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

Ning Shuyan slowly sat down, holding her chest and saying, "Much better now. Your Majesty, why didn't you leave earlier? I pushed you, and you kept coming closer."

Xiao Yu realized what she meant. The room still carried a faint sour and unpleasant odor—she had been worried he would smell it.

He gently tapped her small nose. "You're carrying my child. It's already hard enough on you—how could I ever find you unpleasant?"

As he spoke, he placed his hand on her lower belly, as if soothing the child within.

Ning Shuyan lowered her gaze to his large palm and smiled faintly. This little one certainly knew how to act up for attention—normally her morning sickness wasn't this severe, but just now she vomited so hard she nearly passed out. Was it because the emperor had come, and the baby wanted to make him worry?

At the thought, Ning Shuyan chuckled softly. Xiao Yu looked up at her. "What's so funny?"

"You're really acting like a good father now, Your Majesty," she said brightly.

The attendants in the hall had all sensibly stepped away to avoid disturbing the couple, while staying close enough to respond if summoned.

Her eyes curved in a smile, lips slightly parted, and the dimples on her cheeks bloomed like peach blossoms in spring, about to unfold.

Xiao Yu stared at her intently, his gaze like warm spring water enveloping her. "Yaner, I want a princess as lovely as you."

Ning Shuyan smiled, lips pressed together. "The royal family has always favored sons. I didn't expect Your Majesty to prefer a daughter."

Xiao Yu wrapped an arm around her, teasing, "First comes the blossom, then the fruit. Let's take our time."

First the blossom, then the fruit?

Did he already want a second child?

Ning Shuyan pouted. "This one's just been conceived, and Your Majesty is already thinking about the next?"

Xiao Yu tightened his arm around her waist. "We have a long life ahead of us, Yaner. Of course this won't be our only child."

Ning Shuyan replied sweetly, "Your Majesty only needs to plant the seed. I'm the one who has to nourish it and bear the child. It's me who suffers the most, yet Your Majesty wants me to have more? What if pregnancy ruins my figure and my looks fade? I'll spend the rest of my life leaning against a heater, watching the days go by. It's hardly worth it."

She sighed dramatically, half joking and half genuinely lamenting.

Xiao Yu laughed heartily and pinched her soft cheek. "I'm just thinking... If our daughter is as clever-tongued as you, how will I ever handle the both of you?"

Ning Shuyan scoffed and gently patted her still-flat belly. Smiling mischievously, she said, "Child, do you hear your father? He keeps calling you a daughter. If you're not a girl, your mother and I might fall out of favor!"

Xiao Yu feigned displeasure and scolded gently, "Why are you saying that in front of the child? What if the baby hears?"

Ning Shuyan couldn't help but giggle. "It's just a tiny bean right now. What could it possibly understand?"

Xiao Yu looked deadly serious. "Don't talk nonsense! Even a small fetus is flesh and blood—it can understand."

Ning Shuyan held back her laughter and nodded obediently. "Yes, I understand, Your Majesty."

After a moment of calm, she spoke more seriously. "I'm hoping this will be our only child. As the saying goes, it's hard to treat all children equally. I want to give all my love to just this one."