Whatever Imperial Physician Wen says goes???

Everything he says is correct???

It’s only been just over a month!!

What could he possibly determine from taking a pulse???

It might very well be his precious princess.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, bear with it. Once the child is born, His Majesty will stop pestering you,” Yan Yunning said with a smile.

She too had benefited from the child in her womb — her standing had somehow surpassed even Xiaoxiao’s.

“How long must I bear with it then? Eight months to nine months?” The man rested his hand on her small belly, a trace of sorrow flickering in his eyes. “The child isn’t even born yet, and Father Emperor is already like this. Once he is born, Father Emperor will spoil him rotten.”

The Xuan royal palace had gone over twenty years without an imperial prince. One could well imagine — if it turned out to be a little brat, setting everything else aside, even if Ningning wanted to hold the baby, His Majesty might not be willing to let her.

Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow slightly. “Xiaoxiao, you may well be completely out of favor then.”

Ye Chen heard this and the smile at the corner of his mouth stretched wider. If he followed the young prince in the future, wouldn’t his standing be even higher than following the Crown Prince?

Yan Yunning looked up at Ye Chen, tilting her head in puzzlement. “Why are you even happier than Xuan Yanyu?”

She had been wondering about this for days. Ever since Imperial Physician Wen had taken her pulse and discovered the pregnancy, this man had been grinning all day — what exactly was he so happy about??

Ye Chen scratched the back of his head sheepishly and spoke honestly, “Your Highness the Crown Princess, this subordinate feels that following the young prince in the future means never being told to get lost. And this subordinate also…”

Xuan Yanyu, feeling rather put-upon by this, cut him off displeasedly. “Don’t even think about it. Whoever this prince assigns, it won’t be you.”

The smile on Ye Chen’s face came to an abrupt halt.

Yan Yunning let out a soft laugh. “You don’t always need to say out loud exactly what’s in your head.”

A flash of bewilderment crossed Ye Chen’s eyes. “Your Highness the Crown Princess, when one’s lord asks a question, one cannot conceal anything.”

Yan Yunning nestled in Xuan Yanyu’s arms and laughed softly. “Xiaoxiao, I think Ye Chen is quite good. Assign him to our child.”

With someone as straightforward and honest as Ye Chen by the baby’s side, how reassuring that would be.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Xuan Yanyu replied lazily.

Ye Chen: “……”

He had been too cheerful about it and it had backfired — but could he really be blamed for that??

Every time he thought about it, he couldn’t help but want to laugh!!

Ye’an raised an eyebrow. No brain, indeed no brain!!

“This servant greets His Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.” The hall doors were pushed open and Eunuch Feng walked in with a beaming smile, handing a sheet of proclamation paper to Xuan Yanyu.

The man took the paper and glanced over it:

Yun — signifying fairness, integrity, justice and impartiality. Cheng — meaning to carry on, to inherit, to take on responsibility.

Xuan Yuncheng.

Yan Yunning also looked curiously at the paper: Xiao — referring to the nine heavens above, the view from where emperors look down upon the realm.

Milk name: Xiaoxiao.

“What does this mean?” Xuan Yanyu tossed the paper back to Eunuch Feng.

Eunuch Feng caught it in a flurry and smiled with narrowed eyes. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is the name His Majesty has chosen for the young prince. Ever since learning that the Crown Princess is with child, His Majesty has been thinking day and night. Now that he has settled on a name, he sent this servant to inform you and the Crown Princess.”

The man said with displeasure, “Is this the only one? What if it is this prince’s little princess?”

“There is one for her too, Your Highness, do not worry.” Eunuch Feng cheerfully produced another sheet of proclamation paper from his robe and handed it to Xuan Yanyu. “His Majesty said that whether it is a little princess or a young prince, both are his greatest loves.”

Xuan Yanyu studied this one more carefully: You — meaning leisurely, carefree, at ease. Yi — meaning beautiful, auspicious.

Xuan Youyi: a name carrying the meaning of graceful beauty and all things going well.

Milk name: Jiaojiao — symbolizing that the princess shall be as bright and radiant as moonlight.

“No. This prince will choose the name himself.” The man tossed the paper back to Eunuch Feng as well.

