Chapter 78 – I’m an unmarried pregnant man, I’m confessing
Xiao Shiqing looked at the still-unaware Zhao Qi and sighed. “If the Empress Dowager comes in person, you can meet her in bed. With the covers on, she won’t be able to see much.”
As they had guessed, Empress Dowager Wen hurried to Xuchun Garden the next day. Having not seen each other for months, Zhao Qi missed her, and Empress Dowager Wen’s eyes reddened as soon as she saw him.
“You child, how did you get sick just after coming back?” Empress Dowager Wen sat by the bed, holding Zhao Qi’s hand, and examined him from top to bottom. “Fortunately, you haven’t lost much weight. It seems like you’ve even gained a bit.”
Zhao Qi gave an awkward smile. “I was planning to recover quickly and pay my respects to Mother, but I didn’t expect you to come and see me first.”
Empress Dowager Wen turned to Cheng Boyan. “What illness does His Majesty have?”
Cheng Boyan took out the prepared statement. “His Majesty has contracted a rare disease from Eastern Japan. The Prime Minister has invited a divine doctor from Eastern Japan, and the doctor says His Majesty must rest in bed to recover.”
Empress Dowager Wen was puzzled. “How could he contract such a rare disease from Eastern Japan?”
Zhao Qi gave a hollow laugh. That was something to ask his good cousin.
“Rest assured, Empress Dowager. The divine doctor says His Majesty will definitely recover in two months as long as he follows the treatment.”
Empress Dowager Wen was distressed. “Two months, indeed.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Zhao Qi feigned weakness. “How have you been lately?”
“Good, all is good. Originally, I planned to invite distinguished young ladies to the palace for you to see on the Qixi Festival. Who knew you’d fall ill—sigh.”
Zhao Qi said embarrassedly, “Mother is still thinking about my marriage.”
“Of course, it can’t be delayed. I’m still waiting to hold a grandchild,” Empress Dowager Wen said. “I’m waiting for the grandchild.”
Zhao Qi thought to himself that she would be holding one soon, really.
“Mother, it’s getting late. You should return to the palace and rest.”
“Return to the palace? I’m not going back. I’ll stay here in Xuchun Garden with you.”
Zhao Qi: “…” This is trouble.
—
Xiao Shiqing was right. It was impossible to keep Empress Dowager Wen in the dark. Instead of continuously lying, it was better to reveal the truth early and get it over with.
But how was he supposed to start? He felt like an unmarried girl who had become pregnant and secretly indulged in forbidden fruit. Her parents thought she was still a good girl while her belly grew.
Zhao Qi struggled internally, and though he almost spoke several times, he ultimately swallowed his words.
Empress Dowager Wen settled into Xuchun Garden and came to visit Zhao Qi every day. Occasionally, she would even personally feed him medicine. Zhao Qi, with tears in his eyes, took the prenatal medicine from her hand, feeling not like he was taking medicine but receiving boundless maternal love, which made him feel even more guilty.
By the time Zhao Qi’s belly was over six months along, autumn had gradually arrived, bringing some chill in the mornings and evenings. The fetal movements of the dragon egg became increasingly frequent, and the heavy belly had begun to affect Zhao Qi’s normal life. He often had to get up at night, and his waist ached. Fortunately, Jiang Dehai had a skill in massage and would help him alleviate fatigue whenever he could.
Zhao Qi lay on his side on the soft couch, half-closing his eyes to enjoy the pleasant sensation from the massage. Suddenly, a kick from the dragon egg made him frown. “Oh, looks like the little one is awake.”
Jiang Dehai asked, “What did His Majesty say?”
“I’m talking to the little princess,” Zhao Qi replied, propping his head up with one hand and rubbing his belly with the other. “When will these days end? I really want to get this over with soon.”
Some say that taking care of a baby after giving birth is more exhausting than being pregnant, but Zhao Qi wasn’t worried. Xiao Shiqing had already arranged for a wet nurse and a nanny for the little princess. Once the dragon egg was delivered, Zhao Qi would be just like any other father, focusing on playing with and teaching the baby, while others would handle the rest.
