Chapter 381: Volume 1, Chapter 381: The Empress Is Pregnant

Han Xinglan immediately ordered someone to summon the Imperial Physician, while he himself hurried into the bedchamber.

Rong Luoge was sleeping soundly when she suddenly sensed someone beside her, opened her eyes, and saw Han Xinglan sitting nearby with a grim expression; she startled, tried to sit up, but he pressed her back down.

Rong Luoge had no choice but to stay lying down, looking at Han Xinglan she asked with a smile, "Why does your face look so awful? Did something happen?"

She thought that lately there shouldn't be anyone clueless provoking him; besides, the aristocratic families' submission was proceeding orderly—once someone took the lead and stopped resisting, the other families, even if still somewhat reluctant, wouldn't dare oppose the court alone, and Han Xinglan had even thrown out bait, so things should still be going smoothly.

What could it be?

Just as she was thinking that, she heard Han Xinglan say, "I've summoned the Imperial Physician to check your pulse; you've been working too hard lately."

Rong Luoge blinked, then said, "I'm fine; if I felt unwell, I would naturally tell you."

Her health has always been good, and she usually takes good care of herself—if something were really wrong, she would know.

But meeting Han Xinglan's worried gaze, she swallowed her remaining words. "All right."

The Imperial Physician arrived quickly, nearly running; everyone knew His Majesty treasured the Empress in his palm, and upon hearing she was unwell, they wished they could sprout wings and fly over.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and to the Empress."

"Please rise." Han Xinglan said with a solemn face, "The Empress is unwell; come take her pulse."

"Yes." The Imperial Physician immediately opened his medicine box, took out a pulse cushion and placed it under the Empress's wrist; beside her, the Empress's maid laid a clean white cloth over her wrist.

The Imperial Physician lightly placed his fingers on the pulse, and the hall fell silent at once.

Han Xinglan's solemn face was especially intimidating; Rong Xin and Que Cai, among others, also looked grim—if the Empress truly had any problem, those of them attending her closely would be at fault.

Rong Xin's heart pounded as she stared fixedly at the Imperial Physician, seeing his brows first furrow, then seemingly break into a hint of joy.

Joy?

Rong Xin's eyes shifted, as if she had thought of something; her expression stiffened, then the corners of her mouth flew up.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Empress—this is a pulse of joy."

Rong Luoge blinked, "A joyful pulse?"

"She's pregnant?"

"Again?"

Instinctively she placed her hand on her abdomen, yet she felt nothing at all.

Han Xinglan was overjoyed, turning his head to meet Rong Luoge's bewildered look; the joy on his face could not be contained.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Empress."

Rong Xin and the others immediately bowed and offered their congratulations.

This is a great joy—the Empress is pregnant.

"Rewards!" Han Xinglan laughed, not only did the Imperial Physician receive a generous reward, but everyone in Fengyi Palace, high and low, was rewarded as well.

The entire Fengyi Palace was filled with festive cheer; such news needed no suppression and quickly spread throughout the Hou Gong.

The Empress is expecting!

Su Ying was accompanying the Empress Dowager in Funing Palace when she received the news from the palace attendants, and her expression froze instantly.

"Rong Luoge is pregnant again?"

The Empress Dowager's expression was calm, unlike her earlier agitation; ever since Yan Yin left the palace, her complexion has been much worse than before.

Now hearing again that the Empress is pregnant, she suddenly realized she felt hardly any stir at all.

"Aunt, the Empress is pregnant again—what are we to do, the Su family?" Su Ying murmured, her face already blackened beyond bearing.