Before Cheng Yujin fell asleep, she felt that everything was like a dream. She quickly fell asleep, and her dream was pitch black. Behind her, the red walls and blue tiles of the Eastern Palace gradually appeared. The palace was quiet, and there was not a single person.
At this point in the dream, Cheng Yujin suddenly woke up. When she first opened her eyes, she couldn't tell which was reality and which was a dream. The person beside her handed her a cup of water. Cheng Yujin turned her head, and Li Seung-kyung looked at her with a smile. "You're awake? Are you confused from the dream? "
Cheng Yujin's heart, which had been floating all night, immediately calmed down. She supported herself to get up. "You're back! I'm not dreaming? "
"Of course." Li Seung-kyung smiled and agreed. He carefully helped Cheng Yujin up. "Be careful, your belly is so big. I heard from the servant girls that you sometimes have cramps when you sleep at night, and you can't turn over? "
Cheng Yujin said softly, "Pregnancy is like this, which mother has it easy? My morning sickness is not serious, and it's already better than many people. "
Li Seung-kyung sighed and said sincerely, "It's been hard on you. You've worked so hard to be pregnant, and I've been away from the palace for many months. I've let you down. "
Cheng Yujin shook her head. "Your Highness, you're wrong. Everyone has their own responsibilities. It's a good thing that you're fulfilling your responsibilities. How could I forcefully tie you down because I'm pregnant? "
Li Seung-kyung sighed. He knew that there was no perfect solution for this kind of thing. He stopped arguing and said, "Fortunately, there's nothing to worry about. From now until you give birth, I can stay by your side."
Cheng Yujin felt that something was wrong. She asked softly, "Your Highness, the matter of Jiangnan … has been transferred to someone else?"
Li Seung-kyung returned to the palace to report, but the follow-up reconstruction of the disaster areas and resettlement of the refugees could not be completed in a short period of time. Li Seung-kyung said that he would be able to stay in the palace for the next few months. That meant … someone else would be taking over the aftermath of the disaster.
Cheng Yujin's mood was somewhat complicated. Distributing rice and settling down the suffering people was simply the best opportunity to gain popularity. In the future, it would also add a shining stroke to his resume. Li Seung-kyung had dealt with the most difficult and dangerous part of the mission, but his name had been replaced by someone else during the clean-up phase.
This was no different from handing over the credit to someone else.
Cheng Yujin found it hard to accept. As for Li Seung-kyung, he had experienced so many hardships, but at the last step, he was robbed. How should he feel? Cheng Yujin's eyes were filled with concern, but she was afraid of pressuring Li Seung-kyung, so she didn't dare to comfort him. Li Seung-kyung placed the pillow properly. When he turned around and saw Cheng Yujin's eyes, he couldn't help but smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Before I returned to the capital, I already knew what was going to happen. If I really wanted these merits, I wouldn't have personally returned to the capital to report the progress. Since I've returned, it means that everything has been arranged. "
Cheng Yujin's heart skipped a beat. "Your Highness, did you hear something that made you anxious to return to the palace?"
"No. Don't think too much." Don't let your imagination run wild. "Li Chengjing helped her sit up properly and said casually," I wanted to come back anyway. Officials need a resume and a reputation. Why should I be anxious? A small official with no family background will have his credit taken by someone else. I'm the Crown Prince. Would anyone dare to steal my credit? "
Cheng Yujin thought about it and agreed. The whole world knew that when the plague broke out in Jiangnan, it was the Crown Prince who personally went to the capital. Regardless of whether Li Seung-kyung was the one who did the work, in the end, the people of the world would only remember Li Seung-kyung. Even if Yang Fucheng rushed to send his own people to win the hearts of the people and seize the fruits of victory, how could an ordinary official compare to the Crown Prince's reputation? On the other hand, Li Seung-kyung retreated with success. He didn't covet the credit and didn't try to steal it. He could even leave a good impression in front of the Emperor and the civil and military officials.
However, although she said this, Cheng Yujin knew that doing this would only reduce the losses, but it didn't mean that there would be no losses. If it weren't for her, Li Seung-kyung wouldn't be in such a hurry to return. As long as he was in Jiangnan, even if Yang Shoufu sent people over, no one would dare to steal the Crown Prince's power. Li Seung-kyung could have arranged everything properly and made the Crown Prince's reputation as someone who cared about the common people and had both talent and integrity. Then, he could have leisurely returned to the capital.
Li Seung-kyung played it down, not wanting to put pressure on Cheng Yujin. Cheng Yujin understood. She sighed and didn't bring it up again.
Cheng Yujin had wanted to comfort Li Seung-kyung, but she was afraid that rashly bringing up a sore spot would make Li Seung-kyung embarrassed. Not all comforts were appropriate, and not everyone was willing to accept the comforts of others. Sometimes, self-righteous kindness could only move one's own heart.
Cheng Yujin was used to thinking for others, and so was Li Seung-kyung. Cheng Yujin didn't rashly express her thoughtfulness, and Li Seung-kyung also suppressed the sacrifice he had made for Cheng Yujin. In the end, he only said lightly, "It's not a big deal."
