coobybook Chapter 1038 Consort Yan is Pregnant
Chapter 1038 Consort Yan is Pregnant
He observed the proper etiquette of a disciple before Qian Bin's spirit tablet for a full three days.
Only after repeated requests from officials did Li Che leave the mourning hall on the evening of the third day.
The first thing I did after leaving the mourning hall was to rush to the depths of the inner palace, to the Xiefang Palace where Consort Yan resided.
Walking on the bluestone path between the palace walls, the evening breeze blew through his plain-colored everyday clothes, which he had not yet changed out of, and also cleared his drowsy mind a little.
As an emperor who ruled the world, Li Che could theoretically have countless beauties, but deep down he always had a string that was on edge.
He came from another time and space, and had witnessed too many lessons of rise and fall, and knew the truth that "lust is a knife above one's head".
An emperor's lustful nature is not a fatal flaw; many powerful emperors, even the greatest emperors of all time, had this problem.
He was not devoid of desires; he also had normal physiological needs. However, he valued the restraint of his desires even more.
If an emperor who is determined to expand his territory and reform long-standing problems were to indulge in the pleasures of women in his prime and have his body hollowed out, how could he talk about his grand ambitions?
Daqing's future is destined to be filled with tough battles, and he needs to maintain an absolutely robust physique.
Even if he doesn't personally lead the troops into battle, he at least cannot slow down the army when he personally leads the expedition.
Therefore, even after several years on the throne, he had only three concubines with official titles in his harem.
Chang Ningxue is the daughter of a noble family. She has gone through many hardships with him and has given birth to the eldest son of the emperor.
Yelü Xian was a noblewoman of the Khitan people, who played a role in pacifying the Khitan people and bore her a son and a daughter.
Compared to these two, the one who followed him the earliest was actually Yan Shi.
As the queen of Goryeo, Yan's status was not as noble as that of Chang Ningxue and Yelü Xian.
Lee Cheol never hid that he initially took this woman in because he was attracted to her beauty and also to control Goryeo.
Despite growing up in a complex environment, she developed a keen and insightful mind.
She understood her position early on: a foreign woman who could only survive by attaching herself to a powerful monarch, with no foundation in the court.
Li Che knew that given Consort Yan's age and health, she should have been pregnant long ago if she wanted to.
The lack of any movement could mean either that she has a hidden illness, or that this woman has used some method on her own.
She was well aware of the invisible intrigues within the palace. Whether it was a blessing or a curse for a Goryeo concubine without the support of a powerful maternal family to have a prince was hard to say.
When the situation is unclear, preserving oneself is the best policy.
Li Che was fully aware of this, but never pointed it out.
Having many children was one of the emperor's important responsibilities. To ensure the continuation of the royal bloodline, the more offspring the better.
But in his previous life, Li Che read history and found it to be quite alarming.
Women clearly live longer than men, yet those virtuous empresses who left their mark on history and shared deep affections with emperors often died before their husbands.
For example, Empress Zhangsun of Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Empress Ma of Emperor Taizu of Ming...
A closer examination of his life suggests that frequent childbirth may be one of the reasons.
Empress Zhangsun began giving birth at the age of thirteen, and in her short eight-year reign as empress, she gave birth to four sons in succession, bringing her total number of children to seven.
Given that she already had a qi ailment, it's clear that her health condition must not be very good.
Empress Ma's situation was similar; she had five sons and two daughters, a total of seven children.
In ancient times, when medical conditions were limited, every childbirth was a brush with death, causing great depletion of a woman's vital energy and spirit.
On the contrary, those empresses who were married in political marriages, the emperor had no feelings for them and would not touch them, so naturally they would not have many children.
Deep affection can sometimes become a death sentence.
Li Che did not want Chang Ningxue and Yelü Xian to follow in their footsteps, so after they each gave birth to their first child, he consciously took control of them.
What he wanted was a partner who could walk alongside him through the long years, not a reproductive machine that would be consumed too early.
Now that Consort Yan is pregnant, it is clear that she feels there is no fierce infighting in the harem, that the emperor has deep feelings for his old consorts, and that he does not seem to be the kind of monarch who would disregard the lives of his concubines.
Only then did she feel at ease allowing the child to arrive.
Amidst his jumbled thoughts, Li Che had already arrived outside the Xiefang Palace.
Li Che was still somewhat unfamiliar with this place, and he rarely took the initiative to visit Yan Shi, far less often than he visited Chang and Yelü.
The palace was not very grand, but it was exquisite and elegant.
Several late-blooming osmanthus trees in the courtyard were in full bloom, their sweet fragrance dispelling the desolate atmosphere that Li Che had brought from the mourning hall.
Upon seeing the emperor arrive in person, the palace servants were initially astonished, but then silently bowed and quietly withdrew.
The personalities of those around Yan Shi and her benefactors were similar. The servants around Yan Shi were very well-mannered, while the benefactors around Yelü Xian were much more lively.
