The princess regretted it.

Chapter 245: Concubine Chun is Exposed

After careful consideration, the Emperor felt increasingly that Prime Minister Mu was right. Given the current circumstances, it was indeed inappropriate to easily betroth the daughter of a high-ranking official like Minister Lin to his two sons. Having made up his mind, the Emperor raised his gaze, glancing gently at Prime Minister Mu and the Duke of Huguo, who stood quietly below. He spoke softly, "Minister Mu is right. We will wait until General Mu's report arrives before making any arrangements. Chuzhou, Zixuan, and the rest of the army will be rewarded together upon their return. You may return first."

"As you wish. I'll take my leave!" Prime Minister Mu and the Duke of Huguo quickly accepted the order in unison, bowed respectfully, and slowly left the Health Preservation Hall.

After the two of them left the Health Preservation Hall, the Duke of the Protectorate leaned slightly closer to Prime Minister Mu and lowered his voice, saying, "Uncle, your plan today is truly foresighted. However, if Miss Lin is summoned to the palace, how can we be sure she won't have other plans if she gives birth to a prince?"

"My dear nephew, any woman who enters the palace will have this plan. Which woman in this palace does not hope to gain status through her son and prosper her family? Even though Lin Qian is gentle and virtuous, she cannot completely escape the inner sanctum of this palace. However, there is an invisible constraint between her and Minister Lin.

As long as she was in the palace, Minister Lin would not become an accomplice of the Zhang family and the Third Prince. Minister Lin came from a humble family and did not have many aristocratic family backings. This would make Lin Qian cautious in her actions in the palace.

Besides, there will be people in the palace watching her every move, checking and restraining her. Furthermore, in the current situation, various forces are eager to make moves, and there are many people trying to win over Minister Lin. If Lin Qian is not placed under the control of the palace, Minister Lin will inevitably be deceived and used by others. If that happens, there will be changes in the court, and how can we talk about the stability of the Jin Dynasty?

Mu Xiang looked solemn, his eyes revealing his insight into the situation.

The Duke of Huguo nodded as he listened, his admiration for the leading scholar beside him growing. He secretly marveled at Prime Minister Mu's foresight and foresight; someone who could raise a nation's mother was truly no ordinary person.

.......

Concubine Chun's belly was now growing more and more swollen, her pregnancy clearly evident, and her appetite was also very good. She had just finished half a plate of snacks and a bowl of sweet soup. She felt a slight distension in her abdomen, so Gancao hurried forward to support her as they paced slowly around the garden to help digest the food. The weather was getting colder, but Concubine Chun didn't wear too many clothes, as if her physical condition had changed and she wasn't as sensitive to the cold as before.

Gancao looked at the empress, who was wearing less clothes than herself but whose face was becoming more and more rosy, and a smile broke out on her face. She said softly, "The little prince in the empress's belly is so well-behaved and considerate. He knows that he loves the empress and doesn't make any noise. He just stays quietly so that the empress can eat and sleep well. He is so worry-free, and he will definitely be an extremely filial little prince." His words were full of praise for the unborn little prince (or princess).

A soft glow flickered across Concubine Chun's face. With a faint smile, she raised her hand and gently stroked her belly. Her gesture was filled with affection and doting, as if she could feel the subtle rhythm of the baby's movement through her palm. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes filled with anticipation and longing, and whispered softly, "My little darling, please be a good child and come into this world safely." She was completely immersed in the joy and happiness of impending motherhood. Everything around her seemed to become the backdrop to this beautiful moment, leaving only the close bond between her and the baby in her belly, silently spreading.

The Emperor arrived, witnessing this scene. He raised his hand to signal Fuquan and the others who had seen him arrive to be quiet. His footsteps unconsciously slowed, and he stood there, quietly observing the scene before him. His gaze gently fell on Concubine Chun, and his thoughts drifted back to the past. He couldn't help but recall his first wife, pregnant with the Crown Prince, looking back to the same scene. Back then, his wife had also gently caressed her belly, her eyes filled with anticipation and love for the new life. A tranquil and peaceful atmosphere seemed to envelop the entire palace.

Now witnessing a similar scene again, ripples appeared in the emperor's heart. Zi Tong and Concubine Chun were similar in some ways, but Zi Tong had the arrogance of a girl from aristocratic family. After all, Prime Minister Mu's harem was clean, and she had not experienced the secrets of the harem since she was a child. Therefore, her mind was relatively simple and direct, and she was kind to people and things, and her mind was easily guessed by others.

While Concubine Chun's background wasn't as noble and prominent as Zi Tong's, she possessed a certain gentleness, docility, and open-mindedness, a unique breath of fresh air within the palace. The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, as if savoring every moment of his time with Zi Tong, and as if scrutinizing Concubine Chun's every move.

When Nanny Su emerged from the room, she glanced up and spotted the Emperor standing quietly at the doorway. She was startled at first, then a look of surprise and trepidation crossed her face. She quickly bowed, her voice a touch nervous and respectful as she whispered, "Your Majesty, this old servant greets you. Long live the Emperor." This greeting shattered the silence and brought the Emperor, lost in thought, back to his senses.

Concubine Chun and Gancao heard the noise and hurriedly looked in the direction of the sound. Seeing that it was the emperor, Gancao hurriedly saluted. A hint of surprise flashed in Concubine Chun's eyes, and she hurriedly wanted to salute, but was stopped by a look from the emperor. The emperor waved his hand, motioning for Nanny Su to stand up, and then he took a step and slowly walked towards Concubine Chun, saying as he walked: "Everyone, get up. My beloved concubine is pregnant, there is no need to be so polite, and you should not hurt yourself." His words were full of concern and doting, and his eyes always stayed on Concubine Chun's slightly bulging belly.

Concubine Chun followed the emperor's gaze and smiled softly. She whispered softly, "Your Majesty, please go inside first. It's cold outside. Don't catch a cold."

"Okay!" The emperor stepped forward and entered the house first. Gancao quickly stood up and helped Concubine Chun into the house. Nanny Su went downstairs to arrange for people to prepare tea and snacks.

"Okay!" The Emperor nodded slightly, then stepped forward and was the first to step into the house. Seeing this, Gancao hurriedly stood up and stepped forward, carefully supporting Concubine Chun and following closely into the house. Nanny Su swiftly retreated and busied herself with arranging for tea and snacks.

No one noticed, because the moment the Emperor stood at the doorway, someone noticed something was amiss. It was none other than the Second Prince's maid who had previously spotted Jin'an in this courtyard. She had been keeping an eye on this courtyard lately, but she noticed there seemed to be secret guards inside, and since only a maid and a few palace maids usually ventured out, she didn't dare get too close.