Chương 758: News of Pregnancy Spreads Widely

Startled, Xu Jingxian quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling both embarrassed and anxious. She gently patted his shoulder, her face flushed red.

"Husband! Put me down quickly! Father and Mother are still here! Be careful of the child!"

"What's there to be afraid of!" Liu Chen ignored him completely, and happily spun around again, his laughter making the cups tremble slightly.

"I'm so happy! I'm just so happy! I, Liu Chen, have a son!"

After spinning her around three or four times, he carefully put her down, holding her waist firmly with both hands as if protecting a rare treasure, afraid that she might lose her balance.

She looked down at her still flat stomach, her eyes so tender they could melt, and murmured to herself as if talking to her child:

"My dear, you've finally arrived. Daddy has been waiting for you for so long... From now on, Daddy will definitely pamper you, make you the best rocking horse, take you horseback riding and archery, and buy you the most delicious sugar figurines in all of Luoyang..."

Xu Jingxian blushed deeply under his gaze, gently nudged him, and laughed shyly.

"Husband, watch your manners. Father and Mother are watching. How old are you? Why are you still so impulsive?"

Liu Chen then looked up and saw his father and mother smiling at him. He felt a little embarrassed and scratched the back of his head, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

He chuckled twice, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said to Liu Ce:

"Father, I've heard that when you found out Mother was pregnant with me, you were even more excited than I was! You jumped around with joy and even ran three laps around the military camp, right?"

Liu Ce was drinking tea when he heard this and almost spat it out.

He slammed down his teacup, glared at Crown Prince Liu Chen, and said with a laugh:

"You brat, where did you hear these ridiculous rumors? How dare you make up stories about your father like that?"

I was completely unfazed back then, acting like nothing had happened. It wasn't that exaggerated.

Cai Yan, standing to the side, laughed so hard she covered her mouth, and immediately added insult to injury, showing no mercy whatsoever:

"It's not a rumor. Back then, your dad was much crazier than you are now."

After finding out I was pregnant, he ran around the barracks three times a day for the next few days, telling everyone he met, "I have a son," until the whole camp knew.

"Madam!" Liu Ce was both amused and exasperated, his face turning red.

"Why are you undermining me? I'm just young, it's my first time being a father, what's wrong with being a little excited?"

Besides, who isn't excited when they become a father for the first time? It's perfectly normal.

Laughter erupted in the hall, even Xu Jingxian covered her mouth and laughed out loud, while the palace maids in the corners of the hall lowered their heads and chuckled secretly.

The warm yellow palace lanterns illuminated the figures inside the hall, filling the room with an overwhelming festive atmosphere. Even the breeze blowing in from the window carried a sweet scent.

The news of the Crown Princess's pregnancy spread like wildfire, reaching the entire palace in less than half a day.

This is the first grandchild of the royal family, an incredibly joyous and precious occasion.

The concubines in each palace were not to be outdone, and they all prepared gifts and rushed to the East Palace, showing even more concern than if they were pregnant themselves.

Zhang Ning was the first to arrive.

As soon as she entered the main hall of the East Palace, she quickly walked to Xu Jingxian's side, took her hand, and began to chatter on and on, as if she wanted to impart all her lifelong experience in ensuring a safe pregnancy to her:

"Princess Consort, congratulations! These first three months are the most precious, so you must not overexert yourself."

You absolutely cannot do any heavy work. When bending over or squatting, do it slowly to avoid straining yourself. Walk slowly too, don't rush, or you might fall and cause serious injury.

"You also have to be careful about what you eat. You can't touch anything cold like crab, hawthorn, or purslane. You can't even smell musk or safflower. No one in the palace is allowed to bring these things in."

Later, I'll have a palace maid bring you my prenatal care recipe book. Follow it exactly, it's foolproof; it was all tested and proven when I was pregnant myself.

"Don't sleep on your stomach at night; try to lie on your left side, it's better for the baby. If you get leg cramps at night, ask His Highness the Crown Prince to massage them for you, don't try to tough it out."

If he dares not to rub it, tell me, and I'll go find the Empress to deal with him.

