Chapter 0068: Pregnancy Again

Chapter 0068: Pregnancy Again

"'Qiong' stands for fine jade and beautiful things. Qiong flowers are also extremely beautiful, pure white like snow. Ancient people used 'Qiong Fei' to compare to snowflakes. Your unique perspective on snow fits this character perfectly. Do you like it?" Emperor He Jingli asked, smiling as he released her hand.

Yun Li put down the brush: "Thank you, Your Majesty, I am grateful for your grace."

"Rise, attendants, from now on Yun'er is to be known as Qiong Xiaoyi," declared Emperor He Jingli.

Yun Li smiled: "Yes, I like this character very much, thank you, Your Majesty." She thought to herself that this character was definitely not something the Internal Affairs Bureau would come up with.

Regardless, having a title was better than not having one.

Now, she and Jing Xiaoyi were on equal footing.

The news of Qiong Xiaoyi receiving a title spread quickly throughout the harem.

Some were surprised, while others felt it was only a matter of time.

However, hearing this, the Noble Consort would be furious if she weren't already.

Yunli was still in Zhengyang Palace, having accompanied the Emperor for lunch and dinner, and even stayed the night here.

These days, when the Empress was busy, they were not required to pay their daily respects, making for a rare few days of leisure in the year.

That evening, the freshly favored Beauty Qiong seemed uncooperative with the Emperor: "I don't want to, these past few days have been so tiring, I am but a frail woman, oh how aggrieved I feel, no please."

He Jinli enjoyed challenging her in this matter, so refusal was not an option; she had to acquiesce and take initiative.

Yun Li felt like crying without tears, wondering what kind of perverse pleasure this was.

Exhausted to the point of leg cramps, yet the Emperor was still not satisfied.

The end result was that she scratched the Emperor's back.

But she didn't regret it at all. Served him right!

The next morning, as He Jinli changed clothes, he winced when his undergarment scraped against the scratch on his back, startling the maid dressing him into kneeling.

"Continue," ordered He Jinli.

The maid cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, should we apply some medicine?"

"Silence, continue," He Jinli commanded.

The maid hurried to attend to him, realizing that the Emperor forbade mentioning it.

Was the Emperor protecting Qiong Xiaoyi?

In fact, He Jinli thought it was unnecessary fuss; how bad could a scratch from a fingernail be to need medicine?

When Yun Li emerged from the bathing chamber, He Jinli showed no sign of anything amiss.

She quickly dressed, and He Jinli invited her for breakfast. Today, the princesses were coming, and He Jinli had to visit the Empress Dowager in the morning.

So Yun Li left.

Not long after her return, Jing Xiaoyi came over: "Sister, congratulations, I've come to celebrate."

Yun Li smiled, instructing her servants to order a feast from the imperial kitchen.

Finally, as the fifteenth day of the new year arrived, the busyness seemed to have passed.

On the fifteenth, there was a family banquet in Zhengyang Palace, and everyone took their seats again.

After enjoying a performance of song and dance, this year's festivities were considered concluded.

Now it was the fifth year of the Chongzheng era.

On the eighteenth of the first month, the court reopened, and the Emperor became busy once again.

The envoy from Yuanzheng had already set off and was expected to arrive in the second month. Coincidentally, the Dowager Empress's birthday was on the seventh of the same month and needed to be celebrated.

The Yuanzheng envoy would arrive just in time for the Dowager Empress's birthday celebration.

Just as the Emperor started attending to the affairs of the imperial court, there was new activity in the harem.

Jing Xiaoyi's pregnancy was revealed by Meng Baolin.

The incident began on the nineteenth, when everyone was paying respects to the Empress early in the morning, and Jing Xiaoyi arrived late.

She wasn't too late, as she didn't miss the appointed time.

However, being the last to arrive, especially when Meng Baolin, who lived with her, had been there for quite some time, was noticeable.

Naturally, Meng Baolin had to comment.

The Empress then asked, "Why are you late? Are you feeling unwell?"

Just as Jing Xiaoyi stood up to speak, she was interrupted.

