Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

The 18th day of the eighth month in the fifth year of Jinghe.

Five months have passed since Bao'er's spirit was exhausted and she recovered.

A lot has happened in these five months—

The reconstruction efforts in Jiangnan following the disaster have been successfully completed.

Three hundred thousand disaster victims returned to their homes, the imperial court allocated one million taels of silver, and the people donated countless amounts of grain, yet not a single person starved to death.

The people erected a monument in gratitude, saying, "The prosperous and peaceful era begins from this point."

The new king of Xiling, Batur, sent envoys to the capital.

We offer a thousand fine horses and a hundred snow lotuses.

And a handwritten letter was sent, which said:

"The sacred beast, the snow leopard, often crouches on the mountaintop, gazing eastward, presumably longing for that young prince from the Central Plains."

Xiao Jue guarded the northern border, and the border was peaceful.

Occasionally, secret letters would arrive, containing only a few words.

In the end, there is always a line: "Your subject is in the northern border, and wishes Your Majesty and Your Highness well."

Jinxiu Huangfang has branches all over the world.

Qian Sihai became the richest man in the capital, yet he still personally checked the accounts every day, meticulous in every detail.

He said, "Your Majesty has entrusted such a large estate to me; I cannot fail you."

Under Mo Shisan's leadership, the Sihai Commercial Information Bureau became the largest commercial information agency in the world.

It is said that even overseas merchant ships had to spend money to buy a copy of the "Commercial Information from All Over the World" before daring to unload their cargo at the port.

everything is fine.

It's so good—it feels almost unreal.

-

August 19th, early morning.

Kunning Palace.

When Shen Qingci got up, she suddenly felt nauseous.

She leaned against the bedpost and gagged a few times.

Jinshu turned pale with fright: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, what's wrong? This servant will go and summon the imperial physician!"

"Don't make a fuss," Shen Qingci waved her hand. "It's probably just because you ate too much last night..."

Before I could finish speaking, another wave of nausea washed over me.

Jinshu has already run away.

-

Half an hour later.

After taking the pulse, Physician Chen's expression was... quite interesting.

First, I was shocked.

Then came disbelief.

Then came ecstasy.

Finally, he knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face:

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"Her Majesty is pregnant!"

Shen Qingci was stunned.

Jinshu screamed and covered her mouth.

Shen Qingci lowered her head and looked at her still flat stomach.

Is she pregnant?

Another one?

She reached out and gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

There, you can't feel anything yet.

But she knew that a tiny life was being conceived there.

This time—

It's not the Cold Palace.

It's not poison.

It's not a dead end.

This time—

It was in the sunlight.

It is in love.

-

When the news reached the Imperial Study, Nangong Ye was reviewing memorials.

Xuan Ying rushed in, his face beaming with joy:

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Great joy!"

Nangong Ye didn't even look up: "What's the good news? Another bumper harvest in Jiangnan?"

"No! It's Her Majesty the Empress—Her Majesty is pregnant!"

"Clatter".

The imperial brush fell onto the memorial, staining it red.

Nangong Ye slowly raised his head.

His expression was completely blank.

"What...what did you say?"

"Her Majesty is pregnant! Physician Chen just diagnosed it!"

Nangong Ye slowly stood up.

He slowly sat down again.

He stood up again.

He walked back and forth a couple of steps, then suddenly stopped.

Xuan Ying looked at him cautiously: "Your Majesty? Are you alright?"

Nangong Ye took a deep breath.

Then--

"Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

He laughed loudly, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm going to be a father again! I'm going to be a father again!!"

He rushed out, with Xuan Ying chasing after him, shouting, "Your Majesty! Shoes! You're not wearing shoes!"

Nangong Ye had already disappeared.

-

Kunning Palace.

When Nangong Ye rushed in, Shen Qingci was leaning against the soft couch, holding a cup of medicine to prevent miscarriage.

"Qingci!!"

He lunged at me, nearly knocking the medicine over.

Shen Qingci reacted quickly, protecting the medicine bowl: "What are you doing?"

Nangong Ye squatted down in front of her, his eyes shining brightly as he stared unblinkingly at her lower abdomen.

"Really? You're really pregnant?"

Shen Qingci felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and gently nudged him: "It's true. Physician Chen just examined me."

Nangong Ye reached out his hand, wanting to touch it, but not daring to, leaving it suspended in mid-air.

"May I...may I touch it?"

Shen Qingci couldn't help but laugh at his cautious manner.

