That day, Su Lufu lay in bed, feeling dizzy. It was summer, and the sweltering heat made her feel even more uncomfortable. She placed her right hand on her lower abdomen and sighed silently.

"My child! My child, you must be a boy, and you must be exceptionally intelligent, a dragon among men, and become a man of both literary and martial talents, so that your mother's ten months of pregnancy will not have been in vain!"

Su Lufu touched her lower abdomen, unconsciously wondering what her future child would be like.

He'll surely be just like his father, exceptionally handsome and dashing. He'll also be incredibly learned; he'll become the prince's most outstanding son, the prince's favorite. If the prince inherits the throne, he might even make him the crown prince…

Just as Su Lufu was envisioning the future, her maid Mei En brought over a bowl of porridge and two side dishes. The porridge was made from rice, and the cook had specially simmered it for several hours to make it soft and sticky, transforming ordinary porridge into something extraordinary. It was soft and sticky but not mushy, neither too thin nor too thick, and a little white sugar was added, giving it a subtle sweetness and a delicate aroma of rice. One bowl was enough to make you want a second.

The two side dishes each consist of a sweet and sour lotus root slice. The lotus root is washed clean of mud, peeled, and cut into thin slices about half an inch wide. It is then soaked in water for an hour to remove the sticky fibers. After soaking, it is placed on a white porcelain plate, and white vinegar and sugar are poured in to marinate for half a day. Finally, when serving, millet peppers are added for flavor, and sesame oil is added to seal in all the flavors. Only the person eating it can fully appreciate its taste. This sweet and sour lotus root slice is the most refreshing dish in summer.

Another dish is poached chicken, a famous dish from the Southern Chinese cuisine. It's visually appealing, with yellow skin and white meat, tender and juicy, and exceptionally delicious. The skin is crisp and the meat is smooth, with a light and fresh flavor. The chicken is pure white with a hint of yellow oil, has the aroma of scallion oil, and is edged with decorated scallion segments. When eaten with soybean paste made by the imperial chefs, it has a unique flavor, preserving the chicken's freshness and original taste.

Mei En placed the meal on the table, then walked over to Su Lufu's side. Seeing her lost in thought, she didn't want to startle her. If the child were hurt, she wouldn't be able to pay for it even if she had ten lives.

Mei En lowered her voice and said softly, "Princess, get up and eat something."

Su Lufu came to her senses, but she was still feeling unwell and didn't want to eat anything.

"Take it away, I don't want to eat anything."

Mei En got anxious and quickly advised, "Gege, you can't not eat. You're carrying two babies now, and your body won't be able to handle it if you don't eat. Besides, even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about the babies in your belly!"

"But it's too hot today, I really have no appetite," Su Lu said, supporting herself.

"Don't worry, Princess. I know it's hot and humid, so I specially instructed the kitchen to prepare some light food for you. Get up and take a look. Does this make you feel hungry?" Mei En asked.

Su Lufu was persuaded by her, and thinking that it wouldn't be good for the baby if she really didn't eat, she reached out to Mei En and said, "Help me up."

Mei En helped Su Lu to the table. Su Lu looked at the dishes and thought they looked quite good. It seemed that the chef knew she was pregnant and therefore dared not neglect her.

Mei En handed the spoon to Su Lufu: "Your Majesty, please have a bowl of porridge first."

Su Lufu took the spoon, scooped up a little white porridge, and blew on it to cool it down.