Xia Ruqing was somewhat caught between laughter and tears.
"I might as well have traced it; if it still doesn’t look good, then I’m really hopeless!"
Zi Yue and Zi Su couldn’t understand either, so they said nothing further.
When Xia Ruqing saw Little Bun coming over, she picked him up.
Little Bun was still a bit shy. "Mommy!"
"Sister says I have to study now, that I’m a man, and I can’t have Mommy hold me anymore!"
Xia Ruqing was even more caught between laughter and tears.
"A man?"
"Strictly speaking, you’re only two years and two months old!"
Children in ancient times matured so early; a two-year-old was already insisting on being a man. TSK! TSK! When I was a child in the countryside, a two-year-old would still be wetting their pants and playing in the mud!
Little Bun was very smart and immediately started counting on his fingers. "Two years and two months old, Mommy, when will I be three?"
Xia Ruqing told him, "When October comes this year, and you celebrate your birthday, you’ll be three years old!"
Little Bun blinked again and asked, "Mommy, what exactly is a birthday? Why does everyone have a birthday?"
Little Bun was truly a curious baby. But Xia Ruqing was used to it, as he always asked all sorts of questions—typical of little kids!
"A birthday is the day Mommy gave birth to you!"
"Gave birth? How did you give birth, Mommy? Was I in your tummy?"
Xia Ruqing nodded. "Yes, you were in my tummy!"
"At that time, you were only this big!" Xia Ruqing said, gesturing as she spoke.
"It was just like pooping; Mommy pushed you out from her tummy!"
"When you were born, you were all wrinkly and dirty! Mommy didn’t even want you!" Xia Ruqing said with a look of disgust on her face.
Indeed, when Little Bun was born, he was just a little wrinkled red monkey.
If it were any normal child, they would have started crying by now.
But Little Bun just giggled. "Mommy, you’re lying! I’m not..." He stopped himself before saying the word ’poop’. "Mommy, Sister said a mommy loves her baby the most! I’m your bun; you must like me the most!"
After saying that, his big eyes blinked playfully! His little mannerisms were incredibly charming!
Xia Ruqing, unable to coax him, found it a bit dull. This child is too smart; it takes away a lot of the fun!
"Alright, alright, you just know everything!"
Xia Ruqing patted his little bottom and took him off the heated brick bed.
She was just thinking of going out for a stroll when Xiao Xizi came in from outside, a smile still on his face.
"Congratulations, my lady, Eunuch Little Zhuzi just sent a message!"
"He said that your elder sister-in-law, Lady of Marquis Zhongyong, is with child!"
Xia Ruqing was initially baffled by the lengthy title, and it took her a moment to comprehend the message. She immediately exclaimed with joy, "My sister-in-law is expecting? That’s wonderful news!"
She was genuinely excited. In this world, my own father is unreliable, and my stepmother? Don’t even think about it—she’s an outright enemy. At my maternal home, the sum of all the people who treat me well is just a few: my elder brother, my younger brother, Maternal Aunt Wen, and Sister Cai Yang! As for the rest, Hmph!
"Zi Yue, quickly prepare the rewards!"
"Just have someone send them out for me later!"
She was also pregnant now. It would be better not to run around too much.
During previous Lantern Festivals, Xia Ruqing would always stroll around with the Emperor. But now, with her condition, she could no longer be so carefree! Leaving the palace is out of the question, but if I just send some rewards, the Emperor shouldn’t object, right?
"Yes!" Zi Yue left, delighted.
「Let’s leave the affairs inside and outside the palace aside for the moment.」
The Lantern Festival was drawing near day by day. The difference this year from past years was that the Empress was not in the palace. However, the Harem could get on well without anyone. Zhao Junyao directly ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to proceed as usual. The Ministry of Internal Affairs dared not be careless, preparing meticulously and methodically. The palace was hardly affected and remained bustling as ever.
Xia Ruqing’s belly was almost four months along. Carrying twins, she showed early. To be precise, her belly was already quite large, even resembling that of a woman in her fifth month. At this point, it could no longer be concealed. She couldn’t skip the banquet, and if she attended, she couldn’t hide it. Fortunately, she had passed the three-month mark, so the news could be disclosed.
So, a few days before the Lantern Festival, Zhao Junyao issued a decree. He praised Xia Ruqing and promoted her to Consort Xian. He also decreed the promotion of Consort Hui Pin to Consort Hui. Furthermore, he ordered Consort Hui to assist Noble Concubine Shih in jointly managing The Six Palaces! As for Xia Ruqing, she could rest easy and focus on her pregnancy!
The fact that they were twins was not made public, but word gets around. Soon, the entire Harem was abuzz with the news.
"Twins?" Noble Concubine Shih scowled in disbelief.
This woman’s luck is simply too good! Two at once! How many women in the Harem can’t even give birth to two in their entire lives! Take me, for example!