Jiang Dehai smiled and asked, “Has His Majesty picked a good name for the little princess yet?”
Zhao Qi’s face shone with paternal love. “Yes, it’s decided…”
At this moment, a voice called from outside, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty—”
Zhao Qi’s first reaction was that Empress Dowager Wen had come to see him again. He hurriedly said, “Quick, help me to the bed!”
After Zhao Qi lay down on the bed and covered his stomach with a quilt, the voice continued, “The Prime Minister is here.”
Zhao Qi breathed a sigh of relief, too lazy to get up again. He threw off the quilt to make it easier for the dragon egg and her father to greet each other.
Since Empress Dowager Wen moved to Xuchun Garden, the time Xiao Shiqing and Zhao Qi spent alone had decreased significantly. Xiao Shiqing couldn’t visit when Empress Dowager Wen was around, and his heavy official duties occupied most of his time. Nevertheless, Xiao Shiqing would find an opportunity to visit Zhao Qi every day and share some “good news” about the court that was uplifting.
For instance, the southern floods had completely ended, and the people were gradually returning to normal life. Yu Chenshui had indeed proved to be a rare talent in flood control. By guiding the situation, replacing blocking with draining, building dams, and creating channels, he diverted the water into the plains, irrigated the fields, and turned disaster into benefit. It was expected that within a year, the banks of the Huai River would experience a great harvest. The common people’s wallets would be fattened, and the national treasury would receive a large influx of funds. With a well-stocked treasury, they would not fear any future wars.
When Xiao Shiqing entered and saw Zhao Qi, the usual coldness he carried from high places softened considerably. “Your Majesty.”
Zhao Qi lazily replied, “Oh, the Prime Minister is here—please be seated.”
Xiao Shiqing smiled. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Zhao Qi wasn’t done playing the imperial game yet. Not only did he not call Xiao Shiqing “brother,” but he also enjoyed displaying his emperor’s demeanor in front of him. He couldn’t help it; after being repressed for so long, he was eager to savor the role of the emperor while he could.
Xiao Shiqing sat down by the bed. “How are you feeling today?”
Zhao Qi wanted to say that the seat he granted was a small stool beside him, not his bed, but upon meeting Xiao Shiqing’s gaze, he couldn’t help but answer, “The little princess keeps kicking me, so I couldn’t sleep at all last night. My dark circles are about to show up.”
Xiao Shiqing, though concerned, was helpless and merely nodded. “You’ve worked hard.”
Zhao Qi was dismissive. “Is that all? Just talking about it?” He had come to understand the most useless of parenting tools—the father of the child.
Xiao Shiqing chuckled softly. “What does His Majesty want me to do?”
Zhao Qi lowered his head and spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, “I want you to keep me company more.”
Xiao Shiqing didn’t catch it clearly at first. “Hmm?”
Zhao Qi cleared his throat and turned his face away. “It’s nothing.”
Perhaps accustomed to Xiao Shiqing’s company, or maybe because during the later stages of pregnancy, he couldn’t see anyone else and was too bored, Zhao Qi’s daily highlights were mealtime and spending time with Xiao Shiqing.
Strangely, when they were together on the dragon boat, he didn’t find Xiao Shiqing particularly special and sometimes even found him a nuisance, wanting to be alone. But now, he felt he could never get enough of Xiao Shiqing.
This was, of course, related to Xiao Shiqing’s exceptional appearance, but more so to Zhao Qi’s own state of mind.
Zhao Qi asked himself again: Does he like him?
Sigh, what’s the point of asking this now that the baby is about to be born?
After a while without conversation, Empress Dowager Wen arrived—this time, she was really here. Xiao Shiqing calmly adjusted Zhao Qi’s quilt and rose to greet her.