"Touch it."

Nangong Ye's hand gently rested on her lower abdomen.

The area remains flat.

But his expression was as devout as if he were caressing a rare treasure.

"Qingci..." he murmured, "Our child is here..."

Shen Qingci looked at him, her heart melting completely.

"Yes," she said softly, "your child."

Nangong Ye looked up, his eyes already red.

"I...I will protect you all this time." He held her hand tightly, "I won't leave your side for even a moment."

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow: "Not leaving even for a moment? What about attending court?"

Nangong Ye thought for a moment: "Let them come to Kunning Palace for court."

Shen Qingci: "..."

-

Nangong Ye kept his word.

The next morning, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was deserted.

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Where is His Majesty?"

"I don't know..."

"This...this means we're not even going to court anymore?"

A palace attendant rushed over: "My lords, His Majesty has decreed that, starting today, court assemblies will be held in a side hall of the Kunning Palace!"

Officials: "..."

-

Side hall of Kunning Palace.

Shen Qingci leaned back on the soft couch, holding a book in her hand.

Nangong Ye sat next to her, with a pile of memorials in front of him, but he didn't turn a single page for a long time.

His eyes kept glancing towards Shen Qingci.

"What are you looking at?" Shen Qingci asked without looking up.

"Looking at you," Nangong Ye said matter-of-factly. "Is it not allowed for me to look at you?"

"Have you finished approving the memorials?"

"……not yet."

"Then why don't you hurry up and approve it?"

Nangong Ye lowered his head, turned two pages, and then looked up again.

"Qingci, are you thirsty? I'll pour you some water."

"I'm not thirsty."

"Are you hungry? Shall I have the imperial kitchen prepare something to eat?"

I'm not hungry.

"Are you tired? Do you want to lean on me for a while?"

"Nangong Ye." Shen Qingci finally put down her book and looked at him. "If you keep doing this, I'll kick you out."

Nangong Ye immediately sat up straight: "I am reviewing memorials, very seriously."

Just as he finished speaking, an announcement came from outside:

"The Minister of Revenue requests an audience!"

Nangong Ye frowned: "Let him in."

The Minister of Revenue entered and was about to speak when he noticed that His Majesty's eyes kept glancing towards the Empress, and he didn't even realize that he was holding the memorial upside down.

"Ahem." The Minister coughed lightly. "Your Majesty?"

Nangong Ye snapped out of his daze: "Huh? What did you say?"

The Minister of Works: "..."

The Minister reluctantly finished explaining the matter, and Nangong Ye hastily approved it with a "yes" before sending the man away.

Next, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Rites...

Every official who came in to report saw an absent-minded emperor and an empress leisurely reading a book.

And the bizarre scene where the emperor would ask, "Qingci, are you thirsty?" "Qingci, are you hungry?" "Qingci, do you want to take a walk?" every half cup of tea.

Finally, Shen Qingci couldn't take it anymore.

"Nangong Ye," she put down her book, "go to court."

"I am on top."

"Is this a court session?" Shen Qingci pointed at the helpless officials. "Look at them, their faces have turned green."

Nangong Ye looked at the ministers, and indeed they all looked ashen-faced.

"Then... shall I go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony?" he asked tentatively.

"go."

"and you……"

"I have Jinshu, I have Eunuch Li, I have everyone in Kunning Palace." Shen Qingci looked at him. "I'm fine."

Nangong Ye hesitated for a moment.

"Then I...I will go and return immediately!"

He got up, took two steps, then turned back:

"Don't move! Lie down! Lie still!"

"understood."

"If you're thirsty, ask someone to pour you water!"

"understood."

"You must eat something when you're hungry!"

"knew!"

"I'll be back soon!"

"...Run!"

-

Nangong Ye finally left.

Shen Qingci breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back on the soft couch.

Jinshu smiled and brought over a plate of fruit: "Your Majesty, His Majesty is just too nervous."

"You're being too nervous." Shen Qingci rubbed her temples. "If this continues, the administration of the court will be neglected."

"That's because His Majesty cares about the Empress," Jinshu said with a smile. "This servant has never seen His Majesty like this before."

Shen Qingci remained silent for a moment.

But the corners of her mouth subtly curved upwards.

-

In the days that followed, Nangong Ye's "anxiety disorder" not only did not improve, but became more and more serious.

She wasn't allowed to walk too much—her daily walk time was strictly controlled.

