace as your empress during court today." Wei Shuang put her arm around Xiao Yu and sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed) covered with a soft blanket, asking with her eyes lowered.

"Ah...you know?" Xiao Yu pulled his hands away from Wei Shuang's grasp and placed them on the table, one on top of the other. "I just wanted to give you a surprise."

"I've also heard that I'm two months pregnant with your child," Wei Shuang said, unable to suppress a laugh.

Xiao Yu's remarks were simply an attempt to cover up the truth. Wei Shuang originally planned to wait until Xiao Yu gave birth to the imperial heir before explaining to the officials that Xiao Yu was pregnant, so that Xiao Yu would suffer less from the rumors during her pregnancy. However, to her surprise, Xiao Yu happily revealed the news to the court officials.

It's true what they say, pregnancy makes you stupid for three years. I wonder if I'll ever see my clever little emperor again.

“Yes, it’s only natural that my Empress is pregnant.” Xiao Yu tilted his head and looked at Wei Shuang, a smile playing on his lips.

“But I am a subject of the emperor’s will.” Wei Shuang shook her head and sat down.

"I know, hasn't Wei Shuang already completely concealed my identity as a Kun Zhe?" Xiao Yu stood up, spun himself into Wei Shuang's arms, and gently tapped Wei Shuang's nose with his hand. "Then Wei Shuang should share my burdens and openly pretend to be pregnant for me."

Wei Shuang sighed softly, put her arm around Xiao Yu's increasingly heavy waist, and helped Xiao Yu sit up steadily: "So Your Majesty knew."

"I didn't act impulsively; I thought about it carefully." Xiao Yu leaned against Wei Shuang's chest, raising his hand to caress the burning glands on the back of Wei Shuang's neck, scattering a lot of incense for his unborn child. He only stopped when Wei Shuang grabbed his wrist with a stiff face, and then put his hand back on Wei Shuang's chest. "During my pregnancy, besides the Regent, the only person who could attend court for me was the Empress."

"...So Your Majesty moved my chair next to the dragon throne and allowed me to rule from behind the curtain?" Wei Shuang emphasized the last four words.

“Yes, it’s winter now, and I can wear thick clothes to cover up, but they are to be born in the summer. Then I won’t be able to attend court, so I’ll have to let Wei Shuang keep an eye on the affairs of the court for me.” Xiao Yu said with a matter of course. “I am weak and a Kun person. Does Wei Shuang have the heart to make me go to court before dawn, hungry and cold, while I am pregnant?”

Two consecutive rhetorical questions directly put Wei Shuang on the hot seat of inconsiderate and mischievous behavior.

Who just said that Xiao Yu becomes stupid for three years after pregnancy? Isn't she very smart?

"Doesn't Your Majesty care if others say that you are pregnant with the imperial heir... that it's improper?" After Wei Shuang was released from prison, she was caught by the imperial physician, who kept repeating things like how pregnant women are sensitive and have great mood swings, and that His Majesty should be coaxed more.

The imperial physician was also afraid that Xiao Yu would get angry again and throw Wei Shuang back into prison, and then he would suffer in pain while clutching his stomach.

This isn't the way to get angry. If you want to lock Wei Shuang up, wouldn't it be more convenient to put her in shackles and chain her to the emperor's bedside?

You can also access the incense at any time.

Upon hearing this, Wei Shuang covered Feng Shun's ears, fearing that the imperial physician's terrible idea would reach Xiao Yu's ears in the next second.

"Who dares to say that?" Xiao Yu, who had just successfully made Wei Shuang his future empress, was in a great mood. He felt bewildered and pointed at Wei Shuang's chest, saying righteously, "Wei Shuang, I am the emperor. Even if I have differentiated into a Kun (female) being and like to stay in your arms, I am still the emperor. How dare you talk about me? Don't you want to die?"

"However, I heard that she will be heavily pregnant in the next few months, and I am still a little concerned." Xiao Yu has been beautiful since childhood, and the image in the mirror has also made him discerning. These days, he has been looking at several picture books with pregnant women, and he is very concerned about the appearance of the women with big bellies in the paintings.

Based on the dream, there might be two little ones living inside him, which would make it even bigger.

"I don't want to appear in court with a big belly. How about we just show it to Wei Shuang?" Xiao Yu took Wei Shuang's hand and placed it in front of his abdomen.

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Author's Note: [Dog head holding a rose] His Majesty is simply a succubus, he hooks Wei Shuang every time he tries, Wei Shuang, you should just obediently be the Empress and work for His Majesty!

This last story isn't long, and the couple has shared it quite a bit, so it's almost finished. It might be completed this month. [hugs]