Chapter 44: Pregnancy Pulse
Sheng Qianheng ordered Liu Deshan to go to Zhongcui Palace to clarify all the necessary information for the pre-wedding rites, such as nàcǎi, wènmíng, nàjí, nàzhēng, and qǐngqī.
The wedding date was hastily chosen for a nearby auspicious day.
Chu Yi clutched his chest, closed his eyes, and took a slow, deep breath. He tried his best to tell himself that he didn’t need to pay attention to the newly arrived Princess Zhaoning.
In the future, this palace would surely have more than just this one princess…
As he was meditating with his eyes closed, Sheng Qianheng had, at some point, squatted down in front of him. Sheng Qianheng took Chu Yi’s hand and, afraid of startling him, whispered, “A-Yi, what are you thinking about?”
Chu Yi slowly looked up, his vision gradually clearing. He replied, “I’m thinking about whether that Princess Zhaoning will be able to adapt after leaving her home and coming to my Da Mo alone…”
Sheng Qianheng was instantly silent. This must have been Chu Yi’s situation as a child as well.
He rested his forehead on the back of Chu Yi’s hand and said in a muffled voice, “Brother A-Yi, did you ever miss home as a child?”
Chu Yi was puzzled. Why was he asking him this? He always felt that there were some things he didn’t know…
Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded from between his brows, like an ice pick piercing his bones. He raised a hand to rub the spot, the veins on his forehead faintly visible.
Sheng Qianheng felt Chu Yi’s hand trembling slightly on his forehead. He immediately stood up and saw Chu Yi’s face turn pale in an instant. He immediately scooped up Chu Yi by the knees, carried him, and placed him on the bed, then called out to the people outside, “Summon the imperial physician, quickly!”
Chu Yi took a few deep breaths. After feeling better, he immediately reached out and grabbed Sheng Qianheng’s sleeve, his voice extremely low. “No need to summon the imperial physician. I just keep waking up in the middle of the night these past few days and can’t sleep. It’s just a slight headache…”
Sheng Qianheng was not at ease and asked again, “Are you really alright?”
Chu Yi nodded, caressed Sheng Qianheng’s hand, and smiled charmingly. “It’s nothing. I know my own body.”
Chu Yi was a little averse to seeing a doctor. He had been feeling faintly unwell these past few days…
He took Sheng Qianheng’s hand and had him sit on the bed with him, leaning against his shoulder, and said faintly, “Sheng Qianheng, when will Princess Zhaoning be enfeoffed?”
Sheng Qianheng’s gaze flickered slightly. These past few days, he had tried his best not to mention this matter, for fear of displeasing Chu Yi.
“The Imperial Household Department is handling it. I don’t know…”
Chu Yi naturally didn’t believe him. He closed his eyes, smelling the scent on Sheng Qianheng, and his headache eased a lot. “Don’t put on a long face on the day of the enfeoffment. It will make people see at a glance that you don’t like the princess from the marriage alliance…”
Sheng Qianheng rubbed Chu Yi’s hand, his eyes stinging more and more. “A-Yi, I know you’ve been considerate of me these past few days… But I don’t want to make you unhappy… I know you don’t want that princess to come alone, with no relatives, and be mistreated in the palace. But you have to think more about yourself. I am Sheng Qianheng, your husband! You have to learn to possess me! You don’t have to care about anyone else’s feelings. You are my wife, do you understand?”
He always felt that Chu Yi only treated him as a child, with only doting affection, not the kind of possessive love for one person.
Ever since he had found out about the matter of diǎnqī in the teahouse, Chu Yi had a faint dislike for the term “main wife.” So what if she was the main wife? Wasn’t she still used as a bargaining chip for money and power?
Let alone Sheng Qianheng’s main wife, the Empress of Da Mo? He dared not covet it even more…
“Then after the princess’s enfeoffment ceremony, you have to stay in my hall every day!”
Sheng Qianheng: “Alright!”
Princess Zhaoning’s enfeoffment ceremony was on the sixth of the eighth month. All the ceremonies were in order.
After Head Eunuch Liu finished reading the enfeoffment edict, Princess Zhaoning officially moved into the main hall of Zhongcui Palace.
That night, it was almost the xū hour, and Sheng Qianheng was still sitting in Yangxin Hall, aimlessly flipping through a book.
