Zong Zhengjin just accompanied her for breakfast and then took a walk with her in the courtyard, exercising a bit before returning to the Zichen Palace.

  Su Jingxiu lay on the couch resting, but her mind was thinking, in less than ten days it would be the Emperor's birthday, and it was time for the concubines to think of ways to curry favor with him. What kind of gift should she give?

  Last year at this time, she gave clothes, but this year, at least can't repeat it.

  "Dai Man," Su Jing opened her eyes, "have there been any movements in the various palaces these days?"

  Dai Man knelt on the ground, holding a beauty hammer to carefully help her massage her legs. Upon hearing this, she thought for a moment, "In recent days, there has been no other movement in the palace, most of it is preparing for the Wan Shou Festival."

  "Do you know what they've all prepared?" Su Jingchu expressed some curiosity about this.

  Dai Man smiled lightly, "The slave knows that she does know, but what she knows is not much. Your Majesty also knows that these things are all kept secret by the various palace masters. However, the slave knows that Shun Consort still sent her personally embroidered longevity picture as usual, and Yang Concubine sent her personally made boots."

  Su Jing nodded, this was not a secret in the palace, and it was also their own intention that outsiders could know about it. Without the idea of competing for favor, whether outsiders knew or not had little significance to them.

  As for others, they will certainly not easily show off the gifts they have carefully prepared for themselves, with a mind of competing for favor, everything becomes extremely important.

  Only Su Jinglian didn't know what she was busy with these days, and it wasn't until the palace staff were all talking about it that she remembered, otherwise she really wouldn't have known if she would have remembered on her birthday.

  But strangely, no one reminded her, including him.

  Su Jing didn't need to think about it and knew that it must have been instructed by someone.

  "So you say, what should I prepare for?" Three smelly craftsmen surpass Zhuge Liang, asking is harmless, maybe there will be unexpected surprises.

  Dai Man and Ting Yao exchanged a glance, both smiling lightly. "This slave doesn't know, but this slave thinks that if Your Highness gives birth to a healthy prince or princess for the Emperor, it would be the greatest and best gift."

  "It's exactly this principle," Ting Yao echoed in agreement.

  Su Jingxiao also smiled, "But the belly still has to wait for a while, and the Wan Shou Festival is approaching soon. Are you going to let me go empty-handed and become a laughing stock?"

  Yao restrained her smile, "Your Majesty, the Emperor won't mind these things, you should focus on taking good care of your pregnancy."

  Pregnant women should avoid worrying and thinking too much, even if they don't have the intention of competing for favor, they still need to use their brains to think.

  Su Jing shook her head, "There's no way I'm as fragile as you say, I know my own body very well, it's not to that point yet."

  The girl's face turned pale, "I know, but in my heart, Your Highness is the most important person."

  Su Jing nodded, "I know, you are also very important in my heart."

  "What are you saying, it's just a normal farewell," Dai Man scolded, "In my humble opinion, Your Highness, this is not something that should be said to us servants. We are lowly and inferior, how can we bear such words from Your Highness?"

  Su Jing hooked the corner of her mouth and didn't say much. Some things are better left unsaid, as saying more doesn't compare to doing more. Why bother saying those words to trouble others?

  Although Su Jing had already known about this matter and had put it in her heart, but in the blink of an eye, it was already the day of Wan Shou Jie, and the time passed so quickly that Su Jing was a little caught off guard.

  Half-reclining on the couch, watching Ting Yao and others prepare her outfit and accessories for the dinner party the next evening, but in her mind, she was thinking about what gift to give.

  I should have asked one more question last night, even just a tentative one.

  Tormented to the extreme, I might as well think about it and then put this matter behind me.

  Xia Momo stood on one side, watching clearly. Although several of them advised her repeatedly, seeing the queen's expression, they knew she didn't take their words to heart. She sighed inwardly, "Your Majesty, do you want to use something?"

  Su Jing nodded slightly, holding the spoon and taking a few sips of the black chicken ginseng soup. "Don't want any more, take it away."

  "Sighing deeply, 'Alright, I won't think about it anymore, let's just go with what was previously prepared.'"

  Most of the things in her private storage were given by him, she must not be able to return the things he gave again. As for the others, they were either sent by other concubines or the imperial household department, presumably he didn't think much of them either, since even she didn't think much of them.

  The only thing she could barely use as a gift was a handbag made by herself when she was bored.

  Although it's a bit cold, but it wins in thoughtfulness.

  A dead horse is treated as if it were alive.

  Yao nodded, she had long persuaded her mother, a handbag would be fine, and said, "Yes, I understand."

  That night, Zong Zhengjin stayed in the Qianqing Palace.

  On the second day of the white day, Su Jing did not see anyone as usual.

  Fortunately, he arrived before the palace gate was locked at the beginning of the hour of hai.

