bestfiction Chapter 320 The Emperor and Empress were of one mind, but the pregnancy was threatened.
Chapter 320 The Emperor and Empress were of one mind, but the pregnancy was threatened.
Before the afterglow of the investiture ceremony had even faded, Su Mingyue swiftly set about preparing for the establishment of a girls' school. She personally drew up plans, transforming an abandoned palace garden on the west side of the imperial palace into a bright and clean school, and hired learned female teachers from the common people. Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengjun specially ordered the transport of lake stones from Jiangnan and the planting of a hundred peach and plum trees, decorating the girls' school with elegance and tranquility.
“Your Majesty, the plaque for the girls’ school…” Su Mingyue stood at the construction site, gazing at the uninscribed plaque, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Xiao Chengjun picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and the four powerful characters “Chang Le Girls’ School” leaped onto the plaque. Su Mingyue instantly understood his meaning, her eyes slightly moistening—this was not only an emphasis on women’s education, but also a commemoration of the deceased Princess Chang Le.
On the opening day of the girls' school, daughters of prominent families in the capital, dressed in brand-new ruqun (traditional Chinese dresses) and carrying embroidered sachets, chattered excitedly as they entered the school. Su Mingyue personally taught them poetry, arithmetic, needlework, and even offered courses on statecraft. The news spread, arousing the curiosity of many men, who secretly tried to use their connections to audit the classes.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chengjun continued to implement his new policies at court. He adopted Su Mingyue's suggestion to establish the "Green Seedling Loan," providing low-interest loans to farmers during lean seasons; he also encouraged merchants to invest in shipbuilding and open up maritime trade routes. Su Mingyue, meanwhile, established the "Weaving and Embroidery Workshop" in the palace, reviving lost embroidery techniques. The embroidered products were sold overseas, generating considerable revenue for the court.
One day, Emperor Xiao Chengjun was reviewing memorials in his study when Su Mingyue entered carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup. "Your Majesty," she said, glancing at the mountain of documents piled on her desk, "I heard the Western Regions delegation arrives tomorrow. How does Your Majesty plan to deal with them?" Xiao Chengjun put down his brush and pulled her to sit beside him. "Does the Empress have any good ideas?"
Su Mingyue pulled a sheepskin map from her sleeve, on which were detailed annotations of the customs and traditions of the Western Regions: "The Western Regions are rich in spices and gems, while our silk and porcelain are exactly what they need. Why not establish a trade market, similar to the previous dynasty? This would allow us to exchange goods and also provide insight into their military deployments." Xiao Chengjun, seeing his wife's earnest expression, couldn't help but gently kiss her forehead: "With the Empress's assistance, I am like a tiger with wings."
On the day the Western Regions delegation arrived, the capital was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. The leader of the delegation was Princess Ayina of the Western Jing Kingdom, who was beautiful and charming, but whose eyes held a hint of defiance. At the welcoming banquet, she suddenly proposed a competition of horsemanship, archery, and poetry with the Nanzhao Kingdom, her words full of disdain for Nanzhao.
Xiao Chengjun glanced at Su Mingyue, and the two nodded knowingly. Su Mingyue stood up and smiled, "I've heard that the princess is skilled in riding and archery. How about a contest between one of my Nanzhao's female generals and the princess? As for poetry, I'd like to exchange ideas with the princess." Ayina sized up the gentle empress before her and sneered, "Women from the Central Plains really only know how to play with words."
On the archery field, the Nanzhao female general, dressed in sleek attire, rode with the speed of the wind, her arrows never missing their mark, drawing gasps of admiration from the Western Regions delegation. During the poetry competition, Su Mingyue composed an impromptu seven-character regulated verse on the theme of the "Silk Road," its powerful imagery leaving everyone in awe. Ayina's expression shifted, but she ultimately had to admit defeat: "The Nanzhao Queen truly lives up to her reputation."
This competition not only intimidated the Western Regions states but also facilitated several trade agreements. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xiao Chengjun and Su Mingyue engaged in in-depth exchanges with the Western Regions delegation, gathering a wealth of intelligence. They discovered that while the Western Regions states appeared outwardly harmonious, they were actually riddled with internal conflicts, providing Nanzhao with more room for diplomatic maneuvering.
