Extra 10 New Year
A winter night in the fourth year of Jianping.
It was the middle of the night and the imperial city was quiet.
A sudden downpour came, and the eunuchs on duty outside the Zichen Palace, wrapped in their thick coats, yawned relentlessly. Inside, the palace was pitch black, thanks to the heating.
The light was dim in the bright yellow curtain. Song Lingyi was sleeping on the inside, her soft black hair piled on her cheeks, her face was faintly red from sleeping, and she looked pretty and charming. Xiao Mingyi, who should have been sleeping soundly, was now supporting his cheek with one hand, his phoenix eyes staring at the woman beside him without blinking.
There was a loud thunder, shaking the sky.
Song Lingyi's eyelids moved slightly, and she opened her eyes in a daze. When she met that deep gaze, she frowned and turned over.
The emperor's eyes darkened suddenly after being ignored. He pressed closer, pulling her into his arms, "I just had a nightmare."
Song Lingyi was too sleepy to open her eyes. She uttered a lazy "hmm" and said perfunctorily, "What nightmare?"
“…” Xiao Mingyi remained silent.
The dream was too real. In the dream, Song Lingyi did not marry him, but married Pei Zhao and Lu Qian.
After waking up, he was in a daze for a long time before he calmed down.
He had almost forgotten the details of the dream, but the repeated feeling of loss made his heart ache.
The person behind him didn't speak for a long time. The atmosphere was inexplicably low. Song Lingyi's sleepiness dissipated a little, and her voice was lazy: "Why don't you speak?"
"...Nothing, I forgot."
It’s not that Xiao Mingyi doesn’t want to say it, but that he doesn’t dare to say it.
This year marks their sixth anniversary of marriage, but neither Lu Qian nor Pei Zhao has started a family. Thinking of the absurd dream, he feels very upset.
The strong and sturdy body pressed against her from behind. Song Lingyi felt like she was trapped between a solid wall and could not move. There was a hint of helplessness in her voice. "Go to bed early. We have to be busy with the New Year's Eve palace banquet tomorrow."
It was a very normal sentence, but when Xiao Mingyi heard it, it sounded a bit impatient. At first, he held her hand on the slender waist obediently, but gradually moved it down.
Song Lingyi realized something was wrong and reached out to stop him, but Xiao Mingyi grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers in a quick and decisive move.
"Xiao..."
Before she could say no, the man blocked her mouth.
By the time the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped, the sky was already turning pale. A sated man hung the curtains on golden hooks and summoned the palace maids and eunuchs to the hall to serve. In contrast to his energetic and refreshed self, Song Lingyi slumped listlessly on the musky-scented quilt, unwilling to move a finger.
Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore, so he grabbed a soft pillow and smashed it on Xiao Mingyi's back, not with much force, just to vent his anger.
"Beast."
The palace servants were already accustomed to the way the emperor and empress interacted with each other, and they all nodded their heads and lowered their eyebrows, without showing any surprise at all.
The melancholy of last night was swept away during their entanglement. Xiao Mingyi was in a good mood. He turned around and sat down beside the couch. He gently pecked Song Lingyi's red and moist lips and said in a gentle voice, "Let the ladies-in-waiting of the various departments take care of the palace banquet. You should get some more sleep."
Song Lingyi turned over, closed her eyes, pulled the quilt over her head, and deliberately ignored him.
I didn't wake up until noon.
Sunlight shone into the hall through the window lattice. Song Lingyi sat in front of a bronze mirror, wearing a short agarwood-colored brocade jacket, allowing the palace maids to comb her hair.
In a moment, a small figure rushed into the hall and threw himself into Song Lingyi's arms.
"Mother!"
The light and shadow in the hall were bright and clear. The little baby had red lips and white teeth, and was wrapped in a thick coat. He looked up with a pure and clear gaze.
Song Lingyi smiled gently and held the three-year-old Xiao Fuyan to sit between her legs. "Did Fuyan pay her respects to the Empress Dowager today?"
"Yes."
