Chapter 171 Feeling Lost
Xiao Chenglan issued the edict to enthrone the empress. From today on, Jiang Yingli, holding the imperial edict and phoenix seal, would no longer be the acting regent of the six palaces, but would be in charge of them.
Everyone in the palace changed their respectful title to call Jiang Yingli "Empress Her Majesty".
Everyone in the palace knew about it, so naturally a ceremony to crown the queen was held to announce it to the world.
Xiao Chenglan asked the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to divine an auspicious day, and asked the Ministry of Rites to prepare for the empress's coronation.
Now that Lin'er is one month old, the beauty of both Xiao Chenglan and Jiang Yingli has begun to show.
Lin'er has big, round eyes, long eyelashes, and very fair skin. He smiles very cutely and is very pleasing to the eye.
Changyang Palace bought a small bed for Lin'er. When Jiang Yingli returned to Changyang Palace, she lay down beside the bed to tease him.
However, she was tired today and fell asleep after playing with Lin'er for a while. The nurse noticed her fatigue and said, "Your Majesty, please go and rest. I will leave the Crown Prince to you."
Jiang Yingli was indeed too sleepy to hold on any longer, so she gently touched Lin'er's soft cheek and went to take a nap.
Jiang Yingli slept very uneasily, her whole body felt a little hot, and she could vaguely hear the crying of a baby in her dream.
She woke up from her dream, sweating all over.
Qiuxia saw Jiang Yingli suddenly sit up from the couch, and hurriedly lifted the curtain to enter the tent, asking, "What's wrong, Madam?"
Jiang Yingli felt indescribable anxiety in her heart. As soon as she lifted the quilt, she got off the bed without even bothering to put on her shoes.
"Where's Lin'er! Where is Lin'er? I heard Lin'er crying."
Qiuxia chased after her: "Your Majesty, the young prince has a wet nurse to take care of him. I saw him just now, and he was smiling happily."
Jiang Yingli was still not relieved after hearing this and kept shouting, "Lin'er! Lin'er!"
When the wet nurse heard the sound, she quietly picked up Xiao Chen'an.
When Jiang Yingli saw the small swaddling clothes, she finally calmed down a little, slowed down her pace, and reached out to hug the baby.
"Give him to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The wet nurse stepped forward and handed Xiao Chen'an to Jiang Yingli.
Jiang Yingli hugged her with a happy and peaceful smile on her face.
Qiuxia came over with her embroidered shoes and said, "My lady, the ground is cold. You should put on your shoes first."
Jiang Yingli ignored him and looked at Xiao Chenan with loving eyes, gently shaking his arm and coaxing: "Oh - good baby -"
.....
When Xiao Chenglan returned to Changyang Palace after handling government affairs, he found that the baby crib placed in the outer hall was missing as soon as he entered the palace.
"Where is Lin'er?" Xiao Chenglan asked.
Lian Qiao quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the little prince's bed has been moved to the inner hall."
Xiao Chenglan said nothing and quickened his pace towards the inner hall.
Jiang Yingli had just finished taking a shower, her long black hair loosely tied up and casually draped behind her. She was half leaning against the headboard, holding Lin'er in her arms.
The small bed was placed next to the dragon couch.
When Xiao Chenglan saw the warm and cozy mother and daughter, his eyes softened unconsciously and a smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
Seeing Xiao Chenglan enter the hall, Jiang Yingli looked up at him.
"Your Majesty has arrived."
After saying that, she lowered her head and continued to tease Lin'er.
Xiao Chenglan paused, but soon walked over as usual and sat down on the edge of the couch.
He leaned over and kissed Jiang Yingli first, looking at her without blinking.
Jiang Yingli was completely immersed in Lin'er's laughter at the moment and did not respond to his expectations.
Xiao Chenglan was stunned for a moment, his eyes fell on Lin'er, and seeing that he was smiling happily, he smiled again and stretched out his hand, saying, "Come, let father hug you."
Jiang Yingli finally looked up at him again, and after a moment's hesitation, she said, "Your Majesty hasn't bathed yet, so let's hold him later."
Xiao Chenglan was slightly startled, then immediately jokingly said, "When did you become so particular?"
Jiang Yingli lowered her head and shook the rattle without responding.
Xiao Chenglan stood up and said with a smile: "Okay, I'll go take a shower."
In the bathtub, Xiao Chenglan leaned against the tub with his arms outstretched, and the crystal clear water droplets slid across his well-defined muscles. He lowered his eyelashes and watched the swaying water.
He was a little absent-minded, as some of the things that had just happened had made him very concerned.
Although Jiang Yingli didn't have to salute him, when he came back, she would run over, either hug him or hold his hand, look at him with curved eyes, and say to him happily - Your Majesty is back.
