Chapter 279: She’s Pregnant
At the end of the banquet, Princess Duanmin suddenly felt a bit dizzy.
She had only had two cups of yellow wine; with her tolerance, she shouldn’t be drunk.
“What’s wrong? Where do you feel unwell?” Qisihe, right beside her, turned his head and asked in a low voice.
“I feel a bit dizzy and nauseous,” Duanmin said. “I don’t know why.”
“Perhaps it’s too noisy here. Have a servant help you back. It’s also a good time since the Emperor has gone to change his clothes,” Qisihe said.
Duanmin was feeling quite bothered, so she had a servant help her out.
On the way back to Ming Cui Palace, she happened to run into Wen Mingqian.
“I was wondering why you weren’t at the banquet. What are you doing here?” Duanmin asked her.
“Changan has a toothache. I wanted to invite an imperial physician to take a look,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile. “He only has a few more teeth left to change, and somehow he’s gotten inflamed.”
Princess Duanmin knew Gong Changan’s identity, so she couldn’t help but worry upon hearing this. She said, “Let my people go invite the imperial physician! I was just thinking of visiting your room for a bit, and to see if any of the fragrant dishes you eat are to your liking.”
Wen Mingqian then led the princess to her residence. Gong Changan was lying on the bed. Hearing someone arrive, he quickly got up.
“Did you eat too much candy?” Princess Duanmin asked him with a smile. “Eat less sugar when you’re changing teeth, otherwise your gums can easily swell.”
Gong Changan grinned. His tooth didn’t actually hurt that much; he avoided the banquet to prevent meeting Zhuola Han.
He was avoiding Zhuola Han everywhere now, seeing her as little as possible.
“Princess, why aren’t you at the banquet up front? It must be very lively there,” Gong Changan said.
“You little rascal, you don’t like joining the fun.” Duanmin pinched his ear. “Such big ears, such thick earlobes, truly a blessed child.”
“Princess, please sit. My place is humble, I truly trouble you,” Wen Mingqian said, personally serving tea.
“You’re too polite saying that. Although this room is small, you’ve tidied it up so neatly. I like small rooms like this,” Princess Duanmin said with a smile. “The tea at the banquet wasn’t to my taste, but this tea smells good.”
She took a sip as she spoke.
Shortly after, the imperial physician arrived, who was Su Qingyun.
He came over, asked Gong Changan to open his mouth to examine it, and said, “It’s nothing serious. Rinse your mouth with light salt water after meals every day, and then hold the ice coral pill I prescribed. It will be better in a couple of days.”
“Lord Su, I haven’t heard of this medicine before. Can you make more of it? I’d like to take it to the north,” Princess Duanmin said.
The people of the Fenye tribes often eat beef and mutton, so their breath can be unpleasant. This item clearly sounded like it could eliminate oral odor.
“If Princess does not dislike it, this subordinate will prepare more upon returning,” Su Qingyun quickly agreed.
He held Princess Duanmin in great respect, a respect that came from the bottom of his heart, without any pretense.
“Oh dear, my head is spinning again.” Princess Duanmin felt her vision go black, and the palace maid beside her quickly supported her.
“Is Princess feeling unwell? Imperial Physician Su is here, perhaps you could ask him to check your pulse,” Wen Mingqian said urgently.
Duanmin said, “That would be good. I’ve never had this problem before; I don’t know what’s wrong today.”
Imperial Physician Su took the princess’s pulse, examining both her left and right wrists. He bowed and congratulated her, “Congratulations, Princess. This is a pregnancy pulse.”
“What? You say I have a pregnancy pulse?” Princess Duanmin was more surprised than pleased.
“Indeed. Judging from the Princess’s pulse, the pregnancy is still in its early stages, no more than a month or so,” Su Qingyun said. “You need to rest more, and your diet should be mild and light.”
“This servant congratulates the Princess,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile. “The Prince will surely be overjoyed when he finds out.”
She was genuinely happy for Duanmin. Regardless of whether the child was a boy or a girl, it would eventually provide Duanmin with support and hope in her later years, and spare her the cold and loneliness of the frontier.
“I wonder if it’s a boy or a girl,” Princess Duanmin couldn’t help but lower her head, looking at her flat abdomen.
“If it’s a little princess, she’ll be as beautiful as a celestial being like you. If it’s a little prince, he’ll surely be brave and wise, no less than the King of Fenye,” Gong Changan said. “And maybe it’ll be twins!”
Hearing his words, Princess Duanmin was very happy. She pulled him over and said, “Then I’ll take your good wishes. They say children’s words are the most effective.”
“Princess, you didn’t eat much at the banquet. Do you have an appetite now? This servant can go to the Imperial Kitchen and ask them to make something special for you,” the person serving Princess Duanmin also said busily. “Your body is precious now, you must take great care.”
“My stomach always feels empty. I am indeed hungry, but I don’t feel like eating anything, and just smelling it makes me feel sick,” Duanmin said. “Even if you go, they won’t know what to make.”
“Changan was just clamoring for yam noodle soup. This servant was about to make it for him, so I’ll make extra. Princess, you can try a little to see if you can eat it,” Wen Mingqian said. “Does Princess have any dietary restrictions?”
“I’ve also heard that you often make medicinal cuisine for the Empress, so your culinary skills must be good. I don’t have any restrictions, I just don’t want to eat anything too greasy, especially beef and mutton,” Duanmin said.
“That’s it then. This soup doesn’t have meat in it originally; it has more vegetables,” Wen Mingqian said, and went to make it.
She only made enough for two people, and since it was simple, it only took about fifteen minutes to prepare.
It was served on a carved red tray with a floral pattern and the character for fortune. Princess Duanmin said it smelled wonderful as soon as she caught the scent.
“There’s some pickled mustard greens in here. I don’t know if you’ll be used to it,” Wen Mingqian said. “Try it, and tell me if you want any more seasonings.”
“The pickled vegetables are placed perfectly; I like them sour like this,” Princess Duanmin said, taking a bite and being very satisfied. “I’ve never eaten this before, and now I feel like nothing else is more to my taste.”
“This is commoner’s food. How would you have eaten it?” Wen Mingqian said. “This servant specifically asked the Imperial Kitchen to procure it from outside the palace in the autumn and have it brought in.”
In a short while, Princess Duanmin had finished the entire large bowl of yam noodle soup, and said contentedly, “I’m full now and feeling sleepy. I need to go back to sleep.”
She also said to Wen Mingqian, “The soup you made is excellent, and I ate it very comfortably. I’ll give you this ring. Make it for me again when I want to eat it someday.”
Wen Mingqian accepted it without refusal, thanked her, and took it.
By this time, the banquet had also dispersed. The King of Fenye, slightly drunk, returned to Ming Cui Palace.
As soon as he entered, he asked, “Is the Princess feeling better? If you’re still unwell, quickly invite an imperial physician to examine her.”
The servants all smiled and congratulated him together, “Congratulations, Your Highness. Our Princess is not ill; she is with child.”
Qisihe was overjoyed upon hearing this, and walked into the inner room with a hearty laugh.
The Princess was lying on the bed, drowsy and about to fall asleep. He scooped her up in his arms and spun her around several times on the floor.
“Put me down quickly, I’m very dizzy,” Duanmin hit his shoulder.
“You’re carrying my child!” Qisihe exclaimed. “I’ll give you the moon in the sky!”
