Chapter 72. I am also a first-time husband.

Busy with palace affairs for days, Yuan Chaolu fainted and lost consciousness. When she woke up, she was on a soft couch made of brocade, surrounded by heavy curtains.

This is not Changqiu Palace, it's... Xuande Hall.

She could hear muffled voices floating around her ears; a man was talking to someone.

Yuan Chaolu regained consciousness, and as soon as she turned around, someone grabbed her cold wrist from outside the curtain. "Your Majesty."

Qingheng said, "Your Majesty, I have already taken your pulse."

Seeing that Yuan Chaolu was about to get up, she guessed what she wanted to ask and lowered her voice: "Your Majesty, rest assured, the medical record has already been signed by the Imperial Medical Bureau. Your pregnancy is over a month old. Right now, the most important thing is to take care of the imperial heir."

Yuan Chaolu said softly, "Okay."

She slowly sat up, supporting herself with a pillow, and heard deep male voices talking outside the hall. She asked, "Is His Majesty outside?"

"Yes, His Majesty returned from Guanglin Garden and brought the Empress to Xuande Hall. Several ministers accompanied her and have not yet left." Qingheng's voice was gentle.

Yuan Chaolu lowered her eyes and murmured, "He's busy with business again."

Seeing her lonely figure outlined by the candlelight, Qingheng stood up and said, "Your Highness left the palace this morning and hasn't eaten all day. His Majesty has already ordered the palace servants to prepare a meal. Your Highness, please have some."

Qingheng reached out to help her down from the bed.

Yuan Chaolu originally intended to get off the bed herself, but then thought that she was too heavy, so she put her hand on Qingheng's hand instead.

She sat down at the table, and while she ate, the palace servants carefully withdrew to report to His Majesty in the outer hall.

The ram's horn lantern swayed before the steps, casting flickering light and shadow.

Two tall male figures stood before the steps. Only the Founding Duke Jia Li remained beside Xiao Zhuo; the rest of the officials who had accompanied him had been dismissed by the emperor after offering their congratulations that day.

Jia Li said, "Your Majesty has been on the throne for several years and now has a son. This year's autumn harvest is plentiful, and the people are prosperous. It is truly a blessing from Heaven."

The young emperor, with a hint of joy in his eyes, chuckled softly upon hearing this.

The emotions the emperor displays in front of his subjects—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—are all carefully planned. Tonight, such a genuinely relaxed and cheerful demeanor is extremely rare.

The gloom that had been hanging over the emperor's brow for days vanished, and he said, "Yes, bless the Great Qi, this child has indeed come at the perfect time."

Just then, a palace maid came to report: "Your Majesty, the Empress has woken up."

Xiao Zhuo nodded, took a step, then turned back, a faint frown appearing between his brows.

Jia Li said, "Your Majesty?"

Even an emperor who understands all things in this world has moments of hesitation and indecision.

The two were of similar age and had known each other since they were young, so the emperor often spoke frankly to him.

Jia Li asked, "What questions does Your Majesty have for me?"

Xiao Zhuo said, "I'm worried that if I appear too eager to see her at this time, the Empress might think that my attitude has changed because of this child..."

"Has His Majesty been neglecting the Empress?"

Xiao Zhuo's face, which had just relaxed, darkened again. He said, "It's not that I'm neglecting her, but I want her to explain clearly what she did to me, but she didn't care at all."

When the emperor said this, he didn't even use the word "朕" (zhen, meaning "I, the emperor") anymore, and his expression was cold and aloof.

"A few days after her wedding, she moved to Chanxu Temple and didn't send a single greeting. I was the one who went to find her. I think she should learn her lesson."

Jia Li pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty is not one of those cunning and calculating officials in the court. How could you possibly fathom His Majesty's intentions?"

But Xiao Zhuo looked at him with a strange gaze after hearing this. After a moment, a light laugh appeared in his dark eyes. "Yes, you are right. She is not a subject, but my wife."

When voices came from the inner hall again, Xiao Zhuo gestured for Xiao Zhuo to be there, and then strode into the hall.

The hall was completely silent, with only the occasional clinking of bowls and plates.

After Yuan Chaolu finished her meal, she dismissed the maids and stood up. But Qingheng gave her a meaningful look, and when she turned around, she saw Xiao Zhuo walking out from behind the curtain.

As he walked, he gave some instructions to Zhong Changjun beside him, then raised his hand to lift the beaded curtain. The crisp sound of the beaded curtain clashing rang out, and their eyes met.

The shimmering light and shadow on his face flowed across his cheeks, but he stopped outside the beaded curtain.

