Chapter 31

◎“Then I'll punish you by making you sit on my lap.”◎

Xue Taifu was such a splendid figure back then that he captivated the late emperor, who, despite opposition from the court officials, summoned him directly to the palace and bestowed upon him the title of Phoenix Consort, granting him unparalleled favor. If Xue Taifu had been childless, the throne might not have been passed down to the current emperor.

Xue Taifu and Emperor Wei were actually about the same age. The late emperor, considering that Xue Taifu had no daughters, registered Emperor Wei under his name.

I've heard that he's a cold and aloof person who never smiled at the late emperor. When Su Yawan entered the palace to participate in the imperial examination, she accidentally wandered into the Jiaofang Palace of Xue Taifu and caught a glimpse of him. He was indeed a noble and untouchable figure.

However, since Emperor Wei ascended the throne, Consort Xue's health has been poor. After several critical illnesses, he is now lying in a coma on his bed. The imperial physicians have concluded that the chances of him waking up are very slim.

Without Xue Taifu's obstruction, Emperor Wei had no more scruples and directly took action against the Xue family.

If Consort Xue were awake, the Emperor would certainly not have treated the Xue family this way.

Su Yawan knew that Jiang He had changed a lot compared to before. People strive for higher positions, just as water flows downhill. Without power, money alone cannot protect what you want.

Jiang He's previous marriage proposal to Xue Lingyu was rejected, which was actually an inevitable result. Even if Xue Lingyu had agreed, the Xue family would not have allowed their only legitimate son to marry a merchant. Even if Jiang He held a minor official position, in the Xue family's eyes, it would be better than her vast wealth.

Su Yawan finally couldn't help but ask the question that had troubled her for years, "Was this something you and Brother Wanyi planned together? Did he enter the palace for power?"

In her memory, although Jiang Wanyi appeared gentle to everyone, he was actually indifferent to worldly affairs. Apart from the Jiang family, there was probably nothing that he cared about.

Moreover, his health has always been poor, and I heard from the Jiang family that they wanted to find him a live-in son-in-law to take care of him personally.

With a personality and appearance like Jiang Wanyi's, many people would be interested in him if he were out in public, but the Jiang family, out of consideration for his health, has only allowed him to appear in front of outsiders a few times.

In fact, Su Yawan's question was the same one that Jiang He had had since returning to the capital.

"I didn't know my brother had entered the palace before I returned to the capital. When I first entered the palace, I secretly asked my brother, and he only said that the environment in the palace was more suitable for him to recuperate. Father also said the same thing." Jiang He had to admit that even if the Jiang family had money, there were some things that couldn't be bought.

The Empress is the supreme ruler, and with her doting on her brother, the best physician in the Imperial Medical Academy will inevitably do everything in his power to take care of him.

"The palace is filled with countless precious medicinal herbs, and His Majesty's favor has never waned. My brother's health is indeed much better than before."

Su Yawan nodded and said with emotion, "Someone as good as Brother Wanyi truly deserves the best in the world."

Seeing the sentimental look on her face, Jiang He tapped the table with her finger to attract Su Yawan's attention and said in a serious tone, "Actually, what His Majesty said today is that you should get married, otherwise are you waiting for her to betroth the Fifth Prince to you?"

"I have nothing to lose but a beautiful woman; I must first establish myself," Su Yawan replied, offering the same excuse.

She wasn't without desires; she just wasn't qualified yet.

The imperial physician prescribed medicine to stabilize the pregnancy for Jiang Wanyi. Although she felt much better, she still couldn't eat and would vomit as soon as she ate. The emperor was very anxious and instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare some sour dishes and send them to Jiang Wanyi. In the end, he didn't even have the mood to read the memorials and followed along.

Because of the weight she gained at the beginning of her pregnancy, she has lost weight now, and Jiang Wanyi has become even thinner. Wei Di's heart ached so much that it felt like it was bleeding. She personally took the bowl, tested the temperature of the porridge, and brought the spoon to Jiang Wanyi's lips, feeding him herself.

