Widowed for Five Years, the Widow is Pregnant with the Emperor’s Child

Chapter 213

Three days later, an imperial decree was issued, causing a massive uproar in the imperial court and the inner palace.

Emperor Jingxuan ordered the dismissal of the inner palace. Those who wished to leave could do so voluntarily. They were allowed to take their money, stipends, and jewelry that lacked the palace seal. Additionally, they were rewarded with gold, silver, and farmland as compensation, and were granted the freedom to marry as they pleased.

Those who needed it could receive an official female head-of-household document stamped by the Ministry of Revenue, placing them under the protection of the local authorities.

Furthermore, the original regulation stating that palace maids could only leave the palace at the age of twenty-five was reduced by three years. Now, palace maids who had reached the age of twenty-two could voluntarily leave the palace.

This was completely unprecedented! Unsurprisingly, this matter sparked another wave of debate in the imperial court. In the end, Emperor Jingxuan silenced the masses by offering a second option: if they did not leave the palace, they would have to become nuns. The opposing ministers quickly died down.

However, for Noble Consort Kang and the others, this was a tremendously good thing!

They had not expected this matter to go so smoothly. From now on, they would be truly free women, no longer bearing the brand of the royal family.

Before leaving the palace, Noble Consort Kang and her group specially came to thank Yun Wan.

Having shed their heavy palace attire and elaborate hairpins, they wore their favorite dresses, each beautiful in her own unique way.

"It has been so long since I dressed like this, it feels a bit uncomfortable. I wonder if people outside will say I am an aging woman trying to look young?"

The speaker looked down and tugged at her dress, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Noble Consort Kang scoffed coldly, "So what? I will wear whatever I want! If anyone dares to say anything, just go up and give them two slaps!"

The others nodded in agreement.

Since they had dared to decide to leave the palace, they were prepared to face the gossip outside. Besides, they were no longer naive, easily deceived, or thin-skinned little girls.

They also knew that among those who objected these past few days were their own fathers and brothers. While this chilled their hearts, it only strengthened their resolve to leave the palace.

At worst, they would just move out and live on their own. After all, they possessed official female head-of-household documents, money, houses, and farmland. As long as they stayed clear-headed and kept their eyes open, they had more than enough to continue living a life of luxury for the rest of their days.

Yun Wan said, "If anyone speaks disrespectfully, just teach them a lesson. The Emperor has stated that they will all be punished for presumptuously discussing the royal family."

The women voiced their compliance.

As the time drew near, Noble Consort Kang and the others bid their farewells, their eyes slightly warm with tears. "Parting today, who knows what year or month we will meet again. If Her Majesty ever has need of us in the future, just send a message. Even through a mountain of swords or a sea of fire, we will not refuse!"

Yun Wan nodded and signaled the palace servants to bring up the prepared gold ingots, distributing them among the women. "This is what I prepared for you. After thinking it over, gold and silver are still the most practical. It is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."

"Thank you, Empress!"

The carriages to leave the palace were already prepared to send Noble Consort Kang and the others out.

Yun Wan stood on the city wall, watching their carriages leave the palace gates. Returning to her sleeping quarters, she asked Zhou Xianyue, "They have all left, will you regret it?"

Zhou Xianyue rolled her eyes. "I would only regret it if I left. Who would keep you company and talk to you then?"

She now had money, leisure, and status, and was raising a prince. Since the construction of the Prince An Manor was completed, she frequently lived outside the palace, occasionally entering the palace to chat with Yun Wan. It was a joyful life, and everyone treated her with utmost politeness.

Coincidentally, Xiao Mingyang woke up. With a head of frizzy hair, she could not wait a single moment and came looking for Yun Wan.

Throwing herself into her mother's arms, she yawned. Her snow-white little face was rosy and incredibly cute.

Zhou Xianyue's hands itched to hold her. Looking at Xiao Mingyang's round and plump back of the head, her voice unconsciously softened into a high pitch, "If I left the palace and the capital, where would I be able to see our beautiful little baby Xiao Mingyang, right?"

