TL: Hua
Hearing this voice, the Marquis and Madam Wu’an suddenly trembled. They exchanged glances and pulled the lazy, slumped boy in the chair to his feet with them.
Yin Yanjun entered Changxin Palace with Xu Xianzhi. Looking up, he saw the young master being pulled up by Lady Su. The young master stood awkwardly with a protruding belly, looking quite amusing.
The Marquis and Madam Wu’an bowed to the Emperor. Yin Yanjun lightly raised a hand: “Seat.”
As he spoke, Yin Yanjun had already quickly walked to the young master’s side, one hand habitually protecting his waist, and asked in a low voice, “Are you tired?”
The salted fish young master gently shook his head, taking a deep breath. His nostrils filled with the cool, aloof scent of the Taoist, instantly making his slightly languid body much more energetic.
Xu Xianzhi’s gaze fell on his younger brother with extreme complexity, feeling that the Emperor’s hand placed on his brother’s waist was as much of an eyesore as it could possibly be.
Once everyone sat down, Yin Yanjun raised his hand to pour a cup of warm water for the young master. He watched the young master gulp it down before shifting his gaze to speak with the Marquis and Madam Wu’an.
After all, the emperor’s majesty was present. Xu Xianzhi secretly glanced at the Emperor, then at his brother being served water by the Emperor, and felt awkward no matter how he looked at it.
Therefore, Xu Xianzhi gave his younger brother a meaningful look. The salted fish young master immediately understood, his bright eyes darting around, and he found an excuse to go for a walk.
Xu Xianzhi quickly followed his brother out the door, pulling him into the adjacent side hall.
“Explain properly what exactly is going on between you and the Emperor?” Xu Xianzhi’s heroic and handsome face was full of worry.
“Sigh!” Having just finished explaining to his parents and now having to explain to his elder brother again, the salted fish young master was already starting to feel tired.
Tsk, if only there was a repeater.
But in the end, the salted fish young master still explained to his brother again, “That’s how it is. Anyway, this little bean in my belly can’t leave his emperor father now, so for the time being, I can only live in the palace.”
He said this so casually. Xu Xianzhi glanced at his silly younger brother and said exasperatedly, “Do you think you can just go home easily after this child is born?”
“If I want to go back to my own home, can anyone stop me?” The young master blinked his eyes in confusion.
“Given the Emperor’s attitude towards you, it’s clear he has improper…” After all, they were in the imperial palace, so Xu Xianzhi was very cautious and stopped himself in time. He looked up, gazing seriously at his younger brother, and asked, “Tell your brother the truth, what is your attitude towards the Emperor?”
“My attitude towards the Taoist Master?” The dejected salted fish leaned lazily in the chair as if he had no bones, speaking without hesitation: “The Taoist Master is pure as a fresh breeze and bright moon, untainted by worldly dust. Every time I look at his face, I just feel like I’m utterly depraved and shameless…”
Xu Xianzhi: I have nothing to say.
He sighed in his heart that his younger brother was too slow-witted and completely clueless. It was obvious that the Emperor had fallen for him, yet he, who was being pressed down by someone, still felt guilty. He was simply foolish beyond belief. Therefore, Xu Xianzhi indignantly said, “I now deeply suspect that you were suffocated in Mother’s womb.” Otherwise, how could he be so silly?
The young master was even more bewildered. He blinked his large, dark eyes: “Brother, you must have a high fever. What nonsense are you talking about!” He was clearly a brilliant young master, wasn’t he? No, no, he was intelligent and quick-witted, not bald.
“Forget it, I won’t talk about this with you anymore.” Not wanting to argue with his silly brother anymore, Xu Xianzhi glanced at his brother’s bulging belly: “This child will be born in three months. Has the Emperor found imperial physicians and experienced midwives?”
The young master nodded and then shook his head: “The imperial physicians have been arranged, but as for the midwives, I’m not too sure.” The salted fish never bothered with such trivial matters: “Brother, don’t worry. Taoist master is very meticulous. He must have prepared everything long ago.”
“So you don’t care about anything, don’t ask about anything?” Xu Xianzhi glared at his silly brother again, exasperated: “This is your own body; why don’t you pay more attention!”
As the two brothers were talking, Wen Jing brought in a plate of fresh fruit: “Young Master, you said you wanted fruit yesterday. Today, the Imperial Kitchen sent fresh winter melons. Please try it quickly.”
