Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Truly Pregnant
The head scolded angrily.
"How have you been serving the noble concubine? She’s so ill, yet none of you send someone to inform me!"
Feeling innocent about the Emperor’s unreasonable anger, Xia An felt helpless.
However, some words are better said by the Lady herself, thus she fearfully kneeled on the ground, appearing to admit wrongdoing.
"Alright, Your Majesty, don’t frighten the maids around me as soon as you arrive. If you scare them too much, how can they conscientiously care for us?"
The Emperor evidently did not understand the "us," so he snorted coldly and said.
"They dare! Besides, the Second Prince and Second Princess don’t need them to care for, so many people are just attending to you alone, yet they’re not wholehearted, what’s the use of keeping them?"
The wrath of the Emperor is something ordinary people cannot bear.
Lin Wanyi, seeing the usually astute and competent Emperor seemingly not understanding her words, deliberately pretended to retch.
Who knew this retch would be significant, as she actually vomited.
The Emperor, originally furious, instantly turned his anger into concern and urgently said.
"Sick like this, summon the Imperial Physician immediately!"
"Dong Yuzhong!"
"At your service, I’ll arrange for someone to call the Imperial Physician right away."
"Mr. Dong..."
Lin Wanyi quickly stopped him, yet she wanted to speak but couldn’t help the nausea.
So for a moment, Dong Yuzhong was quite at a loss as to whether to call the Imperial Physician or not.
Xia An saw the situation and disregarded the Emperor, immediately stepping forward to help Lin Wanyi breathe calmly.
Then, she brought warm water for Lin Wanyi to rinse her mouth.
After a while of struggling, she finally caught her breath.
"Your Majesty, temporarily refrain from calling the Imperial Physician. Let’s wait until the Second Madam enters the palace then discuss."
In the first month, Second Madam Dong did not enter the palace.
Firstly, because the Second Princess’s condition improved, and secondly because of palace rules.
Therefore, the plan was to enter the palace early and late in February.
Lin Wanyi said this to prevent people from knowing prematurely.
Her pregnancy was not stable; if the Imperial Physician was called, the entire palace would soon know.
"Why?"
The Emperor became even more puzzled, seeing his bewildered expression, Lin Wanyi felt both amused and exasperated.
She pulled his hand to cover her stomach. Although it was still flat, the maternal intent on Lin Wanyi’s face was fully revealed.
The Emperor is no fool; he has been a father before.
If he still couldn’t understand her hint, then his mind was indeed clouded by concern.
"Are you pregnant?"
"Yes."
"On New Year’s Eve?"
"Probably."
Actually, Lin Wanyi also wasn’t sure, but it was definitely during those chaotic days; anyway, the timing was close, so presuming New Year’s Eve wasn’t too far off.
For a long time, the Emperor didn’t speak.
He simply stared at her belly, somewhat entranced.
Lin Wanyi could understand his joy; after all, she was also stunned for a moment when she found out.
But the Emperor is the Emperor; he never minces words.
He said proudly.
"Looks like the more you do, the easier it is to conceive!"
Lin Wanyi was speechless for a while.
She thought the Emperor was immersed in the joy of becoming a father, yet unexpectedly, this was his mindset.
Immediately, she slapped the back of his hand and said coquettishly.
"Now I can’t serve you anymore, why don’t you move, and change places?"
"Nonsense! If it weren’t because you’re physically weak now, I would punish you!"
Lin Wanyi chuckled twice.
Actually, although these words seemed like a joke, they were laced with some seriousness.
The Emperor’s words and feelings for her were genuine; she was no longer in doubt.
But she also knows that as an emperor, spreading the royal family line is normal.
With her pregnancy, she couldn’t serve, naturally, others would rise up.
Only now, the Emperor was probably considerate of her condition, hence his words.
Thus, even if in the future he really went to other concubines, Lin Wanyi wouldn’t feel anything.
At most, she would get jealous and not allow him to enter.
A lifetime with one person is a hope she would have in an ordinary family.
But in the royal household, she was the late comer, so to seek exclusive favor, even singular affection, would be against herself.
Although Lin Wanyi didn’t speak, the Emperor observed her thoughts.
So he said in a very calm voice.
"Since you’ve entered the palace, I’ve not touched anyone else. So it is today, and so it will be in the future. My offspring may not be many, but they’re sufficient. If you can bear children, give me a few more. If your body is too weak, then just have this one and no more."
Lin Wanyi was astonished.
She didn’t know how to respond to the Emperor’s words.
Compared to those lifelong vows, this simple statement moved Lin Wanyi deeply.
She didn’t speak but pulled the Emperor to sit beside her.
Afterward, she leaned her body against him, and after a moment of silence, she said softly.
"Alright."
The matter of Lin Wanyi’s pregnancy could be concealed from outsiders, but those within Yihua Palace were aware.
Such as Chunqi Xia An, such as Qiu Ming Xiaoluzi, such as Nanny Du and Nanny Ji.
The Second Princess was still young and even if told, she wouldn’t understand.
Yet with the Second Prince, Lin Wanyi felt it necessary to be open and honest.
She didn’t want her child’s arrival to estrange the other two children from her.
Especially the Second Prince, who had suffered enough in his youth.
If he felt he was going to be abandoned again, Lin Wanyi would feel guilty.
Thinking it over, she conveyed her thoughts to the Emperor.
The Emperor hadn’t considered this before, but now he found Lin Wanyi’s words made sense.
Thus he spoke.
"Alright, summon him, we’ll tell him together."
"Your Majesty, please don’t speak, let me speak."
Lin Wanyi’s slightly disdainful tone made the Emperor briefly unhappy.
But given Lin Wanyi’s current condition, the Emperor’s displeasure at being contradicted swiftly dissipated.
The midday meal was laid out simply, without the lamb hotpot the Emperor desired.
He didn’t mind, instead, he righteously ordered.
"From now on, the noble concubine can eat whatever she likes, no need to consider my tastes."
Xia An and Chunqi answered positively, but actually, they hadn’t considered it.
Poor lamb hotpot being half-done was halted, uncertain who’s stomach it would end up in.
When the Second Prince arrived, he was accompanied by only Nanny Du.
Though they had moved back to Yihua Palace, the situation of the entire palace was similar to that in Ruiyang Pavilion.
Ordinary people couldn’t approach them, and the Second Prince and Second Princess were never cared for by others.
The palace maids and eunuchs mostly did rough work in the outer court.
Entering the door and seeing the Emperor, he was slightly shocked.
"Your son greets Father Emperor, may Father Emperor live long."
"Mm, rise."
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
Then he addressed Lin Wanyi.
"Your son greets Lady Lin, blessings to Lady Lin."