Hearing her own name, Xiao Mingyang turned her head. Opening her large, watery eyes, she suddenly smiled, "Auntie~"

Her chubby baby cheeks jiggled as she turned her head, and her eyes curved like crescent moons. Even with a head full of messy hair, it did not affect her naive cuteness at all, instantly striking Zhou Xianyue's heart.

She could not wait to reach out her hands. "So good, let Auntie Zhou give you a hug!"

Yun Wan smoothed her daughter's hair and, after getting Xiao Mingyang's silent agreement, handed her over to Zhou Xianyue.

Holding the fragrant, soft, and chubby little dumpling, Zhou Xianyue's tone became incredibly gentle, "Xiao Mingyang, how about coming back to the Prince An Manor to live with Auntie?"

Hearing about going somewhere else, Xiao Mingyang instinctively looked at Yun Wan and popped out two words, "Mother go!"

Meaning, her mother had to go too.

Zhou Xianyue shook her head, "Your mother is not going, just the two of us."

She sighed. The main issue was that even if her mother agreed, her imperial father certainly would not.

When the time came, the only one receiving cold glares would be herself.

Xiao Mingyang reacted quickly. Putting on a serious little face, she said, "Mother not go, I, not go!"

"Mother go, I go!"

Hearing this, Yun Wan's expression softened, while Zhou Xianyue felt a rare pang of envy, "What a sweet and caring daughter!"

Although these words were highly treasonous, she still wanted to say them:

The Emperor's luck was truly too good!

A beauty by his side, and a pair of celestial-like children.

She could not help but feel jealous.

After staying for over an hour, Zhou Xianyue used the excuse of returning to the manor to dine with the Third Prince to leave the palace before dark.

Over the past two years, the Third Prince had been growing, and his appetite was as good as ever. Dining with him, Zhou Xianyue would unconsciously eat an extra half bowl of rice.

........

As Yun Wan held a small comb and personally combed her daughter's hair, Emperor Jingxuan returned.

Taking one look, he was immediately amused. "How did my little princess turn into a little lion?"

With her frizzy hair, did Xiao Mingyang not look exactly like a little lion?

Xiao Mingyang turned her head and retorted, "Not a wittle wion, I am a wittle tiger!"

Ever since she was taken to the Hundred Beast Garden and saw the tiger cubs that were only a few months old, Xiao Mingyang had developed a fondness for tigers.

The two adults looked at each other and smiled.

Xiao Mingyang's hair took after Yun Wan's, pitch-black, smooth, and thick. Coupled with its uneven length, it would occasionally slip through one's fingers.

Emperor Jingxuan took the comb from her hand. "Madam, let me do it."

"No!"

Sui's anxious refusal came from the doorway.

He dropped the book in his hand and smiled at Emperor Jingxuan, "Imperial Father, please let me handle the matter of combing Little Treasure's hair."

He still had fresh memories of the time Emperor Jingxuan combed his hair, and he certainly did not want his sister's hair to be ripped out.

With that, he snatched the small comb right out of Emperor Jingxuan's hand and sat down to comb his sister's hair.

Xiao Mingyang obediently leaned into her mother's embrace, letting her older brother comb her hair, while her short little legs were propped up on her old father's lap. Her lazy and comfortable appearance was just like a little tyrant.

Sui combed his sister's hair into two little buns, not forgetting to pin on two silk flowers. The frizzy-haired Xiao Mingyang instantly became neat and tidy.

Emperor Jingxuan clicked his tongue, quite satisfied.

He lifted his daughter and placed her on his shoulders, taking her for a piggyback ride.

Having long adapted to various heights, Xiao Mingyang was not afraid at all, grabbing her old father's hair and giggling.

The hall was filled with cheerful laughter, while outside the hall, Jiang Fusheng shook his head helplessly.

It had been a long time since he had seen His Majesty lose his temper.

.......

When Xiao Mingyang was three years old, a major event occurred in the Great Qi Dynasty, which was—

Emperor Jingxuan officially issued a decree naming Sui as the Crown Prince!

