The old courtier's earth-shattering cry, "Her Majesty is pregnant!" seemed like a rune breaking the emperor's petrification curse.
After a brief, ten-breath pause in thought, Xiao Che's deep, dark eyes finally refocused. Then, an unprecedented, overwhelming joy erupted from the depths of his being!
"What did you say?!" He grabbed the old magistrate by the collar, so hard he almost lifted the elderly man up. "Say it again!"
"A...a happy pulse! Your Majesty!" The old imperial physician was nearly scared out of his wits, but he still shouted at the top of his lungs, "It's a very happy pulse! The Empress is pregnant with the imperial heir, it's absolutely true!"
Dragon Heir!
My imperial heir!
These two words, like two indestructible giant hammers, completely shattered all of Xiao Che's composure, dignity, and self-control!
"Hahaha... Hahahaha!"
He suddenly released the old abbot and let out a deafening laugh. The laughter, filled with undisguised elation and triumph, pierced through the palace walls of Kunning Palace, soaring into the sky and almost illuminating the entire night!
All the palace servants and imperial physicians in the bedchamber were terrified by his sudden loss of composure, yet they were also stunned by the tremendous good news, their faces contorted with a mixture of fear and ecstasy.
However, this is just the beginning.
As Xiao Che smiled, tears welled up in his eyes. He suddenly turned around, rushed to the bedside, and scooped up the still-shocked Lin Wanwan in his arms!
"Wanwan! Did you hear that? We're having a child! I...I have an heir!"
He was so excited that he became incoherent, and like a child who had received a favorite toy, he hugged Lin Wanwan and spun her around wildly in the bedroom!
"Ah! Xiao Che! Slow down!"
Lin Wanwan was startled by his sudden action and instinctively hugged his neck tightly, letting out a gasp. The scenery in the bedchamber spun rapidly before her eyes, and the man's laughter and strong heartbeat intertwined in her ears, drawing her into this blissful dizziness.
"Slow down! You'll...you'll get dizzy!" She patted his shoulder, both amused and exasperated.
"What are you fainting for!" Xiao Che ignored her completely. He looked down at his wife, whose face was flushed with shyness, and felt that she was more radiant than the stars in the sky. He lowered his head and planted a deep kiss on her lips, his voice filled with unprecedented pride and tenderness, "My Empress and my son are the most precious people in the world! Who dares to make them faint?!"
At this moment, the area above his head filled with emojis had completely "fallen over".
That place was beyond what any single image could describe. The entire area had transformed into a magnificent fireworks display! Countless dazzling fireworks were exploding wildly on the screen in a loop, brilliant and joyous. And in the center of that sky full of fireworks, a chibi-style little emperor in a dragon robe was dancing and jumping with joy, almost flying on the spot, accompanied by a line of blindingly bright golden characters:
[I'm going to be a father! I have an heir! I'm so happy I could fly! .gif]
That night, the entire palace was in an uproar over this unexpected piece of good news. Kunning Palace was brightly lit, and rewards were distributed like flowing water, with the cries of congratulations from the palace servants lasting all night.
Their emperor, on the other hand, completely abandoned all imperial demeanor, clinging to Lin Wanwan like a clingy dog all night long. One moment he would touch her belly and ask if the baby was kicking him; the next he would anxiously ask her what she wanted to eat and if she felt nauseous. His cautious yet silly appearance left Lin Wanwan feeling both helpless and sweet.
She knew that her "period of waning power as empress" was likely to end prematurely.
...
The next day, at the Golden Palace.
The entire court, filled with immense excitement, waited early in the hall. The Empress's pregnancy was a great joy for the entire empire, a time of immense happiness. Everyone had prepared their most splendid congratulatory speeches, ready to offer their heartfelt congratulations to His Majesty in court today.
However, when Xiao Che's figure appeared at the entrance of the main hall, everyone was stunned.
His Majesty today is completely different from the past.
Instead of wearing the black dragon robe symbolizing majesty, he donned a festive crimson court dress. His usually cold and indifferent face now bore a… silly, barely suppressed smile. He strode confidently, his entire being radiating a powerful "come congratulate me!" His smugness practically overflowed from him.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Rise, my lords!" Xiao Che waved his hand, his voice louder than usual.
He strode up the steps, sat on the dragon throne, and swept his gaze over the assembled officials below. Before anyone could speak, he impatiently announced in an almost boastful tone:
"My beloved ministers, I have great news to share with you!"
He cleared his throat, straightened his back, and with all his might proclaimed his joy to the world:
"The Empress is pregnant, carrying the Emperor's child! This is a blessing from Heaven and a sign of the mercy of our ancestors! I am deeply gratified and have decided to grant a general amnesty to the entire nation, so that all may rejoice! From this day forward, all taxes in the country will be reduced for three years!"
boom!
These words caused an uproar throughout the entire Golden Palace!
General amnesty! Three-year tax cut!
What a grand gesture! What a blessing! Never before since the founding of the nation has such a magnificent celebration been held!
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"May Heaven bless our Great Liang!"
The ministers were so moved that tears welled up in their eyes, and they all knelt down, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"
However, Xiao Che did not stop there after announcing this earth-shattering news.
His gaze was precisely fixed on the head of the queue, on Prime Minister Chen Xuan, who had "promoted" the most promising candidate yesterday.
Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat, thinking that His Majesty was going to "settle scores later".
Unexpectedly, Xiao Che walked down the steps of the palace with a big smile on his face and grabbed his hand, so warmly that the old prime minister was flattered.
"Minister Chen!" Xiao Che's eyes shone with an astonishing light. "I must thank you properly! If it weren't for your reminder yesterday, I... I wouldn't have known I was so fortunate!"
"I dare not, I dare not, this is all due to His Majesty's boundless blessings..." Chen Xuan was caught off guard by his sudden enthusiasm and could only bow repeatedly.
"Oh, what good fortune!" Xiao Che ignored him and began to share his joy of becoming a father for the first time. "My dear minister, you are a veteran of three reigns, with a house full of children and grandchildren, you are the most experienced! Tell me quickly, what should a woman pay attention to in the first three months of pregnancy? Are there any dietary restrictions? I've heard of prenatal education? Should she listen to elegant music or read classics and historical texts? And..."
He seemed to have opened a floodgate, bombarding the old prime minister with all sorts of difficult and complicated cases he had read about in the "folk remedies" booklet the day before. His eagerness to learn was even more earnest than when they were discussing the grand plan for reform!
The entire Golden Palace fell into a deathly silence once again.
The entire court stared in disbelief as their emperor grabbed the prime minister and, like curious children, openly sought his advice on "child-rearing" in the imperial court!
The image of the emperor who was once absolute and awe-inspiring completely collapsed at this moment.
Instead, there is an ordinary man who is about to become a father—silly, nervous, yet full of happiness.
The old prime minister was completely bewildered by his questions and could only stammer out a reply based on his limited experience of holding a grandson. Meanwhile, the other court officials, having recovered from their initial shock, were also caught up in this bittersweet "poisoning" of their own.
What should have been a solemn and respectful morning court session ultimately turned into a large-scale "royal childcare experience exchange meeting".
...
Behind the beaded curtain, Lin Wanwan took in everything.
She watched as the childish emperor, holding the hand of an elderly, white-haired minister in the imperial court, excitedly discussed whether to prepare a rattle drum or a nine-linked ring for the child. Finally, she couldn't help but helplessly rub her forehead.
She knew that her leisurely and peaceful days were completely over from this moment on.
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