The next day, when Chu Shaoling entered the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, Fuyi was also in Ci'an Palace.

Fuyi now had more charm compared to when she first got married, and had grown much taller. Seeing Chu Shaoling arrive, she quickly stood up to pay her respects. Chu Shaoling smiled and helped her up, saying, "Fourth Sister, it's been a while since you've come to the palace."

"There have been many things to attend to at the end of the year, and there are also quite a few social obligations at the Manor. When I finally had some free time, I was afraid the Empress Dowager would also be busy," Fuyi tidied the hair at her temples and smiled. "Speaking of which, there were really many princes and princesses from the fiefdoms who came this year. The Empress Dowager must have had a lively year."

The Empress Dowager, leaning on the couch, held Fuyi's hand and chuckled, "The harvest was good this year, and many people came. I saw quite a few people. Was your Manor lively at the end of the year? I seem to have vaguely heard that the prince consort only stayed at the Manor for less than five days at the end of the year? They say he returned to the army on the sixth day, is that true?"

Fuyi smiled, "Empress Dowager, you already know? The prince consort really couldn't get away. He is young and has heavy responsibilities. The Emperor and eldest brother have been promoting him repeatedly, and there are many eyes watching him, so he doesn't dare to slack off."

The Empress Dowager originally thought Fuyi would have many complaints, but seeing her defend Wei Zhan at every turn, the Empress Dowager finally put her mind at ease. She patted Fuyi's hand and smiled, "It's good that the prince consort knows to advance himself, and it's good that you can understand him. That's enough for now, come back and I'll tell you more."

Fuyi's face reddened a little, and she turned her head to drink tea. The Empress Dowager smiled, "You've accompanied me for half a day. Go see Consort Ning. You two will have lunch with me at noon. I'll have someone prepare the food you like."

Fuyi stood up to express her thanks for the reward and left with the support of a palace maid.

"It seems life outside the palace is not bad. Fourth Sister has gained more weight compared to before," Chu Shaoling poured a cup of tea for the Empress Dowager and chuckled. "Although Wei Zhan is in the army all day, it seems he treats Fuyi well from the looks of it."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Your sister is not just fat from eating. She is two months pregnant."

Chu Shaoling was stunned for a moment and then laughed, "Is that so? Why didn't she say so before?"

The Empress Dowager smiled, "She also just found out not long ago. Isn't she coming to the palace to report the good news? Speaking of which, Fuyi is quite fortunate to be able to get pregnant so quickly. Now Consort Ning can rest assured. Fuyi is her only daughter. After Fuyi left the palace, she was like a lost soul every day, always worried that Fuyi would not have a smooth life. Now it seems you have good judgment. This prince consort is a good match."

Chu Shaoling smiled, "Wei Zhan is indeed a good match. Empress Dowager, didn't you have something important to tell me last time? Consort Shu and the others interrupted. Was it something urgent?"

Upon hearing this, the smile on the Empress Dowager's face faded a little. She hesitated for a moment and said, "The Emperor told me a few days ago to pay attention and said it's time to find matches for you few. You three are not far apart in age and should all be mindful of this."

Chu Shaoling's heart trembled, but his face remained calm. He nodded, "Another year has passed. I have nothing to say. It's all up to the Empress Dowager to arrange."

Seeing Chu Shaoling say this, the Empress Dowager felt both gratified and guilty in her heart. She was gratified that Chu Shaoling had not been infatuated by that guard and was still willing to listen to her arrangements. She felt guilty that she had selfish motives and had been delaying Chu Shaoling's marriage.

The Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment and said, "It's not that I'm not anxious about your major life event. It's just that I don't see anyone worthy of you. Such an important matter can't be decided so easily."

This was a lie. There were countless beauties in the imperial city who wanted to marry Chu Shaoling, and there were quite a few good ones among them. Chu Shaoling understood the Empress Dowager's intentions. The Empress Dowager wanted him to marry the daughter of the Jing'guo Duke Manor as his princess, or at least the daughter of the Zijun Marquis Manor. Unfortunately, the daughters of both families were too young and not suitable for marriage in the next few years.

