novelraw Chapter 152 The Emperor Learns of the Pregnancy: His Most Fortunate Choice
Chapter 152 The Emperor Learns of the Pregnancy: His Most Fortunate Choice
Xiao Jing leaned down, gently pressing his forehead against hers, and placed his palm on the back of her neck to soothe her.
"I'm back, don't be afraid."
The Empress Dowager's face turned pale with anger at Xiao Yan's disregard, and she said in a trembling voice, "Emperor, even now, are you still going to protect her?"
Xiao Yan slowly turned around.
That glance swept over, and the Empress Dowager fell silent.
That gaze held no anger, only a deep indifference, yet it was more chilling than thunderous fury.
She remembered that look—
A few years ago, when the emperor returned to the capital after being assassinated, his gaze was just as cold and lifeless.
Without saying a word, Xiao Yan carefully picked up Song Shuangning and walked steadily toward the inner hall.
The Empress Dowager called out, "Emperor—"
Xiao Yan continued walking.
Inside the hall, Xiao Yan knelt on one knee in front of the bed, his gaze fixed on her.
Song Shuangning had recovered from her drowsiness and looked down at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan held her slightly cool hand tightly, and gently stroked her pale cheek with his other hand.
"It's all my fault."
"I'm late."
He never expected the Empress Dowager to go to such lengths; in just two days, she would resort to such methods to treat Ningning.
"It's alright," Song Shuangning's eyes welled up with tears. With him back, she no longer had to bear the burden of these past few days, and she could finally take a break.
Song Shuangning raised her hand and placed it on the back of his hand, her voice gentle: "Isn't the Emperor back? It's good that he's back."
Xiao Yan's Adam's apple bobbed as he slowly buried his head in her waist, gently wrapping his arms around her waist.
From an angle where Song Shuangning couldn't see, there was a hint of red in the corner of his eyes.
Xiao Yan's voice was muffled, trembling with lingering fear: "Ningning, thank goodness you're alright."
No one else knew how anxious and worried he was that day.
As early as the first day he left the palace, his spies in the palace had already sent word that the Empress Dowager was going to cause trouble for him.
However, the relatives and officials in the Imperial Ancestral Temple had not yet been properly appeased, and he was unable to spare any attention. He could only patiently complete all the necessary procedures and rituals one by one.
This morning, after appeasing his relatives and officials, he rode back to the palace alone. The journey took half a day, exhausting two fine horses, and he managed to squeeze out two hours.
The bumpy ride was nothing compared to her safe and sound appearance at this moment.
Song Shuangning gently stroked his back, coaxing him like a child.
"Your Majesty, I am fine."
After a long while, Xiao Yan finally raised his head, and the gloom in his eyes dissipated somewhat.
"You rest well, I'll go and deal with those troubling matters first, okay?"
Song Shuangning grabbed his hand, preventing him from leaving.
Xiao Yan had no choice but to remain kneeling on one knee, looking up at her: "What's wrong? Are you reluctant to part with me?"
"A few days ago, I received some incredibly good news. I originally intended to keep it from Your Majesty until everything was finalized before informing you, so as to give Your Majesty a big surprise. But I just couldn't contain myself. Now it seems that it's almost certain."
Seeing her serious expression, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile slightly: "Oh? What's the surprise?"
Song Shuangning smiled, took his hand, and placed it on her lower abdomen, her eyes sparkling: "Can Your Majesty feel it?"
Xiao Yan froze, his gaze fixed blankly on her lower abdomen, as if he had lost his mind, and remained motionless for a long time.
Song Shuangning couldn't help but chuckle.
Why isn't His Majesty reacting?
Xiao Yan's fingers trembled slightly.
When he looked up, his eyes were already red-rimmed, and his voice was trembling: "Is...is it what I think?"
Song Shuangning nodded emphatically, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
Xiao Yan felt a surge of warmth in his heart and immediately and carefully embraced her.
The joy and relief in my heart were almost overflowing.
Thankfully, thankfully he made it back in time.