Not today, she just said it casually.
He kissed her, but she didn't respond, and she didn't even look up at him.
Xiao Chenglan scooped up a handful of water and poured it over his head. He inserted his slender fingers into his hair and brushed the wet hair on his forehead to the back of his head. His long black hair was scattered on his broad shoulders, which made his already cold eyebrows and eyes look even more fierce.
He walked to the center of the bathtub, the water rising and falling around his thin waist as he walked, and the blue veins on his lower abdomen were faintly visible.
Xiao Chenglan looked down at the surface of the pool, where his expression, which had become somewhat sinister due to his irritability, was reflected.
Jiang Yingli must have gotten used to this during her confinement period. At that time, she needed to recuperate and would not come to pick him up, nor did she have the heart to be clingy with him.
It's only been a few days since I came out of confinement. I'll be fine in a few days.
It will be fine in a few days.
When Xiao Chenglan finished bathing and returned to the dragon bed, his expression had returned to normal.
Lin'er had already fallen asleep. Jiang Yingli stretched out her index finger and pressed her lips, indicating that he should speak more quietly. Xiao Chenglan had to give up the idea of hugging him so as not to wake him up.
Seeing Jiang Yingli preparing to put the child into the crib, he lowered his voice and asked, "Aren't you going to leave it to the nurse?"
The child cried for milk at night, and since there was a wet nurse, he felt there was no need to let Jiang Yingli worry so much.
Jiang Yingli shook her head. "If you cry in the middle of the night, just call the wet nurse over. I want to sleep with Lin'er."
Seeing that she enjoyed being with Lin'er today, Xiao Chenglan didn't say much.
The child cried three times during the night, and Jiang Yingli and Xiao Chenglan also woke up three times.
Jiang Yingli called the wet nurse, who was feeding the baby outside the tent. Jiang Yingli also wanted to go out and check on her before she felt at ease. Xiao Chenglan had no choice but to wait quietly for her to come back.
This went on for several nights, and Xiao Chenan's crying was so loud that Xiao Chenglan could still hear a child crying in his ears when he went to court.
The Astronomical Observation Department calculated an extremely auspicious day, which is the 25th of next month. There is still a month left, which is enough time to prepare for the ceremony of crowning the queen.
After the court session, Xiao Chenglan told Jiang Yingli the news, anticipating that she would be very happy as the dust would soon settle after her impassioned speech in Changqing Palace that day.
However, after hearing this, Jiang Yingli just smiled faintly.
Xiao Chenglan looked at her for a long while, but could not see any joy on her face. It seemed that she did not care about the matter at all.
He continued, "After offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple and performing grand ceremonies, you and I will be the emperor and empress, and husband and wife, recognized by the ancestors of heaven and earth."
Jiang Yingli thought for a moment, her eyes calm, and she murmured again: "Husband and wife, husband and wife are good..."
After she finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Xiao Chenan again.
Seeing that she was not very happy, Xiao Chenglan suddenly felt that he was too happy. He suppressed the joy on his face and reached out to hold the child.
Jiang Yingli suddenly tilted her arm, and Xiao Chenglan's hand froze in the air.
"Your Majesty, please don't hold him. Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, and your majesty is too great. It will scare the child."
Xiao Chenglan was slightly stunned: "But, I am his father, he always smiles at me, I can't scare him."
Jiang Yingli frowned, looking a little conflicted, as if she wanted to hand the child to Xiao Chenglan, but withdrew her hand because of some concerns.
Seeing that she couldn't leave Xiao Chen'an for a moment, Xiao Chenglan gave up and smiled helplessly.
"Okay, then I won't hug you anymore."
Xiao Chenglan no longer hugged Lin'er, but put his arm around Jiang Yingli's shoulders, lowered his head, and wanted to kiss her cheek.
But this time, Jiang Yingli turned her head to avoid it.
This dodging action made Xiao Chenglan's pupils tremble violently, his breathing stagnated, and it felt like something in his heart was on the verge of collapse.
Coincidentally, the child in Jiang Yingli's arms started to whimper, and she bent down to comfort him.
Seeing this, he suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. Taking advantage of Jiang Yingli's lowered head, he almost eagerly chased over and kissed her on the side of her cheek.
Jiang Yingli finally looked up at him.
Their eyes met, and Xiao Chenglan saw Jiang Yingli hesitate for a moment, then smiled at him, her almond eyes bright and her eyebrows curved.
The corners of his lips curled up slightly, and he felt a little expectant, but Jiang Yingli lowered her head after smiling, and the gentle smile she gave him instantly turned into kindness for the child.
A feeling of loss suddenly filled Xiao Chenglan's limbs and bones.
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