Chapter 375: Son and Daughter
Zhaohua put down the Luozidai and took the lip balm handed to her by Yunshan. She pursed her red lips lightly, leaving a bright glow on them.
"What the emperor cares about most is his face. If this matter really gets out, the storytellers in the streets will have to make up a story.
By then, he would be so embarrassed that everyone would know about it. Wouldn't he be so embarrassed that he would die? So he could only keep this a secret for now and wait and see what would happen. "
"Besides, the emperor is not sure about the origin of the baby in Concubine Hui's belly. He has few children now. After he turned thirty, the only prince in public is Chenghuan, and he is not yet happy with him.
Therefore, he certainly hoped that the child in Huifei's belly would be his own, and it would be best if he could be a prince. Then one day he could kill the mother and keep the child without making any noise. In this way, the emperor's face would be saved, and it would also be a guarantee for the country's prosperity."
After saying this, she finished putting on her makeup.
Zhaohua looked at her delicately made-up face in the mirror.
She is still stunningly beautiful. If anyone could be even a bit like her, they would be extremely beautiful and praised by the world.
But only Zhaohua herself could see that this breathtakingly beautiful face was much different from when she first entered the palace at the age of sixteen.
Then the gleam in her eyes, however, quietly slipped away in the wasted years, never to be recovered.
"Last night, your brother tried his best to protect Concubine Hui's pregnancy. The Emperor saw it. What did he say?"
Xiao Fuzi said, "The emperor gave a reward of 100 taels of silver and promised Huifei this child. My brother will take care of her in the future."
"That's good." Zhao Hua smiled and said sincerely:
"Then ask your brother to take good care of Concubine Hui's baby and make sure she doesn't get into any mishap."
Xiao Fuzi nodded slightly and said with a sly smile:
"Don't worry, my lady. I know what to do."
*
In the winter of that year, the whole of Kyoto was covered in white snow.
Ning Wanshuang stopped paying respects to the six palaces early.
The concubines all guarded their own piece of land in the palace and lived their lives quietly.
In the midst of the silvery white, Hui Fei's Zhaochun Palace was dotted with red.
She had newly planted red plum blossoms in her palace. In the winter, everything else was bleak, but a touch of bright color could be seen before her eyes.
But perhaps because of the beauty before my eyes, my heart turned cold.
Ever since she nearly had a miscarriage that day, Xiao Jingheng had never visited her once.
On the other hand, here in Zhaohua, although the courtyard was lonely, Xiao Jingheng was always thinking about her and would come to visit her every now and then.
Ruoxin's palpitations gradually improved under Zhaohua's careful care.
Xiao Jingheng also liked this daughter very much. At this moment, he was holding Ruoxin in his arms and teasing her, and he did not forget to joke with Zhaohua:
"I see that you are pregnant, so I think you will have a prince. That would be great. Zhao'er and I would then have the blessing of having both a son and a daughter."
Zhao Hua smiled coquettishly, but she refused, "Whether it's a prince or a princess, as long as they are my children, they are my blessings. But since Xiao Lang likes the prince, why doesn't he visit Cheng Huan more often in Concubine Chen's palace? I heard that Concubine Chen was carried to Chaoyang Palace when she went to sleep with him a few days ago."
Xiao Jingheng looked a little embarrassed.
He was silent for a moment, then took Zhaohua's hand and said with a forced smile:
"I like the prince, but I like our child even more."
Zhao Hua smiled knowingly when he heard this.
But there was a hint of disdain hidden in her smile.
The salt and snow fell day by day, layer upon layer, pressing down the passing time.
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.
This year's New Year's Eve banquet in the palace was very special. No outsiders came to celebrate.
When asked the reason, Xiao Jingheng simply said that the auspicious snow was a sign of a good harvest, and he allowed the princes and nobles to mingle with the people and enjoy the occasion together.
But what is the reason behind it, I am afraid only he himself knows it.
The six palaces’ greetings have been suspended for two months, and many faces have not been seen for a long time.
Ning Wanshuang and Rong Yue remained as pure as ever. Some of the remaining concubines had become plump in the palace, while some had hidden thoughts and secretly imitated Zhao Hua's makeup, hoping to win Xiao Jingheng's attention.
But at most it is just an ugly imitation and it is futile.
After Zhaohua looked around the hall, he finally set his sights on Concubine Hui.
Her pregnancy was stable, her belly was getting bigger day by day, and her complexion looked much better, with some girlish look again.
The moment his eyes met Concubine Hui's, they smiled and nodded to each other, and the relationship seemed quite harmonious.
Every New Year's Eve, the Ministry of Internal Affairs would distribute Xiao Jingheng's rewards to each palace in advance.
When the night banquet came, it was time for the concubines to take turns presenting gifts to Xiao Jingheng.
When it was Zhaohua's turn, she stood up with empty hands and said with a smile:
"I didn't prepare any gifts for Xiao Lang."
She lowered her eyes shyly, stroked her belly, and said softly, "Because the best gift is already in my belly. Xiao Lang, you and I have achieved our wish. This time, I am pregnant with a little prince."
Xiao Jingheng was overjoyed, "Are you serious?"
At the banquet, Guo Yuanpan was the attending imperial physician. He was summoned to see the emperor and told him the truth:
"Your Majesty, when a woman is four months pregnant, she can predict the gender of the baby. It depends on the speed of the pulse. If the left pulse is fast, it means a boy; if the right pulse is fast, it means a girl; if both pulses are fast, it means two boys will be born.
The left pulse of Concubine Yi is obviously strong and the pulse is beating strongly. I am 90% sure that Concubine Yi is pregnant with a little prince."
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