"This porridge has sour plums in it. The imperial physician said it can relieve your discomfort. Why don't you have a sip?" This was the first time the Empress had fed someone, and her movements were a little clumsy, but it was clear that she was trying her best.

Jiang Wanyi frowned, "Your Majesty..."

If this gets out, the people in the harem will say he's bewitching His Majesty.

Emperor Wei insisted, and Jiang Wanyi had no choice but to take a sip. The plum porridge was indeed delicious. Seeing that he was willing to eat, Emperor Wei continued to feed him until the bowl was empty, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Seeing that the emperor was staring at her, Jiang Wanyi knew that she hadn't taken good care of herself these past few days and must look quite haggard, so she couldn't help but touch her face and say, "Your Majesty, have I become ugly?"

The emperor took his hand, his eyes filled with tenderness: "You are still the same as when I first met you, your appearance has not changed."

Men always care about their appearance, and Jiang Wanyi was no exception. He smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty is good at coaxing people."

"What I said is true. If I hadn't suddenly decided to leave the palace that day, I might not have met you."

Emperor Wei recalled the scene when he first met Jiang Wanyi. At that time, he was still a young master who had long lived in the inner chambers. Every frown and gesture of his was full of sickly air, but his eyes were exceptionally gentle, which made Emperor Wei's heart flutter.

The emperor smiled, his face beaming with joy: "But what makes me even happier is that you are willing to enter the palace. I was overjoyed for several days after I found out."

The Emperor Wei, who was always dignified and imposing in front of outsiders, was as happy as a child in front of Jiang Wanyi.

Jiang He was handling the business's affairs, reviewing the quarter's expenditures with a vermilion brush in hand, while Xue Lingyu stood by, adding fragrance to her work, grinding ink and handing her the brush.

After being instructed by Jiang He, the shopkeeper below became extremely efficient, and the accounting books were organized in a very concise and easy-to-understand manner. Jiang He quickly finished the last entry and had some free time.

Xue Lingyu hadn't been standing for long when her lower back started to ache.

Seeing him gently patting his back, Jiang He pulled him down to sit. Seeing that he seemed to know he had made a mistake, she didn't scold him further.

Xue Lingyu's back pain is inextricably linked to her.

“Since you’re sitting here without saying a word, next time I’ll punish you by making you sit on my lap.” Jiang He squeezed Xue Lingyu’s palm and said in a serious tone.

"Can't I sit down on ordinary days?" Xue Lingyu asked, her eyes sparkling with desire, her voice soft and indistinct.

For some reason, he became increasingly alluring, and he no longer showed any restraint in front of Jiang He.

His words made Jiang He feel closer to him.

However, if she overworks herself during the day, Xue Lingyu will have no energy left at night.

Jiang He pretended to kiss him, but Xue Lingyu put a finger to her lips and began to change the subject.

"I heard that Jiang Shifu... should be Jiang Shijun now, and that he is pregnant with twins."

Now that everyone in the court knows that Jiang Wanyi is pregnant, the Emperor was so happy that he immediately promoted her rank, showing great importance to the child in her womb.

The child in Jiang Wanyi's womb is very likely to be the future hope of the Jiang family.

“My brother hasn’t been feeling well since he got pregnant. Once his pregnancy is stable, I’ll take you to the palace to see him.” Jiang He moved his hand away and placed a kiss on his soft lips.

Xue Lingyu was pulled up from the chair and kissed so hard on the desk that he was dizzy and disoriented. His collarbone was covered in marks, and he almost couldn't breathe before Jiang He finally let him go.

His chest rose and fell slightly as he stroked Jiang He's face, a hint of reproach in his voice. "It's not possible during the day," he said, "but Lady Jiang is already pregnant. I wonder when I'll be able to conceive."

Xue Lingyu couldn't help but touch his belly. He had been with Jiang He almost every day during this period, and he wondered if she had become pregnant as he wished.

"My brother has been in the palace for three years, and we've only been together for less than half a year. There's no rush." ​​Jiang He said she wasn't in a hurry, but she kept finding ways to torment Xue Lingyu.

