evening.
Yue Jiang lay half-reclined on the bed, watching Jing Yan apply ointment to her in circles. Her expression was focused and serious. Her thick, long eyelashes were half-lowered, leaving a shadow around her brow bone, which made Jing Yan's bone structure look smooth and his features superior.
Yue Jiang fiddled with the ribbon in her sleeve, casually twirling it around her long fingers. Suddenly, she tossed the ribbon out, and it landed on Jing Yan's shoulder.
"Your Highness, you really don't want it?"
Jing Yan paused for a moment, but quickly resumed applying the same pressure to Yue Jiang's abdomen, then looked up and sincerely asked.
“Jiang’er, I have read all those books, but the more I read, the more frightened I become. There are too many things to consider in them. It would be bad if they hurt you and the child.”
"I can bear any risks and responsibilities in other matters, but I dare not be arrogant enough to harm you and the children."
“You’re already going through a tough time being pregnant, so my little need is insignificant. You’re underestimating my will,” he laughed.
Shang Yu said that they could share a room, and that there were books that followed the proper boundaries. Jing Yan, not understanding, genuinely thought it wasn't a big problem, so he read some of them.
But after he looked at it carefully, his attention was no longer on having fun; it was full of warnings of danger.
Jing Yan was on tenterhooks, afraid that he would lose control and something bad would happen. He was unwilling to take risks for his own selfish desires.
“Or perhaps, Jiang’er read it aloud,” Jing Yan teased.
Yue Jiang was surprised by Jing Yan's self-discipline and thoughtfulness, which made her seem lustful, so she denied it outright.
"No, it's not. I don't know who it is, but the Xiande Hall is almost finished, and there's been no news of anyone going back. If Your Highness doesn't return for a long time, and the court officials find out, will that be acceptable?"
Jing Yan: "..."
The Xiande Hall is almost finished, but Yue Jiang's body is getting heavier and heavier. Jing Yan has lived here for so long, and the worries in his heart are like thin threads that have been woven into his heart little by little without him even realizing it.
By the time he thought of struggling, he was already firmly tied up. How could he easily go back with peace of mind? He would watch over Yue Jiang and ensure her safe delivery of this child.
“The royal heirs of Jing Kingdom are few, and my bloodline is in your womb. The court officials hold hope for my only child and dare not speak carelessly or let their worries reach your ears.”
Yue Jiang: It seems she is still someone the entire Jing Kingdom values.
"Alright, alright, I'm relieved."
...
After Zheng Yutong fainted in the palace, she disrupted the marriage arrangement with Jing Huaixu, giving Empress Dowager Zheng the opportunity to secretly visit Jing Huaixu.
In the imperial study, Empress Dowager Zheng lost her temper and had a fight with her son, tears streaming down her face.
"What have I done to you? You know I like that girl from the Zhao family and want to marry her off to Lu'er as a prince's consort."
"Not only did you oppose me, but you also showed me no respect at the banquet, even singing in sync with those from Yongshou Palace."
"How long has it been? You've forgotten how the Imperial Concubine died, how they tried to harm your precious daughter, and now you still want to marry off the granddaughter I favored to Jingshuo for their sake."
“Prime Minister Zhao is a pillar of the Jing Kingdom. With Jing Shuo's legs crippled, wouldn't that be sending Zhao's girl into a fire?”
Empress Dowager Zheng's words became increasingly absurd, and Jing Huaixu shouted to stop her.
“Mother, please be careful with your words. No matter what, Shuo’er is still your grandson. How did his legs end up like this? Even if Lu’er is in the right, he should still take some responsibility.”
"I have already shown favoritism by never pursuing the matter. There is an order of seniority. If you want Lu'er to get married, Shuo'er's marriage should not be neglected either."
"The Zhao family are pillars of the Jing Kingdom, but who else stands in the Jing Kingdom's palace? I am their sovereign and father. Do you think I should be afraid of my subjects when arranging a marriage?"
"You...you, you just can't stand to see me happy, can you? You're completely biased towards that side. Do you know how much trouble she caused me when she was young!"