Both of them were like this. Both of them respected each other's feelings. That was why they never quarreled and got along more and more harmoniously. Their feelings became more and more intimate. People's hearts were made of flesh. Although Cheng Yujin didn't say anything, she remembered everything that Li Seung-kyung had done for her. In the future, she would return the favor and treat Li Seung-kyung more attentively.
At this time, Cheng Yujin somewhat understood the Dugeaux's words. The Dugeaux said that with Cheng Yujin's personality, she could live well no matter who she married. However, only by marrying Li Seung-kyung would she be able to live freely and happily.
She originally thought that it was a servant girl's flattery, but now she suddenly felt emotional. That's right, if nothing had happened at the beginning and she had followed the original path of marrying Huo Changyuan, she could also have settled the male chauvinistic Huo Changyuan and the jealous Huxue Clan. Cheng Yujin could also live well, but she wouldn't necessarily be happy.
If it were Li Seung-kyung, it would probably be the same.
Li Seung-kyung saw that Cheng Yujin didn't speak for a long time. Her eyes were slightly empty, as if she was thinking about something. Li Seung-kyung raised his eyebrows and smiled. "What are you thinking about? You're so engrossed?"
Cheng Yujin shook her head. Naturally, she didn't want to tell Li Seung-kyung these words. She changed the topic and said, "Your Highness, who will be in charge of the disaster relief?"
"Naturally, it will be Yang Shoufu's favorite student." Li Seung-kyung sensed that she was deliberately changing the topic, so he didn't pursue the matter. Instead, he took the opportunity to talk about the situation outside. "Today, it's just the cabinet wrestling. When tomorrow comes to the imperial court, there will be more arguments."
Sure enough, the next day, the disaster relief in Jiangnan caused a huge uproar in the imperial court.
The commander-in-chief of the disaster relief was replaced at the last minute, and it was Yang Shoufu's trusted aide. When the other officials heard this, they exploded. Because of this, the officials clamored endlessly. In the midst of the dispute, it involved the matter of Xu Wenke's withholding of wages, using shoddy goods as good ones, and being fond of grandiose achievements, which led to the outbreak of the plague. One group of people in the imperial court clamored to punish the guilty officials, while the other accused Yang Shoufu of forming cliques for personal gain. It was clearly the negligence of the Yang Faction's people, but now, he actually sent his own student to clean up the mess. The world was for personal gain, what justice was there to speak of?
This was probably the first time since Yang Fucheng became the Grand Secretary that he had encountered such a large-scale impeachment.
The eruption of public anger was like a mountain flood. Normally, the mountains and rivers were peaceful as usual, but when the eruption point arrived, all the old and new grudges would erupt together. With the first person taking the lead, the other officials followed suit. From the matter of Xu Wenke to Yang Shoufu abusing power, from abusing power to the imperial harem interfering in politics, in the end, even the Yang Family's only grandson, Yang Hsiao-yu, oppressing men and women, and the Yang Family's servants abusing their power to bully people were all dug up.
No one knew who started it, but the momentum of the impeachment was like a flood bursting through a dam, unable to be stopped.
This great impeachment lasted for a month. Every day, the Emperor's desk was piled up with snowflakes of impeachment memorials. The civil officials fully displayed the literary talent they had during the imperial examinations, each quoting classics and spreading them out together. They were full of emotions as they scolded Yang Shoufu for ten pages. After writing one, they were not satisfied. The next day, when they saw that the Emperor did not deal with it, they continued to write memorials to scold him.
Yang Shoufu had dealt with many officials who had been impeached or resigned, but he had never thought that one day, the master would be himself. Moreover, this kind of large-scale impeachment was unprecedented. In the end, everyone was on the verge of going crazy. They did not care about the truth, they just scolded him for the sake of scolding him.
Yang Fucheng was enraged. He swiftly and decisively dealt with a few of the leaders. However, the founding Emperor had left behind instructions that the imperial censor was not to be killed. Yang Fucheng could not kill him and could only punish him with a cane. However, for the imperial censor, it was an honor to be punished with a cane. If word got out, it would be an honest and upright official. Therefore, the fiercer Yang Shoufu beat him, as long as the imperial censor was not beaten to death, he would continue to scold him the next day.
Yang Shoufu forcefully suppressed all the voices of opposition and still sent his own student to replace the Crown Prince's position. He thought that this was just a very common impeachment, and that it would be fine as long as the few voices that were the loudest were suppressed. However, the intensity and length of this impeachment far exceeded Yang Fucheng's expectations.
In the end, even Empress Dowager Yang in the imperial harem was alarmed. Even though Empress Dowager Yang and Yang Fucheng had quarreled, they were still siblings. In front of outsiders, Empress Dowager Yang would naturally side with her own family. Empress Dowager Yang used her illness to pressure him. In the end, the emperor gave the order to demote all of the officials who took the lead in impeaching Grand Secretary Yang, promoting Yang Shilong to an official position. He even gave Grand Secretary Yang silver and precious medicinal ingredients as a reward. The intention to appease him was extremely clear.
