Dong Han didn’t expect Zhao Xi to come over, feeling somewhat caught off guard, she hurriedly stood up from the couch, preparing to salute.

Wen Wan also stopped eating and curtsied slightly.

Doctor Miao and Nian Chun Xiu Dong knelt on the ground.

Zhao Xi excused them from the formalities, his gaze resting on Dong Han, "Aren’t you familiar with medicine? How come you didn’t know you were pregnant?"

"A healer doesn’t treat herself, after all." Wen Wan smiled, attempting to ease the tension, "It’s the first time the Empress becomes a mother, it’s inevitable to miss some signs, many women are like this, Your Majesty need not blame her."

Considering Wen Wan was still present, Zhao Xi shifted his gaze away from Dong Han, "Is the Commandery Princess accustomed to the palace cuisine?"

Wen Wan murmured an assent, "The Imperial Kitchen gathers top chefs from across the land, naturally the dishes are indescribably delicious."

"If there’s anything that doesn’t suit your taste, you should bring it up yourself, don’t be too reserved." Zhao Xi said, "The Empress is young and inexperienced regarding pregnancy, in the future you might need to often accompany her for conversations."

Wen Wan nodded, keeping an eye on Zhao Xi’s reactions all along.

Anyone who was just married and found out they were to become a father would have a noticeable reaction, whether joyful or angry, but Zhao Xi did not.

From entering the hall until now, there’s been barely any fluctuation in his handsome expression, as if the Empress’s pregnancy was as ordinary as another memo arriving on the writing desk in the Imperial Study Room.

Could even his wife’s pregnancy not stir his emotions?

Wen Wan was lost in her thoughts, hearing Dong Han’s soft voice beside her, "In a few days will be Your Majesty’s birthday, the Ministry of Rites came to consult me, given the war in the Northern Border and the severe epidemic, it should be simplified. However, it’s Your Majesty’s first year after accession, by protocol, there should be a grand celebration. What is Your Majesty’s intention?"

"Keep it simple." Zhao Xi’s tone was exceedingly calm, "The war and plague are unresolved, I have no heart for festivities."

"Yes." Dong Han curtsied, "In that case, I know how to arrange things."

Zhao Xi casually urged her to take care of her health before departing.

Wen Wan had no appetite for food and told Empress Dong that she was full, had some matters to attend to, and wished to leave first.

Empress Dong didn’t urge her to stay.

After Wen Wan left, Nian Chun personally escorted Doctor Miao out, Xiu Dong cleared the table of leftovers, then took advantage of Dong Han’s nap on the couch to whisper with Nian Chun outside.

Nian Chun said, "His Majesty is so indifferent towards the Empress, when the Empress is pregnant with the Imperial Heir, it should be a grand event in the palace, yet His Majesty showed no reaction, now I don’t even know whether I should be happy."

Xiu Dong too felt helpless, although His Majesty is cold-natured, back in the Eastern Palace he treated Wan Qiu remarkably well, at that time he didn’t seem so unfeeling!

"The Emperor’s thoughts are hard to fathom, you better watch your mouth and not speak recklessly, if someone overhears and it reaches the outside, even peeling a layer of skin wouldn’t be enough to make up for it."

Nian Chun muttered pursedly, "I’ve recently heard that some officials in court suggested that His Majesty should expand the harem to ensure the Royal Family thrives early, Xiu Dong sister, do you think His Majesty has someone he likes?"

Xiu Dong raised her hand, gesturing to slap her mouth, "Will you stop talking?"

Meanwhile, Dong Han, leaning against the couch, wasn’t asleep at all, she propped her head with one hand, gently caressing her still flat belly with the other, as though she sensed the small life within, her lips slightly curling upwards.

This is His Majesty’s first child, she must do her utmost to bring it into the world safely.

...

Wen Wan returned to the Changning Marquis Mansion, long past Noon, Zhao Xunyin said, "At this hour, you usually return home for lunch, late today, was there something keeping you?"

Wen Wan regained her focus, smiling at Zhao Xunyin, "His Majesty asked me to accompany the Empress for a talk, so I came back late."

She promised at Yikun Palace not to reveal the Empress’s pregnancy, so even to her biological mother she intended to conceal it well.

"I see you’re quite unsettled, was it more than just talking?" Zhao Xunyin asked while instructing Dou Kou to notify the kitchen for food.

"I heard from the Empress, in a few days it will be His Majesty’s birthday, I’ve been pondering on what gift to present to His Majesty during the journey."

Wen Wan walked to the couch to sit, before long she leaned over, yawning, appearing casual compared to her palace demeanor.

Zhao Xunyin knew she was tired, smiled, and teased, "Eat first before sleeping."

Wen Wan touched her belly, in fact, she hadn’t eaten enough in the palace, but she was truly sleepy!

Thinking about it, she still waved her hand, "No, I’ll eat after I wake up."

