Chapter 316 The pregnancy is stable; sexual intercourse is permissible.
Summer turned to winter, and several months passed quickly in the harmonious coexistence of the Emperor and Empress.
As winter sets in, the underfloor heating in the sleeping quarters of the Qianqing Palace is burning brightly, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
When Shui Xian woke up, Emperor Zhao Heng had already gotten up.
She opened her eyes and saw him standing in front of the dressing table, his back to her as he adjusted his sleeves.
The morning light outlined his tall and straight back. As if sensing her gaze, Emperor Zhaoheng turned around.
Their eyes met.
His face was expressionless, but a faint softness appeared in his always unfathomable eyes.
"woke up?"
He walked over and sat down on the edge of the tatami mat. "Did you sleep well?"
Narcissus grunted in response and tried to sit up.
Emperor Zhaoheng immediately reached out to help her up, his movements gentle.
She is now nearly five months pregnant, and her belly is quite noticeable, making it somewhat inconvenient for her to get up.
"Slow down."
He whispered, supporting her back with one hand and holding her arm with the other to help her sit up straight.
After she was seated, he bent down and took her soft-soled embroidered shoes from beside the couch.
Then, he squatted down.
The man lifted her foot and carefully put her shoes on.
His large, warm hands cradled her slender ankles, his movements as gentle as if he were handling some rare treasure.
Narcissus was slightly taken aback.
She looked at the emperor squatting at her feet.
Emperor Zhaoheng, who could decide life and death with a single word in the court, now had the morning light shining on his lowered profile, casting a faint golden hue on his eyelashes.
His expression was focused and calm, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
Just then, the door to the sleeping quarters was gently pushed open.
Feng Shunxiang brought in a bowl of warm water, and as soon as he looked up, he saw this shocking scene!
The Emperor actually knelt down at the Empress's feet and put on her shoes!
Feng Shunxiang froze on the spot. He hadn't served the emperor for several days, and he almost dropped the copper basin in his hand.
Emperor Zhaoheng, however, seemed oblivious.
After he finished dressing the narcissus, he checked it carefully one last time before standing up.
Seeing Feng Shunxiang standing there dumbfounded, he said naturally, "What are you standing there for? Put the water down."
Feng Shunxiang then came to his senses, hurriedly placed the copper basin on the shelf, and lowered his head.
"This servant deserves to die for disturbing His Majesty and Her Majesty..."
"It's alright."
Emperor Zhaoheng had already walked to the dressing table, picked up the jade comb, and said, "The Empress is heavily pregnant, it is only right that I serve her."
He spoke casually, but Feng Shunxiang's heart was in turmoil.
He had served the Emperor for so many years and had never seen the Emperor so...so humble towards any of his concubines.
No, it's not about lowering your standards.
It is a willing surrender.
Feng Shunxiang dared not look any longer, lowered his head, and quietly retreated.
Emperor Zhaoheng had returned to the bedside and began to comb Narcissus's hair.
She is currently pregnant, and it is inconvenient for her to sit in front of the mirror for long, so she simply loosely ties up her long hair.
Emperor Zhaoheng's movements were very practiced, clearly not the first time he had done it.
He stood behind her, his slender fingers running through her hair, gently combing her long, ink-black locks.
"Father! Mother!"
A clear, childlike voice broke the tranquility of the bedchamber.
Princess Yongning led her two younger brothers in, running in with her short legs.
The little girl is almost three years old. Wearing a pink ruqun (a traditional Chinese dress), she looks like a lively little sun in the cold winter.
Qingyan and Qinghe were just learning to walk.
The two little ones, dressed in matching robes, toddled behind their older sister. As soon as they saw their parents, they opened their tiny arms and called out in their sweet, childish voices:
"Father...Emperor..."
"Mother...Empress..."
Emperor Zhaoheng turned around, a genuine smile on his face.
He knelt down and hugged his two sons, one in each arm.
Qingyan was more composed. After being picked up by her father, she quietly wrapped her arms around Emperor Zhaoheng's neck, resting her little face against his shoulder.
