Yun Zhuo suddenly stopped in her tracks, and all eyes were fixed on her face.
As if in disbelief, his gaze slid from her face to her abdomen, and then back to her face. Her usually beautiful face and sharp eyes were now filled with a look of idiocy.
His lips trembled slightly.
After a long pause, his hand trembled as he reached out and placed it on Ye Qingxue's abdomen. It took immense effort to control his overwhelming excitement, and he asked calmly:
"Really? Are we really going to get what we want? Xiao Bao really came back to find us?"
Ye Qingxue blinked, her eyes welling up with tears when she mentioned Xiaobao, but she smiled.
She nodded: "Yes, I really am pregnant!"
As if remembering something, she changed the subject and said, "However, when Xiaobao came, he spent more time with me and did more for me. I should be the one who got what I wanted. How could you have such deep feelings for him?"
Yun Zhuo replied, "He said he was our child, and in the end he gave his life for you, so he deserves my deep affection. Besides, your wish has come true, and so has mine."
Ye Qingxue stepped forward and hugged Yun Zhuo, pressing her face against his shoulder: "Yun Zhuo, thank you!"
I feel like crying.
I just heard the imperial physician say that pregnant women are more emotionally vulnerable. Does that mean even someone as strong as her can't escape it?
Or is it because she has people who protect her and love her that she is so easily moved to tears?
If no one protected her or loved her, she probably wouldn't cry so easily, right? In short, she's so happy right now!
Yun Zhuo hugged her tightly and rubbed the top of her head. To be precise, he should have been the one thanking her.
Ning Rong, watching from afar, nearly ground her teeth to powder.
If only she had known, she would have insisted on marrying Yun Zhuo back then. She had liked Yun Zhuo for many years, and her biggest dream at the time was to marry him and become the Crown Princess.
But who knew that Yun Zhuo would eventually be deposed?
When she was deposed, she had clearly given up on Yun Zhuo, but who would have thought that he would actually come back and even be reinstated as crown prince!
How could a person's fate be so tumultuous? It actually gave Ye Qingxue the opportunity to "steal his love," how despicable!
Otherwise, she should be the one hugging Yun Zhuo right now.
It should be her!
But it doesn't matter. Tonight, the emperor will bestow her upon Yun Zhuo as a concubine. Given her family background and the bond she formed with Yun Zhuo since childhood, it's only a matter of time before she replaces Ye Qingxue.
Moreover, she has the emperor backing her up!
With that thought in mind, Ning Rong withdrew her gaze and sat down in her seat.
Yun Zhuo also took Ye Qingxue's hand and went to their designated spot. Now that they were the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, their spot was at the very head of the table, below the Emperor's right.
With a good view, they are easily spotted by others.
After Yun Zhuo and Ye Qingxue took their seats, the other officials did not dare to lag behind and all stepped forward to pay their respects before taking their seats.
Princess Consort Yu also arrived.
She walked towards Ye Qingxue.
Ye Qingxue immediately stood up: "Greetings, Aunt Wang."
Princess Yu smiled and looked her over for a while, then laughed loudly, "The Crown Princess looks quite different from usual."
"What's different?" Ye Qingxue asked curiously.
"Her skin is fair with a rosy glow, and her lips are red and luscious. She looks like she has a very good relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince!" Princess Yu raised an eyebrow at her and whispered in her ear, "It seems the lesson on the eve of the wedding was very successful!"
Ye Qingxue's head exploded. After all that, it turned out that the Princess Consort of Yu was teasing her!
Although she had become a woman, she had never thought that such a thing could be spoken aloud.
"Aunt Yu, you're so mean!" Ye Qingxue pushed her away in embarrassment and annoyance. Princess Yu sat down opposite her with a smile, leaving Ye Qingxue standing there with her face flushed.
"What did Aunt Yu say to you that made your face turn so red? Have some water." Yun Zhuo held the cup to her lips, and Ye Qingxue drank directly from his hand.
The embarrassment subsided, and seeing Yun Zhuo's concerned gaze, Ye Qingxue smiled and said, "Don't pry into women's affairs."
Yun Zhuo chuckled softly.
Before long, the emperor and empress dowager arrived.
Everyone stood up and bowed.
The emperor waved for everyone to sit down, then explained the theme of the banquet that evening, and gave a brief overview of the construction of the Tianyuan Grand Canal. He then instructed everyone to eat and drink well, and said that they would celebrate again when the Tianyuan Grand Canal was completed.
In short, it's a kind of talk that everyone is used to.
However, everyone present gave the emperor a warm response.
Next came drinking, eating, and watching singing and dancing.
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, the Emperor took the opportunity to say, "For the past few days, the Prime Minister has been accompanying the Crown Prince to survey the Grand Canal and the terrain of the mausoleum. He has worked very hard. I suddenly remembered that the Prime Minister's daughter, Ning Rong, is still unmarried. I will betroth her to the Crown Prince as a concubine. From now on, she will serve the Crown Prince together with the Crown Princess, so that the royal family can have children as soon as possible!"
Ning Rong looked at Ye Qingxue defiantly. She knew it! Tonight, the emperor would definitely betroth her to the crown prince as a concubine. Sooner or later, she would push Ye Qingxue down and take back the position of crown princess that should have been hers!
She didn't want the position back then, but now that she wants it, Ye Qingxue has to give it up!
Ning Rong stood up to attend and prepare to express her gratitude.
Yun Zhuo frowned instantly. He had already told his father that they should wait three months before discussing it, and his father had agreed.
But tonight, my father brought it up again.
Moreover, without even asking his opinion, they directly gave the order, clearly not intending for him and Ye Qingxue to refuse.
Even if his father forbade it, he still refused.
"Don't be afraid. Even if my head rolls, I will never marry her. There will only be one woman in the Crown Prince's residence!" Yun Zhuo said firmly in a low voice, holding Ye Qingxue's hand tightly.
After saying that, he released Ye Qingxue's hand, stood up, and strode to the center of the palace.
Ning Rong assumed he was there to express his gratitude, just like her, and her gaze towards him was filled with joy.
The two knelt down simultaneously before the emperor on the high platform.
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