Since that successful "fetal movement" interaction, Xiao Che's enthusiasm for "emperor-level prenatal education" has been pushed to a new peak.
He firmly believed that his son was a prodigy, and that he, as his father, bore the sacred mission of laying the most solid foundation for this talent.
Thus, the daily routine in Kunning Palace continued this unique "hardcore" prenatal education amidst the power struggles described in the Zizhi Tongjian and the somber sounds of the Guangling San.
Lin Wanwan had long since given up resisting this, treating it as simply listening to stories and watching plays every day. As she entered the second trimester, her morning sickness gradually subsided, but her appetite flourished like never before.
She absolutely adores spicy and sour foods.
Previously strictly forbidden "contraband" items have now returned to her dining table, thanks to the prestige of the "dragon offspring" in her womb. Although Xiao Che is still worried, he can only compromise in the face of Lin Wanwan's irresistible reason that "the baby wants to eat," but he repeatedly instructs the imperial kitchen to ensure that all ingredients are absolutely fresh and clean.
That evening, the imperial kitchen developed a new dish called "Sour Soup Beef Rice Noodles." The sour and spicy broth, paired with smooth rice noodles and tender beef, perfectly suited Lin Wanwan's taste preferences.
"Delicious! So delicious!"
Lin Wanwan ate with a beaming smile, feeling as if her soul, which had been poisoned by the "Zizhi Tongjian" for days, had been elevated.
Xiao Che sat to the side, watching her satisfied expression, his eyes filled with doting smiles. He barely touched his chopsticks, only occasionally reminding her, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
"Mmm!" Lin Wanwan responded indistinctly, her mouth full.
As a result, she couldn't resist and ate an extra bowl.
After dinner, Lin Wanwan cradles her round belly contentedly, leans back on the soft couch in her bedchamber, and sighs comfortably.
This is probably what happiness is all about.
However, the feeling of happiness didn't last long before a strange sensation came from my stomach.
I feel a bit... full.
She ate too quickly and too much, and now she felt heavy in her stomach, and her abdomen was slightly bloated, making her feel uncomfortable.
"Hmm..." She subconsciously changed her position, trying to make herself more comfortable, and let out a soft, unconscious groan.
The whimper was as soft as a cat's meow.
However, to Xiao Che, who was reading a book nearby but whose attention was mostly on her, it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky!
"What's wrong?!"
He slammed the book shut and instantly moved to the side of the soft couch, supporting her anxiously. His deep eyes were filled with panic and concern. "Are you feeling unwell? Does your stomach hurt?"
"It's nothing," Lin Wanwan was startled by his exaggerated reaction and quickly waved her hand, "It's just... I ate too much and my stomach is a little bloated."
Are you stuffed?
Xiao Che's brows furrowed instantly.
How could I have overeaten? Shouldn't pregnant women have a good appetite? The "Pregnancy Safety Guide" says that one person eats for two, so there's no reason to overeat!
unless……
Unless you're not completely stuffed!
A strong sense of unease gripped his heart instantly. Looking at Lin Wanwan's slightly furrowed brows, he felt that she must be deliberately downplaying the situation to avoid worrying him!
He cautiously and tentatively reached out and gently placed his hand on her round belly.
The feel of it when I held it seemed... it seemed to be tighter and firmer than usual?
This discovery, like a black lightning bolt, instantly struck Xiao Che's reason!
My stomach...it's hardened?!
His brain went blank for a moment, and countless plots from the palace intrigue and domestic drama novels he had been reading late into the night flooded into his mind!
In "The Palace of Desire", Consort Xian suffered from severe abdominal cramps after eating pastries sent by her rival, ultimately resulting in the deaths of herself and her unborn child!
In "The Scheme of the Eldest Daughter", the heroine's mother also suddenly felt abdominal distension like a stone after dinner. It was eventually discovered that she had been poisoned by a slow-acting poison, which led to premature birth!
There are also "The Villainous Concubine" and "The Poisonous Heart of a Concubine's Daughter"...
In an instant, a dramatic scene of poisoning, premature birth, and the death of both mother and child, lasting ten thousand words, played out wildly in his mind!
He abruptly raised his head, his face ashen white, devoid of any color. He looked at Lin Wanwan, then at the bowls and chopsticks she had just used, which had already been taken away, his eyes filled with terror and lingering fear.
It's that bowl of hot and sour noodles!
There must be something wrong with that bowl of hot and sour noodles!
Someone...someone actually dared to poison his empress and unborn son right under his nose!
“Come…” His lips trembled, and he could barely speak.
Lin Wanwan was completely stunned when she saw his face change drastically in an instant, and his terrified expression as if the sky had fallen.
"Xiao Che, what's wrong? I really just ate too much..." she tried to explain.
However, to Xiao Che, her explanation sounded like a comforting reassurance born of suppressed pain.
Looking at her "pretending to be strong," he felt a sharp pain in his heart.
He no longer hesitated; at this moment, all his reason was completely devoured by the beast called "anxiety" and "fear"!
The area above his head, filled with emojis, was the scene of an epic disaster movie.
The once calm screen was instantly filled with a blinding, frantically flashing red alarm! The alarm sound seemed to penetrate the dimensional barrier, echoing sharply in Lin Wanwan's mind!
At the center of the alarm, a line of blood-red, ever-enlarging, bold text appeared with a devastating force:
[Alert! Stomach hardening! Suspected poisoning or premature labor! Summon the imperial physician immediately! .gif]
Seeing this meme, Lin Wanwan finally understood what he was thinking. She felt a lump in her throat, almost fainting.
OMG!
Isn't this emperor's astute imagination a little too vivid?!
"Xiao Che, please let me explain, I really just..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Che had already completely exploded.
He suddenly stood up, his eyes bloodshot, his panicked and furious appearance a hundred times more terrifying than when he first learned of the Regent's rebellion!
He didn't give Lin Wanwan any chance to explain at all, and turned around and rushed towards the palace gate!
Lin Wanwan was stunned by his sudden action and could only watch helplessly as his tragic and resolute figure disappeared through the doorway.
The next second, a roar, filled with imperial rage and helplessness, seemingly capable of ripping off the entire roof of Kunning Palace, came from outside the hall, echoing throughout the night sky of the palace—
"Summon the imperial physician!!"
"Move the entire Imperial Medical Academy here for me! Now!!!"
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