Chapter 306: Difficulties

Seeing that Lin Chan's face looked strange, Lin asked hurriedly, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Lin Chan's good upbringing prevented her from spitting out food she had eaten. She forced herself to swallow it, but the feeling of nausea became even stronger.

The old lady had some guesses, so she asked a doctor to examine Lin Chan after dinner.

The doctor carefully felt the old lady's pulse and congratulated her, "Congratulations, old lady! Your eldest aunt is pregnant, but it's still early, so please be careful."

The old lady was overjoyed and gave the doctor a generous reward.

"How long has it been?" Lin asked.

Lin Chan blushed slightly: "My period was a few days late, so I just felt uncomfortable today..."

"So, the Shangshu Mansion doesn't know yet?"

Lin Chan nodded slightly.

"In that case, go back early and rest. Don't move around much for the next two months." The old lady instructed her trusted nanny, "Cuixiang, you personally escort the eldest aunt back."

On the way back, Han Baocheng was still confused. Squeezed in the carriage, he whispered to Lin Chan, "Why did you use the old lady's maid to send us off?"

Lin Chan was speechless for a moment, and finally said: "You will know when you go back."

When they returned to the Shangshu Mansion, Lin Chan didn't have to worry about how to start the conversation, because Nanny Dou, whose maiden name was Cuixiang, told Han's mother the good news.

Han's mother was so happy that she politely sent Aunt Dou away and immediately asked a doctor to take her pulse.

Soon the Shangshu Mansion was filled with joy because Lin Chan was pregnant.

Some are happy while others are sad. The atmosphere in the palace has been a bit depressing recently.

The war was won, and after the most pressing issues were resolved, new challenges presented themselves to Emperor Tai'an. One was the displacement of civilians and the resulting depletion of the treasury, and the other was the vacant position of crown prince.

First, no money, and second, no people.

In the eyes of civil and military officials, having no heir is more terrifying than having no money.

At court that day, the ministers brought up this topic again.

An imperial censor, determined to go all out, proposed the idea of adoption.

Another minister mentioned the King of Liang in a tactful way.

Emperor Tai'an left with a gloomy face, leaving his ministers looking at each other in bewilderment, and walking out in groups of three or four while talking.

Prince Jing rushed back to the palace and told his wife what was being discussed in court.

"Oh no! The Emperor might adopt a prince from the royal family!"

Princess Jing stood up suddenly and asked: "Did you choose ours?"

"No, a censor just brought up this matter, and the emperor doesn't seem too happy about it." Prince Jing walked in a hurry, with sweat on his forehead, and he took several big sips of tea to moisten his throat.

Princess Jing was speechless: "Why are you so anxious, Your Majesty? I thought someone had been chosen."

Prince Jing shook his head pessimistically: "Even if they don't want to now, it's only a matter of time. Are they really going to reinstate Prince Liang?"

If that's the case, why bother attacking Northern Qi? It's going to be over sooner or later anyway.

"If we really have to adopt a child, we should choose the younger one. Shuo'er and Huan'er are already grown up, so there's no way we can choose them." Princess Jing was not panicked.

Even if a wealthy local tycoon has no sons and wants to adopt a son from his clan, he will choose a son who is closely related by blood, young, and has no memory, so that he can be raised well.

"What the princess said makes sense. It was because of Shuo'er that I became so popular and left an impression on the emperor..."

Princess Jing lowered her voice and said, "Even if Shuo'er is chosen, it's not a bad thing, right?"

Just now she was misled by the prince's eagerness, but now she has come to her senses and realizes that once she is chosen, she will be the crown prince!

"Think about the old Crown Prince Qi Ming."

Princess Jing's smile froze.

"Think again about King Liang."

Princess Jing's expression became even stiffer.

"There is no more dangerous mission than the Crown Prince's. Although wealth and honor are often sought through risk, we are already rich enough. It is not worth taking this risk."

Princess Jing nodded repeatedly: "Your Highness is right. You should keep an eye on the outside. It will be easier for us to rest assured if the Emperor makes a decision sooner."

Princess Jing's thoughts were exactly what all the officials and nobles thought.

Whether it is to reinstate the King of Liang or adopt one from the royal family, Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible!

Emperor Tai'an had not felt such aggressive pressure from his subjects for a long time.

It was late at night, but the palace lanterns in the bedroom were still on.

Emperor Tai'an sat quietly for a long time without moving.

"Your Majesty, please rest early." Liu Chuan advised softly.

Emperor Tai'an sneered: "When I wake up, I have to listen to those people's noise again."

The difficulties he faces cannot be avoided by simply covering his ears.

The crown prince is related to the inheritance of the country, not a family matter.

At Prince Liang's mansion, Prince Liang also did not rest at this time.

He was so excited that he couldn't sleep!

"Has my chance come?" He walked barefoot on the bluestone bricks under the moonlight, not feeling the cold at all.

The eunuch who served Prince Liang personally felt both happy and uneasy when he saw his appearance.

There were voices in the court calling for the reinstatement of King Liang, and as the King Liang's close eunuch, he was naturally excited. However, the sight of King Liang, who had torn off his disguise in front of others, made him feel uneasy.

He didn't dare to say it, but he always felt that King Liang seemed a little abnormal.

"Why don't you speak?" Prince Liang stopped and asked the eunuch while staring at him.

Those eyes were pitch black and inexplicably frightening.

The eunuch averted his gaze and said respectfully, "This servant is not very knowledgeable and dares not to discuss such a major matter..."

King Liang kicked him and said, "You useless piece of shit! What use are you to me?"

It turns out that these slaves now are not as useful as those in the East Palace before. When he comes back to power, he will definitely replace all these useless ones.

The eunuch was startled by the cold gaze of Prince Liang, and cast aside his worries to comfort him: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. You are the only son of the Emperor. This is all natural..."

"It's a natural progression..." Prince Liang liked this word very much. "Yes, it's a natural progression, hahahaha..."

It was a quiet night, but the sound of undisguised laughter could be heard from far away. The eunuch wanted to try to persuade him but didn't dare to, and his expression was very conflicted.

In various places in Prince Liang's Mansion, people who heard the laughter were either surprised or shook their heads. The next morning, someone delivered the news to the palace.

"The Prince of Liang was walking barefoot outside and laughing wantonly?" After hearing the report, Emperor Tai'an's face changed again and again, and finally returned to calm.

"Liu Chuan."

"The servant is here."

"Go spread the news about Concubine Wu."

"Yes." Liu Chuan responded respectfully and sighed for King Liang in his heart.

The eldest son of a legitimate family can always cut off the chance of becoming the crown prince at the critical moment. It is a real skill.

On that day, news came from the palace: Concubine Wu had been pregnant for three months.

Normally, if a minor noble lady were to become pregnant, it wouldn't even cause a small ripple in a normal harem, but at this time it was like a huge storm, sweeping from the harem to the court, affecting countless people.

The emperor's concubine is pregnant, so the calls for adopting a royal family child and reinstating the Prince of Liang can stop for a while. At least there is no need to make the emperor unhappy before Concubine Wu gives birth.

When the news reached Prince Liang's mansion, Prince Liang's eyes widened: "Impossible, impossible!"

King Liang, completely unable to accept the reality, rolled his eyes and fainted.