Yuan Chaolu asked, "His Majesty has arrived?"

The palace servants inside the hall had all left in an instant.

She saw his Adam's apple bob: "I—"

"As a new husband, I have no experience in many things."

Yuan Chaolu was stunned.

“I have many flaws: I am suspicious, autocratic, and I take many things for granted.”

The king's voice was deep and clear, making it particularly distinct in the empty hall.

His phoenix eyes, which were usually fixed on his subjects with a sharp, unwavering gaze, met hers for a moment before looking away, turning his face to the side. His long eyelashes cast a gentle shadow beneath his eyes, as if he dared not look directly into her eyes.

Yuan Chaolu stopped in front of him, looking up at him. Each word he spoke resonated in Yuan Chaolu's heart, stirring up a clear echo.

He said, "This is my first time, and I need to learn how to be a husband and a father."

After saying all this, he breathed a long sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart, and finally looked at her.

Before Yuan Chaolu could react, she felt herself being pulled into a warm embrace. His chest was warm, and her heartbeat, transmitted through the silk, was much faster than before. Yuan Chaolu's heartbeat also quickened.

"Before our marriage, you told me you didn't want Helan Yi to return to Luoyang early. Although there were many voices in the court later saying it would be better for him to stay on the frontier, there was only one thing that truly influenced my decision—"

His lips brushed against her ear, his voice so gentle.

"The Empress said she was afraid of him."

His words fell on her ears like a pool of spring water, making her heart feel as if it were immersed in it. Yuan Chaolu was surrounded by his breath, and her whole body went limp. She raised her arms and finally clung to his shoulders until she was tightly embracing him.

Because of this movement, his body stabilized.

The candlelight cast the shadows of the emperor and empress embracing on the windowsill, their figures intertwined, inseparable.

He suddenly released her, squatted down in front of her, and the next moment, put his face against her lower abdomen.

Yuan Chao's face flushed, and he immediately wanted to retreat, but stopped in his tracks.

A strange feeling spread from the exposed lower abdomen of Yuan Chao, and suddenly a part of her heart softened.

"Why didn't I hear the slightest sound?" He looked up at her.

Yuan Chaolu looked at the jade crown on his head and said, "How could it be so fast? The imperial physician said it's only been a little over a month, and there are still signs that his pulse is not stable."

Before he finished speaking, he stood up and gently pressed her shoulder with his other hand, saying, "Sit down and talk."

“This child is exceptionally good. Jia Li said that this year's harvest is bountiful, a sign of good fortune.”

He lowered his eyes, his fingertips hovering in front of her abdomen. Suddenly, he raised his hand, and after removing the jade thumb ring from his thumb, he gently covered it with his fingertips.

"When I last visited Guanglin Garden, I hunted a white fox for you. After autumn, when winter is approaching, I ordered them to make you a fox fur coat."

Yuan Chaolu raised an eyebrow and said, "Was it hunted before, or did Your Majesty give it to me after hearing that I was pregnant?"

“Of course, it was before. The Empress can go and ask her.”

He looked at her lower abdomen: "However, since your mother has spoken, how can your father show favoritism? He will naturally go and hunt one for you as well."

Upon hearing the address "Father Emperor and Mother Empress," Yuan Chaolu paused, her fingertips quickly enveloped by his five fingers, and she laughed, "It seems Your Majesty truly is a good father."

He looked at her lower abdomen and said, "Stay put in your mother's belly."

**

Because the empress's pregnancy was unstable, she spoke a few words with the emperor and then rested in the Xuande Hall.

Xiao Zhuo and Qing Heng walked out together, and Xiao Zhuo asked, "Now that the Empress is pregnant, are her meals the same as before?"

Then, he asked some more details, such as when the medicine was needed, how many times a day, and how many ingredients to take. Qingheng naturally had to answer carefully in response to such detailed questions.

Outside the Xuande Hall, Duke Jia Li, the founder of the state, had not yet left.

Xiao Zhuo asked, "Why haven't you left yet?"

Jia Li asked in surprise, "His Majesty ordered me to wait here."

"I forgot for a moment and made you wait outside for a long time. I will grant you a few days off after the court session in a few days."

Xiao Zhuo said, "However, the reason I kept you here is to discuss with you how you think the imperial edict of reward should be written?"

Jia Li asked, "Is it for the Empress?"

"It's not just her."

Empress Lu of the Yuan Dynasty is now beyond any further title to bestow, so this edict is more for the young prince...

