mesbooks Chapter 278 New Year's Eve
Chapter 278 New Year's Eve
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve.
Just like last year, there has been no snowfall in the capital city so far. However, without Prince Rui and others causing trouble, there are no more rumors unfavorable to the emperor and the empress.
The Queen's belly is becoming more and more obvious. During this period, the Marquis Pingxuan's Mansion specially sent a reliable midwife, and Shen Zhiyao also got a lot of precious herbs for the Emperor to replenish their bodies.
With the help of tonic medicine and the care of a midwife, the Queen and Shen Zhiyao's pregnancy remained stable. Imperial Physician Qiu finally gave the Queen's approximate due date, which was mid-February.
Shen Zhiyao felt very sleepy every day, so she slept longer, but other than that, her body didn't have any other reactions.
Now, it was still getting dark. Qiuyue, Chu'an, Qiuji, Qiuling, Zheni, Taoxiang and others stood in a row, kneeling down and kowtowed to Shen Zhiyao in turn to thank their master for his care and protection in the past year.
"Master, we are so lucky to have the honor to serve you in this life because of the kindness of our ancestors! We wish you good health and everlasting favor in the new year. We also wish you a healthy and intelligent young master in the future, and that he will grow up healthily..."
"It's New Year's Day, why are you making such a fuss? Get up quickly. We have always gotten along very well, and we will continue to live happily in the future. We will never separate."
Shen Zhiyao was very touched and immediately waved her hand to signal them to stand up.
Everyone was extremely happy, but they had tears in their eyes. It was not allowed to cry during the New Year, so even though they were all smiling, it looked a little strange.
Shen Zhiyao instructed Qiuyue to distribute silver to everyone according to their grades. Each person was guaranteed to receive a minimum of thirty taels, and they were also given some extra cloth and rouge.
In addition, several loyal ones were given extra jewelry as rewards.
Because the queen's due date was approaching and it was Chinese New Year, she deliberately exempted everyone from the morning greetings program for a month. Everyone was naturally very happy. After all, in such a cold day, who wouldn't want to curl up in a warm bed?
It would be fine if others didn't go, but Shen Zhiyao, despite being pregnant, made a special trip to Fengyi Palace this morning to kowtow to the Queen in person and thank her for her special care for her in the past year.
"I kowtow to the Queen. I feel honored to know and befriend the Queen in this deep palace. I am impatient. If I have done anything inappropriate, please do not take it to heart and punish me in person."
As Shen Zhiyao spoke, she knelt down and kowtowed three times to the Queen.
"What are you doing..." Seeing this, the queen hurriedly held her belly and stood up to help her.
Shen Zhiyao didn't dare to ask the Queen to support her, so she stood up with a smile before the Queen arrived.
"Why do we have to go through so many false formalities between you and me as sisters..." The queen glanced at her in reproach.
Shen Zhiyao smiled and walked forward, took the Queen's arm, and led her to the chair beside the table: "The more courtesy, the less blame... The Queen can choose not to ask, but I can't help but be conscious! This is my own will. The Queen is so good to me every day. It's just a few kowtows, you naturally deserve it."
Not only the Queen, but even Shijin felt very comfortable hearing these words. It seemed that the Queen had not made a mistake in choosing Shen Zhiyao, as she was a grateful person.
"Well... Shijin, show Concubine Jin what I have prepared." The Queen said to Shijin with a smile.
"Yes." Shijin responded, and then brought a tray covered with red silk with a smile.
Shijin carefully placed the tray on the table and then slowly lifted the red silk.
On the tray, there was a pair of longevity locks made of gold and jade.
"Zhi Yao, this is something I specially ordered the craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department to design and make for our children. There are only two of these in the world. When the children are one month old, let them hang until they reach adulthood. I hope our children can grow up safely and healthily, and I also hope they can make good friends in their lives." The Queen said with a smile.
Shen Zhiyao reached out and touched the pair of longevity locks. The moment her fingertips touched them, she could even feel the Queen's hopes for their two children. She sincerely hoped that the children would always be blessed by God.
"Empress..." Shen Zhiyao looked at the Queen, choking a little.
She has seen and obtained many good things, but this kind of affection is the most precious.
How many people in the palace wish that the mother and son would die? Among these female relatives, only the Queen sincerely hopes that they can stay together until old age, and even hopes that their children can be as close as brothers and sisters from the same mother, and grow up together with support.
"Now, my body is getting heavier and heavier. Somehow, I have begun to believe in these things." The queen patted Shen Zhiyao's hand.
Shen Zhiyao knew that ancient medical skills had great limitations. When a woman gave birth, it was like having one foot in a coffin. Life or death was entirely up to fate.
"Your Majesty is such a noble person. I think that God will give special treatment to your expectations."
Shen Zhiyao held the Queen's hand tightly and made a secret decision in her heart that she would protect her well when the Queen gave birth.
In the palace, she refused to trust anyone easily except the queen.
Because of feudal customs, the emperor could not enter the delivery room. When he gave birth, the only one who could truly protect him was the empress.
Therefore, protecting the queen means protecting yourself.
Now she and the queen have already become a community of shared destiny. If the princes fight for imperial power in the future, she can only stand on the side of the queen.
"Okay, we still have to go to the Taimiao to kowtow later. Today, you can stand beside me." The queen said with a smile.
"Well, Your Majesty, we can go together later." Shen Zhiyao smiled brightly.
After a while, the Queen wore a bright yellow palace dress, while Shen Zhiyao wore an ivory-white palace dress. Because they were pregnant and wearing winter clothes, they looked rounder, but still very beautiful.
When they were leaving, Shen Zhiyao carefully supported the queen and said, "You are bound to be tired today, so you should hold back a little."
According to Shen Zhiyao's original intention, she wanted to persuade the Queen not to suffer, but this was the rule of the ancestors of the Zhao Kingdom, and it could not be violated even if the Queen was pregnant.
"It's okay, but it's not good to keep her always. I'll just go out and exercise. Didn't you also say that walking more will make it easier to have a normal childbirth?" The Queen of course understood her thoughts and comforted her with a smile.
Shen Zhiyao smiled sweetly, then she supported the Queen and they both left Fengyi Palace.
After all, it was a ceremony to worship the ancestors, so all the concubines were dressed relatively plainly. Bo Muxi was accompanied by the five-year-old eldest prince and Queen Mother Zhao.
The second and third princes were still young, and their mother carefully held them in her arms and made them kowtow, which was considered a way of paying homage to their ancestors.
After everyone had paid their respects in turn and returned to the palace, it was already noon.
Last year, the family banquet was held in Queen Dowager Zhao's Renshou Palace. This year, considering that the Queen Dowager was not in good spirits, the banquet was held in Changdeok Palace for all clan members.
Shen Zhiyao suddenly remembered that it was around this time last year that she, who was not qualified to attend the family dinner, was not only specially called by the Queen to attend the dinner, but was also recommended by the Queen on the spot to be promoted two levels to the rank of the ninth concubine, which was considered a qualitative breakthrough.
Thinking of this, Shen Zhiyao couldn't help but look at the queen, only to see that the queen was also looking at her.
The two people's eyes met inadvertently, and it seemed that endless friendship was flowing slowly in their eyes.
The corners of the queen's beautiful mouth rose slightly, outlining a graceful arc, instantly dispelling Shen Zhiyao's emotions aroused by memories, leaving only infinite longing for future life.