On the day of the investiture ceremony, the sun shone brightly. Civil and military officials offered their congratulations. The momentum was immense, and the scene was grand.

Xiao Mingyang was dressed exquisitely and cutely. Held by a palace servant, she watched as her royal brother, surrounded by a crowd and wearing the ceremonial attire of the Crown Prince, received the kneeling worship of tens of thousands.

"Royal Brother is amazing!" Influenced by the atmosphere of the scene, she clapped her hands happily. Her tender voice seemed particularly abrupt in the solemn occasion, yet no one frowned to stop her.

After all, when the little princess was two years old, she had treated the dragon throne as a rocking chair in front of everyone, sprawled on top of it, and slept soundly for an entire morning, and His Majesty had not said a word.

As if sensing something, Sui looked over and smiled at his younger sister.

After the grand ceremony ended, Xiao Mingyang took advantage of the crowd to play hide-and-seek with the palace servants. In the blink of an eye, she shook them off and slipped away all by herself.

Having been the apple of her parents' and brothers' eyes since childhood, Xiao Mingyang already knew that her home was not just ordinarily large, but exceptionally massive.

Not only was it big, but it also had many rooms. Yet, despite having so many rooms, only their family lived there.

Since a few months ago, she had delighted in taking the palace servants on expeditions around the imperial palace, curious about places she had never been to, and discovering strange and bizarre things.

........

"Xiao Cui, are you going to deliver food to that person again?"

The palace maid known as Xiao Cui nodded, carrying a large food box in her hand.

The other maid clicked her tongue and suggested, "If you ask me, you should just stop going altogether, or just deliver one meal a day. That way you can avoid being beaten and scolded by that person again."

She wore a look of sympathy. Ever since that person was imprisoned, who knew how many food delivery servants had been replaced. After doing it for a while, every single one of them would spend money and use connections to be transferred elsewhere.

Take the current Xiao Cui, for example. When that person went mad, they would directly grab things and smash them at her. Right now, Xiao Cui still had a large bruise on her back from being pushed down and hitting the corner of a table a few days ago.

Xiao Cui smiled bitterly. How could she not want to change jobs? But who asked her to be just a lowest-ranking palace maid sold into the palace by her family? With no background and no money, this task fell on her head, and she could only bear the burden and do this grueling chore without complaint.

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at the food box in Xiao Cui's hands. "I see there's even meat in that person's meals. Why don't you eat it yourself? No one will know anyway."

A master was a master after all. Even the imprisoned deposed crown prince had better food than these low-ranking palace servants, with meat at every meal.

Xiao Cui understood what she meant and hurriedly shook her head. She couldn't do such a transgressive thing. Besides, if she were discovered, she might even lose her life.

Seeing this, the other maid couldn't help but feel disappointed, thinking to herself that it served Xiao Cui right that her previous job was taken by someone else. She only had her own inflexibility to blame.

Too lazy to say anything more, she turned her head and walked away.

Xiao Cui didn't have the mood to talk to her much either, and continued walking forward with the food box.

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the flower bushes by the roadside shaking, making a rustling sound. She instantly became alert: "Who is it?"

"Who's there?"

As she stood there with a nervous heart, the bushes parted, and out popped a round little head belonging to a young girl.

Xiao Cui froze. Looking at her exquisite little face and the jade pendant on her waist, she was instantly shocked: "L-Little Princess?"

She had never seen the legendary Little Princess Mingyang, but she recognized this jade pendant because the etiquette nanny had specifically warned her about it after she entered the palace. Moreover, today was the joyous occasion of the Fourth Prince being established as the Crown Prince. There was only one gorgeously dressed little girl who could run freely all over the palace.

That was the little princess who gathered thousands of favors upon herself.

Xiao Mingyang nodded and skipped out of the bushes, casually patting away the grass clippings sticking to her clothes.

"Xiao Cui?" she called out, tilting her head up and blinking her big eyes.

Xiao Cui was flattered and terrified: "The Princess knows this servant?"

