Chapter 735: Chapter 735: Each Has Their Own Plans

As soon as Rong Si’s command was issued, rewards poured into Zhaoming Palace like water, with jewelry, beautiful jade, silk brocade, fine wines, and exquisite dishes... truly everything one could desire, causing some nearby concubines in the palace to almost die of jealousy.

"Lady, so many things, the maid has never seen so many treasures in her life!" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

In Zhaoming Palace, Yu Zhu and Liu Xiang were sorting through the rewarded gold and silver jewelry. Liu Xiang was somewhat excited but not overly so, whereas Yu Zhu appeared extremely exhilarated.

She was fixated on a pair of jade ruyi earrings. These jade ruyi were bright green, had an excellent translucency, and could refract enchanting light under the blazing sun.

Yu Zhu was so fond of the earrings that she couldn’t put them down. Seeing her joy, Long Yue said, "If you like those earrings, take them."

"Lady, I... I dare not..."

"What’s the matter? Although these items are quite valuable, they are merely objects at the end of the day, and I don’t need so much. Feel free to take them!"

"Then... thank you, Master!"

Liu Xiang silently glanced at Yu Zhu from the side.

She thought Yu Zhu was either naive or excessively shrewd.

The Master was able to gain the Emperor’s favor, surely she has her methods, and she wouldn’t be bad to those below, as she needed people’s loyalty.

If you show fondness for something, the Master, who isn’t short of these items, would definitely gift you some.

Just hope she doesn’t betray the Master’s kindness; otherwise, the consequences won’t be good.

"Liu Xiang, come, you pick some too."

Long Yue beckoned to her, but Liu Xiang shook her head, "Thank you for your kindness, Lady, but these jewels are too precious and eye-catching; I can’t make use of them."

Long Yue smiled gently; this girl was more sensible than Yu Zhu. "You’re too plain, it’s still better to pick some, so that when you go out, people won’t say I am stingy with you!"

"Thank you, Lady!"

Seeing she couldn’t decline, Liu Xiang stepped forward to choose a few items, but they were all ordinary pearl earrings and a silver-threaded flower hairpin, which looked very simple when worn.

Long Yue eyed Liu Xiang more than once, realizing this maid knew her bounds.

"Do not flaunt them; if word gets back to Fengming Palace, it won’t sound good."

"Yes, yes, the maid definitely won’t show off!"

Yu Zhu and Liu Xiang responded in unison, while Long Yue yawned and caressed her small belly, leisurely taking a nap.

While life here was exceedingly comfortable, on the other hand, in Jingshu Palace.

The Emperor hadn’t visited Jingshu Palace for a while, causing the palace maids and eunuchs inside to worry, each one looking out eagerly at the palace gates every day.

Even if Lady Ming Fei is pregnant, one couldn’t just disregard Princess Consort Jing like this, could one?

What do women in the harem rely on to stand firm? Isn’t it the Emperor’s favor? Without the Emperor’s fondness, they’re nothing!

Those concubines who haven’t been favored by the Emperor are easier to deal with, at least everyone is the same, perhaps they’ll even form groups to be mischievous, but if someone favored stops being visited suddenly, it makes people feel like she’s fallen out of favor.

A concubine who has lost favor, oh, those days...

People can only go upwards, not downwards; otherwise, they really can’t stand it.

Princess Consort Jing looked at those impatient palace attendants with a cold, mocking smile.

All these people seemed to be considering her, but weren’t they actually thinking of their own futures?

All are Palace Attendants, how much difference in rank could there be?

At least, in Princess Consort Jing’s eyes, they’re the same.

Actually, she felt all were the same, it’s only because of competition that there are highs and lows.

Her family, her father, sent her into the Imperial Palace for the benefit of their own family, did they ever care about her thoughts?

She didn’t crave wealth and glory; she only wanted to be with the one she loved!

However, that beloved person turned out to be ordinary; he didn’t dare to elope with her!

She was utterly disappointed in him!

But, no matter how disappointed, she still couldn’t forget him.

She looked up at those palace maids and eunuchs darting their eyes around, subconsciously pressing her small belly, her gaze gradually darkening.

"Lady, Lady, Lord Wen from the Imperial Medical Bureau has arrived!"

A little palace maid hurried in to report.

Princess Consort Jing froze slightly; Lord Wen, wasn’t he her father?

What has he come for?

She quickly stood to greet him.

"Father..."

She was about to bow, but Lord Wen hurriedly supported her, "No, no, the Lady is of noble stature, cannot, cannot!"

Princess Consort Jing’s gaze grew darker; after entering the palace as the Emperor’s woman, was even familial affection gone?

She spoke mournfully, "Lord Wen, what brings you here?"

"Ah, Lady Ming Fei is pregnant."

He finished speaking and stared at Princess Consort Jing.

Princess Consort Jing’s face turned pale; she understood what he meant by saying this, he was urging her to quickly conceive a dragon heir.

Dragon heir... She didn’t want to, but...

She said impassively, "Then congratulations to Sister Ming Fei."

Lord Wen’s face twitched slightly; he certainly couldn’t harm the child in Ming Fei’s belly, but he could urge his daughter to conceive quickly.

"Princess Consort Jing, since ancient times, a mother’s status depends on her son! Yes, we should congratulate her. Well..." He hesitated, glancing at Ming Fei’s belly, "Does the Lady want me to check your pulse?"

Princess Consort Jing glanced at those around her and said, "You all leave!"

If her father wanted to check her pulse, certain things couldn’t be hidden; since that was the case, it was better to say it directly.

The palace attendants withdrew, Princess Consort Jing said, "Father, I might already be pregnant, my period didn’t come this month, it’s been delayed by half a month."

"Ah? Really?" Lord Wen’s eyes lit up with immense joy, "Haha, based on your father’s many years of experience, that’s it!

The ancestors of the Wen family bless us, girl, you must take good care of yourself, strive to bear a son! If you give birth to a dragon heir before Lady Ming Fei, then in the future, he shall be the Crown Prince!"

Crown Prince, the future heir!

Princess Consort Jing was worn out, the Crown Prince wasn’t such an easy role; how many would eye that position? And would she and her child get any peace then?

Honestly, she’d rather have a daughter.

Raise her to maturity, then marry off a Prince Consort, live steadily, how wonderful?

But she wouldn’t say this aloud, only replied faintly, "I understand, Father."

"Good, good, come, let Father take your pulse, once confirmed, I’ll send fetus-preserving medicine."

"Thank you, Father."

Lord Wen examined Princess Consort Jing; although the pulse was still weak, there was already a sign, he was overjoyed, "Girl, why not inform the Emperor?"

As soon as Ming Fei was pregnant, it was announced to the world; how come his daughter concealed it?

Princess Consort Jing replied, "Father, the harem is too dangerous; your daughter just wants to raise this child a bit, so that no malicious individuals target it, causing a miscarriage."

Lord Wen thought this reasoning very sound; given that the harem women had a schedule chart for pregnancy, there was no worry about complications. Since Ming Fei announced her pregnancy, she would surely become the target; his daughter could just avoid the storm.

Once Ming Fei attracted all the attention, if any incident occurred, wouldn’t his daughter be alone to benefit?

A slightly sinister thought emerged; Lord Wen swiftly wiped his forehead, repeatedly saying "A sin," before instructing more and leaving.

Once Lord Wen departed, Princess Consort Jing gathered her emotions, looking down at her belly, smiling slightly.

Actually, there was something she hadn’t told her father; she always felt that the man who stayed with her each night, perhaps... wasn’t that man?