Chapter 64 Happy Event

Chapter 64: A Joyous Occasion

Perhaps due to the potent wine, A Wu slept soundly and only awoke when the sun was already high in the sky.

As soon as she woke, a bowl of snow frog and tremella soup was brought to her, said to be specially ordered by the Emperor. Attended by palace maids, A Wu performed a light ablution before reclining on the couch to eat, and only then did she rise.

While Yi Lan was tidying the bed, she discovered a brocade pouch embroidered in red tucked beneath the pillow, tied with gold and red silk cords.

Yi Lan laughed in delight: "Ah, this must be from the Emperor for the Noble Lady—an auspicious pouch!"

A Wu: "Really?"

Beside her, Wei Lan also leaned in to look and immediately exclaimed, "Yes, yes! This is an auspicious pouch from the Emperor. Look, there’s even a dragon embroidered on it!"

Every year, the Emperor prepared some of these, giving them to younger members of the imperial clan. Wei Lan had seen them before.

A Wu examined it and indeed it was so. She picked it up and opened it, finding inside an auspicious gold ingot and a pair of tiny gourds, each no larger than a pearl, exquisitely clear.

She exclaimed in delight: "There’s even a pair of gourds!"

Such tiny gourds—neither gold nor jade, but genuine, heaven-grown gourds—were a rarity, especially since they were perfectly matched in size.

A Wu was delighted by them and promptly had the palace maids fasten them to her hair while styling it.

During the Lunar New Year, everyone wore gourd-patterned rank badges and adorned themselves with various gourd ornaments for good fortune. Now, with these delicate little gourds, A Wu found them delightful.

Both Yi Lan and Wei Lan were radiant with joy, feeling that the Emperor doted on the Noble Lady and that there was hope for the future.

Yi Lan said cheerfully, "In previous years, I never heard of the Emperor giving auspicious pouches to other consorts. His Majesty cherishes you, spoiling you like a child."

Hearing this, A Wu’s thoughts drifted back to the morning’s intimacies with the Jingxi Emperor.

She had enjoyed it, of course, but when he insisted she call him Zelang, she felt it contrived.

She had called him that before, but later, he forbade her, and she understood—it was because he considered her beneath it.

Now, with circumstances changed, he wanted her to call him that again, but she no longer wished to.

This was all the emperor’s fleeting favor granted out of affection, but love was the most fleeting thing. If he favored her today and allowed her to call him that, what if he no longer cared tomorrow? Would she have to stop again?

And if she grew accustomed to it but could no longer say it—what then?

She only wanted to secure her position as favored consort, climbing slowly through his favor. If he lived long, she would benefit more; if one day his affection waned or he was gone, then she would deal with it then.

What she didn’t know was that the Jingxi Emperor, nearly delayed in his state sacrificial rites (ancestral worship ceremonies) due to their morning dalliance, had been distracted all day, even nearly missing a step during the rites.

It wasn’t until evening, during a brief respite, that he found himself accompanied by the Prince of Southern Fortune, a clansman of similar age with whom he had once studied and hunted, making them fairly familiar.

So the Jingxi Emperor posed a question to the Prince of Southern Fortune: "What do your wives and concubines call you in private?"

The Prince of Southern Fortune was stunned by the impropriety, almost doubting his ears.

The Jingxi Emperor remained expressionless, replying languidly, "Just idle curiosity. Never mind—no need to answer."

After a tactful pause, the Prince of Southern Fortune divined the implication.

The Emperor had recently taken in that Little Noble Lady, rumored to be pampered excessively...

Clearing his throat, he ventured cautiously, "Your Majesty, my modest principal wife has always been proper. She properly addresses me as Xilang [my auspicious lord]."

The Jingxi Emperor's face betrayed nothing, but it was clear he wanted to hear more.

The Prince of Nanfu cautiously continued, "As for the concubines at home, they tend to be more casual."

Sensing the emperor's unspoken expectation, he awkwardly chuckled and added, "Some might call me 'husband,' 'daddy,' 'brother,' or even 'darling'—just a silly jumble of endearments, too vulgar for polite company. I must apologize for such frivolity in Your Majesty's presence."

Too vulgar for polite company...

The words constricted the Jingxi Emperor’s chest as if pulled by invisible strings, stirring a bittersweet pang.

This was the very judgment he had once passed on A Wu.

Perhaps, in that moment, he vaguely realized—though not fully—that no matter how much he strived in this lifetime, he would never again hear that intimate, unreserved "Zelang" from her lips.

Even a perfunctory call would suffice.

But A Wu was stubborn, clinging to her principles like a limpet, with a child's wide-eyed innocence and unthinking cruelty.

**********

After freshening up, A Wu found it was already late. By custom, she ought to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, so she sought out Consort Hui. The moment Consort Hui spotted the tiny gourds adorning A Wu’s hair, she snorted with laughter, "Did His Majesty gift these?"

