CHAPTER 325: CHAPTER 325: ZHAO TING HAS A GOOD SON

The next day, when Emperor Jing attended the court session, he brought up several issues currently troubling the Court.

Straightforwardly, he stated that unless these concerns were addressed, he, as emperor, truly had no mind to select concubines to enrich the harem.

Of course, if all these problems were resolved, the matter of selecting concubines would definitely be brought up on the agenda.

Emperor Jing never realized that his ministers would one day have actions that were more effective than their words.

One by one, competing with each other, they proposed numerous suggestions.

And most of them were practical suggestions.

The atmosphere in the court for a time was exceptionally good.

The affairs Emperor Jing dealt with were considerably fewer than usual.

Especially those slick old officials; this time they were much more diligent.

"Zhao Ting indeed has a good son." Delighted, Emperor Jing hurried to the Imperial Concubine Palace to share the news with Noble Consort An, "Until all these problems are solved, I can at least have some peaceful days."

"Your Majesty, this is treating the symptoms, not the root cause." Noble Consort An poured cold water on Emperor Jing.

Once those issues are resolved, the matter of establishing an empress will certainly be brought back to the agenda.

"We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, we’ll certainly come up with other methods." Emperor Jing said indifferently.

The car will naturally find its path when it reaches the mountain.

Noble Consort An said nothing more.

"Ale, should I call Imperial Physician Li to check on you?" Emperor Jing changed the subject.

Noble Consort An was a bit puzzled, "I don’t feel uncomfortable anywhere."

"I want you to bear a child for me." Emperor Jing said.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician checks my pulse monthly; there are no issues with my health. Perhaps it’s just my lack of fortune, unable to bear offspring for Your Majesty." Noble Consort An replied mildly, "When I was at home, my mother often said that children need to have fate with their parents."

"I am the Son of Heaven; I say there is fate, so there is fate." Emperor Jing’s tone was somewhat anxious.

"Then, as Your Majesty says, let Imperial Physician Li check me." Noble Consort An showed a helpless look.

Why she wasn’t pregnant, An Changle knew well; it was something she had always done deliberately.

As for Imperial Physician Li, the birth control pill was indeed made by him.

Imperial Physician Li arrived with his assistant.

He paid his respects to Emperor Jing and Noble Consort An before starting to take her pulse.

Imperial Physician Li was very serious.

He checked her left hand, then switched to the right hand.

Finally, he told Emperor Jing that Noble Consort An’s health was excellent, without any problems.

Noble Consort An glanced at Emperor Jing, her meaning implicit: See, wasn’t I right?

"Your Majesty and Consort shouldn’t be anxious; maintain a good state, then it’ll be easier to conceive." Imperial Physician Li said.

"Ale’s state has always been good, hasn’t it?"

"However, having a child depends on fate." Imperial Physician Li said this.

Emperor Jing was at a loss, impatiently waving his hand, "Dismissed."

"Your Majesty, don’t be anxious." Noble Consort An acted as if she was forcing herself to comfort Emperor Jing.

Seeing Noble Consort An’s forced demeanor, Emperor Jing quickly put on a smile, "Yes, yes, not anxious, not anxious. When Zhao Ting and the others return, I’ll ask Madam Zhao Ting."

Zhao Ting’s health was so poor back then, but it was well-adjusted now.

Shouldn’t pregnancy be easier?

"Then Your Majesty must promise me not to force things." Noble Consort An said.

She feared Emperor Jing would trouble Sister Meng.

"Not forcing, not forcing."

"Well then, Your Majesty, let’s not think about this matter. I want to eat a Buddha’s Hand Cake; have the Jiangnan Imperial Chef from the private kitchen make it for me." Noble Consort An pouted to Emperor Jing.

"Since you like it, I’ll have her transferred to your palace, so you can eat it whenever you want. Not only is she good at making pastries, but she also excels in Jiangnan cuisine." Emperor Jing said.

"Then I won’t be polite with Your Majesty." Noble Consort An happily accepted.