Upon hearing about food, the salted fish young master immediately perked up. He deftly took a piece of winter melon with a silver pick and popped it into his mouth, looking like a greedy cat.
The young master, who never hoarded food, pushed the fruit towards his brother: “Brother, try it quickly. The iced winter melon is so sweet.” Unfortunately, due to his condition, the winter melon wasn’t iced for long, and much of its coolness had dissipated on the way from the Imperial Kitchen.
Only caring about eating and drinking, oblivious to worries—his silly brother was truly something else. Xu Xianzhi reached out and vigorously rubbed the top of the young master’s head for a while before lowering his head, taking a silver pick, and snatching food from his brother.
Wen Jing found this somewhat amusing. The two brothers truly had a good relationship. However, remembering that he might make the Marquis Wu’an’s heir uncomfortable by serving them in the hall, Wen Jing very tactfully withdrew.
Xu Xianzhi bit into a piece of winter melon: “The chief eunuch seems to respect you very much.”
“Wen Jing is a very good person.” The young master nodded in strong agreement. Although a large part of Wen Jing’s initial kindness towards him stemmed from the little bean in his belly, good was good, and there was no need to distinguish the reasons behind it.
The salted fish young master had a very calm mindset.
Yin Yanjun specifically kept the Marquis Wu’an’s family in the palace for a meal. During the meal, Lady Su’s attention was entirely focused on her youngest son.
Because of this, she also noticed the dishes on the table that were very suitable for pregnant individuals, and even more so, the Emperor’s meticulous consideration for her youngest son.
Sighing deeply in her heart, Lady Su was filled with helplessness. Now, her family Ah Qing was clearly being pampered and spoiled by the Emperor without realizing it. She wondered what the situation would be like afterward.
After the meal, the Marquis and Madam Wu’an left the palace with their eldest son. The salted fish young master was lazily nestled in a reclining chair, dozing off.
Yin Yanjun lovingly raised a hand to caress the young master’s cheek: “Now that we are in the capital, if Young Master misses Madam Wu’an, you can always have Wen Jing invite her into the palace at any time.”
“Mmm.” The dejected salted fish hummed sluggishly, opened his eyes, and then closed them again from drowsiness: “Mother, she…”
The young master had to take a nap for an hour every day. Yin Yanjun raised his hand, gently picked up the already sleeping young master, and placed him in the bed. He gazed at the young master’s chubby cheeks for a while, then instructed Wen Jing and Mu Yu with a few words before getting up and leaving.
…
Two days later, Wen Jing specifically “asked for leave” from the young master: “Today, His Majesty is hosting envoys from the Xiling Kingdom in Qingyuan Palace. This servant must be by His Majesty’s side to attend him.”
The salted fish was nestled in a reclining chair, reading a storybook. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow and looked at Wen Jing: “That’s really hard work for Chief Eunuch.”
Wen Jing chuckled. Since meeting the young master, he seemed to have become more fond of joking than before: “I heard that Xiling produces many beauties. Young master, please rest assured, this servant will keep an eye on His Majesty for you.”
Under the young master’s bewildered gaze, Wen Jing stepped out of Changxin Palace.
The dejected salted fish in the reclining chair blinked, placed the storybook over his face, feeling a bit at a loss but unable to pinpoint the feeling. Anyway, a faint sense of irritation arose in his heart.
“What’s wrong, young master?” Mu Yu sat beside the reclining chair, raising his hand to massage his young master’s legs. Yesterday, young Doctor Qi specially brought over newly made medicated oil.
“Mmm.” The dejected salted fish sighed lazily: “Mu Yu, have you seen beauties from Xiling?”
Mu Yu, who was somewhat face-blind and couldn’t even recognize Yin Yuancheng, obediently shook his head: “Never seen them.”
The newly appointed Imperial Physician Qi slowly walked into Changxin Palace, just in time to hear the young master’s question, and couldn’t help but tease, “Is Young master thinking of seeing beauties?”
The salted fish took the storybook off his face, and his bright eyes suddenly lit up. He waved at Qi Chen: “Ah Chen, come here, I want to ask you a question.”
Qi Chen said as he walked over, “You’ve come to the right person to ask about beauties. I’ve heard a lot about Xiling from the imperial physicians in the Imperial Academy these past two days. I heard that the Princess of Xiling is named Tuoba Jinshu, and she is indeed a great beauty who evokes pity, making countless noble young men from Xiling fall in love with her at first sight.”
