Chapter 19
"Your majesty, if you are regretting meeting him, I think you should let go of him for the better"
"I thought so but who knows that I will yearn much for him'"
"Your majesty!!" Weining called out anxiously making Xiao Feng chuckle.
"Okay, no more talks about Shan Yuan"
In the court, every ministry was waiting for the emperor to change his decision. Seeing the emperor is not going to change his mind minister Lin of the ministry of state affairs stepped from his place.
"Your majesty, changing ministries in this time, is it appropriate"
"Ministry Lin, do you question the emperor's decision?" Prime minister Shu asked looking at minister Lin.
"Okay, I have already decided no need for a discussion about it. Is there more to report" Everyone was silent and the emperor stands up and announce for the court to be dismissed? In concubine Wei's palace concubine Wei was walking with her maids.
"Liu Fan, let's visit Sheng'er"
"Your highness, prince Sheng should be in the class but I heard from some maids that prince Sheng drag empress's servants to play with"
"Let's go, they are deliberately making my Sheng'er missed lessons. I can't let it happen. I have to do something"
Another 2 weeks went like that and spring came making all the flowery plants bloom inside the forbidden city. Empress was sitting in front of her mirror and maids were helping to take those out. Linlin came inside and greeted the empress.
"Empress" Xiao Feng look at Weining.
"All go out" Everyone went away after bowing leaving only empress, Weining, and Linlin.
"Commandant Wen wants me to remind your majesty that it's time to stop the medicine, it's more than 2 weeks since your majesty came to the palace." Xiao Feng looks at Linlin and then looks back at the mirror.
"I see. Anything more?"
"First Ms. Met with 5th prince more than a few times inside and outside of Xiao manor"
"My sister is coming with something. I was too lazy these days that concubines Wei's games are too boring" Weining who was making empress's hair chuckled at Xiao Feng's childish behavior.
"Tomorrow asked head physician Lu to be available and we will go with the flow" Linlin and Weining nodded.
The next day emperor was in the imperial study to focus on writing something when a eunuch came inside and greeted the emperor.
"Head physician Lu was just summoned into the peony palace" Emperor stood up with an anxious look making the brush on his hand fall to the paper destroying the writing on the paper with an ink mark.
"What happened? Let's go to the peony palace" Emperor directly went to the peony palace. Maids and eunuchs greeted seeing emperor who was hurriedly walking toward the chamber.
"Your majesty" Seeing emperor Xiao Feng called out for the emperor from the chair she was sitting in. Everyone greeted the emperor.
"Is empress ill?" Head physician Lu looked at the emperor and bowed with a smile.
"Congratulations, Your majesty. Her majesty is pregnant" Emperor's eyes lit up.
"Congratulations your majesty the emperor, Congratulations your majesty the empress" All the maids and eunuchs congratulate their emperor and empress.
"It's already 2 weeks and the first 3 months empress should be more careful and after 3 months fetus will be stable" Emperor nodded.
"Give every maid rewards. Let them serve empress the best" Everyone thanked the emperor. Emperor went towards the empress sat down beside the empress and signaled everyone to leave them alone. He put his hand on her belly and talk to the belly.
"Baby, the father is here to see you" Xiao Feng just smiled. Her eyes, it was filled with guilty.
The days passed like that. Xiao Feng was sitting in her chair writing.
"The 6th year of the fourth emperor of Sui: Left prime minister's 1st wife give birth to her second child. 3rd Ms. Of the family. The fortune teller had said she was born to be a phoenix but the prime minister and the emperor together disclose the matter and engaged her to the 8th prince in her 1st-month celebration. 10th year of the fourth emperor of Sui: 1st prince who had a weak body died in his early 20s. The 8th prince became the crown prince at the age of 10. 16th year of the fourth emperor: Prime minister Xiao's 1st wife's son reported to the southern border with his grandfather, great general Xiao at the age of 12."
"20th year of the fourth emperor of Sui: Great general Xiao died and the fourth emperor honored the general with the supreme great general Xiao. Before his death, he gave the whole military power to the emperor in front of his wife, princess dowager, and his youngest granddaughter, Xiao Feng. Asking to protect Xiao's family. Later in the year, he gave southern military power to 16-year-old general Yan, Grandson of supreme great general Xiao. That year, the Crown prince went missing without any clue."
"22nd year of the fourth emperor of Sui: 3rd daughter of Xiao was married to the 5th prince because of the last wish of the empress dowager. The wedding wasn't successful as the whole capital celebrated. Xiao Feng was poisoned with a highly toxic poison with a deadline of 7 days. The antidote was taken to the princess dowager by the prince of Yang. Later in the same month, she was granted princess royal equal honor to the 1st rank prince. Emperor died because of the rebellion of 3rd prince together with the Wei kingdom. The fourth emperor passed the throne to his second son with the capital's military power. Tiger tally of north kept a secret from the world. Xiao Feng becomes princess royal grand which is equal to the crown prince. The Crown prince was found alive together with the Wei kingdom's army in the war. 3rd month of 5th emperor of Sui rule 5th emperor suicide in the court and 8th prince, the crown prince who went missing for 2 years become the emperor as emperor Zheng, 6th emperor of Sui"
"1st month of 6th emperor of Sui: 6th emperor married princess royal grand and granted her the title empress. In the second month of the 6th emperor of Sui: Empress Xiao was 3 weeks pregnant and the empress start to give food to the poor every day with her own money. 3rd month of 6th emperor. Imperial consort Shu and concubine Wei both was pregnant. Empress arranged for the harem selection after 3 months of emperor enthronement. There were still no moments from Yang kingdom."
