Cining Palace
When the Empress Dowager learned that Princess Yong'an had entered the palace, she was overjoyed and kept saying to Granny Gui, "Qing'er just returned the day before yesterday, and An'an has returned today. They are both good children."
Granny Gui was also holding it from the side, her wrinkles smoothing out. "Yes, the princess and the princess miss you very much."
"You're so good with words," the Empress Dowager said with a smile. Anyone with eyes could see that she was in a very good mood. "The entire Cining Palace will receive double the monthly salary this month."
Immediately, the entire Cining Palace was filled with joy, everyone marveling at how much Princess Yong'an and Princess Qing held in the Empress Dowager's heart. Especially Granny Gui, who had spoken those words, hurriedly thanked the Empress Dowager for her kindness.
Upon hearing the news, Xinrong rushed over, still panting when she arrived at Cining Palace. "The Empress Dowager heard that An'an has returned?" Her maid, Zhilan, patted Xinrong on the back with concern.
"Yes, I heard they entered the palace early this morning. They should be seeing the Emperor again now." The Empress Dowager was in a very good mood. Seeing Xinrong rushing over, she told the palace maids to quickly serve her tea.
"Tell the kitchen to prepare more of An'an's favorite foods. She should at least finish lunch before leaving the palace," the Empress Dowager instructed Granny Gui, who was standing beside her.
Granny Gui readily agreed, "If I may ask, would Your Majesty like to prepare some of the Emperor's favorite dishes?" After all, the princess has returned to the palace, and it is very likely that the Emperor will also come here for lunch.
The Empress Dowager then remembered, "Right, also prepare some of the Emperor's favorite foods. They might be here soon, so have the kitchen prepare some of An'an's favorite snacks." The Empress Dowager gave Gui Mama another instruction before she left.
Even Xinrong, who was resting to the side, felt sorry for the Empress Dowager. "Empress Dowager, please rest here first. An'an and the others will be here soon."
The old lady only verbally agreed, but her eyes unconsciously drifted towards the door. Xinrong could only pick out some interesting things to tell the old lady.
Sure enough, Anke and Ertai were sitting in the Emperor's Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"She just got married and is already rushing to the palace? Just like before." The Emperor had just finished dealing with the memorials and was in a very good mood. The borders were relatively peaceful and the palace was relatively harmonious. The Emperor had nothing to worry about for the time being.
"Isn't this to go back to the palace to see my grandmother and uncle?" An Ke blurted out, then added, "Does that mean my uncle doesn't like An An?"
What was the Emperor supposed to say? He opened his eyes wide and immediately began to coax her, "This is really indiscriminate! Tell me, which item in my private treasury has caught your eye this time?" Anyone who could put on this fake crying act knew that she definitely wanted something.
"I heard that a glass cup just came out of the official kiln a couple of days ago." An Ke blinked her big eyes innocently, as if she were the most innocent and naive person in the world.
The Emperor's eyes twitched with pain, and he suppressed the twitching at the corner of his mouth as he asked, "You certainly know how to pick things. Where did you hear this gossip from?"
"That's no need for you to worry about, Your Majesty. Just tell me if there is or isn't there?" How could An Ke betray her teammates? What if there were no more inside information later?
"Yes, Xiao Lu, go and bring out that glass cup that I just received yesterday." The Emperor could only sigh helplessly and ordered Xiao Lu in a bad mood.
Xiao Luzi kept his presence to a minimum; when two powerful figures quarrel, he didn't want innocent bystanders to get hurt. He bowed his head and presented the glass cup to the Emperor.
The Emperor closed his eyes and pushed the glass cup towards An Ke, saying, "Take it; consider it your wedding gift." Sigh, another treasure in his private treasury has been depleted.
Forget it, I'll just pretend I never owned that treasure.
"An Ke thanks Your Majesty." An Ke picked up the glass cup on the table and examined it closely under the sunlight. Then she handed the glass cup to Xingxing behind her and instructed her to keep it safe.
Seeing that it was getting late, and thinking that the Empress Dowager was probably also asking for an encore, the Emperor said he would accompany them to the Cining Palace to see the Empress Dowager.
An Ke has just acquired a treasure, so it's natural for her to say whatever she wants. Besides, she'll be traveling to the palace in a sedan chair, so it won't tire her out.
The Empress Dowager had been waiting at the Cining Palace for a long time, and Granny Gui had already laid out the princess's favorite snacks. Xinrong had been telling stories until her throat was dry, and she had already drunk two cups of flower tea. Finally, the moment they had been eagerly anticipating arrived.
