I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 533 Extra 3
As the year drew to a close, Empress Chu Liuzheng became increasingly busy, so much so that she completely forgot about the Emperor.

Xiao Jingfan was very dissatisfied with his wife's occasional neglect of him, but he didn't have time to look for her, as he still had a pile of memorials to review on his desk.

Whether it was the effect of the heaven-worshiping ceremony or the protection of the fake Phoenix Goddess Chu Liuzheng, there was only one flood this year and no other natural disasters, making it a rare good year.

On New Year's Eve, the emperor held a grand banquet for his officials.

As dusk fell, officials and their families entered the palace for a banquet. Men and women sat separately, separated by a gauze screen.

Chu Liuzheng first brought Bai Shi and Chu Yuxin into the palace to talk, and when it was almost time, he went to meet the emperor and they went to Fengtian Hall together.

This year's New Year's Eve banquet was as lively as ever. It was Chu Liuzheng's first time attending, and he chatted with the ladies present while enjoying the song and dance performances.

After drinking a few more cups of wine, Chu Liuzheng suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable in his stomach, probably because he had eaten cold food.

She regretted indulging in her food earlier and tried to endure it, but as she tried, the pain caused her forehead to break out in a cold sweat.

Siyue noticed something was wrong with her, bent down and called softly, "Your Majesty?"

"My stomach hurts." Chu Liuzheng handed her his hand, and Siyue quickly helped her up and left through the side door.

The ladies of the court were all puzzled. Why did they suddenly leave their seats?
With a smile, Mo Xiang stepped forward to reassure everyone: "Your Highness just accidentally spilled some wine on yourself. You'll be right back."

Upon hearing this, the ladies present were finally relieved and continued to watch the song and dance performances while socializing.

Madam Bai, however, was not in the mood for such things. She knew that her eldest daughter had developed some stomach problems after entering the palace, and although she had mostly recovered after years of recuperation, there was no guarantee that it wouldn't recur.

Chu Liuzheng didn't look well when she left, and she was worried that her eldest daughter had a stomach ailment.

Chu Yuxin was also worried. She was someone who couldn't sit still, so she leaned closer to Madam Bai and said, "Mother, I'll go and see my sister."

After saying that, he ran away under the pretext of changing clothes, and Bai Shi couldn't stop him.

As soon as Chu Liuzheng entered the side hall, his legs went weak and he leaned against Siyue. Siyue picked him up and quickly placed him on the couch, then skillfully took his pulse.

Chen Xing ordered someone to pour hot water and wrung out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Chu Liuzheng's forehead.

"My stomach hurts, but I don't feel like I need to poop. I must have eaten something wrong. Quickly give me two acupuncture needles." Chu Liuzheng's face was pale with pain, and his hands were ice cold.

Chen Xing brought her a cup of hot water, and only after seeing her drink it slowly did he look at Si Yue, his eyes filled with coldness, "Did someone poison you?"

"No." Siyue shook her head, glanced at Chu Liuzheng's pale face, and said, "Go and invite Physician Wu here."

Chen Xing was startled: "You can't tell?"

Siyue did not answer, but only said, "Go quickly and come back quickly."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xing dared not delay and immediately began using his lightness skill while running.

[Oh no, even Siyue couldn't cure me, could I have some terminal illness? Stomach cancer or colon cancer?]

Chu Liuzheng took the medicine given to him by Siyue, extremely nervous. He held Siyue's hand and said, "Tell me what illness I have. I can handle it."

Siyue opened her mouth, about to speak, when she heard a voice from outside the door, "Sister."

Chu Yuxin was stopped at the door and looked inside worriedly.

Chu Liuzheng beckoned her in.

Seeing her lying on the couch, Chu Yuxin rushed in, startled, and asked worriedly, "Sister, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing serious, just a stomachache." Chu Liuzheng felt it was better not to tell his sister that he had a terminal illness yet.

Physician Wu arrived quickly; he was carried over by the anxious Chen Xing.

Upon seeing the emperor, he hurriedly bowed, but Xiao Jingfan waved his hand, "Come quickly and let the empress see you."

"Yes." Physician Wu, ignoring his still blurry vision, quickly walked to the bedside with his medicine box on his back. He took the patient's pulse through the silk handkerchief and was stunned.

He glanced at the emperor.

Xiao Jingfan said coldly, "Speak your mind."

Physician Wu didn't say anything; he examined the area carefully and then looked at Siyue.

He knew that the palace maid beside the Empress was a doctor.

The two locked eyes, and their gazes said it all.

Physician Wu stood up, bowed to the emperor, and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is one month pregnant."

Xiao Jingfan was taken aback, his gaze shifting to Chu Liuzheng's belly. Was she pregnant? Chu Liuzheng, whose pain had subsided, was also looking at her own belly.

