Chapter 212: Reopening Is Just Around the Corner!

"Are you sure?!"

"Are you certain you saw clearly?!"

The Empress and the Crown Prince asked simultaneously.

Hua Ru looked at the two of them and nodded solemnly.

"This servant saw it very clearly, there is absolutely no mistake!"

The Empress wrung her handkerchief tightly with both hands, her teeth clenched in fury.

"Who would have thought that old thing still had a contingency in reserve!"

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed the Crown Prince beside her, his expression dazed.

That reaction — something was off.

"Hao'er, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Shen Hao thought it over, then decided to speak.

"Mother Empress, just now as your son was passing through the Imperial Garden, I happened to overhear…"

"Imperial Prince!"

"Something terrible has happened, Imperial Prince!"

It was Little Xiangzi, whom Shen Hao had just sent to gather information, returning.

"Imperial Prince, that little palace maid you ordered this servant to investigate is from Lady Zhao's palace."

"Just now Lady Zhao suddenly felt unwell and summoned the Imperial Physician. After taking her pulse, the Imperial Physician said…"

The Empress and the Crown Prince stared at him intently.

"Stop hemming and hawing! What did the Imperial Physician say?"

Under the weight of those two gazes, Little Xiangzi felt an immense pressure, as if a great mountain hung over his head, ready to crash down at any moment and smash him to pieces.

He nervously swallowed.

"The Imperial Physician said Lady Zhao is already over two months pregnant."

"When this servant rushed back, Lady Zhao had already sent someone to report the good news to the Xiyue Emperor!"

"Bang!"

The tea cup hit the floor and shattered into pieces; the sound made Little Xiangzi tremble all over.

The Empress, furious beyond measure, laughed instead.

"Lady Zhao?"

"All these years she seemed to never compete or fight for anything. Her Highness thought she was an honest one — who would have thought she'd pull off this little act of acting first and reporting later on Her Highness!"

A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips, and a flash of vicious cruelty glinted in her eyes.

"Well!"

"Quite the little trick, daring to play Her Highness's cleverness right under Her Highness's nose!"

The Crown Prince's brows knit tightly as he paced back and forth a few steps.

The thing he had worried about had become reality in the blink of an eye — one could well imagine how troubled he was.

"Lady Zhao must have confirmed the child in her belly is a Prince, which is why she's making such a grand show of reporting the good news to Father Emperor."

"Mother Empress, what shall we do?"

The Empress gripped the corner of the table tightly with her hand and said coldly.

"Being able to carry a Prince is naturally her good fortune, but whether she can safely give birth — that's not yet certain!"

"Isn't it still less than three months? The road is long; we'll just wait and see!"

"Right now, the most important thing is our plan."

Her composure, as if victory were already in her grasp, gradually calmed the Crown Prince's anxious heart.

That's right — so what if Lady Zhao is carrying a boy?

Even if she gives birth, that will be several months from now.

But according to Mother Empress's plan, by next month at the latest, this entire Da Yin will be his!

It's merely a fetus whose survival is still uncertain — it poses no threat to him at all!

……

On the other side of the harem, in Yongxiu Palace where Lady Zhao resided.

"How is the Prince?"

The Shunhe Emperor stared intently at Imperial Physician Qian, who was taking Lady Zhao's pulse.

He was the Imperial Medical Institute's most skilled physician in women's ailments.

Hearing this, Lady Zhao's beautiful eyes swirled, and she gave him a coquettish glare, scolding him playfully.

"Xiyue Emperor, it's still early — how could anyone tell whether it's a Prince or a Princess?"

Saying so, she turned her head to the side.

"If it's a Princess, would Your Majesty not like her then?"

The Shunhe Emperor wrapped one arm around her shoulders and gently stroked her lower abdomen with the other, soothing her softly.

"As long as it's My child, I will like them. But I hope this time it can give the Crown Prince another little brother."

Saying this, a light flickered in his eyes.

Imperial Physician Qian straightened up and replied respectfully with a bow.

"Replying to Your Majesty, based on this minister's many years of experience, Imperial Consort (Gongzhu)'s child is most likely a Prince."

"Good!"

The Shunhe Emperor was overjoyed.

"Very well, someone come!"

Shi Gui stepped forward.

The Shunhe Emperor waved his hand grandly.

"Send down the decree: Lady Zhao is gentle, virtuous, and kind by nature. She has rendered merit by bearing an imperial heir, which greatly delights Us. She is hereby conferred the title of Noble Consort Jia, taking the main seat of Yongxiu Palace!"