Li Che walked quietly into the inner hall. The furnishings inside were simple and unpretentious, yet they revealed the owner's refined taste.
Beside the round rosewood table by the window, a figure dressed in a light blue palace dress was facing away from the door, leaning slightly forward, arranging a pot of flowers that was beginning to take shape on the table.
Her jet-black hair was loosely tied up, adorned only with a simple white jade hairpin, revealing her fair and graceful nape.
The sunlight perfectly outlined the curves of her figure, and perhaps because of her pregnancy, she radiated a tranquil and voluptuous glow.
Compared to usual, she exudes an even more gentle and charming aura.
Li Che stood by the door and watched quietly for a while.
The grief and exhaustion of the past few days were somewhat soothed by this peaceful scene.
He smiled slightly and walked over quietly.
It wasn't until his shadow fell over the table that Consort Yan seemed to notice. She paused slightly in her hand, which was holding a white orchid, and then slowly turned around.
Upon seeing who it was, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, which quickly softened into a gentle light. She was about to put down the flower branch and rise to pay her respects: "Your Majesty..."
Li Che reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, stopping her movement, and then sat down next to her.
"No need for formalities, I've come to see you." His gaze fell on her still-flat stomach, then moved to her face. Li Che's voice was so gentle that he himself didn't even realize it. "How are you feeling? What did the imperial physician say?"
Consort Yan sat down as instructed, gently placed the orchid in her hand into the vase, and softly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The imperial physician said that the pregnancy is stable, but I need to rest more in the first few months. So I have found some leisurely things to do, such as flower arranging, to calm my mind and cultivate my character."
She looked up and quickly glanced at Li Che's face, her eyes filled with concern: "Your Majesty has worked hard keeping vigil, and you look a little tired. You should rest more."
She didn't ask about the funeral hall, but focused her concern on the emperor himself, striking the perfect balance.
Li Che felt a warmth in his heart and reached out to take her hand, which was resting on her knee.
"I am fine, but you are." Li Che looked at her lower abdomen and said in a more serious tone, "Now that you are pregnant, everything should be for your and the child's sake."
"If you need anything or anything is missing, just give the order. If anyone is negligent, I will not let them off lightly."
"Everything is fine in the palace, Your Majesty need not worry." Consort Yan smiled gently and squeezed Li Che's hand back lightly. "But Your Majesty, you are busy with state affairs and have just experienced this sad event. I hope you will take good care of your health."
"If Master Qian is alive today, he would surely hope that Your Majesty is healthy and strong, and leads Daqing to become even more prosperous."
Li Che looked at her serene and beautiful profile and felt a surge of emotion.
This is Consort Yan; she always knows what to say and what to do at what time.
However, her intelligence and caution allowed her to navigate her position with ease and protect herself wisely.
Ultimately, this made the relationship between Li Che and her somewhat strained, and their interactions were not as unrestrained as those with Chang Ningxue and Yelü Xian.
After some time, Consort Yan suddenly remembered something and asked softly, "Has Your Majesty had dinner yet? I'd like to have someone bring some light porridge or snacks."
Li Che was indeed starving. He had been holding on by sheer willpower, but now that he had relaxed, he felt a surge of hunger.
He nodded: "Alright, it'll be simpler."
Consort Yan then gently slipped out of his embrace and summoned her personal maid, whispering a few instructions to her.
Before long, several delicate and light side dishes, along with a pot of fragrant and glutinous chicken and rice porridge, were served.
The dishes were simple, but they all reflected Li Che's usual tastes.
The two sat facing each other and ate without saying much. Occasionally, Li Che would put a piece of food on her plate, and Consort Yan would return it with a slight smile.
After the meal, Li Che intended to leave, but Consort Yan said softly, "If Your Majesty does not find this place too cramped and simple, why not rest here?"
"Your Majesty, I see dark circles under your eyes. It would be best if you went to bed early."
Li Che pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Very well, I am also tired."
Wash up and change clothes, keep everything simple.
Li Che lay on the couch, and heard Consort Yan's soft, even breathing beside him. He turned to his side and gently placed his hand on Consort Yan's waist.
Soon, Xiao Li Che straightened his back.
Feeling something was wrong with his body, Li Che felt somewhat helpless.
I should have known better than to have been so soft-hearted and agreed to rest here.
With the funeral still ongoing and Yan Shi pregnant, it's clearly not the right time for them to do that kind of thing.
Li Che sighed helplessly and had no choice but to move his hand away, not daring to touch it again.
He then began to silently recite the *Tao Te Ching*: "The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. Nameless, it is the origin of Heaven and Earth; named, it is the mother of all things..."
Yan, who was standing to the side, opened her eyes and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Before long, Li Che felt a breath as sweet as orchids near his ear: "If Your Majesty is truly in pain, I can also use my hands..."
"Cough, cough, cough." Li Che's body jolted. "What's wrong? I don't know... I was already asleep..."