Xiao Feng was just reading a scroll when the emperor came inside. Xiao Feng was already 2 and half months pregnant as everyone knows but she was already 3 months pregnant. Xiao Feng stood up and greeted the emperor.
"Greetings, your majesty"
"Just sit down, I said no need of formality between us and you are pregnant" Emperor came and sat down beside his empress.
"Your majesty, do you have any emergency? I am waiting for someone"
"Hmm? Who is it that even important than me that you even want me to go back?" Linlin came inside and greeted the emperor and empress.
"Aunt Xiao" The two-year-old prince Sheng step inside the palace and ran inside happily. Everyone looks at the voice and sheng came to a halt after seeing the emperor.
"Sheng'er respect father emperor" Xiao Feng chuckled seeing Sheng who was frustrated.
"Did you scare him before? He is scared" Emperor just shook his head.
"Sheng'er, come here" Xiao Feng opened her arms and prince Sheng looked at nanny Gu and nanny Gu nodded.
"Mother Empress?" Xiao Feng looked at him with widened eyes.
"Nanny Gu said I should call aunt Xiao as mother empress"
"Sheng'er, if you find it difficult you don't have to" Sheng shook his head.
"Sheng'er like it" Xiao Feng hummed with a smile.
"Mother Empress is busy, I will go back"
"You stay. Your majesty, I promised Sheng'er that I will accompany him to play in the imperial garden"
"So, it's Sheng'er who steel my empress from me?" Sheng'er pouted.
"Sheng'er is sorry"
"Sheng'er come here" Prince Sheng went to Xiao Feng and she embrace him.
"Are you, afraid of your father emperor?" Prince Sheng looks at Xiao Feng with a shocked face.
"Don't be afraid when I am here, okay? Just answer me"
"A little bit" Xiao Feng tried to control the laugh but start laughing looking at the emperor as he took Sheng near him. Maid also was giggling and whispering.
"Emperor and empress look like a perfect family with prince Sheng," A maid said.
"Yeah" Another maid agreed. Prince Sheng was now in the emperor's embrace.
"So, you afraid of me?" Prince Sheng looked at Xiao Feng with pleading eyes.
"Don't scare him. Why don't you show father emperor what you learn yesterday? So, he will let us play"
"Right" Xiao Feng took a paper and dip the brush in ink and gave it to prince Sheng. Prince Sheng wrote his name.
"Sheng'er knows how to write his name?" Emperor was surprised and happy at the same time.
"Also, I know how to write father emperor's name," Prince Sheng wrote her father's name.
"Sheng'er is excellent"
"Thank you, father emperor"
"Your majesty, so can we go to play now?" Emperor chuckled.
"I didn't say so"
"Your majesty" Xiao Feng whined and prince Sheng also copied his mother's empress and whined.
"Father Emperor"
"Sheng'er be good, I will send your mother empress to play with you but I have few things to talk with her. Can you first go play with nanny Gu" Prince Sheng pouted but still agreed? He went out and after seeing him go out emperor looked at his empress.
"I have already prepared for the harem selection"
"Do you want to have a harem selection?" Emperor asked.
"Why not? The previous emperor had few concubines for 3 months but you have only 3 people in the harem. I am also somewhat lonely. With both concubine Wei and Shu pregnant, I am having peaceful days without anything to do. If you take more concubines, I think I will not be bored as now" Emperor chuckled understanding Xiao Feng's intention.
"Aren't you afraid I will love a concubine and not love you anymore?" Emperor asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Will you? After all, I don't think any of the candidates are as young and beautiful as me" Emperor laughed out loud and caressed the empress's head.
"Also, your majesty, I decide to visit Shan Liang Shu tomorrow"
Shan Liang Shu is a famous academy since the founding of the Sui kingdom. If someone comes from Shan Liang Shu, surely, he will get an official rank for sure. Not only that Shan Liang Shu also has the best teachers in the Sui kingdom.
"Why so suddenly? And you are like this"
"Not sudden, and what do you mean by saying I am like this? I am only pregnant for 2 and half months and what will you do if I am pregnant for 8 months? Will your majesty make me just lay down in the bed till I am in labour?"
"It's a good idea" Xiao Feng hit his arm with an unbelieving look.
"I am done talking with it. I was planning this for a few days, tomorrow there will be a competition and we can identify a few talents earlier and cultivate them since not every official in the court is loyal to your majesty"
"With you here, I can be at ease" Xiao Feng smiled. After the emperor went away Xiao Feng was playing with prince Sheng in the imperial garden. Xiao Feng sat down seeing Linlin come to the imperial garden. Prince Sheng was still playing.
"Your highness, your 1st sister went to meet Duke Hu"
"Duke Hu? I have heard that he has some quiet property and he is popular for being afraid of his wife"
"Right, Also Duke Ming and Duke Jing and Duke Luo and ministry of revenue, ministry of rituals and few more important ministers"
"Doesn't father take any action against her?" Linlin shook his head.
"Also, she has spent many assets in the Xiao family"
"Seem more like Xiao family is going to rebel" Xiao Feng chuckled.
"Is she going to put the 5th prince on the throne or sit on the throne herself? I don't know what my idiot sister wants. How about the fourth prince? What is on his side?"