She was not allowed to look at the memorials for too long—they were confiscated every half hour.

He forbade her to worry about anything—he even hid the account books of Jinxiufang.

She mustn't—

"Nangong Ye!" Shen Qingci finally exploded, "I'm pregnant, not disabled!"

Nangong Ye shrank back: "I know... I just..."

"Just what?"

"It's just..." He walked over and gently hugged her, "I'm just scared."

Shen Qingci was stunned.

"I'm afraid of losing you again," he whispered in her ear.

"When you were pregnant with our baby last time, I wasn't by your side."

You were poisoned, bullied, and nearly died in a fire in the cold palace…

"I didn't know back then. I was a bastard."

"But now I know. I can no longer leave you alone."

Shen Qingci felt a mix of sadness and tenderness in her heart as she listened to his words.

She reached out and hugged him back.

"Ah Ye," she said softly, "this time is different."

"You're here this time."

"This time, my child and I are both fine."

Nangong Ye hugged her tightly.

"Yes," he said. "I'm here."

"I have always been here."

-

September 1st.

early morning.

Shen Anbang stepped forward and knelt down:

"Your Majesty, this old minister has something to report."

Nangong Ye: "Speak."

"These days, Your Majesty has been staying in Kunning Palace every day, which inevitably leads to some delays in state affairs."

Shen Anbang paused for a moment,

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you prioritize state affairs and temporarily entrust the administration of the court to the cabinet, where this old minister and several senior ministers may jointly manage it."

Nangong Ye frowned: "You mean, I should stop interfering in state affairs?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not," Shen Anbang kowtowed. "What I mean is that Your Majesty can focus on accompanying the Empress in her pregnancy. We are willing to share Your Majesty's burdens with the trivial matters of the court."

Nangong Ye paused for a moment.

He knew Shen Anbang meant well.

I also know that I've been a bit...overly stressed lately.

"Granted," he said. "From today onward, the Cabinet will handle state affairs, and may report major matters to me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

-

After the court session ended.

Kunning Palace.

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow at Nangong Ye after hearing about this:

"Are you willing to relinquish control?"

Nangong Ye sat down beside her and held her hand.

"It's not delegating authority," he said. "It's distraction."

"With your father and those senior officials in charge, there won't be any major mistakes in matters of state."

"But on your side..." He looked at her, his eyes gentle as water, "only I am here."

Shen Qingci looked at him.

Looking at this tyrant who once thought himself the only one who mattered and trusted no one.

Now, however, he is willing to give up power just to stay by her side.

She leaned gently on his shoulder.

"Ah Ye".

"Um?"

"Thank you."

Nangong Ye lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you... for becoming like this."

Nangong Ye smiled.

"I should thank you," he said. "You're the one who made me this way."

Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.

It's like a ten-month pregnancy; it's still growing.

He walked slowly beside her.

-

In the distance, Bao'er was perched by the door, peeking out with her little head.

"Aunt Jinshu," he asked softly, "why is Father holding Mother the whole time?"

Jinshu covered her mouth and laughed: "Because Mommy has a baby in her belly."

Bao'er's eyes widened: "Little baby? Where?"

"In my mother's womb."

Bao'er ran over, leaned close to Shen Qingci's lower abdomen, and listened carefully.

Then, he looked up, his face serious:

"Mother, there's nothing inside."

Shen Qingci chuckled: "Not yet, it will take several months."

"How long will Bao'er have to wait?"

"Wait until the Chinese New Year."

Bao'er thought for a moment and nodded:

"Then Bao'er will prepare gifts for her younger siblings!"

Nangong Ye asked curiously, "What gift are you preparing?"

Bao'er said earnestly, "Bao'er successfully grew the snow lotus that the snow leopard gave me! I'll give it to my younger brother and sister later!"

Shen Qingci and Nangong Ye exchanged a glance and both smiled.

"Okay." Shen Qingci rubbed his head. "Then your younger brother and sister will definitely like it."

Bao'er nodded in satisfaction and ran out to play again.

Sunlight streamed into the courtyard.

The laughter carried far.

[End of this episode]

Next episode preview: Ten months of pregnancy, one day of childbirth. Nangong Ye paced anxiously outside the delivery room, even grabbing Xiao Jue, who had rushed to visit, and asking, "Have you ever given birth before?" Xiao Jue replied expressionlessly: "Your Majesty... has never given birth." Inside the delivery room, a baby's cry echoed through the sky!