Empress Dowager Wen seemed to be in a good mood. Seeing Xiao Shiqing, she smiled and said, “The Prime Minister is here as well.”
Xiao Shiqing replied, “I came to report to His Majesty.”
“That’s just right. You can also help the Emperor review these.”
Zhao Qi asked, “Review what, Mother?”
Empress Dowager Wen turned and said, “Yunxiu, bring them in.”
Three eunuchs stepped forward, each carrying several scrolls of paintings. Yunxiu explained, “Since the Emperor is bedridden and the Qiqiao Festival banquet cannot be held, but the important matter of selecting a consort cannot be delayed, the Empress Dowager specially had artists create portraits of each of the noble ladies for His Majesty to review.”
Zhao Qi’s heart tightened, and he secretly observed Xiao Shiqing’s expression. Xiao Shiqing looked as calm as usual, as if he had long expected this.
Zhao Qi forced a smile. “Mother, I’m a bit tired…”
“You don’t have to move. You just need to look at the paintings while lying down. How much effort can that take?” Empress Dowager Wen said, not giving him a choice. “Let’s start with the portrait of the Duke of Wen’s granddaughter.”
The scroll was slowly unrolled in front of the bed. Zhao Qi took a glance, covered his eyes, and said, “Oh, my eyes hurt. I’m afraid I can’t see it—”
Empress Dowager Wen laughed in exasperation. “Your Majesty, you’re almost twenty years old. How long do you intend to delay?”
Zhao Qi peered through his fingers at Xiao Shiqing—was he just silently watching, not saying a word and waiting for him to perform? He was infuriated and decided to stop pretending, putting his hand down and saying, “Mother, I don’t want a consort.”
A hint of amusement flashed in Xiao Shiqing’s eyes, but Empress Dowager Wen’s brows knitted tightly. “Nonsense. If you don’t want a consort, what do you want?”
Zhao Qi hesitated, “I just don’t want to get married.”
Empress Dowager Wen’s expression turned stern. “Qi’er, do you even realize what you’re saying?”
Just as Zhao Qi was about to speak, Xiao Shiqing finally spoke up. “The Emperor cannot marry at the moment.”
Empress Dowager Wen immediately turned her attention to Xiao Shiqing. “What does the Prime Minister mean by that?”
“It’s exactly what the Empress Dowager has heard.”
“Didn’t the Prime Minister always support the Emperor’s early marriage?” Empress Dowager Wen asked in confusion. “The list of these noble ladies was even drafted by you.”
Though it was not the time, Zhao Qi couldn’t help but feel a bit schadenfreude remembering when Xiao Shiqing was finding him a wife. It seemed like the stone had finally been dropped on his own foot.
Xiao Shiqing said, “Times have changed.”
Empress Dowager Wen was even more puzzled. “What’s the difference between now and then?”
Xiao Shiqing glanced at the person who seemed to be enjoying the spectacle and smiled softly. At that time, he viewed the emperor as a puppet; now, he saw Zhao Qi as his treasure. Today, if the great treasure said he didn’t want to get married, then doing anything to support that was worth it.
The reactions of the two could not escape Empress Dowager Wen’s eyes. “What are you two playing at?”
“Your Majesty, it’s me who doesn’t want His Majesty to marry,” Xiao Shiqing said, “It has nothing to do with the Emperor.”
Zhao Qi was stunned. Was Xiao Shiqing trying to take the blame for everything? Even so, a royal marriage was a major matter. Even if Empress Dowager Wen had all sorts of reservations about him, she would not compromise on this issue. Was Xiao Shiqing’s intelligence suddenly offline?
Empress Dowager Wen was silent for a moment and then said, “You all leave.”
The palace maids and eunuchs withdrew, leaving only the three of them. Empress Dowager Wen said, “There are no outsiders here now. Shiqing, you may speak your true intentions to me—why don’t you want His Majesty to establish an empress?”
