The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 2)

Chapter 253 - Porcelain Doll

Translator Xiaobai: Our Ye Yun is finally going to have a baby of her own. If you are happy for her, please leave a comment below :)

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"Your Majesty, rest assured. I have practiced medicine for many years, and I am confident about this. If you are worried, I can check Ming Xiurong's pulse again in ten days to be completely certain."

Seeing the Emperor so pleased, Imperial Physician Zhang felt somewhat unaccustomed.

"As for dietary restrictions, she should avoid cold and raw foods, and limit spicy items. Other than that, there is nothing much to worry about. Xiurong's pulse is steady; she can engage in some light exercise during her pregnancy. She shouldn't just lie around or sit all the time. Also... matters between men and women should be moderated."

Hearing this made Ning Chen's face turn a bit red. He recalled the wildness of last night and felt a wave of fear wash over him. Fortunately, nothing had happened; such behavior must not continue in the future.

After Imperial Physician Zhang left, Ye Yun gradually regained her composure, feeling it all quite surreal. Although she had already prepared herself for motherhood, the suddenness of it caught her off guard.

After a long while, when Ning Chen's hand rested on her belly, she finally felt that she was nurturing a new life within her.

"Good, good! Today, you all will receive rewards. Those serving in Yuxiu Pavilion did well, so every servant will get twenty taels of silver!"

Ning Chen waved his hand, immediately instructing Yuan Jiu to distribute the rewards.

Ye Yun hurriedly stopped him. "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Zhang also said that the child in my womb is not yet a month old. There's no need to rush at this moment. We can wait until ten days later to check the pulse and confirm it. It won't be too late. If we announce it now, with all the congratulations coming in, it would disturb my rest."

"You're right, my dear. I got a bit too carried away with my joy," Ning Chen finally calmed down, though the joy in his eyes still shone brightly.

At this moment, Huiyue quietly reminded him, "Your Majesty, Xiurong is still in bed and hasn't had breakfast yet. Since she is pregnant, she must eat."

Upon hearing this, Ning Chen quickly nodded. "Right, right! Hurry and have the kitchen prepare something nutritious."

After pondering for a moment, he added, "Have the kitchen make bird's nest soup using blood bird's nest. Since she's pregnant, she must eat well."

Seeing his anxious demeanor made Ye Yun smile, and she couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart. At least, she could tell that Ning Chen truly cared for her now.

Yuan Jiu was the one to relay the message to the kitchen. He was a clever person and merely said that the Emperor was tired from managing state affairs and needed to eat blood bird's nest to replenish his energy, without mentioning that it was for Ye Yun.

After all, the masters wanted to keep it a secret. If he accidentally revealed it, it could cost him his head.

Throughout the morning, Ning Chen fed her fruit and made her drink milk, almost unwilling to let her feet touch the ground. He wanted to carry her everywhere.

However, he still had to attend to state affairs and review memorials. Ye Yun took the initiative to suggest returning to Yuxiu Pavilion to rest, to avoid disturbing each other.

Ning Chen felt reluctant but knew he had to meet with the ministers in the afternoon, so he had to let her go back. He intended to ask Yuan Jiu to accompany her.

But Ye Yun refused. If it was made too special, what was there to hide? Who wouldn't be able to guess?

Once back at Yuxiu Pavilion, the normally lively Nian Gao didn't jump up to her this time; instead, it wagged its tail around her.

"Speaking of which, it seems like Nian Gao hasn't been bouncing around me for the past ten days," Ye Yun suddenly said.

Huiyue thought for a moment and realized it was true. For a moment, they both looked at Nian Gao with curiosity.

Ye Yun smiled and patted the dog's head. "I've heard others say that dogs can sense changes and ailments in people; I didn't expect it to be true."

"What's wrong with Xiurong? Why bring up illness when everything is fine? Is she not feeling well?" Nanzhi walked out of the room, her brow furrowed and a worried expression on her face.

Ye Yun exchanged glances with Huiyue, who then whispered, "It's not a bad thing; it's a good thing. Our Xiurong is pregnant."

"Really?!" Nan Zhi's eyes widened in joy upon hearing this.

"Keep your voice down! Keep your voice down!" Huiyue quickly covered her mouth. "It's not even a month yet. We'll check the pulse again in ten days, and then we can be more certain. Don't let it slip out; everyone is watching Weirui Palace right now, and it's just the right time for our Xiurong to secretly nourish the baby."

Nan Zhi hurriedly nodded, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter.

Originally, the two maids wanted to tidy up and change some items in the room.

Ye Yun stopped them, and in the end, they only changed the bedding on the couch to something softer.

Since she was not yet a month along, it was even more important to keep things low-key.

That night, Ning Chen came to Ye Yun's place again.

At this moment, Yao Xiang, who had just been diagnosed with pregnancy at the banquet yesterday, was close to becoming a laughingstock.

The Emperor hadn't visited her for two consecutive days; while the rewards had been given, he was still visiting Yuxiu Pavilion!

This was clearly a sign of neglect.

Yao Xiang was so angry that she smashed a table full of teacups, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Was this fate?

In her two lifetimes, Ning Chen still did not favor her. In fact, no matter how she seized opportunities to curry favor, this lifetime's affection was still less than in her previous one.

Ye Yun didn't care whether others were envious or resentful; at this moment, she was being held by a certain Emperor like a porcelain doll.

After bathing in Shuangyan Pool yesterday, she had felt so sleepy that she didn't wash her hair.

So, she washed it during her bath tonight.

Some wished nothing more than for her child to be gone in the next moment.

Those who had never been pregnant were merely jealous, but for those who had miscarried, it was even more painful.

This included the Empress.

Most people had forgotten about Zhao Shi who is still lingering in the Cold Palace, the one who hadn't been sentenced to death all those years ago, but the Empress had not.

If it hadn't been for Zhao Shi bringing something unclean into her palace, she wouldn't have miscarried.

Now that Lin Shi had died, the living Zhao Shi was bound to endure twice the hatred from the Empress.