Extra 2
Before the physician could finish speaking, Gu Zhen was already stunned.
His hand, originally resting on the armrest, clenched into a fist. It took him a long time to recover his senses. His gaze turned to Zhao Yiyi at his side, landing on her lower abdomen.
“Is it certain?”
Although the Emperor’s voice was deep, the pregnancy was still in its early stages, so a pulse diagnosis could not be completely accurate. The physician, who specialized in wind-cold and headaches, had only been summoned initially for that purpose. He dared not speak in absolutes, only bowing and saying there was an eighty percent chance, and that Chief Physician Cheng was needed for a final conclusion.
In the end, someone was sent to the Imperial Medical Bureau to summon Physician Cheng.
Physician Cheng was one of the Chief Physicians and specialized in women’s health and childbirth. Many noblewomen would request his presence when they were pregnant. Although the Empress was not yet showing, he was confident in his assessment. “Her Highness’s pulse is a slippery pulse. Combined with Her Highness’s recent condition, she is indeed pregnant.”
Pregnant.
The word felt somewhat strange to Zhao Yiyi. She instinctively turned to look at Gu Zhen, only to see him sitting there with a stiff face. On that usually cold, solemn, and upright face, a rare look of bewilderment appeared.
As their eyes met, Gu Zhen’s expression relaxed slightly. He reached out stiffly, clasping her slender hand resting on her knee, then gripped it tightly in his palm. He lowered his voice and asked, “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?”
Zhao Yiyi shook her head. “I just felt dizzy on the swing earlier. There is no other discomfort.”
Though she said that, no one dared to treat it lightly.
Physician Cheng went to a side room to write a prescription for calming the fetus, as well as some nourishing medicinal diets. As he wrote the prescription, his hand trembled, making the characters shaky.
When the inner attendant came to summon him earlier, looking anxious, he had thought something had happened to the Empress. He had rushed over in a frantic hurry, nearly tripping over the threshold of the Jiao Fang Palace. Who would have thought it was such joyous news?
The Emperor had been married for several years, yet the Empress had shown no signs of pregnancy. Court officials had long since submitted memorials asking the Emperor to select girls from good families to fill the harem, but the Emperor had rejected them all or simply pretended not to hear.
As Physician Cheng wrote the prescription, he secretly thought that once the news of the Empress’s pregnancy spread, who knew what changes would occur in the front court.
From the fetus-calming prescription to the nourishing diets, and even the pastries and tea she should eat daily, Physician Cheng filled over a dozen pages.
Gu Zhen took them from the palace servant, glanced over them, and frowned. “Is there anything else to take note of?”
Physician Cheng thought for a moment and added instructions about walking more and avoiding excessive mental strain.
After breakfast, Gu Zhen had planned to finish processing the memorials in the morning, but this sudden news caught him off guard. He no longer had the mind to look at those documents.
“Are you sleepy?” Gu Zhen asked her.
Naturally, Zhao Yiyi was sleepy. After being tossed about all night yesterday, she could faintly see the dawn breaking before it stopped. She couldn’t understand where Gu Zhen got so much energy. Not only did he get up early for court, but he also had the leisure to think about messy things.
She leaned to the side and frowned. “Sleepy.”
Both of them were first-time parents. Faced with this unexpected child, they were a bit flustered, even dazed. Even now, they hadn’t completely reacted.
Seeing her slightly bewildered expression, Gu Zhen loosened his clenched fist. He pulled her slightly to the side, and with a gentle exertion of force, pulled Zhao Yiyi onto his lap.
One hand clasped firmly around her slender waist, the other gently stroking her thin back, Gu Zhen asked in a low voice, “What is it?”
Zhao Yiyi shook her head. After a long pause, she lowered her head and said, “I just… haven’t reacted yet.”
They had been married for nearly four years. In the past, they had been pressured, and people had used this matter to cause trouble. Later, they fell out, and there were several upheavals in the palace. Even after their relationship improved, no one dared to mention it in front of her again.
She rested one hand on her lower abdomen, her long eyelashes fluttering gently. “It’s still so small.”
According to the physician, and judging by her monthly cycle, it was probably less than two months. It was still a little thing that no one could detect.
“Knowing how to torment people as soon as it arrives—it seems it isn’t well-behaved at all.” Gu Zhen chuckled darkly. The large palm on her back moved to gently cover her soft little hand. His voice was deep. “Since it is here, let us give birth to it. In any case, there is a family inheritance to leave to him.”
On the back of her hand was the warmth of his palm; beneath her palm, separated by her abdomen, was the child still being nurtured.
Zhao Yiyi blinked her rippling almond eyes and glared at him. “How big is it even? Why are you saying such things?”
She had never believed in ghosts or gods before, nor in crooked ways. But with this child, after the initial shock, she wondered if such a small child could bear such great expectations. It was common for young children not to survive.
