Chapter 152: Cloud Hidden Mountain Map

The fire under the stove in the imperial kitchen never went out from morning to night.

In the morning, one dish after another was served from the big iron pot.

The room was filled with steam and smoke, and the imperial chefs were so hot that sweat covered their foreheads.

The eunuch Liu who came to serve the meal said in a shrill voice:

"Is the emperor's dinner ready? It will be sent to Yaohua Palace soon."

The imperial chef, who was serving the steamed fish, was surprised when he heard this:

"Send it to Yaohua Palace again?"

Eunuch Liu glared at him and said, "You think you can ask the emperor's order?"

The imperial chef quickly lowered his head to serve the dishes, not daring to say anything more.

The emperor has been having meals at Yaohua Palace recently, and he spends at least half a month in a month eating and sleeping with the Concubine Shu.

Everyone in the imperial kitchen was busy working, but what they were thinking about was that the breakfast to be sent to Yaohua Palace tomorrow morning would have to be more varied and require more thought.

When the palace servants delivered the meal to Yaohua Palace, they saw the emperor and the concubine talking affectionately beside the couch.

Everyone looked at each other and retreated silently.

Concubine Shu has become more popular in the palace recently and is very much favored by the emperor.

A month ago, she found a calligraphy and painting that the emperor had been looking for. The emperor was very pleased when he heard about it.

In addition, Concubine Shu has been dressing up carefully recently and has been gentle and considerate in front of the emperor, which makes the emperor very comfortable. Not only did the emperor send people over, but he also gave her many gifts.

Beside the couch, Murong Yu hugged Concubine Shu and said, "I am so happy to have such a beautiful woman like my beloved concubine in my harem."

Concubine Shu had beautiful eyebrows and eyes. She lowered her head shyly and glanced at Murong Yu. She was full of charm:

"As long as the emperor is happy, whatever I do is worth it."

Murong Yu took Concubine Shu to sit down for dinner and suddenly asked:

"How did my beloved concubine know that I was looking for that painting?"

The painting presented by Concubine Shu was "A Picture of the Mountain Hidden in the Clouds" by Qiu Ming Jushi, a scholar from the previous dynasty.

Although Murong Yu had always wanted it, he had never openly given the order to go find it.

The smile on Concubine Shu's face only grew:

"I have been with the Emperor for over ten years. He mentioned this casually in his early years. He may have forgotten it, but I have always kept it in my heart."

"My beloved concubine is thoughtful." Murong Yu couldn't remember whether he had mentioned this more than ten years ago, but since Concubine Shu could say this, she must have taken every word of his to heart.

Concubine Shu served Murong Yu some food: "What the Emperor thinks about is what I think about, and what the Emperor worries about is what I worry about. Being able to share the Emperor's worries is my greatest blessing."

Murong Yu had dinner and was about to leave.

Today is the first day of the new year.

On the first day of every month, Murong Yu would go to Yifeng Palace and spend the night with the queen, and the rest of the time he would spend the night in other palaces.

Today was no exception.

But when Concubine Shu bent down and said "Farewell, Your Majesty", she fainted before she could finish her words.

The palace maids hurriedly helped Concubine Shu up, and Murong Yu frowned and summoned the imperial physician.

The imperial physician hurried over to check Concubine Shu's pulse, then knelt down before Murong Yu with a flushed face.

"Congratulations to His Majesty and His Majesty, Your Majesty is showing a positive pulse. Although it's still early and the pulse is weak, she is indeed pregnant."

Murong Yu was delighted when he heard this: "Great! Reward, a huge reward!"

Concubine Shu woke up in bed, tears of joy in her eyes, and reached out to Murong Yu:

"emperor--"

Murong Yu walked over and held Concubine Shu's hand: "Rong'er."

The two held hands, like a loving couple.

Concubine Shu suddenly lowered her eyes, as if to hide the disappointment in her eyes:

"Your Majesty should go to Yifeng Palace. It's getting dark. I think the Empress is still waiting for you."

Although she is over 30 years old now, her facial features are still charming and well-maintained.

Not only is she beautiful, but she also has more charm than a teenager. The more she looks aggrieved, the more it tickles people's hearts.

Murong Yu lifted Concubine Shu's chin with his hand, not even glancing at the darkening sky outside:

"Wang Miao."

Wang Miao leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am here."

Murong Yu: "Send someone to Yifeng Palace to tell her that Concubine Shu is pregnant and unwell. I will be accompanying her in Yaohua Palace today."

Wang Miao replied "yes" and did it immediately.

Concubine Shu looked at Murong Yu in surprise and flattery:

"Your Majesty, today is the first day of the lunar year... How can you do this for me... If the Empress is unhappy, how can I have the dignity to see her?"

Murong Yu smiled: "Rong'er is pregnant now. The Queen is magnanimous and will definitely not mind."

Concubine Shu rubbed her face in Murong Yu's palm, her eyes moving. She called out softly:

"Your Majesty truly loves me."

Feeling the smoothness on his palm, Murong Yu's Adam's apple moved slightly.

The next morning.

Murong Yu got up and returned to the imperial study to handle government affairs.

Concubine Shu wanted to get up and see him off, but Murong Yu stopped her:

"Rong'er, just take a good rest."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." A perfect amount of shyness and sweetness appeared on Concubine Shu's face.

Murong Yu had just walked out of the hall when he ran into Princess Ning'an who came to pay her respects.

Ning An raised a bright smile:

"Father!"

"Father, I'm going to have a younger brother or sister, right?" Ning An's eyes sparkled.

Murong Yu was in a good mood: "Yes, Ning An must be obedient recently and don't make your mother angry."

Ning An: "Father, I'm a very good son. I've done my homework recently and my spear skills have improved. Would you like to see my spear skills?"

Murong Yu walked out: "I have something important to deal with, I'll see you another day."

Ning An watched his father leave, clasped his hands together and pursed his lips.

My father always said to wait for another day and never looked at it once.

"Princess, would you like to go into the palace and pay your respects to the Empress?" the palace servant beside her reminded.

"Well, go in." Ning An turned around and walked into the hall.

Imperial study.

The incense burner, sitting couch, writing brush, ink, inkstone, tea cup... everything you see in the room is the best.

Even a spittoon is made of jade and is finely carved.

Any item that comes into the hands of the public is a masterpiece that will make people applaud and love it.

But Murong Yu had been in power for more than ten years and was no longer interested in these things.

After returning to the imperial study, the first thing he did was to admire the "Cloud Hidden Mountain Picture" hanging behind the desk.

It is indeed a good painting.

The mountains are layered and shrouded in clouds and mist.

The outline of the mountains and the rendering of clouds and mist are natural and smooth.

But there are also landscape paintings in the palace that are better than this one, and there are more than one.

Murong Yu just couldn't forget this picture.

He had seen this painting in the imperial study many years ago. At that time, the late emperor was still on the throne, and he was just an unknown prince under the late emperor.

When he was the third prince, he was not the smartest, nor did he come from the best family, and was not valued by the late emperor.

My father's favorites were the Crown Prince and the second elder brother. He always took them to read, hunt, and discuss state affairs.

As for him, his father didn't even remember how old he was.

On Murong Yu's thirteenth birthday, he heard that his father had summoned him.

He excitedly straightened his clothes again and again at the door of the imperial study, thinking that his father was going to give him a birthday gift in person.