Zhao Xunyin brought a brocade quilt and covered her, whispering in her ear, "You can’t go on like this. In the future, if the Third Son asks me for someone, and I give him a skinny bride, won’t he blame me for not taking good care of you?"

Hearing Zhao Xunyin mention Song Wei, Wen Wan shook off some of her drowsiness, turned to face her mother, and laughed, "How dare the Third Son blame you? Even if he complains, it would be secretly behind the scenes."

Zhao Xunyin rolled her eyes at her, "You really are endless worry."

...

A few days later, Prince Kang led a group of guards and hundreds of doctors to the Northern Border, nearly non-stop, arriving in the shortest time possible.

The people of Beijiang Government wanted to come up for a courtesy exchange, but Prince Kang refused them all, covering his mouth and nose with boiled white cloth and rushed directly with the doctors to the epidemic area.

Prince Kang was responsible for reassuring the people, while the doctors were responsible for diagnosing, grading, and isolating, everything proceeding in an orderly manner.

Upon learning that the court would only seal villages without burning them, the people’s initially restless hearts gradually stabilized.

In less than half a month, the daily number of infections began to decline.

The news reached the Chu Country Capital and naturally also reached the ears of the Beiyang Imperial Concubine.

She had just ordered spies lurking in the Northern Border to stir up the Beijiang Government to burn villages to cause panic, when the young emperor of Chu Country sent Prince Kang to calm the people’s hearts, and publicly stated that the court was extremely serious about the epidemic, that Your Majesty governs with benevolence, and would make every effort to treat each person, refusing to allow village burning and disregard human life.

"What is going on?" The Imperial Concubine’s beautiful eyes were full of gloom, "Are there Chu spies in the Beiyan Palace?"

Apart from this explanation, she really couldn’t think of any other abilities Zhao Xi had to repeatedly thwart her plans.

Last time at the Liaodong Iron Mine, the deal was almost completed when the young emperor suddenly dispatched an imperial envoy to verify the progress of weapon improvement, directly cutting off Bei Yan’s mineral supply.

And this time, before her plan was even implemented, the young emperor seemed to know in advance, finding a way early on to block her path.

"Investigate for me!" The Imperial Concubine swept the teapot off the table with her luxurious sleeve, shouting angrily: "I want to see just who is so capable to send messages from the Beiyan Palace to Chu Country without anyone knowing!"

The spy hesitated for a moment, "Madam, there’s one more thing, I received news that the Emperor of Chu recently appointed a female official."

"What’s worth reporting about a female official?" The Imperial Concubine sneered, the Beiyan inner court has more female officials than can be counted.

"An incoming court lady," the spy said, "the Emperor of Chu allowed her to participate in political affairs, and it was she who proposed sealing rather than burning villages in the Northern Border."

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine’s face darkened, "Who is this person?"

"The daughter of the Princess Guardian, Princess Yong’an."

The Imperial Concubine had heard of Princess Guardian Zhao Xunyin, but she didn’t know Princess Yong’an, nor Wen Wan, she only knew the person who proposed the suggestion completely foiled her plan.

Thinking of this, the Imperial Concubine’s brow furrowed even more, "Emperor Xuanjing is known for being rigorous and cautious, how could he suddenly appoint a female official? Moreover, it’s a Commandery Princess. There must be something strange about this."

The spy said, "I’ll continue to investigate and will quickly gather intelligence on Princess Yong’an for Madame."

The Imperial Concubine raised her hand slightly, "I heard the young emperor’s birthday is coming up soon?"

"Yes."

A calculating gleam flashed across the Imperial Concubine’s charming eyes, "The Chu Country Capital is strictly guarded, our people should avoid exposure, there’s no need for you to investigate Princess Yong’an, I will meet her personally."

...

Zhao Xi received a national bulletin from Bei Yan, stating that Emperor Yan heard of the upcoming birthday of Emperor Xuanjing and will arrange a mission to congratulate him.

While Zhao Xi was reading the bulletin, Wen Wan was beside him, sarcastically saying, "There’s an epidemic raging and wars are brewing, yet upon hearing of Your Majesty’s birthday, they’ve arranged a mission to congratulate. The Beiyang Royal Family is truly thick-skinned. But..." she suddenly turned her tone, "there is someone special in this mission, Your Majesty, we can plan in advance."

Zhao Xi turned his gaze towards Wen Wan, "Someone special?"

Wen Wan nodded, "The Beiyang Imperial Concubine, she will disguise herself as an envoy and come with the mission to Chu Country."

Zhao Xi was slightly surprised, "You can really foresee this?"

Wen Wan couldn’t help but laugh, "Even now, Your Majesty still doesn’t believe me?"

With Emperor Xuanjing’s edict allowing her into the court, what she can foresee has long exceeded personal matters, involving the world and more intimately related to the land of Chu Country.