Head Eunuch Liu stood by his side and silently reminded him, “Your Majesty, it’s time to go to Zhongcui Palace… Consort De must have been waiting for a long time.”
Sheng Qianheng closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, unwilling to face reality.
He stayed in Yangxin Hall until the beginning of the zǐ hour before he stood up and went to Zhongcui Palace.
The moment he stepped into the main hall of Zhongcui Palace, he could see Princess Zhaoning, dressed in wedding attire, sitting on the bed. He sighed and slowly approached.
Sheng Qianheng dismissed all the maids and servants in the room and quickly lifted the red veil. He glanced casually at Princess Zhaoning’s face. As he had expected, they had sent a woman who was nearly eighty percent similar to Chu Yi, even more so than the woman Dongying had wanted to present that day.
He suddenly struck out, a hand chop like a cold blade cutting through the wind, directly at the side of her neck.
Princess Zhaoning immediately fell backward. After covering her with the quilt, Sheng Qianheng turned and walked toward the chaise lounge on the side.
Sheng Qianheng made do on the chaise lounge for a night and went to morning court early the next day.
Ever since the news of Lu Wenhan’s death had come, Lady Lu had left the palace with her beloved son.
Chu Yi had also moved back to Jingyang Palace and changed back into men’s attire.
On the day of Princess Zhaoning’s enfeoffment, Chu Yi was in low spirits. He stood by the window, staring blankly at the gardenias in the courtyard.
He had mentioned gardenias casually, and Sheng Qianheng had ordered someone to find and plant them. Now, a faint scent of gardenias lingered in Jingyang Palace, which was quite refreshing.
After Lianfang had lit all the candles in Jingyang Palace, she stood by his side again. Seeing Chu Yi’s worried expression, she couldn’t help but say, “Your Ladyship, would you like to rest early today?”
Chu Yi looked back and replied faintly, “Prepare the water. This Palace wishes to bathe.”
The bathwater was quickly prepared. Chu Yi dismissed the others, leaving only Lianfang to guard outside the screen.
He took off his clothes, sat in the bathtub, closed his eyes, and rested his head on the edge of the tub, meditating.
He seemed to faintly hear the sound of the window being pushed open. He unconsciously looked back but found no one.
He saw Lianfang take down the pole supporting the window and close it.
Chu Yi looked back and couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. What was he thinking?
How could Sheng Qianheng be here? He should be in Zhongcui Palace.
He slowly held his breath and submerged himself in the water, leaving only his black hair floating on the surface.
The faint sounds of Lianfang walking around that he had heard before now vanished, leaving only the sound of the water rippling.
Chu Yi felt that everything had become illusory. He seemed to be unable to even hear his own heartbeat clearly…
It wasn’t until he was short of breath that he surfaced, gasping for air.
Chu Yi raised a hand to wipe the water from his cheeks. He felt a sting in his eyes and thought it was just the bathwater. He lowered his head and supported his forehead to relieve the discomfort from holding his breath. As his chest heaved, he saw ripples spreading across the water from his tears.
He looked at his reflection in the water. His eyes were red, and he didn’t even know that his face was covered in tears.
He was just recalling the time during the nàzhēng when Sheng Qianheng had climbed through the window and peeped at his bath, and he had become so sentimental.
When had Sheng Qianheng already taken up residence in his heart? He didn’t even know…
He didn’t want to soak any longer. He quickly wiped himself dry and got into bed, wanting to sleep and forget the troubles of the night.
But for some reason, Chu Yi was very awake that night and didn’t feel sleepy at all. He had Lianfang light double the usual amount of calming incense, but it was to no avail.
It wasn’t until the sky began to show a hint of dawn that Chu Yi finally fell asleep…
At noon, Chu Yi finally got up to wash. Seeing his poor spirits, Lianfang was worried and tried to find ways to cheer him up, but to no avail.
When the midday meal was laid out, Princess Zhaoning, Consort De, was standing outside Jingyang Palace, requesting an audience.
Chu Yi’s brows furrowed unconsciously. He looked at his own poor complexion in the bronze mirror and had Lianfang apply some powder to brighten his color.
After entering the hall, Princess Zhaoning paid her respects to Chu Yi. “Younger sister greets Consort Hui.”
