Netizens uploaded the third volume of Linglong Dice, An Hongdou 144

  "Ah Yan," in the hall, Empress Lü heard the noise and asked with a smile, "Did you sleep well last night?"

  "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your concern." Zhang Yan walked over lightly and smiled, "Chang Le Palace is luxurious and prosperous, it's also where I grew up, how could I sleep badly?" Her expression was normal, as if nothing had happened, this was just an ordinary morning.

  "Hmm." Lü Hou nodded and said, "The eighth prince is pregnant with the emperor's child, this is indeed a joyful event." Turning around to instruct the eunuch beside her, "Zhang Ze, go and order someone to prepare rewards for me and the empress, send them to Qingliang Hall."

  Chang Le's eunuch commander Zhang Ze responded with a loud "Yes!"

  "Ah Yan," Empress Lü and Emperor Xian of Han smiled, "You must be hungry. Accompany me to have breakfast together."

  Chang Le Palace people have long been familiar with Empress Zhang's taste, and what they prepared for her was the chicken silk white porridge she loved most. Zhang Yan held the bowl and took a sip, feeling that the delicious food of the past now tasted flavorless. Empress Lü gazed at her for a long time, then suddenly sighed, "If you're not happy, just say it out loud. Do you think this is some other place where you need to hide like this?"

  Zhang Yan's eyes turned red, and with a clang, she put down the lacquer bucket in her hand. In a self-abandoning tone, she muttered, "That's Uncle's happy event, what does it have to do with me? What can I do about it?"

  She pretended to be happy and sincerely congratulated Liu Ying, but she couldn't do it. But if she wanted to make her take revenge on the innocent fetus in Wang Cong's belly because of this, she also couldn't do it.

  Empress Lü looked around, waiting for the people in the palace to disperse before saying, "A'Yan, come and sit beside me."

  She stroked Zhang Yan's hair and smiled, "This is what my granddaughter Lu Yu should be like. If you're annoyed in your heart, just say it clearly. If you're obviously very annoyed in your heart but still put on a pretentious smile on your face, even if you've been the empress for a lifetime, what's the point of getting half a basket of virtuous names?"

  Zhang Yan pouted and said, "But before entering the palace, my mother taught me that as an empress, I must be magnanimous and cannot be jealous of other concubines who are favored by Your Majesty."

  Although she secretly drew a circle in her heart, she had never mentally acknowledged or obeyed these words.

  "Mother is just talking nonsense." The sunlight from the gate of Chang Le Palace shone on her calm face, with some uncertainty. "She has been fooled by those Confucian scholars. If she were not the respected Princess Changle and had me and the Emperor to support her, I'm afraid she would have been bullied to death by your father Zhang Yi all these years."

  Her gaze shifted slightly, and amidst the solemnity, a hint of desolation emerged. "A Yan, you are different. I won't be able to protect you for your entire life in this Weiyang Palace. If you want to live well, you must learn to rely on yourself. The Pepper Chamber is not your final destination; I hope that one day you can replace me and become the master of this Chang Le Palace."

  That clear morning, Zhang Yan was moved by the successive sadness and said softly with her eyes downcast, "I don't want this Chang Le Palace at all. I just want to stay in Weiyang Palace with my uncle."

  Lü Hou couldn't help but despise her foolish heart after hearing her muttering clearly. However, she couldn't conceal the joy in her heart; after all, she had personally arranged the marriage between her son and granddaughter. Naturally, she also hoped they could live harmoniously together.

  As a woman who has been through a lot, she actually looks down on Zhang Yan's foolish kindness.

  However, as Liu Ying's mother, Ah Yan has such a crush on Liu Ying. She patted Zhang Yan's hand and said sincerely, "I've already thought it through for you. Even if you are the empress, without an heir by your side, it will still be difficult to hold on in the future. This time Wang Gong is pregnant, which is also an opportunity for you."

  Zhang Yan was speechless.

  "I'd like to see that," Empress Lü said, pursing her lips and raising her head, saying sternly, "She's fortunate enough to give birth to the Emperor's son, but whether she'll be fortunate enough to enjoy the blessings of having an Emperor's son is another matter. Childbirth is a matter of heaven's will, and it can't be rushed. After Wang Shi gives birth, I'll take charge and have her son placed in your care to raise, even if he's not born to you, it can still alleviate the current crisis."

