The sudden change in his expression was simply hilarious.
At the beginning, he was talking with the ministers around him with a decent and gentle smile on his face, looking extraordinary.
But when he saw her belly, his smile stopped and he stood there in a daze. Then his face turned ashen and his expression changed very quickly, like a color palette.
Xu Lingyi smiled secretly in her heart. Li Xu is still young and has not gained much experience. But he will not have the chance in the future.
"Everyone, please stand up." The emperor spoke, and the ministers stood up and sat in their seats.
Although many people tried hard to restrain themselves, Xu Lingyi still felt that someone was looking at her from time to time, and the focus was of course on her belly.
Since the ministers didn't ask, the emperor deliberately didn't say anything.
In the end, some ministers could not hold back and spoke up. They still couldn't believe that someone in the emperor's harem was pregnant.
It is also possible that this Defei is suffering from a serious illness.
"Your Majesty, is Consort De pregnant?"
When someone asked this question, all the officials in the hall pricked up their ears and listened attentively with bated breath.
The emperor nodded.
"I was just about to share the good news with you, my beloved concubine is pregnant."
The emperor spoke and confirmed the matter.
Although he had been extremely happy when he learned that Xu Lingyi was pregnant several months ago, and he thought his emotions had calmed down over the past few months, he was still extremely excited when he announced this matter in public today.
After many years, he is finally going to be a father again.
The ministers reacted.
"Your Majesty, this is truly a blessing for us in Daliang."
Some ministers actually covered their faces and cried. An elderly man in his sixties wiped away tears and choked up as he spoke: "Your Majesty, this is a great thing. I am very happy. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me for being disrespectful in front of the palace."
Xu Lingyi: “…”
For a moment, Xu Lingyi didn't know whether this person was sincere or just trying to flatter the emperor.
But His Majesty didn't mind at all, he was happy about her pregnancy.
The ministers under him could only be happier than him. If anyone dared to look sad, the emperor would punish him.
After that, the whole banquet was filled with joy. No matter if it was fake or not, the ministers toasted the emperor again and again, offering blessings one after another. After praising the emperor, they praised Xu Lingyi.
The emperor didn't like drinking before, but now he was happy and drank one cup after another.
Before this, the ministers would never have thought that someone in the harem could get pregnant. This Xu was really lucky.
Those court officials who had contacted Li Xu all felt a little regretful at this moment.
If Xu gave birth to a prince this time, he would definitely be made the crown prince, and Li Xu would have no place in the world.
But this is not certain. Maybe the emperor was born without a son.
This baby might also be a princess, or it is possible that Xu had a difficult delivery, resulting in two deaths in one birth.
The wise ministers decided not to submit a petition requesting the appointment of a crown prince for the time being, nor to contact Li Xu for the time being, and just wait and see whether Xu's baby was a boy or a girl.
If he were a prince, he would of course support orthodoxy. Since he had a legitimate heir, why would he offend the emperor?
"Your Highness." The counselor beside Li Xu secretly reached out and pulled Li Xu.
Only then did Li Xu come to his senses.
Before coming, he was thinking that he would be able to see Xu's beautiful face again, but at the banquet, his mind was full of Xu's belly.
He knew very well that if Xu Lingyi was pregnant with a prince this time, he would completely lose hope.
So Xu couldn't give birth to this baby, but what could he do?
Now he could only hope that Xu Lingyi gave birth to a daughter, so that she would not be a threat to him.
The deposed imperial concubine was also pregnant and gave birth to Princess Minghua, but she never gave birth again after that.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't realize he was staring at Xu Lingyi.
"Why does Prince Li keep staring at my beloved concubine?" the emperor asked directly, his tone full of displeasure.
Li Xu's heart skipped a beat.
"How can you take on such a great responsibility when you are so rude and immoral?" The emperor said in a cold voice, "De Fei is your elder. Is this how you respect your elders?"
The emperor's tone was extremely harsh. Li Xu quickly knelt down to apologize and was about to explain.
But the emperor interrupted him directly: "Go back, I don't want to hear your explanations and excuses, go back and reflect on yourself."
The banquet was completely silent.
This night is destined to be a sleepless night.
After the ministers returned home, the only thing they discussed was Xu Lingyi's pregnancy.
"Madam, Concubine De is pregnant."
A minister went back and shared the news with his wife who did not attend the banquet.
"What! Are you lying to me?"
"Why would I lie to you? I saw it with my own eyes today. Concubine De is already visibly pregnant. She looks over five months pregnant. She should give birth in another four months. If it's a prince..."
Her wife immediately sat up and said, "If it's a prince, that would be incredible. The Xu family would truly rise to prominence. I never thought Your Majesty could still have children. Your Majesty must be almost thirty-seven this year."
The man nodded and continued, "Your Majesty reprimanded Prince Li today. It was both a reprimand and a warning. Your Majesty must have seen and remembered the movements in the court recently."
————
The Minister of Rites was also discussing this matter at his home.
"Let's put Yan'er's marriage on hold. If Xu gives birth to a prince, the throne will have nothing to do with the prince. Given Your Majesty's personality, he won't survive. If Yan'er marries him, she will be implicated."
The wife of the Minister of Rites nodded: "I didn't expect that Xu Shi would have such good fortune. If I had known that Your Majesty could give birth, you should have allowed our Yan'er to enter the palace..."
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