"Ale, in this harem, aside from me, you hold the greatest position, so I hope you have no worries at all, understand?" Emperor Jing said.

"When has Your Majesty seen me lamenting over spring or autumn?" Noble Consort An said with a smile.

Emperor Jing chatted with Noble Consort An for a while longer before leaving.

Soon after he left, Shuangxi brought the cook from Jiangnan.

Noble Consort An, in front of him, sent a palace servant to invite Imperial Physician Li over again.

Shuangxi quietly bowed and withdrew.

After returning, Shuangxi reported Noble Consort An’s request for Imperial Physician to Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing’s face showed bitterness, "I’ve been acting too impatiently; Ale was merely putting on a brave face."

Which concubine in the harem doesn’t want to bear a child?

Ale surely desires a child of her own even more than me.

"Shuangxi, open my private treasury, choose some novel items, and send them to Ale." Emperor Jing said.

From start to finish, Emperor Jing had no suspicions. Like Imperial Physician Li colluding with Noble Consort An.

Because, Imperial Physician Li was personally promoted by him.

He was an Imperial Physician trusted absolutely by Emperor Jing.

Usually, Emperor Jing’s health was maintained by him.

——

"Madam, though the birth control pills might not affect future pregnancy upon cessation, thus not harming the foundation. However, you should know, drugs always carry some poison." Imperial Physician Li lamented.

"I don’t take them daily; only after His Majesty visits do I take one. I called you today to ask whether anyone can detect any anomalies in this?"

"At the very least, no one in the Imperial Hospital can detect any anomaly." Imperial Physician Li replied.

"That’s good. Prescribe me some supplements for show." Noble Consort An instructed.

Imperial Physician Li wrote out a prescription and handed it to Noble Consort An.

Afterwards, Imperial Physician Li was summoned by Emperor Jing, and he explained the prescription and its efficacy to him, prompting Emperor Jing’s sigh. He had not committed any sin, had always been diligent in governing the nation, so why was the next generation so sparse?

Emperor Jing sat for a while in the Imperial Study Room, then made a decision.

If there’s no physical issue, then why not ask the Buddha?

Shuangxi started arranging for Emperor Jing to visit the Royal Family’s temple to pay homage.

The ministers were quite glad, because His Majesty finally started caring about heirs.

There hadn’t been any new additions to the palace in years, which meant the selection of concubines wasn’t far off.

Emperor Jing’s pilgrimage to the temple was not kept a secret.

Concubine Jing immediately approached Emperor Jing, wanting to accompany him to the Royal Family’s temple.

She was pregnant and wished to pray for the safety of the child before the Buddha.

Considering the not-so-short journey to the Royal Family’s temple, fearing she might not endure the travel fatigue, he advised her not to go.

"Your Majesty might not know, some days ago, I dreamt of a lotus descending from the sky. I sought someone from the Astronomical Bureau to interpret the dream, and they said it was the lotus throne of Buddha." Concubine Jing said.

That was indeed a lucky dream.

"I thought perhaps I should pay homage before Buddha?"

Of course, she hadn’t had such a dream.

Mentioning the lotus throne was due to Buddha having both male and female children under his seat.

Therefore, whether she bears a boy or a girl, she could obtain Emperor Jing’s favor.

"Since that’s the case, you shall accompany me." Emperor Jing said.

Taking Concubine Jing naturally implied taking Noble Consort An too.

Unexpectedly, on the day of departure, Noble Consort An had indulged in too much icy food, causing unbearable abdominal pain, making her unable to travel.

Therefore, Emperor Jing took Concubine Jing alone.

Not long after the imperial entourage left the palace, Noble Consort An recovered.

People in the palace lamented Noble Consort An’s misfortune.

Visiting the Royal Family’s temple wasn’t an opportunity that arose often.

Noble Consort An lazily leaned on the Arhat Bed, leisurely eating well-peeled fruits, thinking what’s so good about going to the temple? In such hot weather, nowhere could be more comfortable than staying in the palace.

Moreover, since Concubine Jing was pregnant, she had absolutely no desire to associate with her.

To avoid being schemed against, which was unlucky.