Qinghe was much more lively, squirming in Emperor Zhaoheng's arms and reaching out her little hands to grab the dragon pattern on his collar.
Yongning had already rushed to Shuixian's legs, tilting her little face up with bright, sparkling eyes: "Mother, was my little brother or sister good today?"
Narcissus smiled and patted her daughter's head: "Very good."
"When will he/she come out to play with Yongning?"
Yongning curiously reached out and gently touched Shuixian's swollen belly. "Yongning wants a little sister so he can braid her hair!"
Narcissus laughed.
Emperor Zhaoheng carried his two sons over and sat down by the couch.
He reached out and ruffled Yongning's hair: "How did Yongning know it was your sister?"
"Yongning dreamed about it!"
The little girl puffed out her chest and said earnestly, "Yongning dreamed that there was a little baby sleeping in his mother's belly! And it had very pretty little braids!"
The child's innocent words made Narcissus burst into laughter.
Emperor Zhaoheng smiled, his eyes full of tenderness.
He reached out and pulled Narcissus into his arms, letting her lean against him, and then adjusted his position to make Yongning more comfortable in his arms.
The family of five squeezed onto a single tatami mat.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, making it feel warm and cozy.
Breakfast was served in the outer room.
Emperor Zhaoheng personally served the porridge and placed it in front of Shuixian: "Drink it while it's hot."
She then picked up a custard bun and gave it to Yongning.
Qingyan and Qinghe couldn't eat these yet; they only drank some milk before the wet nurse took them away to feed them soft food.
While taking small bites of her steamed bun, Yongning continued talking about her younger sister in her dream: "Mother, when my sister comes out, I'll teach her to recite poems! Father says I'm good at reciting poems!"
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at his daughter with a smile: "Yongning is the smartest."
Narcissus lowered her head to drink the porridge, which was cooked until soft, sweet, and at the perfect temperature.
She looked up at Emperor Zhaoheng, who was wiping Yongning's mouth across from her.
Such a morning, such warmth.
Like the lives of ordinary people...
......
After breakfast, Emperor Zhaoheng went to the warm pavilion to handle state affairs.
Shui Xian was originally going to return to Lihe Palace. Although she now resides in Qianqing Palace, Lihe Palace is still preserved, and she occasionally goes there to review trivial matters of the inner palace.
"Let's stay here."
Emperor Zhaoheng grabbed her hand, saying, "It's warm in the warm pavilion. You can't catch a cold now. I'll have someone move all your documents over here."
Narcissus paused for a moment, then did not refuse.
Inside the warm pavilion, Emperor Zhaoheng was reviewing memorials behind his desk, while Shuixian sat on a soft couch by the window, handling documents for the women's academy.
The two occupied their respective sides, without disturbing each other.
Only occasionally would Emperor Zhaoheng look up at her to check if she was tired.
The warm room was very quiet, with only the rustling of turning pages and the soft sound of pen tips gliding across the paper.
Narcissus was looking at a report, her brows slightly furrowed.
It was a report submitted by a prefecture in Jiangnan regarding obstacles encountered in the selection of female officials.
Several prominent local families joined forces to prevent their daughters from taking the exams, even claiming that it was immoral for women to show their faces in public to obtain official titles.
She was furious.
These aristocratic families, outwardly respectable, were in reality nothing more than trying to confine their women to the inner quarters for easier control.
"What's wrong?"
Emperor Zhaoheng's voice suddenly rang out.
Narcissus looked up and saw that he had put down his vermilion brush and was looking at her.
She handed over the report: "Your Majesty, please take a look at this."
Emperor Zhaoheng took it, quickly scanned it, and his face immediately darkened.
"How dare you!"
He sneered, picked up his pen, and wrote on the report, “Issue my decree: Anyone who obstructs women from participating in the selection of female officials shall be punished as if they were defying the new policies of the court. Those who cause minor offenses shall be fined, and those who cause serious offenses shall be dismissed from their posts and investigated.”
Shui Xian smiled slightly, about to help Emperor Zhaoheng grind the ink, when a report came from outside:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Jiang Siji (Shuixiu) requests an audience."
