Lu Mingyu was in good health and strong, with no signs of pregnancy at all.

However, it was also a good intention for Empress Qiao to send someone to prepare a sedan chair to pick her up. Lu Mingyu naturally could not refuse, so she accepted it calmly and took the sedan chair to Shouning Palace.

Along the way, countless palace servants and eunuchs secretly peeked in.

So, there was no real secret in the palace. With so many eyes watching and speculating, the news that Second Huangzifei was pregnant had spread quietly.

This was also the intention of Empress Dowager Zhao to deliberately make things difficult for her.

Want to rest and take care of your baby? Impossible!

“This servant greets the Second Huangzifei.” When they arrived outside Shouning Palace, all the palace maids saluted and greeted her.

Lu Mingyu stepped down from the sedan chair with the help of Cailan and said calmly, “Go and tell the Empress Dowager that granddaughter-in-law Lu is here to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.”

This time, Empress Dowager Zhao did not leave her alone.

After all, having a pregnant granddaughter-in-law standing outside the palace was too conspicuous. There were many ways to make things difficult for a granddaughter-in-law. This method was too crude and obvious.

Lu Mingyu entered Shouning Palace under the guidance of the palace servants.

Lu Mingyu glanced around and took in the concern hidden in Empress Qiao’s heart. She also glanced at Qin Xianfei, who seemed concerned but was waiting to see the show.

Then she stepped forward and bowed one by one.

Empress Dowager Zhao laughed and said, “Hurry up and sit down to talk.”

…

When Lu Mingyu sat down, Empress Dowager Zhao’s loving expression was so touching: “You haven’t been to the palace for the past two days, and I’ve been worried about you. When I asked the Empress, I found out that you’re pregnant.”

“At my age, I’m looking forward to seeing my great-grandson soon. I’m really happy to hear the good news just after you entered our family.”

Facing the eager and happy face of Empress Dowager Zhao, Lu Mingyu showed just the right amount of shyness and joy: “I didn’t expect to get good news so soon. I don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl. If it’s a girl, I just hope that the Royal Grandmother won’t dislike it.”

Empress Dowager Zhao said, “I dare to assert that this baby must be a great-grandson!”

This was the advantage of being the Empress Dowager. Anyway, I wanted a great-grandson.

You, the granddaughter-in-law, can worry while you are pregnant!

Lu Mingyu seemed not to notice the ill intentions hidden in Empress Dowager Zhao, and replied with a smile: “As a mother, whether it is a son or a daughter, I am equally happy.”

Empress Dowager Zhao raised her eyebrows and smiled: “You must give birth to a son first. Since the Eldest Huangzifei came into the family, I have been looking forward to a great-grandson for several years, but I have never had one. Now I am counting on you to give birth to a son.”

Empress Qiao could no longer bear it and said, “Being pregnant is a happy event. It’s too early to tell whether it’s a boy or a girl. Back then, my daughter-in-law gave birth to Huian first, and then to Ajing. It’s also a happy event if it blooms first and then bears fruit.”

Empress Dowager Zhao said slyly and harshly, “What do you mean by flowers blooming before fruits? That’s because your stomach is useless. Look at Meng Shi, she gave birth to a son right after she entered the family. Qin Shi and Su Shi also gave birth to sons.”

Empress Qiao: “…”

Empress Qiao was so angry that she was shaking all over.

“I, your granddaughter-in-law, cannot agree with what your Royal Grandmother said.”

Lu Mingyu’s voice sounded faintly: “My mother is my father’s legal wife. What is a legal wife? She was married with three matchmakers and six engagements and brought home in a sedan chair carried by eight men. She was brought into the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors and recorded in the family tree. Of course, giving birth to children is important, but more importantly, she is in charge of the household and takes care of the inner house.”

“Let alone concubines, even a second wife cannot be compared with the first wife.”

Empress Dowager Zhao: “…”

This last sentence was so heartbreaking!

Wasn’t Empress Dowager Zhao the second wife?

This time, the person who was so angry that her face turned pale was Empress Dowager Zhao.

Empress Dowager Zhao slammed the table, causing the teacup on the table to shake and make a crisp sound. “Nonsense! How dare you say such things in front of me! Are you making fun of me for being the second wife?”

Qin Xianfei was afraid that the world would not be in chaos, so she hurried forward to support Empress Dowager Zhao, seemingly trying to comfort her but actually stirring up the fire: “Empress Dowager, calm down. Second Huangzifei certainly didn’t mean that. She was anxious at the moment and said the wrong thing.”

Then she said to Lu Mingyu: “Why don’t you admit your mistake to the Empress Dowager quickly? The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted and will not punish you.”

Lu Mingyu restrained her smile and said calmly: “A concubine will always be a concubine and is not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the wife. A second wife must also perform concubine etiquette in front of the tablet of the deceased first wife. This is a rule that has been passed down since the previous dynasty.”

“I’m telling the truth. I don’t know what’s wrong with what I said. Please enlighten me, Xianfei!”

Qin Xianfei choked.

Empress Dowager Zhao’s eyes were almost spitting flames. She pointed at Lu Mingyu and said, “Well, what a Lu Shi! You dare to make fun of me for being a second wife in front of me. You don’t even take me seriously. I will send a letter to the Emperor and ask him to judge the matter.”

Lu Mingyu was as calm as Empress Dowager Zhao was angry.

Comparing the two, you could tell at a glance who had the upper hand.

However, Empress Dowager Zhao also had a trump card. If she couldn’t win the argument, she would complain to her son. Anyway, what Lu Mingyu said today was a big taboo.

Because Emperor Yongjia did not want anyone to mention the fact that he was born to his father’s second wife.

Empress Qiao was naturally very aware of this, and her heart immediately rose to her chest, and she winked at Lu Mingyu repeatedly.

Lu Mingyu gave Empress Qiao a reassuring look, then said to Empress Dowager Zhao: “Royal Father is currently in court, dealing with state affairs. Let’s not disturb the court over a trivial quarrel. Otherwise, if the ministers hear about it, Royal Grandmother will be labeled as senile again.”

Empress Dowager Zhao was so angry that she could not listen to her. She said sternly, “It is not your turn to criticize what I do. I want to see who dares to say that I am not right.”

Lu Mingyu pretended to be helpless and sighed: “Since the Empress Dowager is so insistent, there is nothing I can do.” Then, she called the eunuch behind Empress Qiao over and said, “Go to the Golden Palace and deliver a letter saying that the Empress Dowager is angry and unhappy, and ask the Emperor to stop the morning court and come to Shouning Palace immediately.”

The eunuch responded promptly and retreated swiftly.

The whole process was so quick that Empress Dowager Zhao didn’t have any chance to react.

Empress Qiao reacted at this time and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Xianfei was not slow to react. She knew something was wrong and said to Empress Dowager Zhao: “Empress Dowager, calm down and call the eunuch back!”

The key point was that the person who delivered the letter was a eunuch from the Jiofang Palace. When he gets to the Golden Palace, he could exaggerate the story!

Empress Dowager Zhao was so angry that she couldn’t listen to anyone: “I want to see the Emperor! You shut up!”

Qin Xianfei had no choice but to shut up, secretly groaning in her heart.

Finished!

She didn’t know how this incident would end.

Emperor Yongjia was a filial son and a diligent emperor. How could he not be angry when the morning court was disrupted and state affairs were delayed because of a small quarrel?

Who would be the scapegoat when the time comes?

(End of this chapter)