However, great power attracts envy. The growing strength of the Nanzhao Kingdom aroused the suspicion of its neighboring states. The Northern Di Kingdom secretly incited neighboring smaller states to form an alliance, intending to encircle Nanzhao. Upon learning of this, Xiao Chengjun summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures. Su Mingyue also participated, proposing a strategy of "befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones, and dividing and weakening them." She suggested first strengthening ties with the Western Regions states, and then defeating the allied smaller states one by one.
Under Xiao Chengjun's command, Shen Yunzhou led a large army to guard the border and maintain strict vigilance; Xie Wuhen disguised himself as a merchant and infiltrated the Northern Di Kingdom to gather intelligence. Su Mingyue was not idle in the harem either; she organized the palace maids to sew cotton clothes and make dry rations to provide logistical support for the soldiers at the front.
Just as war was about to break out, Su Mingyue unexpectedly discovered she was pregnant. Xiao Chengjun was both overjoyed and worried, concerned for her health and also concerned about the war at the front. Su Mingyue comforted him, saying, "Your Majesty, please go without worry. I will take good care of myself. With Your Majesty here, Nanzhao will surely turn the tide."
On the day Xiao Chengjun personally led his army to war, Su Mingyue, despite being heavily pregnant, insisted on seeing him off at the city gate. Watching her husband's departing figure, she secretly vowed to protect Nanzhao and their child. Under her leadership, the palace was well-ordered, and the people were moved by her perseverance, praying for the soldiers on the front lines.
After months of arduous fighting, Xiao Chengjun finally achieved a great victory. On the day of his triumphant return to the capital, the people lined the streets to welcome him, their cheers deafening. Xiao Chengjun, without taking a break, went straight to the Jiaofang Palace. At that moment, Su Mingyue was sewing tiger-head shoes for her child. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and smiled, "Your Majesty, our child is about to be born."
Xiao Chengjun gently pulled her into his arms, feeling the rhythm of life.
In the Jiaofang Palace in late spring, Su Mingyue leaned against the Xiangfei bamboo couch, her fingertips gently stroking her slightly protruding belly. The wisteria outside the window was in full bloom, its purple cascades cascading down the carved window frames, yet it could not conceal the weariness between her brows. Since she was five months pregnant, she had often felt backaches and pains, and today she was even more dizzy, making it difficult for her to even review the documents at the girls' school on her desk.
"Your Majesty, it's time for the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine." The personal maid, Yu Zan, approached with a celadon bowl of medicine, the aroma mingled with a faint scent of dried tangerine peel. Just as Su Mingyue took the bowl, she suddenly heard the tinkling of jade pendants from outside the hall, followed by a delicate yet sharp voice: "I thought Her Majesty the Empress was so noble, but it turns out she's just putting on an act!"
Behind the gilded screen emerged the figure of Consort Li, dressed in a crimson brocade palace gown, the ruby hairpin at her temple swaying violently with each step. Before Su Mingyue could rise, Consort Li had already overturned the medicine bowl on the low table, splashing the brown medicine onto Su Mingyue's moon-white skirt: "I've heard the Empress is always meddling in state affairs, how come she's so delicate just because she's pregnant with the Emperor's child? Is she trying to use the child to tie His Majesty down?"
Seeing this, Yu Zan hurriedly stepped in front of Su Mingyue, saying, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect! Her Majesty the Empress is pregnant, how can you..." Before she could finish, Consort Li slapped Yu Zan across the face, instantly causing her cheek to swell and turn red. Su Mingyue felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, and she managed to steady herself by holding onto the carved railing of the bed, saying, "Consort Li, I have always tolerated you because you are the daughter of a former official of the late Emperor, but today..."
"Tolerate?!" Consort Li interrupted with a shrill laugh, pulling a scroll of documents from her sleeve and throwing it on the ground. "Look at the mess you've made! My brother's business in Jiangnan has been shut down by the Inspectorate, clearly because you were whispering in His Majesty's ear!" She approached step by step, her nails almost digging into Su Mingyue's face. "Just the daughter of a poor, pedantic scholar who rose to power by selling her knowledge, does she even deserve..."
