Chapter 261: Chapter 260: Knocking"He’s a beautiful child."
He Ying saw the delicately crafted infant and liked him a lot.
He reached out and lightly touched the infant’s cheeks, which were so tender and soft that he dared not use any force.
When the infant’s cheeks were touched, he didn’t hide or fuss but looked at He Ying with big, curious eyes.
He even waved his chubby little hands about, clutching at things, as if he wanted to grab He Ying’s hands.
He Ying, delighted, reached out his hand.
Unexpectedly, the infant really grabbed his hand firmly and did not let go.
His face lit up with joy, "Ah Yan, look, she really likes me."
Sang Kun, not waiting for Sang Yan to speak, chuckled and started to flatter, "The Emperor is a child of destiny with an extraordinary presence; even small children can feel it."
He Ying wasn’t particularly fond of his flattery and said coolly, "It might be because I held her before. She is my little reunion."
Calling Sang Yuan by her nickname, his words carried a hint of possessiveness.
Sang Jue, standing aside, heard this and slightly frowned, feeling uncomfortable but said nothing.
Sang Kun, not noticing these subtleties, nodded and smiled in agreement, "This child has a connection with the Emperor. Aside from the midwife, the Emperor was the first to hold her. She may still remember the Emperor."
What can such a small child remember?
Sang Yan frowned upon hearing this, feeling that his words were becoming increasingly far-fetched.
However, she couldn’t be bothered to say anything.
He was flattering, and they would just ignore him.
Suddenly recalls something when he saw both of them genuinely liked the child and said, "If the Emperor and Empress like this child, why not have her and her mother stay for a few days? It’s about time the Emperor considers the matter of an heir. They say having children around can attract more children."
When Sang Yan heard this, it reminded her of modern terms under the preference for boys—adopting younger brothers, seeking younger brothers, and so on.
She felt displeased and thought Sang Kun was indirectly pressuring her to have children.
To be honest, she hadn’t considered having children yet.
He Ying, unaware of Sang Yan’s thoughts, was actually intrigued by Sang Kun’s words.
He was twenty-six, indeed not young anymore, and without an heir. Plus, with no other royal relatives, if something happened to him, there would be no one to continue the royal lineage.
Thinking this and seeing how Sang Yan was happily playing with the child, he was moved and couldn’t help but ask, "Ah Yan, when do you plan to have a child for me?"
Sang Yan: "..."
It was exactly what she feared.
She was already worried about the matter of children.
And now felt somewhat embarrassed.
There were so many people present!
Well, never mind.
She pretended not to hear and continued playing with the child.
Sang Kun, seizing the moment, quickly said, "If the Empress wishes to have a child, it must be after the grand wedding. May I ask when the Emperor intends to have the grand wedding with the Empress?"
He was indeed pushing for a wedding.
But it fit well with He Ying’s wishes, "Naturally, the sooner, the better. Only the grand wedding needs everything prepared anew."
"No need for the Emperor to worry."
Sang Kun, beaming with joy, hastened to say, "Everything is now ready, only lacking your command. Not to hide from you, the Ministry of Rites has everything prepared for the marriage, just waiting for the Emperor to announce the date, and the grand wedding can take place."
This surprised Sang Yan, turning her expression grave: this Sang Kun, in front of the Minister of Revenue, even had his hands in the Ministry of Rites.
She instinctively glanced at He Ying, seeing that he seemed not to have heard Sang Kun’s words, as he was still busily playing with the child.
He also spoke up, "Has Sang Aiqing chosen a good date?"
His question seemed laden with a trap: the Emperor arrives, and the wedding preparations are ready, with the date set, next notifying the Emperor to get married, right?
That’s audacious indeed.
"I have indeed considered several candidates—"
Sang Kun had not yet realized the trap and was happily jumping into it.
Sang Yan noticed and promptly interrupted, "It seems the Emperor has been away these days, and Mr. Sang has been quite worried!"
She knew Sang Kun was not the best official, but he knew some measure.
However, since her arrival in the palace, seeing him so respectful in front of He Ying, that measure was increasingly absent.
It was time to give him a warning!
"Mr. Sang, you have been working very hard!"
She looked at him with a cold glance.
Sensing her icy gaze and reading the subtext of her words, Sang Kun’s scalp tightened and he forced a smile, "Not hard, not hard. How can this be considered hard? The words of the Empress Lady are too weighty. It is my honor. I must serve the Emperor and Empress, exerting my utmost until death."
"Since Mr. Sang puts it that way—"
Sang Yan smiled, "Emperor, Quanzhou still needs talented individuals, why not send Mr. Sang there to serve loyally?"
She hinted at sending him out of He Capital.
Once out of He Capital, it would mean being far from the center of power.
How could Sang Kun agree?
He looked at the Emperor, his face anxious, and soon he was so anxious that he started to sweat.
He Ying saw that Sang Yan wanted to warn Sang Kun and cooperated, "I always listen to Ah Yan’s words."
Seeing the Emperor’s attitude, Sang Kun could not care less and blurted out, "Emperor, my arms and legs are old, and I don’t know how many days I have left. Please allow me to see my daughter’s wedding before assigning me to Quanzhou."
He was buying time, meanwhile starting to appeal emotionally, "The Empress Lady is my daughter, she has suffered a lot these years, and finally met you, Emperor—who would have thought again—"
He paused, wiped non-existent tears, and said sorrowfully, "I must see her happily married and living well before I can go to Quanzhou with peace of mind."
Sang Yan watched Sang Kun coldly, thinking to herself: He really knows how to act. He looks just like a concerned father.
"You trouble yourself too much for me, Mr. Sang."
Sang Yan’s tone was cold and indifferent, not particularly appreciative.
As if addicted to acting, Sang Kun continued, "Do not say that, Empress Lady. You are my daughter, and as the old saying goes, ’When one has a child, one worries for ninety-nine years.’ Your happiness is surely my concern."
Sang Yan: "..."
He sure knows how to speak.
No wonder he is so good at flattery.
Seeing her silent, Sang Kun stared at her for a while longer and performed again, "Empress Lady seems much thinner these days. What exactly happened—"
Before he could finish—
He Ying, with a cold face, interrupted him, "Sang Aiqing, you worry too much. The past is past, there’s no need to mention it again. From now on, with me here, the Empress will not encounter any danger."
While saying this, his icy gaze swept over Sang Kun and Sang Jue.
The warning was implicit. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
At that moment, Sang Yan was playfully distracting the baby Sang Yuan, not noticing the undercurrents between the three.
Sang Kun gave a nervous laugh, "Yes, I will obey."
Then, a palace attendant entered, bringing in dishes one after another.
It was time for dinner.
Seeing this, He Ying spoke no more and simply commanded, "Since Sang Aiqing is so concerned about our wedding, and having close relations with the Ministry of Rites, the wedding ceremony of the Empress and myself in three days will be arranged by you and Cui Shao."
"Three days?"
Sang Kun was shocked, not expecting it to be so soon—it was even ten days earlier than the date he had chosen.
Nevertheless, it was a great thing, a very great thing.
It seemed the Emperor was even more eager than him.
He was once again amazed by his daughter’s abilities.
Sang Yan was also startled by He Ying’s urgency: Three days? That’s too fast!