Xianfei is pregnant, the first concubine in the palace to be pregnant, the Emperor has an heir.
Logically, the Emperor should be very happy to hear this news.
But Xianfei did not see the Emperor happy, only saw the Emperor awkwardly glanced at the Empress, there was even a trace of guilt in his eyes.
Xianfei’s heart instantly cooled. She finally understood one thing: the Emperor’s heart was never with her. The Emperor’s heart was already with the Empress.
And, the heart is different.
If the Empress were pregnant, the Emperor would definitely not show awkwardness and guilt in front of her.
But now...
Xianfei deeply understood one thing, the Emperor truly cared for the Empress.
Xianfei stood there all along, the Emperor still stunned, and the atmosphere remained stiff.
It was the Empress who spoke: "Xianfei’s pregnancy is good news. A reward is due."
Only then did the Emperor come to his senses and said awkwardly, "Yes, a reward is due. Someone, escort Xianfei back to her palace, and serve her carefully."
Xianfei thanked for the grace, bowed her head, and left.
After Xianfei left, the Emperor whispered to the Empress: "I didn’t expect her to be pregnant. Actually, I wanted a legitimate son from the main palace first."
The Empress smiled, said nothing. The Emperor lowered his head, hiding his emotions.
Since her pregnancy, Xianfei was extremely cautious, fearing that the Empress would harm the child in her womb. She was even prepared for how to respond if the Empress sent gifts. If it was something to be used, it would go into the storeroom, never to be used. Who knows if it might be tainted with some potion? As for food, she wouldn’t eat it. Who knows if it might pose a problem.
When the Empress’s reward arrived, Xianfei doubted her eyes.
"Is this what the Empress bestowed?" Xianfei looked at the painting in Kong Hou’s hands, this painting was given to the Empress during her birthday by Meifei, painted by Meifei herself. And now the Empress was bestowing this painting to her? Was this meant to annoy her? Also, is it really acceptable to re-gift a birthday present to someone else? Valuable items might not matter, but this painting? Valuable? Like hell it is! Xianfei couldn’t help but curse in her mind.
But Xianfei squeezed out a smile, apprehensively said: "This should be the birthday gift Meifei gave to the Empress, right? I’m embarrassed to accept it. One should not take what someone loves."
"Oh, right. Then forget it. The Empress said, Xianfei, you should rest and take care." Kong Hou finished saying this, neatly put away the painting, and left with her people.
Xianfei: ???
People in Xianfei’s palace: ?????
The Empress’s reward?
A painting? Just a painting?
Then Xianfei declined, and the Empress’s Chief Palace Maid took the painting away conveniently, and left?
Truly left, left after saying one sentence.
Kong Hou was like a gust of wind, coming and going quickly, soon leaving Xianfei and her attendants dumbfounded.
This move by the Empress? Offering flowers to Buddha? It’s not even offering flowers to Buddha; she took the painting away in the end.
What was this? Was this the attitude the Empress should have?
The Emperor was overjoyed to hear about this, considering it a jealous act by the Empress. In his happiness, he rewarded the Empress with a lot, even more than the reward for the pregnant Xianfei.
Little did he know, the Empress simply didn’t want to give anything away, she was just miserly! All good things are hers, why should she give them away?
Kong Hou, counting the treasures rewarded by the Emperor, looked confused: "We didn’t present any gifts, does the Emperor think our palace is poor, and so rewarded us with these?"
"Perhaps." Tianmiao played with a jade bracelet, smiling faintly.