Lady Hua was playing with the Crown Prince when she paused, puzzled. "Your Highness, the Emperor visits the Prince several times a day from his study. If we move to Zhaoyang Palace, won't that make him walk a lot more?"
Honestly, if anyone in the world doted on their child more than the Emperor did, they hadn't heard of them. Lady Hua could always smile just thinking about how much the Emperor adored the Crown Prince and treasured the Empress.
But Meng Wenyao was feeling restless and impatient. "This is still the Emperor's residence. If we stay here too long, the court officials will start criticizing me for not knowing proper etiquette. It's better if we move soon."
Lady Hua agreed. Now that her lady wasn't just any concubine but the Empress, she had to set an example in the harem. She immediately ordered the palace maids and eunuchs to pack everything up and move before dinner.
"Though, I wonder if the Prince will recognize the new bed and fuss," Lady Hua added, reluctant to leave. Being closer to the Emperor helped nurture the bond between him and the Empress, after all.
As the chaos of packing up unfolded in Funing Palace, the Emperor was quickly informed. He rushed back from his study and, entering the room, grabbed Meng Wenyao's hand. "Don't worry about the ministers — they're just bored busybodies. We'll live our lives well. Trust me, I've got this."
Meng Wenyao, harboring a strong dislike for the Emperor, wasn't about to pretend she was all sweet and loving. She lazily replied, "I want to move to Zhaoyang Palace."
The Emperor sighed, pulling her closer. "What about me? Sometimes the reports pile up late into the night. Going all the way to Zhaoyang Palace would be inconvenient. Staying at Funing Palace is much closer."
"Don't you have other concubines? You could summon them to keep you company. That way, you wouldn't need to trek to Zhaoyang Palace," she teased.
He paused, then chuckled — classic jealousy. "Since having you, I haven't even glanced at another woman. They're just eyesores in the palace now. I'll decree that they be expelled."
Meng Wenyao's mood lifted a bit but she feigned annoyance. "Don't be silly, or everyone will think I'm the jealous type. Besides, the Empress Dowager won't agree. She met with all your concubines today, even questioned how you slept with them. If I leave Funing Palace, you'll probably have more beauties sneaking into your bed."
The Emperor was surprised. Since he stopped visiting the harem often, the Empress Dowager had stopped pushing women onto his bed, thinking heirs were unlikely. Now, with the Empress pregnant, was she trying to encourage him to spread the seed around again?
He found the idea amusing. Even if it was just a princess, and Wenyao was still young enough to have more children, he felt disgusted at the thought of being with anyone else.
After his health returned, he wondered if only Wenyao could arouse him. But one time, while looking at a spring palace painting to learn new techniques, he realized he was capable without her — he was fully recovered. Yet, he never entertained the thought of touching another woman. His heart belonged solely to her. Maybe he never told her, so the jealousy was understandable.
"I swear by our ancestors' legacy, my heart is only yours, Wenyao. I will never touch another woman," he promised solemnly.
Meng Wenyao still found men's words untrustworthy and mumbled, "What if the Empress Dowager insists you favor others for heirs? I heard before, whenever she sent women, you accepted them."
The Emperor laughed awkwardly and soothed her, "I'll talk to her. I'll remind her to think about the grandchildren and not do anything to upset you."
Wenyao playfully pushed him and said, "Better make sure she doesn't think I'm just a jealous wife. I heard she's serious this time — she met every concubine and even asked how you slept with them. She wants to pick the perfect woman to serve you."
Her mood finally lifted, and she wanted to say something sweet to soften him, but noticed his face darken. Worried, she asked, "Emperor, do you really think I'm jealous?"
Tears brimmed, but he quickly reassured her, "No, you're just overthinking. You say the Empress Dowager asked about how I spend nights in bed?"
"Yes. I heard she was very thorough, even asked if you kissed them. Auntie Gui asked every detail. She probably wants to find the perfect beauty for you."
After hearing that, an unease settled over Wenyao.
Seeing her expression shift again, the Emperor hurried to comfort her, "Wenyao, my heart is only yours. During your pregnancy, I haven't touched another woman. Can't you see my heart? Now that you can be with me again, how could I go to someone else?"
He was too embarrassed to confess that before meeting Wenyao, he was unable to perform such acts at all — something unbecoming of an emperor. So he swore and promised loyalty to reassure her.
Finally, after a night of intimacy, he managed to calm Meng Wenyao's worries completely.
Watching her peacefully sleep in his arms, the Emperor's thoughts drifted to the Empress Dowager's sudden interest in his private affairs. Did she discover something?
If she found out he couldn't be intimate, what then? Would she doubt Wenyao's loyalty? Question the Crown Prince's legitimacy? Maybe she'd even take matters into her own hands.
The thought made him break out in cold sweat. After guarding against enemies on all sides, he never expected his greatest threat was his own mother.
Rising, he headed to his study and summoned Chief Eunuch Xiao Dezi.
"Find out everyone the Empress Dowager met today and what was discussed. And place the strictest guard on Funing Palace — not a single fly gets in."
After Xiao Dezi left, the Emperor's worry lingered. He called the Commander of the Imperial Guards and ordered, "Posts every three steps, sentries every five steps around Funing Palace. The Empress and the Crown Prince are not to leave without my permission."
Meng Wenyao woke up after just half an hour's rest. Auntie Hua quietly asked if she wanted dinner brought in, lowering her voice, "Mistress, I noticed so many soldiers outside Funing Palace. The Imperial Guards are packed like ants."
She chuckled softly, whispering, "The Emperor must be worried you'll run away. Even though we're just moving to Zhaoyang Palace, we're still inside the palace grounds. Look how nervous the Emperor is now."
Meng Wenyao recalled the Emperor's sudden change in expression this afternoon and the Empress Dowager's unusual moves. She smiled inwardly—something definitely wasn't right.
Since the Empress Dowager was keeping watch, she couldn't harm the Prince, but she could easily stir the Emperor's resentment.