[1]The Consort is Both Charming and Scheming, Rising Through Palace Intrigue

Beauty Xu, standing nearby, let her gaze flicker with amusement, a thin smile forming on her lips. "Could it be that you're expecting?"

Ning Shuyan's heart trembled, and she murmured in disbelief, "That's impossible..."

The Empress's eyes softened with a gentle smile. "Has your monthly cycle been delayed?"

Ning Shuyan pondered for a moment. "It was supposed to come around these days."

Concubine Ying's face showed a hint of joy. "Once the Imperial Physician checks your pulse, we'll know for sure. Given how much the Emperor favors you, it's highly likely."

A tightness gripped Ning Shuyan's heart. Why had she been feeling nauseous so often? But pregnancy was out of the question... perhaps she was simply unwell.

She inwardly sighed, already imagining the embarrassment she would face if it turned out to be a false alarm.

When Imperial Physician Lu arrived in haste, the Empress immediately urged him to take Ning Shuyan's pulse.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath. If the Emperor's most favored concubine—second only to Zhuang Fei—was truly pregnant, the palace would soon be in an uproar.

"Well? How is Lady Ning's health?" The Empress watched as the physician took his time diagnosing, growing impatient.

Imperial Physician Lu finally straightened and bowed. "Your Majesty, Lady Ning is with child. Congratulations."

Ning Shuyan froze in shock, her eyes widening as she stared at him in disbelief. "Are you sure? Could you have made a mistake?"

As the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, his skills far surpassed those of ordinary physicians. He affirmed with confidence, "Although it's still early, I can clearly detect the pregnancy pulse."

Ning Shuyan looked down at her flat stomach. How... how could this be? She sat there, as still as a statue, overwhelmed with disbelief and confusion.

The gathered concubines were momentarily stunned before quickly regaining their composure, masking their reactions behind warm smiles.

The Empress's face brightened as she spoke kindly to Ning Shuyan, "You seem to be in such shock that you've forgotten to be happy."

"This kind of joyous news must be shared with His Majesty immediately." She quickly ordered someone to inform Emperor Xiao Yu.

Realizing her momentary lapse, Ning Shuyan forced a smile and spoke softly, "I simply hadn't considered the possibility."

The Empress's smile deepened, her tone carrying a trace of genuine delight. "This is wonderful news. With two expectant mothers in the palace now, you must both take good care of yourselves so that His Majesty will have a healthy prince or princess."

The other expectant mother was Lady Xi, but due to complications in her pregnancy, she had been keeping a low profile.

The concubines all offered their congratulations, though beneath their pleasant facades, who could say how many were truly sincere?

Concubine Lin gazed at Ning Shuyan, her sharp eyes losing their earlier edge. With a saccharine smile, she said, "Earlier, I was just teasing you, dear sister. Please don't take it to heart."

She knew that with Ning Shuyan now carrying the Emperor's child, any complaint she made to him would likely result in some form of reprimand.

Ning Shuyan chuckled coldly inside, but outwardly, she maintained a gracious expression. "Since Your Highness calls it a joke, how could I possibly take offense?"

Only then did Concubine Lin relax.

The Empress, meanwhile, took time to carefully instruct Ning Shuyan on what to expect and how to care for herself, proving once again that she was a wise and magnanimous Empress.

After leaving Fengqi Palace, Ning Shuyan let out a deep sigh, her delicate brows furrowing. She simply couldn't believe she was pregnant.

As she pondered this, she saw Emperor Xiao Yu approaching with a radiant smile. Suppressing her inner turmoil, she masked her emotions and was about to bow when he quickly reached out to support her.

"You're with child now. From now on, you're exempt from formal greetings."

Ning Shuyan looked up at him. His expression was incredibly tender, his dark eyes filled with warmth, and his lips carried a trace of a smile. She lowered her gaze slightly and responded with a soft smile, "It's just a pregnancy, Your Majesty. I am not so fragile."

Nearby, the other concubines had lingered, witnessing the scene. Seeing how the Emperor personally supported Ning Shuyan and continued to hold her hands even after helping her up, their hearts twisted with jealousy. It was rare for the Emperor to show such warmth to a concubine—truly, a mother's status rose with her child's.

Xiao Yu waved a hand dismissively, allowing the concubines to rise before turning to Ning Shuyan. "I'll accompany you back to your palace."

Ning Shuyan nodded politely to the others before following him away.

Concubine Lin watched their retreating figures before nudging Concubine Ying. "Tell me, do you think Lady Ning's pregnancy will surpass Zhuang Fei's favor with the Emperor?"

Concubine Ying smiled faintly. "Fortune shifts like the turning of a wheel. No flower blooms forever, and Lady Ning is no exception."

Concubine Lin nodded in agreement. As she walked, her thoughts spun—besides Zhuang Fei, the only other favored concubines were Lady Rong and Lady Xi, the latter of whom was also pregnant. With Lady Rong currently under house arrest, and the two pregnant women temporarily out of the competition, her chances of being summoned for imperial favor had just increased. That realization soothed her bitterness somewhat.

Inside the imperial palanquin, Xiao Yu noticed Ning Shuyan's pale complexion and asked with concern, "You look unwell. What did the physician say?"

Ning Shuyan leaned slightly against him and smiled faintly. "He said it's early in the pregnancy, but nothing serious."

Xiao Yu's gaze softened as he looked at her abdomen. A small smile played on his lips, warm as jade. "Shuyan, I am truly happy."

It wasn't his first time hearing news of a concubine's pregnancy, and he had always been pleased by such announcements. But this time, something felt different—something he couldn't quite put into words.

Ning Shuyan lifted her gaze to him. He looked nothing like the composed and indifferent monarch he usually was. In the sunlight, his dark hair gleamed with a golden sheen, making him appear gentler than ever before.

Perhaps, in the presence of their unborn children, all fathers revealed a softer side.

She smiled. "Yes, Your Majesty. To carry your child is my greatest joy."

As they stepped down from the palanquin, Xiao Yu carefully supported her.

Upon entering the inner hall, he addressed the palace servants. "Your mistress is now carrying my child. Take good care of her. When she delivers a healthy heir, I shall reward you all handsomely."

Hearing this, the servants' faces lit up with joy as they all bowed in unison. Only Qiu Le, who shared Ning Shuyan's unspoken doubts, felt a sense of unease.