Xiao Fuyan buried her head in her mother's arms, rubbing her cheek against hers, and said softly, "Mother, my cousin is also going to the palace today, right?"
Song Lingyi didn't answer immediately. This child was very naughty.
During the autumn hunting trip, she broke away from the accompanying guards, saying she wanted to hunt rabbits, and even coaxed her five-year-old cousin to join her in the fun.
The hunting grounds were large, teeming with rabbits and wild animals. After the men disappeared, Xiao Mingyi mobilized everyone to search for them, eventually finding them in a mud pit. The young woman had nearly caught a rabbit when her cousin accidentally disturbed it, leaving her without a chance. Furious, she demanded a duel.
As a cousin, he naturally wouldn't bother with his sister, but ended up being thrown into a mud pit by this naughty kid. When he was found, he was extremely dirty and looked very pitiful.
Since then, the third brother's family has kept a close eye on the prince and not allowed him to play with Xiao Fuyan.
Seeing that her mother didn't answer, Xiao Fuyan raised her little head and looked at her pitifully.
“…”Here comes the same trick again.
Song Lingyi cleared her throat and said seriously, "Today is a palace banquet. After your cousin enters the palace, he has to go to the Cining Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. He won't have time to play with you. Maybe next time."
Xiao Fuyan pursed her lips and said "Okay~" reluctantly.
…
The most lively event of the year in the Imperial City is the New Year's Eve Palace Banquet. In the Golden Palace, the clinking of glasses and the sounds of toasts continue until 11:30 PM.
After the grand palace banquet ended, the ministers dispersed and the emperor and empress took the little princess back to the Zichen Palace to celebrate the New Year.
As the imperial chariot stopped outside the Purple Palace Gate, a flurry of snow began to fall, quickly covering the entire city's glazed tiles. Xiao Mingyi held the sleepy Xiao Fuyan in one hand, letting her rest comfortably on his shoulder, while with the other hand, he led Song Lingyi into the palace.
The palace maid made a stomach-warming longan and lotus seed soup. The sweet smell woke Xiao Fuyan up slowly. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and stared at the bowl of longan and lotus seed soup without saying a word.
Xiao Mingyi understood, picked up the porcelain bowl, scooped a spoonful and handed it to the little guy's lips.
After finishing half a bowl, Xiao Fuyan's fair face flushed slightly. She swung her short legs on the edge of the soft couch and said with satisfaction, "It tastes good. Father and mother should drink too."
Hongqiu served a bowl of soup and handed it to Song Lingyi, saying with a smile, "We know that the little princess likes sweet things, so when we were making the soup, we added half a piece of sugar."
"Aunt Hongju is so kind." Xiao Fuyan smiled with narrowed eyes, and tugged at her father's sleeve again, "Father promised to teach me spearmanship, and you are not allowed to go back on your word."
Xiao Mingyi uttered a soft "tsk," "You're not even as tall as father's sword. Wait a few more years."
This little girl was very clever. Last time, she saw the prince's martial arts teacher practicing with a spear and wanted to learn it. Knowing that he would not easily agree, she pestered Lu Qian at the palace banquet and asked him to teach her. Of course, he did not want his daughter to get too close to Lu Qian, so he had to promise to teach her himself before she gave in.
After hearing this, the leaky little cotton-padded jacket couldn't stand it anymore, puffed up its face in anger, and refused to drink the soup.
The father and daughter refused to give in to each other.
After a long stalemate, Xiao Fuyan wanted her mother to judge the matter. As soon as she turned her head, Song Lingyi immediately avoided her gaze, obviously not wanting to get involved.
"Mother~" Xiao Fuyan cried.
Song Lingyi remained calm. She scooped a spoonful of longan and lotus seed soup into her mouth. Unexpectedly, as soon as the hot soup went down her throat, she suddenly felt nauseous. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she raised her hands to cover her chest and began to dry heave.
"Mother, what's wrong with you?" Xiao Fuyan looked up worriedly and quickly put the matter of learning spearmanship out of her mind.
