Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 176 Pregnancy
The capital city began to get colder in November. Snow had already fallen in Liaodong, and autumn grain was being collected in both the south and north of the Yangtze River.

Naturally, there are still new and old parties in the court, and together they constitute the "ruling party". Zhu Changluo gave the cabinet the power to directly vote on many topics, and now it is not as laborious as it was at the beginning, and it only needs to focus on the general direction.

It is a comfort to know that you can handle all matters, big or small. But if you only handle the big things, you can only be mentally prepared for the possibility that specific matters may go wrong.

Guo Lanzhi listened to him saying that maybe there really would be some chaos in Jiangnan, so she just listened quietly and gently pressed her fingers on his forehead.

Zhu Changluo lay on her legs and talked about whether the northern barbarians would invade this year.

Naturally, he had many hidden worries in his heart, but he could not be afraid of difficulties.

Every time she talked to Guo Lanzhi, it was not only a process that made her feel willing to tell her her true feelings, but also a process of sorting out her thoughts.

The soft fingertips suddenly paused, and Zhu Changluo opened his eyes, and saw Guo Lanzhi looking down at him, pursing her lips and frowning, as if she was enduring something?
"Are your legs numb?"

Zhu Changluo sat up, but Guo Lanzhi shook her head, then covered her mouth and wanted to get off the couch.

This look made Zhu Changluo stunned for a moment, then he quickly opened the curtain and walked out, shouting with joy: "Moxin, quickly send someone to call the imperial physician!"

Guo Lanzhi was a little surprised by the emperor's reaction. After looking at his back, her heart beat faster, but the discomfort still made her step into her shoes.

Zhu Changluo had already returned with a small bowl and helped her sit back on the couch: "It's a little cold outside."

The step-out bed has its own outer porch. When the curtains outside are lowered, the inside is relatively closed and warm.

Footsteps were heard, and Sun Moxin's voice rang out: "Your Majesty, Madam, may I come in and serve you?"

"Come in, come in." Zhu Changluo stroked Guo Lanzhi's back, his voice filled with worry, "If you're really pregnant, you'll probably vomit easily."

Guo Lanzhi was still retching. Sun Moxin, who had just lifted the curtain outside and squeezed to the other side of Guo Lanzhi and squatted on the footstool, widened her eyes and asked, "The Queen is pregnant?"

"Like." Zhu Changluo laughed again, "It went smoothly."

After the wedding, he spent most of his time with Guo Lanzhi, and it has been almost exactly three months now.

She was not weak, but she suddenly felt like vomiting without any warning. What else could it be?
"Great!"

Sun Moxin was extremely surprised, because no other empress in the palace had announced good news yet.

In Sun Moxin's opinion, the emperor certainly liked her cousin the most. She slept with him for about 20 days a month. The remaining days were also when she had her period.

She didn't know that Zhu Changluo did this on purpose.

Although Zhu Changluo had previously "studied practically", he did not feel that there would be much trouble in the future when the inheritance between legitimate and illegitimate children would occur, but he was not too indulgent either.

Since Qi Yuechan, Su Ran, the accountant, and He Fangfei, the lampkeeper, had not been able to conceive when summoned by the emperor to sleep with him, it would be better for Zhu Changluo to focus his main "energy" on Guo Lanzhi after the wedding.

It would be best if the child is both legitimate and the eldest.

Of course, it's still uncertain now.

Even if it is confirmed, pregnancy, childbirth, and successful growth are all difficult under today's conditions.

The Kunning Palace was bustling with activity. The Imperial Medical Office was right next to the Five Ministries outside Chengtian Gate. In less than a quarter of an hour, Tian Yi personally led his men over.

"…I thought it was some kind of acute illness."

"It's a big deal." Zhu Changluo said with a smile.

After the new policy began to be implemented, every concern became very real.

If a concubine becomes pregnant soon after the emperor's wedding, it will send a very important signal to the court and the public: the emperor is young and in good health, and he will definitely have many children in the future.

