Chapter 181: Hold On, Imperial Advisor! I, the Emperor, Have Recovered 18

Chapter 181: Wait, National Preceptor! I've Recovered 18

"I wouldn't dare!"

"Then go on down. Rest well these few days. I'll summon you if anything comes up."

Xiao Xuan's fear of the original owner had long been ingrained, and it wasn't something that could be changed overnight with a few small favors.

But Lin Huaiqing wasn't in a hurry either. He would make up for the harm Xiao Xuan had suffered in his own way, bit by bit.

Having obtained the medicine Xiao Xuan brought back from the cultivation world, Lin Huaiqing summoned the Virtuous Consort to his chambers that very night.

Summoning the Virtuous Consort twice in a single month was unprecedented since Lin Huaiqing had ascended the throne.

Before this, Lin Huaiqing had at most summoned one consort once a month, and occasionally, when in a bad mood, he might not summon anyone for two or three months.

Now, within just a few days, he had summoned the Virtuous Consort twice. Before long, news of this spread through the harem.

The Virtuous Consort, as usual, bowed to Lin Huaiqing and then closed the door behind her.

"Virtuous Consort, hide this bottle of medicine well. Take one pill every ten days. Start with one today, and by tomorrow, when the imperial physician comes to check your pulse, he'll naturally notice something unusual."

"How did Your Majesty come by this medicine? Is it really that miraculous? Even the imperial physician won't be able to tell?"

After all, if this were discovered, it would be a matter of life and death. It was only natural for the Virtuous Consort to be concerned.

"Rest assured, I have no reason to harm you."

Hearing this, the Virtuous Consort followed Lin Huaiqing's instructions and took the pill. That night, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Just as Lin Huaiqing had said, the next morning when she returned to her palace and the imperial physician came to check her pulse as usual, he took an unusually long time—about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Eventually, even the Virtuous Consort grew impatient. "Well? Physician Deng, is something wrong with my body? Why is this taking so long?"

"Congratulations, Virtuous Consort! This is a pregnancy pulse! You're pregnant—over two months along!"

"What?! Really? Physician Deng, are you sure you're not wrong?!"

In truth, the Virtuous Consort hadn't fully believed the medicine would be so effective. She had thought His Majesty might have been swayed by some quack's claims, but she never expected it to actually work.

With such great news in the palace, the Virtuous Consort's chief maid could barely contain her excitement and quickly relayed the news to Yan Weiquan, the emperor's attendant.

It happened to be time for the morning court. Lin Huaiqing was getting dressed in his court robes with the help of a group of young eunuchs.

He figured the timing should be about right. Why hadn't the news arrived yet?

And right on cue.

Just then, Yan Weiquan came rushing in from outside the hall, so overjoyed he could barely speak.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Great news! This is huge news!"

"Yan Weiquan, at your age, why are you acting like a giddy child? What's the news?"

"It's the Virtuous Consort of Xianfu Palace—she's pregnant! Physician Deng examined her this morning and found she's over two months along!"

"Is that true?!"

"It's absolutely true, Your Majesty!"

"Cancel the morning court! I'm going to Xianfu Palace immediately to see the Virtuous Consort."

"What?!"

Lin Huaiqing curled his lips into a light smile, acting the part of a new father with practiced skill. Passing through the imperial garden, he headed straight for Xianfu Palace where the Virtuous Consort stayed.

While he was overjoyed, the court was in complete chaos.

The new emperor had barely been on the throne, and already he was keeping the entire court waiting, taking time away from morning court to visit the Virtuous Consort's palace.

Even the old ministers who were loyal supporters of the emperor couldn't help but sigh:

He doesn't seem fit to be a ruler.

"Ministers, since His Majesty has matters to attend to, why don't we wait a bit longer? Perhaps His Majesty truly has something urgent?"

Prime Minister Zhao Ge, though outwardly defending Lin Huaiqing, was inwardly overjoyed.

He hadn't even needed to make a move—this little emperor was sealing his own doom. Not only was he neglectful of state affairs, but he even dared to be late to morning court.

It seemed he didn't need to scheme at all; the little emperor would destroy himself.

"His Majesty has arrived! Kneel!"

About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Lin Huaiqing finally hurried in and resumed his seat on the dragon throne.

He hadn't dared to keep the ministers waiting too long. His purpose was to announce the Virtuous Consort's pregnancy at morning court, making the ministers aware of how much he valued his first royal heir.

"Rise, my ministers. I have joyful news to share with you all today. My Virtuous Consort is pregnant!"

At these words, the entire court gasped in shock.

Rumors had been circulating because the emperor's harem had shown no signs of an heir. Even if the ministers didn't say it aloud, many privately wondered if the emperor was incapable of fathering a child.

Now, the rumors were put to rest. Some were genuinely happy for Lin Huaiqing, while others put on smiles but were deeply disappointed.

Among the varied expressions of the ministers, Lin Huaiqing made a point of observing Qin Hanyue standing in the corner of the hall.

To his surprise, as he looked at Qin Hanyue, Qin Hanyue was also looking back at him with an unreadable expression.

Compared to Qin Hanyue's strange behavior the other day, today he seemed much more normal, having returned to his usual calm and collected demeanor.

In any case, this matter couldn't be hidden from Qin Hanyue, could it?

After all, he had already shown his cards in front of Qin Hanyue.

An old minister who seemed vaguely familiar to Lin Huaiqing stepped forward with concern:

"Your Majesty! This is truly wonderful news! What did the physician say? Is the Virtuous Consort's baby healthy?"

"Rest assured, Grand Secretary Chen. The physician said the royal child in the Virtuous Consort's womb is very healthy, and there's a good chance it will be a little prince. If the Virtuous Consort gives me a son, I intend to name him Crown Prince. What do you all think?"

He wanted everyone to know just how much hope he had in the Virtuous Consort's child.

That way, when the time came to uncover the "murderer" of the Virtuous Consort's unborn child, and he executed them without mercy, no minister would raise objections.

"Your Majesty! I believe it's too early to name a Crown Prince. Moreover, this child in the Virtuous Consort's womb is Your Majesty's first royal heir—it cannot be taken lightly. I suggest the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy personally examine the Virtuous Consort and prescribe a tonic to stabilize the pregnancy."

Lin Huaiqing knew Zhao Ge wouldn't be so easily convinced. But it didn't matter—even the chief physician wouldn't find anything wrong.

"The Prime Minister speaks wisely. My imperial son is naturally the most important. Have the Chief Physician and the other imperial doctors examine Consort De together and work out a prescription..."

After the morning court concluded and the ministers dispersed, Lin Huaiqing had a feeling that Qin Hanyue would be waiting for him at their usual spot in the imperial garden.

As he passed through the imperial garden, sure enough, Qin Hanyue stopped him.

"You may all withdraw. I shall speak with the National Preceptor alone."

"Yes..."

Once the attendants had dispersed, the two ascended the pavilion in the imperial garden and sat facing each other. Only then did Qin Hanyue spoke coldly, his tone laced with jealousy.

"Your Majesty, after just one session of Dual Cultivation with your servant, you're already back to full strength? That's way too fast!"