Before the Emperor and the others could pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, she herself stepped down first, took Anke's hand, and went up again, completely ignoring the Emperor.
The Emperor was not annoyed, but simply looked at the grandfather and granddaughter above with a smile. The Empress Dowager also carefully examined An Ke, and then said with a sigh, "Hmm, not bad, she hasn't lost weight."
“Of course, An’an has been eating a lot these past few days.” An Ke squinted and leaned on the old lady’s shoulder.
"When the Empress Dowager heard that the Princess was coming, she instructed me to prepare lunch early this morning. Please, gentlemen, move to the dining hall," said Granny Gui hurriedly, as if seeking praise.
“Grandmother,” Anke called out gratefully.
The Empress Dowager patted An Ke's hand reassuringly, then glared at Granny Gui and scolded with a smile, "All you do is try to curry favor with these younger folks."
"Granny Gui was just stating the facts. The Empress Dowager treats An'an so well, and An'an is grateful for it." An Ke knew that the Empress Dowager was not being sincere, so she naturally knew to say some nice things to coax her.
The group walked to the dining hall, chatting and laughing together.
During the meal, Xinrong told several interesting stories, making the Empress Dowager and Anke smile broadly. Meanwhile, the Emperor, with Ertai by his side, also chatted very happily.
After lunch, it was time for the Empress Dowager to rest. However, before returning to her chambers, she held Anke's hand and said she would stay for dinner. Anke agreed, and only after being persuaded by Granny Gui and Anke did the Empress Dowager reluctantly return to her chambers.
After watching the Empress Dowager walk away, the Emperor said he had something to say to Ertai, so Ertai followed the Emperor to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
This gave Anke and Xinrong a chance to talk. Anke pulled Xinrong to her room and asked, "You asked Qing'er to tell me she wanted to see me. What happened?" Anke thought something serious had happened, which was why she was so anxious to call Xinrong to the palace.
"It's nothing... nothing," Xinrong said, her face turning red. Anke, being an experienced woman, naturally understood the unspoken part of Xinrong's statement.
"Oh, so it's for Fifth Brother." An Ke raised an eyebrow slightly, and her casual remark made Xin Rong's face turn completely red.
Xinrong covered her face with her handkerchief, feeling embarrassed. She was envious of them all finding their partners, but she just wanted An'an to ask for her, not that she was desperate to get married.
Anke naturally took this matter to heart, so she stepped forward and patted Xinrong on the shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. I'll ask around for you in a bit." Xinrong was very grateful and thanked her profusely.
An Ke thought it was better to act sooner rather than later, and since the Empress Dowager was already asleep, An Ke ordered the sedan chair to head towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Before going in, An Ke asked Li Yu if there was anyone else inside besides Ertai. After receiving an affirmative answer from Li Yu, An Ke went in with peace of mind.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor asked Ertai about his stance, which prince he would side with. Anke's heart was filled with turmoil. Could it be that the Emperor was going to become the Retired Emperor ahead of schedule? Ertai, however, made it clear that he would only be loyal to the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
"Alright, come in. How long have you been standing at the door?" the Emperor said in a deep voice, but there was no displeasure in his tone.
An Ke immediately changed her expression and walked in with a smile. "Uncle Huang knew An An was at the door, yet he deliberately brought up such an important matter. Isn't it obvious that he wanted An An to hear it?" After bowing, An Ke sat down directly next to Ertai.
She hooked her hand around Ertai's and winked at him.
"You always think you're right about everything you say. I feel increasingly powerless lately, and Yongqi has had enough training. I'm thinking of abdicating the throne to Yongqi when I can finally enjoy my retirement." The Emperor was envisioning a wonderful life after retirement, whereas before he valued imperial power above all else.
But after following An'an on several trips to Jiangnan, the Emperor changed his mind. Yes, he was the monarch of the Qing Dynasty, but he got up before the rooster crowed every day, working hard for the Qing Dynasty. He also wanted to experience the simple life of ordinary people.
An Ke glanced at Ertai, then gave the Emperor a deep look. The Emperor, amused by An Ke's inexplicable glance, almost laughed. "What's with that expression? Do you think I'm testing you?"
It was just a casual guess by the Emperor, but seeing An Ke's solemn face, the corners of his mouth, which had just turned up, immediately tightened.