Xiao Mingyi's expression also changed. "Is this soup not to your liking?"
"No..." Song Lingyi felt that this nauseous feeling was a little familiar. As soon as she opened her mouth, she started vomiting again.
Xiao Mingyi frowned and told Hongju to send someone to call the imperial physician. Then he handed her a cup of warm water and patted her back to help her calm down.
Song Lingyi drank two sips of warm water from his hand to dilute the sweetness in her mouth, and the nausea was relieved.
"Are you feeling better? I've sent for the imperial physician, but where else do you need to go? Why are you feeling unwell?"
"It's okay." Song Lingyi patted his arm gently with a gentle smile, but she had a vague guess in her heart.
Thinking carefully, this month's Guishui was delayed for half a month. She had been busy with the New Year's Eve affairs, so she had never taken it seriously. Now it seems that she is very likely pregnant...
Thinking of this, her eyelids twitched twice.
A quarter of an hour later, the imperial physician came hurriedly to take the patient's pulse and examine him.
The father and daughter stayed by the queen's side, their eyes filled with worry. When the pulse was taken, the imperial physician put away the silk scarf draped around the queen's wrist and congratulated her with a smile on his face, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! The queen is pregnant!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the heavy atmosphere in the palace dissipated. Hong Ju and Feng Tong exchanged glances, and together with the other palace servants, they knelt down in congratulations: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Your Majesty! A new baby has been born in the New Year, a double blessing!"
Xiao Mingyi was stunned for a long moment before coming back to his senses. His gaze fell on Song Lingyi's abdomen, and his thick eyebrows knitted slightly. "Are you really pregnant?"
The imperial physician nodded and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress is not pregnant yet and her pulse is still shallow, but it is indeed a positive pulse."
Hearing this, Xiao Mingyi felt both happy and worried. Thinking of the absurdity of this morning, he immediately pulled the imperial physician aside to ask.
"Ah? This..." The imperial physician looked surprised, but quickly calmed down. "Judging from the pulse, there is no problem at the moment."
Not only Xiao Mingyi, but Song Lingyi was also a little surprised and dazed.
Ever since the birth of the little princess and witnessing the hardships of childbirth, Xiao Mingyi has been very determined not to have a second child for the time being. Even if the court officials and the empress dowager urge the king, he remains as steady as a rock.
The child came so suddenly that the Emperor and Empress hadn't adjusted yet. The little princess, on the other hand, was delighted. She stroked her mother's belly and said innocently, "Mother, I want a younger brother! Can you give me a younger brother?"
Song Lingyi smiled and said, "Why do you have to have a younger brother?"
"A younger sister is fine too. If she's a younger sister, Yan'er can protect her." Xiao Fuyan pouted and spoke coherently, "But if she's a younger brother, then he can play with me."
If her cousin doesn’t want to play with her, then let her younger brother play with her!
The emperor and empress smiled at each other.
Until midnight, the new year arrives.
The palace maids wanted to enter the hall to congratulate, but Xiao Mingyi stopped them with his hand and signaled them to leave with his eyes.
The night is quiet and deep, and the floating light is hazy.
Warm candlelight blanketed the hall. On the quiet New Year's Eve, Song Lingyi reclined on the couch, eyes closed. The candlelight reflected on her jade-like face, as if coated with a light golden glow. Meanwhile, Xiao Fuyan lay in her arms, her lips slightly curled, as if she were dreaming a sweet dream.
Looking at this scene, Xiao Mingyi felt a warmth in his heart. He leaned over and kissed Song Lingyi on the forehead.
…
It was not until March of the next year that the empress's pregnancy was stable, and the emperor announced the good news of the empress's pregnancy in the court.
All officials came forward to congratulate, and both the government and the people were looking forward to the birth of the second heir to the throne of Dayuan.
In the late autumn of the fifth year of Jianyuan, a prince was born and given the name "Cong". The emperor held a three-day banquet in the capital and issued a general amnesty to celebrate the prince's birth.
The emperor and empress were deeply in love with each other, and their love became a beautiful story in Dayuan.
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