Chapter 70:

It was quite unusual for Layue to display such an expression in the twelfth lunar month, which Emperor Jing found intriguing. After all, in front of him, she usually acted either like a cunning little fox or a naive little rabbit, but never like this.

With a thud, she knelt down.

Several people looked at her in surprise.

“Your Majesty, I have something to say.”

Her expression was rarely serious.

Emperor Jing raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing her carefully before saying, “Speak.”

“I respectfully request that Your Majesty summon a royal physician to examine the gift I presented.”

Emperor Jing waved his hand, and Lai Xi promptly stepped forward to send a young eunuch to fetch the physician.

“Although I do not like my cousin, she is still my aunt’s daughter. Upon hearing of her pregnancy, I came to check on her, fearing she might have unnecessary thoughts or be schemed against by ill-intentioned individuals. Thus, I asked Lady Bai to accompany me. Whether my gift is problematic or not can be determined by the physician’s inspection. Moreover, my warning was not malicious but for her own good. Because of her previous attempt to harm me, my cousin is always suspicious that I might retaliate. I feel truly wronged.”

Chen Yulan, upon hearing her words, also knelt down in distress: “Your Majesty, my cousin arrived with an aggressive attitude from the start. This is my first pregnancy; he is the apple of my eye and the essence of my life. How could I not be cautious?”

Layue did not argue further, simply kneeling there with her head lowered.

Emperor Jing looked at her stubborn yet distressed appearance, and inexplicably, his body responded.

He adored her in this manner.

While men in the Nanqin Kingdom generally favored gentle and affectionate women, he was different. Compared to such women, he found those who were delicate yet strong-willed and stubborn even more enticing.

“Yuer meant well. You accuse her of being aggressive, yet I find you exploiting your pregnancy to act recklessly.”

Men were always like this; perhaps a hundred logical explanations meant nothing compared to a genuine seduction. Although Layue had not seduced him, her manner stirred his heart.

He naturally trusted Bai Youran and Layue more, and seeing her like this, Emperor Jing could not bear her distress.

Besides, he would soon learn the truth from his secret guards; why rush?

Upon hearing the emperor’s words, Chen Yulan wept: “Your Majesty, I dare not.”

The emperor coldly snorted: “Dare not? You are not someone who dares not do anything.”

Before long, the royal physician arrived.

Seeing several concubines kneeling there, he kept his eyes straight ahead and, upon receiving the emperor’s command, quickly examined the items brought by Concubine Chun. After the inspection, he reported, “Your Majesty, everything is in order. There are no harmful substances in the items that could harm a woman’s body.”

Upon hearing the physician’s report and recalling the emperor’s previously biased attitude toward Shen Layue, Chen Yulan inwardly felt something was wrong. She quickly spoke: “Your Majesty, it is fortunate that nothing is amiss. I was overly concerned for this child. This is your child and mine, and as it is my first pregnancy at a young age, naturally I dare not be careless about anything…”

Emperor Jing shifted his gaze to Layue.

“Your Majesty,” Layue also spoke, raising her head to look at him.

He gestured for her to continue.

“Although my tone may not be gentle, Chen Caiyu is still my cousin, and I acted for her benefit, yet she suspects me of intending to harm her. I respectfully request to confine myself in Tingyu Pavilion until Chen Caiyu gives birth. In this deep palace, I wish to avoid any issues she may encounter that could again be blamed on me, and if someone with ill intentions schemes against her, I fear I would be unable to explain myself even if I had a hundred mouths.”

This was an extremely bold statement. Even Bai Youran looked at her in surprise.

The emperor smiled faintly: “So you are certain this pregnancy will not be carried to term?”

“I did not say that. I only said until the child is born.”

The emperor rose and approached her, lifting her chin to examine her carefully for a moment before bursting into laughter: “There is no need for you to confine yourself in Tingyu Pavilion. It is not you who is pregnant. Let Chen Caiyu confine herself there instead, to avoid being schemed against and falsely accused by this poor little thing.”

The emperor’s words stunned everyone present.

He chuckled, pinched her slender waist, helped her up, and looked at Chen Yulan: “Chen Caiyu shall be promoted to the rank of Shunchang.”

A slap followed by a sweet treat—although confined, she was promoted two ranks.

Chen Yulan joyfully thanked the emperor, feeling deeply that her child was indeed a treasure.

As Emperor Jing spoke, he observed the other two present. Seeing no jealousy in their eyes, he inwardly chuckled.

“Now that your status has been elevated, you must be more cautious in conduct. Stay quietly in the palace and avoid being too ostentatious. Do not think of using this child to scheme against others or to show off your power. In a few days, it will be spring, and I will travel south to worship the heavens and pray for blessings. You two shall accompany me.”

The two referred to were Shen Layue and Bai Youran.

After reprimanding Chen Yulan, Emperor Jing seemed to pay no further attention to her child, taking Layue’s hand and leaving immediately.

Bai Youran said nothing, silently following behind.

