manynovel Chapter 59 Dragon Fetus
Chapter 59 Dragon Fetus
The Empress smiled and said, "I would also like to go, but I have palace affairs to attend to and can't leave. I can only watch my sisters have fun."
As the empress, she valued dignity and could not indulge herself at will.
Seeing a good opportunity, Consort De placed her hand on her lower abdomen and said, "Your Majesty, I would also like to accompany you, but I am pregnant with your child and cannot move for the time being."
Even the Empress was stunned. She took a deep breath and said, "Sister Consort De kept it a secret so well that I had no idea."
Consort De said, "I only found out last night. I originally planned to send someone to inform Her Majesty the Empress, but it was too late and I was afraid of disturbing Her Majesty's rest, so I thought it would be just as good to tell her today."
What else could the Empress say? We only found out yesterday whether the Imperial Physician was summoned to Consort De's residence. But what could she do even if she found out?
"How many months has it been?" Consort Qing asked, truly unwilling to accept it.
"It's been more than two months, not even three months yet." Consort De was very happy; she had felt really uncomfortable after the First Prince's behavior.
Even if she becomes pregnant again, she will never be able to swallow this insult.
Li Yuanke said, "Since you are pregnant, you don't need to come along."
"yes!"
The Empress smiled and said, "It's wonderful that Consort De is pregnant with the Emperor's child! There's another thing I want Consort De to know: Consort Pan in your palace is also pregnant with the Emperor's child. She's been pregnant for three months and the pregnancy is very stable."
There's another piece of good news: a messenger from the palace arrived yesterday saying that Consort Li is also pregnant, and is over three months along.
[Yes, Consort De now has two princes. She's getting on in years, and the Duke of Xin's household is very capable. It's just a matter of whether two tigers can share one mountain. Judging from Consort De's demeanor, Consort Pan's pregnancy was kept a secret from her! Interesting!]
Shen Shixi idly spun her teacup, muttering to herself. When she saw Li Yuanke glance at her, she belatedly glared back.
[You bastard, what do you mean? You think I can't get pregnant? So what if I'm from saline-alkali land? I'm not having children, and that'll make you furious!]
"Consort Zhao, if we're talking about who has served the emperor the most times in this palace, it's naturally you! Others get pregnant after just one night of service, so why is there still no sign of pregnancy in your belly, Consort Zhao?" Lin Guiyou said.
The emperor ordered her to accompany him on the hunt, and she was overjoyed; it was clear that the emperor had feelings for her.
Shen Shixi said, "What kind of skill is it to bear a child for the Emperor? Any woman can do that! Consort Lin is so concerned about me, could it be that you want me to bear one for you? If I could bear you a child, that would be a real skill. Why don't we give it a try?"
Everyone was stunned!
Li Yuanke was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses, "Shen Shixi!"
That bastard! He'll say anything!
[Tsk, you can't even stand it anymore? This is nothing! Don't make me say anything worse!]
Shen Shixi rolled her eyes, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.
Lin Guiyou was so angry that her face turned red and she trembled all over. "You, you, you..."
"What's wrong with me? Look how agitated you are. I was just joking with you. Do you really think you have that ability? Even if you did, you'd be castrated once you entered the palace. How painful! It's better if you don't!"
"Pfft!" Finally, someone couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Some people were shocked, thinking that Consort Zhao was really bold, as she didn't even listen to the Emperor.
Lin Guiyou burst into tears, never having suffered such a blow before. "Your Majesty, look at Consort Zhao! How could she say such a thing? How can I face anyone after this!"
She refused to believe that the Emperor would not care when that vile woman Shen defied the imperial decree!
"If you can't be a human being, then don't be! Nobody forced you to be! There are so many paths to death in this world, which one can't grant your wish? Maybe this time next year, out of our sisterly bond, I can still visit your grave to offer incense, so you can be reborn and have your wishes fulfilled in your next life!"
"Shen Shixi!" the emperor called out again, but he was too weak to shout anymore.
That scoundrel, he can't even keep his mouth shut.
The concubines then realized that the emperor couldn't do anything about her!
The Empress then said, "Alright, sisters, there's no need to get really angry."
