Chapter 68 Extra 3
Extra 3: First Release
Thanks to Xiao Jingting's persistent efforts, Lu Zhiwan was pregnant with the good news in the second month after the wedding.
When the imperial physician confirmed that it was a pregnancy pulse, Lu Zhiwan sat by the couch, still unable to recover from his shock, and Xiao Jingting also sat there in a daze, not saying a word.
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
You bastard, isn't this what you wanted? Why do you look so shocked?
Xiao Jingting understood the meaning of her gaze and pursed his lips. It was difficult to explain the complex emotions at the moment.
Admittedly, he really wanted to have a child with her, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.
I thought I would have to wait until next year——
Before he and she could truly enjoy a few days of their own time together, a child appeared, who was very likely to monopolize Wanwan's attention...
Xiao Jingting felt a little regretful. He shouldn't have compared himself with others.
"Your Majesty?" Lu Zhiwan reached out and touched the back of his hand, his eyes filled with confusion. "What's wrong with you?"
Xiao Jingting came back to his senses and held her hand: "It's okay."
He also asked the imperial physician about some things that women should pay attention to in the early stages of pregnancy, and he ordered Yu Mingjiang to go to the Cining Palace to announce the good news.
The palace maids in the Yangxin Palace were all beaming with joy, congratulating the Emperor and Empress in unison: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, and Your Majesty on this double happiness!"
Compared to the joy of receiving the good news, Lu Zhiwan was still immersed in a somewhat unreal trance, so she just smiled perfunctorily and asked Xia He to give them the reward money.
Not long after, Queen Mother Gu rushed over.
She arrived in a hurry, her well-maintained fair face flushed slightly. Xiao Jingting greeted her, but she didn't even glance at him. She walked right past him and raised her hand to help Lu Zhiwan, who was kneeling and bowing, to her feet. "Hey, hurry up, get up! You're pregnant now. You don't have to go through all this formality when you see me next time. Sit down, sit down!"
Seeing that the Queen Mother treated him like a fragile treasure, Lu Zhiwan was flattered, yet also a little embarrassed: "Mother, you are only a month pregnant, so there is no problem with the ceremony."
"Even a single month shouldn't be taken lightly," Queen Mother Gu said seriously. "Although I've never given birth, I know how difficult it is for a woman to be pregnant. You're carrying a life in your belly, how can I take it lightly?"
Seeing her attitude so cautious, Lu Zhiwan had no choice but to follow her wishes and sat back down on the edge of the couch.
Queen Mother Gu also sat down beside her, her eyes curved in a smile. A few fine lines were visible at the corners of her eyes, but it didn't diminish her gentle grace in the slightest. Those eyes scanned Lu Zhiwan's flat stomach several times, and she couldn't stop muttering, "Great, so great... May our ancestors bless you, may the Bodhisattvas bless you, to have such happy news just before your wedding. It's truly a double blessing, a double blessing."
Lu Zhiwan felt more and more embarrassed by her scrutiny, and quickly glanced at Xiao Jingting who was completely "ignored" by Empress Dowager Gu.
Xiao Jingting put his fist to his lips, coughed lightly, and stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, mother. I will take good care of the queen."
Queen Mother Gu then looked at him and said with a smile, "Okay, I'm relieved by this."
After a brief pause, she recalled something: "I've heard that when a woman is pregnant, the fetus is generally unstable during the first three months. I'm thinking of having the Empress move to Fengyi Palace, and once the pregnancy is stable, she can return to Yangxin Palace to live with you."
Xiao Jingting frowned slightly.
Lu Zhiwan heard the deeper meaning in Empress Dowager Gu's words, and her cheeks couldn't help but feel hot. It seemed that the Empress Dowager also knew about Xiao Jingting's recklessness - but after they got married, there was almost no peace and quiet every night, and she was afraid that the entire palace knew about it.
"Ayin, what do you think?" Queen Mother Gu asked again.
Xiao Jingting's face was calm. "The Queen has lived in the Yangxin Palace for so long. If she suddenly moves back to Fengyi Palace, I'm afraid she won't be able to sleep well at night. Besides, if she lives in the Yangxin Palace, I can see her anytime and take better care of her. In my opinion, there's no need for her to move."