  You see, or don't see me, I'm there, neither sad nor happy; you miss, or don't miss me, the feeling is there, not coming or going; you love, or don't love me, love is there, not increasing or decreasing; you follow, or don't follow me, my hand is in your hand, not letting go; come into my arms, or let me live in your heart, silently loving, quietly liking.

  Until now, she still doesn't know what position she occupies in his heart, but it's clear to her that he occupies a position more important than herself in her own heart.

  He fills my heart and eyes.

  Perhaps one day, he will hurt her in a way that neither of them wants to see, whether intentionally or unintentionally, whether it's tomorrow or next year. However, even if she knows, she won't back down, won't be afraid, and won't blame him, nor will she hate him.

  Love is so blind, or not fearless enough, nor righteous enough, but it's the most sincere emotion from the heart, accumulating a person's greatest courage.

  Su Jing sprang up from the bed and sat up, slowly revealing a bright smile to him, "You're here."

  Zong Zhengjin walked a few steps to the bedside, took off his outer shirt, sat down beside her, and tightly grasped her soft hands. "I'm here."

  It's only been a day, but it feels like an eternity since we last saw each other. My heart is racing with excitement that I can barely contain, and all the words I wanted to say have boiled down to just three: "I'm here."

  With him by her side, or perhaps out of habit, Su Jing felt very much at ease and soon fell asleep.

  Su Jing thought she was only nine months old and still had to wait for another month before giving birth, but some things happened so unexpectedly, leaving her at a loss.

  It was night, Su Jing was awakened from her sleep by a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, which made her extremely uncomfortable and slightly dizzy. She opened her eyes, touched down below, and found a small wet spot, "Your Majesty".

  Zong Zhengjin was a light sleeper and woke up as soon as she made a sound, "What's wrong?"

  "Your Majesty, I think I'm going to give birth." Su Jing had inquired about some of the circumstances surrounding Xiaomu's childbirth and roughly knew what would happen.

  Zong Zhengjin reacted quickly, stretched out his hand and grasped hers, "I'm here, don't be afraid"

  "Su Shun is at leisure, summon Imperial Physician," Zong Zhengyin shouted loudly towards the outside.

  Qiao Jingyu brought people over when it was already past the hour of hai, and there were also some scattered concubines standing inside the palace. They stepped forward in small steps, "Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

  "Get up," Zong Zhengjin didn't have the heart to deal with these people, his eyes fixed tightly on the delivery room door.

  "Your Majesty, I don't know what the situation is now." Xiang Jieyu saw that Shu Gui Fei had arrived and did not want to give up this good opportunity in vain, so she tentatively opened her mouth to ask.

  She waited for a few moments, but didn't get any response from Zong Zhengjin, nor even a glance.

  "Your Majesty, I don't know what's going on now." Xiang Jieyu's face stiffened for a moment, but after all the years of experience in the harem, she quickly regained her composure and turned to look at Su Shunian.

  Su Shunxian, even if he didn't want to answer, couldn't be as rude as Zong Zhengjin and not give him any face, so he forced a smile and said, "Xiang Yu will see soon enough."

  Xiang Xieyu's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes flashed with a hint of murderous intent. Although he was the leader of the eunuchs who had managed to get close to the Emperor, after all, he was just a slave. His face showed displeasure, but he didn't dare say anything.

  Su Shuangyan ignored the displeasure on Xiang Yuxiu's face, turning her head away and paying no attention to it.

  Other low-ranking consorts, constrained by Xiang Yu's presence, even if they wanted to rejoice in her misfortune, couldn't express it openly and could only stand quietly in the back, secretly showing off their most beautiful side, hoping for the emperor's attention.

  Qiao Jing hooked the corner of her mouth, "Everyone sit down and rest assured, Zhen sister's production will also take some time, but the emperor has to attend court tomorrow, so he needs to take a short break."

  Even if she doesn't want to pretend to be virtuous anymore, this superficial effort still needs to be made.

  Otherwise, how can she become the renowned Shu Gui Fei?

  Zong Zhengjin could afford to be rude to others, but when it came to Shu Guifei, he was willing to show a bit of respect, "No need, just wait for now."

  Zong Zhengjin felt a little uneasy in his heart. The imperial physician only said that the fetus might come out a few days earlier, but it wouldn't be as early as a month.

  How can he rest assured and sleep peacefully?

  As soon as he thought of her worried eyes just now, his heart ached vaguely, and he wished he could do something to take away this unease for her.

  Others, seeing the emperor speaking like this, were envious in their hearts but didn't dare say anything, and instead followed along, sitting in their own seats with worried expressions on their faces.

  But how much of it is true and how much is false, only they themselves know.

  Qiao Jingyu had long guessed that he would be this answer, and was not surprised. She nodded slightly, didn't say anything annoying, and sat quietly beside him.

  Palace Concubine (Yi Shu)

  Gong Shu