Yan Yunning’s mouth fell slightly open — she had thought they were rather lovely names.

“Is there something Your Highness finds unsatisfactory?” Eunuch Feng asked carefully.

Both names were ones His Majesty had pondered long and hard over.

“Go back and tell Father Emperor that this prince will handle the naming himself.” Xuan Yanyu placed his large hand over Yan Yunning’s small belly and gently rubbed it. This was his and Ningning’s first child — naturally, he must be the one to name them.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has said that these two names are final. If you are displeased, it does not matter — His Majesty asks you to simply endure it. This servant will take his leave.” Eunuch Feng said all of this in one breath, then turned on his heel and scurried out of the hall.

Yan Yunning glanced sideways at the man’s expression. He was pressing his fingers lightly against his temple, looking quite thoroughly vexed.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, look at it from another angle — the fact that Father Emperor cares so much about our child right now is because he loves you deeply enough. If he did not love you, why would he be so devoted to our child?”

It was precisely because his love for his son was the foundation, that his love for his son’s child could follow.

Yan Yunning removed the man’s hand and smiled as she rubbed his temples for him. “Besides, I think both names are rather lovely. Jiaojiao is so beautiful to say — and of course Xiaoxiao isn’t bad either.”

She feared that Xuan Yanyu might go and argue with Xuan Wang about it. Xuan Wang hadn’t been very fond of him lately — the father and son mustn’t quarrel again. The Emperor’s affections changed so quickly…

Before she was with child, Xuan Yanyu had still been the precious gem of Xuan Wang’s palm. He still was precious — but probably no longer the one kept in the palm of the hand.

Once the baby was born, Xuan Yanyu probably wouldn’t even be a gem anymore!!

Before Xuan Yanyu could reply, a guard entered the hall and reported, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, His Majesty requests the Crown Princess join him for the midday meal at Taiyi Hall. His Majesty says that if the Crown Prince has matters to attend to, he need not come.”

Yan Yunning: “……”

Previously, it had been an invitation for Xuan Yanyu with her tagged along. Now the invitation was expressly for her, and whether Xuan Yanyu came or not was entirely up to him…

Yan Yunning let out a sigh and once again marveled — the Emperor’s affections truly changed so fast!!

The man lounged lazily in the sandalwood chair and let out a cold snort.

Taiyi Hall.

Xuan Wang and the Empress were already waiting.

The moment Xuan Yanyu and Yan Yunning stepped into the hall, Xuan Wang personally ladled out soup and placed it before Yan Yunning. Truth be told, he was growing quite impatient — every day he longed for time to pass a little faster, so that his imperial grandson could come into the world sooner.

“Thank you, Father Emperor.” It was quite a privilege to drink soup personally served by the Emperor — another benefit of the little treasure growing in her womb.

“Have you had your wellness pulse taken today?” Xuan Wang asked with a smile.

“We have,” Xuan Yanyu replied, placing a spring roll into Yan Yunning’s bowl as he answered.

Xuan Wang met Xuan Yanyu’s deep gaze and could not be bothered to spare him more than a half-second glance. “Did this emperor ask you?”

“……” Xuan Yanyu’s chopstick-holding hand paused.

Xuan Wang took a contented sip of tea. He was only in his forties this year — cultivating an imperial grandson would be no strain at all. When the grandson was in his twenties, he himself would only be in his sixties. There was no need to endure any more nonsense from this troublesome son.

Before, there had been no choice. But things were different now.

He planned to let this troublesome son ascend the throne after the imperial grandson was born, so that he himself would have more time to properly cultivate the grandson. Thinking of this, the corners of Xuan Wang’s mouth curved upward — when he imagined the days ahead, he couldn’t suppress his smile.

He had been longing for this for so long. Now, at last, his wish had come true.

A princess would be fine as well — she would be Yanyu’s child all the same, and he would love her just as dearly.

“We have. The imperial physician reported to this consort today — all is well,” the Empress stepped in to smooth things over.

She still could not bear to see her Yanyu treated poorly.

From childhood to adulthood, he had never once been looked down upon by His Majesty — the Empress looked worriedly at Xuan Yanyu.