[It wasn't a terminal illness after all! I was so scared.]

[If it's been a month, did you conceive this month? By the way, how are pregnancy dates calculated?]

She has no experience either, and plans to discuss it with Mitsuki when she has time.

She looked up at the emperor, her eyes slightly narrowed.

Why is the tyrant so expressionless? Does he really not want me to get pregnant?

Xiao Jingfan certainly hoped so, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

A smile spread from the depths of his eyes to the corners of his brows and eyebrows. His Majesty's expression relaxed, and he rarely smiled so casually. He called out, "Reward me!"

Everyone offered their congratulations and thanks for the reward, creating a lively atmosphere.

Xiao Jingfan sat down on the edge of the couch, reached out and pulled the person into his arms, and instructed, "Zhou Yuande, go and announce this good news."

"Yes, sir." Zhou Yuande accepted the order and left, and the others also tactfully withdrew from the hall.

Chu Yuxin was so happy that she jumped three feet high like a rabbit and ran back to tell her mother the good news.

She arrived before Zhou Yuande, and her voice was clear and bright. She said she was going to tell Bai Shi, but she didn't keep her voice down, and all the noblewomen who lived next to Bai Shi heard her.

The ladies looked at each other, all marveling at Chu Liuzheng's good fortune; she had conceived the imperial heir so soon after her marriage, truly a reincarnation of a phoenix maiden.

As for Chu Liuzheng, he had accompanied the emperor for five years, but this was generally overlooked by everyone.

Many ladies' eyes lingered on Chu Yuxin. Couldn't they at least share some of the good fortune bestowed upon their own sisters? They thought this second young lady of the Ping Le Marquis's mansion was quite remarkable, and they'd heard she wasn't engaged yet.

The ladies were considering whether any of their sons or nephews were suitable matches for the Empress. If they could become in-laws with the Marquis of Ping Le's family, they could also benefit from His Majesty's favor towards the Empress.

Those with daughters at home set their sights on Chu Shangming. They couldn't do anything about it before because he wasn't in the capital, but now that he is, it's the perfect time to make a match.

Unlike the people at the banquet who were all lost in their own thoughts, the atmosphere in the side hall was warm and affectionate.

Light kisses fell continuously on his hair, forehead, eyes, nose, and cheeks... Chu Liuzheng pushed the emperor away, feeling disgusted by the mushy gesture, "The banquet hasn't ended yet. I can lie down by myself. You should go back quickly."

"We'll go later." Xiao Jingfan held the person tightly, not wanting to let go.

Chu Liuzheng wrapped his arms around his waist and felt that it was quite nice to lean on him like this.

She reached out and touched her lower abdomen, sighing inwardly.

Life truly has no rehearsals; it's all unexpected.

The news of the Empress's pregnancy spread like wildfire from the New Year's Eve banquet to every corner of the palace.

The Empress Dowager was undoubtedly the happiest. When Chu Liuzheng and the Emperor came to Wanshou Palace hand in hand for the family banquet, her eyes never left Chu Liuzheng's belly, as if she was afraid that her little grandson would run away from her belly.

Chu Liuzheng felt that if her pregnancy was a false alarm, the Empress Dowager would probably faint on the spot.

"Your Majesty is overjoyed." Xiao Jinshu pulled Chu Liuzheng to sit down and said with a smile, "Being pregnant, you shouldn't overwork yourself. There are many trivial matters in the palace during the New Year. If you don't mind, leave them to me and I will take care of them for you."

"Don't worry, don't worry at all." Chu Liuzheng couldn't wait to rest for a few days.

Physician Wu said that her stomachache was partly due to eating some cold food at the banquet, and partly due to being too tired these days.

She had originally intended to leave those matters to Mo Xiang and the others to keep an eye on, but now that the Princess was willing to lend a hand, she was more than grateful.

The Empress Dowager instructed Zhao Mama: "Nothing else is urgent. We need to select wet nurses. Choose several, with clean backgrounds, good health, and decent looks. I'm entrusting this matter to you. You must handle it perfectly for me and make no mistakes."

"Yes, ma'am." Granny Zhao was experienced in choosing wet nurses and had already begun to make her plans.

After giving instructions to Granny Zhao, the Empress Dowager summoned three girls—Mo Xiang, Chen Xing, and Si Yue—to her side and gave them detailed instructions.

Not far away, Xiao Yu's three children were gathered together cutting paper snowflakes, competing to see who could cut the best.

Xiao Jingfan, a bystander, looked left and right before deciding to join Chu Liuzheng and the Princess's conversation, only to be disdainfully kicked out of the group chat.

A series of loud bangs came from outside the window, and dazzling fireworks burst open against the dark sky.

In the tenth year of the Shun Guang reign, at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, Empress Chu gave birth to a son safely, who was named Dunheng.

(End of this chapter)