A Wu hesitated, aware that as fellow women of the harem, the Jingxi Emperor might have favored only her. Not wanting to stir envy, she replied vaguely, "Perhaps. I found them by my bedside."

Consort Hui burst into laughter. "He certainly dotes on you! To gift you these—such a delicate pair must be worth at least five hundred taels of silver."

A Wu’s eyes went round as coins, and she immediately reached to remove them. "Aren’t these just ordinary vine-grown gourds?"

Had she misjudged? They weren’t gold or jade—just naturally grown from a vine.

Consort Hui saw her confusion and explained, "These are hand-twist gourds, indeed grown from vines. But ones this small, flawless in form and color, symmetrical, and perfectly paired? They’re rare—serendipitous finds that can't be hunted down. They even have a name: 'gold in the grass.' Scholars and connoisseurs covet them. A pair this fine? Five hundred taels might be selling them short."

A Wu: "..."

She gingerly touched the gourds in her hair, suddenly terrified they might slip loose. So precious—far more valuable than any golden hairpin.

Consort Hui couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction.

And thinking of the Jingxi Emperor, she wanted to laugh even more.

To her, the emperor had always been that sovereign of ice and detachment, perched atop his lonely eminence, his demeanor honed by imperial power and privilege. What concern would he have for mere silver? What could he possibly lack?

Who could have imagined that one day, his heart—long hardened by court politics—would cherish some insignificant woman in the chambers of his heart?

It was almost comical. No one would ever guess, for the Jingxi Emperor and A Wu were oil and water.

Consort Hui even mused that if A Wu had married the Crown Prince instead, timidly entering the palace with trembling knees, receiving a token gift from the emperor as a mere courtesy, and leaving delighted—that would've followed the proper order of things.

But now...

Well, it wasn’t her place to dwell on it.

Presently, Consort Hui and A Wu made their way to Changshou Hall. Today, all inner and outer court ladies were expected to attend, filling the hall with chatter. But like Consort Hui and A Wu—neither fond of crowds nor scheming—they lurked on the fringes shirking duties, merely making up the numbers.

Yet some sharp-eyed noblewomen noticed and deliberately approached A Wu, speaking with uncharacteristic warmth.

A Wu guessed that news of the emperor’s exclusive favor had spread. These shrewd operators wouldn’t dare offend her and might even angle for favor through her.

But A Wu understood the reality: the Great Hui’s harem lacked the dramatic rivalries of operas because palace rules were ironclad. Every glance, every gesture was dictated. There was no room to try any funny business—only a sure path to self-destruction.

As for why most of the imperial consorts in Great Hui are ordinary women of good families—with only the current Crown Princess and Empress hailing from noble houses—while other empresses throughout history were said to come from common backgrounds, it is because the court firmly bars imperial consorts from meddling in court politics.

As for her, A Wu, outside the palace, she knew nothing and sought to know nothing. All she could do was cling to the Jingxi Emperor. Nestled in his embrace, holding him tight—that was the greatest achievement of her life.

Thus, A Wu remained courteous to the noblewoman, elusive as an eel—neither offending nor allowing any further advances. The noblewoman, met with gentle deflection, smiled and walked away.

At that moment, the Empress Dowager presented imperial wine, specially brewed by the imperial winery for the New Year celebrations. Each person received a small cup, and everyone bowed in gratitude before raising their glasses.

Yet, just as they bowed, the sudden strains of orchestral music filled the air. Caught off guard, A Wu startled, her heart lurching, and then—her foot slipped, sending her sprawling.

The floor was covered in soft carpets, so the fall didn’t hurt, but before such a distinguished gathering, it was utterly humiliating.

To A Wu’s horror, her fall jostled a nearby palace maid, causing the imperial wine in her hands to spill—right onto the hem of Princess Duan’s robes.

Consort Hui, seeing this, was also startled and quickly knelt to help A Wu up.

A Wu knew she had committed a grave blunder and dared not rise, kneeling instead to plead for mercy.

The palace was ruled by strict decorum—following it meant safety, but now, in her recklessness, she had erred. She didn’t know what to do and could only hope the Jingxi Emperor would intervene on her behalf. Yet… he was likely too busy today to spare her any attention.

The Empress Dowager swept a glance over her. "Such clumsiness—is this how one behaves?"

At her words, a female palace official immediately escorted Princess Duan to change her robes, while palace maids stepped forward to clean up. The Empress, with a smile, eased the awkwardness, and the crowd soon averted their gazes from A Wu.

Head bowed and back hunched, A Wu carefully retreated to her seat—but she sat stiffly, burning with shame.

How utterly humiliating...

Soon, the banquet concluded. Most bowed respectfully and departed, while a few close to the Empress Dowager lingered to chat with her.

