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Was she pregnant? She felt nothing!

How long had it been since her last monthly cycle? Ah, she had forgotten!

But how did she only find out now? Xiao Qing seemed to know as well!

She blankly lowered her head, murmuring to herself, "Am I pregnant? Is there a little baby inside? His Majesty’s?"

The Emperor was somewhat speechless; if the child wasn’t his, whose could it be? Everything was recorded in the daily annals, no falsification was possible.

His Little Concubine really, she dared to say anything, he was helpless!

The Emperor turned her face towards his, their foreheads touching, and said, "You are with child. You must be careful with your health from now on, and not act as you used to. Do you understand?"

Lian Hua was still somewhat dazed, nodding her head mechanically without really taking in what His Majesty had said. Her mind was entirely occupied with the thought that she was going to have a child...

Seeing her still dazed, the Emperor grew uneasy and asked, "Are you not happy to carry my child?" He finished, looking at her anxiously.

Their estrangement had just been resolved; he feared she was unhappy. If that was the case, then it might be better if there were no child at all...

Yet when he thought about the child they would nurture together, an Imperial Son, he couldn’t help but look forward to it.

He wanted to have a child with her; with a child, they would be forever bound, and their destinies in this life could never be severed.

Lian Hua’s gaze started to focus, sensing His Majesty’s anxiety. She slowly lifted her hand to smooth out the wrinkles in His Majesty’s brow, nodded, and then shook her head, saying, "This servant had not given it any thought; it’s quite a shock."

Her days had previously been so precarious, filled with everyday concerns, she had never considered this matter. The news was initially hard to accept, but upon reflection, this was her child with him—maybe it wasn’t so unacceptable. The only question was, what would their future child look like?

She tilted her head, musing aloud, "Hmm... well, if the child resembles His Majesty, so handsome and distinguished, that would be truly wonderful."

She had heard His Majesty talk about his childhood calligraphy lessons; she had imagined that scene, a little His Majesty, sitting stern and serious as he practiced writing—how adorable that must have been.

Once the child was born, she would pinch the baby’s cheeks every day, just like His Majesty did with her.

She would have to start teaching her child from a young age; she would show him how to play, make clay figures, and catch fish. She would pass on everything she knew, ensuring her child had plenty of fun.

He could learn poetry, calligraphy, reading, and conduct from His Majesty; she wouldn’t be needed for that. She would take care of everything else.

Ah, what a great responsibility; starting from today, she would have to make a child-rearing plan!

Sometimes she would also have to act like her mother, trying out what it felt like to discipline her child; that seemed rather nice. After all, her mother loved to scold her.

But every time she saw her mother reprimanding her, her mother looked very angry. Maybe she should forget about it? She didn’t like to get angry, so it’s best to leave it be.

Thinking about future moments teaching her child, she couldn’t help but look forward to it.

Lian Hua had lost herself in a reverie.

Hearing her words, the Emperor’s unease evaporated, his eyes shimmering like a sky filled with stars, joy welling up within him uncontrollably.

At that moment, his emotions overwhelmed him; as Lian Hua came back to her senses, he couldn’t resist embracing her tightly, holding her gently, his heart throbbing.

This was his Little Concubine—the initial shock on her face, seeming to struggle with acceptance, as though the thought of having children had never crossed her mind. Yet quickly she told him if the child were like him, she would be willing to bear it.

Still, it would be better if the child resembled her; cute and endearing like her, someone who naturally drew out others’ protective instincts.

The Emperor held Lian Hua in his arms and couldn’t resist kissing her again.

Within His Majesty’s embrace, Lian Hua thought about how in the future she would stand with hands on hips, instructing their child on how to play, and if they didn’t play well, she would have to pick up the rattan and give them a spanking.

The thought made her want to laugh, and she couldn’t help but giggle.

Upon hearing the laughter, the Emperor released her and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Lian Hua quickly suppressed her smile, daring not to laugh anymore—she couldn’t let His Majesty know what she was thinking; what if he were to object?

"Nothing, really nothing," she said while shaking her head, unnaturally sitting upright and turning her head toward the dressing table. At that moment, a bowl of dark, thick medicinal soup appeared before her eyes.

The Emperor followed her gaze.

Hmm... he had almost forgotten about that.

The room suddenly became quiet.

The smile in Lian Hua’s eyes solidified; she became somewhat stiff and slowly turned her head to glance at His Majesty.

There was laughter in the Emperor’s eyes, but his face was serious as he nodded at her, as if to say, drink up!

Lian Hua’s mouth gaped open and her almond eyes widened—could she not drink it?

Seeing this, the Emperor pinched her cheek and said in a gentle voice, "Be good, it will make you better and it’s not bitter."

Lian Hua shook her head in protest; all medicine was bitter—she did not believe it!

Seeing her disbelief, the Emperor took a sip of it, tasted it, and said with an unchanged expression, "I’ve tasted it, it really isn’t bitter."

Lian Hua became skeptical but was still unwilling, "Your Majesty, look at how well I am, wouldn’t it be alright not to drink it?" She couldn’t help but pull at His Majesty’s sleeve, starting to act coquettishly.

The Emperor looked at her pitiful appearance, his heart melting into a mess.

Yet, she had just been through a mishap, and with too much worry and emotional turmoil, it wasn’t good not to drink the medicine—as she needed to properly nourish the fetus.

With this in mind, he had to harden his heart and began to coax her, "This is for your own good, you can’t shy away from treatment. Be good, it’s just a small bowl, like the soups you normally drink. A few gulps and it’s gone. Look, I’ve had some, and it’s not the least bit bitter."

The Emperor was sincere and lifted the bowl of medicine to her face as he spoke.

Hearing this, Lian Hua hesitated, took the bowl of medicine, and as a strong scent of herbs assailed her, her heart was filled with reluctance, "Your Majesty, how about we still don’t drink it, after all, medicine is poison in itself, what if it harms the child in my belly?"

The Emperor’s head was full of black lines—this medicine was specifically to nourish the fetus, how could it harm the child in her womb? His Little Concubine was starting to spout nonsense again...

He steeled his heart and sternly said to her, "You’re talking nonsense again. Drinking this will ensure the fetus’s well-being. I’ll indulge you in other things, but you must drink this medicine. Don’t you want a child who’s just like me?"

Realizing that throwing a tantrum wouldn’t get her out of it, Lian Hua looked up at His Majesty, then down at the bowl of medicine, her expression aggrieved. Gritting her teeth, she pinched her nose and downed it in one go.

After drinking, she could only feel bitterness at the back of her throat, her stomach churning, making her cough and her eyes well up with tears, her voice laced with grievance, "Your Majesty, you lied to me!" Afterwards, her lips pouted, looking like she was about to cry.

The Emperor quickly held her in his arms, gently patting her back to soothe her, while kissing and coaxing her, "There, there, it’s over now, it’s okay, I was wrong. How about something sweet to take the taste away..."

What ensued was a commotion—searching for preserved fruits and cajoling her. After much effort, he finally managed to soothe her.

Not long after she calmed down, the tender Little Concubine began to feel sleepy.

The Emperor had to carry her to bed, and when he was about to leave, she clung to his neck, not wanting him to go.

He had no choice but to lie down beside her and keep her company until she was deeply asleep before he could leave.