In Qingliang Palace, Yin Yanjun, assisted by Wen Jing, shed his loose Taoist robe and changed into a black five-clawed dragon robe, adorned with a jade belt and a golden crown. He truly possessed the demeanor of an emperor, his features heroic and imposing without needing to show anger.
“Your Majesty, where is your seal?” Wen Jing was puzzled. His Majesty’s jade belt usually had a small brocade pouch hooked to it, containing the small seal used for reviewing memorials.
Yin Yuancheng walked in at the right time and heard the cold and indifferent voice of the emperor: “Perhaps it was left in Changxin Palace.”
Before Wen Jing could speak, Yin Yuancheng promptly said, “I’ll go get it for Your Majesty.” With that, without waiting for Wen Jing to stop him, he had already left Qingliang Palace.
“Your Majesty, Young Marquis, this…?” If he were to encounter the young master, who was now heavily pregnant, it would likely be another chaotic scene.
Yin Yanjun’s eyes were calm: “It’s nothing.” The young master was usually bored staying in Changxin Palace. Yuancheng and the young master were of similar age, so perhaps he could be allowed into the palace to play with the young master in the future.
Yin Yuancheng quickly walked to the outside of Changxin Palace before slowly stopping. In front of the guards outside the palace, he raised his hand to straighten his messy clothes, then calmly walked inside.
His mind worked extremely fast. The Emperor had even left his small seal in Changxin Palace, which meant he must have been staying in Changxin Palace during his return to the capital.
Yin Yuancheng knew very well what kind of place Changxin Palace was, so his first thought was of the unrestrained and shameless Young Master Xu.
It was not surprising that the Emperor brought Young Master Xu back to the palace with him, but the fact that the Emperor actually let Young Master Xu stay in Changxin Palace made Yin Yuancheng tremble with fear, and he decided to come and investigate.
Yin Yuancheng stepped into the inner courtyard of Changxin Palace, which was empty. He was curious and couldn’t help but take a few quick steps towards the hall door.
Just then, Mu Yu came out of the room carrying a basin of water. Originally, the young master was chatting and laughing with young Doctor Qi in the pavilion. Later, Aunt Zhao sent some fruit, and now the two were sitting in the room eating fruit!
“Taoist Yuancheng.” Mu Yu paused, then finally reacted and quickly corrected himself: “Young Marquis.”
“So it was indeed your young master who moved into Changxin Palace!” Yin Yuancheng had already suspected this, so he wasn’t surprised now. He stepped into the hall and was about to speak when he was stunned by the sight of Xu Yanqing sitting in a chair.
“Xu Yanqing, do you have some incurable disease?” Yin Yuancheng’s face was complex. Although he thought Young Master Xu was a bit unrestrained and shameless, that’s not to say you should kick someone when they’re down, especially if they have an incurable illness.
Qi Chen nearly choked on a mouthful of honeydew melon. Staring wide-eyed at Yin Yuancheng’s sympathetic face, he suddenly remembered his past good deed.
It seemed he was the one who told Taoist Yuancheng back in Xu Family Village that the young master was ill. So, by now… it should only be Taoist Yuancheng who doesn’t know the young master is pregnant with the Emperor’s child.
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Qi Chen couldn’t help but give Young Marquis Yin a pitiful look. The poor kid was probably about to be tricked by the mischievous young master again.
Sure enough, the salted fish young master met Qi Chen’s gaze, and his moist eyes quickly became pitiful: “Now even you know it!”
Yin Yuancheng had a “just as I thought” feeling. He silently stared at the young master’s unusually large belly and said with great complexity, “Wait a moment.”
Turning and leaving the room, Yin Yuancheng went to the side hall and found the brocade pouch the Emperor had left there. He handed it to the guard outside the door and said, “Deliver this brocade pouch to the chief eunuch; there must be no mistake.”
The guard took the pouch, acknowledging the order.
Yin Yuancheng silently returned to the young master’s chambers, staring at the young master’s prominently rising belly: “The Emperor must have had the imperial physicians examine you. What did the imperial physicians say?”
The young master blinked and replied, “They said there are three months left. If I can get past that hurdle, I’ll be safe, but if not, I might not survive.”
This was the absolute truth; the salted fish wasn’t lying. He was quite honest!
“Three months?” Yin Yuancheng’s compassionate gaze once again fell on the young master. He paced back and forth a few times in front of the young master, finally only able to offer a dry comfort: “Don’t worry, there are still three months. Those imperial physicians at the Imperial Hospital aren’t vegetarians; they’ll definitely find a way to resolve your condition.”
