Shu Chengfeng really didn't know what to say.
These statements are all true, but they are all strange.
No other woman would dare to say these things to him.
"I think that between the titles of Consort Shu and Consort Hui, Consort Hui sounds better and suits you better. How about we promote her once your pregnancy is stable?" Shu Chengfeng asked.
"Then if you give birth, you won't get promoted?" Yan Nangui laughed.
"Won't it be yours sooner or later?" Shu Chengfeng chuckled. "You're blaming me for giving you a high rank from the start? I should have given you a Jieyu (a concubine rank) from the beginning, and then you could have risen through the ranks step by step." Shu Chengfeng said.
"If you're so shameless, then I'm just as shameless," Yan Nangui said, looking at him.
"I can't afford to lose face like that." Shu Chengfeng frowned. "Your place is fine, no need to change. Just furnish it with more things. You're pregnant now, so it's not good for you to move around too much. We'll talk about it after the baby is born."
Yan Nangui listened to him and simply nodded.
His Majesty was still busy, so after having lunch and talking here, he went back.
They said they'd come back tonight.
Yan Nangui didn't call him; he told him to rest on his own.
However, it's hard to say whether His Majesty will listen.
In the afternoon, news came that the old lady of the Yan family wanted to go to the palace to visit.
This is also a rule; when a concubine is pregnant, she should see her family.
However, Yan Nangui was too lazy to see her, and only sent someone to tell her that the old lady was too old and there was no need for her to make the trip. He only saw his father and brother, who rarely returned to the capital.
Yan Lingyun and his son will be leaving soon.
Even if you wanted to see them often, you wouldn't have the chance.
His Majesty naturally had no objection and arranged for the Yan family father and son to enter the palace the next day, with Lady Yin also coming in.
His Majesty was unable to come that evening because the Fifth Prince had a cough and fever again.
This has been happening frequently for more than two years. Things are better now than before, when the child was seriously ill.
Shu Chengfeng had to go see it no matter what.
Yan Nangui slept without any discomfort. In any case, she didn't feel pregnant at the time. It was just that she got up too early on the day of the banquet and was extremely sleepy after drinking alcohol.
The next day, early in the morning, Yan Lingyun and his son were granted special permission to enter the Zhaochun Palace in the inner palace.
When Yan returned from the south, she didn't bother to dress up properly; she simply wore a pink dress and combed her hair before meeting people.
"Greetings to Consort Chen, may Your Highness be well." Yan Lingyun knelt down with her son and daughter-in-law.
He was helped up and didn't kneel down.
"Father, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down," Yan Nangui said with a smile.
"How is Your Highness's health? We saw that Your Highness was not feeling well the other day, and we also heard that you were pregnant... We were all very worried," Yan Lingyun said.
"I feel fine, but I didn't know I was pregnant. I got up early and drank a few cups of wine before feeling sleepy. The imperial physician has already said that the pregnancy is stable. Everything is fine," Yan Nangui said.
"That's good. Your Majesty's good health is the most important thing," Madam Yin said with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law." Yan Nangui waved her hand and said, "Jiangxiang, please stay. The rest of you, go out and serve."
The tea had been served to everyone, and they all left at that moment.
The two old women didn't dare to stay any longer.
Mrs. Yin was quite surprised that she was also allowed to stay, and she didn't insist on leaving.
“It’s rare for Father and Elder Brother to return to the capital, and we haven’t seen each other much these past few years. Now that they’ve come back, I might as well say it now,” Yan Nangui said.
"Your Majesty, please speak freely." Yan Lingyun sat up straighter.
“Since I am pregnant, there is a general chance that it is a prince. The Empress has no children, and my Yan family's status is superior to that of the Ning and Ye families. It's just that my father and elder brother have not been in the capital for the past few years, so we are not so prominent. As for me, I have also been favored in recent years. His Majesty just said yesterday that he would promote me to the rank of Consort Hui. The four consorts of the first rank are all the same. Even if I were a Noble Consort first, it wouldn't necessarily be more prestigious. The position of Noble Consort Duanyi above is just an empty shell with the Empress in charge.”
"Once I'm promoted, there's no higher title I can bestow. The Yan family already has one duke and one marquis. We can't be promoted any further right now. If I give birth to a prince, I might have the potential to compete for the crown prince position. Besides, I won't have any choice but to fight for it then."
"I have thought of everything Your Majesty has said," Yan Lingyun said.
Yan Nanxu nodded as well.
"No, that's not all I wanted to say. The Yan family must be careful, but if I become too powerful, the Ning family, the Ye family, and many other families won't feel at ease. Since His Majesty has no legitimate son, he will inevitably have to choose a son from among the illegitimate sons to be the crown prince. Everyone has a chance."
"That's true. And what I'm going to say is that I might also give birth to a princess."
Yan Nangui smiled and said, "I've always had a bad temper. The concubines in the palace are only nodding acquaintances with me, and the worst ones, like Consort Jing, are people I've beaten. So, if I give birth to a daughter, I'll need my father and elder brother's support even more."
“That’s for sure. No matter what Your Majesty gives birth to, the Yan family will always be Your Majesty’s support,” Yan Nanxu said.
"If I give birth to a prince, my son and I will certainly be placed in a high position. Otherwise, our fate will be dire. If I give birth to a daughter, my daughter and I will never be subservient to anyone. I hope Father and Elder Brother will consider this. If Father and Elder Brother decide against me as a concubine, the Yan family will remain as before..."
“Your Highness, please don’t say such things. I was wrong in the past and I’m sorry to you. We all know that you’ve struggled alone in the palace all these years. I’m getting old, but you still have your eldest brother, and your second brother is sensible now. He will always be able to protect you.” Yan Lingyun interrupted her.
Yan Nangui smiled and said, "What's past is past. Since Father and Elder Brother say so, I'm relieved."
“Your Majesty need not be so polite. In truth, it shouldn’t be me saying this. But Your Majesty and the Yan family are inextricably linked. Without Your Majesty, the Yan family would not have such a high rank. So if Your Majesty were to give birth to a prince, it would naturally be a matter of urgency. If it is a princess, your father-in-law and your elder brother will only protect Your Majesty,” Madam Yin said with a smile.
The migrating geese were merely a preventative measure for them.
Once she gives birth, the struggle begins. The Yan family will never be able to escape unscathed.
So, I just said it to make my family feel good.
The Yan family father and son did not stay for a meal, as they were leaving the palace before noon.
Just before he was about to leave, he received an imperial edict, which was an edict of promotion.
Consort Chen was promoted to Consort Chenhui.
He also bestowed upon them countless treasures, jewelry, and fabrics.
Yan Nangui then selected some items and asked Madam Yin to take them to the old lady and her aunt, as well as some for Madam Yin herself.
Ms. Yin could not refuse and had no choice but to accept.
Yan Lingyun left the palace with her son and daughter-in-law.
Before long, the eunuch from the kitchen came in person to arrange her meals, and from now on, she would have to be very careful in doing so.
Yan Nangui smiled faintly, "It doesn't matter how the food is prepared. You all know better than me what a pregnant woman can and cannot eat. Just make sure you don't mix any inedible foods into what's edible. I'm the kind of person who says what I mean. If I give birth to the imperial heir, you will all be rewarded. I'm not stingy, you know that."
"But what if something unclean gets smuggled in from here and I eat it..."
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