When Empress Dowager Zheng saw that the Emperor was determined and it was extremely difficult to change his mind, she took the opportunity to abandon her hardline stance and instead played the emotional card.
"Back then, I accompanied the late emperor to purchase jade. This was because I was with your grandfather when he moved his family. It wasn't that I had feelings for the late emperor from the beginning, but rather that we gradually developed feelings for each other during the eight years I spent in the Jade Kingdom."
"But because your father was a hostage in another country, he could not grant me a title in the imperial genealogy. I have been following the late emperor for eight years without any official status."
"Eight years later, when I returned to Jing, I thought that as long as the late emperor informed my parents, I could at least become a concubine. Who knew that Yongshou Palace was so wicked that it refused to allow it."
"Because she had been taking care of the late emperor in the palace for many years, the two parents favored her and insisted that the late emperor have a child with her before I could enter the Eastern Palace."
"Fortunately, the late emperor was truly devoted to me and allowed me to have you. She was unable to conceive for a long time, otherwise do you think she could have lived a peaceful life?"
"And you... how did you treat me?" Empress Dowager Zheng leaned over the table, covering her face and weeping bitterly, while maintaining a firm tone.
"I don't care. You can only leave this Zhao girl to Lu'er, otherwise I will become a nun."
Jing Huaixu is middle-aged. He has experienced the same age as his father, and he is experiencing the age he did not.
Especially since he was facing his own biological mother, Jing Huaixu understood this feigned retreat as a means of advancement better than anyone else, and he thought about it seriously.
"Mother, you have worked hard all these years. If becoming a nun can bring you peace of mind, it would be a good way to cultivate your character."
"The Jing Kingdom has many royal temples. If Your Majesty truly intends to do so, I will arrange it promptly."
"You...you're sending me to become a nun, are you trying to make me die out there?" Empress Dowager Zheng was shocked, never expecting her only son to say such a thing.
Jing Huaixu was even more apprehensive than Empress Dowager Zheng, and repeatedly explained, "Your subject serves Your Majesty the Empress Dowager with the utmost care, and would gladly lie on ice to catch carp for you."
"It was Your Majesty who said you wanted to become a nun. I thought you just wanted to rest and recuperate. Whether you go or not is up to Your Majesty. Your Majesty's use of the word 'urge' is really too much for your son."
"Then you have no idea how to help Lu'er. He is not worthy of marrying a noblewoman," Empress Dowager Zheng complained.
Jing Huaixu suppressed his exaggerated expression and returned to his throne, keeping everyone in suspense: "After all, it's Lu'er's wedding. You should have Lu'er come here, and I'll ask him myself if he shares your opinion."
Over the years, Empress Dowager Zheng has been urging Consort Zheng to educate her two children well and to please their father, the Emperor.
Consort Cheng was arrogant and domineering, and Jing Shuo also became somewhat arrogant. So Empress Dowager Zheng instructed Consort Zheng to teach Jing Lu and Jing Ning to be well-behaved and sensible.
As the saying goes, "Heaven helps those who help themselves." Empress Dowager Zheng had seen Jing Huaixu's affection for Jing Lu and Jing Ning. If Jing Lu insisted on having the Zhao family's daughter, could Jing Huaixu still bear to refuse?
Empress Dowager Zheng couldn't wait to leave the imperial study.
...
At this moment, Jing Lu was accompanying Zheng Yutong in the Changshou Palace. Zheng Yutong's fainting was feigned, in order to prevent Jing Huaixu from betrothing Zhao Nianfu to Jing Shuo.
Her method worked, and so far no imperial decree has been issued to grant the marriage. Zheng Yutong boasted about it to Jing Lu.
"Third cousin, you should thank me, otherwise the Second Prince would have taken the daughter of Prime Minister Zhao."
Jing Lu looked annoyed and said sarcastically, "I really thank you. You always push me away. I wish Father would bestow Miss Zhao to my second brother. Then I'll ask Father to give you to me as well."
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