Chapter 363 - 363: Heart of an Emperor

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Hearing the palace maid’s words, Jiang Peihuan frowned.

“Huan Er, did i eat something i shouldn’t have?”

Having experienced several similar situations before, the Empress had become familiar with Jiang Peihuan’s character. So after the old nanny left, the Empress immediately asked.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peihuan nodded.

“Your Royal Majesty’s diet was initially fine. However, after you became pregnant, the Imperial Kitchen started preparing nourishing food for you, which was alright. But, in yesterday’s stew, they added mung beans and astragalus. Although there’s usually no issue with these ingredients, if consumed frequently, they can be too cooling and cause stomach pain.”

“There’s no problem with these two, but if you drink them too many times, they’ll be too cold and easily cause abdominal pain.”

“Nanny, please check on this.”

“Yes.”

After the old nanny left, exhaustion filled the Empress’s eyes.

Looking at Jiang Peihuan’s swelling belly, a hint of guilt flashed in the Empress’s eyes. “Huan Er, I’m sorry for causing you trouble. Now that you are pregnant, you should be resting at home. Because of me, you are constantly burdened.”

“Your Royal Majesty, please don’t say that.”

“Greetings to the Emperor.”

As Jiang Peihuan was about to speak, she heard voices from the entrance.

Turning around, she saw Emperor Qi Ming stride towards them, followed by Xiao Nanye.

Upon seeing Emperor Qi Ming, Jiang Peihuan immediately stood up. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Get up.”

The Empress tried to stand as well, but Emperor Qi Ming held her hand, “Empress, given your condition, you need not be overly formal.”

After the Empress lay back down, Emperor Qi Ming turned to Jiang Peihuan, “How is the child in the Empress’s womb?”

“Everything is fine.”

From the Emperor’s question, Jiang Peihuan realized he was unaware of the Empress’s stomach pain.

Therefore, she didn’t elaborate.

Indeed, upon hearing her response, the Empress visibly relaxed.

However, during the ensuing silence, Emperor Qi Ming suddenly asked Jiang Peihuan, “Do you know if the child in the Empress’s womb is a boy or a girl?”

Hearing this, Jiang Peihuan was taken aback.

But she quickly replied, “Your Majesty, my medical skills are not refined enough to determine the gender.”

In reality, Jiang Peihuan could diagnose the gender. Her master, a renowned doctors, had taught her the technique. When she had just taken the Empress’s pulse, Jiang Peihuan had deduced that the Empress was carrying a male child. However, she chose not to mention it to avoid any complications.

After hearing Jiang Peihuan’s response, a hint of disappointment flashed in Emperor Qi Ming’s eyes, but he didn’t comment further.

He simply said to the Empress, “Regardless, the child in your womb is my direct heir. You must take good care of him.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Peihuan, standing nearby, was puzzled. If Emperor Qi Ming valued the child in the Empress’s womb so much, why had he appointed Xiao Junhao as the crown prince? Yet, given the Emperor’s behavior, it was evident he regarded the unborn child highly.

Jiang Peihuan couldn’t understand the Emperor’s true intentions.

With Emperor Qi Ming present, Jiang Peihuan didn’t stay long. After paying her respects to the Empress, she left Kun Ning Palace with Xiao Nanye.

“By the way, how is Princess Consort Meng?”

“Imperial Brother banished her to the Cold Palace.”

Hearing this, Jiang Peihuan felt that Emperor Qi Ming finally made a wise decision.

After leaving the palace, the two directly boarded a carriage.

However, as they traveled, Jiang Peihuan noticed they were not on the route back to Cheng’s mansion. Curious, she opened the curtain and asked the man beside her, “Where are you taking me?”

“You’ll know when we get there,” he replied.

She chose not to press further.

Two hour later, the carriage came to a stop.

What appeared before Jiang Peihuan’s eyes was a courtyard, and right in front of the courtyard was a pond. Around this courtyard, there were several others.

Some of these courtyards were bustling with activity, indicating the presence of residents.

The scenery here was incredibly beautiful. Even though it was winter, everything looked lush and green.

Jiang Peihuan had been in the capital for a long time, but she never knew such a place existed within the city.

Turning to the man beside her, she couldn’t help but ask, “Where are we?”

“South Mountain.”

“Is this really South Mountain?”

The Qi Kingdom was located in the east, with the West Mountain being a hunting ground. The south was near the sea, so residents of the capital rarely ventured to the South Mountain.

And even if they did, they would stay close to the city.

Jiang Peihuan had never realized that there was such a beautiful landscape inside South Mountain.

Xiao Nanye assisted Jiang Peihuan out of the carriage and then looked at her, saying, “The scenery here is quite captivating. Would you like to stay here for a few days?”

“Yes.”

The surroundings were indeed beautiful, and Jiang Peihuan was very fond of it.

However, observing the residences nearby, Jiang Peihuan couldn’t resist asking, “Who lives around here?”

“These residences were built by members of the royal clan.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peihuan did not press further.

What Xiao Nanye referred to as the royal clan meant they were members of the royal family.

Jiang Peihuan followed Xiao Nanye into the courtyard.

The first thing she noticed was a swing set designed like a long bench. She couldn’t wait to sit on it.

Leaning back, Jiang Peihuan found it very comfortable.

Suddenly, she felt a gentle motion. When she looked behind, she saw Xiao Nanye, gently pushing the swing.

Suddenly, Jian Peihuan () felt her body sway slightly.

Jian Peihuan turned around and saw Xiao Nanye standing behind her.

The man reached out and gently pushed the chair.

Han Feng and Ye Xiao, observing the scene, had already left to attend to other matters inside.

Xiao Nanye was careful not to push too hard, but Jiang Peihuan felt it wasn’t high enough. She called out, “Xiao Nanye, push a bit harder.”

Hearing her request, the man applied a bit more force.

In an instant, Jiang Peihuan felt the swing arc higher.

She felt the wind brushing past her ears. From her position, she could see the water in the pond and the flowers at the entrance of the courtyard.

Jiang Peihuan was thoroughly enjoying the moment, but her serenity was soon disrupted by a voice from the entrance.

“Who are you?”

A woman in white walked into the courtyard. Even though it was winter, she was wearing a thin white dress. What struck Jiang Peihuan as even more odd was the white flower in the woman’s hair, a clear sign that she was mourning someone’s death.

To Jiang Peihuan’s knowledge, there were no recent deaths in the royal family, except for Prince Rui. If she was a relative of Prince Rui, she would recognize Xiao Nanye. However, this woman clearly didn’t.

Xiao Nanye also found this woman’s sudden appearance a little strange.

Upon hearing the commotion, Han Feng and Ye Xiao came out from the house.

Seeing the woman in the courtyard, Han Feng coldly said, “This is Queen and King Cheng. Who are you?”

The woman appeared momentarily surprised upon hearing Han Feng’s words but quickly regained her composure..