Chapter 378: A Kingdom Without a Queen

Chapter 378

Thus, the days continued to pass smoothly for another ten days or so.

By the second month, Zhao Hua was already eight months pregnant with this child.

Xiao Jingheng was extremely anxious about her pregnancy this time, and no longer allowed her to walk around freely in private.

However, this was not to restrict her freedom, but rather, wherever Zhao Hua wanted to go, Xiao Jingheng would accompany her side, attentively protecting her, for fear that even the slightest accident would happen to her.

His meticulous care and consideration, if given to any other imperial consort, would surely make her feel extremely grateful.

But for Zhao Hua, it only made her feel strangely uncomfortable all over.

On this day, the weather was sunny and clear. The flowers in the courtyard vied in beauty, with butterflies dancing and orioles singing.

The air unique to spring days, mixed with the mouth-watering fragrance of the moist soil and the overpowering aroma of the flowers,

Along with the soft pouring daylight, warmly shone on people, depicting a rare peaceful beauty.

Seizing this fine day, Zhao Hua had originally wanted to rest for a while, quietly reading a book.

But before she could calm down, she suddenly heard loud noises from outside the door,

Which were the sounds of court ladies coming and going, following and leading each other.

Without even looking, she knew that it was Xiao Jingheng who had come again.

Her good mood was shattered in an instant. Zhao Hua helplessly rolled her eyes. She was too lazy to even stand up and welcome him with a smiling face.

She just pretended not to hear anything and continued to sit comfortably reading her book.

Soon after, she heard light footsteps slowly approaching her,

And then a gentle male voice with a hint of laughter sounded behind her,

"What are you looking at? So focused?"

Zhao Hua’s fingertips that were turning the pages of the book twitched slightly. She suddenly turned her head back and after her eyes met Xiao Jingheng’s, she said in surprise:

"Xiao Lang has come?"

She made a gesture to get up to greet him. Xiao Jingheng had already quickly sat down beside her, and kissed her forehead in passing.

"Why are you reading the Book of Poetry today?"

"This..." Hearing Jiang Deshun's embarrassment, Zhao Hua leaned against Xiao Jingheng's shoulder and said gently,

“The ministers coming to find Xiao Lang at this time must be about some extremely important matter. If Xiao Lang were to neglect state affairs because he was accompanying this concubine, the guilt would be too much for this concubine to bear.”

Xiao Jingheng was silent for a while before reluctantly sighing,

"Alright then. I’ll come to see you again later."

After the imperial carriage departed Chang Le Palace, it headed straight for the State Council Chamber.

The three officials had been respectfully waiting outside the State Council Chamber for quite some time.

As soon as they saw Xiao Jingheng arrive, they paid their respects according to full court etiquette. Before Xiao Jingheng could enter and take a seat, Lord Yang from the Ministry of Agriculture hurriedly reported,

“I beg to report to Your Majesty that the Capital City is suffering from insect pest damages...”

“Pest damages?” Xiao Jingheng said strangely, “Last year, there was continuous heavy snowfall in the Capital City during winter, and then it was a warm spring after New Year’s Eve. How could there still be pest damages under such circumstances?”

Lord Yang wiped the illusory sweat from his forehead and explained, “This outbreak of pest damages is something the Capital City has never experienced before. The pests are plant lice and gray cutworms, both of which feed on young mulberry sprouts. Their sudden outbreak has caused all the mulberry trees on the outskirts of the Capital City to be stripped bare of new sprouts...”

Prefect Yin bowed to Xiao Jingheng and picked up where Lord Yang left off,

“Although the Capital City cannot compare with Suzhou and Hangzhou as major centers of agriculture and textile production, many commoners still make a living through textile-related work. Now that the mulberry trees have fallen victim to these pests, the silkworms in spring will have no food left to eat, making it difficult for them to spin silk cocoons. The common people in the Capital City have already started voicing grievances over this matter...”

“Grievances?” Xiao Jingheng angrily waved his sleeve in displeasure, “For natural disasters, the imperial court will naturally think of ways to provide disaster relief. What do they have to complain about?”

“They are complaining about Your Majesty.”

Yan Qi, who had been frowning with a stern face without saying a word, suddenly burst out this sentence at that moment.

It made Xiao Jingheng's face even darker as he glared at him,

"What else does Counselor Yan want to say?"

Yan Qi slightly bowed to Xiao Jingheng, then loudly declared as if with bells and drums ringing,

“As the common people say, ever since the passing of Empress Jia Rui, the annual Silkworm Worship Ceremony in March has not been held for over four years now. The Silkworm Worship Ceremony is hosted by the Empress, who would lead the ladies of the imperial harem and female court officials to worship the silkworm god Leizu, and personally pick mulberry leaves to feed silkworms, praying to the heavens for the prosperity of the silk industry.

The importance of the Silkworm Worship Ceremony is comparable to the First Farming Ceremony when Your Majesty would lead all the nobles. With the silkworms now neglected, it has given rise to abnormal changes in the heavens. This pestilence has so far only affected the Capital City, but if word of this were to spread to Suzhou and Hangzhou, would it not stir the commoners who have just begun recovering from the previous flood's devastation into renewed days and nights of livelihood worries?"

At this point, Yan Qi suddenly knelt down heavily in front of Xiao Jingheng, loudly and sonorously declaring,

“A nation cannot go one day without a succeeding empress. I beseech Your Majesty to make arrangements early and establish a new Empress as soon as possible, to stabilize the hearts of the people!"