Chapter 1340: Chapter 1340: The Emperor Is Expecting
Chapter 1340: The Emperor is Pregnant 55
Qing Wan’s arrival signifies that this visit from the husband was approved by the Empress?
As he thought about this.
A large chair made of red sandalwood appeared in his view.
It was placed next to Situ Xiu.
He sat down on the chair.
With a smile, his voice slowly said,
"When did everyone here start ignoring the rules of etiquette?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd reacted.
Kneeling and saluting,
"Greetings to the husband."
The sound echoed throughout Qiankun Hall.
Situ Xiu sat there, without allowing them to rise.
He just let them kneel.
Then, he continued,
"Just as I entered, I heard all of you condemning me."
Saying this, he suddenly smiled.
"Alas, the Empress wants to favor only me. Day and night, she lingers, unwilling to leave."
He thought of the Empress, still sleeping in bed.
His smile deepened.
The Prime Minister had always disliked Situ Xiu.
Previously, he thought Situ Xiu was dictatorial.
Now, he thought he was disruptive.
Hearing him shamelessly utter such words,
The Prime Minister’s face turned green with anger.
"Insolence! You disturb the court, do you recognize your guilt?!"
Situ Xiu lazily glanced at the Prime Minister,
"I do not."
"You!!"
The Prime Minister’s chest heaved with anger.
Being elderly now, those watching feared he might choke on his anger and die.
Situ Xiu lifted his eyes, scanning the crowd.
He spoke,
"I am here to announce a few matters."
"First, the Emperor is pregnant."
As he finished speaking, the room fell silent again.
Their expressions shifted from shared hostility to surprise and delight.
Even the Prime Minister’s anger dissipated instantly.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Our Tiansheng Country has an heir!"
The crowd hadn’t finished expressing their sentiments.
Straightaway, they heard Situ Xiu continue,
"The Emperor is with child, feeling weary and nauseous often; the Imperial Physician advises good rest.
In coming days, whether to attend court depends on her mood."
After these words, the officials’ faces varied greatly.
Yet, they couldn’t seem to find fault with this.
After all, the Empress’s pregnancy was of great importance.
The unborn child carried Tiansheng Country’s bloodline.
Of course, this was crucial.
Situ Xiu’s voice was slow,
"Second, the Empress has ordered me to oversee the nation."
No sooner had he spoken, objections arose immediately,
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely not!"
"You are the husband! How can one from the harem govern?!"
"There’s no such precedent in ancestral rules."
Situ Xiu held a memorial in his hand, tapping it on his other hand.
He spoke,
"Third, the Empress wants me to accomplish a task."
As he finished, the dissatisfied paused.
They uniformly looked up at Situ Xiu, awaiting his next words.
With a snap, Situ Xiu ceased fiddling with the memorial.
"Duke Ning is suspected of forming cliques, corruption, and bribery."
After speaking, Situ Xiu did not continue.
Instead, he looked at Ning Guoxia, smiling idly,
"Duke Ning, do you have an explanation?"
Ning Guoxia knelt and said,
"I am loyal to the Empress and Tiansheng Country, never harboring a second heart."
"Oh? How can you prove your words are true?"
"I speak nothing but truth, may lightning strike me if I lie!"
His manner was compelling, seemingly quite righteous at first glance.
Situ Xiu laughed.
He raised his hand, handing the booklet to Qing Wan,
"Read it to the Duke carefully."
Qing Wan nodded, reaching out to take the booklet.
