“What is it? Just speak directly.”

Wan Xiao said, “Childbirth is no easy matter for women. Please help me find a skilled physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau to attend to her.”

“Don’t let anyone know this was my doing.”

“Done.”

After telling Wan Xiao about how Lin Jiayue had entered the palace to ask Song Wan for an imperial physician specializing in obstetrics and pediatrics, Ji Rong said, “The Empress has entrusted this matter to me. I can now conveniently find you a reliable midwife as well.”

Wan Xiao smiled and expressed his gratitude, then turned to return to Changle Palace to find Shen Qianyu.

Who knew that just as he arrived at the gates of Changle Palace, he would see palace maids and eunuchs with faces full of joy.

“What has you all smiling so happily?”

“The Empress is with child! Her Majesty is with child…”

“Excellent, excellent.”

Wan Xiao’s eyes were also filled with delight.

The Emperor and Empress were deeply devoted to each other, but it was also a fact that the Emperor’s neglect of the harem had resulted in few heirs, and the Empress had long been criticized for this.

Now that the Empress was pregnant again, it would give the court officials less to talk about.

If this child was also a prince, that would be even better.

He had known Shen Qianyu and Ji Rong for many years. The journey that had brought the three brothers to this day had been truly arduous.

Thinking this, a trace of a smile floated into Wan Xiao’s eyes.

“Congratulations to Your Majesty, congratulations to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Joyous, truly joyous indeed.”

Shen Qianyu grinned widely. “If the national treasury weren’t so depleted, I would even want to grant another general amnesty and reduce taxes again.”

Song Wan glanced at him and smiled gently as she touched her abdomen.

This pregnancy was not as difficult as her previous one. The little one in her belly was well-behaved and obedient, never troubling her.

However, for some reason, Song Wan’s appetite had improved greatly during this pregnancy, and she felt hungry all day long.

By the time she was five months along, she had grown rounder all over, appearing much more plump than before.

Shen Qianyu had also developed a new habit because of this, delighting in feeding Song Wan every day.

“Wan’er, have one more bite. The small kitchen has been stewing this five-flavor duck for a long time. It’s tender and easy to digest, and the flavor is fresh and sweet.”

“I’ve asked the imperial physicians, and this amount of food won’t be burdensome. Wan’er need not worry.”

Song Wan caught the aroma of meat and found it exceptionally delicious.

She watched as Shen Qianyu brought the duck meat to her lips with chopsticks, and she couldn’t help but open her mouth slightly.

After swallowing the duck meat, Song Wan said, “I haven’t seen Song Yao and Song Nian since their marriages. If we have time tomorrow, why not summon the four of them—both couples—to enter the palace together?”

“Can your body manage it?”

“Of course it can.”

She stroked her abdomen and said with a gentle smile, “This little one isn’t like Yan’er. They’ve never made me suffer at all.”

“Our daughter will surely be as well-behaved as Wan’er.”

After helping Song Wan wipe her mouth, Shen Qianyu said softly, “Since your body is fine, it would be good to see your family sisters. I also worry you might find palace life boring or feel stifled.”

Song Wan nodded in agreement.

Although this pregnancy hadn’t caused her much suffering, she had become considerably plumper, making her somewhat clumsy at times. Yet Shen Qianyu particularly loved watching her in this unprecedented awkward state.

“Tonight I’ll stay by Wan’er’s side.”

When they were expecting Shen Shiyan, they had still known to sleep in separate beds, but now Shen Qianyu had long since abandoned such concerns. Even the canopy bed that had previously been in the bedchamber had been moved out long ago.

Helping Song Wan to the bedside, Shen Qianyu carefully helped her change into her sleeping garments.

“I can do it myself…”

“Let me help Wan’er.”

Draping the soft inner robe over Song Wan, Shen Qianyu also adjusted the cushions for her. The two lay down together in their clothes, and Shen Qianyu gently ran his fingers through her long hair.

“I wonder if she’ll be born looking just like Wan’er?”

“I don’t know.”

“I think she will.”

Shen Qianyu rose from the bed and carefully pressed his ear against Song Wan’s swollen belly.