Empress Dowager Gu knew how clingy the emperor was to the empress, but she was also afraid that he would be too clingy. It was also the time when the newlyweds were in love with each other. If they slept in the same bed at night and the empress lost control and started to act up, the child would be in danger.
But seeing the emperor's stubbornness, the empress dowager knew she couldn't persuade him, so she turned to Lu Zhiwan and said, "Queen, what do you say?"
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
She looked at the Queen Mother for a while, then at Xiao Jingting. Between those two gazes with different meanings, she took a deep breath, turned to Queen Mother Gu and smiled, "Mother, I know you mean well, but moving here and there is indeed a bit troublesome. Don't worry, Your Majesty and I know our limits."
Queen Mother Gu was a little unhappy when she heard the first half of her words, but after hearing the second half, she knew that she understood what she meant, so she felt relieved and said no more: "As long as you know your limits."
After all, she is not the emperor's biological mother. Talking too much will only annoy people. She just wants to hold her grandson in her arms after nine months, and she will leave the rest to them.
After pulling Lu Zhiwan aside and giving her a bunch of instructions, Empress Dowager Gu left the Yangxin Palace contentedly and went back to burn a few more incense sticks for the Bodhisattva.
In the Yangxin Palace, the palace maids were dismissed, leaving only the emperor and empress who were about to become parents. You looked at each other, and you both completely accepted the fact of pregnancy.
Sweet incense rose slowly from the gilded incense burner. In the quiet inner hall, Xiao Jingting held Lu Zhiwan's hand tightly and said with a serious look, "Wanwan, you have to promise me one thing."
Seeing how serious he was, Lu Zhiwan thought it was something important, so she straightened her attitude and asked, "What is it?"
Xiao Jingting said: "Even if you have a child, I am still the one you love most in your heart."
Lu Zhiwan: “???”
Xiao Jingting squeezed her hand tightly, frowning slightly: "You don't agree?"
Lu Zhiwan: "But this is our child..."
And the child is just a little bean sprout, why are you fighting for his favor?
Xiao Jingting said: "It's not that I don't love it. It's just that before it, you have to love me more. Just like in my heart, you will always be the first."
He spoke sweet words seriously, and Lu Zhiwan found it both funny and heartwarming.
Xiao Jingting saw her but smiled without saying anything, frowning: "Wanwan?"
"Okay, okay, I promise you."
Lu Zhiwan's expression softened, and she patted the man's hand soothingly: "Even if we have a child, I will still love you the most."
Xiao Jingting's brows relaxed slightly, but he didn't relax completely. He was skeptical: "Really?"
Lu Zhiwan didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Really? Why would I lie to you?"
Xiao Jingting thought to himself, this is not necessarily true. You have said one thing and meant another so many times in the past.
It's a pity that he no longer has the ability to read minds, otherwise he would be able to see into her heart and confirm her love for him.
But putting aside the comparison with the children, he was sure that Wanwan loved him.
After calming down a bit, Xiao Jingting raised his hand and took Lu Zhiwan into his arms, finally showing the tenderness and consideration that a normal man should show when he knows his wife is pregnant: "Wanwan, I'm going to trouble you from now on... Although I can't bear the pain of pregnancy and childbirth for you, if there is anything you need from me during this period, just ask, and I will do my best to satisfy you."
When Lu Zhiwan heard this, the confusion and fear about pregnancy in her heart dissipated like thick clouds illuminated by the warm sun.
Resting her head lightly on the man's strong and reliable chest, she smiled softly and said, "Since you said so, I won't be shy when I order you around from now on."
Xiao Jingting lowered his eyes, gazing at the charming and graceful face in his arms. He felt his heart overflow with affection and love for her, nearly overflowing. Lowering his head slightly, he restrainedly and earnestly placed a light kiss on her forehead. "I am truly happy to serve the Queen."
Pregnancy is indeed a very difficult thing.