Some things in the dynasty are called the foundation of the country. Taxation is the foundation of the country, and the crown prince is also the foundation of the country.

"Your Majesty, congratulations to the Queen, it is indeed a pregnancy!"

The imperial doctors were very skilled in this area and quickly reached a consensus.

"Good!" Zhu Changluo said generously, "Give them all a reward! Tian Yi, let everyone in and outside the palace know that the Queen is pregnant!"

"…Your Majesty, it is better to wait until you are more stable."

Tian Yi advised that there are some rules to follow after all.

"Just take good care of it." Zhu Changluo shook his head, "Issue an order to order Duke Dingguo and Marquis Wuding to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth and the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and pray for me. Go and prepare, I will go to Fengxian Hall later. Also go to Cining Palace and Renshou Palace to tell them the good news."

Tian Yi naturally did his job and left with the imperial doctors.

Zhu Changluo sat on the couch and held Guo Lanzhi's hand: "You will definitely be pregnant, don't worry. I won't complain to you anymore, in fact, I can do it, it's just a relief."

Guo Lanzhi felt the warmth of his palm and gently stroked her belly with her other hand.

"I know, I... like it very much."

"I'm afraid you've heard too much and are worried about me." Zhu Changluo winked at her in a playful way, and then told her the truth, "I kept telling you before just to open my heart to you. You see, the new policies and military training are all done by loyal and capable officials. If I didn't have some skills, how could I have these random thoughts? Have a good rest, I'll go tell our ancestors the good news, go to the Cining Palace and the Renshou Palace, and then come back to see you."

Guo Lanzhi smiled and nodded.

She really liked that the emperor was willing to tell her his true feelings, and she also liked that he told her now that he would not say it again in the future. "Mo Xin, take good care of the queen."

"I know."

Sun Moxin watched the emperor stride away to Fengxian Hall, walked to the bedside and sighed: "Your Majesty is so happy that he asked Duke Dingguo and Marquis Wuding to offer sacrifices and pray for the queen. The queen must be a prince!"

"As long as I'm healthy, that's all." Guo Lanzhi was open-minded. "What's destined to happen will happen. As long as Your Majesty can keep me in his heart, that's all."

"My lady, is there anything you would like to eat or drink?"

"...I'm afraid you'll have to answer many times." Guo Lanzhi shook her head, "You might as well go get ready. Maybe mother and the others will come soon."

"Yes."

Sun Moxin went out happily. The queen was pregnant, which was of course the biggest happy event in the harem.

The Empress Dowagers and the Grand Empress Dowagers might come to visit in person and give many instructions.

The ladies from other palaces should also come to congratulate, and Kunning Palace will be very lively today.

The good news soon spread not only within the palace but also outside the palace.

Not long ago, on the winter solstice, the emperor personally offered sacrifices. Now that he asked Duke Dingguo and Marquis Wuding to offer sacrifices and pray for blessings on his behalf, it could only mean that the emperor valued the empress and this first child very much.

Only three months after the wedding, good news came from the palace, which proved one thing: at least there was no need to worry about the emperor being childless like Emperor Wuzong.

In the cabinet, Wang Xijue looked at Shen Yikuan and Shen Shixing and said, "The meritorious officials will offer sacrifices and pray for blessings on their behalf. Should the civil officials in the capital also offer congratulatory prayers?"

"……nature."

Although the new policy is still under "controversy", the emperor's attitude is now very clear. This kind of congratulatory message is naturally an opportunity for the ministers to show their loyalty and make a good article for the worry-free succession of the throne.

The most noble family in the world is about to welcome a new generation of offspring, while the noble families in the local areas have already learned the latest decisions of the emperor and the court.

Now it is no longer a question of whether or not to strictly abide by the exemptions, but whether the exemptions will be downgraded.

If it is possible to be demoted, is it impossible to be completely removed?

In the Leping County Government Office in Raozhou, Jiangxi, Meng Xikong said to Lu Xinyi, Wen Ping and Cao Mingxin, the teacher who had just been confirmed as an eighth-rank official: "The general trend is at hand, and you should make a decision."