"Empress, Jing Xiaoyi is pregnant. I've noticed it myself. She hasn't changed her clothes in two months, right?" Meng Baolin said with a smile, looking at Jing Xiaoyi.

Jing Xiaoyi was stunned; she herself had only known for a few days and hadn't wanted to say anything during the New Year celebrations.

How did Meng Baolin find out?

But living in the same palace, it wasn’t strange for her condition to be noticed by Meng Baolin’s people.

Jing Xiaoyi quickly responded, "To answer the Empress, my delay this morning was due to oversleeping, my own laziness. As for being pregnant, I am unaware. It’s true I haven't changed clothes in two months, but I haven't yet consulted the imperial physician."

"In that case, let's call the imperial physician to check. If you are indeed pregnant, it would be a joyous occasion," the Empress said with a smile.

She had already anticipated this.

Although she had manipulated some things, Jing Xiaoyi's frequent attendance in the Emperor's chambers made her pregnancy unsurprising.

Thus, her expression did not betray any displeasure at the moment.

Jing Xiaoyi expressed her gratitude and sat down to wait.

Everyone maintained a calm demeanor, quietly waiting.

They engaged in casual conversation.

However, everyone's wariness of Jing Xiaoyi was not unfounded. She came from a good family, was favored by the Emperor, and now with a pregnancy...

Soon, the imperial physician arrived, paid his respects to the ladies, and was led by the Empress's attendants to see Jing Xiaoyi in private.

The physician went in to take her pulse.

In less than a quarter of an hour, he emerged: "Empress, I have examined Jing Xiaoyi. She is approximately two months pregnant. The fetus is stable."

The Empress responded with a smile, "Good, reward Doctor Qin."

Doctor Qin thanked the Empress and left with his reward.

Everyone congratulated Jing Xiaoyi, who modestly declined the accolades.

"Indeed, this is a joyful event. I have always hoped for more children in the palace. Jing Xiaoyi, favored by the Emperor, should certainly contribute to his lineage," the Empress said with a smile.

"I am humbled," Jing Xiaoyi replied, "I only wish to bear a son or a daughter for the Emperor and to serve both Your Majesty and the Empress. I dare not ask for too much."

"Jing Xiaoyi is being too cautious. Pregnancy is a happy occasion. The Emperor, upon hearing this, will probably be overjoyed," Consort Jin De said with a laugh.

"Jing Xiaoyi is fortunate and should indeed be prudent. Her decorum is commendable. She is truly sensible," said the Noble Consort.

Lan Fei chuckled, "Oh my... Noble Consort has really learned the palace rules well. We all should take a lesson from her."

Lan Fei's comment was a veiled mockery of the Noble Consort’s previous punishment of being confined to copy palace rules.

The Noble Consort's eyes flickered but she said nothing.

"The Noble Consort's observance of rules is exemplary, beyond reproach," Wu Zhao Rong said with a smile. "But Jing Xiaoyi, even while pregnant and observing proper conduct, is also commendable. If she gives birth to a prince, it would be wonderful."

"Thank you, Sister Wu. Whether it’s a prince or a princess, I will cherish them," Jing Xiaoyi responded.

"Now both Zhang Xiaoyi and Jing Xiaoyi must take great care. Zhang Xiaoyi, you are due in May, right? You're over five months along now, so be extremely careful," the Empress advised.

Zhang Xiaoyi stood up: "Yes, thank you, Empress. I will be careful."

Zhang Xiaoyi had gained some weight, but she still looked healthy.

The Empress then smiled and gestured with her hand: "That will be all for today. You may disperse. I also need to bestow a reward on Jing Xiaoyi."

Jing Xiaoyi quickly expressed her gratitude.

Everyone left, returning to their respective quarters.

Yun Li did not enter her room, choosing instead to sit in the corridor.

"Xiaoyi, it's still cold outside, you should go inside. It's time for your meal," Zhu Yu said.

"Set the table, I'll just sit here for a moment before going in," Yun Li said, looking up at the sky. The weather was pleasant today, with a beautiful blue sky and white clouds.

A graceful smile curved at the corners of her mouth.