My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 144 It Might Not Be a Male Fetus

Upon hearing this, Lu Jinshi frowned and looked at Prince Qi opposite him. Lu Jinshi didn't know where he had offended this Prince Qi.

Last time during the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was this Prince Qi who suggested that Rong Yi select a concubine.

It's him again now.

However, compared to the last Mid-Autumn Festival, many people at today's palace banquet were also pandering to His Highness Prince Qi.

“Your Majesty, I believe that what Prince Qi said makes sense. The Crown Princess’s pregnancy is a great blessing, but there is no one in the Eastern Palace to serve His Highness the Crown Prince. It is only right that a concubine and a concubine be selected to serve His Highness the Crown Prince.”

"Yes, the Crown Princess is pregnant and should take good care of herself. I also believe that it is only right to select candidates for His Highness the Crown Prince."

Rong Yi said, "I have just entered the Eastern Palace and the court. I am busy with official duties and have no time to select candidates."

The King of Qi said, "Your Highness, if you are too busy to select candidates, I am willing to serve you."

“I appreciate your kindness, Sixth Brother, but there’s no need for the selection of concubines,” Rong Yi said, looking coldly at Prince Qi.

King Qi was about to say something more when his wife, with a dark expression, pulled his sleeve and made him sit down.

Although Lu Jinshi felt a little nauseous, after learning that it was morning sickness, she ate a little bit of appetizing sweet and sour dishes.

Princess Jin, standing to the side, glanced at Lu Jinshi and chuckled, "The Crown Princess loves sour food; this baby is sure to be a boy."

Lu Jinshi: "...Those who eat sour things are not necessarily male fetuses."

Princess Jin's expression changed when she saw Lu Jinshi, and she only gave a wry smile and said, "Indeed, it may not be a boy."

The Empress Dowager at the head of the table chuckled and said, "The royal family is having a series of happy events. Princess Consort of Jin, you should also make the most of this time, as your Prince Jin's mansion now only has one child."

Princess Jin smiled shyly and said, "Yes, Grandmother."

After the palace banquet ended.

Lu Jinshi and Rong Yi returned to the East Palace's sleeping quarters. Lu Jinshi then complained to Rong Yi, "What's wrong with your sixth brother? Why is he involved in every talent show?"

Rong Yi said, "His own queen is jealous. Because his concubine is pregnant, she treats him with disdain. His queen comes from his mother's family, so they are cousins. He doesn't dare to offend his queen, so he can only drag me down with him."

Lu Jinshi frowned slightly upon hearing the word "jealousy" and said, "Jealousy only comes from caring. If a woman in this world truly loves her husband, how could she be willing to share him with others? Prince Qi does not respect his own queen, and now he wants you to participate in the imperial concubine selection. He is truly ashamed to be a man."

Rong Yi said, "Yes, you're right."

Lu Jinshi saw Xiao Zhang'er come over after waking up from her afternoon nap, so she picked up the newly awakened Xiao Zhang'er and put her little hand on her stomach, saying, "Zhang'er, you're going to have a little sister."

Xiao Zhang'er mimicked Lu Jinshi's words, saying, "Sister!"

Lu Jinshi looked up at Rong Yi and smiled, "Even Zhang'er says she's my younger sister."

Rong Yi sat down next to Lu Jinshi and pulled her and Zhang'er into his arms, saying, "It's a pity that you'll have to owe me your birthday gift today."

Lu Jinshi raised her eyes and gave Rong Yi a sharp look, saying, "Isn't this birthday gift good enough for me since I'm pregnant?"

Rong Yi smiled and said, "Okay."
-
Late September.

The weather had really turned cold. Because she was less than three months pregnant, Lu Jinshi was "confined" to the Eastern Palace by the Empress Dowager and Emperor Huiyuan.

After all, the fetus in her womb was not yet three months old.
The Empress Dowager feared that it wouldn't be appropriate for Lu Jinshi to travel back and forth between the academy and the carriage, so she forbade her from going to Lingxiao Academy until her unborn child was three months along. Lu Jinshi couldn't disobey the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's orders on this matter, so she obediently complied.

Fortunately, she had just entered the Eastern Palace and had many duties to attend to, but she also had a room full of books, which was enough for her to read when she was bored.

Lu Jinshi had been staying in the palace's backyard these days and hadn't heard anything about what was happening outside. However, he could occasionally hear some palace maids and eunuchs whispering about how His Majesty's headache was getting worse.

On this day, on his way back to the East Palace from Shou Kang Palace, Lu Jinshi also heard that His Majesty's headache was getting worse.

They returned to the East Palace.

Qiaozhen stepped forward and reported, "Your Highness, the Second Madam of the He family outside said that she has learned of your pregnancy and wants to come and see you to bring you some things..."

Lu Jinshi frowned slightly and said, "If any member of the He family comes to the Eastern Palace to request an audience in the future, they shall be refused entry."

Qiaozhen replied, "Yes."

Lu Jinshi admired the He family members. They had treated her like that before, yet they still had the nerve to come to the East Palace. It was truly because she was too kind-hearted and hadn't punished the He family properly.

Outside the East Palace Gate.

Upon receiving the message from the eunuch inside, the guards addressed the Second Madam of the He family and He Jiayi outside the palace gates, saying, "Get out! Her Highness the Crown Princess has no relatives like you. Do not cause any more trouble in front of the Eastern Palace!"

Madam He frowned as she watched the guards drive them away with their spears. "We are, after all, the Crown Princess's family. How can she be so unfilial, disowning even her own elders?"

He Jiayi tugged at the sleeve of the second wife of the He family and said, "Mother, let it go."

As He Jiayi left the palace gates, the second wife of the He family frowned and said, "Now your status is different, after all. You will be the future wife of the Marquis of Anyuan. Does He Jinshi really think that she has grown so powerful that she doesn't need the help of the He family sisters anymore?"

He Jiayi smiled and said, "Stepmother, never mind. He Jinshi is probably also having a headache because of His Highness the Crown Prince's upcoming selection of concubines."

As the Crown Princess is pregnant, Lu Jinshi will inevitably have to participate in the selection of concubines for the Crown Prince. Based on Lu Jinshi's previous ideas of bringing her hometown over, she will definitely not want the Crown Prince to participate in the selection of concubines.

He Jiayi was just waiting to see Lu Jinshi make a fool of himself.

After all, she had advised Lu Jinshi for a long time to adapt to the world instead of becoming a hedgehog in it.

"His Majesty seems to have missed court for three days in a row, hasn't he?"

"I've heard that His Majesty's health is getting weaker and weaker."

As Madam He and He Jiayi walked towards the He family home, they overheard the whispers of the people along the roadside.

Madam He whispered to He Jiayi, "Is His Majesty really in trouble? If something happens to His Majesty, your wedding will probably have to be postponed for another year, and who knows what other changes might occur?"

He Jiayi said respectfully, "Stepmother, if His Majesty really has an accident, then there is no need to worry about the marriage changing. Would Marquis Anyuan dare to break off the engagement with the Empress's sister?"

Madam He chuckled and said, "You're right."
-
Inside the Taiji Palace.

When the Prince of Yan entered, he saw Emperor Huiyuan, disheveled and holding a sword, shouting, "Medicine! Where is my medicine!"

"Third brother, hurry, quickly give me the medicine!"

Prince Yan looked at the barefoot, disheveled Emperor Huiyuan before him, his usual imperial majesty nowhere to be seen, and chuckled softly, "Father... you may want the medicine, but it is extremely rare... I have gone to great lengths to find it..."