Free Web NovelChapter 1292: Chapter 1281: Illegitimate Son
"I wonder if it will be a boy or a girl, what do you think?" Zhong Yi asked Ye Qiu, the large belly prominent.
"A boy," Ye Qiu replied with certainty.
"Why do you think it’s a boy?"
"The border area is too harsh, I don’t want our daughter to be born here."
"I think with you as her father, you certainly won’t let her suffer."
Ye Qiu chuckled, "Then you’re wrong. If it’s a boy, I’ll teach him strictly; if it’s a girl, I’ll teach her self-defense skills even more rigorously, to prevent her from being bullied in the future."
Zhong Yi glared at him, "How could you? If she learns martial skills, how will she ever get married? If you truly dare to teach her, I’d rather hope it’s a boy."
Ye Qiu just smiled without saying more, because he knew Zhong Yi was carrying a boy. He didn’t value sons over daughters, but in this era, girls are at a disadvantage, and he couldn’t bear that.
As the year-end approaches, the memorial from Kangqing Net arrived on the Emperor’s desk. He joked with Eunuch An, "That child, just set up some wooden planks at the seaside and forcibly pulled small merchants to dock there, couldn’t resist showing off to me, how typical."
Though it sounded like reprimand, there was no trace of it in his expression or tone, and Eunuch An followed along, "Isn’t this all because Your Majesty indulges him? Prince Kang has been a strong-willed person since childhood, he refuses to admit defeat. No matter how small, a port is still a port, right?"
"This child is exactly as you say, never liked to concede since childhood, though his two younger brothers are much stronger than him, he loves to be stubborn." The old Emperor spoke harshly, and Eunuch An dared not reply.
How could he respond? Agree with the Emperor that Prince Kang is inferior to Prince An and Prince Min? Although Prince Kang went to Nanyue, the Empress is still in the Central Palace!
"When I was just sorting, there were some Nanyue specialty fruits and dried seafood, all of Prince Kang’s filial piety. Would Your Majesty like to try them?"
"The taste is quite fishy." The Emperor frowned, but ultimately decided to give it a try, "After all, it’s the child’s intention, prepare them well and send them to Fengyang Palace, so the Empress and I can taste them together."
"If the Empress knew, she would certainly be happy. I’ve heard Prince Kang’s concubine is about to give birth, and the accompanying Imperial Physician said it might be a boy, the Empress will definitely be even happier hearing this." Eunuch An said with a smile.
The Emperor nodded in agreement, "The elder’s offspring are indeed few, if this time a healthy boy is born, the Empress will be quite relieved. By the way, isn’t the elder’s concubine Minister Ye’s sister?"
"That’s right, she is the Marquis Ye’s full-blood sibling."
"Ye Sheng, that sly old thing, really knows how to strategize, marrying off two daughters to marry my two sons, if he had no real ability, at least he has a talent in manipulation." The Emperor sneered coldly, "If it weren’t for him having a good son, merely having him under house arrest would not be enough."
"Is this what Heaven says, everyone has their own fortune?"
"What fortune does he have? Let’s forget about discussing this. It’s such good news, hurry and report it to the Empress, these years have truly aggrieved her." The old Emperor suddenly felt a sense of guilt.
Eunuch An listened, not saying a word, these are words the Emperor can say, but he cannot; however, he has his thoughts. Although the Empress and Emperor have been a couple since youth, back then the Emperor did not marry her by choice, so all these years the Emperor has not only withheld affection from the Empress and their son but has even been highly critical.
Through years of observation, Eunuch An speculates that the Emperor might have preferred Prince An as the Crown Prince. Now Prince Kang voluntarily withdrew, and the Empress shows an appearance of enjoying old age by relinquishing power, the Emperor likely feels deeply guilty, as his treatment of them over the years has been far from equitable.
"Did the Imperial Physician really say it’s a boy?" The Empress was indeed thrilled upon hearing the news, "This truly is wonderful news."
The Emperor, somewhat unused to her joyful demeanor, couldn’t help but dampen her spirits, "The Imperial Physician just said it might be, don’t have too high hopes."
"A girl would be good too, Hong’er says since Jing’er became pregnant her health has been consistently good, this time surely she will give birth to a healthy child," The Empress couldn’t contain her smile, "Heaven forbid, let nothing untoward happen to this child."
Hearing this last statement, the old Emperor’s expression shifted, not for any reason other than knowing what happened to the elder’s children, making his guilt even deeper.
"Since the birth is imminent, and the Imperial Physician says it’s a healthy child, send more gifts to the children. Whether they use them or not, it’s our token of goodwill, I recall I have two century-old ginsengs in my private treasury, give them one, didn’t Hong’er used to love my painting of Sunrise over Jiang Shan the most? Send that over too," the old Emperor said reluctantly.
One cut is a cut, two cuts are also cuts, he gathered a few more things, "If the children are born healthy, they are indeed worthy contributors of the Xiao Family, recently a batch of fine gemstones was imported from the Western Regions, give them to Hong’er’s concubine."
This rare display of generosity was met with the Empress expressing gratitude, "Then I thank Your Majesty on their behalf, knowing you’re always thoughtful about them despite their distance in Nanyue, they will certainly be delighted!"
"It’s only right. Quickly, let’s taste the local specialties that Hong’er brought from afar, they look quite unusual."
"Indeed, when Hong’er first wrote to me, he mentioned how different the Nanyue landscape is from the capital, it’s said that the leaves there stay green year-round, and the appearance is quite peculiar, with fresh vegetables and fruits available all year, though difficult to preserve. Eating them would hardly match the delicacies described in Hong’er’s letter."
Though she said this, the Empress bravely took a bite, then widened her eyes, "Your Majesty must try this, the fruit is truly good, very juicy, tasting such fruit in winter is genuinely satisfying."
"Is it that good?" The old Emperor skeptically took a bite, then began eating more quickly, the taste proving delightful without need for further words, "It’s indeed good, Hong’er can start cultivating them there and transport them to the capital."
However, the Empress shook her head, "Mass transportation costs are high, let’s just enjoy this as a treat."
Even though it is reluctant, as Emperor, he cannot frivolously waste resources for his own indulgence, otherwise what would he become?
Though being Emperor allows dominion over the World, trying to be a good Emperor involves many unavoidable compromises.