"Then, Your Majesty, are you at ease?" An Ke asked unconsciously, remembering the Emperor's suspicious nature. But An Ke forgot that the Emperor had been with her for so long that he had subconsciously been infected by her personality.
"What do I have to worry about? Yongqi is the most outstanding among the princes in both literary and military arts, and he is also the most gentle and kind. I am very at ease entrusting him with my duties. Besides, you are here to keep an eye on things, aren't you?" the Emperor said, his eyes wide with anger.
Anke was completely bewildered by those words. She pointed at herself incredulously, "Me? What was I watching over there?"
The Emperor immediately glared and said, "Naturally, I'll have you help Yongqi keep an eye on things in the court, and also offer him advice. I'll find you a pretext to interfere in politics smoothly."
Anke's mind was in complete turmoil. She had originally come here to find out some information for Xinrong, but she ended up getting herself into trouble as well.
"Speaking of which, it's time for Yongqi and Xinrong to get married. How about February 2nd? It's an auspicious day for everything." The Emperor made the decision immediately, and Anke was jolted awake from her daze.
The emperor then issued an order to dismiss them, telling them to go back to Cining Palace and think things over.
Anke and Ertai sat together in the sedan chair, still finding it hard to believe. Only when they returned to Cining Palace and saw Xinrong did Anke put on a smile and tell her the news, which naturally overjoyed Xinrong. The second day of the second lunar month wasn't far off!
On the second day of the second lunar month, Anke also put on her wedding attire and attended their wedding.
Yonghe Palace was already adorned with red silk early on, bustling with people who kept coming and going. Anke was constantly running back and forth, glancing at Xinrong one moment and then running back to the palace to see Yongqi the next. She really couldn't stop for a moment.
After waiting until all the guests had left, Yongqi dragged his tired body to the bridal chamber. As a prince, no one dared to disturb his wedding night.
Time slips away like sand through your fingers, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye.
Qing'er has given birth to a daughter, named Ji Yinong, nicknamed Ruanruan. She was born soft and chubby, like a pink glutinous rice ball.
Meanwhile, Xinrong is already seven months pregnant.
It just so happens that on the same day, Anke and Qing'er went to the palace to see Xinrong, and the three of them chatted and laughed together. However, their conversation gradually veered off-topic, which is understandable, since one of them is a mother and the other is about to become a mother, so they naturally have a lot to talk about.
This puzzled Anke, who was standing to the side. Since their marriage, she and Ertai had hardly ever slept in separate rooms. How come Qing'er, who married on the same day as her, had already given birth to a daughter, and Xinrong, who married later than her, was also pregnant?
Qing'er was the first to notice An Ke's mood. "I almost forgot about An An. An An brought Ruan Ruan the other day, and Ruan Ruan really liked the things she brought over."
Xinrong noticed this and quickly changed the subject. But no matter how she changed the subject, Anke's mood remained low.
However, she still chatted happily with Qing'er and Xinrong for a long time. After returning to the manor, Anke immediately summoned the royal physician to examine her pulse. The physician, as always, said that the two were in good health and were not in a hurry to have children; what was meant to come would come eventually.
An Ke waved for the physician to leave, but Er Tai saw the physician as soon as he entered the courtyard. Thinking that An An was unwell, he hurriedly went into the inner room.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Ertai asked anxiously. But Anke was unusually silent, which made Ertai's heart pound.
Thinking that Anke went to the palace today, I wondered if she had been examined by the imperial physicians, and then the family physicians came to confront her, which is why she remained silent.
The more Ertai thought about it, the more frightened he became. He hurriedly admitted his mistake and told Ertai that he had been taking contraceptive pills for the past year.
He was so focused on bowing his head and admitting his mistake that he didn't notice Anke's shocked eyes on the bed. "What did you say? You've been avoiding pregnancy all this time?"
Then, to An Ke's astonishment, Ertai recounted everything that Prince Rui and the Emperor had said to him back then.
An Ke then learned the reason, and later she slowly explained that the reason she was sullen earlier was not because she knew about this matter at all, so Ertai had essentially confessed without being asked.
However, Ertai also guiltily admitted that even if Anke didn't know today, he planned to tell her another day. In the past year, Anke's health had been restored to its peak.
Then Ertai's gaze towards Anke grew increasingly intense, and with a gasp, the candle went out. Now Ertai had an excuse to make love to Anke.
Thanks to Ertai's tireless efforts, Anke is now more than a month pregnant.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com