  She spoke in a cold and detached tone, which made Zhang Yan feel a chill run down her spine. To Lu Hou, this strategy was extremely ruthless, but to herself, it was truly a loving and selfless act. Although she thought her heart was in the right place, she couldn't bring herself to ignore Lu Hou's feelings for the sake of an outsider.

  "Thank you for your kindness, Empress Dowager, but I don't need it."

  She ignored Lv Hou's displeased expression, raised her head proudly and said, "If I, Zhang Yanruo, want to raise a child, I will raise my own flesh and blood. Raising someone else's child not only makes me uncomfortable, but also, when the child grows up and learns about his origins, how will he look at me? I don't want to do something that is thankless and troublesome."

  "It's easy for you to say," Lyu Hou sneered coldly. "A Yan, you still haven't consummated your marriage with His Majesty, have you? When can this crown prince be born? If it's indefinitely delayed and something unexpected happens, won't you regret it?"

  This was the first time someone had cut open a wound in front of her, Zhang Yan's lips were pursed into a straight line, and her face was pale. "Sincerity can move mountains, I don't believe Uncle would let me fall to such a miserable state. Your Majesty," she slowed down her voice, speaking softly, "the future is still long. The Emperor and I are both still young. There are endless possibilities in the future. Why must you be so anxious?"

  "I don't want to rush either." Lü Hou's eyes shone brightly as he said, "But, Ah Yan, behind you stand the two Lü Zhangs. They need a reliable explanation."

  "Three years," Zhang Yan gritted her teeth. "If within three years, I cannot make my uncle willingly marry me, then I will follow the Empress Dowager's wishes and adopt the imperial son."

  "Good." Lü Hou clapped his hands and said, "Since you say so, I'll wait for you for another three years."

  She forced out an answer and no longer pressed him, softening her voice to ask, "A Yan, have you thought it through?"

  Zhang Yan nodded and said, "Yes."

  Lü Hou looked at her with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression, her voice calm. "I had originally intended to leave a way out for Wang Gong and his mother. Ah Yan, if you don't have this compassionate heart, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

  Zhang Yan fell silent for a moment, and after a long while, she said softly, "The Empress Dowager's plans have nothing to do with me. I won't disturb the Empress Dowager's rest, so I'll return to Weiyang Palace first."

  After seeing Zhang Yan off on the phoenix carriage, Su Mo, the female official of Chang Le, returned to the Changxin Hall. Her expression seemed slightly hesitant.

  "What's up?" Lü Hou glanced at her and smiled slightly, "A Mo, say what you want to say. You've followed me for so many years, is there anything left to avoid?"

  Su Mo bowed and said, "Yes, Empress Dowager, I just can't understand. Although Zhang Huang Hou is close to you, the child in Wang Mei Ren's belly is also your own grandson. Do you really want..."

  Lü Hou smiled softly, "A Mo."

  She lowered her head and fiddled with her own fingernails, saying lightly. "In the future, if Ah Yan gives birth to a prince, our family will certainly treat him like a treasure. But, Wang Cong," she said disdainfully, "what kind of thing is she, qualified to give birth to a prince?"

  "This child has been over two months old, and must have been conceived before the Emperor's trip to Pei County. During these days, Wang Zong was serving in the Chang Le Palace, did she ever show any signs of pregnancy?"

  "No." Empress Lü shook her head, "A woman like that. You want me to believe she's innocent and doesn't have any ulterior motives? Impossible. She's different from before... at least she's a good family girl with a decent name and position. If she gives birth to the emperor's son, won't she covet the throne? I've suffered for half my life competing with Zhi Yu. I don't want Manci's child to be like that either."

  "So," she said calmly, "I will personally eliminate the hidden danger before anything happens."

  Grandson.

  She doesn't need that many grandsons. Lü Zhi's face was momentarily bewildered, and she suddenly recalled the year when the Chu army soldiers sent her back to the Han army. She hid her scarred hands behind her back, filled with joy and trepidation.

  Then. "Ah yo." She raised her head and saw Qi Yi, dressed in a lake-green brocade robe, walking into the big tent holding Liu Bang's hand.

