Chapter 759: Pregnancy

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xiao Duye’s face alternated between green and red. His carriage could not even enter the Qilin Hall, but the other party could go straight in. To think that he was still smug. Did he think that he had given the Old Marquis a huge favor?

Look, he didn’t need it at all.

“Aiya, I’m old. It’s not good to walk too much. Let’s take the carriage!” After the Old Marquis pretended to sigh, he brought his son, Su Xiaoxiao, and Wei Ting into Wei Qing’s carriage.

Wei Qing’s carriage bypa.s.sed Xiao Duye and entered the palace.

This was the first snub Xiao Duye had encountered after being conferred the t.i.tle of king. He could not help but frown.

He had heard of Zhuge Qing from the officials of the diplomatic mission who had returned. It was said that he was a strategist in the residence of the Eldest Prince of the Western Jin Dynasty, Yuwen Huai. He had followed Yuwen Huai for three years and helped him eliminate many opponents. Even the Western Jin Emperor valued him.

However, no matter what, he was just a strategist. Was his father too polite to Zhuge Qing?

Xiao Duye was unhappy. Coincidentally, Xiao Zhonghua’s carriage arrived.

When they brushed past each other, Xiao Zhonghua stopped the carriage and lifted the curtain to greet him. “So it’s Big Brother. Why aren’t you going in?”

Xiao Zhonghua had contributed to the destruction of the White Lotus Society and was extremely famous among the commoners. However, now that Xiao Duye had contributed to quelling the chaos in the southwest, he had many supporters among the commoners. He was considered to be on par with him.

Xiao Zhonghua’s advantage was that he was stronger with the support of his mother’s family. Xiao Duye’s mother was not from a high status, but Emperor Jing Xuan doted on him and gave him a wife with a powerful background. From the looks of it, he had a higher chance of winning.

Xiao Duye found a balance in his younger brother. He smiled and said, “I’m waiting for Third Brother to go in together.”

“Chi

A disdainful snort came from the carriage.

Xiao Duye frowned.

Xiao Zhonghua smiled warmly. “Jing Yi is playing chess with me. He lost again and is unhappy. Big Brother, please go first.”

Xiao Duye lowered the curtain and left.

Jing Yi said unhappily, “Why did Cousin give way to him?”

Xiao Zhonghua said calmly, “There’s order among the young and old.”

After Wei Qing’s carriage arrived at the Qilin Hall, the a.s.sa.s.sin and Mei Ji went to the entrance of the palace to fetch Old Madam Wei and the others.

The three little ones jumped out of the carriage impatiently.

Xiaohu patted the carriage with his small hands. “Sister Xiyue, Sister Xiyue, come down too!”

Wei Xiyue was led out of the carriage by Li Wan. She was carrying two jars in her arms, one containing dried meat and the other, pine nuts.

This was the first time Wei Xiyue had entered the palace. Looking at the unfamiliar environment, she was a little confused.

The three children had been to the palace before, but they had never been to the Qilin Hall and were stunned.

Xiaohu scratched his head. “Where is this?”

“Qilin Hall.” Dahu pointed at the plaque hanging on the hall. Li Wan was a little surprised. “Dahu, do you know those three words?”

“Yes.” Dahu nodded. “Uncle taught me.” Li Wan touched his little head. “Dahu is so smart.”

Erhu said, “Erhu is also smart.”

Xiaohu placed his hands on his hips. “Xiaohu is the smartest!”

Su Xiaoxiao walked over in amus.e.m.e.nt and pinched his face. “Yes, yes, yes. You’re the smartest.”

The Wei family was amused by Xiaohu. The little guy professed to be good at everything and bragged about being first.

The wind was strong outside, so the group helped Matriarch Wei in first.

The seats were placed on both sides. There were two seats at a table, similar to the palace banquet of the Western Jin.

Zhuge Qing’s seat was the first seat opposite. From this, it could be seen how much Emperor Jing Xuan valued him.

Behind him were the seats of the princes, the Old Marquis, and Su Yuan.