Zhao Qi thought Xiao Shiqing was going to reveal that he had his dragon egg. He couldn’t help but blame him for not consulting him first. Wasn’t this completely ignoring his opinion again? To his surprise, Xiao Shiqing calmly said, “No particular reason. I simply don’t want to.”
Not only Zhao Qi but even Empress Dowager Wen was stunned. “So you’re just… making a fuss?”
Xiao Shiqing didn’t confirm or deny it.
Empress Dowager Wen’s anger was already uncontrollable. She slapped the table hard and was about to question him, but Xiao Shiqing spoke first.
“I am willing to relinquish the Heavenly Secret Camp’s command, the capital’s Imperial Guards’ authority, one half of the imperial token, and the prime minister’s seal, as long as the Empress Dowager does not force His Majesty to choose an empress.”
The matter was so unexpected that both mother and son thought they had heard wrong.
The Heavenly Secret Camp’s command, the capital’s Imperial Guards’ authority, the imperial token used to mobilize armies, and the prime minister’s seal—these four were the greatest chips Xiao Shiqing held. Without any one of them, his power would face significant constraints, yet Xiao Shiqing was willing to give them all up.
In Zhao Qi’s view, Xiao Shiqing and “power” were intertwined. As long as he wanted, he could easily seize the Zhao family’s throne. His delay in taking action was merely because he enjoyed manipulating things behind the scenes more than holding a nominal position.
Xiao Shiqing was a powerful minister, a figure that the royal family both feared and couldn’t do anything about. What would happen if such a powerful figure returned power to the royal family was something Zhao Qi could easily imagine.
Xiao Shiqing was basically abandoning his own life!
Zhao Qi quickly came to his senses and said with a smile, “Prime Minister, are you joking with me?”
“I am not joking,” Xiao Shiqing said with a faint smile. “Your Majesty, without these, I can properly uphold the way of the ruler and minister.”
Zhao Qi was agitated. “Xiao Shiqing!”
Empress Dowager Wen slightly parted her lips. “Qi’er, let the Prime Minister continue.”
“The things I wanted to say are all said,” Xiao Shiqing said. “Please make your decision, Empress Dowager.”
“Mother, you can’t really agree to this, can you?!” Zhao Qi shouted.
Empress Dowager Wen did not answer directly but said, “This matter needs to be discussed with His Majesty. You return to the Xiao residence and wait for news. I heard that you haven’t been back since your southern tour. Your mother must be missing you.”
Xiao Shiqing nodded slightly. “I obey the decree.”
After Xiao Shiqing left, Zhao Qi immediately said, “Mother, you…”
“Qi’er,” Empress Dowager Wen interrupted him with a grave expression, “Has something happened between you and Xiao Shiqing?”
Zhao Qi instinctively said, “No, nothing happened.”
“Then what is he really… Forget it. If he is truly relinquishing power, it’s a great thing for the Zhao family,” Empress Dowager Wen’s eyes shone with light. “In the future, with you in control, our mother-son duo won’t have to depend on others.”
Zhao Qi said awkwardly, “I don’t really have to depend on Xiao Shiqing’s mood right now.” On the contrary, it was Xiao Shiqing who had to pay more attention to his mood.
Empress Dowager Wen grew more excited as she thought about it. “You can take this opportunity to promote your maternal family, build your own power, and thoroughly suppress the Xiao family so they’ll never recover!”
“But, isn’t Xiao Shiqing doing quite well as the prime minister?”
“That’s exactly the problem. He’s too competent, and that’s the trouble,” Empress Dowager Wen said, clutching her handkerchief. “This can’t be delayed. What if Xiao Shiqing suddenly regains his senses and changes his mind? I’ll summon your maternal grandfather to the Xu Chun Garden to discuss this matter with him!”
“…” Mother, you’re forcing me into this!
The dragon egg in his belly moved again, and Zhao Qi, enduring the discomfort, said, “But Mother, I already have his child. I’ve even named him, Meng Meng.”
Empress Dowager Wen: “……?”
T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!
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