Chapter 120 - 119: The Substitute Eldest Miss 35

Chapter 120: Chapter 119: The Substitute Eldest Miss 35

Ji Xiaosong was a woman of action. If she said she would give Chu Yuzhe younger brothers and sisters, she would do it.

Four at a time—first the boys, and then girls in the next pregnancy.

That way, the older brothers could look out for their little sisters, and no one would dare bully them.

Five months later, Ji Xiaosong’s pregnancy had stabilized.

Chu Yuzhe came to see Ji Xiaosong every day, though his main purpose was to see his little brothers and sisters.

"Mother, are they little brothers or little sisters?"

"Brothers."

"Will they be very smart?"

"Not necessarily. That’s up to luck."

Ji Xiaosong was right. What kind of children you had was a complete gamble, a matter of luck with no skill involved.

While you could weed out most of the undesirable possibilities by carefully selecting the parents, there was no guarantee how they would turn out, even if raised in the exact same environment.

"Yu Ze, if your little brothers aren’t smart and can’t help you much, what will you do?"

"If they’re not smart, they’re not smart. As long as they’re alive and stay by my side as good, obedient family, that’s fine. And if they really aren’t smart but were still born into the Royal Family, that just means they’re blessed with great fortune. They’ve come into this world to enjoy a life of ease."

As he said this, Ji Xiaosong’s belly suddenly stirred a few times. Chu Yuzhe’s small hand happened to be resting right there, and he felt the movement.

"Mother, did my little brothers hear me?"

Chu Yuzhe’s eyes lit up with excitement, and his little face flushed red.

"Perhaps they did, Yu Ze. Maybe your little brothers are answering you," Ji Xiaosong said, smiling gently.

Chu Yuzhe grew even more excited. He pressed his ear to Ji Xiaosong’s belly and declared, "Little brothers, I’m your big brother! I’ll protect you from now on!"

He then looked up at Ji Xiaosong with an expectant expression. "Mother, can I talk to them some more?"

Ji Xiaosong nodded, and Chu Yuzhe began chattering away again. "Little brothers, when you’re born, I’ll take you to play all the fun games and give you all the best treats. If anyone bullies you, I’ll beat them up and send them running!"

Watching Chu Yuzhe, Ji Xiaosong’s heart filled with warmth and gratification.

’The more power a person has, the fewer emotional attachments they tend to form.’

’Right now, Chu Yuzhe is still a child, full of expectations for his family, so he’s willing to give and receive affection.’

’No matter what happens in the future, as their mother, I just hope all my children can continue to get along.’

After finishing his work on the court memorials, Chu Qingyun made his customary visit to Ji Xiaosong’s palace. Besides managing state affairs and tutoring Chu Yuzhe, he spent nearly all his remaining time with her.

He had no other consorts and no intention of holding a selection for the harem.

It wasn’t that the court officials didn’t want to suggest it; they simply didn’t dare.

For generations, the Chu Family had not held such selections. There was no reason for this generation to be an exception.

If they dared to propose it, they would likely meet the same fate as Imperial Censor Liu.

After all, the current Emperor was by no means a soft-hearted or merciful man.

He was remarkably proficient at having people sacked from behind.

As Chu Qingyun stepped into the palace, he immediately saw Chu Yuzhe lying on Ji Xiaosong’s belly, chattering away.

A small smile played on his lips, his eyes filled with affection. "Yu Ze," he said softly, "don’t tire out your mother."

Hearing his voice, Chu Yuzhe quickly looked up and ran excitedly to Chu Qingyun. "Father! The little brothers moved! They must have heard me!"

Chu Qingyun stroked Chu Yuzhe’s head, his mind drifting back to when Ji Xiaosong was pregnant with Yu Ze himself.

Back then, the Imperial Physician had advised him to speak to the baby in the womb every day, saying it would make the child feel closer to him after birth.

From then on, he had made it a habit to come to Ji Xiaosong’s side each day, whispering to her belly, sharing amusing anecdotes from court or recounting fascinating tales from the common people.

And just as predicted, after Chu Yuzhe was born, he was exceptionally close to his father.

Now, seeing Chu Yuzhe so full of anticipation for his unborn brothers, Chu Qingyun’s heart swelled with pride.

He walked over to sit beside Ji Xiaosong, his gentle gaze falling on her slightly swollen belly. He carefully placed his hand upon it, feeling the rhythm of new life within.

Ji Xiaosong looked at him, smiling. "Yu Ze spoke with his brothers a lot today. The little guy is absolutely thrilled."

Chu Yuzhe chimed in eagerly, "Father, when my brothers are born, I’m going to teach them how to ride and shoot a bow, and I’ll take them to see the lantern festival outside the palace!"

