"Your Majesty is overjoyed!" Granny Chen said, her joy overflowing. "Madam Zhu sent someone to say that the eldest princess is pregnant. It was discovered yesterday, and she would like Your Majesty to arrange for an imperial physician to examine the princess again to ensure she is safe."

"Really?" Yi Hua was happy for the eldest princess at first, but then she thought about it and realized that she was going to be a grandmother at her age. It was unimaginable.

"Please have the head of the academy make a trip there. When you return, be sure to tell the Emperor this good news. Oh, and nanny, quickly prepare some tonics that are good for pregnant women and send them all over," Yi Hua hurriedly instructed.

"Yes, I'll go right away."

"Send someone to inform Consort Qi as well," Yi Hua continued.

The excitement of the imperial concubine selection had barely subsided when, surprisingly, the emperor himself did not retain any of his own men. Instead, he appointed several of his brothers, including his two elder brothers who were still under house arrest.

Yinzhen publicly declared that he would observe mourning for the late emperor and would not take any concubines for three years. As soon as this decision was made, everyone sang his praises and commended the emperor for his filial piety.

As for Honghui, Yinzhen directly issued an imperial edict, bestowing the eldest daughter of the Fucha family upon him as his wife, and choosing an auspicious day for their marriage.

Good news kept coming one after another. Honghui's marriage was settled, and then came the good news of the eldest princess. This year was a very happy year for Yinzhen.

Originally, Yinzhen planned to make an inspection tour of Jiangnan this year, but after receiving the news that the eldest princess was pregnant, he immediately gave up the idea.

Having learned from Yihua's experience, Yinzhen deeply felt that childbirth was like walking through the gates of hell for a woman. The eldest princess was still young, so he had to personally oversee the situation and ensure that both the eldest princess and her child were safe.

Time flew by, and more than half a year passed. Honghui's wedding day arrived. Yihua looked at herself in the mirror and was somewhat dazed. This radiant and elegant woman was the woman she had replaced for more than ten years, the woman she knew best and was most unfamiliar with. In the end, she had stolen this woman's life.

The night before the wedding, Yihua went to Honghui's residence to do a final check-up and have some private conversations with him.

"Honghui, you'll be getting married tomorrow. After the wedding, both the officials and your father will have higher expectations of you. Don't let your guard down." Yihua said softly. There was no one else in the room except Honghui, who had changed into his wedding robes and was showing them to Yihua.

The boy in front of her was a little over 1.8 meters tall, with smiling eyes and a straight back. He looked dashing. Yi Hua felt very proud that she had raised such a handsome boy herself.

She can now understand those mothers-in-law who compete with their daughters-in-law for their sons. Such an outstanding son will eventually be devoted to other women. Just thinking about it makes Yihua feel a little sour.

"Honghui, congratulations, you've grown up," Yihua exclaimed.

Honghui sat beside Yihua, peeling oranges for her just like when they were children. "Empress Mother, your son and Lady Fucha will be filial to you together."

"I don't care how you get along with Lady Fucha, but there's one thing you must remember: she is your first wife. No matter how many people you like afterward, you must give her enough respect and dignity." Yihua couldn't help but say. In this damned era, how was she supposed to tell her son that he couldn't have a mistress and that he had to be devoted to his wife?

If these words were actually spoken, Yinzhen would be the first to disagree.

Honghui blinked and said, "I understand what Mother means, and I will not let Fucha down."

"Just remember what you said today." Seeing that everything around him was arranged properly, Yi Hua didn't disturb his rest. "Oh, by the way, for everything to go smoothly tomorrow, don't forget to light incense for the small Buddhist shrine and ask... God to bless you."

Honghui paused for a moment, then solemnly replied, "Your son understands. Your Majesty, please take care."

******

After Honghui's wedding, the palace seemed the same as before, but in fact, some things had quietly changed.

First of all, Hongyun felt that he and Honghui had become quite distant. Originally, he and Xiaolang would often go to Honghui's yard to freeload, and sometimes they would even stay in Honghui's house when it got late. The three brothers slept in the same bed, which was quite interesting.

Nowadays, not to mention him, even Xiaolang visits less often, since he needs to avoid suspicion when he has female relatives.

Another thing is that his mother always brings him portraits of women and tells him which minister's daughter this is, or so-and-so's granddaughter that is. In short, he must not be inferior to his sister-in-law in family matters.

Mother always compares herself to her eldest brother, but he was born out of wedlock and was not as intelligent as her brother. It is only natural that his future wife will not be as good as his sister-in-law.

With the eldest princess away from the palace, Hongyun spent a long time feeling very depressed.

Fortunately, as long as he didn't enter the inner palace courtyard, Consort Qi couldn't really come out to arrest him, so hiding was the best option.

As for Hongyan, he liked his new sister-in-law very much. The maids around his sister-in-law were all very beautiful and good at telling stories. He felt the warmth of his mother when he was with his sister-in-law.

Liu Liu kept asking to see the eldest princess, and had been staying at the eldest princess's residence for the past few days. She looked at her belly every day and was very worried: "Big sister, why are you eating again?"

"This is to supplement nutrition. The child is growing up, and I am eating for two people, so of course I need to eat more."

"That must have been said by the Empress Dowager," Liu Liu said, frowning. "I think the imperial physician meant that eldest sister should eat less."

"It's alright. My mother said I can eat whatever I want, but I need to exercise more. You can come with me for a walk later." The eldest princess stuffed a pig's trotter into her mouth.

"I'm not going. I don't know what my brother-in-law has been saying about me behind my back these past few days. You two should go have some alone time and don't worry about me," Liu Liu declined.

"I knew your visit was just a pretense. If you don't want to come with me, where do you want to go?" the eldest princess asked knowingly.

"Just... just wandering around." Liu Liu felt a little guilty.

"Liu Liu, your father and mother both tacitly approve of you going out to play, but if you go to bad places, be careful you will be punished when you return, and we will never let you go out again."

"Big sister, I know what I'm doing. Besides, Mother's people are watching me, so don't worry. I'm having roast duck when I get back tonight, don't forget, big sister." With that, Liu Liu dashed off in a flash.

She first returned to her room and changed into men's clothing. She was still young, and her chest was wrapped in strips of cloth. She changed into looser clothes, looking exactly like a pampered young master.

According to what Liu Liu had observed over the past few days, the person was walking with measured steps, carrying a folding fan, and heading towards the gambling den with a clear goal.

Seeing things were going badly, the people following Liu Liu quickly stopped them: "Young...Young Master, you can't go in here. If the master and mistress find out, they'll break your legs, and we'll lose our lives too. Wouldn't it be better if we went to see a play and have some tea?"

"I'm just going to check it out. We'll be out in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Heaven, earth, you, and I know, but Father doesn't. What's there to be afraid of? Let's go!" Liu Liu dashed inside like a gust of wind. Only one of the people following him could be sent back to report, while the rest went into the gambling den to protect him.