Jiang He suddenly realized that Xue Lingyu seemed to have an unusual longing for a child ever since she entered the manor.

I wonder if he has a special longing for family because his relatives are not around.

Xue Lingyu stared at her stomach and sighed, "Do you think I'm pregnant now?"

He was almost obsessed with the idea of ​​getting pregnant.

Jiang He pinched Xue Lingyu's chin and then tugged at his lips, holding his soft body and saying, "In a few days, I will ask Doctor Ji to come to the manor to take your pulse. You should drink those tonics on time, and we should have good news soon."

Xue Lingyu nodded obediently.

"Do you want to see your father? I'll have Yuange arrange it. You can't always stay cooped up in the mansion, thinking about having children with me all day long."

These words made Xue Lingyu both happy and annoyed. He angrily punched Jiang He, but it felt like hitting cotton, light and airy.

"Of course I want to see my father, and I don't know how he's been these past few days, but what you said after that is all nonsense!"

Jiang He pinched his puffed-up cheeks, her eyes full of laughter.

"Yes, yes, yes, you're absolutely right."

The next day, Doctor Ji entered the mansion to take Xue Lingyu's pulse.

Xue Lingyu looked at Doctor Ji with high expectations, but after taking her pulse, Doctor Ji shook his head.

"Young Master Xue is in good health and shows no signs of a slippery pulse."

These words dashed Xue Lingyu's hopes once again.

He was puzzled: "I've been taking this tonic regularly, every month without fail, so why haven't I gotten pregnant yet?"

Doctor Ji comforted him, saying, "Young Master Xue is still young, there's no need to be in such a hurry. What's meant to happen will happen, and perhaps a pleasant surprise will come if we just let things take their course."

Xue Lingyu was getting impatient, so Jiang He told Doctor Ji to leave first, put her arm around his shoulder and said softly, "It doesn't matter if we don't have children. I can wait even if it takes three or thirty years."

The people who most longed for an heir to the Jiang family should have been her parents, but it's unclear why Xue Lingyu was even more anxious than them.

As long as Xue Lingyu is by her side, she wouldn't mind if they never had children in their entire lives.

But if he has a child, she will definitely treat him with great care.

Xue Lingyu had his own unspeakable reasons, but he couldn't tell Jiang He.

He is a concubine now, and even if he has a child, he can only remain a concubine.

He was the son of a disgraced official, a slave, and would never be able to enter a respectable place in this lifetime.

Jiang He treats him very well now, but as the Jiang family's status gradually rises, she will definitely marry a husband of equal social standing. When he grows old and loses his looks, he is destined to be forgotten.

It would be better to give up on that idea and focus on achieving freedom.

It wasn't that Jiang He did a bad job, but rather that their statuses were different.

Xue Lingyu felt very bitter. If he were still the son of the Duke of Xue and married Jiang He as a noble young master, perhaps the two of them could have lived a harmonious life together.

His child will also be born of the legitimate wife.

A note from the author:

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2022-01-14 20:58:27 and 2022-01-15 19:40:02!

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: giegie, you're so sexy! (1 like)

Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: 55200927 (1 bottle);

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!

◎Latest Comments:

Sigh, the male lead's current situation is indeed too difficult.

Apple Apple

【Occupying a building】

Haha, the apple is alright.

[Could there be a problem with the tonic? Is it because Father Jiang is waiting for Jiang He to have a legitimate daughter before allowing Yu Yu to have a child?]

[Keep it up, DaDa!]

[Waaaaah! When Yu Yu was the noble eldest son of the Xue family, they looked down on He Jie. When the Xue family fell on hard times, Yu Yu could only marry He Jie as a concubine. You two, good things always come with difficulties~]

【Ughhhhh, why did I leave a follow-up comment? I should have just held back a little longer, waaaaaah!】

Looking forward to an apple.

【Here it comes! Here it comes! Here it comes!】

[Leave a comment]

My heart aches for Xiao Xue, sob sob sob.

[Did you buy too many iPhones? LOL]

I'm very curious about who the Prefect of the Capital actually likes.

Who does Su actually like? It seems like no other male characters have appeared yet?

-over-