As she spoke, she waved her hand, and the palace maids brought out the things they had brought: Old ginseng, donkey-hide gelatin, and a box of rare dried fruits and candied fruits—all nourishing and appetite-stimulating items—were the good stuff she had saved up during her pregnancy.

Xu Jingxian quickly thanked her, her face still slightly flushed: "Thank you for your concern, Aunt Ning. You've gone to so much trouble."

"Don't mention it." Zhang Ning waved his hand and laughed heartily.

"We're all family. Just focus on getting better and don't worry about anything."

Liu Chen stood to the side, like a student attentively listening to a lecture. He nodded after each sentence Zhang Ning spoke, and even turned to the eunuch beside him to say:

"Did you hear me? Write it all down, not a single one can be missed. From now on, the Crown Prince's Palace will follow this procedure. Anyone who dares to violate it will have their salary docked."

The eunuch quickly took out his notebook and scribbled down notes, writing them neatly and carefully, even including the rule "cannot eat crab legs".

Following her was Zhen Jiang.

She was gentle by nature and had the most skillful hands; she brought a stack of small embroidered items she had made herself.

The red bib embroidered with little tigers, the socks embroidered with lotus flowers, and the palm-sized little cape and hat, all with fine stitches, soft and cuddly, are incredibly cute.

The tiger's eyes were embroidered so perfectly round, they looked just like the real thing.

"I embroidered this when I had nothing else to do. I didn't even know if it was for a boy or a girl, so I embroidered a little bit of both," Zhen Jiang said with a smile, her voice gentle and soft.

"Although it's still early, let's prepare first. When the baby is a little more pregnant, I'll make some more clothes and blankets for the baby, all made of the softest cotton fabric so they won't irritate the skin."

Xu Jingxian picked it up and examined it from all angles, clearly smitten. Her fingertips touched the soft fabric, and her eyes lit up.

"Aunt Jiang, you have such skillful hands! It looks so beautiful. Thank you so much, Aunt Jiang, for your trouble."

Later, many more concubines arrived, some bringing fresh fruit, including lychees and longans that had just been transported from the south.

Some people gave herbal medicines to help with pregnancy, all of which were top-quality old ginseng and deer antler; others gave her handwritten scriptures on pregnancy protection, saying they could ensure a safe pregnancy.

In the side hall of the East Palace, gifts were piled up like a small mountain, almost overflowing.

Liu Chen stayed by the Crown Princess's side the whole time, taking whatever anyone offered him first, afraid of tiring her out; If anyone spoke too loudly, he would quickly give them a look and shush them, afraid of disturbing the baby in his belly.

The way he protected his child even made an old nanny who had served in the palace for decades secretly laugh. She said to the maid next to her:

"Look at His Highness the Crown Prince, he looks very robust, but when he dotes on his wife, he is incredibly tender and considerate."

Even His Majesty's affection for the Empress back then wasn't this great. Both father and son are the type to dote on their wives.

People celebrated in the streets and alleys, and the candied hawthorns were coated with an extra layer of sugar.

The palace was bustling with activity, and things were just as lively outside.

The birth of a member in the royal family can never be kept secret.

Before the next morning, the news of the Crown Princess's pregnancy had spread throughout the entire capital city of Luoyang, and even the villages outside the city had heard about it.

As soon as the city gates opened, people started chatting in the streets and alleys, just like during the New Year.

Uncle Wang, who sells soy milk, ladled bowls for customers while cheerfully talking in a loud voice that could be heard throughout the street:

"Have you heard? The Crown Princess is pregnant! Our Great Han Dynasty is going to have its first imperial grandson!"

Good heavens, this is truly a cause for celebration! Our Han Dynasty has been getting better and better these past few years!

The customer took a bite of the meat bun, his eyes lit up, and he mumbled through his mouth, "..."

"Really? This is wonderful news! His Highness the Crown Prince is wise and His Highness the Crown Princess is kind and benevolent. This child is sure to be blessed!"

Our lives as ordinary people will definitely get better and better!

"Of course!" Uncle Wang's hands clenched even tighter as he scooped the soy milk.

"Add an extra half spoonful of sugar to the soy milk today! To share in the royal festive spirit!"

The teahouse was even more lively.