Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!
Chapter 1373: Pregnant

Chapter 1373: Chapter 1373: Pregnant

The Emperor, in high spirits, strode away, then beckoned to the Crown Prince, signaling him to walk alongside, "Do you know why Chief of Staff Zhou was so sharp-tongued today?"

The Crown Prince, with his own thoughts, replied carefully, "Firstly, Chief of Staff Zhou clearly understands your Majesty’s intentions, so he immediately mentioned that the Ministry of Revenue lacks Silver, and had to use data to silence the tribes. Furthermore, Chief of Staff Zhou always remembers the issue with sister Lin Xi."

The Emperor, with his hands clasped behind his back, said, "Think further."

After a moment of contemplation, the Crown Prince still could not grasp the clue, "This son cannot figure it out."

The Emperor slowed his pace, "There are also tribes from the Grassland eager to form marital alliances, hinting to your mother before the New Year that the granddaughter of the Zhou family is a good match, which your grandfather informed Chief of Staff Zhou."

The Crown Prince understood, "Chief of Staff Zhou’s sharp tone is to express his dislike for the Grassland tribes, stating that in choosing partners for marriage, do not involve the granddaughters of the Zhou family."

The Emperor nodded, "In today’s court session, I only informed Mr. Chang and didn’t reveal it to Zhou Shuren, yet he was able to respond quickly and everything was in his own favor, you still have much to learn."

The Crown Prince felt admiration, "This son will learn more."

The Emperor patted his son’s head, "Good."

On the way out of the palace, Zhou Shuren adopted an attitude of repelling anyone’s respects, still it did not stop Li Zhao and others.

Li Zhao, "You are not like the usual you today!"

"What was I like usually?"

The Minister of Works laughed heartily, "Usually immovable even when pushed, only moving when shoved."

Zhou Shuren blew his beard, "Don’t act as if I can’t hear you insulting me!"

Li Zhao laughed loudly, and the Minister of Works joined him.

The Minister of Personnel squinted his eyes, "Indeed, Lord Zhou is quite abnormal today."

Zhou Shuren with a righteous face, "I genuinely have the Grassland tribes’ interests at heart, what’s so abnormal about that, don’t block the way, all of you move aside."

Saying so, Zhou Shuren strode away.

The other ministers smiled at each other, then no one spoke anymore.

Prince Qi speaking to Rongchuan, "I thought your father-in-law had already learned to cultivate his character, but it seems I was mistaken."

Rongchuan laughed, "My dad is anxious about the Silver; silver is needed at the start of the year, it’s hard on my dad too."

Prince Qi lowered his voice, "The Emperor is not planning to give anything at all!"

"Does elder brother know yet still ask his younger brother?"

Rongchuan wasn’t surprised that his brothers could guess; they were all capable, although unfortunately born in the same era.

Prince Qi knew the Emperor well, he is ambitious and restless, "The Grassland tribes won’t give up easily."

Rongchuan said solemnly, "Isn’t that even better."

The Silver they brought was lost, but the grain they secretly purchased didn’t cost any Silver yet!

Rongchuan was the first to see the Emperor after the New Year; the Emperor gave him something that astonished him, the Grassland tribes had been trading with several countries over the past few years, but mainly with merchant caravans from the Central Plains.

The main grain purchases were from three caravans, one was purely foreign, another caravan’s purchases were of normal quantities of grain, but the last caravan was the key, carrying various supplies and shockingly manned by people of the Emperor’s brother. The Emperor’s understanding of the Grassland tribes was much deeper than he knew.

Zhou Shuren’s rhetoric in the court spread quickly, and when the Grassland tribes heard about it, those with bad temper were infuriated.

Zhou Shuren didn’t care, they dared not be arrogant in the capital, especially when they were nervous about the impending war.

Once the actual clearing up after the war commences, those princes would definitely be dealt with, and he cared even less then.

The tribes wished to meet the Emperor, who responded that he would receive them in a few days, then nothing more.

In the harem, the empress was reviewing accounts when the Female Officer walked in, "Princess Natha has left."

The empress asked, "Leaving so early?"

The female officer replied, "It seems that the talk didn’t go well; Princess Natha looked very upset when she left."

The empress instructed, "Keep a close watch on Princess Aerola."

After the princess entered the palace, she received little favor, although she was at an age that should have been cherished, yet she lives the days of nursing her old age.

The empress understood her husband well; he did not trust the princess. Amongst the tribes that came to the capital this time, Princess Natha was Aerola’s maternal aunt.

The female officer acknowledged, "Yes."

The empress no longer had the mind to check the account books. She rubbed her slightly sore eyes, stood up, but staggered and fainted.

The next day, Zhulan heard the news brought by her daughter and was very surprised, "You say the empress is pregnant?"

That’s impossible, wasn’t she injured before and unable to conceive?

Xue Han knew what her mother was surprised about, and not to mention her mother, everyone was surprised, "The empress has been conditioning her body for these years. It’s a blessing to be able to conceive, it’s the fate that she should have this child."

Zhulan counted the age of the empress, "This pregnancy."

Xue Han understood what her mother left unsaid, and whispered into her ear: "I heard from the empress mother, this pregnancy is going to be difficult."

Zhulan sighed, that basically meant there could be a miscarriage any time, showing how badly the empress was injured initially.

Xue Han continued, "The Emperor is tremendously happy."

"The harem, not so much."

Xue Han smiled, "Because the empress is pregnant, mother and father will not leave this year, they will continue to stay in the palace."

This way, she and Rongchuan leaving the capital will feel more at ease, knowing that Lin Xi and Zeze are watched over by the emperor and the empress mother.

Zhulan pointed in the direction of the Wen family, "They are even more smug now."

Xue Han thought for a moment and added, "The emperor and empress truly desire an official daughter. Currently in the palace, only Consort Ran’s daughter is a princess. With an official daughter, Ran’s daughter’s status will be affected."

Life in the palace is not wonderful, full of comparisons, elevating and derogating, along with distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate births; the future treatment will fall short, and it is not easy to balance these feelings internally.

Zhulan blinked her eyes, "The child isn’t even born yet, and it seems like it’s going to be a daughter already."

"You’re right, the baby isn’t born yet!"

Zhulan laughed, "Ran Yan has always had a good temperament. Even if the empress gives birth to a daughter, Ran Yan will teach the princess well."

Xue Han actually seldom met the princess; whenever she entered the palace, she either went to see her mother or stayed inside the empress’ palace. Her own daughter was the gem of her mother’s heart. Thinking of this, "Father and mother are very biased towards Lin Xi. If the empress really gives birth to a daughter, could it provoke dissatisfaction?"

"The Retired Emperor will handle it well."

Xue Han smiled, "Mother is right, father and mother will handle it well."

She just wanted to be happy, hoping that the empress would have a smooth delivery, no matter boy or girl, she would bless it.

Several days later, the Emperor, holding the data provided by the Ministry of Revenue which was all that the Grassland spies could estimate and present, summoned the Grassland Tribe with a troubled expression, "Ah, I’m also in a dilemma. If it really does not work out, I can only write to the Monti Tribe asking them to lend you some food supplies."

The Emperor didn’t give the princes any chance to interject, continuing, "In recent years, the Monti Tribe has been abundantly loyal to our dynasty, and the food supply is plentiful, you all can be assured."

The princes inside the hall, "..."

Pff, Monti was the tribe they had planted!

The Emperor smiled warmly, "What do you all think?"

As for whether to offer food help or not, it was debated once again after the morning court meeting of the new year. This was the result of the discussion, well, the result he led, Monti Tribe, huh, as if he knew nothing.