With the official’s words, “If you have a memorial, please proceed. If you don’t, please leave the court…” the morning court on the first day of August officially began.
At first, officials presented their memorials in an orderly manner and discussed matters. However, as the morning court session drew to a close, an official named Yang from the Ministry of Rites said, "August 17th is the Empress Dowager's birthday. This year marks her sixtieth birthday, so we should celebrate it with great fanfare."
As soon as these words were spoken, the court, which had been a little noisy, suddenly became quiet.
The emperor subconsciously exchanged a glance with the prince, and then they both looked at Zhao Yiming. The three of them met their eyes for only a moment before immediately separating.
The Emperor smiled, but his gaze towards Lord Yang grew colder. "What do you think we should do to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I haven't seen the Empress Dowager for more than eighteen years since Prince Wenxuan was granted the fiefdom of Chuzhou. It is said that mother and son are connected by heart. Now that the Empress Dowager is celebrating her sixtieth birthday, what could make the Empress Dowager happier than a mother-son reunion?" Lord Yang was completely oblivious to the stunned looks of the ministers around him, and he spoke complacently and self-righteously.
"Mother and son are reunited, what a great mother and son reunion." The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, and all the imperial pressure poured down on Lord Yang.
"Lord Yang, what you mean is, I am not the Queen Mother's son? I cannot relieve the Queen Mother's longing for her son?"
The atmosphere at the scene suddenly changed. Lord Yang realized it later and immediately knelt on the ground, his whole body covered in cold sweat. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. That is not what I meant."
"Oh? That's not what you mean. Then what does Yang Aiqing mean?" the prince said coldly.
"Your Majesty, what I mean is, is..."
The ministers thought the emperor would be furious on the spot, but they didn't expect the emperor to let it go in the end. "What Yang Aiqing said is not without reason. It seems that in the eyes of the world, I am not as good as my own son. That's all."
The emperor neither said yes nor no, and any smart person could see that he was going to stop there.
I thought the matter was over, but then another minister handed in a memorial, "Prince Wenxuan requests to return to the capital to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday. I originally wanted to submit this memorial to the Imperial Household Department later, and then the Imperial Household Department would hand it over to Your Majesty.
But since Lord Yang has brought up this matter in the court, let's take this opportunity to hand it over directly to the Emperor!" The minister who submitted the memorial was none other than Lord Lu of the Cabinet.
The emperor took the memorial presented by Eunuch Defu with a calm expression. As he read the contents of the memorial, his fists hidden under his dragon robe clenched so hard that they made crackling sounds.
Then he looked down at Lord Lu, and said coldly, "Very good, it seems that Lao Ba's hand is long enough!"
This matter was brought up again and again, and the emperor naturally could no longer avoid the important issues. In front of all the civil and military officials, he personally approved Prince Wenxuan's memorial and allowed him to return to Beijing to attend the empress dowager's birthday banquet.
After the court was dismissed, Zhao Yiming and the prince had just walked to the door of the imperial study when they heard the sound of teacups breaking inside.
The two looked at each other and walked in quickly.
When they returned from the palace, it was almost dark. Zhao Yiming was thinking of Tian An who was pregnant at home, so he abandoned the carriage, took Jingyu's horse, mounted it, whipped it, and rushed home without stopping.
In the flower hall, Tian An, who couldn't help but feel greedy while watching Zhao Yiming eating, asked the maid to bring him a pair of chopsticks. He picked up food for Zhao Yiming and put it into his own mouth.
Zhao Yiming shook his head helplessly. "Didn't you say yesterday that you had to control your weight? Why aren't you afraid now?"
Tian An was completely captivated by the delicious food. He didn't even remember what he said yesterday. He just said casually, "Just a little bit. It's okay."
Zhao Yiming knew that she couldn't control herself and was afraid that she would gain weight and suffer during childbirth, so he sped up her eating and asked the servants to clean up quickly.
Sure enough, as soon as the food was cleared away, Tian An regained his composure, "Ah! Why did I eat so much again?"
Seeing her frustrated look, Zhao Yiming felt distressed. "Don't worry, I'll go out with you to eat and burn some energy. Isn't it said that proper exercise is good for childbirth?"
At the same time, I made a secret note in my mind that if I came back late again, I must not eat in front of her again.
The two of them came back from a walk around the garden. After Tian An fell asleep, Zhao Yiming took the time to ask Madam Xiao.
"An An's due date is in the next few days. Have you arranged everything?"
When talking about Tian An's pregnancy, Nanny Xiao couldn't stop smiling.
"Master, don't worry. The delivery room has been prepared long ago. We have all the necessary supplies. We disinfect it twice a day so we can be prepared for any emergency.
Since the day before yesterday, Princess Yaoyao arranged for Miss Yuhong and others to take turns to follow the Madam closely, for fear that the Madam would suddenly have an attack and there would be no one available around her.
Four wet nurses were also selected to ensure that the young master and young lady would not have enough to eat.
I also instructed the servants to notify the General's Mansion and the Duke of Anguo's Mansion as soon as Madam starts..."
Zhao Yiming listened carefully to Nanny Xiao's arrangements. After she finished, he thought about it again and made sure there was nothing to add before he gave up! "Madam, you are so careful. If you weren't here, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to prepare so thoroughly."
At this point, Madam Xiao sighed, "These are all things I've experienced personally! How can I not be careful if it happens again?
When I first followed the princess, I was young and inexperienced. If the Duke's wife hadn't been there, I'm afraid the princess would have suffered.
Fortunately, now that it is Madam’s turn, this old servant can finally be of use.”
After chatting with Nanny Xiao, Zhao Yiming did not rest, but called Jingyu and Deng Xue.
Now that Prince Wenxuan is returning to the capital, judging by the grudge between them, he will not let them go. Tian An is about to give birth, so the news must not be disclosed at this time.
Deng Xue's task was naturally Tian An. Zhao Yiming gave her a death order that she must be on high alert during this period and must not leave Tian An's side no matter what happened.
If anyone wants to use force, including people in the palace, he will take action directly. If anything goes wrong, he will take the blame.
After Deng Xue left, Zhao Yiming continued to discuss the defense of the mansion with Jingyu until the late night, and only stopped when they were sure that there would be no hidden dangers from now until Tian An gave birth!
Back in their room, looking at Tian An's sleeping face, he habitually put his hand on her pregnant belly.
The little guy inside seemed to sense something and pushed up Tian An's belly into a bulge in the palm of his hand.
Zhao Yiming wasn't surprised at all. He skillfully rubbed the area with his fingers and whispered, "Are you Nanchen or Xiyue? Why aren't you sleeping so late? Be good and don't wake up your mother."
After he finished speaking, the bulge returned to normal, and Zhao Yiming finally fell asleep with his mother in his arms.
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