Chapter 92: Joyful News

92. Chapter 92: Joyful News

"Young master, the latest news: the Empress will hold a flower‑viewing banquet at Qinyuan Ju!"

"Would you like to go and join the fun?"

At the Xie Family, Xie Lu hurried to Xie Zian's side and reported the freshly received news.

The Empress's flower‑viewing banquet, in name only invites the ladies and missesses of the various mansions in Jingcheng, but in reality some male guests are also allowed.

Of course, male guests who attend will not be in the same venue as the female guests.

"Big sister, are you that idle?"

Xie Zian, hearing Xie Lu's words, tilted his head slightly and said, "Now the court is mobilizing troops; holding a flower‑viewing banquet at this time seems improper, doesn't it?"

"Improper? It's perfectly proper!"

Xie Lu cleared his throat, "These petty Western Region nations, with Dayong's current campaign, are destined to expand our lands; who knows, we might even create a few more marquises!"

"These marquises, aren't they allowed to take wives?"

"Hehe…"

Xie Zian smiled speechlessly.

Indeed, with this campaign, Dayong is bound to win, and inevitably some will be ennobled for their merit.

What a pity, such a good chance, yet he has no opportunity to showcase himself.

"Young master, you still haven't said—do you want to go or not?"

"Go!"

"Of course we should go!"

Xie Zian laughed heartily, "By the way, Uncle Lu, go to Cai Feng Lou and have their best embroideresses head to Qinyuan Ju right now!"

"Understood!"

Xie Lu instantly grasped Xie Zian's meaning.

The flower‑viewing banquet celebrates a myriad of colors.

Likewise, sometimes people are more delicate than the blossoms.

…

As news spread that the Empress would hold the flower‑viewing banquet at Qinyuan Ju, Jingcheng instantly buzzed with excitement.

Good tailors suddenly became the talk of the town.

Those famous embroidery houses were eyed by every family and mansion.

Renowned embroideresses even welcomed the annual highlight of their careers.

Cai Feng Lou, as the top embroidery house in Jingcheng, naturally attracted even more attention.

However, they soon discovered that the best embroideresses from the Tailor Hall had gone to Qinyuan Ju, as Imperial Uncle Xie Zian had sent people to invite them over.

"What kind of heavenly fragrance and national beauty is this Shen Family lady that even makes the Xie Family young master so attentive?"

"Who knows?"

"Back when the Empress was unmarried, the best embroideresses of the Tailor Hall made clothes for her; now, I wonder what the Empress thinks about this!"

"I wouldn't dare guess recklessly!"

"Hehe, just saying, just saying!"

…

In the market streets, such idle chatter is never lacking.

And within the palace, Xie Zixian naturally learned the street gossip quickly, hearing it from Emperor Xi He himself.

The Night Patrol Office reports the important happenings outside to the emperor each day.

"Empress, what do you think?"

Emperor Xi He smiled mischievously at Xie Zixian.

Xie Zixian rolled his eyes at him and said, "Aren't you bored?"

"You're an adult, yet still playing petty tricks here!"

Xie Zixian was all too aware of Emperor Xi He's act of putting eye drops on Xie Zian in front of him.

"Not bored!"

"Hehe, I truly am curious!"

Emperor Xi He wrapped his arms around Xie Zixian's waist, chuckling lightly, "No matter what the Empress dares to think, I'm quite angry anyway."

"What are you angry about?"

Xie Zixian laughed, turned his head toward Emperor Xi He.

"I'm angry on behalf of my mother‑in‑law!"

"That stinky brat Xie Zian, once he has a wife he forgets his mother!"

"You can stop that!"

Xie Zixian gently twisted Emperor Xi He's waist, saying, "You know full well my mother always uses the house's own embroideresses and never cares about outside embroidery works."

"Is that so?"

"Pretending!"

Xie Zixian pressed his hand firmly, giving Emperor Xi He a harsh grip.

"Zixian, be gentler, my skin is surely bruised!"

Emperor Xi He bared his teeth in a grimace.

Xie Zixian snorted and said, "Stop being so childish all the time!"

"Yes, yes, I'm listening to you!"

I, the great emperor, will not argue with that stinky kid for now!

As the two talked, a palace maid came carrying a food box.

Your Majesty, Empress, the meals have arrived!

Place them out!

Xie Zixian spoke immediately.

Soon, six dishes were laid on the table.

The emperor of Dayong is far too indifferent to culinary refinement.

Throughout the ages, emperors, empresses, and palace consorts have all had set standards for daily meals. Even if they cannot finish them, the standards are not lowered; it always marks a superiority.

But in this generation of Dayong, the founding emperor set a rule: on non‑special days, neither emperor nor empress may waste food.

One requirement: eat enough and eat well.

Strangely enough, the emperor of Dayong cares little for food and drink, yet lives a long life.

Ugh…

After the dishes were set, the Xi He Emperor and Xie Zixian took their seats, and shortly thereafter Xie Zixian suddenly felt a wave of nausea.

The food's flavor was very overwhelming.

Empress!

Zixian!

Seeing this, the serving palace maid, the elderly matron, and even the Xi He Emperor grew angry.

Quick, Imperial Physician Xuan!

I'm fine; maybe I'm just overheated!

These past two days, the weather has indeed been too hot!

Xie Zixian waved her hand, indicating that no one needed to make a fuss.

But the elderly matron You suddenly looked toward the palace maid and whispered, "Feiyun, has the Empress missed her auspicious day?"

The maid called Feiyun replied at once, "Yes, it passed six days ago!"

"But the Empress's auspicious day has always been a bit unreliable… could it be…"

Feiyun's eyes widened slowly.

Naturally, Xie Zixian and the Xi He Emperor heard their conversation.

Wang Deshun, quickly, Imperial Physician Xuan, summon several more!

The Xi He Emperor felt uneasy at that moment.

He and Xie Zixian have been married for over three years, yet she has not borne a child; if they were not both still young, the court officials would have already caused a scandal.

Even so, occasionally some officials still raise the issue.

Xie Zixian felt equally uneasy.

Three years without a child, the pressure she bears is immense.

Soon, the Imperial Physicians arrived.

The chief of the Imperial Medical Institute arrived with several gynecological experts.

Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Empress!

After taking their pulses, the physicians all congratulated the Xi He Emperor and Xie Zixian.

And with that congratulations, there was no need to say more.

Ha ha, good!

Reward!

Wang Deshun, send the Imperial Physicians back!

The Xi He Emperor laughed like a fool.

Xie Zixian was stunned for a while before regaining her senses.

She is pregnant!

Finally pregnant!

Attendants, take these meals away and have the Imperial Kitchen prepare something more appetizing!

Wait, Zixian, is there anything you want to eat?

The Xi He Emperor's mind was a bit dazed, his reasoning somewhat muddled.

He now has an Empress!

Perhaps, it could even be twins!

The Xie Family has long had a tradition of twins.

Three years without a child, and now two at once—seems rather good.

I want to eat the Jade Soup my mother makes!

Right, we must announce the good news!

Hearing Xie Zixian's words, the Xi He Emperor slapped his thigh hard.