Chapter 520 - 298: Shooting Oneself in the Foot

Chapter 520: Chapter 298: Shooting Oneself in the Foot

After Song Yunzhao learned what the Empress Dowager had said, she completely let go of her inhibitions.

’The Empress Dowager has already called me shameless. If I don’t act the part, wouldn’t I be letting her down?’

So, Song Yunzhao immediately fell ’ill’. This illness wasn’t entirely an act; pregnancy is an incredibly arduous affair for any woman.

Wangyou Palace summoned the Imperial Physician three times in one day, which thoroughly shocked the rest of the harem.

In truth, Song Yunzhao wasn’t feeling well at all. Not only were her legs swollen, but her pregnant belly was pressing on her bladder, causing her to need the restroom far more often. She would be sleeping soundly at night only to be suddenly woken by a cramp. Thankfully, Feng Yi was there; whenever he sensed her cramping, he would massage her legs to ease the pain.

The Imperial Physician prescribed some medicine after taking her pulse, but the prescription could only offer minor relief. After all, these were natural physiological phenomena that no pregnant woman could avoid.

Feng Yi heard the news from Zhang Maoquan and rushed over as soon as he finished his work. Seeing Yun Zhao’s listless appearance and the Imperial Physician still writing out a prescription, he asked, "What’s going on?"

The Imperial Physician stood and bowed, then carefully explained Song Yunzhao’s current condition. He finished by adding, "Although her current state is causing Zhaoyi some discomfort, she must still walk a little each day. Lying down all the time is not good for when it comes time to give birth."

Feng Yi’s brow furrowed. He had been staying here almost every night recently, so he knew exactly how much Yun Zhao was suffering. Her legs often cramped at night, and he had become quite skilled at massaging them for her. In fact, he now woke up faster than she did at the slightest twitch of her leg.

"Is there no better solution?"

The Imperial Physician shook his head. "It can only be slightly alleviated."

The Imperial Physician finished writing the prescription, bowed, and retreated. ’The Emperor is truly so considerate of Song Zhaoyi,’ he thought to himself. ’I’ve been in the Imperial Hospital for many years. Even during the late Emperor’s reign, there were many favored concubines, but none were as fortunate as Song Zhaoyi.’

Feng Yi walked over to Yun Zhao’s side, sat down, and looked at her, asking softly, "How are you feeling now?"

Song Yunzhao forced herself to look more energetic. "Which busybody troubled the Emperor with this? It’s nothing serious. I just don’t have much of an appetite, my legs are very swollen, and I always feel tired when I walk."

’And she calls that nothing serious?’

Feng Yi knew about Yun Zhao’s edema; pressing on her leg left a deep indentation. He had never known a woman’s pregnancy could be this difficult.

The Imperial Physician had said there was no good solution. He could only say to Yun Zhao, "You’ve been working so hard. You’ll have to endure it for a few more months."

Song Yunzhao looked down at her belly and said softly, "I don’t find it hard at all. As long as I think about seeing our little one in a few months, I feel incredibly happy. I often wonder if it will be a boy or a girl, and whether they will look more like the Emperor or like me."

"If you want to know if it’s a boy or a girl, the Imperial Physician can find out."

"No, if the Imperial Physician tells us, where’s the surprise? If it’s a little prince, I hope he’s as handsome as the Emperor. If it’s a little princess, she must be as beautiful as me. Just thinking about it makes me so happy. How could I let the Imperial Physician take that joy away from me?"

Feng Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Following Yun Zhao’s logic, he found it made a lot of sense. "You’re right. Anticipation is what makes the surprise. We won’t have the Imperial Physician check. We’ll wait and see for ourselves."

Having deliberately made a fuss all day, Yun Zhao was genuinely tired. As she was talking with Feng Yi, she leaned against him and fell asleep.

Feng Yi looked down, then carefully carried her into the bedchamber and laid her down. He gently turned her onto her side. Seeing her frown even in her sleep, his expression grew worried.