In the early stages there is morning sickness and nausea, in the middle stages there is back pain and leg cramps, and in the later stages there is a big belly that affects movement. The bloated belly looks like a big round watermelon, which is really not beautiful.
But with a reliable and capable husband, most of the discomforts during pregnancy can be alleviated.
When Lu Zhiwan was vomiting due to morning sickness, Xiao Jingting would have the imperial chef cook her a variety of delicious dishes. When she wanted to eat sour dates, he would personally climb a tree to pick them for her. When she cried out in the middle of the night that she was hungry, he would have the kitchen cook them, personally bring them to her bedside, and feed her mouthful by mouthful.
Lu Zhiwan had back pain, so Xiao Jingting would massage her back and shoulders whenever he had time. In the middle of the night, when she had a leg cramp while sleeping, she didn't even need to say anything, just a groan through her nose, and he would massage her legs skillfully, pat her back, and coax her back to sleep like a child.
Later on, Lu Zhiwan had difficulty moving and was worried that stretch marks would affect her beauty, so he applied oil on her and carried her to bed every day, telling her that she was still very slim and that he could still lift her even if she gained twice as much weight.
Throughout the pregnancy, Lu Zhiwan became a little rounder, while Xiao Jingting lost two circles of weight, and seemed to be working harder than her.
When her stomach started to move in early September, she didn't even have time to cry out in pain, but Xiao Jingting's face was pale and his forehead was covered in sweat. If you didn't know, you would think he was saving his strength to give birth.
Seeing how nervous he was, Lu Zhiwan felt a lot of psychological pressure, so he simply asked someone to persuade him to leave.
Xiao Jingting refused and took her hand: "I want to stay here with you."
Lu Zhiwan: "...You should go out and wait. I'm under so much pressure with you here."
Xiao Jingting softened his tone: "Wanwan..."
Lu Zhiwan was heartless: "It's no use pretending to be pitiful. Come, come, please ask His Majesty to leave——"
In the end, Xiao Jingting was reluctantly invited to the outer hall.
Lu Zhiwan in the delivery room was sweating from the pain, but she held her breath and didn't cry out in pain. It wasn't because she wanted to gather her strength to push forward, but mainly because she was worried that if she cried out, Xiao Jingting would rush into the delivery room and affect her performance.
Even the midwife couldn't help but exclaim in admiration: "I have delivered many women, but this is the first time I have seen you endure the pain like this."
Lu Zhiwan clutched the pillowcase tightly, gritting her teeth and thinking, who told her husband that he was not an ordinary man?
From noon to dusk, when the gorgeous sunset glowed across the entire sky, a loud and clear baby cry was finally heard in the palace.
"It's born! The Queen has given birth!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, and the Queen Mother! It's a strong and healthy little prince!"
"Good, good! Everyone will be rewarded, huge rewards!"
Joy instantly filled every corner of the palace. After nearly thirty years, new life finally came to these deep palace walls.
In the clean and blood-free bedroom, Xiao Jingting leaned over and kissed Lu Zhiwan carefully from her eyebrows to her chin.
The kiss was not mixed with any lust, but was filled with the purest love and care.
His deep black eyes fixed on the frail, pale woman on the couch. The man's voice was a little hoarse: "Wanwan, thank you for your hard work."
Lu Zhiwan forced his eyelids open and gave him a faint smile: "Fortunately, the child is quite sensible and didn't torment me for too long."
Seeing that he still looked so heavy and distressed, she pretended to be lighthearted and joking, "Have you seen him? How does he compare to the young man from the Gu family?"
Xiao Jingting couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. He brushed the hair on her forehead with his slender fingers and said, "Why should our child be compared with others? He is the best child in the world."
Lu Zhiwan: "...So you haven't seen him yet?"
Xiao Jingting paused in the act of combing his hair and coughed lightly, "Don't worry, there will be time to look at it later."
Besides, what's so good about a brat? If it was a little princess, he would like to see if she looked like Wanwan.
Seeing him ignoring his son's attitude with a clear conscience, Lu Zhiwan was both angry and amused, but she had just given birth and didn't have much energy to argue with him, so she didn't bother to say anything more and let him stay by her side to sleep.
