CHAPTER 458: CHAPTER 458: COMPANION CANDIDATE

"Being able to sleep is a good thing. Look at your belly, it’s as if it’s inflated."

Indeed, it was like that.

During the first five months of her pregnancy, she was always worried about this and anxious about that.

So the child was not only small but also somewhat quiet.

But since New Year’s Eve, when Second Madam Mrs. Yun took over the care of her pregnancy,

her body gradually became fuller.

Along with this, her belly seemed to have been inflated, swelling up considerably.

The fetal movement also became more active than before.

This change made Lin Wanyi happy, so she indulged herself even more.

Thus, she slept more as well.

She also ate a lot more.

She thought she might gain weight, but it turned out to be another case of the baby growing without her getting fat.

Her face looked a little rounder than before, but her arms and legs remained as slender as ever.

From behind, one probably wouldn’t be able to tell she was pregnant.

Sitting up straight, Lin Wanyi finally spoke.

"Where are the children? It’s almost time for lunch, isn’t it? Just have them come over."

Xia An heard this and immediately replied to Lin Wanyi.

"Madam, the Emperor has come and is accompanying them in the left wing."

Lin Wanyi was a bit surprised.

She didn’t expect the Emperor to come at this time, and thinking about how she had slept until now, she felt a bit shy.

She immediately instructed.

"Quick, help me freshen up, I want to go see them."

"Yes."

Freshening up was actually quite simple.

Lin Wanyi didn’t like using makeup, so after washing, she applied some fragrant dew that wouldn’t harm the child.

She changed into clothes that were a bit lighter.

This was because she felt hotter due to the pregnancy.

Therefore, she didn’t need to wrap herself up tightly.

Xia An was supporting her and was just about to go out when she saw the Emperor bringing the children in.

As soon as he saw her, he knew what she was about to do.

He frowned slightly and said.

"Why not put on another layer? Going out like this, aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?"

Lin Wanyi smiled and gave up the idea of going out.

She went back to the main hall with the Emperor and the children.

As they walked, she said.

"It’s fine, since I’m pregnant, I feel much warmer. Wearing this is just right for going out."

The Emperor knew that Lin Wanyi wasn’t one to act strong.

Since she said so, naturally, there wouldn’t be any problem.

So he took her hand, intending to warm it up.

But he found that his hand wasn’t as warm as hers, so he gave up his idea.

The children came out from behind the Emperor and lined up neatly in front of Lin Wanyi to greet her.

"Greetings, Mother Concubine."

Their soft voices warmed Lin Wanyi’s already gentle heart.

With her eyebrows curved, the maternal kindness in her expression was more prominent than before.

"Alright, get up, all of you. Since I’ve been lazy and sleeping lately, shall we do some papercutting this afternoon?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Hearing this, the children all became happy.

Their young voices dispelled any fatigue, and the Emperor, looking at Lin Wanyi and the children, temporarily forgot many worries.

Then, the family enjoyed a lively lunch.

Once the children were sent off for their afternoon nap, the Emperor and Lin Wanyi finally had a moment to sit and talk.

The Emperor looked at her significantly larger belly, feeling somewhat relieved.

He reached out and touched it.

"How is it? Is he being good?"

Lin Wanyi shook her head, coquettishly replied.

"When he was calm before, I hoped he would move more, but now that he’s started to move, I wish he would be calm. He moves several times a day, sometimes waking me up with a kick even when I’m asleep."

She spoke with a trace of playful complaint.

"Movement is good; it means the child is healthy. By the time he’s born, the issue of the Northwest conflict should have an outcome."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Lin Wanyi’s face faded slightly.

She asked.

"Your Majesty, does Godfather have confidence in going to the Northwest?"

Twenty thousand against sixty thousand—a tough battle by any measure.

Moreover, the Northwest Army wasn’t just an assembly of sixty thousand random soldiers.

So Lin Wanyi was uncertain about whether the battle could be won.

And she dared not think about what would happen if they lost.

The Emperor sensed her concern and held her hand, saying.

"Since I dare to make a move against the Marquis of Northwest, I’ve anticipated Liu Qilin’s actions. Now that he’s declared himself king, it saves me the trouble of branding him a traitor. Just wait, Fourth Prince Uncle has a way to bring him to submission!"

The Emperor’s confident tone reassured Lin Wanyi a lot.

After thinking, it made sense.

The Emperor wasn’t someone to act impulsively.

Dealing with the Marquis of Northwest and dividing the Northwest Army wasn’t something arranged in a day or two.

Over ten years of preparation must have been thoroughly planned before taking action.

Thinking of this, she wasn’t quite as uneasy.

"Mm, then I’ll prepare victory wine to give to Godfather when he returns."

Speaking of this victory wine reminded the Emperor of the green plum wine she brewed when she first entered the palace.

He said.

"When you’re out of confinement, brew me a nice pot of green plum wine. It really tasted good."

Lin Wanyi didn’t expect him to mention this suddenly.

Though surprised, she agreed.

In May or June, she would be due to give birth.

If the green plums could be obtained earlier, perhaps she could start brewing a bit sooner.

Thinking of some peaceful tasks, she felt calmer.

But immediately, the Emperor’s words left her a little amused and exasperated.

"The most important thing now is for the Fifth Prince to learn more discipline. Today when I came, he kept calling ’good sister,’ as if he might become someone who indulges in beauty in the future, what would become of the Great Wei Dynasty then?"

"Good sister?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Wanyi recalled.

Recently, she and the nannies often said the Second Princess had grown up a lot and acted like a good sister.

Perhaps the little one heard and remembered it.

Not only that, he started mimicking it.

But instead of succeeding, he messed it up, causing this joke?

Lin Wanyi chuckled quietly.

Nonetheless, she agreed with the Emperor’s words.

"Mm, it’s indeed time for him to be more restrained, not to act like a wild horse, causing trouble here and there all day long."

"The choice for Grand Tutor isn’t easy, but I’ve found someone suitable to accompany him in his studies."

"Oh? Who is it?"

"Scholar Zeng’s legitimate second son, Zeng Konghou."

Lin Wanyi was not very familiar with the matter of selecting an accompanying tutor for the Princes, so she had no objections to the Emperor’s decision.

Seeing Lin Wanyi’s reaction, the Emperor went on to explain.

"He’s quite the favored one; back when choosing an accompanying tutor for the Second and Third Princes, many thought he was the most likely choice. But by coincidence, he broke his leg, so he went back home to recuperate."

"Broke his leg?"

Lin Wanyi was a bit startled.