He summoned Xiangxue and questioned her about the day’s events. Only then did he learn that Yun Zhao had heard what the Empress Dowager said. ’So, she was worried that I would be intimidated by the Empress Dowager’s words and stop coming to Wangyou Palace, and this anxiety caused her physical discomfort?’

The Imperial Physician said that excessive worry during pregnancy is bad for one’s health.

He recalled how she had been constantly looking in the mirror lately, pretending not to care whenever he caught her. ’In truth, Yun Zhao is worried she’s becoming ugly, isn’t she?’

It was strange. Feng Yi sometimes thought that if any other woman were in this state, he might truly find it displeasing. But with Yun Zhao, it was different. Not only did he not think she was becoming ugly, but he felt a profound ache of compassion for her.

Feng Yi gently held Yun Zhao’s hand. In truth, her face was also a bit swollen now, a stark difference from her appearance when she first entered the palace. But in his eyes, the current Song Yunzhao was even more beautiful.

From that day on, Feng Yi stayed at Wangyou Palace almost every night. Everyone now knew that Song Zhaoyi was suffering from discomfort during her pregnancy, that her health was poor, and that the Emperor was so worried he had to watch over her personally.

The Empress Dowager: ...

’What a fine son I’ve raised, finding new and creative ways to defy me!’

Feng Yi also specially arranged for the Imperial Hospital to send over a Medical Woman to give Yun Zhao a massage every day to relieve her swelling.

The Imperial Physician also began to have Yun Zhao control her diet, even drawing up a specific meal plan.

Yun Zhao: ...

’It seems I’ve shot myself in the foot.’

However, the Imperial Physician had a point. If the baby was too large, it could lead to a difficult birth, and she certainly didn’t want to die on the delivery bed.

The stove in the Imperial Kitchen designated for preparing Yun Zhao’s meals became busy as well. Song Zhaoyi needed to eat small, frequent meals, with portions that were refined rather than large. The stove was kept lit all day, so a few more people were assigned to help out.

Such a great commotion quickly spread throughout the harem and subsequently reached the outer court.

’This Song Zhaoyi is really something else. What woman doesn’t go through pregnancy and childbirth like this? Why is she so delicate when it’s her turn?’

Song Yunzhao couldn’t care less what others said or thought. ’They’re just jealous that an Emperor is treating me so well!’

For the Lantern Festival, Feng Yi had wanted to take her out to see the lanterns, but one look at her belly made him realize it was just a fleeting thought. They would have to wait until after she gave birth.

After the Lantern Festival, the Emperor resumed his court duties, and the courtiers became busy again. In the blink of an eye, the first month of the year was over.

With the arrival of the second month came the spring plowing and the "whipping of the spring ox." The Emperor personally went to the fields, brandishing a whip to break the clay ox, officially kicking off the spring plowing season.

After spring arrived, the weather grew warmer each day. Winter clothes were replaced with padded jackets. Yun Zhao’s belly grew even larger, and she counted the days until her due date. She just had to endure a little longer, and then she would be through it.

Unexpectedly, just as spring began and the busy plowing season was underway, war broke out in the Northern Land. Their neighbors had endured a harsh winter where countless cattle and sheep froze to death. With no food saved for the next day, their only option was to raid Great Chu.

History books recorded constant invasions from tribes like the Turkic and Tatar against various dynasties. In this fictional dynasty, the author had created the nomadic Beiming Country.

The previous two years had seen favorable weather, so there had been no conflict. But last winter was exceptionally cold, colder than any in recent memory. More than half of Beiming’s livestock froze to death. When the spring thaw came, their only way to survive was to plunder.

And Great Chu, naturally, was the fat sheep in their eyes.

Song Yunzhao frowned. In this war, Chu Donghui would make a name for himself in a single battle, and Ji Yunting, as the Military Governor, would also be dispatched. In the book, he had almost not made it back. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

’Now that the plot has deviated so much, I wonder if Ji Yunting will still be appointed Military Governor. And since he’s no longer on the same side as the female lead, I wonder if he’ll still be able to turn misfortune into good fortune when he encounters danger.’