Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 220 Playing Cards

Everyone was stunned by the news, and even more confused was why the Empress was so happy. There was no indication that she and Liu Yuechu had any deeper relationship.

But when the Empress uttered the word "reward," everyone immediately beamed with joy and kowtowed in gratitude.

Just then, Emperor Qi Xiao arrived and heard a burst of laughter and cheerful conversation.

The Empress hurriedly came out of the palace to greet him, "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. It's just that Liu Yuechu is pregnant, which is why she fainted. She's alright!"

"Unexpectedly, His Majesty's punishment has produced a little lucky charm among his grandchildren. Considering her and Yuan Cuo's considerable contributions to the Great Qi, perhaps the time she didn't kneel should be waived?" The Empress almost let slip, but Emperor Qi Xiao was satisfied with her speaking up for Liu Yuechu.

"I never expected this, it really is an accident." Emperor Qi Xiao was overjoyed inside, but pretended to be calm on the surface. "Since the Empress has spoken, let's spare her this time."

He turned to Cheng Hai and said, "Go and find that kid, lest he come here complaining that I bullied his wife and then start nagging me again!"

Emperor Qi Xiao spoke, and his tone clearly showed his special favor towards Yuan Cuo.

Cheng Hai immediately agreed and instructed the eunuch to go and return quickly.

Emperor Qi Xiao turned his head and saw the two kneeling at the door. He merely glanced at them and snorted coldly before turning away.

Princess Luoyue was covered in cold sweat; she had actually been dragged down by him! Seeing Emperor Qixiao leave, she looked pleadingly at the Empress, "Mother, Mother, spare me! I really didn't say anything to her!"

The Empress glanced at Li Shu beside her, clearly displeased. "Leave room for maneuver in your actions, so you can meet again in the future. We were once close friends, like sisters. How can you say such cruel things?"

She waved her hand impatiently, signaling Princess Luoyue and Li Shu to go back first.

Princess Luoyue, with tears in her eyes, dared not say anything more and could only bow and take her leave. Li Shu was so ashamed that her whole body went numb. Only after almost everyone around her had left did she slowly come back to her senses. She never expected that Liu Yuechu was pregnant!

She quietly got up, feeling even more that she was now a step behind her.

Why is it that Liu Yuechu always manages to get ahead of her in everything? She just can't swallow this resentment.

When Liu Yuechu woke up, half an hour had already passed. She opened her eyes and looked around, finding everything somewhat unfamiliar.

As she was about to get up, the palace maid who was guarding her rushed forward, saying, "Lady Liu, please don't move."

"Your Majesty, Lady Liu has woken up..." Another person hurriedly ran to the door to relay the message to the Empress and the others.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps entered.

Not only the Empress arrived, but the Crown Princess and Fang Ziqing also came.

Liu Yuechu was dumbfounded, wondering why so many people were looking at her.

"This silly girl, looking so blank. You're pregnant!" The Empress gave a good luck charm to Granny Yan, who immediately hung it on Liu Yuechu's wrist.

Liu Yuechu saw the bright red talisman and exclaimed, "I'm pregnant? Me?"

"The imperial physician said that the time is still very short, so Your Highness must be careful and must not overwork or get angry. You must take good care of your health!" Granny Fang kept smiling from ear to ear.

"Although she hasn't given birth yet, we should still share in this joy." The Crown Princess gave her a small gold lock, and Fang Ziqing also gave her a Ruyi pendant.

"Very well, whether it's a boy or a girl, it brings joy to my palace. You two can stay in this side room tonight." The Empress was naturally pleased that both of her daughters-in-law were pregnant, as the Eastern Palace had no heirs to date, not even those born out of wedlock.

Not to mention his anxiety, even His Majesty was anxious, because the other princes had no offspring, and those who were born died young.

Liu Yuechu was still in shock. She touched her lower abdomen and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress, thank you, Crown Princess and Ziqing…” She thanked everyone and then quickly stood up. “Although I am happy to stay here and bring blessings to Fukang Palace, I also want to go home and tell my husband right away.”

She thought of Yuan Cuo, wondering if he would be happy or sad to hear the news.

The reason Liu Yuechu wasn't overjoyed was because of Yuan Cuo's status.

If the Empress knew she was carrying His Majesty's grandson, I wonder if she would still be able to smile so brightly and happily...

The Empress nodded. "Go ahead, he's been waiting outside for a long time."

Yuan Cuo was an official outside the palace, so he was naturally not allowed to enter the inner palace and could only wait at the palace gate.

Liu Yuechu looked slightly surprised and quickly tried to get out of bed.

Granny Fang immediately pressed her down, "Slow down..."

The palace maid immediately knelt down, helped her put on her shoes, and helped her up.

Liu Yuechu smiled cautiously, "I'm not quite used to it yet, I'll be careful."

"These two maids saw you faint today and stayed with you the whole time, so you must have some kind of connection with them. I just asked Granny Fang, and she said you don't have many servants in your household. Why don't we take these two back with us and give them a hand?"

The Empress knew that the palace had given women to Yuan Cuo before, but they were sent to farm. "These are people I cherish. I would never let them be slaves to your household. If they make you happy, then choose someone to marry them off. They don't have to be imprisoned in the palace forever."

The two palace maids were startled and immediately knelt down to express their gratitude.

Liu Yuechu glanced at Granny Fang and nodded in agreement.

After another long, rambling conversation, Liu Yuechu was specially granted a sedan chair and carried to the palace gate to see Yuan Cuo.

Liu Yuechu looked at the two palace maids behind her without saying much. When she saw Yuan Cuo, she rushed into his arms and snuggled up to him. Yuan Cuo didn't seem surprised by this. "Let's go, we'll talk about it when we get home."

He carried Liu Yuechu into the carriage, and the group hurriedly returned to the Liu residence.

In Fukang Palace, after seeing Liu Yuechu off, the Empress, feeling exhausted, returned to her bedchamber to rest.

Gone was her previous joy; instead, she lay on the bed, her face expressionless, and dismissed all the palace maids.

"None of the women in the palace can conceive, but those outside the palace have children first... Do you think the curse has really come true?" She asked Granny Yan.

Granny Yan's eyes widened in surprise. "Your Highness, you can't just say things like that!"

"It's just you and me, what's there to be afraid of? Ever since I married into the palace, it's been so hard to even have a proper conversation, I don't even dare to talk in my sleep." The Empress looked gloomy, without a trace of happiness.

Granny Yan paused for a moment, "This is indeed a strange matter, but you shouldn't think of it in a negative way. It's just that His Highness the Crown Prince is anxious and is constantly being pressured by the Third Prince, so he doesn't have any interest in women."

"That's why I've tried to win over the Liu family, hoping they can lend the Crown Prince a hand." The Empress said awkwardly, but she was powerless to do anything about it. Her family was no match for Consort Yu's, so she could only rely on external forces.

Granny Yan pursed her lips. "Aren't you worried that His Majesty might actually acknowledge him?"

The Empress did not hide anything from Granny Yan and told her about the conversation she had overheard between His Majesty and Yuan Cuo in front of the Empress Dowager that day.

The Empress smiled, "Fear is one thing, but right now the greatest threat to the Crown Prince is the Third Prince..."

Winning them over while attacking them is the only card she can play.