Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Pregnant
At three quarters past the hour of Mao, the sun was already slightly scorching, shining obliquely through the longevity-patterned window lattices onto the auspicious cloud-framed bed in the inner bedroom. The cicadas had not yet chirped, and the air still retained the dampness of last night's dew.
Liang Hanzhang opened her eyes slightly, feeling the glare of the sun. Through her hazy vision, she saw a dark shadow sitting beside the couch. Her mind froze as she suddenly remembered the man she had met at the Di residence. With a start, she nearly jumped out of bed.
The sudden noise woke the man who had been keeping watch all night. He slowly loosened his hand from supporting his forehead, opened his eyes, looked at her, and whispered, "Are you awake?" His voice was unusually calm, with a hint of barely suppressed joy.
Even after a whole night of digestion, Li Cheng still felt that his heart was light and fluttering, as if it was in the clouds, and if he was not careful, it would float away with the breeze.
As soon as the man spoke, Liang Hanzhang realized that the shadowy figure beside him was none other than the Crown Prince. His eyes were dark, his face weary, and he was still wearing the same round-collared, dark gold robe he'd changed into before visiting the Di residence. He asked curiously, "Your Highness, if you're so tired, why don't you come to bed?" He looked like he'd been sitting by the bed for an indeterminate amount of time, about to pull him up.
The man shook his head, his rich voice echoing, "No, I'm very dirty." He hadn't had time to wash or clean himself because he'd been constantly by her side. Li Fu and the others had tried to dissuade him, but he was too excited to suppress his desire to be in the same room with her.
The man's face was gentle, his dark eyes fixed on her. There was a hint of worry in his words: "How are you feeling now? Are you feeling unwell?"
She had suddenly disappeared from the Di residence yesterday. When Chunfen came to inform him in a panic, Li Cheng felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out and a wind was whirring inside. If he had known this, he should have sent a few more people to follow her when she left.
Everyone in the mansion searched for Feng Yi, and finally found her unconscious under a grape trellis. Li Cheng didn't know what his expression was as he carried her back, but he felt more panicked than ever before.
If so, she really had an accident. The prince did not dare to think deeply...
Fortunately, her sudden loss of consciousness was due to other reasons.
Liang Hanzhang felt the man's body gradually approaching, and for a moment she felt a little uneasy. After hesitating for a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, I feel chest tightness. After changing clothes, I couldn't help but walk around the Di Mansion. Later, my head felt dizzy and I lost consciousness."
"I haven't gotten myself into any trouble, have I?" She was worried, afraid the prince would question her about why she was wandering around and why she fainted. What should she say?
When Liang Hanzhang thought of the man's dark eyes, familiar brows, and fierce voice under the grape trellis, he felt that things were becoming more complicated.
Why did he spare her life, and why did he secretly hide in Master Di's house just to see her? Is the Di family really innocent?
She was thinking randomly in her heart, and she secretly glanced at the prince beside her. Should she tell him the truth about this matter?
"No, don't worry," Li Cheng gently touched her raven-black temples and whispered, "You suddenly fell into a coma yesterday and slept all night."
"One night!" Liang Hanzhang was stunned. Could it be that it was already the next day? At that time, I just felt that I had lost consciousness, but I didn't expect that I would be in a coma for such a long time!
"Yes," the man nodded, held her soft little hand, and said gently: "Mother Zhang, I want to tell you something."
He tilted his head, considering his words, "To be precise, it's a happy event." The man's brows relaxed, and his elegant face was full of solemnity.
Liang Hanzhang was completely bewildered at the moment, feeling puzzled, worried, and vaguely curious.
"Your Highness, please speak." She looked at the man opposite her and finally said.
The man pinched her fingertips, put his left hand on her back and gently stroked it, and said with a smile: "Mother Zhang, you are pregnant."
"What?!" Liang Hanzhang almost jumped out of bed. She must have heard it right. She was pregnant! Was His Highness kidding her? How could she be pregnant? How could she be pregnant?
He wasn't trying to bluff her. Liang Hanzhang was still in doubt, his eyes scanning the man's face inch by inch, trying to find any trace of a joke.
But, no.
The Crown Prince's smiling face was filled with a hint of certainty, and Liang Hanzhang couldn't find any other trace of it. And indeed, as the Crown Prince, why would he joke about such a matter?
Thinking of this, her face gradually turned pale with fear, her eyes widened, and her whole body trembled. It was clearly summer, but she felt like it was the coldest time of the year, so cold that she couldn't help shivering.
The prince's big and powerful hands gently stroked her belly, his face full of anticipation for the future: "I was looking forward to it, and this little guy came quietly, you can see how impatient I was."
"My mother and the others also knew about it. They wanted to come and visit you in person, but I declined. You just woke up and are not in good spirits. You must not worry about other things."
"I have also told Luo Hua that you don't have to go to Taoranju in the future. You can stay in the East Palace to take care of your pregnancy." His eyes were burning. "I have asked my father for permission. No matter whether your baby is a boy or a girl, you will be promoted. For the time being, I will give you the title of Liangyuan of the fourth rank. When I ascend the throne in the future, I will definitely make you the master of a palace."
After all, she was pregnant with his first child and had a noble status. Even if it was not in accordance with etiquette, the court officials could not find any fault with it.