Chu Qingyun smiled and nodded. "Alright. When your brothers are a little older, we’ll all go as a family."

Just then, a eunuch came to report, "Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from the Grand Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

Chu Qingyun took it and read it. It seemed they were planning to return to the Imperial Palace for the Spring Festival to reunite with the family.

For the past few years, the two of them had been traveling far and wide, returning to the Imperial Palace only once or twice a year.

Chu Qingyun’s gaze fell on Ji Xiaosong’s prominently rounded belly, his eyes filled with concern. He gently advised, "Song, why don’t you let the Empress Dowager handle the New Year’s Eve banquet this year? Your body is getting so heavy, and I can’t help but worry it will tire you and the babies."

Ji Xiaosong shook her head slightly, a gentle smile on her face as she explained patiently, "Qingyun, don’t worry so much. I’ve always delegated the palace affairs to the female officials. As the Empress, I just oversee the critical aspects; it doesn’t take much of my energy. The Empress Dowager has only just returned to the palace. She should be enjoying her leisure. If we make her work on the banquet, I’m afraid she’ll think we of the younger generation are being inconsiderate, and it would make her feel awkward."

’She had no intention of letting this go. It was just a pregnancy. If she had to implicitly surrender all her authority, she might not be able to get it back later.’

’Besides, the Empress Dowager has been away from the palace for so long, she might not understand the current management system.’

For Ji Xiaosong, pregnancy was a simple affair.

She nourished the four babies with her Spiritual Power every day, and they were all very placid and well-behaved.

「One month later, the Spring Festival was drawing near.」

The Empress Dowager and the Grand Emperor returned to the palace, and their first act was to visit Chu Yuzhe and Ji Xiaosong.

Chu Yuzhe had just finished his Martial Arts practice and, after changing his clothes, went straight to Ji Xiaosong’s palace.

The moment he entered the palace gates, he shot inside like a cannonball.

"Mother, Mother! Have Imperial Grandmother and Grandfather arrived yet?"

Ji Xiaosong was sitting by the window, flipping through a medical text. Hearing Chu Yuzhe’s urgent voice, she looked up with a gentle smile. Just as she was about to answer, a eunuch’s shrill announcement came from outside: "His Majesty the Grand Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager have arrived—"

Chu Yuzhe’s eyes brightened, and he immediately turned and hurried out to greet them.

He saw the Grand Emperor and the Empress Dowager approaching slowly, surrounded by an entourage of palace maids and eunuchs.

Chu Yuzhe stepped forward and performed a deep, respectful bow. "Grandson greets Grandfather and Imperial Grandmother."

The Empress Dowager’s face was full of affection as she hurried forward to help him up. "My dear grandson, quickly, stand up. Let your Imperial Grandmother have a good look at you."

With that, she took his hand and looked him up and down, her eyes brimming with adoration.

Just then, Ji Xiaosong, supported by a palace maid, came over and curtsied. "Your daughter-in-law pays her respects to the Grand Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager let go of Chu Yuzhe’s hand and hurried to Ji Xiaosong’s side, holding her steady with both hands. She chided gently, "You dear child, with your body so heavy, there’s no need for such formalities. Quickly, sit down."

Everyone went inside and took their seats.

The Grand Emperor looked at Chu Yuzhe and said with a smile, "I hear your Martial Arts have improved greatly. Do you have any new insights? Come, tell your Grandfather."

Hearing this, Chu Yuzhe’s interest was immediately piqued, and he began to speak at length about his thoughts and experiences from his training.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager held Ji Xiaosong’s hand, asking solicitously about her health and the babies’ movements, periodically reminding her to get enough rest and eat her meals on time.

In the end, the Grand Emperor smiled and said, "Now that the Royal Family is growing, we have decided not to leave again. We want to spend more time with you younger ones, to watch Qingyun make his mark at court and contribute to the stability of the realm. I can also offer you some guidance, so that the court may become ever more just under your rule."

"We also want to be here for the birth of our other grandchildren, to enjoy the bliss of family life. We want to personally teach our great-grandchildren to read and write, to ride and shoot, and to pass on the noble traditions and ancestral teachings of the Royal Family."

"Besides, there are many old friends and familiar sights here in the palace. After wandering for so long, our hearts still longed for the Imperial Palace. We only feel at ease now that we’re back. From now on, we will stay here in the palace to watch over you all, and see the Royal Family flourish for generations to come."

Ji Xiaosong’s hand froze. ’What does the Grand Emperor mean by this?’

’Is he planning to take back some of his power?’

’If I remember correctly, while the Grand Emperor and Empress Dowager have spent these years traveling, they’ve also been using my network and influence, whether intentionally or not.’

’Just a few days ago, Zixi informed me that the Grand Emperor had made contact with nearly all of my public-facing spheres of influence.’