Chapter 64: The paper still can't cover it up. Huo Xiuyu is pregnant, and she drinks water...
No one in the harem was more powerful than the Grand Empress Dowager, so it was easy for the ancestor to protect someone. The period of peace and tranquility was naturally due to the fact that the masters and servants in the Yikun Palace had kept the matter hidden.
Actually, it cannot be said to be "hiding". After all, Xiu Yu is currently only a concubine. They themselves do not publicize it, and Xuanye has never mentioned it in other palaces. It is natural that others do not know about it.
In addition, people wore more clothes in winter, and when Xiu Yu and other concubines went to pay their respects to the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager and the Queen, they always covered themselves up. Therefore, until the end of December, when the mistress of Yiku Palace was pregnant, few people in the palace knew about it.
People say that "auspicious snow means a good harvest", and at the end of the 16th year of the Kangxi reign, there were indeed several heavy snowfalls. Even in the New Year, the snow in the Yiku Palace was still very thick and showed no sign of melting.
Xuanye arrived at the Yiku Palace before lunch, and there was still snow on his boots when he entered the warm room.
Xiu Yuyuan was reading a book. When she saw Xuanye coming, she put the book on the tea table, stood up, walked to him, and took off the fox fur coat for him.
Xuanye took the hand warmer Xiaotao handed him and smiled at Xiuyu, saying, "It's almost New Year's, and reports from all the provinces are being sent to the capital, piling up like a mountain."
Xiu Yu also smiled and said, "You are so busy. Wouldn't it be nice to rest in the Qianqing Palace at noon? Why did you come to my place?"
Xuanye felt his hands were no longer as cold, so he handed the hand warmer back to Xiao Tao. He held Xiu Yu's hand and said, "I like your lunch. Is that reason enough?"
"Please stop it." Xiu Yu pouted, but still smiled: "I haven't cooked for a while. The food lately has been sent here by the imperial kitchen. You can eat it anywhere."
Xuanye took Xiuyu in his arms and walked towards the warm room. He said, "I come to see you every day and feel at ease. If I don't see you, I feel a little uneasy. What's the reason for this?"
"Although it doesn't sound like the truth, it still sounds very pleasant." Xiu Yu's eyes were cunning. Before Xuanye could get angry, she had already brought the small snacks on the tea table to his mouth: "I have been following the emperor's orders and haven't been able to cook recently. Today, I just made some snacks to send you a sample."
Xuanye naturally understood Xiuyu's thoughts. He tasted the snack first before saying, "You are the type who can't stay here. I don't expect you to listen to everything I say. It's not easy for you to endure until today."
Xiu Yu snorted lightly and said, "You said something very nice, like 'I'll take you with me whenever I leave the palace from now on', but what happened? Since that day, you've never left the palace again. You really haven't broken your promise." She bit her lip lightly, and the blame in her words was naturally clear.
Xuanye laughed heartily, helped Xiu Yu sit down, and then said, "You can't blame me for this. Ever since I issued the decree to allow Zhang Ying and Gao Shiqi to work in the Southern Study, these two guys have been like teachers spurring me on to study. They talk about everything under the sun, and I can't just listen and not say anything. Not to mention in the Qianqing Palace, even here with you, I have spent many days burning the midnight oil studying. You know that."
"So, you're afraid of being outdone." Xiu Yu smiled faintly and said, "Yu'er used to think everyone in the world was praising you. Those who dared to outdo you were rare. Even if you did meet one..."
She paused.
Xuanye immediately asked with a stern face: "If I meet him, what do you think?"
Xiu Yu said: "It is only natural to turn a blind eye."
Xuanye laughed heartily, pulled Xiu Yu into his arms, and said, "That was a mediocre ruler. I want to be a wise ruler. Don't even mention Gao Shiqi and the others. I didn't say anything sullen when I lost to you, did I?"
"Let's not talk about this anymore." Xiu Yu turned and looked at Xuan Ye, saying, "It's the end of the year now. I've taken a look at the account book you sent me. It's a break-even trade."
"A break-even deal, very good." Xuanye's eyes revealed fatigue. After all, he worked at his desk reviewing memorials all day long, and it was rare for him to relax. His spirit relaxed as well, and he looked tired.
Xiu Yu put a pillow under Xuanye and said, "Take a rest lying on your side. If you fall asleep, I'll call you later."
"No more rest." Xuanye waved his hand and yawned, "I'll finish lunch with you, then I'll go back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity."
"Are you so busy?" Xiu Yu felt distressed when she saw Xuanye's expression. "There are too many memorials. Why don't you take a break before reading them? Do you really have to finish them all at once?"
Xuanye smiled and said, "I don't blame you for saying that. When I first saw you last year, this period had already passed. You saw me, having recovered my strength. There is always a period like this every year, when it passes and the sky is clear and the air is fresh." As he spoke, he put his arm around Xiuyu's waist, but he was also very careful: "It seems that the child has grown a little bit, and the waist has become thicker."
Xiu Yu touched her bulging belly and sighed, "Yes, the child has grown a little."
Xuanye placed his large hand on Xiuyu's small one, and together they caressed their child. "We'll have a family dinner in a few days. I'm afraid we won't be able to hide the fact that you're pregnant anymore. Are you ready?"
