Pregnant Before the Royal Marriage

Chapter 263: 263: Entering the Palace to Pay Respect

Huang Ying shook her head: “Old Master and Third Young Master went to the palace early this morning and they have not returned. There’s no bad news from the outside. Miss, please be at peace. The King of Chen has been locked up, we are safe.”

But Jiang Ning was not worried about that.

Just as she was thinking, a servant from the front yard came in to report that a chamberlain from the palace had arrived, conveying the Emperor’s instructions to summon her and the young lord and lady to the palace for an audience.

Jiang Ning grew wary.

Just then, Jiang Yi rushed in and said, “Third Sister, prepare quickly. It’s a summons from the palace, it must be important.”

“Did Third Brother come from the palace?”

“Yes, Father is worried about you and specifically ordered me to come back and escort you and the children to the palace.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ning had no choice but to have the wet nurses and maids dress the children and prepare them to go.

Although they were the Emperor’s grandchildren, royal customs were different from ordinary people. Even when visiting their imperial grandfather, they had to look presentable.

Looking at herself, Jiang Ning decided she didn’t need to change.

Ever since her return to the Jiang family, whether to comfort her, or to please her, not only did Lin Zizi often bring food, clothes and necessities to her, Jiang Ruobai also regularly sent materials for making clothes for her and the children.

She had more new clothes than she could wear.

The materials and embroideries were all top-notch, so even a casual outfit would not be inappropriate.

Besides, she didn’t have much genuine respect for the Emperor.

Old Man Li, who had kept her real identity a secret and even schemed her to be pregnant with his son, was too calculating for her; she didn’t want to dress up to meet him.

Old Man Li had seen her at her poorest state before.

Why bother?

After the children were readied, each taken by a wet nurse, they followed the carriage to enter the palace.

On the way, Jiang Ning asked, “Third Brother, what’s the situation in the palace now? Why does the Emperor suddenly summon me and the children?”

“Perhaps he misses his grandchildren. It’s alright, all the revolts outside have been put down now, and the palace has also returned to normal. It’s just that the Emperor’s mood is not very good, wanting to see his grandchildren is a normal human feeling.”

Jiang Ning mused over his words.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, Jiang Yi lifted Jiang Ning from the carriage and placed her in a wheelchair. He pushed the wheelchair, while the wet nurses carried the children and followed behind.

After going through the Immortal-view Gate and passing several doors, they arrived at the Crystal Frost Hall where the Emperor resided. There, they saw the Prince of Yu, Li Hongyuan, coming from the other direction.

Jiang Ning glanced at him, guessing that he must be coming from Concubine Jin’s place.

Last night when he left, he was bloodied and his face somber, but now, in a moon-white robe with white jade in his hair, he was still as clean and handsome as ever.

His expression was also calm.

Li Hongyuan immediately spotted the siblings and the two children.

He approached them.

Jiang Yi saluted: “This officer greets your Highness.”

“Dispense with the formalities.” Li Hongyuan waved his hand slightly and looked at Jiang Ning, “Why bring the children to the palace?”

“It is the Emperor’s summons.”

“Oh.” Li Hongyuan nodded, asked no more, and instructed the eunuch at the door to go in and report, “Don’t let the women and children stand at the door in the cold, it’s you who’ll take the blame if they catch a chill!”

The eunuch could hardly afford such responsibility, so he quickly went in to inform.

Moments later, the eunuch came out, smilingly said, “The Emperor summons the Prince of Yu, Jiang Ning, and the Imperial grandchildren.”

Jiang Yi wasn’t mentioned.

As a newly appointed editor of the Imperial Academy, Jiang Yi was not at the level where he could see the Emperor at any time. After watching his sister enter, he turned around and went about his own business..