Chapter 422: Gao Yang: Oh, Husband~

Empress Changsun's reason for asking like this is not without cause.

Because although Chen Yan, Gao Yang, and Li Lizhi are now married, there remains a crucial issue unresolved.

That issue is: between Li Lizhi and Gao Yang, who is truly the principal wife?

Logically, as the legitimate princess, Li Lizhi's status outranks Gao Yang's, so making her the principal wife poses no problem.

But Li Lizhi intervened midway, forcibly inserting herself after Chen Yan and Gao Yang had become engaged.

And before Li Lizhi married Chen Yan, Gao Yang was the undisputed principal wife.

Therefore, after Li Lizhi married Chen Yan, the status of the principal wife remained inconclusive.

According to the patriarchal system, legitimacy is based on seniority, not virtue; succession is based on rank, not seniority.

That means the legitimate eldest son is determined first by the mother's status; if the mother is the principal wife, the eldest son becomes the legitimate eldest, such as Li Chengqian.

If Gao Yang bore a son, under this rather special and awkward circumstance, that son would inevitably be the legitimate eldest son.

Thus Gao Yang would be the principal wife, able to dominate Li Lizhi.

Even if Li Lizhi later gave birth to a son, and Chen Yan deemed that son a legitimate child, he would not be the legitimate eldest, and his status would not surpass Gao Yang and her son.

Empress Changsun does not wish her two daughters to contend, but the fact is as such, and she is powerless.

So ever since noticing Gao Yang's mood was off, she has wondered whether it is because she gave birth to a daughter.

However, this time Empress Changsun guessed incorrectly.

Gao Yang, unable to laugh or cry, said, "Mother Empress, where are you going with this? Though I say I want a son, Chen Yan loves daughters, and I too secretly want a daughter."

"So I really like Xiao Sui An, and have no… no preference for sons over daughters."

"Moreover… I have already talked with Chen Yan and my sister once; there's no need to vie for anything."

Empress Changsun was startled, then nodded with inner relief, "That you both can talk properly is good; it's Mother Empress who worries too much."

"But thinking about it, with Zi An's skill, manipulating the two of you little girls is far too easy."

Gao Yang: "......"

"Mother Empress, I have a question to ask you," she said softly.

"Alright, alright, Mother Empress misspoke, go ahead," Empress Changsun smiled, a worry lifted, and her mood clearly improved.

Gao Yang paused, then timidly said, "Mother Empress, it's… after you give birth, is there any good method… um, that can help the body recover its shape more quickly."

She lowered her head embarrassedly at the last two words.

This matter has troubled her for a long time; since giving birth to Xiao Sui An, she has found her once smooth, delicate abdomen now wrinkled and hideously unsightly.

Now she dares not share a bed with Chen Yan, fearing he would despise her if he saw it.

Empress Changsun smiled gently at the now somewhat feminine Gao Yang, a teasing grin at the corner of her mouth, "Why are you so eager to recover? This is perfectly normal; every mother must go through it."

Gao Yang blurted out, muttering, "Mother Empress, stop teasing your servant; this state is truly unsightly, I can't even bear to look at myself…"

"If you have any good method, could you teach your servant? I don't want to continue like this."

"Methods, huh." Empress Changsun elongated her voice, and smiling at Gao Yang's expectant gaze, said, "Of course there are."

"Many in the palace share your trouble; they've long compiled a very practical method. Mother Empress can teach it to you, but it requires a lot of hardship."

"Mother Empress thinks Zi An might know more about this, after all he is a physician."

"You might privately ask Zi An; perhaps he has a better method."

"Mother Empress…" Gao Yang was about to speak when Empress Changsun raised her hand to stop her.

"Listen to Mother Empress: Zi An's medical skill is superb; if he has a method, it will surely be better than Mother Empress's. First tell Zi An; if he has none, write a letter to Mother Empress, and she will convey the palace's method to you."

"But…" Gao Yang began, then stopped.

"Tang'er, Mother Empress will not harm you; you seem proud, but when it comes to Zi An, you are overly cautious."

"Zi An is a fine gentleman; Mother Empress's point is not only about teaching children. Mother Empress earnestly tells you that you can share your trouble with Zi An, after all, you are husband and wife, aren't you?"

Gao Yang was at a loss for words, her gaze complex, not knowing what to say.

While her mind was a tangled mess, Empress Changsun left.

Soon after, Li Shimin and Empress Changsun left Weinan County, returning to Chang'an.

After all, their positions dictate they cannot stay away from the palace for long.

Moreover, Chen Yan and the other young ones still plan to gather; their arrival has already had an impact.

After they departed, Chen Yan went to the main chamber, wanting to see his precious daughter.

Looking at his sleeping daughter, Chen Yan was not disappointed; instead, he beamed, "Sleeping well, able to eat and sleep; she'll surely be a healthy child."

Gao Yang stared steadily at her husband, then suddenly said, "Husband, since I gave birth to Xiao Sui An, my belly is wrinkled; do you have any way to help me recover faster?"

Chen Yan was startled; seeing he did not respond immediately, Gao Yang's heart tightened, fearing he was repulsed.

Unexpectedly, the next second, Chen Yan's face instantly blossomed with an extremely vivid expression, almost jubilantly leaning forward:

"Is that so? Let me see!"

【11】 Gao Yang: "......"

Gao Yang: "......"

For a moment she didn't know whether to be happy or sad, so she threw caution to the wind, unbuttoned her clothes, and let Chen Yan have a look.

He looked, pinched with his finger, and laughed, "Oh dear, I thought you'd still call my daughter's head pointy; now it's fine, huh? Your belly is all wrinkled!"

"That's karma!"

"I really…" Gao Yang, furious, raised her hand and gave him a hard slap.

"I'm seriously asking you, can you show some respect? Do you know how painful this is for a woman?"

"You still laugh!"

She, still angry, tidied her clothes and turned her head away.

Chen Yan pursed his lips, "Who told you to say my daughter's head is pointy? Now your own belly is wrinkled, and you still won't let me say it?"

"Moreover, you ask me while being so arrogant?"

Your attitude? Your sincere tone?

Gao Yang almost couldn't catch her breath in one go, but she well knew Chen Yan's nature of yielding to softness and resisting hardness; going head-to-head with him would definitely bring no good outcome, so she had to take a soft approach.

She had no choice but to take a deep breath, force out a sweet, cloying smile, turn her head, and gently tug and shake Chen Yan's sleeve:

Oh dear, husband~

Please, I... *puke*!

"Pfft!" Chen Yan really couldn't hold back, instantly bursting into laughter.

Oh damn, the price you pay for begging is too high, huh? You made yourself beg until you vomited?

"......"