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Shen Chuwei did not understand why the Empress suddenly brought up this matter, although she knew it was a misdiagnosis by the Imperial Doctor Wang, she did not refute.

Once the child was born, the misdiagnosis and rumors would naturally collapse without any attack.

"Concubine remembers."

The Empress comforted, "Do not take this matter to heart, maintain your health, you will have children in the future."

As for Imperial Doctor Wang accepting bribes and deliberately saying that Shen Chuwei was unlikely to conceive, the Empress did not plan to mention it now.

Shen Chuwei nodded her head, "Concubine understands."

After discussing these matters, the Empress secretly rubbed her hands together, and with a serious face, she suggested, "Lady Shen, how about having hotpot for lunch?"

Shen Chuwei immediately agreed with a clap of her hands, "That sounds wonderful, hotpot is most suitable for summer."

The last time she accidentally fell into the water and had the fortune to eat hotpot, she must take advantage of the opportunity with the Empress present!

Once past this village, there won’t be such a shop again.

The Empress, hearing this, showed a relieved smile, "That’s good to hear, whatever ingredients you need, let Eunuch Ren fetch them from the Imperial Kitchen."

Shen Chuwei chuckled, turned her head to Chun Xi, and said with rightful confidence, "Chun Xi, communicate with Eunuch Ren."

"As you command," what could Chun Xi say? With the Empress present, she was willing but powerless!

Chun Xi was efficient at her work, and it did not take long for her to prepare the hotpot ingredients. With the ingredients ready, the rest would be quick.

In the small kitchen, there were watermelon, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers which Chun Xi arranged into a fruit platter.

On the round dining table, there was a stove burning charcoal, and the pot was bubbling with broth.

Chun Xi placed the fruit platters in front of the Empress and Shen Chuwei respectively.

The Empress, looking at the fruits arranged like flowers before her, felt it was somewhat novel, "Fruit arranged so decoratively, both beautiful and elegant."

Shen Chuwei said, "It’s the Empress who is impressive, to Concubine’s eyes, it is but a plate of food."

The Empress could not help but laugh at these words, "Indeed, it is just a plate of food."

Chun Xi was in charge of picking the food, while Shen Chuwei and the Empress were responsible for eating.

They ate the hotpot and fruit simultaneously.

This time, without exception, the Empress was again carried out by the Phoenix Carriage.

Shen Chuwei, content, wiped her mouth and then went to the couch for a nap.

When the Emperor came to Fengyi Palace, he saw the Empress returning in the Phoenix Carriage.

The Empress seldom used the Phoenix Carriage within the palace.

Her sudden use of the Phoenix Carriage, could it be that something had happened?

At that moment, the Empress seeing the Emperor, dismounted from the Phoenix Carriage, and because she had eaten too much, she bowed slowly.

"Your Majesty."

The Emperor, seeing the Empress moving slowly and with one hand on her waist, was all too familiar with this gesture, the Empress had been like this when she was pregnant.

The Emperor stepped forward, affectionately took the Empress’s hand, and asked, "Empress, are you unwell somewhere?"

The Empress looking at the suddenly enthusiastic "puppy Emperor," was utterly bewildered, "Concubine does not feel unwell."

The Emperor knew that the Empress had not been in a good mood lately, most likely due to menopause.

"Empress, we are old husband and wife, is there anything you cannot share with me?"

The Empress looked at the "puppy Emperor" with disdain, if it were not for his face as the Emperor, she would have already left in a huff.

Day by day, always making trouble out of nothing.

This warmth now, he must certainly have a favor to ask of her.

Wishful thinking on your part!

"Your Majesty, Concubine really is fine."

The Emperor subconsciously assumed that the Empress was holding back out of annoyance, deliberately not telling him about the pregnancy.

No matter, he would play along with the Empress, pretending to be unaware.

"Let me assist you inside to rest for a while."

The Empress, with a confused face, was escorted by the dog Emperor to near Fengyi Palace, and then on to the inner chamber.

The Emperor glanced at the Palace Maids serving in the bedchamber and said, "You all may leave."