Xiu Yu felt a headache when she thought about this: "Actually, there's nothing to prepare. I just didn't talk about it before."
"They've been suspicious for a long time." Xuanye inquired about the fragrance on Xiuyu's body, and the fatigue of the whole morning dissipated a little. "Yanlan asked me and the ancestors repeatedly, and even Zifu had doubts. I don't know what the ancestors said. I was vague, and I guess they both have an idea in their minds. But just relax, the ancestors and I will take good care of you and the child."
Xiu Yu only smiled but said nothing. These days, she tried to eat and sleep well, focusing on the things she enjoyed. However, that dream would always remind her to be extremely careful with this child.
Xuanye was thoughtful. On the night of the family dinner, he ordered Liang Jiugong to replace the wine in the jug on Xiuyu's table with warm water, and not to place any cold food on Xiuyu's table.
Niuhulu Yanlan sat next to Xuanye. When the banquet was halfway through, she smiled and said to Xuanye, "Your Majesty, my brother sent me a jar of wine a few days ago. It is an aged fine wine. I think it is a rare occasion for the sisters in the palace to get together today, so please come and have a taste." As soon as she finished speaking, the palace maids in Kunning Palace brought the wine jugs and delivered them to the banquet tables of the ladies.
Xiao Tao rolled her eyes silently and glared at the maid who brought wine to Xiu Yu. With her many years of experience in the harem, she had every reason to suspect that the Empress was testing her master.
That day, Niu Hulu Yanlan raised her wine cup, pointed it towards Xuanye, and said with a smile, "I wish Your Majesty to pacify the Three Feudatories as soon as possible, and I wish the world will be peaceful and prosperous as soon as possible."
The concubines sitting at the bottom also poured themselves the wine brought by the palace maids sent by the Queen and picked up their wine cups.
In such occasions, Xiu Yu was always the focus of everyone's attention, and Niu Hulu Yanlan would look at Xiu Yu from time to time.
Xuanye didn't even look at Nianhulu Yanlan, but simply said: "My Great Qing will surely be peaceful and prosperous. As for this wine..." He gestured to Liang Jiugong to pour him some: "Xiu Yu is pregnant, so just drink water."
Xuanye had dropped such a bombshell so easily. Niu Hulu Yanlan's expression, not quite surprised but somewhat resentful, disappeared in an instant. She looked at Xiu Yu and said with a smile, "Congratulations, sister. How come I didn't know when this happened?"
Xiu Yu replied, "It's not a big deal. I didn't dare to disturb the Empress."
"Yanlan, don't you want to drink?" Xuanye then raised his wine cup. "The Battle of the Three Feudatories will soon be decided. I will win, and Wu Sangui will lose. It is a foregone conclusion. Let's drink..." He looked at Xiuyu, remembering that he and Xiuyu had looked at the map of the Qing Dynasty together, and at the small island of Taiwan. Xiuyu had even earned him 20,000 taels of silver to build cannons. He said, "I hope that my Qing Dynasty will unify the world soon. We cannot give up even a small island."
Except for Xiaozhuang and Xiu Yu, no one else present could understand the meaning of Xuanye's words. However, as concubines in the harem, everyone knew the art of obedience, and they all smiled and drank the glass of wine with Xuanye.
After three rounds of drinks, Xuanye looked at the time on the Western clock and signaled Liang Jiugong that the next show could begin.
About a quarter of an hour later, the sound of fireworks outside the palace rose and fell. Xuanye helped Xiaozhuang up, personally covered her with a fox fur coat, and said, "Madam, your grandson will accompany you to watch the fireworks."
Xiaozhuang said, "Ma Ma is a little tired. Su Moer will accompany me back to the palace. You guys can have fun."
"Then your grandson will take you back to the palace first." When it comes to being a filial grandson, if Xuanye ranks second, probably no one dares to rank first.
Xiaozhuang patted Xuanye's hand and said, "You rarely have free time all year round. Have fun however you want today."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty." Su Moer smiled and said, "After a whole night of trouble, the princess is tired. I will accompany her back to the Cining Palace." After that, Su Moer helped Xiaozhuang leave the Qianqing Palace.
After watching Xiaozhuang leave, Xuanye said to Nianhulu Yanlan, "If you're not tired, can you play with me for a while?"
"I will naturally accompany the emperor." Niuhulu Yanlan had picked up Xuanye's fox fur coat and put it on him.
At that time, Xiu Yu was also wrapped up tightly, just waiting for the emperor and the empress to go out, and then she would follow them.
Unexpectedly, Xuanye walked straight to Xiuyu and said, "If you are tired, go back to the palace and rest. Don't be so stubborn."
Intellectually, Xiu Yu felt that Xuan Ye was indeed a bit ostentatious, but emotionally, she quite liked this kind of ostentation, so she said: "It's okay, Yu'er knows what's going on."
At this time, the emperor and empress naturally walked together. Tong Jia Zifu, who had been named a noble concubine, walked beside Xiu Yu and said lightly: "Congratulations, you are going to be my mother."
Xiu Yu smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Be careful and attentive." Tong Jia Zifu said calmly, "My cousin should value this child very much, but not everyone is happy."
Xiu Yu actually had never been sure about Tong Jia Zi Fu, so she just nodded.
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