  "Is this the sister?" Qi Yiyuan smiled, raising her young and beautiful face, her waist was like a willow branch, her fingers were like spring onions. Her voice was like an oriole's call. Her eyes were like autumn waves.

  What's the reason?

  What right do you have to bewitch my husband in the stable camp of the Han army while I was worried and frightened in the Chu camp? My two children were pushed down from a speeding carriage by their ruthless father during the escape. And your beloved daughter is pampered by him?

  Men are all like that. They forget favors and righteousness, forever doting on those seductive concubines while neglecting the virtuous wife who has been waiting at home.

  Lü Zhi's heart was still panting with anxiety, more than four years after Qi Yi had passed away. She found that the shadow brought by Qi Yi had not dissipated yet.

  "Someone is coming." Lü Zhi suddenly stood up and loudly ordered, "Summon Chang Le Zhan Shi to enter the palace immediately."

  As she walked on the covered walkway from Chang Le Palace back to Cao Fang Hall, Zhang Yan thought that she wouldn't take action to harm the child in Wang Yong's belly. However, if Empress Lü was unwilling to let him stay, she also couldn't bring herself to plead for his sake.

  She asked herself, if she heard that child disappear silently in this palace, what would she do?

  I should be happy about it, I suppose.

  Although that child was truly innocent, once he was born, he would forever be a thorn stuck between himself and Liu Ying. Just looking at him would hurt the eyes.

  "Your Highness, we have arrived at the Pepper Chamber." Zuo Xiang softly called out.

  Zhang Yan came to herself, got down from the phoenix carriage and entered the Pepper Chamber. She had just sat for a while when a palace maid came to report, "The Eighth Prince of Qingliang Palace requests an audience with Your Majesty."

  Zhang Yan raised an eyebrow and turned to ask Huayan, "What's the story with that Wang Baizi from Qingliang Hall?"

  "This turtle son is quite lucky," Huaye remained in the Weiyang Palace, and after learning about it, she was shocked and regretful, and thoroughly investigated the Weiyang Palace that night. At this time, kneeling down, "Originally, all six palaces were under the control of Empress Dowager, and her pregnancy could not be hidden no matter what. Coincidentally, the timing was just right, Your Majesty was on an inspection tour in Peiguo, and some of the palace attendants followed, leaving behind things that were not as strictly managed as before. She was able to hide until today."

  It's not just about having good luck, but also a clever mind. Zhang Yan smiled with curved lips, and her eyes fell into a deep and shallow color.

  Hehe, yesterday's chapter seems to have brought out a lot of lurkers (indeed, do you need to lay traps to bring them out?)

  So I'll explain how I feel about this.

  Not bad, Zhang Yan is a modern-day time traveler, but Liu Xuan is a native-born Han Dynasty person. Since childhood, he has received an education where having three wives and four concubines is a very common thing, let alone the fact that he also holds the identity of being an emperor.

  Throughout history, there have been those who married only one wife. They either deeply loved their wives, were oppressed by the power of their wives' families, were haunted by the shadows of their youth, or simply sought fame. However, they cannot impose their own ways on others and demand that others do the same as themselves. This is the general trend of society.

  I think that although they have been married for over a year, it is only after Liu Ying and Zhang Yan's wedding night that they can be considered truly husband and wife. Only then can Liu Ying proudly demand to guard his body like jade for Zhang Yan.

  It was inhumane to ask an emperor to remain chaste and wait for Ah Yan to grow up.

  As for why I arranged Wang Qiang and her pregnancy, it was because history records that Empress Lü seized the child of a palace maid and claimed it as Zhang Yan's child, who later became Emperor Xian of Han.

  The young emperor later grew up and learned about his origins. He said that he wanted to kill Empress Lü Zhi, who had raised him, in order to avenge his real mother. Therefore, Empress Lü took preemptive action and killed him. (Empress Lü was indeed ruthless; after her son's death, she personally killed her own grandson. Truly, she was ruthless.)

  If everyone insists on entangling, then Liu Ying made a promise to Zhang Yan to be together for the rest of their lives before the inspection tour of Pei County. However, this child was conceived before they set off.

  Sincerely asking for pink votes.