Chu Qing was lying stiffly on the soft couch. A figure in red was half - squatting beside her, stroking her round belly from time to time.
When Hong Ling was brought here by Wei Sheng, she was still as cold and aloof as ever.
Until she saw Chu Qing's belly.
She just then realized that Chu Qing was pregnant with the Ning King's child.
Chu Qing originally thought that Hong Ling had feelings for her master, Wei Ying. So she assumed that Hong Ling would be even colder to her after seeing her child.
However...
Hong Ling's eyes sparkled as she pounced in front of Chu Qing and gently stroked her belly.
Faced with such a reaction, Chu Qing was naturally on guard, lying stiffly and letting the other woman touch her belly. She was afraid that any of her actions or expressions might anger Hong Ling, and the latter might even try to harm the baby in her womb.
But now, where was there any trace of the cold and charming beauty in Hong Ling? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she had a lecherous smile on her face!
Chu Qing turned her shocked gaze to Wei Sheng beside her. Seeing that he wasn't as nervous as she was, Chu Qing tried to relax her body slowly.
Seeing this, Wei Sheng smiled helplessly. "Your Highness, Hong Ling is just very happy that you're pregnant with the Ning King's child."
Chu Qing: "..."
This reason...
She supposed she could accept it...
Hong Ling continued to stroke Chu Qing's belly. Suddenly, she let out a silly laugh. "Great! Your Highness, you're pregnant! It's so great!"
This made Chu Qing feel as if she had given birth to Hong Ling's child.
Well...
Chu Qing moved her lips and slowly said, "Do you... like children very much?"
Hong Ling squinted her eyes and grinned. "I guess so! But... I don't like just anyone's children. The child you're carrying is our master's! Your Highness, you're amazing! You're pregnant!"
Chu Qing: "..."
After calming her chaotic emotions, Chu Qing also smiled. "If you like children, you can choose a good man and have children with him."
Hearing this, Hong Ling's eyes showed a trace of fear. "Forget it. I really can't give birth. My mother died of difficult labor when she gave birth to me. Giving birth is so hard! That's why I think you're amazing! You can give birth to the Ning King's child!"
Chu Qing's smile froze. She suddenly didn't know how to respond.
Seeing this, Wei Sheng stepped forward and pulled Hong Ling up. "Alright, alright. I didn't bring you here to touch our princess's belly! If something goes wrong... the master won't spare you!"
Hearing this, Hong Ling quickly withdrew her hand in fear. Then she stood up and walked far away from Chu Qing.
Seeing this, Chu Qing actually found Hong Ling cute.
"Your Highness, did you ask me to come today to unlock some mechanism?" After keeping a distance from Chu Qing, Hong Ling returned to her cold and aloof self. But there was still a trace of tenderness in her eyes when she looked at Chu Qing's belly.
Hearing this, Chu Qing straightforwardly told Hong Ling everything.
Hong Ling frowned. "There's a secret room in the Empress Dowager's palace? Could it be that... she's hiding a lover?"
Chu Qing: "..."
Wei Sheng: "..."
Well... it's not impossible...
But now was not the time to talk about such things. Chu Qing seriously told them her plan.
She was going to the palace the next day to catch up with the Queen.
Since she returned, she hadn't had a good chat with the Queen. The Queen was the apple of her eye, and she couldn't neglect her.
Although it was just a reunion, she would find a way to stay in the palace overnight. Then, when it was dead of night... she would sneak into the Changle Palace to find out what was going on.
Hearing that Chu Qing was also going to visit the Changle Palace at night, Wei Sheng and Hong Ling frowned and said in unison, "Your Highness, please think twice!"
If it were before, they might have been more at ease with Chu Qing tagging along. But now, since she was about to give birth, they didn't want her to take any risks.
Chu Qing knew that they were worried about her. She showed a gentle smile and slowly said, "You don't need to stop me. Since I've made up my mind, it means I trust your abilities. This time... I must go."
She couldn't wait for Wei Sheng and the others to come back and report to her. She had to find out for herself to be at ease.
Why did the Empress Dowager keep that woman, cut off her tongue, and claim that she was crazy?
Was she really crazy... or just pretending?
And what kind of secrets were hidden in that secret room?
Just then, Chu Qing suddenly remembered the look in that woman's eyes when she looked up at her. Although she was very scared... her eyes were very clear. This didn't seem like the look of a crazy person.
Thinking of this, Chu Qing said more firmly, "If you don't agree, I'll find a way to go there by myself. So, it's up to you to decide."
Wei Sheng and Hong Ling looked at each other and then sighed. "Yes, Your Highness."
Chu Qing nodded in satisfaction and then told them to go back and prepare.
Early the next day, Chu Qing entered the palace. This time, there was an extra person beside her, Hong Ling, who was dressed up as her maid. As for Wei Sheng, he sneaked into the palace on his own.
When she arrived at the Weiyang Palace and saw the gentle - smiling Queen, Chu Qing was stunned.
Because...
She saw a slight bulge under the Queen's loose robe...
Was the Queen... pregnant?
Was she going to be a great - grandmother?
Unable to hide her joy, Chu Qing stepped forward and quickly asked, "Your Majesty, is this...?"
Lan Wanyu quickly put her finger on her lips and whispered, "Except for the Emperor, no one in the palace knows yet."
Chu Qing immediately nodded in understanding. Then she took the Queen's hand and placed it on her arm. She took the Queen to the soft couch and sat her down.
After ordering Lvluo and the others to wait outside, Chu Qing couldn't wait to ask, "How long have you been pregnant?"
Lan Wanyu blushed and smiled. "It's been about three months..."
Chu Qing was a bit excited. She knew that the Queen had a hard time getting pregnant. Now that she was pregnant, it must have been very difficult for her.
Thinking of this, Chu Qing began to rattle on about the things to pay attention to during pregnancy.
Seeing that Chu Qing was really happy for her, Lan Wanyu felt both warm and a bit sad.
You know, after she got pregnant, the Emperor was afraid of any accidents, so he ordered that no one in the Weiyang Palace was allowed to talk about it. He didn't even inform her family.
Lan Wanyu knew that the Emperor was doing this for her own good, so she happily agreed. But in the palace, no one had ever been so considerate and talked to her about these things.
After Chu Qing finished speaking, Lan Wanyu gently placed her hand on Chu Qing's belly and said with a beaming smile, "Auntie should be close to her due date, right?"
Chu Qing's smile suddenly froze.
She had been so happy just now that she almost forgot that she was also pregnant. So she hadn't thought much of it before. But suddenly being reminded by her granddaughter - in - law, Chu Qing felt a sudden sense of embarrassment.
Chu Qing always thought of herself as their great - grandmother.
This...
The great - grandmother and the granddaughter - in - law being pregnant at the same time...
What kind of thing was this!