"Crown Prince, today is your birthday, it is not advisable to drink wine," Su Ziyan entered and advised.
Nangong Chen raised his eyes to look at Su Ziyan, a bitter smile tugging at his lips, "Mother, do you still remember what day it is today?"
"Of course I remember. Chen'er, you've been wronged all these years," Su Ziyan's eyes flashed with a hint of guilt.
"Heh, Mother, you should save that for Father."
Mentioning Nangong Lie, Nangong Chen couldn't help but recall his dark childhood.
He was bullied from a young age. If not for his mother protecting him, he would have died in the imperial family's power struggles long ago.
"Silly boy, the Emperor is truly busy and doesn't have time to care about us mother and son."
As she spoke, Su Ziyan placed dishes on the table and beckoned Nangong Chen to eat.
Nangong Chen looked at the exquisite meal but had no appetite, only fiddling with the rice grains with his chopsticks.
"Chen'er, try this," Su Ziyan picked up a piece of meat and offered it to Nangong Chen's mouth.
Nangong Chen shook his head and continued to pick at the rice grains.
Seeing Nangong Chen's indifference, Su Ziyan's heart ached. Nangong Chen had grown up without receiving the care of his mother like his other imperial brothers.
Perhaps it was because she had been frail and sickly since childhood that Nangong Chen lacked family warmth, leading to his somewhat reclusive personality.
Thinking this, Su Ziyan felt extremely pained, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Be a good boy, Chen'er, eat," she wiped away her tears and placed the meat in front of Chen'er's mouth.
Nangong Chen looked up at her and finally opened his mouth, biting down, chewing, and swallowing.
"Chen'er, don't blame Mother," Su Ziyan smiled with satisfaction and reached out to stroke Chen'er's head.
The next morning.
As soon as Su Ziyan got up, washed, and dressed, a maid rushed in to report, "Empress Dowager, His Majesty has sent someone to summon you to the Qianyuan Hall for discussions."
"Discussions?" Su Ziyan's eyebrows slightly raised, "Did His Majesty mention any reason?"
"This..."
Seeing the maid hesitate, Su Ziyan frowned, "Do I need to report to His Majesty before I go?"
"This servant dares not!"
Su Ziyan then led her two personal maids towards the Qianyuan Hall, a trace of worry coloring her brow along the way.
Inside the Qianyuan Hall, Nangong Chen stood in the center of the hall, looking anxious.
"His Majesty has arrived." The eunuch's sharp voice sounded outside the hall, followed by Nangong Che striding in.
He wore a bright yellow python robe, a jade belt around his waist, his handsome and majestic face exuding an upright aura.
Nangong Che stepped across the threshold and walked towards the dragon throne.
After sitting down, he scanned the great hall before speaking slowly, "All my esteemed officials, rise."
"Thank Your Majesty." The civil and military officials in the hall all knelt down in unison.
After everyone stood up, Nangong Che looked at Nangong Chen and asked sternly, "Crown Prince, what business do you have with Us?"
"Your son wishes to beg Father Emperor to permit Mother to move to the Fengluan Palace to reside."
Nangong Chen mustered his courage and spoke boldly.
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a needle drop.
Nangong Che's sharp gaze fell on Nangong Chen, and he asked coldly, "Why?"
"Father Emperor, Mother is with child."
Nangong Chen, bracing himself, finished what he wanted to say.
Upon hearing this, the hall fell into silence again.
Nangong Che narrowed his long, phoenix-like eyes, seeming to scrutinize him, and after a long pause, he said coldly, "Since she is with child, she should certainly move out of the Yuqing Palace, lest she disturb the Crown Prince's residence."
Hearing this, Nangong Chen was shocked and looked at Nangong Che in disbelief.
"Father Emperor..."
"Withdraw. We will discuss this matter with the Empress,"
Nangong Che waved his hand, signaling Nangong Chen to withdraw. Nangong Chen hesitated for a moment before bowing and taking his leave.