Princess Duan naturally stayed behind, and Consort Kang approached her, asking if she was shaken. Princess Duan smiled faintly and said she was unharmed.

But as the conversation unfolded, Consort Kang brought up A Wu, her tone dripping with disapproval.

A Wu, knowing she was at fault, repeatedly apologized to Princess Duan.

Princess Duan, however, paid it little mind. She knew the Jingxi Emperor had even sought out the Empress Dowager for this Little Noble Lady—she was his treasured favorite. A ruined dress was nothing to fuss over.

Instead, she told A Wu to put it out of her mind.

A Wu was grateful but only grew more ashamed, berating herself for her foolish fright.

Princess De Ning, chatting with the Empress Dowager, somehow circled back to the mishap and complained, "Imperial Grandmother, in past years, New Year celebrations were always joyous and lively. But this year—such a scandal! Even De Ning feels humiliated."

Though the Empress Dowager agreed A Wu had acted improperly, she didn’t wish her granddaughter to harp on it and merely chuckled. "Child, must you fixate on such trifles?"

De Ning huffed and muttered, "Imperial Grandmother, Father Emperor spoils her far too much. That golden grass ornament she’s wearing now—it must be a gift from him. He only ever thinks of her when it comes to treasures!"

The Empress Dowager, who had been smiling, now saw her smile vanish at these words.

De Ning, about to continue, was cut off as the Empress Dowager said, "De Ning, the princesses of Great Hui are jade-born, raised in luxury. What could you possibly lack that you’d fixate on such a trifle? If your father favors a consort and gifts her something, what of it? Why fuss over such trifles? Or do you, in fact, covet them?"

Princess De Ning paled, realizing her mistake.

The Empress Dowager then cast a cool glance at Consort Kang. "Don’t be so petty. Otherwise, when you marry out, your in-laws will mock the imperial family for failing to educate its women."

She had no respect for Consort Kang.

Princess De Ning flushed crimson, wanting to defend herself but too embarrassed to speak. Just then, she happened to glance in A Wu’s direction—only to see a crowd forming around A Wu.

She quickly changed the subject, saying, "Grandmother Empress, look!"

The Empress Dowager glanced over and indeed saw A Wu appeared to have collapsed. "What happened?"

A Female Palace Official promptly stepped forward respectfully. "Noble Lady Ning has fainted."

De Ning was taken aback. "This..."

Was it possible that she was so frightened after causing trouble? Or was she pretending to faint? De Ning couldn’t believe it—such a pretty young lady could be so scheming?

The Empress Dowager immediately had A Wu taken away and summoned the imperial physician to examine her.

Princess Duan's brow furrowed at the sight, unable to help but wonder.

Her dress had been stained, yet she hadn’t said a word. And now this—the girl had fainted.

Could this young lady, who had the Emperor wrapped around her finger, possess some devious tactics?

Just as she was thinking this, the Jingxi Emperor arrived. At his appearance, everyone knelt in greeting, a wave of people prostrating.

The Jingxi Emperor, with a free moment, had come to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. Upon hearing of A Wu’s collapse, he felt both worried and displeased.

After listening to the words of the Prince of Nanfu, he had reflected on the past with mounting apprehension. This unease drove him to instinctively seek ways to make amends. Now, he was desperate for any chance to show A Wu kindness, to warm her heart and make her forget the past.

Since most of the noblewomen had already left, only the imperial clan members and imperial consorts remained in the inner chambers. Without preamble, he asked directly, "Mother, why did Noble Lady Ning suddenly faint?"

His tone was calm, but everyone present felt a tremor of fear.

The imposing splendor of his dragon robes and the slight arch of his brows made the displeasure of this ruler unmistakable.

Princess Duan felt increasingly apprehensive. She couldn’t discern Noble Lady Ning’s true nature—what if she was being used as a stepping stone for advancement?

The Empress Dowager’s expression also darkened. She felt A Wu had indeed acted improperly today, and if so, she needed proper correction.

If she couldn’t teach her well, why ask her? Whom should she ask instead?

With irritation, she snapped back, "Emperor, you ask me, but whom should I ask? Are you here to hold me accountable?"

Hearing his mother’s tone, the Jingxi Emperor knew she was displeased and softened his voice. "Mother, I intended no disrespect. I merely asked because, during the festivities, we must ensure nothing goes amiss."

He added coolly, "Her health is frail. Just days ago, the imperial physicians were still tending to her, just barely nursing her back to health."

At these words, the eunuchs and female palace officials nearby were on edge. The Emperor clearly doted on Little Noble Lady, holding her dear to his heart.

Now, his displeasure was evident. If anything happened to Little Noble Lady, someone would surely be held responsible.

