Chapter 210 [Extra] Daily Life During Pregnancy
"Your Majesty, please come this way."
As soon as the palace maid saw Yun Wan surrounded by dozens of palace maids, she was secretly shocked and respectfully led them in.
This was Yun Wan's first time coming back to Xiefang Palace. The layout was no different from other palaces, the only difference being the decoration and furnishings, which were simple and elegant.
Palace servants came out of the main hall, each holding valuable objects in their hands, as if they were about to move them away.
Yun Wan stopped and stared.
Seeing this, the palace maid took the initiative to explain: "This is the order of His Majesty. Xiefang Palace is not allowed to keep the belongings of commoners or above."
They didn't know what crime the virtuous concubine had committed. They only knew that she was confined to Xiefang Palace after returning from the temporary palace, and a large number of palace maids who used to handle the matter were replaced.
Rather than adding manpower, it is more like supervision and surveillance.
The palace maids were puzzled but did not dare to ask.
At this moment, the eldest princess's exasperated voice came from the palace: "That is my mother's favorite bracelet, put it down!"
The maid, who was following orders, said expressionlessly, "Princess, this is His Majesty's order. I dare not disobey. As for your things, I and others have not touched a single one."
But this is exactly what makes the eldest princess even more uncomfortable. Not being allowed to place items that do not comply with regulations, doesn't that mean that her mother can't even agree now?
Compared to the eldest princess's hysteria, the virtuous concubine, who was dressed in plain clothes and sitting quietly on a pear wood chair, was particularly calm, silently turning the Buddhist beads in her hand.
The eldest princess became increasingly angry, completely different from her usual quiet and shy self: "My mother has always been obedient and law-abiding. How could my father be so cruel? I want to see my father—"
A shadow fell from the corner of her eye, and the princess's voice stopped abruptly when she saw the person coming.
The nanny in charge of this matter immediately bowed and said, "This servant pays homage to Her Majesty the Queen."
Yun Wan's eyes fell on a touch of red on the wooden tray, and she said leisurely, "You don't need to take back this red coral headpiece. It was originally given to the eldest princess by me. Keep it."
She turned to look at the now wary eldest princess, a faint smile on her face: "I saw the princess liked it that day, why haven't I seen her wear it since then?"
Is it because he is afraid that she will retaliate in the same way she has treated him?
Although she was smiling, her eyes were cold.
The eldest princess shrank back and subconsciously looked at Concubine Xian.
"Since Your Majesty already knows everything, why are you asking even though you already know the answer?"
At some point, Concubine Xian stopped twirling the beads in her hand.
When she learned that the crown prince had been deposed, Li had committed suicide, and she herself was under house arrest, she knew that nothing could be hidden.
"I had someone deliver that red coral bracelet, and the musk beads on it were also my idea. I just didn't expect you to discover it so quickly. Was it because that fence-sitter Zhang Cairen told you?"
It was because she helped Zhang Cairen come up with ideas to overthrow Concubine Shen who bullied her, but this woman ended up trying to curry favor with both sides.
Yun Wan didn't tell the truth, she just said, "I know how to make incense, have you forgotten?"
The virtuous concubine was stunned for a moment, then laughed at herself: "Yes, you are so unique that even His Majesty is infatuated with you and loves you alone."
Yun Wan turned a deaf ear and only asked, "Were you responsible for my mother and I falling off our horses after the New Year?"
"Yes." Concubine Xian admitted it readily.
Yun Wan: "Why? I remember we had no grudges against each other, why did you want to kill me?"
If it were Li or Lu, she could still understand.
However, Concubine Xian's face darkened, and she looked at Yun Wan with resentment: "Because of your appearance, everything has changed."
"I originally just wanted to prevent you from having a child with His Majesty, but I didn't expect Cheng Sui to be His Majesty's child. His Majesty favors him even more than his other two sons, so I changed my mind."
"I want you to be the one who dies."
She curled her lips and sneered, "In this crisis, I am sure you will protect the child. As long as you die, I will have the opportunity to raise Cheng Sui, that smart child."
If Asui was her child, she would definitely do her utmost to help him overthrow the prince and take his place.
Unfortunately, there is no if. The Li family is more trouble than help, leaving Yun Wan and her son unharmed.
Yun Wan lowered her eyes, hiding the coldness in them, and continued, "So you and the Crown Prince have reached a cooperation? After the Li family falls, your Wang family will support the Crown Prince?"
Concubine Xian: "Yes."
The matter was exposed and there was no room for maneuver. The Li family was bound to fall. In order to give the prince more bargaining chips, the Li family offered the benefit of not betraying the Wang family and asked them to fully support the prince.
At this point, there is nothing to hide.
Yun Wan: "When you do this, have you ever thought about how the eldest princess will cope with herself in the future?"
She glanced at the stunned eldest princess and said lightly.
