The Xingyang Army’s barracks were located in the western suburbs of the capital. Even if you rode at full speed, it could take more than half a day to go back and forth.

It would be much faster to deliver the good news to the palace. The eunuch Xiao Yuan followed the master’s order and quickly went to the palace to announce the good news. With less than two incense sticks, Xiao Yuan entered the Jiofeng Room.

Empress Qiao didn’t even take a nap today, waiting for the good news!

Xiao Yuan knelt down joyfully and congratulated: “Your Majesty, Your Highness sent me to announce the good news. The Second Huangzifei has good news.”

Empress Qiao’s heart suddenly fell to the ground, and her dignified and beautiful face was full of joyful smiles: “Good, good, good! Great! Come, reward Xiao Yuan!”

Cai Lan smiled and brought two big red envelopes. Xiao Yuan smiled and accepted the generous reward: “Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for the reward.”

Before Empress Qiao asked, she told the details of Zhou Yuanshi’s diagnosis of Lu Shi Mingyu: “… Zhou Yuanshi said that although the time was short, it was undoubtedly a happy pulse. Your Highness was so happy that he couldn’t speak clearly. But the Huangzifei was still calm as usual.”

Empress Qiao felt relieved and immediately smiled: “A mother knows that she is pregnant and is happy, so she will naturally not be as surprised and lose her composure as a man.”

In short, if a daughter-in-law was pregnant, she was a first-class hero. What kind of temper and domineering personality, nothing at this moment mattered anymore.

After Xiao Yuan left, Empress Qiao felt a little restless in the Jionfeng Room, so she simply got up and went to the Wenhua Hall.

…

Empress Qiao had always been dignified and self-restrained, and she never asked about state affairs. The last time she came to the Wenhua Hall was because the brothers Li Jing and Li Hao were punished for fighting in front of the Emperor.

A year later, when Empress Qiao stepped into the Wenhua Hall again, her mood was completely different.

Emperor Yongjia was reviewing memorials and was a little surprised to hear that Empress Qiao was coming. He knew Empress Qiao’s temper very well, and she would not easily step into the Wenhua Hall if it were not for important matters.

“Please let the Empress in.”

Emperor Yongjia put down the memorials in his hand and told Eunuch Liu.

After a while, Empress Qiao walked into the Wenhua Hall with a smile: “Your Majesty, your concubine has seen you.”

Emperor Yongjia said with a smile: “Please stand up. The Empress has come to see me especially, and she is so smiling. Is there any happy news?”

Empress Qiao’s good mood was obvious. The smile in her eyes almost overflowed: “Yes, I came specially to congratulate the Emperor.”

Emperor Yongjia looked interested: “Oh? What’s the good news?”

“Lu Shi is pregnant.” Empress Qiao smiled and said: “It’s a great joy to have a daughter-in-law come into the house, isn’t it?”

Emperor Yongjia smiled and said: “It is indeed a joyous event.”

The Eldest Prince’s wife had a miscarriage, which disappointed Emperor Yongjia, who was looking forward to his eldest grandson. Then, Yang Gongren also became pregnant. However, the birth mother was of humble origin, so even if she gave birth to the Emperor’s grandson, she was also a concubine.

Although Emperor Yongjia didn’t say it, he actually valued the legitimate and illegitimate children in his heart. Now that the legitimate daughter-in-law was pregnant, no matter whether it was a boy or a girl, it was a legitimate bloodline. How could it not make people happy!

Empress Qiao said with a smile: “I am also very happy. To be honest, the five princes, whether legitimate or illegitimate, are all my sons. I treat them all the same. I am also worried that the Eldest Prince has been married for several years and has no children.”

“Lu Shi is pregnant. This is a legitimate bloodline. I am even happier.”

Emperor Yongjia was very happy. Hearing such truth, he was not annoyed at all. Instead, he laughed: “This is also human nature. I have so many sons, and Ah Jing is the only legitimate son. I also hope that he will have children soon.”

It would be best if he was the first son to give birth to a legitimate grandson.

The more Emperor Yongjia thought about it, the happier he became. He smiled and said: “Lu Shi has made great contributions. The Empress should reward her generously.”

Empress Qiao replied with a smile: “Time is still short. It is not appropriate to make it public, so as not to reduce the child’s blessing. Therefore, I will only tell the Emperor privately. It will not be too late to announce the good news after Lu Shi’s pregnancy is stable.”

This also made sense.

As soon as the Eldest Prince’s wife was pregnant, the Eldest Prince could not wait to announce the good news, so that everyone in and outside the palace knew about it. Wasn’t it just ruining the child’s fortune?

Emperor Yongjia agreed with him and quickly changed his words: “The Empress is right. You only need to know about this matter, and don’t make it public in Shouning Palace for the time being.”

Empress Qiao responded with a smile.

…

How could such a happy event be kept secret?

In the harem, Meng Guifei was the first to know about it.

Meng Guifei had been favored for several years, and it was not difficult for her to secretly win over one or two eunuchs around Emperor Yongjia.

Meng Guifei soon heard about Empress Qiao’s visit to Wenhua Palace. Zhou Yuanshi went to Meng’s house, and Xiaoyuan went to the palace to report. Empress Qiao was full of joy.

With a little association, she knew what was going on.

Meng Guifei was so angry that her teeth itched.

The Eldest Prince’s wife had been married for more than three years, but her belly was still flat. Lu Mingyu had just entered the house and there was good news. This comparison immediately showed who was better.

Even if Yang Gongren gave birth to an imperial grandson, he would only be a concubine’s son, how could he be as precious as a legitimate grandson?

The more Meng Guifei thought about it, the more annoyed she became, and she sent someone to call the Eldest Prince. Before she could open her mouth, the Eldest Prince said, “Mother, I have something to discuss with you.”

“Liang Shi’s health has improved a lot, and now she can take care of the trivial matters in the inner house. Yang Gongren should return to the mansion to take care of the pregnancy! So as not to tire mother.”

Meng Guifei raised her eyebrows and sneered, “This was Liang Shi’s idea!”

The Eldest Prince coughed, “Don’t be upset, Mother, this is my own idea…”

“Bah!” Meng Guifei was furious. “You are playing tricks in front of your own mother. I really raised you in vain! Liang Shi, this lowly maid whispered in your ear, and you became confused and came to make a fuss in front of me.”

“Go back and tell her that Yang Gongren will stay in the Yanxi Palace, and when she gives birth, she will have to raise the child in front of me. If she is not happy, let her come to me in person to talk to me.”

“She is useless in the belly, but she has a lot of little tricks and calculations. Look at Lu Mingyu, she is pregnant just after entering the house. When Lu Mingyu gives birth to a legitimate grandson, the Second Prince’s Mansion will firmly dominate the Eldest Prince’s Mansion.”

The Eldest Prince, who was scolded bitterly, changed his expression suddenly after hearing the last few words: “Is what my mother said true? Is Lu Shi pregnant?”

Meng Guifei pouted again: “Such a big thing, can I still lie to you! What’s the point of being attentive to your father all day long! Once Lu Shi is pregnant, your father will look at Li Jing differently. Just wait and see!”

The Eldest Prince’s face darkened.

There was a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children. He had known this since he was a child.

No matter how much his father doted on him, it couldn’t affect the status of his Second brother. No matter how partial his father was to him, he did not make him the Crown Prince.

All this was because he was an illegitimate son. He never mentioned legitimate or illegitimate children. But the fact was, he valued ​​legitimate children more than ordinary people.

Compared with this matter, the question of where Yang Gongren stayed to protect her pregnancy was simply not worth mentioning.

(End of this chapter)