The Palace Academy was on holiday today, and the officials were also resting. The side hall where the banquet was held alone was extraordinarily lively.

The children couldn’t stay in the hall anymore and wanted to play in the small garden.

Seeing that Li Wan was worried, Su Xiaoxiao said to her, “I’ll go take a look. Second Sister-in-law, sit.” Old Madam Wei pressed Li Wan’s hand. “Sit.”

“Aye.” Li Wan sat down again.

Ever since the Wei family’s accident, the women of the Wei family had never attended any palace banquet. This was the first time in four years that everyone attended all dressed up, including Old Madam Wei.

The Wei family had been silent for too long, so long that the people in the capital had already forgotten the Wei family’s sharpness.

It was time to let those ignorant people witness the might of the Wei family!

The three little ones played with Wei Xiyue in the small garden while Su Xiaoxiao sat on a stone stool at the side and watched them.

Suddenly, a delicate woman’s voice sounded from not far away. “Little sidekick!”

Su Xiaoxiao knew who it was.

Princess Hui An picked up her skirt and quickly walked up to Su Xiaoxiao. She looked at her resentfully. “It’s indeed you… Why didn’t you come to see me when you came back? Don’t you know that I’m waiting for you in the palace… to greet me?”

Su Xiaoxiao stood up and greeted her. “Princess Hui An, I just returned to the capital. I haven’t even gone to my maiden family and the Su family.”

Hearing that she had yet to see her father, brother, and the Su family, Princess Hui An felt a little better. However, soon, she frowned again. “Have you lost weight?”

“Did I?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.

“Yes.” Princess Hui An nodded solemnly. She looked at the few little fellows who were laughing. “Dahu, Erhu, and Xiaohu haven’t lost weight. Eh? Who’s that little girl? She’s so good-looking!”

Su Xiaoxiao glanced at Wei Xiyue, who was sitting on the gra.s.s and admiring the three little pets. “Xiyue, the child of my second brother and second sister-in-law.”

“Oh, she’s quite pitiful to have lost her father at such a young age.” Princess Hui An sat down beside Su Xiaoxiao. “By the way, did you treat that young prince’s illness?”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “He’s cured.”

Princess Hui An heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s good. I was afraid that you would offend him. I won’t know what to do in the future if that happened.”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t have any friends in her previous life. She didn’t expect to meet a few girls who treated her sincerely here.

She looked at the entrance. “Why don’t I see Princess Jingning?”

Princess 1–1ui An’s expression darkened. ‘Why are you thinking of another princess when you’re with me?”

Su Xiaoxiao was speechless.

Princess Hui An snorted angrily. “Madam Lu and Third Miss came over today.

Jingning is probably welcoming guests in the empress’s palace.”

Su Xiaoxiao was not familiar with some interpersonal relationships in the capital. “Madam Lu is—”

Princess Hui An said, “Consort Liang’s mother, my brother’s mother-in-law, and that Third Miss is Consort Liang’s biological sister. I was there just now, but I was so bored, so I came out.”

Su Xiaoxiao was not interested in Xiao Duye’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Princess 1–1ui An suddenly opened her mouth. “Do you know why they entered the palace?”

“Why?”

“Secondary Consort Qin is pregnant.”

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned. “Qin Yanran?”

Princess Hui An nodded. “That’s right. Sister-in-law has been married to my brother for many years, but there hasn’t been any movement in her womb.

Secondary Consort Qin is still the best.”

Su Xiaoxiao was puzzled. “Is their entry into the palace related to Qin Yanran’s pregnancy?”

To be honest, Qin Yanran was only a secondary consort and was already pregnant. Could she still fight with the main consort? One had to know that she was no longer Qin Canglan’s granddaughter. If she had no background or family background, how could she compete with Consort Liang?

Princess Hui An couldn’t hold back from gossiping. “You weren’t in the capital, so you don’t know. A new official came to the Imperial Astronomical Center. He gave Secondary Consort Qin an order and said that she’s carrying the fate of the Great Zhou in her stomach. It must be an auspicious male child.. This is the eldest grandson of the emperor!”