Chapter 724 - Chapter 724: Hugging Together for Warmth
Chapter 724: Hugging Together for Warmth
Translator: 549690339
Even the news of Consort Pan Xian’s pregnancy could not soothe Emperor Yong Ping’s traumatized heart.
There were many empresses and concubines who were pregnant, but how many could be born?
He had already learned to remain calm. When it came to the real thing, he would wait until she was born. It would be tiring to talk too much, and it would save him from being happy for nothing.
Fortunately, Consort Pan Xian was as timid as a mouse, hiding in the Empress Dowager’s palace and not coming out no matter what. Even the Emperor had to personally go to the Peaceful Life Palace if he wanted to see her, just like visiting a prison.
On this day, there was no peace of mind in the Heaven Empress Palace. The previous dynasty had done something evil again. Although the world was peaceful, Emperor Yong Ping clearly felt that the road ahead was difficult and not easy for him.
With the intention to have a heart-to-heart talk with Empress Xiao, the young couple could only console themselves at most. They could not explain things and just huddled together to warm up.
Under such an atmosphere, even the emperor’s banquet on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month was listless.
Ever since Emperor Yong Ping’s accident at Swallow Lake, he had been afraid to leave the palace. Usually, he was surrounded by guards in the palace and attached great importance to the safety of his guards.
On the ninth day of the ninth month of each year, it was supposed to be a festival of longevity, wearing dogwood, eating lotus bait, appreciating chrysanthemums and drinking chrysanthemum wine.
Emperor Yong Ping didn’t even do much for the past year. He didn’t even leave the palace and only entertained the officials in the palace to drink and write Fu.
Originally, there was no convention in the harem. In the past, only the Eldest Princess of Kuaiji liked to be lively. Every year, whenever there was a reason, she would hold a few banquets. Ever since the death of the Eldest Princess of Kuaiji, no one from the Imperial Family joined in the fun.
This year, the Empress Dowager had started to invite the royal family and other women to enjoy chrysanthemums and banquets in the palace. Empress Xiao did not attend because of her father’s death. Everything was arranged by Noble Consort Chu, and even the seats were next to the Empress Dowager. Consort Pan Xian was already scared out of her wits. She did not even show up at such a big banquet, and was wholeheartedly hiding in the Peaceful Life Palace to recuperate.
Xie Xian had repeatedly rejected Empress Xiao’s invitation to enter the Palace, so Xiao Baoxin naturally did not attend this time.
It was impossible to slap the Empress ‘face in public. The Empress could not invite her, but she happily went to join in the fun when the Empress Dowager held a banquet. This was not only slapping the Empress’ face and telling everyone that the Xie and Xiao families had fallen out, but it was also clearly showing off her intelligence.
Xiao Baoxin sat at home, but there were many legends about her.
As for Bao ‘er, who was pampered by Xie Xian, she had not appeared in front of everyone for a long time, so there were very few incidents of her being fierce. Most of the people remembered how Xie Xian did not have eyes for Xiao Baoxin, how Xie Xian was wronged and was beaten up by Xiao Baoxin every day, and all kinds of rumors about Xiao Baoxin’s dark side.
Xie Wan walked around the palace and was basically speechless.
She didn’t even have the intention to defend herself against such a messy speculation.
Xie Xian looked weak, but deep down, he was stronger than anyone else. If a cow didn’t drink water, you could force it to drink. If his brother didn’t want to pamper his wife, even if you put a knife on his neck, he wouldn’t sell his body.
Some people didn’t know anything and just commented on other people’s lives. However, Xie Wan kept all of this in her heart and did not tell Xiao Baoxin.
Her sister-in-law ate and slept foolishly every day. She really didn’t need to say something irrelevant on such a leisurely day to make people feel annoyed.
She was completely unaware that Xiao Baoxin had heard all of her inner thoughts.
Putting everything else aside, Xiao Baoxin wanted to refute this ‘sleeping like a fool’ but was powerless to do so.
How could he refute the truth?
