Noticing Young Madam Song's unusual behavior, Song Jingcheng, in his anxious state, almost forgot to spit out the copper coin. After hurriedly spitting out the dumpling, he quickly patted Young Madam Song's back.
"Amin, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Seeing Young Madam Song shaking her head in discomfort, unable to speak and overcome with nausea, he hastily ordered the maid, "Quickly, call for a doctor!"
Nearby, Old Lady Song and Elder Madam Song exchanged a glance, but dared not be certain.
Qi Huan also had a vague suspicion.
Based on her experience watching TV dramas in her past life, Young Madam Song's symptoms could either mean she had an upset stomach or she was with child.
Three quarters of an hour later, the doctor arrived, and Young Madam Song's discomfort had already passed.
Song Jingcheng still anxiously watched as the doctor took her pulse, observing his expression.
Seeing the doctor's brow relax, Song Jingcheng felt slightly relieved.
"Congratulations, Young Master Song, your wife's pulse indicates good news!"
After saying this, the doctor asked Song Jingcheng to speak privately, inquiring about the time of Young Madam Song's last monthly cycle before concluding, "Your wife is likely about two months pregnant."
Song Jingcheng turned his head to look tenderly at Young Madam Song, then humbly asked the doctor for advice on precautions to take.
While they were talking, the room inside had already erupted into excitement.
Elder Madam Song ordered the maid to bring a soft cushion and personally placed it behind Young Madam Song.
Old Lady Song immediately furrowed her brow and interrupted her actions, "Stop doing these useless things. Amin is with child now, how can we let her stay up late for New Year's Eve?"
"Quickly, help Amin back to rest."
"It's dark and the roads are slippery, bring more lanterns." As she spoke, Old Lady Song instructed Young Madam Song's maids, "It's better to walk slowly and support her steadily."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law busied themselves with Young Madam Song's affairs.
Old Master Song and Elder Master Song were comparing their new status.
"I'm going to be a grandfather!"
"I'm going to be a great-grandfather! That's even better than you!"
Song You'an also tugged at Qi Huan's sleeve: "Cousin, we're going to be aunts!"
Qi Huan responded with a radiant smile: "Yes, we are!"
In her impression, Song You'an had always been quiet and reserved.
Rare for Song You'an to initiate conversation, Qi Huan took the opportunity to guide her and began to find topics to discuss.
The two of them planned to visit Young Madam Song more often and keep her in good spirits.
They had heard that when pregnant women are in a good mood, the babies they give birth to will also have good personalities. Whether true or not, Qi Huan hoped Young Madam Song would maintain a positive outlook.
Time passed with the sound of conversation, and the night gradually deepened.
Qi Huan yawned tiredly.
Song You'an thought for a moment, then also yawned.
The sound of yawning reached Old Lady Song's ears, and she said caringly, "Huan'er, An'er, you two go back to sleep first."
With Old Lady Song having spoken, Qi Huan and Song You'an stood up one after another to take their leave.
"Grandmother, you should rest early too. Your health is more important than etiquette. My cousin-in-law is still waiting for you to help take care of your great-grandchildren, so you need to keep yourself healthy."
The mention of great-grandchildren successfully tempted Old Lady Song.
She no longer insisted on staying up, leaving Old Master Song and Elder Master Song to keep the New Year's Eve vigil, while she returned to have the big bed all to herself, sleeping sweetly.
On the other side, after Qi Huan returned to Qinghuan Court and just walked into her boudoir, she fell into a cool embrace.
She wrapped her arms around Li Shuchen's slender waist, the smile at the corners of her mouth unconsciously widening: "Ashu, I thought you'd be very late after attending the palace banquet and wouldn't come tonight..."
Li Shuchen released her, his eyes seeming to be infused with the moonlight of the entire sky, his deep voice particularly enchanting: "I came to accompany Ahuan to see off the old year and welcome the new year."
On that winter night of the 14th Year of Longshun Era, he had once wished that every year would be filled with joy, and every year he would spend the new year with Ahuan.
He had never forgotten.
Qi Huan looked up with a gentle smile and replied, "Ashu, Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year."
