In September, Prince Yu returned to the capital city with his princess in glory.
At this moment, no one dared to intercept the carriage of Prince Yu's mansion outside the city anymore. The emperor himself welcomed the couple outside the city. Such an honor was unprecedented!
Both the court and the common people unanimously praised Prince Yu's achievements.
He alone bravely breached the Yanqiu Pass, expanding the territory of the Great Xia Dynasty. This was undoubtedly the most important battle since the founding of the Xia Dynasty.
Even the deposed crown prince, who hated Prince Yu to the core, couldn't help but feel a sense of fear.
As for Princess Yu herself, she personally treated the epidemic for the common people in Liuzhou City, winning the praise of the entire court.
Now, her journey of traveling a thousand miles to find her husband had also become a much - talked - about story for a while.
The emperor bestowed many rewards, but the thing the court officials were most looking forward to, the establishment of a crown prince, did not happen. Prince Yu remained calm, only Yu Nianbai felt regretful.
"What good luck!"
Madam Ling smashed all the objects in the shabby embroidery building crazily. Since Ling Yufei's death, she no longer cared about competing for the favor of her husband with other concubines.
She lived in her daughter's former embroidery building. When something happened to Prince Yu, Madam Ling was extremely happy. Who would have thought that in less than a month, the couple would return safely!
This return not only meant that Prince Yu's position as the crown prince was stable but also meant that that woman would become the mother of the country in the future!
Why was a daughter of a border prefect worthy of the position that her daughter couldn't obtain!
An extremely fierce look flashed in her cloudy and dull eyes, making the maid who had brought in the food shiver with fear!
"Get out!"
The maid trembled with fear and scurried out of the embroidery building.
Madam Ling's hysteria was getting worse and worse, and now no one dared to serve her anymore! A group of maids who served her before had been beaten to death. The new maid only dared to bring in some food.
Prime Minister Ling no longer cared about her. He had even secretly entrusted someone to look for a new wife. He had already kept several concubines outside. Now that his wife was ill, he had no more scruples.
He brought the concubine back to Prime Minister Ling's mansion, but Madam Ling knew nothing about it. She was only immersed in the pain of losing her daughter.
Time passed unconsciously. The capital city gradually returned to calm because of Prince Yu's safe return.
"Ye'er, now that you've made great military achievements, what reward do you want?" The emperor made a move on the chessboard, and Zhongli Mingye followed suit.
Finally, it came!
"What Ye'er wants, Father knows very well!"
"After all, I'm your own son!"
The emperor looked up at him, still as cold as before, and said with a smile, "I've always indulged you. Do you know why?"
Indulged?
Zhongli Mingye sneered in his heart. If he hadn't been always careful, the ghosts and goblins in the palace would have already harmed him and his mother.
"I don't know!"
"Because you're so much like me when I was young..." The emperor looked at Zhongli Mingye seriously. He had ambition but hid it well.
He was strategic and acted in an open and above - board manner, just like his mother, Concubine Shu. "By now, among all my sons, you're the only one..."
"Father, you still have other sons." Zhongli Mingye lowered his head and focused on the chess game. His only opponent now was the emperor.
Should he wait or take a step further? Zhongli Mingye smiled slightly and made a move.
He was the emperor and also a father.
Today's chess game was a fierce battle, and finally, it ended in a draw. The emperor seemed to be deep in thought. He really was a filial son.
"I've recently evaluated Song Qinzhou's political achievements in Liuzhou. He's worthy of being used!"
Looking at Zhongli Mingye meaningfully, "From now on, you have to rely on yourself on this road!"
After leaving, the emperor went to Concubine Shu's place.
Zhongli Mingye sat there for a long time until Eunuch An came. "Prime Minister Ling now supports Concubine Qin and her son... He's now joining forces with the court officials to persuade the emperor not to establish a crown prince."
Not establish a crown prince?
It was fine. He never cared about the position of the crown prince. What he cared about was the dragon throne!
Prime Minister Ling and those officials were making a fuss simply because they didn't like him. It didn't matter. By now, the situation was no longer up to those court officials.
Staying in the palace for too long made him a bit tired. Zhongli Mingye thought of his charming wife at home. He wondered what she was doing? She was really obedient.
After returning to the capital, she really never stepped out of the house. She ate, drank, and had fun at home every day.
She seemed to have gained weight again.
It was good. His woman should be more idle. In this way, she would focus all her attention on him.
But why was she so sleepy every day?
When he asked her, she replied, "People feel sleepy in spring, tired in autumn, and drowsy in summer..."
"What about winter?"
"To hibernate!"
After eating and sleeping for several days in a row, Song Jinyu finally realized something was wrong with herself! She felt her own pulse.
The pulse was as smooth as a pearl, strong and rhythmic!
Her eyes widened. This... this... was a pregnancy pulse? She looked at herself. Which time was it? Was it when they were in Qingzhou?
Feeling her own pulse might be inaccurate. So she called the doctor in the mansion over. "Congratulations, Your Highness. It's a pregnancy pulse!"
My goodness!
So when Zhongli Mingye returned to the mansion that day, he heard that Song Jinyu had locked herself in the room for half a day. She neither ate nor drank, and there was no movement.
What kind of little temper was she throwing again?
Was it her menstrual period? It should have passed already, but this time it seemed to have lasted a long time.
It had snowed the day before, and the road was a bit slippery.
"Jinyu..."
He gently pushed the door open. He didn't see the little woman at first sight. She was sitting on the bed hugging her knees in a daze. He sat down beside her. "What's wrong with you?"
"Are you bored? It just snowed. How about I take you to the hot - spring palace in a few days?"
Song Jinyu looked up at him with a wronged look. "Mingye..."
"I..." She blushed for no reason. She felt a bit embarrassed and didn't know how to start.
"Hmm?"
Holding her face, Zhongli Mingye stared deeply into her bright eyes, giving her more confidence. But he didn't expect that the next words would make him stand up in shock.
"I... I'm pregnant..."
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. If you were far away, you couldn't hear what she was saying at all. But Zhongli Mingye heard it clearly.
His hands tightened slightly, and he felt a bit nervous for no reason.
She said she was pregnant?
They were going to have a child? Zhongli Mingye was at a loss for a moment and stared blankly at her. This little person was carrying his flesh and blood in her body?
Seeing that he didn't say a word, Song Jinyu looked up. She thought he didn't like the idea of her having a child.
Suddenly, she was hugged by him.
"Say it again!"
"I... I'm pregnant..." Her face was flushed. She was a bit at a loss. Although they had been married for more than a year and it was time to have a child,
But now that it really happened,
She still couldn't accept it in her heart.
"Really!"
His expression was a bit complicated.
On the one hand, he thought she was still young and her body was weak. It was relatively difficult for her to get pregnant. Today, Zhongli Mingye was both surprised and happy.
On the other hand, he knew clearly that now he was in a confrontation with his father.
His father was jealous of his strength and prestige. Although he intended to pass on the throne, he still hadn't established a crown prince. However, no matter what, he had to protect her and the child well.
Song Jinyu was held too tightly by him. "I can't breathe..."
No wonder she had been sleepy and greedy for food these days. Fortunately, unlike ordinary women, she didn't have morning sickness. It seemed that this child was very considerate.
Immediately, he called Mitui, Niaoniao, Zhaolu, and Xiyu in.
He told them to take good care of her. Mitui had a beaming face.
Song Jinyu looked at him shyly as he busied himself. Zhongli Mingye felt that this kind of protection was far from enough. He quickly dispatched shadow guards and increased the guards.