Chapter 275 It is not advisable to publicize it extensively.
Shen Qingci quickly reached out and pressed down on Chu Jichen's hand, which was about to be raised.
She looked at him, and in her clear phoenix eyes, there was not a trace of the joy of becoming a mother, but rather a calmness and solemnity.
“At this time,” her voice was soft yet filled with undeniable firmness, “this matter… is not yet suitable for widespread publicity.”
The ecstasy on Chu Jichen's face instantly froze.
He frowned deeply, his deep phoenix eyes filled with undisguised incomprehension and displeasure.
Shen Qingci smiled when she saw his expression.
She reached out and gently smoothed his furrowed brow, her voice filled with reassurance: "You have just ascended the throne, and your foundation is not yet secure. Who knows how many eyes are still lurking in the shadows, watching us intently, waiting to find fault with us."
"At this time, we need to be even more careful and cautious in our actions, and avoid causing any unforeseen complications."
“Especially,” a cold glint flashed in her eyes, “there is also Huo Yunting.”
"We still don't know what his true purpose is. If he finds out I'm pregnant now, wouldn't that be... handing him leverage over us?"
Chu Jichen's gaze instantly darkened.
He remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly, his voice filled with reluctant compromise: "Fine."
After he finished speaking, he seemed to remember something and called out to summon Physician Li, Yuanbao, and all the other close servants.
Without even glancing at them, he took a priceless jade pendant with dragon patterns from his waist and casually tossed it to Physician Li.
Then, he casually waved his hand at Yuanbao and the others: "You have all contributed to today's events. Yuanbao, you take them to the Imperial Household Department, and each of them will receive one hundred taels of gold."
Upon hearing this, Physician Li and Yuanbao were overjoyed and immediately knelt down to express their gratitude!
Chu Jichen seemed oblivious to their ecstatic expressions, slowly raising his eyes, his deep phoenix eyes filled with coldness and warning.
"The Empress's pregnancy," his voice was icy and chilling, "must be kept completely silent by me."
"If I were to overhear even a whisper of this from someone else..."
His voice suddenly turned fierce, filled with deadly killing intent!
"Bring me your head!"
Yuanbao felt a chill on the back of his neck and subconsciously looked up, only to meet his master's gaze, which was both subtle and full of warning!
His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly patted his chest, solemnly promising, "Your Majesty, rest assured! My mouth is sealed tight! Even if someone held a knife to my throat, I would never... reveal a single secret!"
Chu Jichen glanced at him indifferently, it was unclear whether he believed him or not, he just waved his hand casually, signaling them to leave.
As soon as the others left, the heavy palace door slowly closed again, and the cold imperial majesty on Chu Jichen's face vanished without a trace.
He immediately turned around, maneuvered his wheelchair to Shen Qingci, and carefully pulled her back into his arms.
His hand gently covered her still flat stomach, a gesture filled with unprecedented tenderness and devotion.
"What..." he frowned, his voice filled with confusion, "there's not a sound at all?"
He gently touched it again, his eyes full of confusion: "The belly... isn't that big. How could such a small place... carry someone?"
Looking at his silly appearance, Shen Qingci felt both annoyed and amused, and she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.
“I’m only newly pregnant,” she explained helplessly. “It’s still early in the pregnancy, so naturally I can’t tell, and I can’t feel the baby moving.”
“At least,” she looked at him, her voice full of tenderness, “it will take five or six months before it becomes…more noticeable.”
"It'll take that long?" Chu Jichen's brows furrowed instantly, his tone filled with undisguised disappointment.
Shen Qingci laughed: "That's normal, it always takes this long."
Chu Jichen pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time before finally muttering reluctantly, "Fine."
"I... can wait."
Before long, Yuanbao and Yelan returned to the palace.
Ye Lan bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress. When we went to the Imperial Household Department to receive our rewards just now, the chief eunuch... subtly inquired about what had happened today that made Your Majesty so delighted?"
“I don’t know if he was trying to find out intentionally or just asking casually,” Yuanbao added. “I just said that His Majesty was overjoyed to ascend the throne and it was only right to reward the officials.”
He tilted his head slightly, looking smug. He knew it; he would keep his mouth shut.
Chu Jichen's gaze instantly darkened.
He subconsciously turned his head to look at Shen Qingci beside him, and for the first time, a sense of lingering fear arose in his heart.
Only then did he belatedly realize just how out of control he had been.
He couldn't help but think, thank goodness...
Fortunately, Qingqing stopped him.
Otherwise, if he were to announce this matter to the world, what kind of perilous situation would Qingqing and their unborn child face in this palace, which has long been infiltrated by various forces like a sieve? It's simply unimaginable!
Shen Qingci naturally understood what he was thinking. She reached out and gently covered the back of his hand, patting it soothingly.
In the afternoon, Shen Qingci left the palace alone and returned to her residence.
As they walked to a secluded spot beneath the palace wall, they suddenly heard the faint, hushed conversation of several palace servants coming from inside the wall.
"...Hey, tell me, is our new emperor's leg healed or not?"
"Who knows? I did see him stand up and walk a few steps in the Golden Hall before. But these past two days, he's been... still sitting in that wheelchair."
“I bet,” another voice said, lower and more gloating, “that he’s probably not fully recovered at all! Maybe he’s just putting on a brave face and pretending!”
"That's right! I heard that his leg was completely broken back then! It's not that easy to just get it healed like that."
Shen Qingci's steps suddenly stopped.
She listened intently, and a layer of frost instantly settled in her clear phoenix eyes.
The timing of these palace servants' appearance was extremely suspicious.
This palace path was already secluded, and few people usually passed by. Yet they chose this time, here... to discuss Chu Jichen's leg ailment in hushed tones.
The sound wasn't loud, but it was just enough for her, who was "unintentionally" passing by, to hear it clearly.
This was clearly... said on purpose for her to hear!
Shen Qingci's thoughts raced through her mind in an instant.
Who is it?
Who exactly is trying to test her in this way?
She slowly raised her eyes and gave Wanqing a subtle wink.
Wanqing immediately understood!
She suddenly raised her foot and kicked open the already dilapidated palace gate!
"presumptuous!"
She shouted angrily, her voice filled with an undeniable authority, which instantly frightened the palace servants who were chatting excitedly in the corner, making them tremble all over!
They turned around abruptly, and when they saw that the people who came were Wan Qing and Shen Qingci following behind, all the color drained from their faces, and with a "thump," they all knelt down on the ground!
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, please spare us! We...we will never dare to do it again!"
Wanqing ignored their pleas for mercy. She strode forward and, without thinking, slapped the leading palace maid hard across the face!
"Smack—!"
"Speaking ill of your master behind his back, gossiping!" Her voice was icy cold. "Slap him!"
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