"Your Majesty, would you like some more charcoal?"
"Then add some more charcoal, Chunhe."
After adding charcoal to the stove (a charcoal stove, also known as a brazier, was a tool used by ancient people to burn charcoal for warmth in freezing weather, similar to a modern fire pit), Chunhe came to the bedside and saw that the beautiful woman had already sat up. She immediately said, "Your Majesty, why did you get up? It's cold; be careful not to catch a cold."
"It's alright," he said, pulling back the covers and making to get up, but Chunhe immediately stopped him.
"Your Majesty, why don't you rest in bed? Your due date is fast approaching, so please take good care of yourself and avoid catching a cold."
"Get up. If you stay in bed any longer, the little one inside you will probably get upset."
"Let me serve Your Highness," Chunhe said, stepping forward to attend to the beautiful woman.
If you didn't see the woman's belly, you'd think she was some pretty young lady yet to be married. This is none other than Empress Xiao Liyan of Fenglan Kingdom.
A young palace maid, grinning, walked in carrying food in her hands.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress"
Get up.
"Your Majesty, you said yesterday you wanted to eat bird's nest, so this servant went to the Imperial Kitchen early this morning to supervise them in preparing it," Xia Ju said proudly, her face practically screaming "Praise me!"
"You little brat, you don't look like a first-class palace maid at all," the beautiful woman said reproachfully.
"That's because the Empress spoils them."
"Xia Ju, your teeth can't be held back!" Upon hearing this, Xia Ju immediately shut up.
"You two little brats, why aren't you opening the bird's nest? Or you'll be punished by not being allowed to eat breakfast later!"
"No, Your Highness, we'll open it now, we'll open it now!" the two said. Chunhe opened the lid and put in a spoon.
"Your Majesty, please have some."
As Xiao Liyan ate the bird's nest, she thought to herself: "You finally got to eat it, you little glutton! All you ever do is bother your mother."
The beautiful woman placed her hand on her belly, and the baby inside seemed to confirm her thoughts, kicking her belly a few times in response. It was getting restless again. Thinking back, you'll be quite a handful in the future.
——
Cherry Blossom Garden
"The snow is really heavy today," a woman murmured as she stood by the window. A palace maid behind her placed a hand warmer in the woman's lap, closed the window, and helped the woman sit down.
"Liu Si, how many days until Ayan gives birth?"
"Your Majesty, according to the days, there are still four days left."
The woman's face was filled with worry. In this cold weather, she wondered how Ah Yan was doing, and that she must be feeling unwell.
"Liu Si, come with me to Ayan's place," the woman said, and then turned to leave.
Liu Si quickly stopped her mistress, saying, "No, Your Majesty, the Empress said that you are pregnant now, and it's cold; you shouldn't go out in the cold wind."
"I want to go, can you stop me?"
The woman was already showing signs of anger, and Liu Si knew she couldn't stop her. She could only place a large hand warmer in her mistress's arms, then give her a cloak to wear, while she herself held an umbrella over her mistress, leading the group towards the Empress's palace, 'Futang Palace'.
——
Futang Palace
"Your Majesty, Consort Li has arrived."
Upon hearing this, the beautiful woman rose and went to the door. She saw her close friend, Xiao Liyun, also known as Consort Li, walking through the wind and snow. Anyone who didn't know them would think they were sisters; they both had the surname Xiao and the character "Li" in their names.
Consort Li quickened her pace when she saw the Empress arrive.
"Greetings, Consort Li"
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress"
No need for formalities.
Get up.
The Empress took Consort Li's hand and led her inside, talking as they went.
"Liyun, it's so cold and snowing so heavily, how did you come here? What will happen to the baby in your belly if it gets cold?"
"Ayan, I'm worried about you as you're about to give birth, so I wanted to come and see you."
"You, you, sit down quickly," the Empress said, pulling Consort Li to sit down with a mixture of happiness and resentment on her face.
"Chunhe, quickly bring up the Longhong tea (also known as Longjing tea) that the Emperor bestowed upon you."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Chunhe replied, leaving to prepare tea.
"Your Highness, you may not know that this Longhong tea is a tribute from Fuzhou to the Emperor. The Emperor only bestowed two ounces upon you. My lady usually doesn't even dare to drink it. If it weren't for your arrival, it would probably still be stored away in the tea room."
"Really, Xia Ju? Then I'll have to drink more."
Xia Ju nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Highness, yes, this servant would never dare to deceive you."
"When you go back later, I'll have Xia Ju pack an ounce for you," the Empress said, looking at Consort Li.
"No, Ah Yan, since it was a gift from the Emperor, you should keep it and drink it. You know I don't usually drink tea."
"Alright then, come visit me anytime you want."
"good"
"Your Majesty, the tea is here." Xia He placed the tea on the table, first pouring a cup for the Empress, then a cup for Consort Li.
"It's good tea, no wonder Ah Yan is reluctant to drink it."
"Liyun, you're just teasing me," she said, covering her mouth and laughing.
The Empress sipped her tea, gazing at Consort Li's pregnant belly, her mood softening as she sighed.
"Liyun, do you blame me for letting you serve me in bed?"
Xiao Liyun paused after hearing this, then said, "No, I didn't want to serve you in bed before, so Ayan took my nameplate down. Now that she wants me to serve her, I'm sure Ayan has her own plans. I'll listen to Ayan."
"But I know perfectly well that you don't like the Emperor, yet I still made you serve him in bed. Aren't you really upset? Even if you aren't, I still feel terrible." As she spoke, her entire expression lowered.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Liyun immediately took Xiao Liyan's hand and said, "I have never blamed you in the slightest. I said that I would do whatever you asked me to do without hesitation, even if it meant death."
Xiao Liyan became angry when she heard Xiao Liyun mention the word 'death'.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't say things like that again."
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