The man kept talking, and finally realized the woman's silence. He looked up and saw that her eyes were lifeless, staring blankly at the Duobao Pavilion not far away, wondering what she was thinking.
Li Cheng thought she was frightened. After all, he was shocked when the imperial physician said she was pregnant yesterday. His hand on her belly was still shaking slightly.
Before she knew it, a tiny life had secretly taken root in her belly. Almost instantly, Li Cheng could already imagine how adorable the child would be when he was born, looking like both him and her.
"Don't worry about anything, just relax and take good care of the baby. I'll take care of everything else out there." He lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand, his voice full of love.
"Your Highness..." The woman finally spoke, as if the voice was not her own. She touched her belly in disbelief, "There really is a child here?" How could it be such a coincidence? He had just told her to have a baby not long ago, and it hadn't been a few days, and she was really pregnant?
"At first I couldn't believe it. Last night I asked the director of the Imperial Hospital to come and take your pulse and confirm that you were pregnant." He was thinking, feeling a little annoyed. "Your health is not good. It's all my fault for my reckless behavior a few days ago." If anything happened to the child in her belly, he would never forgive himself.
"I'm pregnant, really?" the woman murmured softly, asking herself again and again, as if she was frightened out of her wits by this great event.
Li Cheng didn't disturb her, but just stood quietly beside her, staring at her without blinking.
Liang Hanzhang was in a state of turmoil. He thought about his identity as a spy, and then worried about his identity being discovered by His Highness. His heart was heavy, and he couldn't be happy no matter what.
Should she keep the child? If she does, will His Highness treat her well when the truth comes out?
But if she didn't stay, regardless of whether she was willing to do so, it could be inferred from the prince's words just now that her chances of having an abortion would be very slim.
What should she do now that she is pregnant?
Just as I was lost in thought, Matron Liu came in with a meal and a smile on her face.
Li Cheng took it over. The jujube and rice porridge, cooked to perfection, exuded a fragrant aroma. He carefully stirred it with the spoon, blowing gently on it. When he felt the temperature was just right, he scooped up a small mouthful and handed it over: "Try it."
Liang Hanzhang looked dazed, and mechanically opened her mouth to drink the porridge. The porridge was supposed to be soft, glutinous and sweet, but it tasted extremely bland in her mouth.
Aunt Liu asked with a smile: "Your Highness, the gifts from the palace have been delivered, but they haven't been put into the treasury yet. What do you plan to do with them?"
The prince said, "You and Li Fu should go and pick out some that look pleasing to the eye and bring them over to Her Majesty for her to play with."
"Also, the layout of Zhilan Residence needs to be overhauled. All the sharp table corners and utensils should be moved away, and the floor should be covered with a layer of lichen." He frowned and looked at the ice jar placed next to him, "It is not advisable to put too many ice basins, so as not to let the queen catch a cold."
The old nanny replied respectfully, "Yes," and then said, "By the way, the rewards for everyone in the mansion have been distributed. All the maids and servants are kneeling outside the courtyard gate, wanting to congratulate the queen."
Upon hearing this, Li Cheng shook his head repeatedly: "The Empress is in poor health, and the imperial physician has instructed that she should be taken good care of. Just give the order and tell them that your intention is there. There is no need to meet the Empress in person."
Liang Hanzhang was halfway through her porridge when she shook her head, indicating she couldn't finish it. The prince took the handkerchief and wiped her mouth, then turned to the nanny and said, "I'm so busy with government affairs that I can't take care of everything at the mansion. You must serve Liangyuan wholeheartedly and diligently from now on. Don't neglect me. Do you understand?"
"This old servant understands." The prince didn't need to explain these things. They were the elders around the queen and naturally knew how to serve their master well.
"Your Highness," Li Fu came in from outside with a hunched back, his rosy face full of anxiety: "The emperor has ordered Your Highness to come to the palace as soon as possible."
Li Cheng paused while wiping his hands and frowned: "Why is it so urgent?"
"I don't know either, but seeing Eunuch Yang coming here breathless, I'm afraid something big has happened."
After hearing this, Li Cheng knew there was no time to lose, so he stood up, put the handkerchief aside, touched the dazed figure on the bed, and instructed, "There's an urgent matter at the palace, so I'll go there first. You stay at home and take care of your pregnancy. If you feel any discomfort, tell the two maids, okay?"
Liang Hanzhang nodded unconsciously. When she realized that the man didn't get a response from her and frowned slightly, she stood up, put her lips to his cheek, and said softly, "Your Highness, don't worry. Your concubine and the children are waiting for you at home."
The word "home" seemed so distant to Li Cheng. But now, hearing it spoken by Liang Yuan, it felt perfectly natural. In fact, a faint sense of anticipation lingered in his heart.
He finally had a home, a home that belonged to them alone. A wave of warmth surged through the prince's chest. He took a deep breath and couldn't help but pinch her fair cheek. Finally, reluctantly, he said, "I'm leaving."
Liang Hanzhang nodded, her sparkling eyes fixed on the man's departing figure. Aunt Liu saw this affectionate scene, and her heart was filled with both understanding and relief.
Their Eastern Palace was finally about to have a little master born. This was a great joyous event.
Where she couldn't see, Liang Hanzhang was clutching a corner of the quilt tightly, his fingertips turning white from the extreme force.
What should she do in the future?
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