The imperial physician's words stunned everyone in the grand hall. Qingyao's face immediately turned cold. She had been planning to leave, but now to be pregnant, it was truly an unexpected turn of events. With a silent wave of her hand, she said, "Alright, you may go. Do not let this matter be leaked. This empress will explain to the Emperor herself."
"Yes, Your Highness the Empress."
The imperial physician, unaware of the empress's changed demeanor, happily retreated.
Qingyao glanced around the hall. Fortunately, no one else was present, only them. She shifted her body, and Mei Xin quickly stepped forward to help her sit properly, softly asking, "Your Highness?"
"You may all withdraw. I need to think."
Qingyao waved her hand. She wanted some quiet. No wonder she had felt unwell and lethargic these past few days; she was pregnant. Counting carefully, her period was indeed a few days late. She hadn't paid it much mind, never expecting to be pregnant.
"Yes, Your Highness," the three responded and withdrew.
In the hall, Qingyao sat motionless, her expression shifting unpredictably, her eyes dark and unfathomable. She was pregnant, what should she do now?
Should she really leave with the child? She absolutely could not bring herself to abort it. If she left with the child, would he resent her one day for her decision, for growing up without a father? Or should she stay?
Two scales in Qingyao's heart teetered precariously. As a mother, shouldn't she sacrifice something for her child? Perhaps the Emperor had his own calculations, but he was still somewhat tolerable.
Perhaps the Emperor would have a harem, but she could prevent him from taking concubines. But if she did that, she would lose all her dignity.
Mutual love was most important, and at the very least, it meant willingly sacrificing for each other. Even if she sacrificed today, would she truly receive his response?
Silence reigned in the grand hall. At this moment, a gentle eunuch's voice sounded from outside the hall: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise. Guard outside."
"Yes, Your Majesty." As the young eunuch's voice faded, Mu Qingyao looked up. She saw the Emperor enter, clad in a soft yellow robe and a peacock feather cloak. The peacock's iridescent brilliance made him appear resplendently noble.
As soon as he entered the grand hall, Ajiu respectfully stepped forward to help him remove his cloak, holding it with both hands and retreating to wait outside the hall entrance.
The Emperor's face was graced with a warm, gentle smile, flowing like water. Qingyao gazed at the tenderness in his eyes, thinking of the child in her womb, and a smile involuntarily curved her lips.
"You've arrived?"
"Mmm, how are you today, Yao'er? Are you cold?" As he walked over, he naturally extended his large hand and clasped her small one.
His hand was not at all cold as it used to be; instead, it was warm and soothing, quickly warming her small hand and her entire body.
At this moment, a clear ripple flowed through her heart. Hearing his gentle words, she decided to stay and accompany him. He actually loved her.
"I'm fine, but with this weather, I feel like sleeping," Qingyao smiled, her previous coldness and aloofness vanishing like a vibrant flower blooming in spring, her brows filled with joy. She wondered if he would be delighted if he knew she was pregnant, if he would be a father soon.
"Yao'er seems quite happy today. Is there any good news?" the Emperor asked with a warm, doting tone. He held her hand with one and, with the other, affectionately brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen by her temple. The gesture was light and gentle, yet it was deeply etched in her heart.
Qingyao feigned mystery, shaking her head, but her face inadvertently betrayed that she did indeed have something joyful to hide.
The Emperor was not impatient. He reached out and drew her close, pressing her against his chest, his deep, magnetic voice resonating.
"Yao'er, I never expected Chu Qianyi to be the Third Prince of Yun Cang Kingdom. It seems the Chu family cannot be eliminated, otherwise, how would others perceive me? Now that the Prince of Beijin is dead, the Empress Dowager is dead, and the Right Prime Minister is unable to speak, I plan to spare the Chu family's lives but exile them from the capital. What do you think?"
"It's fine. How could the Emperor's decision be wrong?" Mu Qingyao reached out and tightly hugged the Emperor's waist. This outcome was not wrong.
Although the Chu family was detestable, they had only been following the Empress Dowager's orders. While they wanted to help the Prince of Beijin seize the throne, they had not taken any actual action. Furthermore, their own son had been killed from birth; they must be in great pain.
"Right, Yao'er, there's something I need to tell you."
Murong Liu Zun's tone suddenly became somewhat cautious as he slowly spoke. Qingyao smiled and said, "Go ahead."
"Mmm, I know that although Yao'er is indifferent, you have a kind heart. Ximen Xinyue saved you, and she wishes to enter the harem as a concubine. I have agreed to her request. What do you think, Yao'er?"
As the Emperor's voice fell, he felt the delicate body in his arms stiffen, becoming completely still. After a long while, there was no movement. He felt a sense of unease and softly called out, "Yao'er, do you disagree? I only agreed because she saved you..."
"That is the Emperor's affair." A flat, unremarkable voice replied, but the Emperor knew she was angry, displeased.
However, he couldn't go back on his word, having already promised Ximen Xinyue. From ancient times, an emperor's word was his bond; he couldn't retract his statement.
"Yao'er, in my heart, the Empress is only you. All women in the harem are subservient to you. Anyone who dares to scheme against you, you may punish them."
"Your Majesty, Qingyao wishes to ask you, have you ever considered a life where it's just you and me, a lifetime together?"
"A lifetime together?" The Emperor's handsome face showed shock. His eyes deepened as if they were the vast ocean, clearly having never considered this question. He slowly lowered his head to gaze at the woman in his arms.
"Yao'er wishes for me to marry only one woman my entire life?"
Qingyao remained motionless, a bitter smile on her lips. Her heart ached so deeply. She imagined many women entering the harem in the future.
Even though she was the supreme Empress, what of it? When she deeply fell in love, she feared she would go mad.
In the past, she had gone mad once. If she hadn't gone mad, how would she have ended up in this present space? Thus, she was fortunate that she hadn't loved too deeply yet. Though her heart ached, she could still bear it.
"No, I had a dream yesterday. The dream was very strange, there were men and women who lived a lifetime together, truly like celestial lovers."
"Yao'er, that was a dream. Let alone me being the Emperor, even ordinary wealthy families have many wives and concubines. How can there be a lifetime together? However, with Yao'er, I will not casually take concubines from now on."
The Emperor's long, narrow brows arched, clearly disbelieving, his words laced with deep skepticism.
Qingyao could no longer hold back. A single tear slid down her cheek. Fortunately, it was only one. She would never allow herself to shed a second. This single tear was to mark the departure of their love.