Three people, you look at me, I look at you.

"My father-in-law visited the governor of Nanchang Prefecture and sent a gift of gold and silver to Leping. I have already given a generous gift to the gentry in this county." Meng Xikong looked at them. "I can't say anything about other counties and states. But the Cheng family in Leping is a traitor and has a reputation in the eyes of His Majesty and the court."

There are favors, but also threats.

There are also inducements.

"Teacher Cao has been promoted to an official position. Can this county not reduce the preferential treatment? It is time for officials and gentry to work together as one." Meng Xikong said, "Jiayue is the head of Changming Zhayang Company. Why should the families in Leping only focus on preferential treatment? Can't the merchants in Jiangyou take this opportunity to make money from other places together with Changming Company?"

When Chang Qing'an went from Nanjing to Nanchang, he came to Leping and gave Meng Xikong a lot of advice.

Therefore, Meng Xikong's current words are convincing, at least revealing Changming's willingness to cooperate with the Jiangyou Merchants.

"Let's not talk about whether they can change their ways, let's just talk about the county government." Meng Xikong looked at the three people, "No matter what, as long as the strict preferential exemption is implemented, not only will the common people be grateful, but how much annual income can the county government increase? Most of it can be retained! As long as we obey the imperial edict and the court's decree, the hard-working and honest reward money and the public money will have a place to go."

Lu Xinyi sighed, "Your Excellency, we understand what you said. However, if we strictly implement preferential treatment and return the stolen goods next year, we will have to worry about the governor accusing us of forcing people to sue officials in Leping County. This is really unusual. Moreover, many clerks and servants are deeply involved with various families, and I am afraid there will be too many troubles in the future."

Wen Ping also said: "They can only bear the pain and not see the future getting better, or even getting worse. This is the biggest problem. We are not speaking for them. We naturally hope that more county offices will be retained. However, we are afraid that Leping will have another big mess, and everyone will be held accountable!"

"Clerks and servants..." Meng Xikong pondered, "The court will think about the difficulties of the local areas. Now is not the time to be afraid of difficulties and not to move forward. It is indeed a problem that we cannot see that the days will get better in the future. I originally wanted to talk about it after the autumn harvest when I held a banquet to thank the families and grain managers, but now I will give you a piece of news..."

Lu Xinyi and the other two listened attentively, and gradually felt that it was good that the Leping County Magistrate was a new official, and it was even better that it was Meng Xikong.

There may not be special sources of information like his in other places.

Meng Xikong finished speaking and said, "In a word, in the current situation, only those who can turn around will have a better life. I think the court should turn a blind eye and let them evade taxes by taking advantage of preferential treatment in the local area. Naturally, the situation will get worse and worse. I know you have some good friends, so you can let them prepare early."

The three of them had bright eyes.

"Also remember, as long as the county is following the imperial decree and the imperial court's orders, if something goes wrong, how can we be punished? On the contrary, if you insist on going against the imperial court and causing you, me and the gentry to be demoted, then you are our enemy. The wise know what is more important. There is no shortage of people who go with the flow, and there is no shortage of people who go against the flow."

Meng Xikong's eyes were brighter than theirs: "Find out those who insist on going against the trend, take more precautions, how can there be a big mess?"

What he said was exactly the truth.

After the decree spread throughout the Ming Dynasty, officials and gentry began to split internally.

The imperial court gave local government offices an expectation that they would be able to legally receive more silver as rewards for diligence and integrity and retain more silver for public affairs, which created a rift between officials and gentry.

Seeing that there will be a number of new official positions in the officialdom after next year, and a number of vacancies due to crimes or resignation due to pressure, some of the opposition gentry have also seen these new opportunities.

Although at this moment they are still inextricably entangled, some places are preparing to be entangled more tightly, and some places are also loosening.

But new changes and possible vitality are in the making after all.

(End of this chapter)