Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 421: Learning of Pregnancy

After the others had left for a short while, the Fourth Prince walked to the door, closed his eyes, and listened for a moment.

Only when he confirmed no one was watching did he quickly stride to the Emperor, taking out the medicine prepared by Mrs. Yun.

"The Imperial Consort is pregnant, isn’t she?"

The Fourth Prince looked at the Emperor in disbelief and then retorted.

"How did Your Majesty know? Could it be Her Ladyship..."

Hearing the Fourth Prince’s response, the Emperor’s heart sank.

Indeed, she really was pregnant.

Suddenly, worries, pity, and self-reproach surged up in his heart.

He wished he could immediately go to Ruiyang Pavilion to see her and put her mind at ease.

"It wasn’t her who said anything; it was Dong Yuzhong who noticed it and reminded me. I thought it couldn’t just be a coincidence, but who knew it was true. This child comes at a rather inopportune time. Uncle, you haven’t seen the Imperial Consort; she’s currently extremely thin, and I’m afraid she can’t handle this pregnancy."

In his eyes, the Prince was certainly important.

After all, he was the foundation of the country.

But he was not as important as Lin Wanyi.

She was the one he wanted to spend his life with; if anything went wrong, how could he continue to live?

Hearing this, the Fourth Prince also felt very sympathetic towards the Emperor.

He suddenly felt that his little fits of temper in recent days had been somewhat excessive.

So he hurriedly handed over the item.

"Inside is a concoction specially prepared by the Second Madam for Her Ladyship to ensure the safety of the mother and child. But if possible, it would indeed be best for the Second Madam to come and check on Her Ladyship."

"The traveling palace is inconvenient; it’s better to take the Imperial Consort back to the palace. There are secret paths in the palace, which would also make it easier for me to visit her."

The Fourth Prince nodded, thinking this method was also very good.

Thus, he quickly reported all the recent events to the Emperor.

"It seems that the bait has worked. If so, then I will add more fuel to the fire. Uncle, at the New Year’s Eve banquet, I want Imperial Concubine Yi to never recover."

Hearing this, the Fourth Prince frowned somewhat.

According to their plan, they were to take action against the Liu Family and Imperial Concubine Yi in a year’s time.

Why had the date been pushed forward so much?

The Emperor naturally noticed the Fourth Prince’s confusion.

He handed him a secret letter, and the Fourth Prince, upon reading it, looked utterly astonished.

"Is this matter true?"

"The message was sent by Mr. Lin. I trust him."

Indeed, the Mr. Lin who broke the Earth Dragon Qi back then would now send such an important secret letter.

It must be reliable.

Even if it isn’t reliable, it’s a rare opportunity.

If this chance is missed, it will likely be even harder to bring down the Marquis of Northwest.

Moreover, Lin Wanyi’s pregnancy can’t be hidden for much longer.

Therefore, the Emperor hopes to have everything settled before her child is born.

In the future, no one will be able to threaten the imperial power or endanger the person he loves.

So, he began to discuss strategies in a low voice with the Fourth Prince.

Though the Fourth Prince was shocked, after careful consideration, he found the plan sound.

After they finished discussing, he felt assured and confident.

He spoke to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, after this matter, Da Wei will certainly usher in a period of governance and prosperity."

This governance and prosperity was also what the Emperor longed for in his heart.

At the same time, he hoped that when creating such prosperity, he could be accompanied by someone dear to him.

Thus, his eyes were clear as he stared into the night outside, feeling that it was the last darkness before dawn.

Three days later, under the proper arrangement by the Fourth Prince, everyone from the traveling palace set out on the road back to the Imperial City.

However, this did not include Princess Consort Ying, who was recuperating, Du Changzai, who was imprisoned, and He Changzai.

They were left behind in the palace like abandoned, on worthless land.

No one cared, and no one paid attention.

Among them, the one who cried the hardest was Du Changzai.

She was now aging; she couldn’t be considered old and faded, but compared to the new palace maids springing up like bamboo shoots, time had indeed not spared her.

During these days of confinement, she finally had the peace to reflect on the past.

It was only then she understood the intentions of her adoptive mother, Nanny Du.

Nanny Du never married in her life and naturally had no children.

She adopted Du Changzai purely by accident.

Seeing this young child’s smiling face upon entering the palace, for a moment, she thought the child resembled her when she was young.

So, she felt a moment of pity.

But who knew she’d nurture a viper in her bosom.

She had already pleaded for clemency with the Emperor for her, granting her leave from the palace for a peaceful life.

Even the husband’s family had been selected.

A rare tranquil household with simple people.

But she did not appreciate it.

Behind her back, she climbed into the Emperor’s bed and even schemed to bear the Emperor’s child.

After this event, Nanny Du finally understood.

What does it mean to have irreconcilable differences?

Pitifully, she wasted over ten years of affection nurturing such an unscrupulous "daughter."

Thus, she decisively severed this bond and no longer recognized any relationship with Du Changzai.

Instead, she secluded herself in the Buddhist Hall, staying there for several years.

It was both a punishment for her own lack of judgment and a way to avoid Du Changzai’s various pleas.

She spent a few peaceful years.

But now, Du Changzai could only face these four walls and square sky.

There was no other possibility.

Even if her tears ran dry and her hair turned white, it would be of no use.

On the way back to the palace, the carriage Lin Wanyi rode was specially made.

It was padded with thick cushions so she could rest and lie flat on it during the journey.

As they left the palace, her appearance indeed startled the Empress Dowager and the Fourth Prince.

Both frowned as they looked at Lin Wanyi.

However, only one was able to speak, while the other refrained from speaking rashly.

"In life, one must endure hardships; if you can’t hold on, how can others rely on you to live?"

The Empress Dowager’s words continuously echoed in Lin Wanyi’s ears.

Indeed.

The Empress Dowager faced the tragedy of losing her husband in middle age, and had her endurance failed, she would have been long swallowed by the wolves and tigers of the previous dynasty and harem.

In contrast, she seemed to be wallowing in self-pity.

It had only been two months since the trouble with the Dong Family, yet she had worn herself down to this state.

What if more trials came in the future?

What then?

Thinking of this, the knot in Lin Wanyi’s heart gradually began to loosen.

Perhaps the Empress Dowager’s calmness and composure in the face of change gave Lin Wanyi a desire to strive upwards.

Perhaps the medicine from Mrs. Yun had started to take effect.

Thus, Lin Wanyi slept soundly in the carriage for a long time.

This sleep was without worries, anxiety, or fear.

And Xia An, accompanying her side, was glad that her mistress could sleep peacefully.

Calm as they were when they returned from the Imperial City, Lin Wanyi at that moment knew nothing of the storms awaiting her in the Imperial City.