Thus, the days continued to pass smoothly for another ten days or so.
By the second month, Zhao Hua was already eight months pregnant with this child.
Xiao Jingheng was extremely anxious about her pregnancy this time, and no longer allowed her to walk around freely in private.
However, this was not to restrict her freedom, but rather, wherever Zhao Hua wanted to go, Xiao Jingheng would accompany her side, attentively protecting her, for fear that even the slightest accident would happen to her.
His meticulous care and consideration, if given to any other imperial consort, would surely make her feel extremely grateful.
But for Zhao Hua, it only made her feel strangely uncomfortable all over.
On this day, the weather was sunny and clear. The flowers in the courtyard vied in beauty, with butterflies dancing and orioles singing.
The air unique to spring days, mixed with the mouth-watering fragrance of the moist soil and the overpowering aroma of the flowers,
Along with the soft pouring daylight, warmly shone on people, depicting a rare peaceful beauty.
Seizing this fine day, Zhao Hua had originally wanted to rest for a while, quietly reading a book.
But before she could calm down, she suddenly heard loud noises from outside the door,
Which were the sounds of court ladies coming and going, following and leading each other.
Without even looking, she knew that it was Xiao Jingheng who had come again.
Her good mood was shattered in an instant. Zhao Hua helplessly rolled her eyes. She was too lazy to even stand up and welcome him with a smiling face.
She just pretended not to hear anything and continued to sit comfortably reading her book.
Soon after, she heard light footsteps slowly approaching her,
And then a gentle male voice with a hint of laughter sounded behind her,
"What are you looking at? So focused?"
Zhao Hua’s fingertips that were turning the pages of the book twitched slightly. She suddenly turned her head back and after her eyes met Xiao Jingheng’s, she said in surprise:
"Xiao Lang has come?"
She made a gesture to get up to greet him. Xiao Jingheng had already quickly sat down beside her, and kissed her forehead in passing.
"Why are you reading the Book of Poetry today?"
Xiao Jingheng took the book roll from Zhao Hua’s side, smiling as he read the first sentence that caught his eyes,
"With axes we cut the oakwood; there are three stars in the heavens. What night is tonight, that we meet this good man here?"
After speaking, the smile lines at the corners of his eyes deepened. He jokingly said while holding Zhao Hua's hand,
"The good man is always by your side. It’s just that I haven't come to see you for a day. Were you missing me that much while reading these verses?"
His eyes were full of smiles. Zhao Hua did not dampen his enthusiasm and went along with his thoughts:
"If Xiao Lang doesn’t come to see me for a day, it feels like we've been separated for three autumns. If you ask me, even if I lived on the eastern bank of the Yangtze, and you on the western, how heartbreaking would our lovesickness be... Ah~"
Just as she was pouring out her tender words, she suddenly let out a charming complaint. Her right hand gently stroked her belly as she smiled helplessly,
"This little rascal kicked me again."
Xiao Jingheng burst into hearty laughter. He suddenly leaned down sideways and pressed his ear against Zhao Hua’s stomach, quietly listening to the movement inside, "This level of fidgeting means that he will definitely be a healthy little prince in the future."
‘Bang Bang Bang’
A hurried knock at the door suddenly rang out, forcing Xiao Jingheng to sit upright and collect himself,
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty......" Jiang Deshun's timid voice floated in through the cracks in the door, "The Prefect Yin from the Capital City and the Lord Yang from the Department of Agriculture, as well as... also the Grand Remonstrator Yan Qi, are currently waiting in the State Council Chamber. They said... they need to report urgent matters to Your Majesty."
Zhao Hua quietly watched on.
After Jiang Deshun reported the names of the first two, Xiao Jingheng still had a calm expression.
It was only after hearing the two words “Grand Remonstrator” that his brows slightly furrowed instantly, and the distaste that was revealed from his eyebrows made it seem as if it would spill out,
"What is Yan Qi here for?"
Jiang Deshun's voice trembled, "This... The three officials came in such a hurry. This servant wanted to ask, but Master Yan scolded this servant to only pass on the order for Your Majesty and said... not to bother with other idle matters..."