Jia Li's brow twitched: "Your Highness is not yet born, only a little over a month old. Even if His Majesty wants to bestow honors, he should wait until the child is more advanced."

Xiao Zhuo said, "Does it have to be like this?"

Jia Li sighed, “My wife was pregnant, and we only announced it after three months. Now that the imperial heir is not yet secure, Your Majesty need not be anxious. It is not too late to think about how to bestow rewards later when the pregnancy is more advanced.”

Xiao Zhuo pondered for a moment and said, "Then let the imperial edict be written first, and I think we should exempt the people of Yuzhou from taxes for a year."

Jia Li nodded.

The emperor bestowed favors upon the unborn child still in the empress's womb, demonstrating his genuine appreciation and great joy.

But... is there really any kinship in the imperial family?

Xiao Zhuo cast a glance at him: "I guess what you're thinking. The first time I saw her, I was also thinking about that past event."

think……

The smile on the emperor's face gradually faded.

When the late emperor seized power, he made a pact with the allied forces and sent his two children as hostages to the allied forces to stabilize their morale. Xiao Zhuo strongly opposed this, but the two younger siblings were still sent to the allied camp.

The late emperor swore an oath by blood, promising never to break it.

In the end, it was also his actions that led to the beheading of his two children, whose heads were hung on the city gate, completely disregarded.

This is the source of the emperor's nightmares for many years.

"I am truly ill and know that I am prone to suspicion."

The evening breeze brushed past his sleeves, seemingly carrying the pungent smell of memories, "But I am willing to try to believe her."

She was his bedmate, but not his political enemy in the court. Xiao Zhuo had also figured it out; as long as her private actions were harmless, he didn't need to care.

Jia Li continued, "With Your Highness bestowing favors, the people of Yuzhou will naturally be grateful to Your Highness."

Xiao Zhuo said, "Back in the past, at the military review ground, the Empress tamed a heavenly horse. I would like to order a high carriage to send another horse over, to be given to my heir as the first gift after his birth. It doesn't matter if it's a princess or a prince. What do you think?"

Jia Li met the emperor's smile and said, "It is naturally the best thing for a son to carry on his father's will."

The emperor laughed heartily.

**

The emperor and his ministers converse outside, but inside the palace—

After Xiao Zhuo left, Yuan Chaolu sat alone by the window, her fingertips gently stroking her lower abdomen.

"Your Majesty." Qingheng's voice came, and Yuan Chaolu finally came back to her senses.

Yuan Chaolu took her hand and whispered, "Now that things have come to this, please keep this a secret for me for the next month."

Qingheng nodded, but her eyes betrayed her worry. "But what if His Majesty finds out..."

“Then don’t let him know,” Yuan Chaolu interrupted, slowly sitting down on the edge of the bed, touching her lower abdomen, where the warmth of his palm still seemed to linger.

The dim candlelight fell on her shoulders. Her fingers gripped the carved bed frame, her knuckles turning white. She sighed deeply, and even her brows and eyes lost their flamboyant air, revealing a rare hint of weariness.

Qingheng asked, "Does Your Highness feel uneasy?"

Yuan Chao buried his face in his hands. "When I saw him say those words, the look on his face was like my heart was being slowly sliced ​​apart. It was extremely painful."

Qingheng stepped forward to support her: "When Your Majesty plans other matters, you proceed with extreme caution, like snatching chestnuts from a fire. Though bold, you never make a mistake. But when it comes to His Majesty, you always seem to be overly conflicted and hesitant..."

Yuan Chaolu lifted her face from her palm, bit her lip, and said, "He is too deep and too difficult to deal with. He is hot and cold all the time. I always feel confused when I am with him."

"It's not that His Majesty is too profound, it's that Her Majesty is too deep."

This sentence suddenly stunned Yuan Chaolu.

Qingheng said softly, "Because caring about something will make people feel flustered."

Caring too much leads to fear of loss; caring too much causes anxiety and confusion, leading to impulsive actions without considering the consequences...

As Yuan Chaolu watched a flame burst open on the candlestick, her heart felt as uncertain as the flickering candlelight.

She did care. Her plan to take revenge on the Helan and Lu families had reached its most critical stage, and she didn't want to give up halfway. That's why she subconsciously wanted to do something to salvage the situation.

Is it him she cares about...?

Qingheng said, "Lies cannot be concealed. If one is told, a thousand more will be needed to cover it up. I am truly worried about Your Majesty."

Yuan Chaolu remained silent, hugging her knees and curling herself up on the bed.

The hall remained silent for a long time before she softly said, "But I've been used to it for a long time."