Chapter 276 Li Nanke's auspicious words came true
After a moment's thought, the emperor made a decision.
"Then I'll reward the Lady of Fu'an County with another box of gold, silver and jade artifacts, and another box of cloth. Ding Wang, make the arrangements and have someone deliver them directly to the Marquis of Anping's residence in a little while."
Li Nanke, Song Yi, and Li Mu hurriedly came out to kowtow and express their gratitude.
The emperor raised his hand to signal them to rise, his smiling gaze falling on Li Nanke.
"Princess of Fu'an County, today is New Year's Eve. Won't you say a few auspicious words to me?"
Li Nanke silently complained to himself.
What you really want isn't auspicious words, but rather that you think I'm a lucky star and want to hear some good omens from my mouth.
She thought about it for a moment.
In her dream, she endured immense suffering on her journey into exile that year, and heard nothing unusual about Bianjing.
With her heart slightly at ease, she kowtowed, raised her head, and smiled slightly, revealing two sweet dimples.
"Your Majesty, I wish you good health, peace throughout the land, and that all the ladies may remain youthful and blessed with many children."
The emperor stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"Good, good, good! May you stay young forever and have many children and much happiness. You little girl, you know how to talk. It came true as soon as you said it!"
The emperor looked at Li Nanke with affection, thinking to himself that this little girl was truly adorable.
Even when facing him, the true Son of Heaven, he spoke with great confidence and without any awkwardness.
She was raised in a prestigious family, and she was different from Zhao Wanqing, who came from a poor family.
Little did they know that Empress Xue was secretly gritting her teeth in anger.
That wretched girl Li Nanke really has a way with words.
What does "many children, many blessings" mean?
Your Majesty has enough with her legitimate son, Changsheng!
Just as I was about to say something, I suddenly heard a retching sound behind me.
Consort Wang suddenly clutched her chest, turned away, and gagged, covering her face.
It turned out that a palace attendant had placed a fish dish in front of her.
Consort Wang covered her mouth with a handkerchief and explained with a pale face, "I smelled a fishy smell and suddenly felt unwell."
Please forgive me, Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress.
Fishy smell?
Remembering what Li Nanke had just said, the emperor immediately beckoned for the imperial physician to come over.
"Take the pulse of the Imperial Concubine."
Consort Wang explained with a smile, "It's alright, Your Majesty need not worry, nor need you trouble the imperial physicians."
The emperor raised his hand, signaling her to be quiet.
The imperial physician carefully examined the pulse, then knelt on the ground with a smile.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Imperial Concubine is more than a month pregnant!"
"really?"
The emperor was so startled that he stood up abruptly.
The imperial physician nodded firmly.
"The Imperial Concubine's pulse is as smooth as a rolling pearl, which is undoubtedly a sign of pregnancy."
Consort Wang was also shocked, her eyes widening in disbelief as she placed her hand on her abdomen.
She is 42 years old this year. She damaged her health when she gave birth to the second princess in her early years and has not been able to conceive since.
A few years ago, she had secretly hoped that she could give birth to a prince.
As she got older, she had long since given up on those thoughts.
I never expected to get pregnant again at this age?
Consort Wang was so shocked that she didn't know how to react.
But the ministers and noblewomen below, especially the Wang family, were all overjoyed and quickly stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Imperial Concubine!"
The hall was filled with congratulatory voices for a moment.
"Haha, good, good, good. Today is New Year's Eve and tomorrow is New Year's Day. This child really knows how to pick a day. He will definitely be a lucky child in the future."
Consort Wang gave him a reproachful look.
"It's only been a little over a month, how does Your Majesty know that it's a blessed child?"
"Your child is certainly a blessed child, especially since Princess Fu'an just said that many children bring many blessings."
The emperor, recalling Li Nanke's words, became even more excited.
It's no exaggeration to say that this little girl is a lucky star. She said that the empresses would have many children and much happiness, and the Imperial Concubine was diagnosed with pregnancy shortly afterward.
While the emperor was planning to spend more time in the harem during the New Year, he gave instructions to Ding Wang.
“Add another reward to the Lady of Fu’an County; this little girl is a lucky one.”
Li Nanke was stunned for a moment, but Song Yi secretly tugged at her before she reacted and kowtowed to express her gratitude.
She truly didn't know that Consort Wang was pregnant. She had only said a few auspicious words, and who knew she would stumble upon this by chance.
"Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your generous gift."
"Alright, alright, I'll come to the palace to visit Consort Gui and Consort Shu whenever I have time."
"Your subject obeys the decree."
Li Nanke thanked them and returned to his seat with Song Yi.
Many noblewomen nearby nodded in greeting, and those close by even whispered their congratulations to Song Yi, taking the opportunity to invite her and Li Nanke to visit during the New Year.
"The Princess of Fu'an is a blessed person praised by His Majesty himself. He will surely let us share in her good fortune."
"Madam Song, we've already agreed that you must bring the Princess of Fu'an to visit us."
The group surrounded Song Yi and Li Nanke, chatting animatedly.
In contrast, the seats of Song Hui and Zhao Wanqing, just one seat away, were much less crowded.
They had also received a reward from His Majesty, and they were the ones who saved the Crown Prince's life, but unexpectedly, Li Nanke stole all the limelight.
Looking at Song Yi and Li Nanke, who were being fawned over like stars around the moon, Song Hui felt increasingly angry.
He secretly pinched Zhao Wanqing and muttered a complaint to her.
"His Majesty just called you over to speak, why didn't you think of saying a few auspicious words?"
You missed out on the reward that could have been obtained by saying a few auspicious words. How could you be so foolish?
Song Hui grew angrier as she spoke, and pinched Zhao Wanqing's arm hard again.
Zhao Wanqing trembled with pain, but dared not cry out. She bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.
Song Hui grew angrier the more she thought about it, and deliberately raised her voice, saying, "Ke'er, it's not that your aunt is criticizing you, but sitting up there are not only His Majesty, the Empress, and all the ladies-in-waiting."
"But what about the eldest prince, the princess, and the princes? Why do you only offer these auspicious words to His Majesty and the empresses?"
Her voice, though tinged with laughter, was shrill, like a hen whose tail had been stepped on.
The hall fell silent instantly.
Empress Xue smiled faintly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
“What Zhao Songshi said makes sense. Princess Fu’an, please also offer New Year’s greetings and auspicious words to the eldest prince, the princess and the princes.”
Li Nanke really wanted to roll her eyes.
What is she?
Is this a special message to send blessings?
But since Empress Xue had spoken, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and stand up again.
I looked up at the person sitting at the head of the table.
Besides Princess Zhaoning and Princess Zhaokang, there were only Shen Cong and Shen Xu.
The princesses who had already married sat below with their husbands' families, and the other princes of the imperial clan also sat below.
Princesses Zhaoning and Zhaokang are one thing, but then there's Shen Cong. She can spout a whole bunch of auspicious words.
But he didn't want to say a single word to Shen Xu.
Li Nanke's gaze suddenly met Shen Cong's.
Shen Cong rested his chin on one hand, watching her with great interest.
Her eyes darted around, and she smiled slightly.
"Your Highness, I wish you a peaceful and healthy new year, and all things going smoothly!"
"This humble woman wishes all the princesses happiness every day and that they grow more and more beautiful."
Then he paused, his gaze falling on Shen Xu.
When Shen Xu met her bright, dark eyes, he subconsciously straightened his back, a hint of anticipation rising in his eyes.
He wanted to see what auspicious words Li Nanke would say to him.
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