Xu Miaoqing was shocked and quickly stood up to ask, "Is Your Majesty ill? When I paid my respects yesterday, Your Majesty was still in good health."

Wang Chengen said with a bitter face, "Your Highness, how would this servant know about these things?"

Lian Qiongqiong stood up, supporting her belly, and quickly said, "Your Highness, although I am unable to move easily, I should still pray for His Majesty's well-being."

Although Lian Qiongqiong was a concubine of the Crown Prince, second only to Xu Miaoqing in status, she was still a concubine. In Emperor Zhu's mind, such a status naturally didn't qualify her as a proper granddaughter-in-law. When Emperor Zhu was in a good mood, he would allow Lian Qiongqiong to call him "Grandpa Emperor," but most of the time he wouldn't acknowledge her.

Xu Miaoqing was in a dilemma. If Lian Qiongqiong weren't pregnant or about to give birth, she would definitely need to go and pray for blessings. But given Lian Qiongqiong's current situation, it would be unreasonable to make her go and pray for blessings.

At this moment, Wang Chengen said again, "Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince has also decreed that any pregnant woman in the palace need not go to pray for blessings."

Um?

Lian Qiongqiong comes from a family of civil officials. She is gentle and kind, and also a talented woman. She is accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is usually unassuming and unassuming, which makes her quite popular with Xu Miaoqing.

However, Xu Miaoqing did not come from a family of civil officials. Even when she was in the Xu family, her father was always quite strict with his children, forbidding them from doing anything that transgressed the rules. But her upbringing also made Xu Miaoqing quite sensitive to certain things. Moreover, as the second daughter of the Prince of Zhongshan and the principal wife of the Crown Prince, Xu Miaoqing was also very sensitive to many things.

Especially after having a son, Xu Miaoqing, although she dared not and would not consider matters of the court, would still pay more attention to certain things.

His Majesty the Emperor is seriously ill, which is naturally worrying. But how could this imperial edict come from the Crown Prince?

Even for the crown prince, normally many people would avoid suspicion or even shield him from certain information when the emperor is seriously ill. For everyone to be so openly praying for the emperor like this is only possible if the emperor is terminally ill and this is a last resort.

But that's alright. Xu Miaoqing stood up. "Sister, you should rest in the palace. The Emperor values ​​offspring most. Sister is about to give birth, so you should rest. That way, the Emperor will be at ease."

Lian Qiongqiong, supporting her large pregnant belly, was about to kneel when Xu Miaoqing helped her up. "Your Majesty, I will obey your command. I will stay in the palace and transcribe scriptures for you."

Xu Miaoqing stood up and said to her personal maid, "Go and fetch my court robes!"

Many people are used to the emperor falling ill. Even though they know that the current Zhu Emperor is in good health, the number of times he has actually fallen ill or feigned illness over the years is so numerous that it's hard to count. Many people have become too lazy to discuss whether the Zhu Emperor is truly ill or not.

This time, however, is clearly different. In the past, even when the emperor was ill, he would simply recuperate in the Qianqing Palace, while the crown prince or grandson would preside over state affairs. But now, His Majesty the Emperor needs people to come and pray for him, which naturally indicates that he is seriously ill.

The imperial harem was in chaos. The concubines, having received the imperial decree, were terrified and began making preparations in a panic. Even some princesses who had not yet been married started their preparations.

Xu Miaoqing changed into her court robes and said to Wang Chengen, "Immediately report to Your Highness that I will lead the concubines of the harem to the Fengxian Hall to pray for His Majesty's well-being. I will not be able to go to the Grand Sacrifice Altar or the Altar of the God of Soil and Grain."

The Fengxian Hall was built by Emperor Zhu to commemorate his ancestors. However, the Altar of the Land and Grain, the Great Sacrifice Altar, and the Imperial Ancestral Temple were not suitable for Xu Miaoqing to worship there. Even if she was qualified, other concubines and others were not.

Remembering something, Xu Miaoqing looked around. In the chaos just now, her chubby son had disappeared. This wouldn't do; as the current emperor's great-grandson, little Zhu should also go to pray for blessings.

Wang Chengen lowered his head and said softly, "His Majesty is considerate of His Highness and has allowed His Highness to rest."

Xu Miaoqing seemed to understand that even if His Majesty the Emperor was 'seriously ill,' he was only worried about his grandson and great-grandson.