Upon arriving at the Longevity Hall, after exchanging greetings, Empress Ye, as an elder, announced the good news for Jingyan and Yuejiang.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is pregnant. Next year you will become the Great-Grandmother and the Grandfather."
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Zheng's smile froze.
Jing Huaixu laughed heartily, and then asked with concern, "Really? When did this happen? Yesterday's events shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Empress Ye: "It's been almost a month. The Crown Princess was frightened yesterday and had Shang Yu take her pulse. That's how the Crown Prince and Crown Princess found out."
"We should have waited until the pregnancy was more stable before telling everyone, but after what happened yesterday, the signs are not good. After much consideration, I decided to tell everyone now."
"Fortunately, people like the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty are very fortunate. With everyone thinking about the Crown Princess's pregnancy, everyone's fortune is much greater."
After all, it was the Crown Prince's first child, so these words were full of flattery and meant to imply that Yue Jiang's pregnancy was not just a matter for the Eastern Palace.
You don't need everyone to fawn over you, but you can't tolerate any underhanded tactics.
Jing Huaixu felt this deeply. He didn't have many children, and in the past, he almost had to choose someone from the imperial clan as his successor.
Therefore, considering the issue of succession for the Jing imperial family, he hoped that Yue Jiang's pregnancy would proceed smoothly and peacefully, given that it came so early.
After hearing Empress Ye's reply, Jing Huaixu nodded in satisfaction and chatted with his mother, Empress Dowager Zheng, who was standing to the side.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess's pregnancy is a great joy for the royal family. The Empress is already overwhelmed with managing the harem, and Empress Dowager Cheng has been unwell lately, so she is resting in Yongshou Palace and staying indoors."
"Didn't you say a few years ago that you wanted to see your grandchildren get married and have children? Now the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are about to welcome their first child. I'll trouble you to take good care of them."
"In daily life, we should avoid letting idle people from the inner palace disturb the Crown Princess's pregnancy in the East Palace. You must have some rare tonics on hand. You can give the Crown Princess some things to nourish her body, which will also show your grandmotherly kindness."
Empress Dowager Zheng: "Your Majesty is already busy with state affairs, so please take care of yourself. I am looking forward to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's pregnancy."
She raised her voice to Jing Yan and Yue Jiang at the head of the table: "Crown Prince, Crown Princess, you have both heard His Majesty's words. If you have any problems, you can come to me."
"The chaos yesterday was something I could not have foreseen. It almost injured the Crown Princess. I felt extremely guilty yesterday, and now that I have learned that the Crown Princess is pregnant, my heart is pounding like a drum, and I have been feeling uneasy for a long time."
"I'm looking forward to your child, so don't be so polite with me."
Now that there are fewer people in the palace, and Yongshou Hall remains closed, it's unclear whether it has truly fallen into decline.
Yuejiang was hoping for a good pregnancy, but with Empress Dowager Zheng already suspected of something yesterday, she couldn't afford to go against the grain and cause trouble.
She couldn't ignore the warning in her son's words, so Empress Dowager Zheng could only say some kind words.
At the same time, I felt bad, thinking back to yesterday when I tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead, and Zheng Yutong was still injured.
Jingyan and Yuejiang did not need any promises from Empress Dowager Zheng. Their purpose was simply to make the pregnancy public. They would still need to take precautions in the future, so for now, it was enough to do a good job of making a show of it.
"Thank you, Grandmother."
The two thanked each other in unison.
Besides announcing today that Yue Jiang is pregnant, there is a vacancy for the rank of Consort after the death of Consort Cheng. Empress Dowager Zheng wants to obtain this rank for Consort Zheng.
She made an excuse, saying, "At the end of the month, all the countries will come to Jing, and Jingning will be going to Yu Kingdom. Consort De has worked hard to take care of you for half her life and raised your two children."
"Shouldn't you and the Empress consider this position..."
Consort Zheng, to the right of Empress Dowager Zheng, had hope in her eyes. Although she had the Empress Dowager as her aunt, she still wanted to rise to a higher status.
Before, Consort Cheng was there to protect her; now that Consort Cheng is gone, surely she can take her place.
Empress Ye thought it inappropriate and reminded her: "Your Majesty, Consort Cheng has not been sentenced to a major offense and has only just left. The Second Prince is still injured in the leg and cannot walk. We should not be in a hurry."
"Otherwise, it would be embarrassing for the Second Prince, and the other countries would have a good laugh at him. Even if Consort De's sister were to rise to a higher rank at this critical juncture, it wouldn't be appropriate to hold a grand celebration."
Empress Dowager Zheng was annoyed by Empress Ye's strict adherence to rules and her unwillingness to compromise. She insisted on asking Jing Huaixu, "Your Majesty, Jingning is going to marry into the Yu Kingdom. What's wrong with giving Consort De the title of Noble Consort at this time?"
"What does Consort De think?" Jing Huaixu glanced at Consort Zheng, his expression gentle and kind.
Consort Zheng had always been submissive to Jing Huaixu and had never disobeyed him. However, now that she was no longer young, all she wanted was power and status so that she could support her children.
She no longer wanted to blindly follow Jing Huaixu's lead, since she no longer needed his favor to maintain her privileged status.
Consort Zheng's eyes held a firm, yearning gaze as she curtsied and spoke.
"Your Majesty, I..."
Jing Huaixu waved his hand, dismissing the idea of asking: "Forget it, the Imperial Concubine has just passed away, and I am deeply grieved. The Empress is right. There are many things to attend to right now. Let's discuss this matter after we have dealt with the current matters."
"I don't have many children. Since Jingning was personally requested by the Yu Kingdom, there will be no issue with her status. Your Majesty knows this best."
Empress Dowager Zheng was speechless. She had thought that since Yongshou Palace couldn't interfere in palace affairs, His Majesty wouldn't be in such a difficult position and would favor her. However, she never expected that His Majesty would still be wary of his own mother.
"Consort De, let's listen to His Majesty and the Empress," she reassured Consort Zheng when things didn't go her way.
"Yes," Consort Zheng concealed her disappointment and slowly sat down in the chair.
Empress Dowager Zheng looked around, wanting to bring up Jinglu's marriage, but didn't see him, and asked in confusion.
"Where is Jing Lu? Everyone is here today, why didn't he come? The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have good news, I hope he will get married soon too."
Consort Zheng was distraught and didn't pay attention, so she didn't speak. Jingning answered for Consort Zheng: "Your Majesty, didn't Cousin Yutong fall into the water and get injured yesterday? My third brother went to see Cousin Yutong."
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