“What condition? Is the young master feeling unwell anywhere?” Imperial Physician Han hurried into the hall, carrying his medicine chest, his heart filled with dread upon hearing Young Marquis Yin’s words.
He had walked a bit too fast and couldn’t stop in time, bumping into Young Marquis Yin, who was blocking the young master.
“Oh dear, oh dear, please forgive me, Young Marquis. This humble official was rude.” Imperial Physician Han quickly steadied the young marquis, who he almost knocked over, and immediately bowed to apologize.
Yin Yuancheng’s gaze was extremely complex. He didn’t mind Imperial Physician Han’s rudeness and directly asked, “What illness does Young Master Xu have? Why has it suddenly become so severe?”
It had only been a few months since they met in Xu Family Village, and the once vibrant young master who used to playfully trick him had become like this… It was truly deeply regrettable and heartbreaking.
Imperial Physician Han examined the young master up and down but found no unusual circumstances. Thus, a look of utter confusion appeared on his face. Although the young master was male, this pregnancy was very stable. During his time in the palace, the little master in his belly had become even more active. Where did the young marquis see that the young master had a serious illness?
Imperial Physician Han hesitated before speaking: “Is Young Marquis joking with this humble official? Both the young master and the little master in his belly are perfectly healthy. Young Marquis, please don’t joke about this.”
After all, this was the Emperor’s first child. Now, the Emperor had completely entrusted the young master and the little master to his care. If any problem truly arose, he feared his old life would have to pay the price.
“No, no…” Yin Yuancheng’s gaze fell with horror on the young master’s prominently rising belly, then he looked at Imperial Physician Han with a serious expression: “What did Imperial Physician Han just say? Could you please repeat it? My ears seem to have had problems recently!”
He couldn’t even hear clearly. Yin Yuancheng fell into deep self-doubt.
Imperial Physician Han could only repeat again, “Both the young master and the little master in his belly are perfectly healthy. Young Marquis, please don’t joke with this humble official about this…”
This time, before Imperial Physician Han could finish, he saw the usually gentle and refined Young Marquis raise his hand and pat his own ear, mumbling, “It’s over, it’s over; my ears really seem to be having problems.”
Imperial Physician Han’s mind was enlightened. He glanced at Young Master Xu, who was eating melon in the chair, and then at the cheerfully standing Young Medical Officer Qi beside him. He turned to Yin Yuancheng and tentatively asked, “Does Young Marquis still not know about the young master… being pregnant with the dragon’s heir?”
The young master… pregnant with the dragon’s heir!!
Yin Yuancheng suddenly looked up and glared at the young master, who was happily eating melon: “I knew it, I knew it… You corrupted scoundrel, you were bound to do something outrageous to the Emperor. Utterly disgraceful!”
The salted fish, who was eating melon, nodded in agreement, very proudly: “Yes, I am exactly that kind of corrupt big hooligan.”
“No, you’re pregnant with the dragon’s heir.” Yin Yuancheng finally reacted: “So you were… by the Emperor… Then what are you so proud of?” If anyone should be proud, it’s the Emperor. Of course, the Emperor isn’t that kind of person.
The salted fish continued eating melon without a pause: “So what exactly does Young Marquis want to say?”
“Nothing.” Yin Yuancheng awkwardly glanced at the young master’s prominently rising belly, then turned his head to make way for Imperial Physician Han.
Hmph, for the sake of Xu Yanqing being pregnant with the dragon’s heir, he would reluctantly stop bickering with him.
Imperial Physician Han routinely took the young master’s pulse. Qi Chen took out his small notebook and recorded the key points: “Young master, have you been getting up at night more frequently recently? Do your legs feel a bit swollen before bed?”
The salted fish took the handkerchief that Mu Yu handed him and wiped his hands: “Yes, Ah Chen said these are all normal.”
“Indeed, young master, you don’t need to worry too much,” Imperial Physician Han squatted down and looked at the young master’s slightly swollen legs: “Before going to sleep at night, you must have servants massage the acupoints more. Additionally, now that the little master is getting bigger, the young master should ideally walk around Changxin Palace more each day.”
The salted fish was already exhausted. He didn’t want to walk; he just wanted to lie down.
Mu Yu, standing by, listened very carefully: “Imperial Physician Han, rest assured, I will definitely supervise the young master to walk around more.” Besides, even if the young master slacked off and didn’t listen to his advice, there was still the Emperor. The Emperor always had ways to deal with the young master!
