Chapter 47 Showing Goodwill to the Empress

Little Swallow quickly asked, "Then can you contact your master?"

Jiang Ying shook her head. "No, all along, I could only wait for my master to come find me. He said he didn't want others to know his whereabouts, worried that he would cause trouble for others!"

The glimmer of hope that had just been ignited in Xiao Yanzi and Qing'er vanished again. Yongqi frowned and said, "Something happened to your family. If your master finds out, he will definitely come looking for you, but how will he find you?"

“My master gave me a specially made sachet. He said that if he wanted to come looking for me, he would find me by following the sachet!”

Hearing this, Yongqi hesitated again. Xiao Jian didn't seem to have this function. "Isn't it Xiao Jian?"

But Jiang Ying's previous description really does sound like Xiao Jian. Could it be that he doesn't know enough about Xiao Jian? Actually, Xiao Jian can make sachets.

"We'll probably have to stay obediently in the manor for the next few days, otherwise Father Emperor might not agree to let us go out. So, Jiang Ying, you stay with Xiao Yanzi for the next few days. By the time we have a chance to go out, your master might already be looking for us!"

"I understand, thank you, Fifth Prince!"

"Sister Xingchen, please take her downstairs. Erkang and I have something to discuss."

"Yes." Xingchen left with Jiang Ying, and the group sat together. Qing'er whispered, "Yongqi, do you think her master is Xiao Jian?"

"It's like Xiao Jian; the description matches perfectly."

Little Swallow murmured, "If that person really is my brother, he will definitely come looking for us. But if we stay inside, even if he comes, he probably won't be able to get in. If he insists on coming in, something bad might happen!"

"Erkang, I'll have to trouble you and Ertai to keep a close eye on things these next few days. I've drawn a picture of Xiao Jian as I remember him. Please take a close look at it, so that Xiao Jian doesn't risk barging in while looking for Jiang Ying. If his impulsiveness ruins everything, that would be troublesome!"

"Okay, Ertai and I will pay close attention!"

Actually, his main concern was that if Xiao Jian acted impulsively and offended Emperor Qianlong and the Empress Dowager, it would definitely cause more trouble between him and Xiao Yanzi!

Of course, it's not just him and Xiao Yanzi; even Qing'er and Xiao Jian's relationship is probably in jeopardy!

So Yongqi prayed fervently that if Xiao Jian really came looking for him, he should stay calm and wait until they could leave the manor before meeting him!

Four days later, at Songhezhai, the Empress Dowager and the concubines of the palace were having a meal together and chatting when suddenly, Empress Nara began to vomit. The Empress Dowager immediately ordered someone to summon Physician Hu. Physician Hu rushed over, bowed, and immediately took the Empress's pulse. "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is pregnant!"

Everyone was shocked, and the Empress Dowager hurriedly asked, "Doctor Hu, is the diagnosis correct?"

Physician Hu nodded affirmatively, "Judging from the pulse, that is indeed the case."

The Empress Dowager exclaimed happily, "This is wonderful! The Emperor is going to have another child!"

Physician Hu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I congratulate you, Your Majesty the Empress..."

The concubines from all the palaces also offered their congratulations one after another, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress!"

Consort Yu, Consort Ling, and Consort Shu didn't react much. On the contrary, Consort Jia, who already had three sons and was pregnant with her fourth child, looked at the Empress with displeasure. It was already troublesome enough that she had Yongqi, who had performed well and was attractive enough to Qianlong. Now that even the Empress was pregnant, her son probably had no chance of getting ahead!

If the Empress is pregnant, and it is a son, then unless the son is spoiled, even the Fifth Prince Yongqi will have to take a backseat!

How much Emperor Qianlong valued his legitimate sons can be seen from his second son, Yonglian, and his seventh son, Yongcong. Unfortunately, they were both unfortunate and died young.

"Imperial Physician Hu, go and report this matter to the Emperor immediately!"

"Your Majesty, I will go now. I will take my leave!" Physician Hu left Songhezhai and headed towards the palace where Emperor Qianlong was staying. At this time, Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi were also there. When Physician Hu came in, the group was a little puzzled, wondering what Physician Hu was doing there.

"Your Majesty, Fifth Prince! Your Majesty, the Empress is pregnant!"

Upon hearing this news, Emperor Qianlong immediately stood up and looked at Physician Hu, "When did this happen?"

"I just came from Songhezhai and rushed here to report to Your Majesty!"

The Empress was pregnant, and Emperor Qianlong was overjoyed. Physician Hu also received many rewards. "Thank you for the rewards, Your Majesty!"

"Mingfang, the Empress's child is entrusted to you. There must be no mishap!"

"Your Majesty, I understand!" Physician Hu felt immense pressure, but he had no other choice but to do everything he could to save this child!

Emperor Qianlong was going to see the Empress, and Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi also had to go and offer their blessings, so they went with him. Meanwhile, the Empress, supported by Rong Momo, had already returned to her own residence. When Rong Momo learned that the Empress was pregnant, she was genuinely happy for her, saying, "This old servant congratulates Your Majesty!"

The Empress sighed, "Granny Rong, let's not be too happy yet. It's still a question whether this child will be born safely!"

"Your Majesty, please don't think like that..."

"Granny Rong, please have the kitchen prepare more spicy dishes from now on. Perhaps that will help my child be born safely."

Rong Momo understood what the Empress meant. As the saying goes, sour foods are for boys and spicy foods are for girls. Only by making others mistakenly believe that she gave birth to a daughter could she get through the next few long months more peacefully.

"His Majesty has arrived." The news of Qianlong's arrival surprised both the Empress and Rong Mama. They quickly rose and bowed to Qianlong, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

"This old servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well!"

Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi followed suit, bowing and paying their respects. Qianlong walked to the Empress's side and said, "Now that you are pregnant, you should rest well. Let others take care of the other troublesome matters!"

The Empress smiled helplessly, "I am the Empress. If I were to neglect the affairs of the inner palace just because I am pregnant, who would take care of them? Your Majesty, rest assured, I will take good care of the child and ensure that nothing goes wrong with him!"

"Empress Mother, you should prioritize taking care of the child. This is your and Father Emperor's first child, so you must take good care of him!"

At this time, the Empress was not as fierce as she was in her previous life, so Yongqi was willing to show her some care.

Emperor Qianlong laughed and said, "Yongqi is right. There are so many people in the harem, it won't be chaotic. Besides, the Empress Dowager and I are here to keep things in order. Even if things get chaotic, how chaotic can they get?"

"Your Majesty, look how much the Emperor and the Fifth Prince care about you. Why don't you listen to them?"

"You're quite the smooth talker, aren't you? Well then, since Your Majesty wishes me to have a leisurely life, I'll have no choice but to obey. But I'm afraid that if I get too used to this leisure, I won't want to concern myself with the affairs of the harem anymore!"

Yongqi continued, "What are you saying, Your Majesty? You were personally appointed Empress by Father Emperor. No one can shake your position, especially now that you have a child!" What he didn't finish saying was, "Only if you do something reckless. If you do, even with a child by your side, you'll still be in trouble!"

The Empress couldn't help but laugh, "Your Majesty, it seems that since the Fifth Prince has had Little Swallow by his side, his mouth has become more and more eloquent!"