The imperial physician seemed quite certain that Shen Yuning was carrying a male fetus.
However, since both Yin Zidu and Shen Yuning didn't care whether it was a son or a daughter, they weren't particularly overjoyed.
Yin Zidu double - checked and learned that Shen Yuning just had some common fetal restlessness and was not in serious condition. Only then did he feel relieved and sent the imperial physician and the doctor back.
He went to wash up, then climbed onto the bed and pulled Shen Yuning into his arms. Sighing, he said, "With you in this state, I can't feel at ease for a single day. Since you're taking a rest these days, why don't you stay in the palace with me? I can take good care of you all the time."
Shen Yuning frowned slightly and didn't answer directly. Instead, she asked, "Where did you go last night?"
Yin Zidu was taken aback. Seeing the displeasure on her face, he quickly hugged her tighter and said with a smile, "Are you concerned about me or worried about me? It was the Emperor's birthday yesterday."
Shen Yuning was stunned. It was the Emperor's birthday, but there was no news about it, and the palace and the outside world were both quiet.
Yin Zidu continued, "The Emperor has never celebrated his birthday. Last year, as he was a newly - enthroned emperor with a lot of affairs to handle, the birthday celebration was postponed. This year, I originally planned to organize a grand celebration for him, but the Empress Dowager didn't want all the fuss. The Emperor's health is really poor. He might not be able to bear such a grand event."
Shen Yuning frowned and said, "Even so, if there's no grand celebration, shouldn't there at least be a family banquet? It's the Emperor's birthday. Not only the collateral branches of the royal family, but even I, as his sister - in - law, wasn't qualified to attend?"
Yin Zidu only then realized something was amiss. He quickly comforted her, "That's not what I mean, Yuning. You're pregnant, and I've been so busy. In fact, I even forgot about the Emperor's birthday. It was only when I was done with my work and was about to come back early to accompany you that the Empress Dowager sent someone to tell me."
Shen Yuning was angry. It was normal for Xuanzhi to forget because of his busyness, but the Empress couldn't have forgotten. Not only did she not tell her, but she also intercepted Xuanzhi on the way?
She asked coldly, "Since the Emperor is seriously ill and bed - ridden, how could he still accompany you drinking?"
Yin Zidu shook his head. "The Emperor could barely sit up. He didn't drink. He just persuaded me to have a few drinks. Maybe I've been too busy recently. After just a little bit of wine, I felt quite drunk."
He seemed a bit dazed. After thinking for a while, he asked, "How did I get back last night?"
Shen Yuning looked at him, making sure he didn't remember the woman in the North Courtyard. Then she asked, "You were drunk last night. Why didn't you stay in the palace? Why did you come back?"
Yin Zidu took a deep breath and frowned tightly. He couldn't figure it out either. "Last night, I planned to rest in the Yuming Hall. I even called someone and asked the eunuch to come back and tell you. But how come..."
How come no one told Yuning, and how did he get back?
After thinking for a long time, Yin Zidu finally had a bit of an idea. "I remember. Later, I said I wanted to come back to you, so I asked someone to drive me back."
Shen Yuning asked, "Where were the people serving you?"
Normally, Yin Zidu didn't like to be served, but there were still two attendants and two eunuchs around him. They were nowhere to be seen last night.
Yin Zidu said, "They also drank last night. They only returned to the prince's mansion today."
Seeing that he was also confused, Shen Yuning had no choice but to ask, "Yesterday, was it just you and the Emperor? Was the Empress Dowager there?"
Yin Zidu was a bit sleepy and tried his best to cheer up and reply, "The Empress Dowager was there, as well as Han'er and Miss Tong."
He was extremely tired. After talking for so long, he fell asleep in a daze.
Shen Yuning murmured to herself, "Tong Xianqiao?"
Because of the fetal restlessness, Yin Zidu asked for leave for Shen Yuning and wanted to take her back to the palace. But Shen Yuning didn't want to. She said she had an appointment with her sister and wouldn't go back to the palace.
As soon as Yin Zidu left, Shen Yuning checked the account books of the prince's mansion. Sure enough, she found out about the woman living in the North Courtyard.
However, no one in the whole prince's mansion knew who she was. They only said that the door of her courtyard was always closed. There was a little maid who would come out every day to get food ingredients and cook for herself. That was all.
In addition, the prince had already given an order to give the North Courtyard five taels of silver as monthly allowance. Occasionally, the little maid in the North Courtyard would go shopping in the street to buy some sewing materials and cloth.
Shen Yuning propped her head up. Five taels of silver as monthly allowance was about right for a concubine. But which concubine in a family really lived on just the monthly allowance?
For ordinary people, five taels of silver could last for three months. But things were different in the prince's mansion. This woman received five taels of silver and apparently didn't do anything else but buy cloth to make clothes for herself.
Without much expenditure, five taels was more than enough. But if she wanted to dress up and seduce a man, it would be far from enough.
Nanny Shuang said, "This servant heard from the steward that the prince just ordered someone to send that woman to the North Courtyard, told them not to let her lack food and daily necessities, and gave her five taels of silver as monthly allowance. After that, he never cared about her again."