"All palace attendants in this hall shall also be heavily rewarded."

Lady Zhao—no, now Noble Consort Jia—hurriedly rose, wanting to get down from the bed to receive the decree and give thanks.

But the Shunhe Emperor stopped her.

"You are unwell; there is no need for such ceremony. Be careful not to harm the imperial child in your belly."

"Also, the weather has been hot lately, so you need not go to the Empress's palace to pay your respects every day, lest it tire out Our imperial child."

Noble Consort Jia could only kneel on the bed to give thanks.

"This concubine thanks Your Majesty for the grace."

The news that Lady Zhao was with child and had leapt to Noble Consort Jia spread as if on wings, and within a single hour it had reached every corner of the front court and the inner palace.

The consorts of the inner palace shredded who knows how many handkerchiefs.

The Imperial Officials who received the news had varied reactions—some looked indifferent, utterly unconcerned.

A few Old Ministers were so moved they wept freely, declaring this an auspicious omen, truly a sign that Heaven blessed Da Yin!

Under the Shunhe Emperor's covert guidance, the previous rumors about Cheng Chengxuan were quietly suppressed.

But a goose leaves a call as it flies—these rumors had still planted seeds of doubt in people's hearts.

……

A hundred li from the Capital, the Imperial Army and the Cheng Family Army clashed once again.

Cheng Chengxuan's sword thrust a soldier off his Horse, and at the same time he kicked away a small soldier trying to hamstring the Horse.

Borrowing force from that man's body, he leapt up, sword raised in both hands, and brought it down on a junior officer's shoulder.

The man fell wounded to the ground, and was quickly surrounded and captured by the nearby Cheng Family Army soldiers.

Chu Yuan ran over, still in the mood to tease.

"Fighting this fierce? Did you eat Gunpowder?"

Cheng Chengxuan glanced at him with a cold face.

He swung himself back onto his Horse and led the men charging once more into the Enemy Army.

Chu Yuan, standing where he was, shrank his neck.

"Pff, what a filthy mouth."

The assassins from the hidden pavilion exchanged a glance: "???"

Did the Young General just speak?

Seems like he didn't, right?

Cheng Chengxuan: Miss An hasn't replied in half a day, unhappy ￣へ￣.

……

On the Modern Era side, An Luo had been busy with foundation matters for a while before Cheng Ruonan dragged her off to go shopping.

Now the two were tired from shopping and were getting massages at a beauty salon.

"What?!"

Cheng Ruonan shot up in a sudden sit-up, springing upright so fast the face mask on her face fell off in shock.

She looked at the two masseuses.

"Ladies, could you step out for a moment? We want to chat."

Once only the two of them were left in the room, Cheng Ruonan plopped herself down right next to An Luo.

"What you just said—is it true? You're not joking?"

An Luo peeled off one of the eye masks and looked at her.

"What, you don't want it?"

Cheng Ruonan shrugged.

"Of course I want it."

"Our Cheng Group already sets aside a sum of funds for charity every year."

"Thanks to the Gu Family and Xu Jing, your foundation is getting so much public attention now—it's far more beneficial than harmful for our Cheng Group."

It's practically a publicity effect with half the effort.

She patted An Luo's arm.

"I just can't figure it out—out of the blue, why do you suddenly not want to do this anymore?"

An Luo peeled off her face mask and sat up too.

"Nothing, really. The world is so big—I just want to go out and see it."

Saying so, she nudged Cheng Ruonan's arm with her elbow and raised an eyebrow at her.

"What? Afraid I'll screw you over and the foundation will blow up?"

"Your company can send professionals to audit the accounts."

Having said that much, Cheng Ruonan gave an embarrassed smile and explained.

"You know I definitely trust you, it's just…"

"I know."

Before she could finish, An Luo nodded understandingly.

"You, as president, are just holding a position—you haven't reached the point where you can call all the shots. Even though it's called Cheng Group, it's not a one-word dictatorship for your Cheng family."

"Long live understanding."

"Then it's settled. Find a time and send someone to the foundation."

An Luo lay back down.

"Hurry and let her in. My face mask is almost dry."

"Alright, alright, alright."

Actually, entrusting it to the Cheng family was the result of her careful deliberation. Cheng Ruonan probably knew some things, and regarding the source of funds, she wouldn't be too particular.

Thinking of the little door on the Live Stream Room's homepage, An Luo curved her lips into a happy smile.

Progress is already at 99%!

The Time-Space Gate's reopening is just around the corner!

Moreover, she had a premonition that after the Time-Space Gate reopened, it would be different from before.