"pass."
Shui Xiu strode in. Now a fifth-rank female official in charge of records, she had become much more composed.
Upon seeing the Emperor and Empress, she bowed respectfully: "Your subject greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
"Get up."
Narcissus asked gently, "Is there something wrong at the Women Officials' Academy?"
Shui Xiu presented a document: "Your Majesty, this is the list of candidates for this season's examination at the Capital Women Officials Academy. Most of the candidates performed excellently, however..."
She paused, then lowered her voice: "I have secretly investigated and found that some aristocratic families, while not outwardly obstructing the process, are actually exerting pressure to force the women in their families to give up taking the exam."
Emperor Zhaoheng's expression turned completely cold.
He took the list, quickly flipped through it, and his eyes flashed with a cold light.
Which families are among them?
He asked, his voice calm, yet carrying a chilling pressure.
Shui Xiu gave several names.
After hearing this, Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly laughed.
This phenomenon was clearly prevalent both in local areas and in the capital, and Emperor Zhaoheng coldly increased the punishment.
"Reveal my imperial edict."
He spoke slowly, each word as cold as ice water: “Any family member who obstructs a woman from taking the imperial examination for the position of female official will, once verified, be barred from participating in the imperial examinations, from entering officialdom, and from inheriting titles for three years.”
Shui Xiu was startled.
This punishment... is too harsh!
Cutting off a family's official career for three years is tantamount to cutting off the future prospects of their next generation!
Emperor Zhaoheng remained calm as he handed the list back to Shui Xiu: "Go and do it."
He wanted to let those people know that the new policies implemented by the Empress were not something they could outwardly comply with but inwardly oppose.
Shui Xiu bowed and accepted the order. Before leaving, she secretly glanced at her sister.
Narcissus nodded gently to her.
Shui Xiu then felt relieved and withdrew.
Quiet returned to the warm pavilion.
After Emperor Zhaoheng sat back down at his desk, he picked up his pen and continued reviewing the memorials, as if the stern edict he had just issued was merely a casual remark.
Narcissus, however, could not calm down for a long time.
Looking at his downcast profile, the lingering resentment in her heart caused by the misunderstanding a few days ago was slowly melting away.
——
In the afternoon, Narcissus returned to Lihe Palace.
Although she now resides in the Qianqing Palace, she still enjoys occasionally returning there to sit for a while.
Every blade of grass and every tree in Lihe Palace was one of the few places in this deep palace that truly belonged to her.
Pei Jichuan came to Lihe Palace to inquire about the patient's condition.
Emperor Zhaoheng also came.
He was worried and insisted on listening to it himself.
In the warm pavilion, Pei Jichuan carefully examined Shui Xian's pulse and inquired about her recent diet and daily life before finally smiling: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Your Majesty. The fetus is stable, and the pulse is normal. Your Majesty's morning sickness has basically subsided; you only need to continue to rest."
Emperor Zhaoheng's brows relaxed: "Is there anything else I need to be aware of?"
Pei Jichuan hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "The pregnancy is over three months and the fetus is stable... It's okay to have sex... Just be careful with your position and don't put pressure on the fetus."
Upon hearing this, the warm pavilion immediately fell silent.
Narcissus blushed slightly and lowered her eyes.
Emperor Zhaoheng remained calm, simply nodding without asking any further questions.
Pei Jichuan gave some further instructions and prescribed a remedy for pregnancy, then bowed and withdrew.
Only the Emperor and Empress remained in the warm chamber.
Emperor Zhaoheng walked to the edge of the couch and sat down, naturally taking the hand of Narcissus.
His hands were warm, with thin calluses on his palms, as he caressed the delicate back of her hand.
"Did you hear that?" he asked in a low voice. "Pei Jichuan said the pregnancy is stable."
Shui Xian didn't look up, but she could clearly feel Emperor Zhaoheng tightening his grip on her hand little by little.
The next moment, he grabbed her and rushed into the inner chamber of the Lihe Palace...
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