Princess Xiangsi - Chapter 167
"Sister Qingyun, how does this chestnut chicken look?"
Qingyun glanced down at the vibrant colors, which were incredibly tempting. She picked up her chopsticks, took a piece, and put it in her mouth.
"The taste is delicious, and the cooking time is just right. It is indeed a dish made by the imperial chef." Qingyun praised, but the image of chestnut chicken that Li Ge made for her on her birthday came to mind.
A faint smile appeared in his eyes.
At this moment, Situ Xingyun ladled a bowl of clear soup for Qingyun, saying, "Xue'er, don't eat too much greasy food. Drink the clear soup first; it's good for your health."
Qingyun snapped out of her daze and caught a glimpse of Wuxia's dim eyes beside her.
She shook her head. "Let's give it to Wuxia! Wuxia hasn't been feeling well lately, and her appetite hasn't been very good."
Upon hearing this, Situ Xingyun's gaze fell on Yu Wuxia, and he indeed noticed that her face was slightly pale. He asked, "Consort Yu, has the imperial physician been summoned to examine her?"
Wuxia forced a faint smile. "I just don't have a good appetite, I'm perfectly fine. Thank you..." Before she could finish speaking, Wuxia felt a tightness in her chest, and her face turned ashen.
"Hiccup!" Wu Xia clutched her chest, looking like she was about to vomit.
Qingyun's eyes lit up, and she called to the palace maid beside her, "Go and call the imperial physician."
After the imperial physician was too busy to take her pulse, the imperial physician's face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly congratulated Situ Xingyun, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Consort Yu is one month pregnant."
Situ Xingyun was taken aback at first, then his face immediately lit up with boundless joy. He grinned from ear to ear and exclaimed happily, "I'm a father again! I'm a father again!"
But then his brows furrowed suddenly. "Why hasn't your belly swelled up yet?"
The imperial physician smiled and said, "This is Your Majesty's first pregnancy, and Your Majesty is petite, so the pregnancy won't start developing as quickly. Your Majesty, please rest assured, this is all normal. I will prescribe some medicine to help with the pregnancy later. As long as Your Majesty takes it on time, there will be absolutely no problem."
Situ Xingyun laughed again.
At this moment, Situ Xingyun was as happy as a child.
Qingyun was very pleased. As long as Wuxia could give birth smoothly, whether it was a boy or a girl, Wuxia would have companionship and support in the lonely harem. At the same time, her position would be more secure.
Qingyun smiled and quietly left Yuxuan.
The news that Yu Wuxia was pregnant with the emperor's child spread throughout the palace. Immediately, some in the harem rejoiced while others grieved. Those who rejoiced were naturally all the concubines of Yu Xuan; with their mistress carrying the emperor's child, their status rose even higher, and no one would dare bully them anymore. Those who grieved were naturally the other concubines in the harem. Yu Wuxia was already one of the palace's favored concubines, and now, with the addition of the emperor's child, their chances of advancement seemed even slimmer.
Shuangdie didn't react much when she found out. Her mind was now focused on two people: her Xi'er and the person she had loved since childhood—Situ Xingzhi.
Situ Xingyun visited the Snow Palace less and less frequently. Firstly, because Yu Wuxia was pregnant with the emperor's child, Situ Xingyun naturally paid more attention to her. Secondly, a border kingdom wished to establish friendly relations with Fengxi and would soon send an envoy to Fengxi; Situ Xingyun needed to prepare everything, so he became quite busy.
Seeing that Situ Xingyun hadn't come, Qingyun was relieved to have some free time. One day, while chatting with Wuxia, Wuxia mentioned praying for blessings. Unfortunately, she couldn't leave the palace, so she asked Qingyun to go to the Guanyin Temple to pray for her child. Qingyun, who also happened to be free, went to the Prince of Ande's residence to find Lige to go to the Guanyin Temple together.
The streets were bustling with people, a lively and vibrant scene. After the Awakening of Insects, the weather grew warmer and warmer, and the spring breeze brought a riot of colors, filling the air with the breath of spring.
Suddenly, the street fell silent, as if time had stopped. All eyes turned to a man and a woman on the street.
The man was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, while the woman wore a snow-white silk dress. Both of them were dressed in white, their clothes fluttering in the wind, and their demeanor was otherworldly.
The woman in white smiled, her eyes sparkling with boundless joy. At one moment, she pulled the man beside her to point to a pawnshop selling pastries, and at the next moment, she pulled him to point to a stall selling candy.
The man in white had a slight smile in his brown eyes, a gentle smile on his lips, and a face full of doting affection.
The two were like a perfect couple, so well-matched!
The crowd was utterly astonished, believing them to be celestial beings descended from heaven, and their hearts were filled with reverence. But after a while, the streets returned to their usual bustling state.
"Woman, are you sure we're going to the Guanyin Temple?"
"Of course." Qingyun rolled her eyes at Lige. "Otherwise, where did you think we were going?"
"shop."
Volume 3: The Real and the Fake Palace, Candied Hawthorn 3
"Uh..." Qingyun smiled somewhat guiltily, "But I really rarely go out. Lige, think about it, although I grew up in the capital, I don't have many opportunities to go out. I can count the number of times I've gone shopping on my fingers. So..."
Qingyun blinked pitifully at Lige.
With a hint of amusement in her brown eyes, Li Ge said helplessly, "You really have me wrapped around your little finger, woman."
"No! No! Absolutely not!" Qingyun said firmly. "Qingyi often sighs in the shadows, saying that you have me completely under your thumb. Look, everyone can see it, and you still say I have you wrapped around my little finger!"
"I don't argue with women who write books." Li Ge glanced at Qing Yun, then strode forward.
Qingyun glared at his back and followed him.
The Guanyin Temple was packed with people, many of whom were devout men and women burning incense and worshipping the gods. The temple was filled with smoke, and the faint scent of sandalwood permeated the entire temple.
After Qingyun and Lige finished praying for the unborn child in Wuxia's womb, Qingyun was drawn to a pawnshop selling Guanyin statues that grant children when she was about to leave the Guanyin Temple.
"Li Ge, come and take a look. This jade Guanyin is so beautiful. It's as radiant as the morning sun and as smooth as silk. Wuxia will definitely love it."
Li Ge nodded with a smile.
Suddenly, Li Ge seemed to realize something, and his eyes turned strange. "Woman, do you believe in the Goddess of Mercy who grants children?"
Qingyun paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Didn't you used to not believe it?"
Qingyun blinked. "That was before."
Li Ge's eyes suddenly softened, and he took the jade Guanyin from Qing Yun's hand and asked the shopkeeper, "How much is this?"