After giving some instructions, the emperor took Layue back to his quarters.

Watching the two depart, Bai Youran stood quietly for a moment, lowered her head, and then turned away.

Upon returning to Tingyu Pavilion, the two engaged in passionate intimacy. Layue felt that the emperor seemed particularly eager, rushing into her without hesitation. After the passionate encounter, their clothes were still on.

Feeling somewhat shy, Layue looked at him: “Let me help you bathe.”

Before she could rise, the emperor grabbed her hand, placing her soft, tender palm to his lips while shaking his head.

“Don’t go. Stay with me for a while.”

“You always like to bite people.” She felt ticklish and tried to pull away.

Actually, she truly did not understand this point. Although the Nanqin Kingdom preferred slender women, even though she had some charm, she was by no means the most beautiful. Yet why did the emperor love her body so much?

Recalling her past life, the emperor had initially favored her, but later, after she was heartbroken and lost her child, she rapidly became emaciated. And because she had given up on him, the two drifted apart, eventually reaching a point where he no longer recognized her.

Layue knew he recognized her but simply chose to ignore her.

This life was no different. She couldn’t be called fat, not even plump, yet her chest and buttocks were both full and firm. But this did not conform to Nanqin standards. The emperor was just too different from ordinary men.

Thinking about the women who had frequent intimate encounters with the emperor over the years, she realized none were considered exceptionally beautiful in the eyes of others, which made her even more amazed.

“I will bite you. I will protect Layue at all times. No one can bully my little Layue, but I myself can bully you as much as I want.”

Look at the way he spoke—truly infuriating.

Layue retaliated by biting him: “Let you bully me. Besides, when have you ever protected me constantly?”

The word “you” showed her disrespect.

This ungrateful little creature.

“When have I not? Just now wasn’t I protecting you?”

She turned her head, clearly unconvinced.

Emperor Jing pulled her into his arms, his large hand slipping under her clothes to caress her soft skin, then leaning his head close to her ear. Although no one else was in the room, he still acted as if he were whispering secrets.

“Don’t think my beloved Layue did nothing; even if you did something, I will still protect you.”

Such sweet words—regardless of others’ feelings, Layue felt no gratitude. Instead, she looked at him in confusion, not understanding his meaning. But only for a moment before she coldly huffed: “You’re just talking nonsense. I am such a good girl; I am not that kind of person.”

She proudly lifted her head.

Seeing this, he bit her again, his heart surging with excitement.

“You little girl, calling yourself a woman. Truly, you make me laugh to death.”

This was blatant mockery.

Sure enough, her small fists pounded on him.

After playing for a while, Emperor Jing gently stroked her body, his expression somewhat serious: “Whether you believe me or not, I truly will protect you.”

She softly responded, acknowledging his words.

As the two were preparing to bathe, Lai Xi came to report that a court official requested an audience.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing quickly rose and left in haste.

Layue watched him leave, recalling his words, and looked at her disheveled clothes. She called in Jin Xin and prepared to bathe.

She truly could not understand why the emperor liked her so much. Did he like her body? Men were indeed like this.

How strange!

However, thinking about today’s events, she smiled slightly. Actually, this was the same method she had previously used against Fu Jinyao’s pregnancy. Although the form had changed, the essence remained the same. Although the appearance had changed, the core remained.

This immediately eliminated any thoughts others might have had about scheming against her. Her actions today ensured that even if she were framed, she would be the least likely suspect. She believed no one in the palace was so foolish.

When harming someone, one usually aims for a decisive strike. Although hitting two birds with one stone is good, if it leads to complications, anyone with a bit of sense would avoid it.

“Your Highness indeed predicted accurately; the emperor really went,” Jin Xin spoke.

Layue smiled: “Foolish Jin Xin, you still don’t understand? That is the emperor’s child. How could he not go to see it?”

Jin Xin nodded: “But he seemed indifferent toward your cousin just now.”

“Regardless of whether he cares for my cousin or not, it is still his child. Perhaps, this child is even more important to the emperor than Lady Hui’s child.”

Jin Xin was puzzled, but Layue smiled slightly. Who wouldn’t look forward to their own child? Lady Hui’s child had to be abandoned for various reasons, but Chen Yulan’s case was different. A concubine with no background had become pregnant, so how could the emperor not want this child?

He wasn’t particularly young anymore, yet he only had two sons, and the eldest was in poor health. He must surely hope for more sons?

Moreover, confining Chen Yulan was also a form of protection for her. Given her personality, if she were to become pregnant and act so ostentatiously, she would inevitably be schemed against when going out. Thus, staying quietly in her quarters would at least ensure her safety.

As for his words today, Layue could not believe them entirely. Perhaps this was another test for her? This man was indeed suspicious by nature.

However, it was always good that the plan proceeded smoothly.

Next, she only needed to quietly watch the show unfold.

Today’s events would surely spread throughout the harem by tonight. She wondered what the other palace mistresses would think.

Thinking of this, Layue laughed out loud.