Considering that his leg shouldn't stand for too long, Qi Huan took his hand and pulled him to sit on the bed together.
She chattered away, sharing the family gossip with him.
Li Shuchen's gaze tenderly fell on her animated little face, patiently listening to her talk, occasionally responding with an "Mm" in agreement.
The night was cool like water, and Qi Huan pulled him to lie side by side under the quilt, covered by the cotton blanket, just chatting.
A faint medicinal smell lingered in the air.
Qi Huan sniffed lightly and asked, "Ashu, is the prescription from Doctor Shen bitter?"
"Bitter."
A light and breezy single word, yet it somehow made her heart ache.
Just as she was about to ask the system to purchase some candy, Li Shuchen suddenly kissed her.
"Now it's not bitter anymore."
Qi Huan belatedly realized that he was indirectly complimenting her sweetness.
As Li Shuchen's clear voice fell, the system's unpleasant mechanical voice immediately followed.
"Host, have you forgotten my New Year's money?"
"......."
The romantic atmosphere was interrupted, but before Qi Huan blocked the system, she finally gave it 10,000 points.
At the same time, a White Rabbit milk candy appeared in her palm.
"Host, a person's lips and saliva can't possibly be sweet unless they eat candy."
"Thank you for the New Year's money you gave this system. The system gives the host a piece of candy in return. Happy New Year, host!"
"Host, eat the candy and kiss him! Let him experience what real sweetness is."
"Oh, blocked."
While Qi Huan's mind was still hesitating, her hand honestly unwrapped the candy.
After eating the candy, she got up and pressed herself against Li Shuchen, ravaging his sexy thin lips.
......
While Li Shuchen held the fragrant and soft jade in his arms, the officials of the Three Judicial Offices remained sleepless throughout the night.
The Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicature and Revision, and the Censorate, without prior agreement, all put forth their utmost effort, each wanting to be the first to solve the case.
After investigating here and there, they finally traced it to Prince Shun.
The next day, Prince Shun first went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, then went to visit his birth mother, Consort Dowager Wu.
"Mother, you've lost weight again. I'll go and beg the Emperor, even if it means spending more money to please him, I must bring you back to the Prince's mansion!"
Consort Dowager Wu shook her head: "Xuan'er, you and I both know he will never let me leave the palace."
When the late emperor passed away, the Longshun Emperor took the opportunity of Prince Shun and Prince Zhong coming to mourn to detain them and their families in the capital, swiftly moving to reduce the power of the vassal states.
For the sake of his reputation, he chose to treat these two remaining blood brothers generously.
He kept them in the capital and even awarded them luxurious princely mansions.
However, their birth mothers were confined in the palace, ostensibly to accompany the Empress Dowager, but in reality, as hostages.
The Longshun Emperor knew the weak points of his two brothers, understanding their thinking: a wife could be remarried if lost, children could be born again if lost, but a mother was irreplaceable.
Fortunately, at that time, the Longshun Emperor treated the two consort dowagers quite well.
Until the 11th Year of Longshun Era, the Longshun Emperor suddenly became obsessed with alchemy.
Perhaps due to consuming too many elixirs, his mind became addled, and he grew increasingly mean-spirited and ungracious.
Prince Shun was pleased to see his incompetence.
Youzhi had a talent for business, and the Prince Shun's mansion became increasingly wealthy. Relying on continuous bribes, over the years he had quietly inserted many of his own people into the military camps, gradually expanding his military power.
However, if it were possible to take over without bloodshed, Prince Shun would prefer not to force a rebellion.
The Emperor had few children, so he had been planning to kill Li Shuchen and Li Shuyu, forcing the Emperor to adopt an heir.
Prince Shun had bought off most of the imperial clan members in the Imperial Clan Court, and with the Emperor's favor towards Youzhi, he was full of confidence.
The only thing not going smoothly was that Li Shuchen was not easy to kill.
Li Shuyu was also being protected very strictly.
Thinking of this, Prince Shun was quite displeased.
Today, seeing his mother becoming increasingly depressed and thin in the deep palace due to missing her children and grandchildren, his mood became even worse.
But he didn't expect that what was even more, more, more distressing was yet to come.