Chu Shaoling did not want to make things difficult for the Empress Dowager, so he made a promise first, "Empress Dowager, rest assured. I am not in a hurry for my marriage. The principal wife will certainly come from either the Zijun Marquis Manor or the Jing'guo Duke Manor. Not only me, but when I have children in the future, their marriages will also not escape these two families."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager felt very reassured and said in a low voice, "Good child, you understand my intentions. I am not blindly fighting for power and influence for my maternal family. The situation is unstable now, and these two families have helped you a lot. I trust them too. If you marry a daughter from another family at such a critical time, I'm afraid it will hurt the feelings of these old relatives. But now that your younger brothers have all grown up, it's not good to keep delaying. You see..."

Chu Shaoling was very sensible and nodded, "I understand, Empress Dowager. You and Father can arrange marriages for my younger brothers. At most, just say that the Imperial Astronomy Bureau said that I am not meant to marry early, so as not to delay my younger brothers' marriages. It's fine to take care of them first."

The Empress Dowager felt a little distressed, "Won't this be too unfair to you?"

Chu Shaoling chuckled, "It's not unfair."

The Empress Dowager still felt that Chu Shaoling was suffering too much and couldn't help but say, "I'll pick a couple of concubines for you first, also chosen from noble families..."

"No," Chu Shaoling knew that the Empress Dowager wanted to bestow noble concubines to him and had already thought of an excuse. "Empress Dowager, think about it carefully. It's not difficult to take concubines, but what should be done if the concubines become pregnant after marrying? If the child is kept, it will be unfair to the future princess to have to raise a illegitimate child before she even enters the Manor. If the child is not kept, regardless of whether the child is sent away with the mother or the mother is sent away without the child, it will inevitably offend the concubine's maternal family. At that time, relatives will become enemies instead, which is not good."

Chu Shaoling's analysis was reasonable, and the Empress Dowager could not argue. She hesitated for a moment and said with worry, "You don't even have someone to serve you by your side..."

"Wang Muhan serves me quite well," Chu Shaoling comforted with a smile. "Besides, I am only nineteen. These things are not urgent."

Indeed, he was not considered very old. The Empress Dowager was slightly relieved and said softly, "It's good that you can understand my difficult position."

Chu Shaoling's eyes were full of admiration and he chuckled, "I understand, Empress Dowager. You should just worry about the marriages of my two younger brothers for now."

The Empress Dowager sneered, "I will only worry about Mo'er. Ruan'er has someone to arrange for him. If I interfere, won't I be adding to your father and Consort Li's worries? I want to see what kind of fairy that person can pick for Ruan'er."

Chu Shaoling smiled, "Empress Dowager, just don't get involved."

In Consort Ning's palace, mother and daughter were talking softly. Consort Ning's face was filled with irrepressible joy. She said in a low voice, "You should pay attention to what you should pay attention to on a daily basis. The old ladies will tell you what to eat and what not to eat. You also need to be careful yourself. This is your first pregnancy, so you need to be careful in everything..."

Consort Ning chattered on and on. Princess Fuyi couldn't always enter the palace, and even when she did, she might not be able to visit Consort Ning's palace every time. Consort Ning wished she could tell her daughter everything she knew, thought about, and experienced, for fear that Princess Fuyi would be careless.

Princess Fuyi listened with her head bowed. She had something on her mind and couldn't help being a bit absent-minded. After a while, she suddenly said, "Mother Consort, now that I'm pregnant, should I arrange a concubine for my husband?"

Consort Ning's hand trembled as she said anxiously, "Your husband already has..."

"No," Princess Fuyi interrupted Consort Ning and said with her head lowered, "My husband has no one outside, but I'm worried that he's away for more than ten days every time he goes out. I know he goes to the military camp, but I'm still uneasy. I just got pregnant, and it will be a year before the child is born and I finish the postpartum period. Rather than my husband finding someone outside, wouldn't it be better if I give him Ying'er as a concubine?"

Consort Ning saw the helplessness in her daughter's eyes and felt a pang in her heart. She shook her head and said, "No need! You are a princess, and no matter what, you married beneath your status. Why should you suffer these grievances? Just focus on having a safe pregnancy. Your husband wouldn't dare to misbehave."

Princess Fuyi smiled bitterly, "How am I compared to Princess Chengde? Princess Chengde is of legitimate birth, and even her Prince Consort has illegitimate children. Mother Consort, now that my husband is increasingly favored by my elder brother, I am happy in my heart, but I can't help but worry. I'm worried that my husband..."