He recalled that at dawn that day, the Empress and the King of Chu had repeatedly urged him to complete the sacrificial ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple before returning to the palace. But at that time, he had been obstinate.
Looking back now, it has become the most fortunate decision of my life.
Song Shuangning snuggled closer to him, her fingertips gently tracing his clothes: "Your Majesty, I wish to announce the good news only after the pregnancy is more stable."
"Okay, whatever you say."
The faint fragrance of orchids from her hair lingered around his nose, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense all day, finally settled down, feeling utterly at peace.
*
After a long while, Xiao Yan came out with steady steps, his expression so calm that it was hard to fathom.
The Empress Dowager hurriedly went to greet him, and, unwilling to give up, advised him: "You probably didn't hear what Xuan Du said just now. Let me tell you again. This incense is called 'Soul Lock,' and it is specifically designed to kill those who harbor evil thoughts. Consort Yuan is tainted with the aura of a malevolent star, so when she smells this incense, her blood and qi surge, and she becomes dizzy and weak. Your Majesty, you can no longer be so deluded."
Xiao Yan remained silent, his cold gaze sweeping over the incense-filled altar. He then stepped forward and kicked the table hard, instantly knocking over all the ritual implements and incense offerings.
The incense and candles rolled to the ground, sparks flying everywhere.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" The Empress Dowager was both shocked and furious.
Xiao Yan pointed at Xuan Du, who was being restrained by the guards, and sneered, "Does the Empress Dowager think that everything Ci Ren said is true?"
The Empress Dowager forced herself to remain calm and said with a stiff neck, "Xuandu is a high-ranking monk, how could his words be false?"
"Oh?" Xiao Yan's voice was full of sarcasm.
"So it's true that he told the Empress Dowager that as long as Consort Yuan is dealt with and the so-called 'evil aura' is dispelled, Xiao Ze, whom you cherish so much, can enter the ancestral hall to enjoy incense offerings throughout the year and return to peace?"
The Empress Dowager's eyes widened.
The Emperor even knew about this.
Xiao Yan disregarded the Empress Dowager's feelings and spoke frankly in front of everyone.
The group exchanged a surprised look.
The Empress Dowager mobilized such a large force not only for the sake of the country, but also for the sake of the deceased Xiao Ze.
The abbot went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, while Xuan Du stayed by the Empress Dowager's side. He tricked the Empress Dowager by saying that Consort Yuan Zhao was carrying evil energy and had offended Xiao Ze's spirit, causing Xiao Ze's soul to wander and not find peace.
Only by eliminating Ningning can Xiao Ze's soul be released, enter the ancestral hall to enjoy incense offerings throughout the year, and return to peace.
"It is true that he is the abbot's last disciple, but the purpose of fabricating such a huge lie is obvious."
"Guards, take this treacherous monk to the prison and interrogate him severely. Use torture to pry open his mouth and find out who exactly instigated him to provoke the Empress Dowager."
Xiao Yan twirled the jade thumb ring. On the first day of his sacrificial ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, a secret report was delivered to him.
He had spies in the Empress Dowager's Shou Kang Palace, and the Empress Dowager's most trusted nanny was also one of his people.
The abbot was shocked and said he knew nothing about the matter. Then the abbot recalled that only Xuandu had handled the bronze divination tool.
In this way, everything makes sense.
Xuan Du tampered with the divination tools, which is why the "Zhaohua Sha" appeared.
The Empress Dowager suddenly realized that this was a complete deception, and regretfully grabbed Xiao Yan's robe.
"Mother was also bewitched by that villain. These days, I dream every night that your brother said he was helpless and his soul was wandering around, living a miserable life. I was confused for a moment and believed that villain's lies. Besides, I was thinking of the country and the nation. Abbot, the abbot also said that the bond between you and me is shallow, which is also due to the influence of the Zhaohua evil spirit."
After she finished speaking, Xiao Yan raised his hand to summon the guard beside him and took the gleaming sword from him.