Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power-Chapter 469 - 466 Urgency

Empress Xu personally helped the Heir of Prince Qi to his feet.

"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear those words," Empress Xu said, "you mustn’t mention them again."

The Heir of Prince Qi nodded after a while.

Empress Xu said, "Your face doesn’t look well, I’ll have the Imperial Hospital come and take your pulse."

The Heir of Prince Qi was feeling dizzy and replied instinctively, following Empress Xu’s instructions.

After the Heir of Prince Qi left, the female official said in a low voice, "The Heir of Prince Qi relies heavily on Your Majesty now."

"He has no other option now," Empress Xu said, "I’m the only one in the palace who can help him. Without me, his days would be even harder." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The female official said, "That’s a good thing, similar to how Emperor Gaozong and Empress Gao of the previous dynasties were. Emperor Gaozong was always respectful and filial to Empress Gao, even more so than to his biological mother."

This was precisely what Empress Xu desired; to hold the title of Empress Dowager peacefully and support the Xu Family for another journey. She could say she gave her all for the Xu Family.

Empress Xu asked, "How is the Xu Family doing?"

The female official replied, "All is well, except that there are more spies around Lord."

"Let the Emperor handle it, don’t let Lord appeal anymore," Empress Xu said, "after all, his eldest son holds a position in Fuzhou, and his father-in-law is the Fuzhou Military Governor. Although he didn’t conspire with Prince Lu, he did have private dealings with him. I should be thankful that the Emperor discovered Prince Lu’s intentions early; otherwise, the Xu Family might have unknowingly sided with Prince Lu."

At the time, when the Emperor learned of Prince Lu’s rebellion, he rushed into Zhengyang Palace and struck her, blaming her not only for failing in her duties as Empress but also because he suspected the Xu Family.

From the events of Xu Yuanyu and Yang Wu to Prince Lu’s rebellion, she led the Xu Family through one crisis after another, and she would succeed this time too.

"Tell Lord," Empress Xu instructed, "to keep an eye on Song Xian, and inform the Emperor of any movements in the North."

The female official acknowledged.

Empress Xu asked, "How has the Emperor’s diet been these days?"

The female official replied, "The Imperial Kitchen says the Emperor hasn’t eaten much; today, Imperial Doctor Tang from the Imperial Hospital went to take the Emperor’s pulse."

The Emperor trusts Tang Yusheng the most; for years, it has been Tang Yusheng who takes care of the Emperor’s pulse. The one time she was pregnant was also because the Emperor took Tang Yusheng’s medicine.

The Emperor sought other doctors and Imperial Physicians for treatment, even Princess Guangyang, when she was alive, attended to the Emperor but was helpless, advising him to let nature take its course.

Going in circles, it was still Tang Yusheng; these years, newcomers often entered the palace, unknown to outsiders, but Empress Xu knew clearly that without Tang Yusheng’s medicine, not only was it impossible to hope for offspring, but those newcomers wouldn’t even be able to enter the palace.

Thinking of this, Empress Xu showed a mocking smile. Do they blame her, the Empress, for the lack of offspring? If it were true that she was jealous and didn’t want others to get pregnant, it would be understandable.

Ultimately, the root wasn’t with her.

"Go and deliver rewards to the two new beauties who entered the palace, and also give each a Child Painting," Empress Xu instructed, "let them serve the Emperor well, hopefully to give birth to his offspring soon."

Empress Xu paused: "Especially Beauty Xu."

Empress Xu slightly curled her lips; the Emperor grabbed people all over the palace but never thought why one of the newly selected beauties resembled Princess Guangyang?

...

In the grand hall.

Imperial Doctor Tang took the Emperor’s pulse and then stepped back two steps to stand aside.

The Emperor rubbed his forehead and said lightly, "How is it?"

Imperial Doctor Tang replied, "The Emperor shouldn’t overwork these days; otherwise, your health might suffer."

The Emperor lifted his eyes and looked at Imperial Doctor Tang indifferently, "Now even you want to stop me?"