Jiang Deshun was an old servant by Xiao Jingheng’s side. Among all the civil and military officials in the imperial court, besides the “Grand Remonstrator” Yan Qi, probably no one else dared speak to him like that.
This so called "Grand Remonstrator" was one of the most annoying officials of the previous dynasty to Xiao Jingheng. His role was specifically to supervise and admonish the emperor with well-intentioned yet harsh criticism.
Moreover, according to the rules laid down by the ancestors, the Grand Remonstrator cannot be punished or dismissed. Therefore, every time he came, Xiao Jingheng had no choice but to listen to his reprimands.
It was obvious that Xiao Jingheng was reluctant to see him. He simply told Jiang Deshun to send him away,
"Tell him that I am busy and ask them to come again another day."
"This..." Hearing Jiang Deshun's embarrassment, Zhao Hua leaned against Xiao Jingheng's shoulder and said gently,
“The ministers coming to find Xiao Lang at this time must be about some extremely important matter. If Xiao Lang were to neglect state affairs because he was accompanying this concubine, the guilt would be too much for this concubine to bear.”
Xiao Jingheng was silent for a while before reluctantly sighing,
"Alright then. I’ll come to see you again later."
After the imperial carriage departed Chang Le Palace, it headed straight for the State Council Chamber.
The three officials had been respectfully waiting outside the State Council Chamber for quite some time.
As soon as they saw Xiao Jingheng arrive, they paid their respects according to full court etiquette. Before Xiao Jingheng could enter and take a seat, Lord Yang from the Ministry of Agriculture hurriedly reported,
“I beg to report to Your Majesty that the Capital City is suffering from insect pest damages...”
“Pest damages?” Xiao Jingheng said strangely, “Last year, there was continuous heavy snowfall in the Capital City during winter, and then it was a warm spring after New Year’s Eve. How could there still be pest damages under such circumstances?”
Lord Yang wiped the illusory sweat from his forehead and explained, “This outbreak of pest damages is something the Capital City has never experienced before. The pests are plant lice and gray cutworms, both of which feed on young mulberry sprouts. Their sudden outbreak has caused all the mulberry trees on the outskirts of the Capital City to be stripped bare of new sprouts...”
Prefect Yin bowed to Xiao Jingheng and picked up where Lord Yang left off,
“Although the Capital City cannot compare with Suzhou and Hangzhou as major centers of agriculture and textile production, many commoners still make a living through textile-related work. Now that the mulberry trees have fallen victim to these pests, the silkworms in spring will have no food left to eat, making it difficult for them to spin silk cocoons. The common people in the Capital City have already started voicing grievances over this matter...”
“Grievances?” Xiao Jingheng angrily waved his sleeve in displeasure, “For natural disasters, the imperial court will naturally think of ways to provide disaster relief. What do they have to complain about?”
“They are complaining about Your Majesty.”
Yan Qi, who had been frowning with a stern face without saying a word, suddenly burst out this sentence at that moment.
It made Xiao Jingheng's face even darker as he glared at him,
"What else does Counselor Yan want to say?"
Yan Qi slightly bowed to Xiao Jingheng, then loudly declared as if with bells and drums ringing,
“As the common people say, ever since the passing of Empress Jia Rui, the annual Silkworm Worship Ceremony in March has not been held for over four years now. The Silkworm Worship Ceremony is hosted by the Empress, who would lead the ladies of the imperial harem and female court officials to worship the silkworm god Leizu, and personally pick mulberry leaves to feed silkworms, praying to the heavens for the prosperity of the silk industry.
The importance of the Silkworm Worship Ceremony is comparable to the First Farming Ceremony when Your Majesty would lead all the nobles. With the silkworms now neglected, it has given rise to abnormal changes in the heavens. This pestilence has so far only affected the Capital City, but if word of this were to spread to Suzhou and Hangzhou, would it not stir the commoners who have just begun recovering from the previous flood's devastation into renewed days and nights of livelihood worries?"
At this point, Yan Qi suddenly knelt down heavily in front of Xiao Jingheng, loudly and sonorously declaring,
“A nation cannot go one day without a succeeding empress. I beseech Your Majesty to make arrangements early and establish a new Empress as soon as possible, to stabilize the hearts of the people!"