After listening to the conversation between the two, the eldest princess turned pale as paper and stood there in a daze.
No wonder her mother didn't let her wear that red coral headpiece. It turned out that she was afraid that musk beads were hidden in it and she was afraid of revenge.
"Mother..." She stared at Concubine Xian blankly, tears in her eyes.
The virtuous concubine's eyes moved slightly, but without looking at her, she said calmly: "She is a girl, a princess of Da Qi. She will be married in two years. No one will treat her harshly."
The eldest princess was heartbroken and sad. She looked at Yun Wan, her tone almost pleading, "Your Majesty... No, Mother, I know you have made a grave mistake, but could you please forgive her just this once? After I get married, I will take her out of the palace and never harm anyone again!"
Hearing this, Yun Wan chuckled: "Princess, your mother once tried to kill me, and you want me to spare her?"
"If she had considered you as her daughter, she wouldn't have done anything reckless."
The eldest princess was silent and could not utter a word to refute.
The mystery in her heart was solved, Yun Wan left, and met Emperor Jingxuan who came to the gate of Qiyun Palace.
He naturally reached out and held her waist lightly, and walked slowly, "Where did you go?"
Yun Wan lifted her skirt and looked at her feet, without hiding anything: "Xie Fang Palace."
Hearing Xie Fang Palace, Emperor Jingxuan frowned subconsciously: "She didn't do anything to you, did she?"
"No." Yun Wan naturally would not go to meet the other party alone, as everyone inside and outside was hers.
She turned her head and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you plan to do with her?"
A cold look flashed in his eyes, and Emperor Jingxuan said calmly: "Li'er will be coming of age next spring, and I will keep her until that day."
But the virtuous concubine must die.
Yun Wan nodded, sometimes living is more painful than death.
"Let's not talk about them. Did the little princess bother the lady today?" Emperor Jingxuan asked about the baby in her belly as usual, with a gentle look in his eyes.
Pulling back her thoughts, Yun Wan shook her head, feeling helpless: "Your Majesty, what if the little princess you keep calling her is a boy in the future? Will you not like her anymore?"
She was worried that the more he expected, the more disappointed he would be, after all, the gender of the baby was determined by fate.
"Nonsense! I like both men and women."
Emperor Jingxuan flatly denied it.
But when he thought that it was not the little princess, he would eventually be disappointed.
Moreover, when he thought about the noise made by the three Asui boys, and the noisy scene that would occur if another boy were to be added in the future, he felt a headache.
When that day comes, he probably won't be able to be a loving father anymore.
........
At the end of August, the fetus was three months old. Yun Wan's flat belly was slightly rising and falling, indicating that the little life inside was growing gradually.
The imperial physician came every three days. After Yun Wan became pregnant, Qiyun Palace became like an iron barrel, with a security level no less strict than that of the imperial court. Especially the things entering the palace had to be inspected in turn.
Yun Wan ate well and slept well. Her whole body was fair and rosy, her complexion was rosy, her skin was pearly, and her figure was much fuller than before, as soft as flowing fat, which often pleased Emperor Jingxuan.
However, after the fetus was three months old, Yun Wan began to experience pregnancy reaction - morning sickness.
The food he ate every day was vomited out in a short while, and the meat he had gained with great difficulty in just a few days disappeared in an instant.
Emperor Jingxuan was extremely anxious every day, but he was powerless to do anything and could only put pressure on the Imperial Medical Bureau and the Imperial Kitchen.
Helplessly, Yun Wan tried various methods, but none of them worked.
After vomiting again, Yun Wan leaned on the couch with a gloomy look.
Seeing this, Emperor Jingxuan was filled with heartache. He had never known that pregnancy was so difficult for women. He stroked her thin cheek with his palm, completely losing his initial expectation.
He only hoped that the child would be well behaved and feel sorry for the mother who gave birth to him.
A few days later, her aunt Lin Xiu sent a jar of plums to the palace. After eating them, Yun Wan was able to temporarily suppress the urge to vomit and was finally able to eat.
Perhaps the child in her belly really loved her, Yun Wan's morning sickness only lasted for half a month before gradually disappearing. The dark clouds over the palace finally dissipated, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Before lunch, Asui entered the palace carrying a book bag. Upon seeing Emperor Jingxuan, he asked, "Father, the officials are asking when you will attend court?"
He discovered that since returning from the temporary palace, his father had been quite lazy about attending court, especially during the half month when his mother was unable to eat, his father had not been to the Xuan Zheng Hall once.
That would have been fine, but he ordered that he must not be absent, and even asked him to "supervise" all officials as he did before.
Is that even possible? He's only five!
The main reason was that this delayed his visit to Qiyun Palace, and he had less time to spend with A Niang and Xiao Bao.