Xiao Mingyang shook her head, "No, I don't."

She had heard the palace maid from earlier calling her that.

With her hands behind her back, she looked at the food box in the other's hand. Combining it with the conversation she had just overheard, she tilted her head and asked curiously, "Xiao Cui, who are you going to deliver food to?"

She had only caught the gist of it, but she understood the main point: Xiao Cui was going to deliver food to a very scary person.

Xiao Cui's heart skipped a beat at her cuteness, but she didn't dare say much, only replying vaguely, "Uh, to a master."

"A master? A master living where? Have I met them?"

Xiao Mingyang pressed on. Was there still someone in her home she hadn't met?

Xiao Cui didn't dare to lie. "You haven't met them. They are in Yongzhang Palace."

Yongzhang Palace?

There was still a place she hadn't been to?

Xiao Mingyang instantly grew curious. "I want to go deliver food too. Xiao Cui, take me with you."

She naturally reached out and grabbed Xiao Cui's sleeve, signaling the maid to take her along.

Hearing this, Xiao Cui's face turned pale. She hurriedly shook her head and explained, "Princess, I'm afraid that won't do. It's very dangerous there, and without the orders of His Majesty and Her Ladyship, this servant dares not act on her own."

"Did you come out alone? How about this servant takes you back?"

She tried to coax her.

Xiao Mingyang shook her head, "No. I want to go deliver food with you."

Xiao Cui wanted to cry but had no tears. "Princess..."

Seeing her resolute attitude, Xiao Cui gritted her teeth and said, "Then this servant will take you."

Although she said she was taking Xiao Mingyang to Yongzhang Palace, she was actually leading her toward the inner harem.

Xiao Mingyang didn't know the way and was very happy along the journey.

It wasn't until they reached the boundary between the front court and the inner harem that someone approached from afar, stopped Xiao Cui, and questioned loudly, "Where are you taking the Princess?"

Sensing the other party's vigilance, Xiao Cui quickly explained, "My lord, this servant was originally heading to Yongzhang Palace to deliver a meal to that person, but met the little princess on the way..."

She explained the whole story to the newcomer. Seeing his expression soften slightly, Xiao Cui finally said, "Having no other choice, this servant could only lead the Princess this way, hoping to run into someone looking for her."

Xiao Mingyang finally understood. She had been tricked by the honest-looking Xiao Cui!

She put her hands on her hips in a huff. At the same time, she got a clear look at the newcomer and let out a sound of surprise, "Are you my royal brother's teacher, Grand Tutor Lu?"

Meeting her clear eyes, Lu Yuanduo nodded, his expression softening, "Yes."

He glanced at Xiao Cui. "You may go. I will send someone to inform His Majesty."

Xiao Cui breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, my lord."

Xiao Mingyang watched helplessly as the food she wanted to deliver walked away from her, feeling quite unhappy.

Lu Yuanduo bent down, his eyes smiling as he asked, "Where are the palace servants who are supposed to be by your side, Princess?"

Xiao Mingyang lifted her chin. "They disappeared playing hide-and-seek. I shook them off on purpose!"

Seeing ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍her proud little appearance, Lu Yuanduo momentarily didn't know if he should tell her that she might be in for a spanking.

Just like her older brothers back in the day.

"Why did the Princess want to go to Yongzhang Palace?" he probed, worried that someone had said something to her.

Xiao Mingyang put her hands on her hips, "I haven't been there before, so I wanted to go take a look."

Lu Yuanduo replied, "There's nothing good to see there. The person inside has a bad temper. When they go crazy, they beat children, especially well-behaved and pretty children like the Princess."

Recalling the maid's words she had heard not long ago, a hint of fear appeared on Xiao Mingyang's face. "T-That scary?"

"Can Imperial Father beat the person inside?"

Lu Yuanduo hesitated for a moment but decided not to answer this question. He knew children's nature well; if he explained, there would be countless more questions.

He looked up, pretending to check the sky, and changed the subject, "It's getting late. His Majesty and Her Ladyship must be getting anxious. This minister will escort you back."