Seeing this, Song Wan smiled faintly. “Have you thought of a name for her yet?”

“I have.”

The man turned and got off the bed, pulling out from his desk a thick stack of gold-flecked paper filled with single characters.

He moved close to Song Wan. “I’ve been choosing for over twenty days, but no matter how I pick, I still favor the character ‘jiao.'”

“I want her to be our precious darling.”

“I want her to have people who cherish and dote on her her entire life, not just you and me.”

“Jiao’er’s future husband must be chosen by me. If he cannot treat her even better than I do, then I would rather keep Jiao’er in the palace for her whole life.”

Song Wan watched as Shen Qianyu spoke and actually became melancholy, and she couldn’t help but find it amusing.

The child wasn’t even born yet, and he was already planning so far ahead. She truly didn’t know what he would do if there really came a day when the little princess married.

Touching her abdomen, Song Wan suddenly felt a bit worried.

Shen Qianyu loved the little princess so much, but what if she gave birth to another little prince instead? What would he do then?

Thinking of this, Song Wan laughed softly.

“Does Wan’er think this name isn’t good?”

“It’s excellent. I love our Jiao’er.”

The husband and wife talked by candlelight late into the night, until Song Wan felt hungry again in her belly. Only after Shen Qianyu brought her a meat and rice porridge that had been simmered for a long time, fragrant with the aroma of rice, and she slowly ate it, did she feel settled.

This pregnancy was easy for Song Wan. The next day when Song Yao and Song Nian entered the palace with their respective husbands, she had risen early yet felt not the slightest bit tired.

“We pay our respects to Her Majesty the Empress and Noble Consort Shang.”

After the four paid their respects to Song Wan and Shang Rong, they each took their seats.

Song Nian looked at Song Wan, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, and felt quite surprised in her heart.

Song Wan had changed greatly since becoming pregnant. Perhaps because she carried a child in her womb, her gaze was gentle and peaceful, filled with maternal love.

In the past at the Song residence, though the other woman’s manner had been gentle and she had seemed docile, Song Nian had always been able to see some wariness and scrutiny in her eyes.

But the Song Wan of now had only gentle tenderness in her eyes, along with a serene contentment that was impossible to describe in words.

Today she wore only ordinary clothes, her hair simply pinned up with a single pearl hairpin, without any trace of an empress’s imposing dignity.

Yet strangely, when meeting her gaze, no one could ignore her commanding presence.

It wasn’t that Song Wan was in any way ostentatious, but rather…

Song Nian lowered her head and smiled faintly.

Perhaps it was simply that power cultivated a person.

This kind of life was probably what Song Yao had sought her entire life, yet could never achieve no matter how hard she tried.

Withdrawing her gaze from Song Wan, Song Nian quietly listened to what the others at the gathering were saying, but her mind couldn’t help thinking of Song Yao.

After all, she and Song Yao had grown up together. Although the two sisters had quarreled unpleasantly several times in recent years, in her heart, Song Yao was always closer to her than Song Wan.

This was probably the power of blood kinship.

Even though she knew what kind of person Song Yao was, she still thought of her own legitimate elder sister.

“Madam, please have some hot tea.”

Seeing the sorrow that flashed through her eyes, Ming Shiqi pushed the teacup in front of Song Nian.

“Thank you, husband.”

After quietly thanking Ming Shiqi, Song Nian brought the tea before her to her lips and took a light sip.

Her spirits were low, truly because she had suddenly thought of what it would have been like if Song Yao had also been present today.

Because of the Battle of Su River, the court had lost many important ministers, and positions above and below had shifted considerably.

The scholar surnamed Hu whom her father had selected for Song Yao had also entered the Ministry of Justice as an official this year. Though he wasn’t in any particularly important position, he was also considered part of the Song faction, and when her elder brother’s position changed in the future, his situation wouldn’t be too bad either.

As for Song Zhao’s marriage to the Qi family, it had already been formally settled. Although they hadn’t yet gone through the full betrothal ceremony, it was set in stone with no room for change.

That Qi Sulun and Madam Qi were also not as unbearable as Song Yao had imagined.