Considering that his mother was not feeling well, Asui had been working tirelessly for half a month, but now he really couldn't bear it anymore.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingxuan hummed calmly, "From now on, the morning court will be changed to a grand court on the tenth day and a small court on the fifth day. If there is anything urgent, please come directly to the palace to see me in the Qinzheng Hall."
Ah Sui blurted out: "You want to be lazy?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he was hit by a bullet in the forehead. Emperor Jingxuan glared at him and said, "What nonsense are you talking about, you little brat? You don't feel tired attending court every day, but I do."
Asui curled his lips. He remembered that his father was not like this before.
Emperor Jingxuan knew what his son was thinking at a glance. He cleared his throat and said seriously:
"I am doing this for your own good, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities. In the future, you will be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Great Qi, share my worries, create a prosperous era for the Great Qi, and allow the people to live and work in peace and contentment. Only in this way can you live up to our ancestors."
Before the former crown prince was deposed, his preference for Asui was obvious to all. After the former crown prince was deposed, Emperor Jingxuan no longer concealed his appreciation for Asui.
For Asui, he is now no different from the crown prince, and the only thing missing is an imperial edict and an enthronement ceremony.
However, this did not prevent the ministers from privately calling him "Little Prince".
"Of course, this way I will also have plenty of time to spend with your mother."
Asui:.........The last sentence is the key point, right?
He dared not speak out his anger, and turned to Yun Wan, asking about her well-being: "Mother, are you feeling better today?"
Yun Wan nodded with a smile: "Much better, Xiaobao is very well behaved."
Ah Sui moved a round stool and sat down. "When Xiaobao is born, I will teach him to read and write and take him to school."
Asui, who is diligent and studious, developed a sense of responsibility at a young age.
The little adult's demeanor sometimes makes people forget that he is only five years old.
Yun Wan rolled up his sleeves and massaged his arms. "That's going to have to wait until Xiaobao is older, at least... three years old."
She paused and said.
Ah Sui: "It doesn't matter. By then I'll be eight years old and can teach Xiaobao more."
"A Sui is a good brother." Yun Wan praised.
Emperor Jingxuan, who was standing by, rarely avoided pouring cold water on his son. He raised his hand, held Yun Wan's ankle and placed it on his thigh, then massaged her calf.
His skill in peeling lotus seeds was not very good, but his technique in helping his wife knead various parts of the lotus seeds was very superb.
Four months after the baby was born, Yun Wan was able to sit firmly in the womb and no longer felt any discomfort. Gradually, more and more people came to visit her. They did not dare to come before the baby was three months old, for fear of being disturbed by the crowds.
By the fifth month, Yunwan's waist had become heavier and the first fetal movement occurred.
The first fetal movement was discovered by Asui. He and Emperor Jingxuan and his son had heard the concept of "fetal education" from somewhere, and took turns reading to the baby for two quarters of an hour every day.
Emperor Jingxuan is not here today, so it is Asui's turn.
He flipped open a book in a formal manner, placed his soft palm on Yun Wan's bulging belly, then cleared his throat and said solemnly:
"Xiaobao, are you ready? Brother is going to read to you."
As he finished speaking, he felt a touch on the palm of his hand as if a dragonfly touched the water, as if someone had gently poked him. Asui's whole body stiffened and his face looked dull.
Yun Wan noticed his strangeness and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Ah, mother, Xiaobao, he, he responded to me!" Ah Sui was so shocked that he stuttered: "He just seemed to pat the palm of my hand."
He stared at the palm of his hand, as if in disbelief.
So that's how it is. Yun Wan held his hand and explained in a gentle voice, "That's fetal movement, which means Xiaobao is sensitive to the outside world."
"You moved when you were five months old in my belly. As soon as you moved, I knew you were healthy."
Ah Sui blinked, put his palm back on her belly, and whispered, "Xiaobao, move again."
There was another light touch on the palm of his hand, and Ah Sui's eyes suddenly lit up: "Move Xiaobao again."
Now Xiaobao didn't move, as if he was annoyed.
But Asui was particularly happy.
After learning the news in the evening, Emperor Jingxuan called him more than ten times before Xiaobao moved casually out of courtesy, but this was enough to make his old father very happy.
As the months get longer, autumn turns to winter, spring arrives, and Yunwan's due date draws closer.
In mid-April of the following year, on a rainy night, Yun Wan was launched.
In front of the pre-prepared delivery room, even though the midwife and the imperial physician both diagnosed that Yun Wan's baby was in a normal position, hearing the lady's cries of pain inside the room, even a strong man like Emperor Jingxuan still felt panic in his heart, his legs went weak, and he wanted to rush in.
Ah Sui hugged his legs tightly: "Mother said not to let father in."
This was Yun Wan's request. She didn't want Emperor Jingxuan to see the embarrassing scene of her giving birth.
One hour, two hours passed...
Until the heavy rain stopped and dawn broke, Yun Wan's voice disappeared from the house, and then a clear and loud cry pierced the sky.
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