A Good Title

Emperor Jing'an had encountered forward women before. The women in his harem all wanted to bear sons, so they took particular pains in this matter.

But the woman in his arms today gave him a different feeling.

She was forward and passionate, but unlike those women, who had "Can I get pregnant tonight?" written all over their faces, she was plainly enjoying herself.

Hua Meng was absorbed in it and enjoying herself, which naturally put Emperor Jing'an in a fine mood and made him all the more eager.

Remembering that he did not have to attend court the next day, Emperor Jing'an indulged himself for once.

When they finished once more, neither rushed to wash. Instead, they lay in each other's arms on the bed, which was now in complete disarray.

"As I am now... I don't know whether I can still get any of you with child."

Though Emperor Jing'an spoke vaguely, the latter part of what he said clearly revealed that there really was something wrong with his body.

Hua Meng did not answer immediately. Only after sensing the unusual changes in her body did she speak. "Your Majesty, don't lose heart. Wasn't the late emperor thirty-two when he finally had you?"

"But Imperial Father did have two daughters before that." It was just that his eldest sister had survived, while his poor second sister had not lived to see her first birthday.

He knew that, had his mother not been found to be pregnant back then, and had the imperial physician not said the child was very likely a prince, his father had already intended to name his eldest sister crown princess.

He supposed that was precisely why the Noble Dowager Consort and the Grand Princess disliked him so much.

Later, although the Noble Consort at the time disliked him intensely, his father had still preferred to pass the throne to a son rather than a daughter. Otherwise, he probably would not have survived at all.

Though Emperor Jing'an had not spoken of any of this, how could Hua Meng, with twenty years of experience from her previous life, not know?

"Your Majesty, don't dwell on it. Perhaps your child is already in my belly."

Hua Meng had merely said it offhand, for after spending twenty years drifting in her previous life, she knew full well what condition Emperor Jing'an's body was in now.

Hua Meng had spoken casually, but Emperor Jing'an was deeply moved when he heard her.

Knowing she was trying to comfort him, Emperor Jing'an lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "If you truly have a child in your belly now, whether it's a boy or a girl, I'll give you a good title once it's confirmed a month from now."

Emperor Jing'an did not really mean it when he said this, but deep down, he still entertained a wistful hope. If Consort Hua really is found to be pregnant a month from now, I'll use the character Jing as her title.

The character Jing, meaning "tranquil," seemed ordinary enough, but with his reign named Jing'an, it was not a character just anyone could use.

Hua Meng did not take Emperor Jing'an's words too seriously either. She knew he understood that she had said those words to comfort him, and that he had deliberately said what he did.

Even so, Hua Meng played along and thanked him, saying she greatly looked forward to the "good title" he had promised.

Once they had finished chatting, the two got up to wash, giving Qiu Die and the others time to tidy the bed.

By the time they had finished and come out, the sheets and other bedding had been replaced with clean ones.

It was getting late, and they still had to leave the palace the next day, so neither spoke again. They each settled down to rest.

But less than an hour later, Emperor Jing'an, who had not yet fallen sound asleep, noticed that someone had slipped into his arms.

He opened his eyes and saw the young woman nestled in his arms, fast asleep. He smiled helplessly, then could only hold her and close his eyes again.

He should have known. The last time she had attended him in bed, she had nestled in his arms just like this.

Remembering that she had not been taught from childhood to enter the palace, he did not fault her for her improper sleeping posture.

Most importantly, Emperor Jing'an, who had slept flat on his back for nearly thirty years, discovered that lying on his side like this, with someone in his arms, was unexpectedly comfortable. And holding her like this, he actually slept very soundly.