“Establishing the legitimate heir, establishing the eldest—he occupies both. If Zhen does not give it to him, who else can I give it to?” Gu Zhen held her with amusement, his hand gently rubbing her waist. His usually cold phoenix eyes were also dark, but he suddenly leaned closer, chuckling, “True, being this naughty, Zhen really should consider it carefully.”
Zhao Yiyi reached out to cover his mouth, knitting her brows, and whispered, “I only hope that he lives a peaceful life, safe and smooth in all things. Everything else comes later.”
If the child lacked natural talent or had no interest in government affairs, forcing him onto the throne would be a waste.
But in the next moment, her shoulders were gripped by a pair of large hands, gently turning her to face him.
Gu Zhen’s expression carried a rare seriousness. “Born into the Imperial Family, and being the child of you and me—if he cannot sit firmly in this position, how can he be peaceful and have everything go smoothly?” His majestic, cold phoenix eyes stared intently into Zhao Yiyi’s eyes as he spoke in a deep voice. “Even if it is early to say this now, if he cannot sit firmly, even if he actively steps aside, who will tolerate him?”
Zhao Yiyi understood this reasoning.
But she had buried it deep in her heart. Now that he pointed it out so bluntly, she realized it was something unavoidable.
“Yiyi, Zhen must consider more for you and for the child.” Gu Zhen held her shoulders tightly. Realizing he had been too solemn just now and fearing he might scare her, his voice softened a few degrees, though his thoughts remained unchanged. “Before Zhen was born, Imperial Father had already told his close ministers that there would be a Crown Prince. It never affected Zhen’s health.” Not only that, but his health had been extraordinarily good since childhood.
Almost from birth, he had received treatment entirely different from his brothers, being named Crown Prince at the age of one. Later, he was personally taught by the Late Emperor, even kept by his side to listen to politics.
Raised strictly according to the model of wise monarchs of past generations, his daily life was organized meticulously. He had to rise before dawn to study, then sit behind a screen in the Zichen Hall to do his coursework while listening to officials discuss matters with the Late Emperor. In the afternoon, he practiced riding, archery, calligraphy, and painting.
He had known from the beginning that this was everything he had to experience. If he retreated, those brothers would not let him go. Simply because he was the eldest legitimate son, occupying the most rightful status according to etiquette and law.
No one would feel pity just because of his active withdrawal.
The familiar scent of agarwood mixed with elm drifted over, almost confusing one’s mind. Zhao Yiyi lowered her eyes to look at the carpet with intertwining lotus patterns. It took a long while before she said, “But he is still so small. I don’t want to think so much. Besides, with everyone watching from above and below, it will be even more uncomfortable.”
Gu Zhen stroked her back to comfort her. After pondering for a long while, he said softly, “Don’t worry. No one dares to gossip, and no one dares to stare at you.” He pressed against Zhao Yiyi’s jade-like neck and placed a kiss on the corner of her lips, his voice gentle. “There is no reason that what Zhen could do in the past, I cannot do now after two years on the throne.”
In his two years on the throne, whether it was rectifying Henei, suppressing Buddhism and Daoism, or crushing the Rouran, it was all to consolidate imperial power and establish authority in the swiftest way possible.
If, after all this, people still slandered and coerced his Yiyi, then he wouldn’t mind opening a slaughter again, just like when he moved against Gu Li.
“Don’t be afraid. Zhen is here for everything.” He patted Zhao Yiyi’s waist, comforting her in a low voice.
Zhao Yiyi simply looked at him with her watery almond eyes. After a long time passed, she nodded. “Mmh.”
After tossing and turning for so long, her already weary body felt even more tired. She leaned lightly against Gu Zhen, curling up gently, resting her head on his shoulder, her eyes half-closed.
Gu Zhen simply patted her body, coaxing her softly. After a moment, he picked her up horizontally and placed her on the low couch.
Because of this movement, Zhao Yiyi, who had nearly fallen asleep, woke up with a start. Her almond eyes misted over unconsciously, and she instinctively grabbed his arm. She wanted to hold onto something to make herself feel a little more secure.
Gu Zhen did not leave. Instead, he sat down beside her, gently holding her hands, rubbing her slender fingers, and said softly, “Zhen is here. Go to sleep.”
The wind of late spring and early summer already carried a hint of dry heat. When the wind blew in, it inadvertently lifted a small corner of the thin blanket covering Zhao Yiyi.
Knowing she was sensitive to the cold, Gu Zhen pulled the blanket back over her.
But in the next moment, it was blown open again.
After this happened a few times, Gu Zhen frowned and stood up, intending to close the window a bit, leaving only a narrow crack.
Just as he stood up, he was grabbed by Zhao Yiyi again. As if startled from a dream, she looked at Gu Zhen groggily and asked, “What is it?”