"As you wish." The Palace Maids withdrew one by one.

With everyone gone, the Emperor directly called the Empress by her pet name, "Lingling, come, sit down and rest awhile."

Still with a face full of confusion, the Empress was helped by the dog Emperor to sit down on the consort’s couch.

She looked up at the dog Emperor and saw him go to the table to pick up a teapot to pour water.

Did the dog Emperor forget to take his medicine today?

"Lingling, here, drink some water." The Emperor, holding a teacup, walked over and handed it to the Empress, his handsome face, marked by the years, also held a trace of tenderness.

The Empress was stunned for a long moment, "Your Majesty, how do you have time to come here?"

"I’ve been too busy lately to visit Fengyi Palace to see you. Today I happened to have some free time, so I came over."

Because the Crown Prince had taken his place on the battlefield, the Emperor found himself busier than before, with no one to help him review memorials, and thus became more occupied.

Could it be that he was so busy he hadn’t seen a woman, and that’s why he suddenly became tender?

No longer picking on her?

The Empress eyed the dog Emperor suspiciously, trying to detect the reason behind his abnormal behavior.

Noticing the Empress’s gaze fixated on himself, he asked puzzledly, "Lingling, what’s wrong with you?"

"Your concubine is fine." The Empress took the teacup from the Emperor’s hand, brought it to her lips to take a few sips to calm her nerves.

The Emperor then said, "Lingling, if you feel unwell at any time, remember to have the Imperial Doctor take a look, understand?"

The Empress paused in her tea drinking, a question mark forming in her mind. What did the dog Emperor mean by that?

*

Shen Chuwei closed her eyes and gently rubbed her belly as she pondered. It had been three days since she had hot pot, and during these days, Chun Xi made sure that the meals she prepared weren’t spicy at all.

The reason being she had a heaty condition.

It had also been four days since she last had Braised Pork. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," they say; wouldn’t four days feel like a year?

Shen Chuwei heard footsteps and cracked open one eye, spotting Chun Xi coming in, and then fully opened her other eye too.

"Chun Xi, I’ve gotten thinner; it’s time to replenish."

"Young Mistress, I made a hen soup the day before yesterday, and pork ribs soup yesterday. Isn’t that enough nourishment?" Chun Xi recounted one by one.

Shen Chuwei smiled awkwardly, "How can it be enough with just soups? I need Braised Pork."

She emphasized the last two words with increased intonation.

Seeing Shen Chuwei’s expression, Chun Xi knew that her Young Mistress was craving Braised Pork again.

"Young Mistress, can we make Braised Pork again tomorrow?"

Shen Chuwei said, "I don’t want Braised Pork, I want Braised Pork Ribs, they’re less greasy."

Upon hearing this, Chun Xi paused for a moment, "Then we’ll have Braised Pork Ribs."

At dinner, Shen Chuwei got her wish and enjoyed Braised Pork Ribs, devouring three bowls of rice and more than half of a plate of ribs.

Shen Chuwei only did three things in a day: sleep, eat, and paint.

She was painting today when the Empress came.

Shen Chuwei collected her painting and went to meet the Empress.

Qing Ying, following behind the Empress with a fan, looked quite hot; Xiaoxiang Pavilion, without any ice, must be even hotter.

"I had someone send some ice over for you so it will be cooler in the summer days."

Upon hearing about the ice, Shen Chuwei’s eyes lit up with joy, "Thank you, Empress."

As the Empress approached, Shen Chuwei detected a faint musk scent and lifted her handkerchief to her nose, "Empress, have you used musk?"

The Empress shook her head in confusion, "Not at all. I may not be knowledgeable in medicine, but I know musk is harmful to a woman’s health. Why would I use it?"

Shen Chuwei sniffed around the Empress and then glanced at the sachet at her waist. Pointing at it, she said, "Empress, there’s musk in this sachet."

Just then, Steward Ren hustled in, "Your Majesty, something has happened. Concubine Ning is having a difficult labor; I’m afraid the Prince might not survive."