The young maid has grown up, knowing to care for her "frail and sickly" master.
Thus, a warm fragrance drifted once again in Yihua Palace.
In the following half month, Lin Wanyi continued living her tranquil life of seclusion.
Accompanying the Second Prince in reading and writing, amusing the Second Princess with jokes and laughter.
Of course, the needlework in her hands never ceased.
After all, she needed to make spring clothes and riding outfits for the Second Prince, and common clothes for her and the Emperor for their private excursions.
Naturally, her hands were busy without rest.
And the Emperor was not idle either.
Sometimes, he ascended the city tower under the escort of the Fourth Prince to view the prosperity of the people.
Sometimes, he held grand palace feasts, inviting all civil and military officials to dine together.
Lastly, he made a special visit to the nearest military camp to reward the troops.
The entire first month was never free.
So, let alone the harem, he only came to Yihua Palace twice in total, and the official reason was to visit the Second Prince and Second Princess.
The concubines didn’t mind this.
After all, the Emperor also visited Yuexiu Palace where the Third Prince resides, Yao Yue Palace where the Fourth Prince resides, and Linzi Palace where Princess Ming Ruo resides.
Therefore, what everyone hoped for was to have a child themselves.
Only then would the Emperor think of visiting them.
Winter passed and spring came, and in the blink of an eye, it was the second month.
On the second day of the second month, the day of the dragon’s head raising.
The Emperor finally found some leisure and rested in Qian’an Hall.
Seeing the wind and rain had dissipated outside, with a trace of early spring, a faint smile curved his lips.
It’s another new year.
And also the eighteenth year of his reign.
During these times, he felt quite accomplished as an Emperor.
The four vassals have submitted, and the nation is peaceful and prosperous.
Just as he was pondering, he heard Dong Yuzhong’s light footsteps approaching.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty." Newest update provided by novᴇlfire.net
"There’s news from Wutai Mountain, saying the Empress Dowager has set off."
"When will she arrive?"
"Around April, I’d estimate. The journey isn’t far, but fearing the Empress Dowager might suffer from the bumpy ride, they are proceeding slowly."
"Hmm, then issue a decree to ensure that officials along the way take care and make the Empress Dowager’s return comforting."
As Dong Yuzhong prepared to leave, the Emperor instructed again.
"Have lunch prepared in Yihua Palace; I am in the mood for a lamb hotpot."
"Yes, I will send someone to deliver the message immediately."
The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, contemplating other matters as he looked at the scenery outside the window.
Meanwhile, in Yihua Palace.
Lin Wanyi was not surprised to receive the news of the Emperor coming for lunch.
However, she was slightly displeased with his desire for lamb hotpot.
"Your Grace, what should we do? You are quite sensitive to smells, and the Emperor wants a dish with such a strong aroma. If you start vomiting again..."
Xia An smoothed her back gently.
As expected, the Emperor’s royal lineage was really something she found difficult to bear.
About seven or eight days ago, Xia An confirmed the diagnosis for her.
Indeed, "Heaven bless Da Wei," as Lin Wanyi was pregnant.
But for some reason, the body that was fine before suddenly plunged into endless vomiting after waking up one day.
The scent of flowers made her vomit.
The sight of food made her vomit.
Even sometimes, a wrong turn during sleep made her vomit.
In just a few days, it had worn her thin.
After rinsing her mouth with clean water, Lin Wanyi leaned wearily on the couch by the window and spoke feebly.
"Prepare for His Majesty; I won’t be able to eat anyway. Arrange the meal in the side room; after His Majesty finishes, I’ll come over."
"Your Grace, if the Emperor learns you’re pregnant, how could he still have the appetite for such a meal?"
"Then... then just prepare what I can eat usually. Let him see how hard it is to be a mother!"
Recently, Lin Wanyi’s vomiting had been atrocious.
Increasingly, she felt admiration for motherhood.
She hadn’t known before that being pregnant could cause such severe vomiting.
She remembered when her mother was expecting her brother, she had a great appetite and slept well.
Nothing like the ordeal she was facing.
But Xia An had been taking great care, and logically her body had recovered well enough.
Why she vomited so much, she didn’t know.
So, she assumed it must be the strong lineage of the Emperor, not something a common person like her could handle.
Thinking this way brought some comfort.
"I want some meat jerky."
These days, Lin Wanyi had not been interested in food, unable to eat anything.
The mere mention of something she liked meant it must be provided.
But that meat jerky had not been made by Chunqi before, so it must be prepared now.
She had to wait hungry for a while before eating.
Waiting, she leaned by the window and fell asleep unwittingly.
Xia An, seeing her mistress so worn out, felt more worried than happy.
Fearing it wasn’t her lack of medical skills causing this.
Seeing her doze off quietly, she covered her with a sheepskin blanket and quietly left the room.
Heading straight for the small kitchen.
Chunqi, having received the message of the Emperor’s visit, was busy preparing the lamb hotpot.
Seeing Xia An arrive, she looked curious.
"The lady mentioned wanting some meat jerky."
"Really? But even if I start now, it wouldn’t be ready for another hour or two."
"No worries, the lady hasn’t eaten much recently, and it’s rare for her to make a request. Make plenty so we have it the next time she asks."
"Alright, this time I’ll make some with pork, beef, and chicken, in case the lady’s taste buds have changed and she wants variety."
"And what about the Emperor’s lamb hotpot?"
"Don’t make it; when he arrives, he might just eat the meat jerky with the lady."
The two exchanged a smile, both anticipating the Emperor’s reaction upon learning the news.
At lunchtime, the Emperor arrived deliberately a quarter-hour early.
Before entering Yihua Palace, he wore the stern face of an Emperor.
But once inside the palace, he was all smiles.
Usually, Lin Wanyi would wait at the door if he was visiting, but today, not only was there no one at the door, the main hall door was closed tightly.
This raised his suspicions.
"In recent days, did I upset the noble concubine?"
"What could the Emperor be talking about? The last time, the noble concubine seemed quite delighted to see you."
Dong Yuzhong’s reply did not ease the Emperor’s concerns.
Instead, he quickened his pace towards the main hall.
He pushed the door in, which startled the dozing Lin Wanyi awake.
When the Emperor pulled aside the curtains and entered, he hadn’t anticipated such a drastic change in Lin Wanyi from the plump, fair figure he last saw just half a month ago.
His previously calm face immediately turned anxious.
"Are you sick? Why was I not informed?"
As he spoke, he was on the verge of anger, when fortunately Xia An appeared.