Madam Yuan completely took over the butler’s matters. With Xie Wan busy, Madam Yuan’s birthday, including Xiao Baoxin’s birthday, was all prepared by Xie Wan.
Originally, Xiao Baoxin had planned to celebrate his birthday in Rong An Hall.
However, Xie Xian didn’t want to make things difficult for her. She was supposed to do it when she entered the Xie family last year. It just so happened that Chu Lingzi was getting married, and the few of them went to do her makeup. The next day was Madam Yuan’s birthday, so she didn’t want to steal the limelight.
This time, she would not be allowed to keep such a low profile.
At the very least, it was necessary to gather a few close friends.
Xie Xian also didn’t want Xiao Baoxin to parade around with his big belly.
However, Madam Wang and Madam Cai had spoken at the same time, saying that it had to be done in a big way. Xiao Baoxin had given birth to a fat son less than a year after marrying into the Xie residence, and now he was pregnant with another one. How could they ignore it?
Even if others don’t want to invite them, we still have to invite our married sisters. Let’s make it lively and let outsiders see our united Xie family.
Alright, let’s not talk about anything else. Xiao Baoxin could tell that these two people saw that Xie Shan, Xie Chan, and Xie Juan were not very close to her. They were afraid that she would miss them at the banquet and let her in-laws see a joke.
To put it bluntly, he wanted to flatter his daughter.
Regardless of the troublesome young ladies of the Xie family, Madam Wang and Madam Cai still gave Xiao Baoxin a lot of face in the Xie residence. Madam Wang had once challenged her and tried to suppress her when she first married into the Xie residence. Later on, the Wang family fell, and Madam Wang instantly changed her attitude. In short, for more than a year, they had minded their own business and got along well. They still had to give Xiao Baoxin some face.
Xiao Baoxin wasn’t afraid of trouble, not to mention now that he had Xie Xian’s favor and Madam Yuan’s protection, those small fries wouldn’t be able to cause any big waves, so he readily agreed.
Even the eldest princess of Xuancheng had received an invitation. Although the wedding was imminent, she still arrived early.
Other than the few young ladies and daughters-in-law who lived in the Xie residence, the Eldest Princess of Xuan City had arrived earlier than Xie Er ‘niang and the other married daughters.
The banquet was held in Rong An Hall. The elders did not join in. The younger generation gathered together.
The eldest princess of Xuancheng was in high spirits. It was obvious that she was in high spirits after a happy event. Her eyes were smiling.
One by one, everyone arrived. Xie Juan was the last to arrive. In the Xie family, several young ladies had been spreading the news of pregnancy. Finally, it was her turn. She finally heaved a sigh of relief. She was only a month pregnant, and because of the obvious morning sickness, she had lost two sizes of weight compared to before. Compared to Xie Shan and Xie Chan, who were already six or seven months pregnant, she looked even more haggard.
The Eldest Princess of Xuancheng looked around. Half of the pregnant women, including Chu Lingzi and Madam Zu, had arrived. She felt a headache coming on.
“All of you…Forget it, I’d better stay away from you guys. I’m doing this big move. If there’s nothing, don’t touch you guys. “The Eldest Princess of Xuancheng felt a little helpless, but she was also inexplicably happy.
There were so many pregnant women at the wedding banquet. Was God telling her that she would have a baby soon after she got married?
Just thinking about it made him excited.
“Is Third Lady about to give birth?” Wang Qjong suddenly asked. Third Lady was naturally referring to Xiao Miaorong.
Chu Lingzi smiled and said,”This month is the month of the crown.””After she got pregnant, she had gained a few rounds of weight. When she smiled, she had a double chin.
“That’s right. It’s almost the end of the month when the news cameback.”Xiao Baoxin said. Xiao Miaorong had already sent someone to send her birthday gift over. However, because she had been having a hard time with this child and had been lying in bed to recuperate, Xiao Baoxin still missed it very much.
“Baoshu said that he had divined for Third Lady and that she should give birth to a boy.”The Eldest Princess of Xuancheng joined in excitedly.