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

Chapter 168 The new emperor ascends the throne
On March 20th, a great tragedy struck the nation. Emperor Huiyuan was posthumously honored as Emperor Xiaowen, with the temple name Yuanzong, and was buried in the imperial mausoleum.

The whole nation is in mourning.

Lu Jinshi, who was nearly ten months pregnant, could not go to escort Emperor Huiyuan to the imperial mausoleum, so she could only send her young son Zhang'er along.

Young children are generally not allowed to go to imperial mausoleums, but Lu Jinshi was too physically unable to move around, so he had to send Zhang'er in his place.

Looking back on the short time she spent with Emperor Huiyuan, it was all because of his love for her that he extended all his favor to her.

The only time Emperor Huiyuan blamed her for Rong Yi's accident was simply because he cared too much about his son.

After Rong Shuang woke up, she moved to Shou Kang Palace to live with the Empress Dowager, and is now the Grand Empress Dowager.

Lu Jinshi now lives with Rong Yi in Zichen Palace, and she has no plans to move to Fengkun Palace. Therefore, Rong Shuang should continue to live in Fengkun Palace.

Rong Shuang felt that it was easy to be reminded of people by seeing things in Fengkun Palace.

Secondly, the Empress Dowager is getting old, and Rong Shuang also wants to fulfill her filial duties to Emperor Huiyuan.

Princess Yongjia and the princesses from outside the palace would often bring their children into the palace, making Shou Kang Palace quite lively.

While Lu Jinshi was in the Zichen Palace, he heard someone report that Princess Mingzhu had arrived. Lu Jinshi hurriedly went to the door with his big belly.

When Lu Mingzhu saw Lu Jinshi come out, she said worriedly, "My dear, please slow down. Your belly is so big. You can't be reckless."

"Mother."

Lu Mingzhu hugged Lu Jinshi and said, "Wonderful."

Lu Jinshi looked at Lu Mingzhu and said, "I'm sorry, Rong Yi and I failed to protect His Majesty."

Lu Jinshi knew that although Lu Mingzhu and Emperor Huiyuan were not biological siblings, they had a deep sibling bond.

Lu Mingzhu said, "How can I blame you? This can be considered His Majesty being burdened by the emotional debts from his youth."

"Mother, when are you leaving?"

Lu Mingzhu shook her head and said, "We're not leaving. Tianzhang Academy is now under someone's management, so your father and I will come to Chang'an to stay with you."

"Who is in charge of Tianzhang Academy?" Lu Jinshi asked curiously.

“He Tan”.

Lu Jinshi: "..."

Lu Mingzhu said, "His persistent spirit does have some use."

"Aren't you afraid he'll corrupt the students of Tianzhang Academy?" Lu Jinshi asked.

Lu Mingzhu smiled and said, "If he wants to beg for my forgiveness, he must do something for you and me. I also know that you can't promote He Tan anymore. Why not let your father enter the court? Back when His Majesty was alive, he invited him to the court many times, but he just preferred the mountains and fields. Now, for your sake, he has to work hard in his old age."

Lu Jinshi said, "I've troubled my parents."

Lu Mingzhu smiled and said, "Your father and mother did it voluntarily, so that others wouldn't think you have no one to protect you."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "How could that be? I have the Empress Dowager protecting me, and the Prince An's Mansion..."

"And me," Rong Yi said as he entered from outside. "Mother-in-law."

Lu Mingzhu bowed deeply to Rong Yi, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."

Rong Yi stopped Lu Mingzhu as she knelt down, saying, "Mother, there's no need for such a grand gesture."

Lu Mingzhu said, "Then I'll take my leave now."

Knowing that he would have many more opportunities to see his mother in the future, Lu Jinshi bid her farewell.

Rong Yi stepped forward to support Lu Jinshi and asked, "Was the baby moving a lot today?"

Lu Jinshi said, "Sometimes more frequently than when Huaizhang was a child. Do you think... this child might really be another son?"

Rong Yi touched Lu Jinshi's protruding belly and said, "We'll know the answer soon enough."

After the late emperor was buried in the imperial mausoleum, the court began to discuss Rong Yi's enthronement ceremony.

After all, it was the ascension of a new emperor, and the imperial treasury was now full. It was time to hold a grand enthronement ceremony to announce it to the world. Moreover, the envoys from all over the world who came to attend Emperor Huiyuan's funeral were still in Chang'an.

