Looking at the Crown Prince's serious eyes and gentle features, Liu Lingxi's previously uneasy heart suddenly felt better.
She stared blankly at the man in front of her and asked curiously.
"Really?"
"Yes, so please don't be afraid anymore. If you can't focus on your pregnancy, how can our baby grow up safely?"
Crown Prince Sheng Changfeng looked at the delicate and soft-looking girl before him, her tears glistening in the candlelight, and he was immediately filled with pity.
It was his fault; he failed to protect his Xi'er.
As he thought this, a certain idea in his heart wavered once again, and the seed of ambition was watered once more.
Sheng Changfeng did not let his emotions show, but instead calmly suppressed them.
"Xi'er, is it that you can't forget those things? Well... I'll help you..."
Just as Liu Lingxi looked at the Crown Prince with suspicion, questioning how he was going to help, she saw—
An enlarged version of a handsome face slowly approached him.
This is to...
Liu Lingxi blinked frantically, looking left and right, not knowing where to look.
So cute.
Thinking this, the Crown Prince cupped his Crown Princess's bright and beautiful face in his hands and kissed her red lips deeply.
As she turned, soft, delicate sounds escaped from the woman's lips, like the whimpering of a small animal, greatly stimulating Sheng Changfeng's senses.
If it started as a gentle breeze and drizzle, it gradually intensified and turned into a violent storm that was hard to withstand.
Seeing that the prince was becoming increasingly enthusiastic and going too far, Liu Lingxi was so frightened that she quickly grabbed the prince's large hand.
"Your Highness...please...my body..."
"Yes, I almost became infatuated."
Only after being reminded did Sheng Changfeng suddenly realize that his Crown Princess had been pregnant for less than a month, and he had been so forgetful.
He was so frightened that he quickly grabbed Liu Lingxi's small hand to check.
Only when he saw that her rosy little face was still fair and rosy, like the most tempting cherry color, and that there was nothing wrong, did he feel relieved.
After the examination, Sheng Changfeng smiled with relief, patted Liu Lingxi's head, and said proactively.
"Is Xi'er feeling any better?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
After all that commotion, Liu Lingxi lost all interest in thinking about those messy things.
Subconsciously, she felt that things should end here, and judging from the Emperor's appearance, it didn't seem like he was going to disregard his reputation and take her as a concubine.
She is now carrying the legitimate grandson of the emperor, and even if the emperor really wants to do something, he will have to withstand the condemnation of all the officials.
In fact, everyone had temporarily reached this consensus, if it weren't for that incident later...
Now, after being bathed and pampered, Liu Lingxi is lying in the Crown Prince's arms, drifting into a sweet dream.
Sheng Changfeng gently stroked her hair, which was still damp even after being wrung out, and placed a light kiss on the woman's forehead.
Then, she dutifully did the work of a servant, wiping the moisture off Liu Lingxi's hair.
After doing all this, Sheng Changfeng held his sweet and soft Crown Princess in his arms and they fell asleep together.
The couple nestled together, looking like a pair of celestial beings.
When the news that they had extinguished the candles reached Sheng Jin's ears, he was stunned for a moment, and then dismissed the servants.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation was brightly lit, and it was only much later that a long sigh was heard.
Well, I expected this all along. Fortunately, the Crown Prince can't do anything to the Crown Princess now.
Sheng Jin tried hard to control her jealousy and told herself not to care too much. It took her a long time to suppress the bitter feeling.
This is the path I chose myself, so let it be.
She will not interfere with the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, nor will she separate them.
That's good enough.
What more could a man ask for than to be able to see the person he loves all the time?
After calming himself down, Sheng Jin picked up his vermilion brush again and began reviewing memorials at his desk.
At this moment, Sheng Jin had no idea that having such thoughts would lead him through the most painful period of his life.
Temporary patience is possible, but no one can endure it for a lifetime.
Even a saint couldn't do that.
...
The next day, everyone in the palace knew that the Empress had closed herself off to recuperate.
The emperor also took over the reins of the palace, ostensibly to spare the empress any worry and prevent her condition from worsening.
This news was like a drop of water falling into a pot of boiling oil—
This caused an uproar in the imperial harem!
Consort Yu and Consort Wang, who both lived in Jingyang Palace, walked towards each other's palace without prior arrangement.
Consort Wang walked quickly and arrived at Consort Yu's Chaoyang Palace before Consort Yu even left the palace gate.
As soon as he entered, he tightly grasped Consort Yu's hand and said anxiously.
"Sister Yu Pin, what should we do? Her Majesty the Empress has already secluded herself in the palace to recuperate. Should we still go and offer our advice?"
"Alas, even the Empress couldn't persuade the Emperor. What use would it be if we went? We would only end up worse off than the Empress."
Consort Yu is usually taciturn, but it's unusual for her to talk so much these days.
She has always been clear-headed and has never dared to stand out when she knows she should keep a low profile.
Now, adhering to this principle, they are determined not to get involved in this mess again.
Consort Wang was already flustered and confused, and now that she saw that Consort Yu had made up her mind, she dared not be stubborn anymore.
"Yes, Consort Yu is right. I was being too attached to appearances."
Consort Wang nodded, thinking she could finally relax, but then suddenly seemed to remember something and started to panic again.
"But, will the Emperor punish us for our visit to Fengyi Palace last night?"
"This... I don't know either."
As soon as Consort Yu finished speaking, a young eunuch from Jingyang Palace ran over, bowed, and said...
"Your Majesty, I saw Eunuch Bai coming from afar, accompanied by many junior eunuchs. They seem to be carrying an imperial edict."
Consort Yu and Consort Wang instantly understood. There was no need for further discussion now; they both knew perfectly well that the Emperor's decree of punishment had arrived.
"In that case, we can only welcome you."
As Consort Yu spoke, she exchanged a glance with Consort Wang, and both saw the bitter smiles on each other's faces.
When Bai Qing arrived, Consort Yu and her entourage were already standing in the courtyard, waiting for Bai Qing to announce the imperial decree.
Bai Qing watched this scene with a hint of appreciation in his eyes.
Look at these clever people in the palace. If the Emperor were healthy, the empresses might have had bright futures. What a pity...
However, he only dared to mutter these words to himself. It would be truly foolish for a servant to sympathize with his master.
Thinking this, Bai Qing forced a fake smile onto his face.
"This servant greets Your Majesties. Your Majesties, His Majesty has sent this servant to deliver a decree. Please forgive this servant for not being able to kneel."
"Of course, Eunuch Bai, please—"
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