Because the Emperor had stepped forward to forcefully suppress it, the matter of impeachment was left unsettled. The person who took over the relief work was still Yang Fucheng's disciple. Xu Wen was only demoted and received a moderate reprimand. So many people risked their lives for justice. In the end, the Yang Family did not move in the storm. Instead, it was the first few people to be impeached who were removed from their positions and demoted.
Even the Crown Prince, who had made a great contribution in the plague and disaster relief, was now living in the Eastern Palace and rarely appeared. During the impeachment, there was no lack of people who indignantly asked the Crown Prince to seek justice. Li Seung-kyung said that the Emperor's orders had their own reasons. He was happy with his life and would listen to the Emperor's arrangements.
In the end, everything was suppressed. The Emperor gave Yang Shoufu enough face. Yang Shoufu was still the most powerful family. When the people in the imperial court saw that everything was settled, they were angry but helpless. They all felt that the Crown Prince was not worth it.
During this crazy month, Li Seung-kyung rarely went out. After the imperial court, he would return to the palace to accompany Cheng Yujin as she nurtured her baby. The Eastern Palace couple was more of a shut-in than the other. Neither of them had good temperaments. They would stay in the Ci Qing Palace for an entire day.
After ten months, the impeachment that had implicated almost everyone in the capital also silently disappeared under the Emperor's personal suppression.
Entering the eleventh month, Yang Shoufu was unharmed. The Yang Family experienced this and became more and more arrogant when they went out. Cheng Yujin's belly was also very big. Her peaceful pulse became once a day. Everyone in the Ci Qing Palace unconsciously became tense.
Cheng Yujin's delivery date was approaching. When Marquis of Yichun came to visit Cheng Yujin, Old Lady Cheng saw Cheng Yujin's belly. She wanted to say something but stopped. In the end, she could only swallow her words.
Old Lady Cheng could only remind Cheng Yujin, "Crown Princess, although pregnant women need to rest, there is no harm in appropriate exercise. Although it is inconvenient for you to walk with a big belly, you can't slack off when you walk every day. Let the servant girls support you. Sooner or later, you should walk three or four laps. If you move more now, you will suffer less when you are about to give birth. "
Cheng Yujin nodded, "I know. Ever since the baby's condition stabilized, I have never slacked off. Even if I can't go out, I will walk three laps in the Eastern Palace Garden."
Old Lady Cheng nodded and felt relieved. Now, Marquis of Yichun's entire fortune was tied to Cheng Yujin. No one wanted Cheng Yujin and her child to be safe and healthy more than Old Lady Cheng. To put it bluntly, even if the child couldn't be kept, nothing must happen to the mother.
If Old Lady Cheng had to choose, she would definitely choose "keeping the mother" without hesitation.
Although the palace didn't admit it, many madams in the circle secretly guessed that the Crown Princess might be pregnant with twins. Especially Old Lady Cheng. She had seen the Nguyễn Clan pregnant before. Now that she saw Cheng Yujin's pregnancy, she was eighty percent sure.
This topic was heavy. Old Lady Cheng and Cheng Yujin didn't take the initiative to bring it up. However, when Old Lady Cheng returned home, she couldn't help but sigh as she looked at the swaying flowers. Ordinary people hoped that the eldest daughter-in-law would give birth to a boy. If it was a pair of twin boys, they would be so happy that they would burn incense to their ancestors on the spot. However, in the imperial family, it became a taboo.
As a result, now everyone was hoping that the Crown Princess would give birth to a pair of girls. This made other families who had been hoping for a child for a long time to no avail. Who knew what they would think when they saw this.
In November, many people were worried about the news in the Eastern Palace. No one could sleep well at night. Often, the slightest breeze would cause many palace lights to light up. Empress Dowager Yang and Empress Yang were counting the days. Even the Emperor couldn't help but ask every day when the Crown Princess would give birth.
Amidst the tension, the Eastern Palace was very quiet. The midwife and wet nurse had already been prepared. Li Seung-kyung didn't let anyone show any signs of nervousness. He was afraid that it would affect Cheng Yujin's mental state. However, he was prone to insomnia. The slightest movement would wake him up.
Cheng Yujin herself ate well and slept well. Li Seung-kyung, on the other hand, had clearly lost a lot of weight. When Cheng Yujin saw this, she felt embarrassed. "Your Highness, you don't have to be so nervous. Children are all fate. When the time comes, they will naturally come out. "
"I know." Li Seung-kyung rubbed his forehead and said calmly, "I'm not nervous."
Cheng Yujin silently looked at him and didn't say anything.
Everyone was on edge for a month. However, even when November came to an end, Cheng Yujin still didn't show any signs of giving birth. After being nervous for a long time, one would slowly become numb. Everyone felt that it wouldn't happen in the next two days. However, on the last day of November, Cheng Yujin suddenly gave birth in the middle of the night.
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