In the outer hall, Queen Mother Gu was holding the fair and tender little prince, smiling from ear to ear. Only at this age could she finally experience the joy of family.
The birth of the little prince is not only a happy event for the royal family, but also a happy event for the entire Daxing Dynasty.
To celebrate the birth of the little prince, the emperor issued an order for a general amnesty and exempted the people from taxes for three years. All of a sudden, all officials celebrated and the people cheered, and the whole world was immersed in the joy of the arrival of this most noble little life.
Everyone in the world was happy, except His Majesty the Emperor in the palace, who was a little unhappy——
Women are all liars.
"When you first became pregnant, you promised me that you would always put me first. But ever since this kid came, you've always put him first and thought about him every day."
Xiao Jingting looked sullenly at Lu Zhiwan, who was nursing the baby with a loving mother in her arms, "Do you still have a place for me in your heart?"
Lu Zhiwan didn't even raise his head: "Yeah."
Xiao Jingting: “…”
His heart was pounding, and his tone became heavier, with a hint of gnashing teeth: "Lu Zhiwan, are you listening to me?"
When the full name came out, Lu Zhiwan came back to his senses with a start. He looked up and saw a man who was almost fuming with anger. He laughed dumbly: "Yes, yes, yes, I'm listening."
Xiao Jingting: "Then what did I just say?"
Lu Zhiwan: “Uh…”
Xiao Jingting: "You didn't listen at all."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
You can't blame her for this, the soft and cute little ball who is seriously breastfeeding is just so adorable!
She didn’t know if it was because of the mother’s filter or because of the influence of hormones, but the more she looked at her child, the more she liked him, and the more she looked at him, the cuter he seemed. Sometimes she found it incredible that she could actually give birth to a little person!
After the little boy in his arms had been fed and fell asleep again with his beautiful eyes closed, Lu Zhiwan let the nurse take the prince away. He tugged at his coat, covered his collar, and went to coax the great ancestor who was emitting an "I am angry" look on the side: "You are my dear husband, and you definitely have a place in my heart. And that is our child, doesn't your majesty think he is very cute?"
Xiao Jingting: "I don't think so."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
Xiao Jingting turned his head to look at her: "Wanwan, when the child grows up, he will eventually have to start a family and build a career. Only I can accompany you until old age. You should know what is more important."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
This makes sense, but the child is only a little over a month old. Isn’t it too early to say this now?
However, no matter how much she explained to the possessive man, he would not listen. Lu Zhiwan could only stroke his hair, stood up and sat on his lap, raised her hands and hooked them around his neck, and said softly: "Your Majesty, I like the child because he is the result of our love. I love him because I love you."
The tiger's jealousy subsided a little, and he looked at her with narrow eyes: "Really?"
"Of course it's true." Lu Zhiwan raised her little face, which had become increasingly fair and rosy after the confinement period, and looked at him with her watery eyes: "I once heard that a woman must love the man very much before she is willing to have a child with him. Otherwise, giving birth is so painful that I wouldn't be willing to give birth."
Xiao Jingting felt relieved after hearing this.
Wanwan had Xiao Qi, that baby, because of her love for him.
Forget it, a father should always have the magnanimity of a father, he won’t bother with his child.
"I like that child, too."
Xiao Jingting hugged the fragrant and soft body in his arms, lowered his head slightly, and smelled the faint milky fragrance on her body. The hand on her waist couldn't help but tightened: "Wanwan, you smell so good."
The topic changed so quickly that Lu Zhiwan was stunned for a moment. When she came to her senses, the man's face was already buried in his chest.
The high bridge of his nose pushed aside the slightly closed collar, and he used his teeth to tear open the loose belt. The hot nose sprayed on the tender skin, instantly making Lu Zhiwan's back numb and his mind blank.
The wet touch brought her back to her senses, and she covered her face in panic: "No, don't..."
The man's voice grew hoarse, and his movements remained unrestrained: "You've spent enough time with him today. Now it's my turn."
The next moment, all the unfinished words in Lu Zhiwan's throat were tightly sealed by a long and passionate kiss.
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