Being looked at like this, no one could withstand it, much less leave.
Gu Zhen sat back down and said helplessly, “Nothing. Sleep.”
Thinking for a moment, he bent over and took a cushion to weigh down the quilt, making it more secure.
The sun’s shadow gradually shifted upward, the light shining in becoming brighter, and the day grew hotter. The beauty on the couch had long since fallen asleep, her brows relaxed, her sleeping face picturesque.
Gu Zhen didn’t leave. He sat there accompanying her, his large palm still tightly holding one of her hands.
Before this, although others were anxious, acting as if the Great Chu Dynasty was about to end without an heir, he hadn’t been very urgent about a child. Like Zhao Yiyi, the word “child” was somewhat strange to him.
He had even thought that since he was in his prime and there were many urgent matters in the court—and external wars were possible at any time—he might not have enough energy to discipline a child. He had even told the Empress Dowager that he had no energy to teach a child.
At his current age, by the time this child grew up, he would still have many years to live. Back then, his Imperial Father had placed high hopes on him, raising him by the standards of an emperor. But later, suspicion grew, and the trust was not what it used to be.
He had always thought: No rush, it’s still early. Yet right at this moment, this child arrived unexpectedly.
But it was already here.
Gu Zhen’s gaze toward Zhao Yiyi gradually softened. He reached out to tuck her fluffy hair, his fingertips inadvertently touching her cheek. The soft, creamy touch made him linger unconsciously.
Not expecting it was one thing, but since it was here, it had to be raised well. In the future, it would have to be taught well too. If he didn’t spend some effort, how could it be raised properly?
“Your Majesty.”
Seeing the Emperor come out, Wu Mao hurriedly stepped forward to bow. Guessing the situation inside, he lowered his voice and asked, “Is Your Majesty going to the Zichen Hall?”
Gu Zhen shook his head and ordered coldly, “Tell everyone in the palace to be alert. Do not let a single word of those messy rumors reach the Empress’s ears.”
Wu Mao had followed him for a long time and had handled matters regarding officials impeaching the Empress. Thinking just slightly, he understood what the Emperor meant. His heart shivered, and he replied respectfully, “This servant understands.”
The Empress’s pregnancy was a joyous event of immense proportions.
For the first month or two, it was kept secret. Once it was confirmed to be true, they stopped trying to contain it. Thus, the news spread as if it had wings.
When the Empress Dowager heard the news, she was overjoyed. She immediately ordered people to send many things over. She wanted to come in person but was stopped by Nanny Song.
Looking at the things sent by the Empress Dowager, Zhao Yiyi was only distracted for a moment before ordering them to be stored properly in the warehouse.
Zhao Yiyi knew that the Empress Dowager wouldn’t harm her own grandchild, nor did she have any intention of harming her, but she didn’t want to be too close.
Only… looking at the little girl sulking in front of her, she had a bit of a headache. “Are you done being angry?”
Zhao Duanduan was quite annoyed. She glanced at her indignantly, huffing and puffing. “Sister, why didn’t you tell me? You clearly knew long ago.”
“The pregnancy was in the early stages, and we weren’t sure if it was real, so naturally, we didn’t reveal it to the outside.” Zhao Yiyi had long expected her to be angry for a while, so she held back her laughter and coaxed, “I ordered someone to save the last two baskets of cherries of the year for you—a whole basket. Do you still want them?”
Zhao Duanduan’s eyes widened instantly. She held it in for a good while before saying, “Sister, you just know how to coax me. What’s a basket of cherries? Is it worth you hiding this from me for a month?”
The little girl was so angry her face turned red, and her lips were pressed tight.
Zhao Yiyi looked at her with a smile, the corners of her lips tilting up gently. “But you didn’t ask me either.”
Blocked by her light retort, Zhao Duanduan choked. “How would I know about such a thing? How would I think to ask?”
She was about to say more when she suddenly heard the sound of palace servants greeting outside, followed by steady footsteps. Her body stiffened abruptly, and she stood up as well.
Gu Zhen merely ordered everyone to rise, then walked straight to Zhao Yiyi’s side. He asked softly, “Was it good today? Did it disturb you?”
In the days following the diagnosis, Zhao Yiyi had started feeling nauseous and mostly ate light foods. But today, she felt fine. “No. Perhaps because it saw Duanduan coming to visit, it was quite well-behaved today.”
Zhao Duanduan shrank back like a quail, and the palace servants also lowered their heads. Since the Empress became pregnant, after the daily morning court, the Emperor would rush to the Jiao Fang Palace to coax Her Highness into eating breakfast. They were all used to it.
The entire Jiao Fang Palace knew, but dared not reveal a word to the outside world. They had been holding it in for quite some time. Now, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
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