This gave Zhu Xiong Ying even more confidence. He felt relatively at ease about the situation in Beiping, as many things were stable and he didn't need to worry too much. So he decided to find another place to showcase his 'talent' and 'strategy'.

After all, Zhu Xiong Ying knew very well that as time went on, he would not have many opportunities to roam around. He would basically be tied to Yingtianfu or Beiping, and it would be unlikely that he could play the role of "royal expedition" in the short term.

Zhu Xiong Ying's fast boat hadn't even departed yet. On the tunnel leading to Yingtian Prefecture, Wang Chengen gritted his teeth and lay prone on his horse, practically strapped to it. Three cavalrymen, carrying command flags and wearing tall helmets with red feathers, were also pulling on the reins, rushing quickly towards Yingtian Prefecture.

Upon hearing his subordinate's report while standing on the city wall, Marquis Xie Cheng of Yongping rushed up the wall. Someone dared to ride a horse so close to Yingtian Prefecture...

"Open the city gates!" Xie Cheng suddenly roared. "Clear the streets!"

It wasn't because Xie Cheng recognized Wang Chengen, but mainly because he clearly saw these urgent messengers. He knew very well that this was something he couldn't stop under any circumstances.

The soldiers guarding the city, or the yamen runners of Yingtian Prefecture, immediately sprang into action. At this juncture, if they obstructed the messenger, many would be in deep trouble; being kicked or stomped to death would be their own fault.

Marquis Huaiyuan, Cao Xing, who was guarding the Meridian Gate, also received the news quickly and immediately went on high alert. Suddenly, he saw four fast horses in the distance and immediately ordered his guards to come to their aid.

Wang Chengen was the Crown Prince's personal eunuch. Could it be that something important has happened that the Crown Prince has been ordered to lead an expedition against Goguryeo?

Although he looked exhausted, as if his body was about to fall apart, Wang Chengen stumbled and ran towards the Fengtian Hall as soon as the guards untied him from his horse. He hurried as fast as he could and finally arrived at the imperial city before the court session ended.

Stumbling and staggering, Wang Chengen, supported by the imperial guards, ran quickly toward Fengtian Hall. Shuangquan soon learned of the news and, without a second thought, disregarded everything else.

Shuangquan quietly slipped towards Zhu, who sat high on the dragon throne with his sharp eyes. "You scoundrel! Acting so sneakily in the court!"

Shuangquan quickly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, there is an urgent report from Wang Chengen, the personal eunuch of the Crown Prince!"

Old Zhu suddenly tensed up, and Da Zhu also felt a tightness in his chest. At this moment, the civil and military officials in the court were also discussing among themselves.

Wang Chengen was allowed to enter the palace before the announcement was made.

As soon as Wang Chengen, looking disheveled, stepped into the gate of Fengtian Hall, he immediately raised his memorial and exclaimed, "Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Highness the Crown Prince, great news! The Crown Prince's Consort is pregnant!"

Old Zhu couldn't sit still any longer and quickly stood up. But Big Zhu was even faster, snatching the memorial away. Before he could even glance at it, Old Zhu had already taken it away.

As Emperor Zhu laughed heartily, the civil and military officials in the court immediately understood: the Crown Prince's wife was pregnant—a truly momentous event. Regardless of whether the first child was a boy or a girl, it at least proved that the Crown Prince's lineage was secure.

Judging from the current trend, it's highly likely that the future Crown Prince will sit in that position. With the succession of the throne and the empire's continuity secured, this seems plausible.

According to etiquette, it would have been more appropriate for the Empress to send someone to announce the good news, or even the Crown Princess to do so. Even if no one came to announce the good news in court, it wouldn't matter; after all, this was Zhu Yuanzhang's great-grandchild, and there was no need for such formality.

But things are different now, because these are the offspring of Zhu Xiong Ying, the son of the Crown Prince, so their status is naturally different.

"Immediately send the imperial physician to fetch His Majesty!" Old Zhu exclaimed joyfully, his affection for the emperor extending to everything related to him. "There can be no delay. Send someone back..."

Da Zhu beamed with joy and said to Lao Zhu, "Father, I'm going to be a grandfather!"

"Our Biao'er is going to be a grandfather! He'll be a great-grandfather!" Old Zhu laughed heartily, patting Da Zhu on the shoulder. "Our Ying'er is so capable! We need to send someone to fetch the Crown Princess, but we have to be careful!"

With no master in the harem, these matters left Old Zhu and First Zhu in a flurry of activity. But even amidst the chaos, they were overjoyed, for they knew their successor was in order!