The Imperial Noble Consort was more than five months pregnant, and her pregnancy was like a startling stone, causing huge ripples in the harem.

After the New Year's Eve palace banquet, Ye Lingyi was confined to her house again because of what happened at the banquet. The prince even vowed to the emperor that Ye Lingyi had changed, and asked Ye Lingyi to attend more banquets during the New Year so that he could start preparing for the wedding. He didn't expect to be slapped in the face so quickly.

The Queen returned to her own Kunning Palace because she had to accompany the Emperor to attend various New Year activities.

It is obvious that someone had been sent to give the Imperial Noble Concubine a drug that would make her infertile, but she is still pregnant now. Either the drug was not successful, or the Imperial Noble Concubine is faking her pregnancy.

However, all the people involved had been executed for reasons she found, and there was no way to verify it. After changing her clothes, she got up and went to stay up with the emperor to celebrate the New Year.

She secretly told the emperor that the imperial concubine was old and could get pregnant, and her New Year's wish was to give birth to a child for the emperor.

The emperor flinched inwardly. The empress was old, and on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, they usually just slept under the same quilt.

Now the Queen wants to have a child, but the Emperor is unwilling to cooperate.

He gently refused: "You are six years older than the Imperial Noble Consort. Why should you suffer that punishment? We already have the Crown Prince and Lingyi. I will be satisfied if you can accompany me until old age."

The Queen was dejected for a moment, then regained her gentle smile. "I just said that because I was hopeful that the Imperial Concubine could get pregnant at such an old age. Miracles don't happen so easily. I was just overthinking it."

The emperor knew what the queen was thinking. After all, he was relieved when the queen drugged him. Otherwise, he would have to be the bad guy himself.

He had just asked Tong Shi, and the date of the Imperial Concubine's pregnancy matched. As for whether it was true or not, he needed to verify it himself.

On the second night of the New Year, the emperor stayed in the palace of the imperial concubine. At night, he and the imperial concubine talked to the baby in her belly. The baby moved and kicked the emperor.

While the imperial concubine was asleep, the emperor placed his hand on her belly for a while and felt the baby moving inside.

He felt emotional in his heart. This was the result of his battles in his forties. It seemed that he was still strong despite his old age.

The next day, the emperor summoned all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau from their New Year holiday to the palace to see the Imperial Noble Consort.

Everyone checked the pulse of each person, and all of them were safe and sound.

The Emperor was worried: "The Imperial Concubine's health was damaged before, and now at her age, will this pregnancy have any impact on the Imperial Concubine's health and the prince?"

Dozens of imperial physicians discussed this with each other, and the head of the hospital stepped forward and replied:

"The Imperial Concubine may have a special physique and is in good health. If she is properly cared for, neither the Imperial Concubine nor the Prince will have any major health problems."

The Imperial Noble Consort lowered her eyes, now she was worried that the medicine the Queen had given her before would affect her health. She had never seen her worried before.

The emperor was relieved after hearing this. "The Imperial Hospital takes the care of the Royal Concubine's safe delivery as its top priority. Everyone will be rewarded in the future."

Everyone thanked him and left.

--

This year we had a great victory at the border, and everyone from the imperial court to the common people was filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

On the first day of the new year, Danruo received New Year's money from Lin Hancheng, as well as a portrait of a family of four that he had drawn himself. Looking at the horrible but sincere painting skills, Danruo put it away solemnly. It seems that she has to cultivate her child's painting skills in the future, because she can't do it either. She looks forward to the new family portrait.

Qin also gave the eldest child a lucky money, and also prepared some for Danruo, the two younger children. Qin was now in a state of full energy and looked several years younger.

Because of the heavy twins, they did not go out to see the excitement in the market. Lin Hancheng wanted to invite jugglers and other performers back to the house, but Danruo refused. Good things should be watched by everyone for fun.

The day soon arrived, the palace banquet on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

The Imperial Noble Consort conveyed the message that Danruo was in the period of protecting her pregnancy and it was inconvenient for her to travel in winter, so she did not need to go to the palace to attend the banquet, and her husband could accompany her at home.

Dan Ruo was also worried about the Imperial Concubine. "My mother is already six months pregnant. There are so many people and things to do at the palace banquet. I am worried about her."

Lin Hancheng touched her back and said softly, "Then I will go to the palace to accompany mother and concubine. Just rest assured."

Dan Ruo nodded: "Then hand this amulet to mother. I got it from the temple before." She had just spent 100 merit points to condense this amulet with spiritual power.

Lin Hancheng nodded, "Don't worry, my little princess. I will definitely protect mother well."

Attending the palace banquet alone, there were even more people secretly watching him. There were all kinds of looks, most of which were contemptuous. Lin Hancheng was already planning in his mind. He would use all his strength to collect information about officials, know himself and the enemy, and make these people eventually follow the direction he planned.

He was sitting in his seat when a young man from a noble family came forward to toast him. The two of them exchanged polite words.

When the young man returned home, he was surrounded and teased by others, who mocked him for fawning over a prince consort who was from a merchant family. The young man was furious: "I just want to see what kind of man is the one who gets Princess Rong'an. I won't accept it."

The sound was quite loud and reached Lin Hancheng's ears.

Moreover, Lin Hancheng has been doing business for a long time, so he has also learned lip reading.

He must become someone worthy of the princess.

After the Imperial Noble Consort arrived, she called Lin Hancheng to her side and asked in detail about her daughter's daily life. Seeing that Lin Hancheng knew every detail, she did not ask the two to sleep in separate rooms.

As soon as she sat down, the young eunuch reported everything that happened in the hall. She could look down on her son-in-law, but others could not bully him. She immediately spoke up and gave some advice to the young man's mother on how to manage the household, and also mentioned the others who had just participated.

Lin Hancheng was touched. He knew the imperial concubine's heart knot and understood her love for her daughter. He thought that as long as he could always make the princess happy, the imperial concubine would accept him sooner or later.

After the emperor and the empress arrived, the banquet began. Halfway through, the emperor, in accordance with the old custom, took everyone to the open space outside the palace to watch the fireworks carefully prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Emperor looked at the Imperial Concubine with consideration and said, "The fireworks are loud. My beloved concubine has left. I'm afraid that if I get too close, it might frighten the unborn child. Why don't you wait here for a while?"

The Imperial Concubine nodded, and Lin Hancheng quickly said, "Your Majesty, please let me accompany the Imperial Concubine."

The Queen gave him a meaningful look. She couldn't let this businessman ruin tonight's good thing. Seeing that the Emperor was about to agree, the Queen interrupted and said:

"This is Rong'an's first time attending a palace banquet. How can he not be shown the fireworks and feasts in the palace? Otherwise, if Rong'an finds out, he will think that the emperor doesn't like his son-in-law."

When the emperor heard this, he said, "Hancheng, you should come with us. The Imperial Concubine has so many palace servants to take care of her."

Lin Hancheng was worried and wanted to fight for it again, but the imperial concubine waved her hand and said, "Hancheng, you go. I'm fine."

Lin Hancheng had no choice but to follow the large group out to watch the fireworks.