Su Mingyue suddenly felt a sharp, cramping pain in her lower abdomen, as if a thousand silver needles were piercing her simultaneously. She bit her lower lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in her mouth, and her vision began to blur. Yu Zan cried out in alarm, supporting her limp body, and shouted, "Someone! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
Consort Li was stunned. Looking at Su Mingyue's pale face and the dark red bloodstains on her skirt, she suddenly retreated in a panic: "I...I only said a few words, who told her to..." Before she could finish speaking, hurried footsteps came from outside the palace. Xiao Chengjun, holding a black iron sword, broke through the door and entered. The hem of his dragon robe was covered in mud—he had just returned from the front line and had rushed over on horseback upon hearing the news.
"Mingyue!" Xiao Chengjun knelt before the bed, his hands trembling as he grasped his wife's cold hand. Su Mingyue barely opened her eyes, her voice weak and feeble: "Your Majesty... the child..." Before she could finish speaking, another wave of excruciating pain struck her, causing her to curl up in agony, her back soaked with cold sweat. Consort Li, terrified, collapsed to the ground, muttering repeatedly, "It wasn't me... I didn't mean to..."
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy, leading a group of physicians, rushed in, their silver medical kits clattering on the floor. As Xiao Chengjun was forcibly pulled away by palace servants, he still stared intently at Su Mingyue's pained face, his eyes bloodshot: "If the Empress falls, I will have your entire Imperial Medical Academy executed!" He whirled around, grabbing Consort Li by the collar, the chilling aura of his black iron sword pressed against her throat: "How dare you!"
Consort Li's face turned deathly pale, her legs trembling uncontrollably: "Your Majesty, spare me! I was just momentarily enraged..." Her sobs were interrupted by Xiao Chengjun's furious roar: "Enraged? I see you're relying on your maternal family's power to attempt to undermine the foundation of the nation! Guards, throw Consort Li into the Cold Palace, and immediately confiscate her brother's property!"
Inside the Jiaofang Palace, the imperial physicians were busy, their brows slick with sweat. The chief physician wiped the cold sweat from his brow and knelt to report, "Your Majesty, the Empress has suffered a miscarriage scare. Fortunately, it was discovered in time, but she requires careful recuperation, otherwise..." He dared not finish his sentence. Xiao Chengjun slumped onto the cold floor tiles, his knuckles white from clenching his fists. Outside the window, the wisteria blossoms were swept up by the wind, their petals fluttering down into the pool of blood.
Three days later, Su Mingyue finally awoke from her coma. She weakly turned her head and saw Xiao Chengjun fast asleep beside the bed, his eyes dark and his dragon robe crumpled. Yu Zan, her eyes red, leaned closer: "Your Majesty has finally woken up! His Majesty hasn't eaten or drunk anything these past few days, and has been watching over you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Chengjun suddenly woke up. He trembled as he took Su Mingyue's hand and pressed it to his face: "Mingyue, you scared me to death..." His voice choked with emotion, "If anything happens to you and the child, what use is this vast empire to me?" Su Mingyue forced a smile, trying to comfort her husband, but suddenly coughed violently, leaving small stains of blood on her handkerchief.
The news shocked the entire court. Those ministers who had impeached Su Mingyue for interfering in politics fell silent, and the news that Consort Li's maternal family was under investigation for corruption and bribery further instilled fear in everyone at court. Emperor Xiao Chengjun issued an edict forbidding any noise within a ten-mile radius of the Jiaofang Palace, and transported the freshest fruits and vegetables from Jiangnan. He even personally studied medical books to learn how to care for pregnant women.
Late at night, Xiao Chengjun sat beside Su Mingyue's bed, carefully massaging her swollen legs. Looking at her husband's tired yet focused expression, Su Mingyue whispered, "Your Majesty, there's no need for this. I'm fine." Xiao Chengjun shook his head, burying his face in her knees: "Don't frighten me again. You and the child are my life."
Outside the window, the wisteria flowers still swayed in the wind, but no one dared to disturb the tranquility of the boudoir anymore.