Tang Yusheng knew what the Emperor meant and immediately said, "I dare not, Your Majesty. I still say what I’ve always said, effort will lead to results. If Your Majesty’s condition is properly cared for, it will surely improve."

"That’s it then," the Emperor’s eyes were full of fatigue and bloodshot at the corners, "prescribe the medicine immediately."

Du Zheng hesitatingly wanted to speak; recently, the Emperor had been taking too many medications. On top of battling Prince Lu, several beauties had entered the harem, and such busyness in the imperial court and harem might hurt his health.

He managed to persuade the Emperor after much effort, but upon receiving news that Princess Jia’an was pregnant, the Emperor immediately changed his mind and summoned Imperial Doctor Tang.

"Your Majesty," Du Zheng said, "these things can be handled gradually, you should still..."

The Emperor impatiently waved his hand, "No need to talk anymore."

The Emperor stared at Tang Yusheng, "If you can nurse my health well, you’ll be Daqi’s hero. Whatever desire you have, tell me, and I’ll help you achieve it."

Tang Yusheng bowed and thanked, "I have no desires, only wish for Your Majesty’s well-being."

The Emperor waved off Tang Yusheng and leaned back on the dragon chair with closed eyes to recharge. Maybe it was due to the fatigue from war and state affairs, he always felt powerless. Those newly arrived beauties in the palace, their appearances seemed conducive to childbirth, and even one, Beauty Xu, had a slight resemblance to Princess Guangyang.

An urgent desire arose within him, wanting Beauty Xu to bear him a child, and Beauty Xu would certainly conceive his offspring.

For half a month straight, he slept at Beauty Xu’s place, but last night he couldn’t accomplish his purpose. Luckily, Tang Yusheng was there, and Tang Yusheng would surely nurse him back to health.

"Just soon," the Emperor muttered.

Prince Lu had suffered several defeats, the army morale had dissipated, and it wouldn’t be long before he could kill Prince Lu. By then, if there’s someone pregnant in the harem, everything would be fine.

He was still in his prime years, still mentally capable of dealing with Prince Qi. Oh, right... also Song Xian and those Military Governors.

...

In a blink, winter turned to spring.

Xie Liangchen’s belly gradually swelled; counting roughly, it was already more than six months, and in more than three months, the child would meet them.

Xie Liangchen looked at the food on the table, which was a plate of rice cakes, but the rice cakes weren’t well-made, clearly not the handiwork of her grandmother and mother.

"Was it made by the young master?" Xie Liangchen looked at Nanny Zhang beside her.

Nanny Zhang was someone from Old Mrs. Song’s side, very considerate in her duties, and since Xie Liangchen became pregnant, Nanny Zhang had been taking care of her closely.

Nanny Zhang said with a smile, "Yes, the young master got up early today and busied himself in the kitchen for more than an hour. I wanted to go in to help, but he didn’t allow it."

"After the young master finished, I tried a piece that didn’t look ideal, and the taste was pretty good. You can eat it with peace of mind."

Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but laugh. Nanny Zhang wasn’t worried about Song Xian entering the kitchen; she was concerned that what Song Xian made might be inedible. It’s no wonder Nanny Zhang thought this way; Song Xian’s cooking skills aren’t particularly good, with eight out of ten times worth discarding.

Once her grandmother saw this and was worried for a while, she even told Zigeng to block the kitchen door when Song Xian came by.

While Xie Liangchen ate rice cakes, Old Mrs. Chen entered the room, and seeing the plate in Xie Liangchen’s hand, she knew her grandson-in-law had meddled with the food again.

Previously, every time she saw her granddaughter enter the kitchen, her heart raced uncontrollably. Now seeing her grandson-in-law enter the kitchen, she could hardly breathe.

Just think about it, what else can her grandson-in-law do, why is he so fixated on the kitchen, if only the Kitchen God would give him a dream so he’d stay far away.

Old Mrs. Chen sat down and, as usual, spoke to the unborn great-grandchild: "Good grandchild, girls don’t hold needles and boys don’t enter the kitchen."