The next morning, the first light of dawn broke, and the soft light, like a veil, shone across every corner of the capital. Jiang Yan rose early and carefully selected a brand new official robe to don. The robe was well-cut, its color solemn, and its intricate embroidery, faintly visible in the morning light, betrayed his status and position. He carefully adjusted his attire in front of the bronze mirror, his lips curling upwards unconsciously, his eyes gleaming brightly behind his glasses, as if a sky full of stars were hidden, shimmering and glittering.
As he walked briskly toward the court, his colleagues cast curious glances at him along the way, many of them jokingly saying, "Master Jiang, your face is so rosy today, is there some great joy?" Jiang Yan's mind instantly flashed back to the heartwarming scene of Su Jinli leaning delicately in his arms after her morning sickness last night, her eyes curved as she whispered, "The baby kicked me." At that moment, her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, carrying the surprise and happiness of being a new mother, and his heart was instantly filled with sweetness, as if he had a honey pot in his pocket. However, he only responded modestly, "Nothing, nothing."
Soon, Jiang Yan arrived at the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and the morning court officially began. The emperor sat high atop the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping across the courtiers before settling on Jiang Yan. A smile suddenly broke out on his face, and he patted the throne's armrests. He declared, "Jiang Yan, I heard you're going to be a father soon?" This cry reverberated through the hall like a bell, instantly drawing the attention of every official and military official. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan's smile grew ever brighter, the joy in his heart like a flood bursting through a dam, difficult to contain. He hastily straightened his clothes, bowed respectfully, and said, "Thanks to the Emperor's great blessing, I... I am indeed honored to be a father." His words were filled with the pride and joy of being a father.
I don't know which minister burst out laughing first, and then, a low chuckle filled the entire hall. This laughter was filled with congratulations to Jiang Yan, but also with a sense of lightheartedness and joy. The emperor smiled and gently tapped the imperial desk, saying loudly, "Excellent! My 'Imperial Envoy for Defending Injustices' has a successor! Jiang Yan, tell me, what reward do you wish for?"
Jiang Yan was about to express his gratitude when the image of Su Jinli's discomfort last night flashed through his mind like a movie. She was leaning on the bed, her figure was thin, and the pain of morning sickness made her face pale. Her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and her hair was soaked with sweat, sticking to her cheeks. Jiang Yan felt distressed and reached out to gently smooth her hair. Su Jinli raised her head slightly, with a hint of fatigue and helplessness in her eyes, but she tried to force a smile. This scene was like a heavy hammer, hitting Jiang Yan's heart hard. His throat tightened, and he blurted out without thinking: "Your Majesty, I have nothing else to ask for, I just hope that my wife and child are safe." Because he was too emotional, his voice trembled slightly, and the ending tone was trembling with an undisguised tremor.
Upon hearing this, the emperor was slightly stunned, then he sighed softly and said with emotion, "It's rare that you're so devoted, Jiang Yan... But the rules can't be broken. Come on, I'll give you a hundred taels of gold, a hundred rolls of silk, and ten copies of 'The Manual of Child-Raising'. Jiang Yan, you must study hard when you return!"
Jiang Yan hurriedly bowed in thanks, but deep down, he couldn't wait to leave the court and return to Su Jinli's side, to be by her side and take care of her. However, before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, the emperor slowly spoke again, "Jiang Yan, please stay. I have something important to discuss with you."
The other officials gradually withdrew from the court, leaving only the Emperor and Jiang Yan in the vast Qianqing Palace. Jiang Yan stood erect, but his mind was agitated, his thoughts already drifting back to the Prime Minister's residence, concerned about Su Jinli's well-being. The Emperor slowly walked over to Jiang Yan, his eyes thoughtful as he spoke, "I'm wondering if, when your child is born, if he proves to be intelligent, should we bring him into the palace as a companion? He could study with the Crown Prince in the future, learning from each other and contributing to the great cause of our dynasty."
Jiang Yan was about to respond when a sudden, clamorous noise erupted from outside the hall, shattering the now-quiet atmosphere. Immediately afterwards, a young eunuch tumbled in, looking panicked. His hat tilted to one side, its tassel jiggling violently as he moved. He thumped to his knees and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty! This is terrible! Lord Jiang was in the court…he was shouting, 'I'm going to be a father!' He even jumped up in excitement and accidentally knocked over the Imperial Censor's tablet!"
The emperor and Jiang Yan were both stunned. Jiang Yan looked bewildered. He clearly remembered that he had not done such an inappropriate thing. Could it be that he was too excited and his memory was distorted?
"Nonsense!" The emperor was furious when he heard this. He slammed the table so hard that the pens, inkstones, and paper on it shook. "Jiang Yan, isn't he standing right here? How dare you, you dog slave, talk nonsense in front of me!"
The young eunuch was trembling with fear and kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead hitting the ground with a "dong dong" sound. He stammered, "It was... it was another Lord Jiang... Oh no, it was Lord Zhang from the Ministry of Revenue who misheard. He thought it was Lord Jiang who was shouting, so he followed suit, and in his excitement, he accidentally knocked Censor Li's tablet off his head..."
Jiang Yan couldn't help but laugh as he listened to the eunuch's explanation, his tense nerves instantly relaxing. The emperor couldn't help but laugh too, waving his hand and saying, "Never mind, it seems your good news has spread throughout the court and become a source of amusement today. Jiang Yan, you should go back first. Stay with your wife and take good care of her. Don't let this joyous family moment go to waste."
Jiang Yan accepted the order, his heart filled with gratitude towards the emperor. After bowing once more, he hurriedly left the Palace of Heavenly Purity and rode his horse at full speed back to the Prime Minister's Residence.
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