Consummation

Although it was said to be 70%, Xiao Lingyan was still not at ease.

He grabbed Zhao Ruxi's hand and said, "How about we just forget about it? Let's not have children. I don't want to inherit the throne. Let whoever wants to inherit it inherit it."

"Even if I don't inherit the throne, I still want to have children. I want to be a mother," Zhao Ruxi said firmly.

She loves children. She wants to have a child of her own.

She knew that childbirth was a dangerous thing, especially in ancient times when medical care was limited.

But she couldn't let the danger prevent her from having the courage to be a mother. So many women have the courage to face childbirth, what is there for her not to dare to do?

She had Recovery Pill and a doctor who could resolve her difficult childbirth with a 70% success rate. She was far superior to other women.

Xiao Lingyan held her hand without saying anything more.

He knew that not having children was unrealistic.

If he doesn't allow Zhao Ruxi to have children, then Xiao Ge, Noble Consort Cen, and even the entire Great Jin will force Zhao Ruxi to take a concubine for him. They won't target him, but rather her. If he doesn't take a concubine then, Zhao Ruxi will be drowned in spittle.

Even if he used all his strength, he couldn't protect her completely.

Compared to facing such pressure and criticism, Zhao Ruxi might be more willing to risk having a child.

Thinking that Noble Consort Cen had given birth to two sons, Zhao Ruxi's mother, Lady Zhu, had also given birth to several children, Prince of An's Consort, Cen Peixuan, had also successfully given birth to a daughter, and that so many people had given birth without any problems, Xiao Lingyan finally felt a little more at ease.

Xiao Lingyan changed his mind. After the imperial physician examined his pulse, he naturally brought good news to Xiao Ge and Noble Consort Cen, saying that Prince of Qi's health had fully recovered and they could consummate their marriage.

So Xiao Ge and Noble Consort Cen urged the Directorate of Astronomy to quickly choose an auspicious day. Although no ceremony was held that day, Xiao Ge and Noble Consort Cen sent many gifts to Zhao Ruxi.

The two also knew that Zhao Ruxi disliked flashy ornaments and other such things, Xiao Ge gave Zhao Ruxi a shop, while Noble Consort Cen gave Zhao Ruxi an estate.

"Look, we criticize land consolidation, but I've been the most aggressive in it these past two years. From nothing to owning tens of thousands of acres of land, and I don't even have to pay taxes. Who can resist the benefits of corruption and assimilation?" Zhao Ruxi said with emotion, holding up two house deeds and land deeds.

Xiao Lingyan also wanted to express his feelings, since the inability to implement a constitutional monarchy meant that these were the issues he would have to worry about after becoming emperor.

But he clearly wasn't thinking about those things today.

"Alright, enough talk. The banquet is served, let's have a drink," Xiao Lingyan said.

Tonight, not only did the chefs at Prince of Qi's Residence use all their skills to prepare a table full of delicious dishes, but Consort Xiao Ge and Noble Consort Cen from the palace also bestowed upon us a considerable amount of imperial cuisine.

However, only Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan sat down to eat. The servants didn't enter the courtyard but stayed at the gate.

Zhao Ruxi walked to the table and sat down next to Xiao Lingyan.

Xiao Lingyan personally poured a little wine into a stemmed glass. "This is wine I had made; please try it."

Zhao Ruxi picked up the wine glass, looked at it, swirled it around, and brought it to her nose to smell it.

She raised an eyebrow at Xiao Lingyan: "Not bad."

"Xiaoxi, marrying you has been my dream for two lifetimes. Now that my dream has come true, I am so Gao Xing. We must stay together for a long, long time, and never be separated." Xiao Lingyan raised his wine glass and looked at her, his eyes full of affection.

"If you don't betray me, I will never betray you." Zhao Ruxi raised her wine glass and clinked it against Xiao Lingyan's, then brought it to her lips and took a small sip.

Sweet and refreshing, just like her life now, it's wonderful.

She also hopes that every year will be like this day, and every year will be like this morning.

After eating the food Xiao Lingyan offered, Zhao Ruxi saw that he wanted to take another wine glass, so she quickly stopped his hand and reminded him, "Just go through the motions and taste it. Although this wine isn't very strong, it's still best not to drink it."

Xiao Lingyan didn't react at first, and was stunned for a moment, but then he understood what she meant. His eyes deepened, and he put another piece of food on her plate. "Then eat more vegetables, eat your fill, otherwise where will you get the strength to cause someone's death?"

Zhao Ruxi: "..."

After the meal, Zhao Ruxi called for someone to come in and clear the dishes, but Noble Consort Cen's people did not come. After she had bathed and entered the bedroom, Noble Consort Cen's people still did not come.

She asked Xiao Lingyan, "Didn't Noble Consort Cen send any maids over today?"

Could she have misunderstood? When she married Xiao Lingyan, Noble Consort Cen sent Auntie Yu over. Today, as she consummates her marriage with Xiao Lingyan, why wouldn't Noble Consort Cen send someone?

Isn't it common for mothers-in-law to want to take in their daughters-in-law, like Yuan Pa? Noble Consort Cen has been in charge of the Empress's palace for many years. She seems gentle and kind, but after getting to know her, you'll find that she's actually quite domineering.

Xiao Lingyan said calmly, "She's a smart woman. She knows that no matter what, I won't leave you, so why should she play the role of a wicked mother-in-law and make you hate her? If I really ascend the throne in the future, how she lives in the harem in her later years will depend entirely on your attitude."

As he spoke, he reached out and pulled Zhao Ruxi into his arms, then lowered his head and kissed her. After a while, he reached out from under the curtain and waved his hand at the red candle, extinguishing the lights in the room.

Bright moonlight shone in through the window.

The next day, Zhao Ruxi opened her eyes to find sunlight streaming through the windowpanes.

The door opened, and a familiar voice said, "Awake?"

Zhao Ruxi turned her head and saw Xiao Lingyan coming in from outside. He was wearing a tight-fitting outfit and had a little sweat on his forehead, obviously he had gone out to practice martial arts.

Feeling the soreness all over her body, and then looking at the energetic man, Zhao Ruxi felt depressed.

That guy kept her up almost all night, how did he still have so much energy to go outside and practice martial arts?

"Are you going to take a shower? Perfect timing, let's go together." Xiao Lingyan leaned in and kissed her.

Zhao Ruxi quickly pushed him away. "No."

Men who have been celibate for two lifetimes are terrifying. If they really have to shower together, she won't be getting out of bed today.

After getting up, taking a bath, and having breakfast, Qingfeng came in to report, "Her Highness the Imperial Concubine has sent Nanny Yan to pay her respects to the Prince and Princess."

Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan exchanged a glance, then Zhao Ruxi said, "Please let her in."

A moment later, Nanny Yan led two palace maids in, bowed, and said with a smile, "Her Majesty sent this old servant to deliver some palace snacks to the Prince and Princess to offer her congratulations."

Two palace maids presented two large food boxes.

Zhao Ruxi knew that this Nanny Yan was Nanny Yanxi from the palace. Obviously, Noble Consort Cen was still not at ease. Sending the snacks was a pretense; her real intention was to see if they had truly consummated their marriage.

"Mother, you're so kind. Xiaoxi know you like canned yellow peaches, so I've saved the first batch made at the estate and was just about to send them to the palace. Since you're here, please deliver them to Mother. We won't bother sending anyone else," Xiao Lingyan said.