"Worried that he won't value you and the child in the future?" Consort Ning understood her daughter's difficulties. Rather than letting Wei Zhan find someone restless outside, it would be better to arrange it herself first. After thinking for a while, Consort Ning said, "Don't rush. Just focus on having a safe pregnancy. The next time your husband returns, slowly bring up this idea. Don't be too direct, just ask for his opinion. If he agrees, give Ying'er to him. If your husband has no such intention, then put your mind at ease. You haven't been married for long, and your husband may not even be willing himself."

Princess Fuyi nodded, full of worries. Consort Ning felt bitter in her heart. It was because she had never been favored that Princess Fuyi had always been anxious since childhood. Now that she was married, she was always afraid of making mistakes. Consort Ning patted her daughter's hand and comforted her in a low voice, "I don't think your husband is a fickle man. Didn't you say that Prince Qin now values him greatly and he's busy like that every day? Where would he have the mind for that?"

Princess Fuyi nodded, "I hope so."

At noon, Chu Shaoling told Wei Ji about Princess Fuyi's matter. As expected, Wei Ji was delighted and said with a smile, "Big brother probably doesn't know yet in the military camp."

"Mm." Chu Shaoling put a piece of braised tofu in Wei Ji's bowl. "When autumn comes, you'll have a nephew."

Wei Ji was overjoyed and ate an extra bowl of rice at noon. When he lay down for a nap, he still chattered to Chu Shaoling, "Last year, Qi Yu gave me a pair of jade ruyi. I couldn't tell if they were good or not, but Eunuch Wang said they were rare antiques, so they must be pretty good. I'll bring them back for the princess this time I'm on leave. Also, the pair of jade vases Minister Zhang gave me last time..."

Chu Shaoling draped a blanket over Wei Ji and said with a smile, "It's not your child. Why are you in such a hurry? You've been tired all morning, go to sleep early!"

Chu Shaoling gently placed his hand over Wei Ji's eyes. Wei Ji closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Chu Shaoling also lay down to rest for a while. After a moment of silence, Wei Ji suddenly said in a low voice, "Last time, Master also gave me a piece of jade. When I get back, I'll find a craftsman to carve it into..."

"Are you trying to get me to scold you again?!" Taking a nap was a habit that Chu Shaoling had painstakingly cultivated in Wei Ji. Usually, Wei Ji would be sleepy by this time. Now that Wei Ji went to the military camp every day, which was quite tiring, Chu Shaoling was always afraid that he would overexert himself and fall ill. He scolded, "Sleep!"

Hearing this, Wei Ji immediately shut his mouth. He opened his eyes and glanced at Chu Shaoling. Seeing that Chu Shaoling still had his eyes closed, he felt a little relieved. Usually, if he saw Chu Shaoling's stern face, Wei Ji would have been worried, but unfortunately, he was too happy today. A child, a child, in just over half a year, there would be a child! A child with his and Chu Shaoling's bloodline...

The more Wei Ji thought about it, the more excited he became. He pondered to himself for a while, and after a while, he couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, do you think it will be a boy or a girl? I like girls."

Chu Shaoling was amused by Wei Ji's words. He rolled over and pressed on top of Wei Ji, saying in a low voice, "You don't want to sleep today, do you?"

Wei Ji remembered Chu Shaoling's impatience just now and felt a little guilty. However, Chu Shaoling's eyes and heart were warm. Occasionally, Wei Ji's "disobedience" would make Chu Shaoling happy. When Wei Ji first came to his side, he never dared to be like this. Now, Wei Ji would also inadvertently act coquettishly with him, which showed that Wei Ji was at ease and reassured with him.

Chu Shaoling's face was full of indulgence. Wei Ji blushed a little. Every time Chu Shaoling showed a doting expression that was only for him, Wei Ji's heart would be filled to the brim. Wei Ji smiled, and Chu Shaoling lowered his head and kissed Wei Ji's forehead, saying casually, "You like children?"

Wei Ji nodded, "I like them."

Chu Shaoling hmmed and began to untie Wei Ji's clothes. Wei Ji hurriedly held his lapels, "Your Highness?"

Chu Shaoling lowered his head and kissed Wei Ji's ear, saying in a hoarse voice, "If you like them, give birth to them yourself."

A light sentence burned Wei Ji's ears red.

Chu Shaoling chuckled, "Anyway, you can't sleep. Come..."