Chapter 165 The Queen Throws Firecrackers
This time, because the Empress Dowager was attending the palace banquet, the Empress' seat was moved to the Emperor's right side. Nian Shilan could no longer sit on the other side of the Emperor and attack the Empress.
The emperor could vaguely hear Nian Shilan's thoughts through the empress.
The Empress Dowager was sitting on the Emperor's left side, and because of her age, her voice was even more vague in her ears.
Concubine Duan, who was next to Nian Shilan, coughed at this time.
Nian Shilan was praised and said happily: "The Queen Mother appreciated the golden hairpin, and I thought it would go well with some nice clothes, so I asked the embroidery department to make a few new ones."
Concubine Duan couldn't help coughing again: "Cough cough..."
Nian Shilan glanced at him with disgust: [You should die somewhere else. It's really unlucky to come here to spoil the fun during the New Year! ]
“Cough cough cough…”
【……】
The Queen Mother was very satisfied when she heard Nian Shilan's unguarded words, and her eyes glanced at the Queen without intending to -
It's time for her to cooperate.
The queen happened to drink a sip of wine at this time.
Useless thing!
The Queen Mother continued as if nothing had happened, "What kind of clothes should match what kind of jewelry, I see the silk flowers on the Royal Concubine's head, it seems to be very valuable."
Nian Shilan raised her hand and touched her hair. "The silk flowers used in the hairpins in the palace are all made of satin. Although they are beautiful, they are also ordinary. The ones I use are made of gold thread woven with gems."
"It's really beautiful, and it must have cost a lot."
The meaning of this statement could not be more obvious.
In her previous life, Nian Shilan boasted in front of the emperor that it was money from her mother's family, and successfully tricked her brother into the marriage.
This time——
It was the Queen Mother who took the initiative to fall into the trap she had dug.
"This……"
Nian Shilan looked at the emperor shyly and timidly, "When the war in the northwest was just over, His Majesty ordered frugality. I said that I shouldn't be so aggressive, but His Majesty insisted on rewarding me. I was also very frightened."
She said she was afraid, but no one could see fear on her face. Instead, her face was full of pride and satisfaction of being favored.
Upon hearing about the Emperor’s reward, the Empress Dowager was not so obviously stunned for a moment.
【Why are you so surprised? 】
[The eldest brother is honest and has no spare money. He and the second brother have fought together on the battlefield and now that they have returned victorious, the second brother will naturally want a generous reward, but he has no spare money.]
[Longkodo didn't give me any gifts. Apart from the Emperor's gift, where else can I find them? ]
Longkodo?
The emperor remembered that Nian Shilan said that the fourteenth prince was Longkodo's son.
Royal shame.
Nian Shilan was not stupid. She knew only what to say. If she said more, she would appear too clever. So, when she asked the emperor to personally issue an order to give her clothes and jewelry, it seemed that she had ulterior motives.
She then boasted about herself to divert attention.
[Which man doesn't like his woman sitting next to him and looking stunning? ]
[My beauty is second to none in the Manchu, Mongolian, Han, or Eight Banners. No matter how gorgeous and expensive the clothes and jewelry are, I can afford them! ]
The emperor listened to this simple voice and agreed very much.
No matter how luxurious your woman is, she still looks like your own face.
"Shilan is the sister of General Nian and the Imperial Consort of the Qing Dynasty. This is how it should be."
The Queen Mother smiled and nodded, "That's right, the Royal Concubine is pregnant with the heir, and is also a meritorious official to the country."
She lowered her eyes, "I see that the Royal Concubine's belly seems to be bigger than the usual seven or eight month pregnant belly."
The Fu Jins beside them also echoed in agreement, and they saw it when they sat down at their seats.
The Imperial Concubine became pregnant while she was in the Old Summer Palace. If any other concubine heard such words from the Empress Dowager, they would inevitably say a word or two of suspicion.
But Nian Shilan is Nian Gengyao's sister.
No one dares.
Fu Jin and others could only take a second look at it, but they did not dare to do it openly.
The tone of the sentence "It seems like it was really a roar?" was carefully measured, for fear of offending both the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine.
Nian Shilan felt good about herself and didn't think there was anything wrong.
[It's just that I ate a little more, can it be twins? 】
The emperor could not stand the looks from the royal relatives and ladies. “The queen has been taking care of the imperial concubine’s pregnancy, so she must know everything.”
The Queen calmly threw out a big firecracker, "In reply to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, the imperial physician reported this morning that the Royal Concubine might be carrying twins."
When she noticed that Nian Shilan's belly was not the right size, she asked Doctor Zhang.
Due to Nian Shilan's special situation, Imperial Physician Zhang was not sure. After several discussions with other imperial physicians, they dared to report it clearly to the Empress.
At this moment, Nian Shilan, the emperor, the empress dowager and everyone else all said in unison: "Twins?"
There was a buzz of discussion in the hall.
Nian Shilan was a little nervous and a little excited: [Why didn't anyone tell me? ]
Twins?
Concubine Jing and Concubine Li looked at Nian Shilan's belly, Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang looked at each other, with joy in their eyes.
An Lingrong couldn't stop smiling either.
There was no sign of sadness or joy on Concubine Duan's face, but the envy in her eyes was genuine.
The Queen Mother noticed her envy.
The reason why the queen did not tell Nian Shilan was that she knew that she cared too much about her own children. If she knew that she was pregnant with twins, she would inevitably think more.
Thinking too much during pregnancy is useless.
It would be better to keep it a secret from her. After all, she is pregnant and will be careful.
"Are you serious?"
The emperor needs children, very much!
So this time I was genuinely happy and even had some expectations.
"Imperial Physician Zhang is a cautious person. Before he came to report, he had already confirmed it with the two imperial physicians Jiang Cheng and Jiang Shen, and it was 80% certain." said the Queen.
The emperor believed that "Dr. Jiang is an expert in gynecology, so he must be right."
Twins in one pregnancy should have been a great joyous event for the harem, but Cao Qinmo and Xin Guiren, who had given birth to children before, knew the risks of childbirth, and twins were double the risks.
There was a hint of worry in the look he gave me.
"The emperor has few children. If the imperial concubine can give birth to twins for the emperor, she will be a great contributor to the country."
The Queen Mother smiled lovingly, and she warned carefully: "Although the fetus seems stable in the seventh or eighth month, it is also a time when accidents are prone to occur. The palace maids who serve the Imperial Concubine must be careful and make sure nothing goes wrong."
The two maids behind Nian Shilan immediately squatted down and said, "We will obey the instructions of the Empress Dowager and take good care of the Imperial Concubine."
The Queen Mother looked at the maid next to Songzhi and asked, "Who is next to Songzhi?"
Nian Shilan replied, "Her name is Yin Zhu. I was injured in childbirth a while ago. My elder brother was worried after examining my pulse. The emperor granted her permission and specially asked her to look after me."
Obviously, this is a female doctor.
The Queen Mother didn't need to ask any more questions. "This is a good thing."
When she withdrew her gaze, she looked at Concubine Duan, "Is Concubine Duan feeling better recently?"