Pampered By All In Different Planes-Chapter 692 - 495: Little Crybaby, Beautiful and Charming, The Rugged Man Spoils His Wife with Seduction 45
"No problem." Su Zhiruan paused and furrowed her brow, calculating the days.
A month ago, the Emperor of the Wang Dynasty suddenly fell gravely ill. Even though Ji Xiaoyuan was reluctant to leave, looking back every few steps, this matter required his personal return.
Su Zhiruan finally persuaded him to leave after much effort. Her skin was fair and delicate; a light touch could leave marks. Hence, every night’s routine was fixed: first, some idle talk, then slowly getting closer, followed by nights that made one blush upon reflection, and after everything ended, he would apply ointment for her.
The courtiers exchanged glances, each with a bold guess in their hearts.
The ministers were full of curiosity, though they dared not speak out. "Your Highness..." A brave minister spoke first, "Could it be that you are..."
Upon hearing this, many old ministers’ eyes lit up, and they had thoughts in mind.
If Su Zhiruan wished for her child to become emperor, she might seize power to support and cultivate her child. By then, they could openly send their handsome sons to serve her in the harem, enhancing their family’s prestige, which was better than the current situation where Su Zhiruan only had a Prince Consort, leaving them clueless about how to curry favor.
Su Zhiruan also had her suspicions, but as she was still in the court, she said, "Continue discussing the previous matter."
The minister who had reported earlier continued, while the other courtiers’ thoughts ran wild, each recalling their own handsome sons.
During the court’s dismissal, Su Zhiruan breathed a long sigh of relief. Watching the courtiers leave, she internally awakened the long-dormant system.
"Is the system there?"
After a burst of static, the system’s voice responded—
[Host, I am here]
"Check my physical condition."
[Host, currently detected at four weeks pregnant]
Indeed!
Su Zhiruan placed a hand on her flat abdomen, feeling emotional; she hadn’t noticed at all.
These days, the affairs of state had been overwhelming, with busy days and nights, sometimes even reversing day and night. Her menstrual cycle was often early or delayed, which was not unusual. In the past, female officials had expressed suspicion, but the Imperial Physician said it was due to exhaustion.
But this time, there was indeed a child.
The Imperial Physician was standing by outside the palace hall, and after Su Zhiruan returned to her bedroom, she had the physician check again.
The response was confirmed to be a happy pulse.
With this, everyone inside and outside the palace knew the news.
The female officials in the palace heard of Su Zhiruan’s pregnancy and almost treated her like a baby, taking care of her meticulously. The Imperial Kitchen added many nutritional supplements on top of the original nourishing soups, while the embroiderers prepared clothing for the little emperor, as well as clothes for Su Zhiruan’s unborn child, making everyone more attentive in their duties.
News of the Imperial Family naturally attracted attention, especially since Su Zhiruan currently held great power. After the ministers returned, the news spread like wildfire far and wide.
*
The matter reached both the Marquis Mansion and the General Residence as well.
The Marquis Mansion Heir held a beautiful concubine in his arms, glancing slyly at the pale-faced Second Princess, while sitting opposite him was the General’s eldest son. They exchanged sarcastic remarks.
"Remember when Second Princess refused an arranged marriage to the Wang Dynasty, nor wanted to marry me, a mere martial brute, looking disdainfully at all? Now what do you think?" The General’s eldest son looked at her coldly.
The Marquis Mansion Heir laughed scornfully, "Had she known today’s outcome, she would’ve annulled the marriage contract even at the risk of defying the decree, rather than mess around with male favorites, becoming a laughingstock of the world."
"And where is the Eldest Princess?" The General’s eldest son did not see her and asked.
"Consorting with servants, locked in the woodshed to continue her affairs," The Marquis Mansion Heir lost patience, "Shall I send you two beauties?"
"No need." The General’s eldest son waved, casting a cold look at the Second Princess, "As the Young Madam of the General’s Residence, you show no respect to your elders, are childless, breaking seven laws; go back and leave voluntarily."
The Marquis Mansion Heir knew about his illegitimate children outside, seeing it as an amusing affair and refrained from interfering.
"The marriage contract was granted by the late Emperor, you cannot divorce me!" The Second Princess, disregarding everything, rushed forward to grab the Heir’s robe, yelling.
"Then go find the late Emperor, or the Princess, and see who would support you," The Marquis Mansion Heir stood leisurely, kicking her, "Back then, you two snakes colluded to push the Princess into a marriage alliance. If I guessed right, it was your idea for the Princess to meet a mishap, right? Though both princesses, women like you two are so malicious. If this heir were to marry a fairy-like Princess, I would cherish her dearly, but you two, what are you worth!"
The General’s eldest son spat, "If it were a fairy-like Princess, whoever she married or took as a Prince Consort would live well, unlike you, a home-wrecker!"
The Eldest and Second Princesses used to take advantage of their favor, privately maintaining numerous male favorites, even sharing intimacy with many noble sons. With so many people, rumors were inevitable, but because of the late Emperor’s favor, most dared not speak openly. Even when they secretly had multiple abortions, some were aware.
Later each married; their arrogant natures disregarded their mothers-in-law. Their reputations among the well-bred were already poor, making post-marriage conflicts inevitable.
The Marquis Mansion Heir and the General’s eldest son knew about these matters; they did not want to associate with the Eldest and Second Princesses, possessing many concubines and outside women themselves, with several illegitimate children. The Eldest Princess, unwilling to tolerate the concubine’s provocation, killed and sold them off, later indulging her loneliness by consorting with servants and horsemen, hoping to conceive again, but past abortions had done irreparable harm, leaving her only to watch as outside women and concubines bore children.
The Eldest Princess was caught in bed and directly sent to the woodshed for self-consumption. The Second Princess, knowing her reliance was gone, hoped Su Zhiruan would save her, an expectation as impossible as water flowing uphill or the sun rising at night. Without her noble status, she would have nothing.
"I... your concubine acknowledges her fault," The Second Princess finally lowered her head submissively, "Husband, please don’t drive the concubine away, even as a concubine or slave, just let me stay by your side."
Looking up at the sky, the Second Princess felt a deep remorse arise in her heart.
If she had known today’s outcome, would she have humiliated Su Zhiruan in the Cold Palace or corrupted her reputation by associating with so many men? If time reversed and she followed Su Zhiruan, would everything have been different...
If every choice had been opposite to now, would she have found an appropriate Prince Consort, with a lovely child in her arms sweetly and softly calling her mother, then she and Su Zhiruan drinking happily, with everything different?
Sadly, there are no ifs in this world.
*
Su Zhiruan knew of their affairs but showed no reaction, only making plans for the Marquis Mansion and General Residence. Families lacking loyalty and righteousness, presumably, would not be loyal to the family and country, making it pointless to keep them around when they could be eliminated sooner.
As for the Eldest and Second Princesses, she refrained from kicking them while they were down, which was already merciful enough. They had bullied the original owner for years, and she was no saint; their present plight was entirely of their own doing.
