10
Big Pig Hoof
Early the next morning, Lin Qingran was still asleep when Shaoyao woke her up, saying that someone from the palace had come and Empress Qi wanted to see her.
While reading the book, Lin Qingran had come across descriptions of the emperor and empress, stating that the empress had never enjoyed the emperor’s favor.
But Lin Qingran always felt something was off—the emperor’s behavior didn’t seem like he had no feelings for the empress, though she couldn’t quite figure out the specifics.
Since she couldn’t make sense of it, she decided not to dwell on it. Lin Qingran didn’t want to trouble herself, and matters concerning the major antagonist needed to be carefully considered over time.
After getting ready, the Lin family’s carriage set off for the palace.
Empress Qi didn’t summon Lin Qingran to Kunning Palace but chose the Eastern Palace instead, perhaps intending to see Lin Qingran while also checking on her son, since Xiao Heng wasn’t in a condition to move around.
Arriving at the Eastern Palace again, Lin Qingran’s mood had shifted. Since Xiao Heng was still alive, she needed to be even more cautious.
“Miss Lin, this way, please.”
A sharp, raspy voice sounded ahead—distinctly recognizable as a eunuch’s. The person was chubby, and Lin Qingran knew this was Yuanbao, the eunuch who served Xiao Heng.
“It’s Yuanbao. I’m coming,” Lin Qingran said, somewhat surprised, as Yuanbao hadn’t been particularly friendly to the original host before.
But one shouldn’t underestimate this eunuch. He had grown up with Xiao Heng since childhood, and Xiao Heng treated him like a younger brother, so his status in the Eastern Palace was naturally exceptional.
Yet Yuanbao wasn’t the type to bully others based on his position. Even in the palace, a place rife with intrigue, he remained pure-hearted.
Yuanbao hadn’t been sent to the palace to become a eunuch. Instead, Xiao Heng had encountered him outside the palace. Due to a congenital condition, Yuanbao’s father had nearly beaten him to death, but Xiao Heng intervened, saved him, and brought him back to the palace.
From this perspective, it seemed Xiao Heng wasn’t entirely a heartless antagonist.
Indeed, the author seemed determined to vilify Xiao Heng unnecessarily.
Yuanbao quickly nodded. He usually didn’t care much for this Miss Lin, but after witnessing her deep affection for his Crown Prince over the past couple of days, he had come to regard her as one of “their own” from the bottom of his heart.
“Miss Lin, no need to hurry. Her Majesty ordered me to wait here and escort you over,” Yuanbao said with a smile, his chubby cheeks jiggling adorably.
Lin Qingran felt a slight itch in her hands, wanting to pinch Yuanbao’s cheeks.
But that wouldn’t be appropriate. Even though Yuanbao was a eunuch, she couldn’t be too physically familiar with him, or it might invite criticism.
Moreover, the original host’s demeanor was that of a proper young lady from a noble family—as long as it didn’t involve Xiao Heng, she was fine.
“Thank you, Yuanbao. Let’s go then, we mustn’t keep Her Majesty waiting.”
“Very well.” Yuanbao smiled and led Lin Qingran to Lizheng Hall, stopping at the entrance. “Miss Lin, you may go straight in. Her Majesty has given instructions.”
Lin Qingran nodded in acknowledgment and stepped into the hall.
Xiao Heng was still lying in bed, looking slightly better than the day before but still pale.
By the window, there was a soft stool, and seated on it was a woman exuding an air of nobility.
The woman appeared to be in her early thirties. Her attire wasn’t overly elaborate, but she carried an immense dignity, sitting so regally that one hardly dared to look directly at her. She was none other than the current Empress Qi.
“Your subject’s daughter pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress and Your Highness the Crown Prince,” Lin Qingran said, performing a curtsy.
Empress Qi smiled gently, covering her lips with her hand. “Ranran is here. Why so formal today? You always used to call him Crown Prince gege.”
Lin Qingran instinctively glanced at Xiao Heng, who remained expressionless, not even sparing her a glance.
Seeing this, Lin Qingran felt exasperated.
[Why would someone as gentle, virtuous, and beautiful as Empress Qi have such a son?]
[Look at this dog man acting all high and mighty—so infuriating! He acts like his eyes are on the top of his head. Tsk tsk tsk, I can’t even stand to look.]
Xiao Heng paused. Since when did he have eyes on the top of his head? He was just silent because his wound hurt.
Outwardly, Lin Qingran pretended to be somewhat embarrassed.
“Your Majesty, please don’t tease me. When I entered the palace earlier, my grandfather reminded me to be mindful of propriety.”
Empress Qi chuckled softly. “It’s fine. We’ll be family soon. I hope you’ll treat the palace as your own home and feel at ease. By the way, when I was still in my maiden days, I had some friendship with your mother. After I entered the palace, we lost touch. I never expected His Majesty would arrange a marriage between you and the Crown Prince, but I’m quite pleased with it.”
“Your Majesty is so kind,” Lin Qingran said with a smile.
[Oh my, Empress Qi is truly so gentle. How could that big pig’s trotter bear to give her the cold shoulder?]
Xiao Heng was taken aback. What was a “big pig’s trotter”? Was it referring to a person?
The one giving his mother the cold shoulder… Was the “big pig’s trotter” his father?
Even though Xiao Heng was usually composed, he was still startled. He hadn’t expected Lin Qingran to be so audacious—calling him a dog man was one thing, but even daring to refer to the Emperor as a “big pig’s trotter”?
[I remember reading somewhere that the big pig’s trotter isn’t actually heartless toward Empress Qi. It seems Empress Qi has some unresolved issues and has been rejecting him.]
[Right, I think Empress Qi will soon be discovered to be pregnant, but a few days later, it’ll be found that she lost the baby, which enraged the big pig’s trotter. But it wasn’t as if Empress Qi intentionally lost the child—she didn’t even know she was pregnant. In the end, it was the big pig’s trotter’s fault.]
[Wait, I think it’s happening by the end of the month. They said she was two months pregnant, so does that mean Empress Qi is already pregnant now?]
This was mentioned around chapter fifty-something in the book, and Lin Qingran remembered it clearly—she had even cursed the emperor back then.
Unfortunately, the story mainly focused on the male and female leads, with little detail about other characters.
Hearing this, Xiao Heng’s pupils contracted sharply. He subtly glanced at Empress Qi’s abdomen out of the corner of his eye before quickly shifting his gaze back to Lin Qingran.
Was his mother pregnant?
Empress Qi noticed her son looking at Lin Qingran, and her smile deepened.
“I heard that Ranran was weeping bitterly in the ancestral hall yesterday and even coughed up blood. I hope you’re feeling better now?”
Lin Qingran smiled sheepishly. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I’m fine now.”
“That’s good to hear.” Empress Qi then turned her gaze to Xiao Heng. “Crown Prince, Ranran is a good girl and genuinely cares for you. Don’t make her sad.”
As if recalling something, a flicker of pain passed through Empress Qi’s eyes.
Xiao Heng had calmed down considerably and was now forming some ideas, wanting to test whether Lin Qingran’s words held any truth.
“Mother, rest assured, I will treat Lin Qingran well.” Xiao Heng glanced at Lin Qingran before turning back to Empress Qi. “Mother, I suddenly feel a pain in my chest.”
Empress Qi immediately grew tense and was about to speak when a loud announcement echoed from outside.
“His Majesty has arrived!”
[Wow, the big pig’s trotter is here.]