As Nangong Chen stepped out of the hall, he encountered Nangong Lin, who was rushing over.
"Third Brother!" Nangong Lin called out, his eyes filled with worry, "What did Father Emperor summon Mother for?"
"Third Brother, I don't know either. In short, I cannot be without Mother," Nangong Chen said in a low voice, his eyes filled with sadness.
Hearing this, Nangong Lin fell silent. After a moment, he patted Nangong Chen's shoulder and comforted him, "Third Brother believes Father Emperor will not mistreat Mother."
"I hope so," Nangong Chen forced a smile, still feeling uneasy.
Su Ziyan had been waiting for Nangong Che to summon her.
By evening, she had still not received any summons from Nangong Che, and a sense of doubt arose in her heart. What did Nangong Che want with her at this hour?
Although Su Ziyan was filled with suspicion, she suppressed it, ordered her maid to prepare bathwater, and after bathing, changed her clothes.
Just as she finished her makeup, a maid came to report, "Nangong Che has arrived."
A flicker of an unusual glint appeared in Su Ziyan's eyes, then she instructed the maid to tidy up the sleeping quarters and personally went out to greet him.
Nangong Che wore a dark blue brocade robe with dragon patterns. His facial features were sharp and deep, exuding a kingly dominance, and his every move revealed noble elegance.
As soon as Nangong Che entered the sleeping quarters, he saw the elegantly dressed Su Ziyan. His gaze flickered, then he strode towards Su Ziyan, taking her soft hand, "Yan'er, did you sleep well last night?"
"Thanks to His Majesty's blessing, this concubine slept very well," Su Ziyan smiled charmingly, allowing him to hold her hand.
"Mm, We did too," Nangong Che gently squeezed her hand, a devilish curve appearing at the corner of his lips.
The two sat side-by-side on the main seat. Su Ziyan looked at his handsome, sharp eyebrows, a hint of darkness flashing in his eyes.
"Yan'er, We heard the imperial physicians diagnosed you as two months pregnant, is this true?" Nangong Che looked at Su Ziyan's belly, his gaze hot and expectant.
Hearing this, Su Ziyan's heart skipped a beat. How could Nangong Che know she was pregnant? Could it be...
A guess flashed through Su Ziyan's mind, but it seemed too absurd. After all, she and Nangong Che had been intimate several times, and each time they had taken precautions, how could she possibly be pregnant?
"Yan'er, why aren't you speaking?" Nangong Che frowned, looking at the dazed Su Ziyan.
"Oh... it's like this, this concubine had a nightmare last night."
Nangong Che, hearing this, did not suspect anything, "A nightmare? Were you scared? Come, let Us see your neck."
Su Ziyan immediately dodged the hand Nangong Che extended, "This concubine is already well, there is no need to trouble His Majesty."
Seeing this, Nangong Che withdrew his hand and smiled faintly, "You, you always refuse Us, how can this be?
Today you must give Us an answer, or We will not forgive you."
With that, he made a gesture as if to rise and leave.
Seeing Nangong Che about to leave, Su Ziyan quickly took his broad hand and said softly, "Your Majesty, don't be angry! This concubine will listen to Your Majesty."
Hearing this, Nangong Che stopped and turned to look at her.
Su Ziyan's heart suddenly raced as she met his ardent gaze.
Is he...
"Yan'er, We do not wish for this child to be born without its mother's company," Nangong Che gazed at Su Ziyan seriously.
Hearing this, Su Ziyan froze. What did his words mean? Did he want this child to be born?
Thinking this, she suddenly felt a chill. She absolutely would not allow anyone to ruin her happiness.
After clarifying her thoughts, Su Ziyan put on a seductive smile and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, how can you be like this? Whether this concubine is willing or not, you insist on keeping this bastard."
"Hmph, you dare try to deceive Us! Our eyes are much sharper than yours," Nangong Che snorted coldly, his tone filled with intense danger.