Just then, the imperial physicians and court physicians returned after their preliminary examination. The Jingxi Emperor ordered them to wait in the side chamber, intending to see A Wu himself.

The Empress Dowager said with a thin smile. "Very well, summon the physicians and at least get a clear answer."

Her words carried a hint of sarcasm. The Jingxi Emperor glanced at her. "As you wish."

The imperial physicians and court physicians obeyed, entering the inner chamber and kneeling properly.

The Empress Dowager asked, "What exactly is wrong with Noble Lady Ning? Is she ill?"

The Jingxi Emperor’s gaze also fixed on the physicians, clearly concerned.

The physician replied, "Your Grace, four attending imperial physicians have examined Noble Lady Ning. She is in good health and shows no indication of ailment."

At these words, faint smirks appeared on the faces of Consort Kang, Princess De Ning, and a few others nearby.

Princess Duan wore a strained half-smile.

The Jingxi Emperor kept a stone-faced expression.

The kneeling imperial physician continued respectfully, "In the humble opinion of this official and others, Noble Lady Ning's vital energy and blood flow are strong, and her pulse is smooth and rounded, like beads gliding across jade—fluid and unimpeded. This is the pulse of pregnancy. Noble Lady Ning has just conceived, and the pregnancy is still delicate. After being startled, she became distraught, leading to her fainting. However, with proper rest, she'll recover."

Halfway through his explanation, the Jingxi Emperor's gaze abruptly fixed on him.

When he finished, the Empress Dowager gaped at him. "You—what did you say?"

At this moment, all the palace women were staring at him.

The imperial physician took a deep breath and said, "Noble Lady Ning's pulse indicates pregnancy. She has been expecting for over a month."

In other words, it was just detectable now—a few days earlier, it might have been impossible to discern.

The Empress Dowager was incredulous. "She's truly pregnant?"

The physician's forehead glistened with sweat. "It is indeed a pregnancy pulse. This official and the female palace officials have confirmed it."

The Empress Dowager broke into delighted laughter. "She's pregnant! She's pregnant! The Great Hui's imperial harem will soon be blessed with joyous news!"

The elderly Empress Dowager's voice quivered with excitement, as if she might rise from her phoenix throne at any moment.

The others were just as shocked. After all, it had been years since the Great Hui's imperial harem had heard such joyous news. The Crown Prince was old enough to father children, and even Princess De Ning was already of marrying age!

And now, the Jingxi Emperor's Little Noble Lady was expecting—the imperial line would continue.

This was a matter of utmost importance!

Coming to their senses, the crowd rushed to offer congratulations, offering all manner of auspicious words in unison.

Amid the clamor, the Jingxi Emperor gradually processed the news.

At first, he couldn't comprehend what he'd heard.

It had been so long since he last became a father that he had stopped hoping for another child. And yet—A Wu was pregnant!

A Wu—pregnant!

His little A Wu was carrying his child.

The revelation struck him so powerfully that he needed time to process it.

Then, everyone suddenly noticed the Emperor had remained silent all this while, and all eyes turned to him.

What they saw was the Emperor sitting there with majestic dignity, appearing unmoved—his expression completely... blank?

Just as confusion set in, the corners of the Emperor's lips curled upward—into a smile.

That curve gradually widened until it could no longer be restrained, forming an expression of sheer, irrepressible delight.

The usually reserved and composed Emperor was beaming uncontrollably!

The Jingxi Emperor was well aware that all the noblewomen present were watching him, and he knew he ought to uphold imperial decorum. But—

A Wu was pregnant.

This news was almost too good to be true.

With a smile, he rose to his feet, his expression brimming with joy, satisfaction, and lingering surprise.

Yet he managed to restrain his exuberance, maintaining an air of dignified composure as he bowed to the Empress Dowager. "Mother, I'll go check on Noble Lady Ning first."

The Empress Dowager shooed him away, "Go, go quickly!"

The Jingxi Emperor swept aside his dragon robes and strode toward the rear palace with astonishing speed—like a man possessed!

Clearly, he could hardly wait!

The courtiers gasped. The emperor was so overjoyed he had forgotten all about royal manners.

The Empress Dowager was utterly delighted. "Even an emperor is human! Knowing he's to be a father has him over the moon!"

The rest laughed along, sharing in the imperial family's joy.

Yet among them, a few faces remained stony.

The Empress sat in silence, managing a tight smile while her heart churned with turmoil.

As for Consort Kang, her face twisted in discomfort.

Just as bitterness gnawed at her heart, she noticed Princess De Ning beside her, bouncing with excitement. "Am I really to be an elder sister? I’ll have a little sister!"

Consort Kang: "..."

Of all the daughters, why did she get this naive one?

She gritted her teeth. De Ning needed lessons in reality.

If you have a younger sister, your father will inevitably dote on her. Once you're married off, will you even exist to him?