Shen Yuning nodded. She believed Xuanzhi on this point. Xuanzhi had said that she would be the only one in his life. Moreover, he was a very particular person. He probably couldn't even accept having two women at the same time.
Forget it. She would interrogate Xuanzhi properly when he was free.
Before Shen Yuning could go to find Xue Yuxin, Xue Yuxin flew over like a colorful butterfly.
Madam Shao was very particular and didn't like to visit others at night. But Xue Yuxin didn't have so many rules. She had to be on duty during the day. After hearing that her younger sister was unwell, she rushed over after work.
"Mom and the others don't even come to see you. Really. I'm the one who has to worry about everything as an elder sister."
As soon as this caring elder sister came, she climbed onto Shen Yuning's imperial concubine's couch and leaned on it, directing Liu Tiao, "Bring that, that, and that over. I don't want to go to the table. Just set up a small table so that I can eat comfortably."
Shen Yuning couldn't help laughing. She looked at her sister's belly and then at her own, and asked, "Why is your belly so big? Could there be more than one baby in your belly?"
Xue Yuxin rolled her eyes. "Please don't say that. Giving birth to two babies at once. Do you want me to die? I've asked a doctor to check. There's only one baby in my belly."
She sat up and looked at Shen Yuning's belly, pouting. "It doesn't matter whether the belly is big or small. Anyway, if the baby in my belly is a boy, they'll be cousins. If it's a girl, how about we make a baby - engagement?"
She kept chattering. Not hearing a response from her younger sister, she couldn't help looking up and saw that her sister was deep in thought.
She got off the couch, walked to Shen Yuning's side, and patted her head. "Come on. The imperial physician said that you think too much during pregnancy, and you really do. What are you thinking about? Now you should just eat well, sleep well, and not think about other things."
Shen Yuning looked up and smiled. "Did Mom tell you?"
What the imperial physician said last night must have been heard by the doctor from the Xue family. Madam Shao was worried about her. Although she didn't come to ask on her own initiative, she must have asked that doctor.
Xue Yuxin pouted, lay back on the couch, and said, "I didn't go home. Mom's whole heart is on sister - in - law. Sister - in - law is about to give birth. How can she have time to care about us? I went to work today, and the news has spread all over the Ministry of Justice. There's a little young master in your belly, the future heir of the Prince of Yu."
Shen Yuning lowered her eyes. The commotion last night had spread all over the capital today. The speed was really fast.
A few days later, the Empress Dowager came in person, which made Shen Yuning feel extremely flattered.
The Empress Dowager smiled amiably and looked at Shen Yuning's belly again and again. Then she frowned. "This palace thinks your belly seems a bit small. Haven't you taken good care of yourself?"
Before Shen Yuning could answer, the imperial physician brought by the Empress Dowager quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please don't worry. Every pregnant woman is different. Some show their pregnancy more obviously, while others don't. This official has even seen a woman who thought she had just gained a little weight until she was about to give birth."
The Empress Dowager then smiled again and held Shen Yuning's hand. "That's good. But you also can't over - nourish. If the baby is a bit smaller, it will be easier to give birth. When this palace gave birth to Han'er, I was worried that he was undernourished in the womb. But it turned out not to be the case. That little rascal really gave this palace a hard time."
She said it happily, looking like a kind sister - in - law who cared about her younger sister - in - law.
Shen Yuning naturally responded with a happy face and then asked about the Emperor's condition with concern.
The Empress Dowager sighed and shook her head. "Your elder brother's condition, Zidu knows best. Even the Imperial Hospital is at a loss."
Shen Yuning then said some words of comfort.
The Empress Dowager said calmly, "Over the years, this palace has always been prepared for this day. After so much prevention, I've gotten used to it. I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. Now that I've heard the news, this palace isn't very sad. I just hope he can go painlessly and not suffer so much anymore."
Shen Yuning didn't dare to respond to this.
However, the Empress Dowager quickly recovered from her sad mood and said with a smile again, "In half a month, it will be Zidu's birthday. The Emperor and I are thinking of organizing a grand celebration for Zidu. At that time, we'll hold it in the prince's mansion. We'll ask all the people from the Imperial Household Department to come. We must make it a grand event."
The Emperor's birthday celebration was postponed, but the Regent's birthday was going to be grandly celebrated. What was the reason for this?
Shen Yuning's smile froze, and she looked at the Empress Dowager seriously.
The Empress Dowager's forehead twitched slightly, then she resumed her amiable look and held Shen Yuning's hand. "Your elder brother has always had his dear younger brother in his heart. He wishes he could give him all the good things. This palace is the Empress, his wife. Naturally, I have to do this for him."
Shen Yuning supported the Empress Dowager's hand with her own and said, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Emperor remembers Zidu in his heart because Zidu is his dear younger brother. But the Emperor also has you and His Highness the Crown Prince in his heart."
For a moment, she saw the Empress Dowager's face change. A sharp look appeared on it, but it was quickly covered up.
Shen Yuning's expression remained unchanged, and she still shook her head. "Moreover, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, these are troubled times. The Emperor's birthday celebration is postponed, but instead, the Regent's birthday is being organized. This is not appropriate. You see, if the court officials start to gossip and say that the Regent is too powerful and overshadows the Emperor, how can the Regent and I bear it?"