Binding Spring Love

"What is it? Just tell me."

Wan Xiao said, "Childbirth is difficult for women. Please find a skilled doctor from the Imperial Hospital to care for her."

"Don't let anyone know that I did it."

"become."

When Ji Rong told Wan Xiao about Lin Jiayue's visit to the palace to ask Song Wan for a physician from the Imperial Physicians' Office, he said, "Her Majesty the Empress entrusted this matter to me. Now is the perfect time to find a suitable midwife for you."

Wan Xiao smiled and thanked him, then turned and went back to Chang Le Palace to find Shen Qianyu.

But as soon as they arrived at the gate of Chang Le Palace, they saw the palace maids and eunuchs with joy on their faces.

"What makes you laugh so heartily?"

"Her Majesty the Empress is pregnant! Her Majesty is pregnant..."

"Excellent, excellent."

Wan Xiao's eyes were also filled with joy.

The emperor and empress were deeply in love, but it is a fact that the emperor neglected the empress, resulting in a lack of offspring, and the empress was criticized for this for a long time.

Now that the Empress is pregnant again, it might spur the court officials to have less to say.

It would be even better if this child were a prince.

He had known Shen Qianyu and Ji Rong for many years, and the three brothers had come a long way to achieve what they had today.

Thinking this, a smile appeared in Wan Xiao's eyes.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress!"

"Joy, indeed great joy."

Shen Qianyu grinned: "If the national treasury weren't so empty, I would even have considered granting another general amnesty and reducing taxes again."

Song Wan glanced at him, then gently smiled as she touched her lower abdomen.

This pregnancy wasn't as painful as her previous ones; the baby in her belly was well-behaved and never bothered her.

For some reason, Song Wanhuai had a much better appetite during this pregnancy and felt hungry all day long.

When she was five months pregnant, she had gained a lot of weight and looked much fuller than before.

Shen Qianyu also developed a new habit from this, happily feeding Song Wan every day.

"Wan'er, take another bite. The five-flavor duck that has been simmering in the small kitchen for a long time is tender, easy to digest, and has a fresh and sweet taste."

"I asked the imperial physician, and he said that this amount of food will not be a burden, so Wan'er need not worry."

The aroma of the meat made Song Wan smell it and she thought it was incredibly delicious.

She watched as Shen Qianyu brought the duck meat to his lips, and she couldn't help but open her mouth slightly.

After swallowing the duck meat, Song Wan said, "I haven't seen Song Ni and Song Nian since their marriage. If we have some free time tomorrow, why don't we invite the four of them to the palace together?"

"How are you feeling?"

"It will naturally happen."

She stroked her lower abdomen and said gently with a smile, "This little one is unlike Yan'er; he has never caused me any suffering."

"Our daughter will surely be as well-behaved as Wan'er."

Shen Qianyu wiped Song Wan's mouth and then said softly, "Since you're alright, it would be good for you to see your sisters at home. I was also worried that you might find it boring or tedious in the palace."

Song Wan nodded and agreed.

Although she didn't suffer much during this pregnancy, she became quite plump and sometimes appeared rather clumsy. However, Shen Qianyu particularly enjoyed seeing her clumsy appearance, which she had never shown before.

"Today I stayed by Wan'er's side."

When the two were pregnant with Shen Shiyan, they knew to sleep in separate beds. Now, Shen Qianyu has long since stopped trying to avoid it and has even moved out of the canopy bed in their former palace.

Shen Qianyu helped Song Wan to the bedside and carefully changed her clothes.

"Myself..."

"I'll help Wan'er."

Shen Qianyu draped a soft undershirt over Song Wan's body and adjusted the pillows for her. The two lay down fully clothed, and Shen Qianyu gently combed her long hair with his hands.

"I wonder if she looks just like Wan'er?"

"I don't know."

I think so.

Shen Qianyu climbed up from the bed and carefully pressed his ear against Song Wan's protruding belly.

Seeing this, Song Wan smiled faintly: "Have you decided on a name for her?"

"I've made up my mind."

The man rolled off the bed and pulled out a thick stack of gold-flecked stationery filled with single characters from the desk.

He leaned closer to Song Wan and said, "I spent over twenty days choosing, but after all that, I still prefer the character '娇' (jiao, meaning delicate or charming)."

"I want her to be our precious daughter."

"I think she was loved and cherished by others throughout her life, not just you and me."

"I will decide on Jiao'er's future husband. If he cannot treat her better than I can, I would rather keep Jiao'er in the palace for the rest of her life."

Song Wan noticed that Shen Qianyu had become melancholic as he spoke, and couldn't help but find it amusing.

Before the child was even born, he was already planning such far ahead. I really don't know what he would do if a little princess were to get married.

Touching her lower abdomen, Song Wan suddenly felt a little worried.

Shen Qianyu loves the little princess so much, but what if she gives birth to a little prince?

Thinking of this, Song Wan chuckled softly.

"Does Wan'er think this name is bad?"

"Very good, I love our darling."

The couple talked late into the night by candlelight until Song Wan felt hungry again. Shen Qianyu brought her a bowl of meat porridge that had been simmering for a long time and was filled with the aroma of rice. She slowly ate it and only then did she feel at ease.

Song Wan's pregnancy was easy this time. The next day, when Song Ni and Song Nian brought their respective husbands to the palace, she got up early but didn't feel tired at all.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, and greetings to Consort Shang."

The four paid their respects to Song Wantong and Shang Rong before taking their seats.

Song Nian was quite surprised to see Song Wan, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

After becoming pregnant, Song Wan changed a lot from before. Perhaps because she was carrying a fetus, her gaze was gentle and calm, full of loving eyes.

In the past, when she was at the Song residence, although the other party was gentle and seemed obedient, Song Nian could always see a bit of wariness and scrutiny in her eyes.

But now, Song Wan's eyes are filled with only a gentle tenderness and a serene and indescribable tranquility.

Today she was dressed in casual clothes, her hair simply tied up with a pearl hairpin, showing no trace of the majesty of an empress.

For some reason, when you meet her gaze, no one can ignore her imposing aura.

It wasn't that Song Wan was particularly flamboyant, but rather...

Song Nian lowered her head and smiled faintly.

It's probably because power and influence nurture people.

Such a life is probably what Song Yao sought her whole life, yet could never achieve in her lifetime.

Turning her gaze away from Song Wan, Song Nian listened quietly to what the others at the table were saying, but her mind involuntarily drifted to Song Yao.

After all, Song Yao had grown up with her. Although the two sisters had several disagreements later on, in her heart, Song Yao was always closer to her than Song Wan.

This must be the power of blood ties.

Even though she knew Song Yao's character, she still thought of her own elder sister.

"Madam, you may have some hot tea."

Seeing the fleeting sadness in her eyes, Ming Shiqi pushed the teacup towards Song Nian.

"Thank you, my husband."

After thanking Ming Shiqi in a low voice, Song Nian brought the tea in front of her to her lips and took a small sip.

She wasn't in a good mood because she had just suddenly thought about what it would be like if Song Yao were also present today.

The court lost many key ministers in the Battle of Suhe, resulting in a significant reshuffling of positions.

The Hu family member, whom Song Yao had previously appointed as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), has also entered the Ministry of Justice this year. Although he is not in a particularly important position, he is still considered part of the Song faction, and if his elder brother's position changes in the future, he will not fare much worse off.

Qi Sulun and his wife were not as bad as Song Yao had imagined.