The salted fish sighed; the salted fish’s little servant had already chosen to betray his camp.
Imperial Physician Han finished taking the pulse and promptly excused himself, taking the slacking Young Medical Officer Qi with him.
Thus, Young Marquis Yin, having nothing to do, occupied Qi Chen’s former seat, his eyes occasionally falling on Xu Yanqing’s belly.
The salted fish was quite at ease: “Does Young Marquis have nothing to do?”
“The Emperor is only temporarily hosting an envoy from Xiling today, not a formal state banquet.” Yin Yuancheng’s tone shifted: “But it’s still not as good as you, Young Master Xu, lounging comfortably in Changxin Palace.”
When it came to verbal sparring, the salted fish never gave up: “Of course, I’m going to be the demon concubine who ruins the nation.”
“Tsk,” Yin Yuancheng said with disdain, “With your lazy and casual nature, if you really tried to be a demon concubine who ruins the nation, you’d probably be devoured alive by a group of concubines in the harem. It’s only because the Emperor keeps himself pure and has only you by his side.”
At this, the salted fish’s slightly awkward feeling resurfaced. Forget it, the verbally combative salted fish chose to cease fire.
Yin Yuancheng wasn’t willing to let him off so easily and couldn’t help but continue: “Do you know who the Xiling King sent as an envoy to our Daliang this time?”
The young master raised an eyebrow and looked over. He felt that Young Marquis Yin seemed to have a hidden agenda, so he decisively chose to remain silent. Yes, the salted fish’s curiosity is very, very small; it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t say anything.
But Yin Yuancheng acted as if Young Master Xu was very curious about this matter and continued to speak on his own: “Xiling and Daliang have always been on good terms, but now that Daliang is growing stronger and other nations are coming to congratulate us, the Xiling King might have felt a bit of a crisis. So he specially sent his own princess as an envoy to Daliang. The meaning behind this is well-known.”
In Qingyuan Palace, Yin Yanjun sat enthroned, receiving the Xiling envoy with his ministers. The King of Xiling had sent a rather smooth-tongued middle-aged man as the envoy, and the Xiling princess was sitting beside this envoy.
Tuoba Jinshu’s face was covered by a veil. She timidly looked up, inadvertently glancing at the Emperor on the high throne, then deeply lowered her head again.
Below the high platform, the Xiling envoy turned his head and whispered a few words to the guard beside him. The guard then led his men to present the Xiling Kingdom’s congratulatory gifts.
On the other side, the gazes of Minister Shi of the Court of State Ceremonials and Vice Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites also fell upon the lacquer tray in the guard’s hands.
The lacquer tray was covered with a red cloth. The guard lifted the red cloth, revealing two jade tokens, one large and one small. The Xiling envoy rose and bowed to Yin Yanjun below the high platform: “The entire Xiling Kingdom reveres jade tokens, so our king specially spent a year crafting two dragon and phoenix jade tokens, one large and one small, to present to the Son of Heaven of Daliang, to show Xiling’s loyalty to Daliang.”
“Your king is thoughtful,” Yin Yanjun nodded faintly. Wen Jing understood and walked down from the high platform, taking the lacquer tray from the guard’s hands. After a careful inspection, he presented the jade tokens to the emperor.
The dragon and phoenix jade tokens were indeed exquisitely made, but it was likely that the King of Xiling had an underlying meaning. Wen Jing stood beside the Emperor, his eyes subconsciously swept over Tuoba Jinshu under the high platform, and he couldn’t help but speculate secretly in his heart.
The Emperor had always been aloof, so Minister Shi directly led the conversation elsewhere. He was a shrewd man who had subtly figured out some of the Emperor’s thoughts, so he implicitly guided the Xiling envoy to discuss other topics.
The Xiling envoy glanced at the princess beside him and couldn’t help but sigh. Minister Shi, opposite him, was cunning, constantly blocking him from bringing up the princess. But the Son of Heaven of Daliang on the high platform remained expressionless, showing neither joy nor anger, likely deliberately condoning Minister Shi’s actions.
Minister Shi was exceptionally eloquent, ceaselessly discussing the exchanges between Daliang and Xiling, not giving the other party the slightest chance to mention a marriage alliance.
There was a precious treasure residing in Changxin Palace that the Emperor cherished immensely. Besides, Daliang certainly didn’t need to rely on marriage alliances to strengthen its national power.
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Obrigada pela tradução 😘😘