Rong Yi was reluctant, firstly because it was uncertain when Lu Jinshi would give birth, and secondly because the late emperor had just been buried and he was still grieving. Lu Jinshi, however, upon learning of this, also felt that the enthronement ceremony should be held.

Inside the Zichen Palace, Rong Yi looked at Lu Jinshi and said, "I fear that when I ascend the throne, it will coincide with the time you give birth..."

"You wouldn't be able to help me with childbirth anyway," Lu Jinshi said with a smile.

Rong Yi gripped Lu Jinshi's hand tightly and said, "I want you to ascend to the throne with me."

Lu Jinshi said, "If the enthronement ceremony is held in early April, it doesn't necessarily mean that the child will be born."

Rong Yi said, "That was too dangerous."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "I think the enthronement ceremony is of great importance. You are still quite young and haven't been in the court for very long. An enthronement ceremony can also establish your authority!"

Rong Yi said, "Very well, I will have the Ministry of Rites prepare for the enthronement ceremony."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "The Ministry of Rites and other government offices have probably been preparing for a long time, just waiting for you to ascend the throne."

Rong Yi gently placed his hand on Lu Jinshi's belly, hoping that the child could be born after the coronation ceremony.

The sixth day of the fourth lunar month is an auspicious day according to the Chinese calendar, and it is also a very auspicious day for the new emperor to ascend the throne.

The new emperor's reign title was Jingning Emperor.

Before dawn, Lu Jinshi and Rong Yi went to the ancestral temple to pay respects to their ancestors.

Since the founding of the Great Sheng Dynasty, there had never been a rule that the emperor and empress would enter the ancestral temple together. The imperial relatives, officials of the Ministry of Rites, and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies were all sweating profusely, but dared not step forward to say anything, since the empress looked like she was about to give birth at any moment.

Once the rules are broken, they can't bring it up again.

After leaving the ancestral temple, Lu Jinshi and Rong Yi rode together in a dragon-drawn carriage carried by sixteen men to the outside of the Taiji Palace.

The main hall was already filled with civil and military officials.

The imperial carriage, carried by the sons of noble families, ascended the steps until it reached the outside of the Taiji Palace.

After Rong Yi stepped down from the imperial carriage, he took Lu Jinshi's hand and they looked down at the officials kneeling outside the main hall, as well as the envoys from foreign lands.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the new Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The roar of "Long live the Emperor!" was like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing against the sky.

Rong Yi looked at the dragon throne in the Taiji Palace, then turned to Lu Jinshi and said, "Come in with me?"

"Ah."

Seeing the hesitant expressions on the faces of the old ministers beside her, Lu Jinshi simply smiled. Although she was pregnant today, she was able to sit and stand with Rong Yi.

But as long as these old ministers do not obstruct her today, once that rule is broken, she will be able to sit and stand with Rong Yi from now on.

As soon as Lu Jinshi sat down on the dragon throne with Rong Yi, she touched her belly and said, "Rong Yi, I think... I'm about to give birth."

Rong Yi quickly gestured with his eyes to the Minister of Rites standing to the side.

The Minister of Rites, understanding the unspoken message, said, "Now that the enthronement ceremony is complete, all officials shall proceed to the Huihai Palace for the palace banquet."

Rong Yi then picked up Lu Jinshi and carried her towards the Zichen Palace. Lu Jinshi said, "Don't go to the Zichen Palace. After I give birth, there will definitely be a bloody smell. You definitely can't stay in the Zichen Palace anymore."

Rong Yi smiled and said, "It's not like it's the first child, so naturally I don't care about these bloody and unlucky sayings."

Rong Yi carried Lu Jinshi into the bedchamber of Zichen Palace, where the midwife and imperial physician had already made preparations.

Lu Jinshi lay on the bed, feeling unbearable pain.

Lu Jinshi looked at Rong Yi beside him and said, "You can leave."

Rong Yi said, "I'll stay by your side."

"No, I don't want you to see me at my ugliest. Get out of here."

Lu Mingzhu, who had just entered, bowed to Rong Yi and said, "Your Majesty, please go out. I'll take care of things here."

Upon hearing this, Rong Yi had no choice but to go out. Listening to Lu Jinshi's cries of pain from outside, he couldn't help but feel very anxious.

Although it wasn't his first child, Rong Yi was still extremely nervous.