At this moment, Yuan Zhaoyue stood up excitedly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, I am also pregnant!"
This is truly a slap in the face to the Empress. One after another, they are pregnant but don't say anything. It's understandable that Consort De, as the head of the palace, kept it from the Empress, but what is Yuan Zhaoyue doing?
Five at once! Li Yuanke's wide net has yielded quite a harvest! I wonder how many will survive?
"Then everyone should take good care of yourselves!" Li Yuanke stood up. "Empress, I'm entrusting the matter of your well-being to you. As for the rest of you, whoever wants to accompany me, please gather in front of Lizheng Gate in half an hour."
He glanced down below. "If anyone goes, I will set a prize: whoever hunts the Black Fox will be promoted one rank, and the winner of the hunt will be promoted one rank as well!"
The concubines, who had initially hesitated, were now excited.
In the imperial harem, to advance in rank, one either has to endure hardship or give birth to a child, but giving birth in the harem is harder than climbing to heaven.
After saying that, Li Yuanke strode out.
For him, the pregnancy of a concubine was nothing out of the ordinary.
Yuan Zhaoyue was stunned. She didn't expect that when she deliberately revealed her pregnancy when the emperor was present, the emperor would react like this. Her hard work to get pregnant was not as good as the credit for accompanying the emperor on a hunt!
Shen Shixi was also extremely shocked.
She knew that both sides had ulterior motives in this so-called autumn hunt, but she didn't expect that the emperor would actually go to such lengths to fish in the inner palace.
This action can indeed dispel the other party's doubts.
That bastard is truly heartless!
Shen Shixi changed into a green riding outfit, mainly because green is good for concealment in the mountains and grasslands. She also tied her hair into a ponytail with a green silk ribbon, inserted a jade hairpin, and parted her hair into two strands, which were intertwined on the hairpin and then tied with the hanging silk ribbon.
When escaping for your life, you must not let tree branches get caught on your hair and slow you down.
Green shouldn't be worn on one's head, but Li Yuanke already has so many women, her head is practically a Hulunbuir grassland, so Shen Shixi doesn't need to care.
When Shen Shixi arrived at the meeting place, in addition to those who were ordered to accompany the emperor, Consort Rong, Consort He, Consort Zheng, Consort Su, and Consort Wang also came.
In other words, apart from the pregnant Yuan Zhaoyue, the new concubines are now all present.
Wang Yuehuai didn't actually want to come; she could only ride a horse. But seeing that everyone else had come, she didn't dare not to.
The emperor emerged, and the crowd bowed, saying, "May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
Upon seeing Consort Rong, the Emperor was surprised, "Why are you here too?"
Everyone knows that Consort Rong is a frail and sickly beauty!
When Consort Rong was asked this question, her eyes reddened. "Your Majesty, I miss you. It has been a long time since Your Majesty has come to visit me. I can only find this opportunity to be closer to Your Majesty."
The Duke of Wei's mansion is in dire straits now, unknown to outsiders, but Consort Rong knows.
The emperor, unable to say anything, glanced at the crowd and ordered, "Assign five imperial guards to protect each person. Safety is the top priority; do not act rashly!"
"Your Majesty, we will obey!"
He saw Shen Shixi's clothes, which blended perfectly with the surroundings, and couldn't help but smile.
"Lady Zhao looks so refreshing in that outfit!"
Shen Shixi said, "I remember Your Majesty once said that you like to see me wear green. I haven't seen Your Majesty for several days and I miss you terribly. I was afraid that Your Majesty would forget me, so I chose to wear the color that Your Majesty likes so that Your Majesty will remember me."
That's so convincing, it could easily fool someone!
The emperor was caught off guard.
[You bastard, you know perfectly well I hate this shitty green color!]
Li Yuanke suppressed a laugh, stepped forward and took Shen Shixi's hand. "This color is beautiful, and Consort Zhao looks good in it too. You may all rise. It's a rare treat that the weather is so nice today, and the heat isn't too intense. You can come hunting with me and have a good time!"
Seeing the Emperor personally help Shen Shixi up, the others followed suit, each hoping that the Emperor's hand was their own. Consort Rong was so sad that she almost cried.