Chu Yi glanced at Consort De and was unconsciously surprised by her appearance. But in a moment, he withdrew his gaze and continued to eat his midday meal. “I wonder what brings Consort De to my palace?”
Princess Zhaoning smiled shyly. “Your Ladyship, I have come today for one matter. I was also forced to come to Da Mo for a marriage alliance. Your Da Mo emperor does not like me, and I do not like him either…”
Seeing Princess Zhaoning’s insolence, Lianfang immediately reminded her, “Consort De, do not speak ill of His Majesty…”
Princess Zhaoning silently rolled her eyes and continued, “This concubine still knows that His Majesty loves Your Ladyship. I have no intention of vying for favor either. It is just that for the sake of my Qianlin, I must have a child with His Majesty… I hope Consort Hui will grant my wish…”
The corners of Chu Yi’s lips twitched. What was the use of telling him this? Go and ask Sheng Qianheng for a child… He couldn’t give her one.
He took a small sip of chicken soup and said coldly, “It is none of this Palace’s business whose hall His Majesty stays in at night. Younger sister should go and find His Majesty…”
Princess Zhaoning saw the permanent mark on the back of Chu Yi’s neck and was shocked. As far as she knew, Chu Yi was a Zhongyong…
“If Your Ladyship insists on keeping His Majesty, this concubine will also be unable to keep him. I hope Your Ladyship will give younger sister a way to live.”
Chu Yi sighed. What he disliked was this matter of vying for favor in the harem!
“Younger sister, you have come a long way to my Da Mo. You should rest more, lest you are not accustomed to the new environment and your business suffers.”
The corners of Princess Zhaoning’s lips twitched. She sat down on the stool beside her and said, “Don’t think that just because you entered the palace a few months before me, you can have all the favor… You still haven’t been able to get pregnant after so long…”
Chu Yi almost choked on a mouthful of chicken soup. He looked up and signaled for Lianfang to see the guest out.
Lianfang said, “Consort De, my master is not feeling well today, so I won’t keep you for the midday meal…”
After Princess Zhaoning was driven out of Jingyang Palace, the maid beside her reminded her, “Your Ladyship, you should restrain your temper. I told you to learn more of the rules before. Don’t bring your countryside manners to this Da Mo imperial palace!”
Princess Zhaoning crossed her arms and sneered, “A male consort. So what if he has a permanent mark? He still has difficulty giving birth! Doesn’t he still have to rely on me to bear an imperial heir for Da Mo? But I find that Consort Hui looks quite similar to me… very strange.”
Chu Yi had had a poor appetite these past few days. After being annoyed by that Princess Zhaoning, he couldn’t eat much more.
He ordered someone to clear the meal and paced alone in the hall.
After what Princess Zhaoning had said, he suddenly remembered. Could the various discomforts these past few days be…?
He had asked Lianfang how to detect a pregnancy pulse a few days ago but had never actually practiced it.
He dismissed everyone from the bedchamber and sat alone on the chaise lounge, taking his own pulse.
Chu Yi held his breath and focused, his fingertips carefully feeling.
The pulse was as thin as a thread at first, then gradually began to ripple. It was like rolling pearls on a jade plate…
It was also his first time detecting this pulse. He was deeply afraid that he had misdiagnosed himself. He switched hands several times, and when he confirmed that it was a pregnancy pulse each time, Chu Yi sat alone on the bed, not knowing whether to be happy or worried…
He looked down, staring at the clothes on his abdomen. Was he really pregnant?
Lianfang’s voice came from outside the hall, “May Your Majesty have ten thousand fortunes and golden peace. Her Ladyship is resting alone in the hall.”
Chu Yi looked at Sheng Qianheng’s figure outside the door and was at a loss for a moment.
Translator’s Notes
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Nàcǎi, wènmíng, nàjí, nàzhēng, qǐngqī : These are five of the “Six Rites” of a traditional Chinese wedding. They are, in order: presenting the initial proposal gifts, asking for the bride’s name and birth details (for divination), presenting the engagement gifts after a favorable divination, presenting the betrothal gifts (the nàzhēng from earlier chapters), and requesting the wedding date.
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Consort De: “De” (德) is Princess Zhaoning’s consort title, meaning “virtuous.”
