Such a big fuss, he’s really afraid of revealing the truth.

"Isn’t the diagnosis finished yet?" An Ning frowned.

At that moment she almost couldn’t help stepping forward to diagnose herself.

The Imperial Physician trembled, "Your humble servant will hurry, hurry..."

Xiao Luming naturally knew what the Imperial Physician was hesitating about.

He said coldly, "There’s no need for the Imperial Physician to diagnose, the Empress is not pregnant."

As soon as the words were spoken.

Everyone looked at Xiao Luming.

An Ning frowned.

She instantly understood why Luming was so certain.

So the consummation during the wedding was just a facade.

She had been happy for nothing.

"Then what’s wrong with the Empress?" An Ning asked the Imperial Physician.

The Imperial Physician, seeing the Emperor speak, slightly relaxed, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor. The Empress is just suffering from a cold, that’s why she has vomiting reactions. Your humble servant will go back to prepare two doses of medicine for her, and after taking them, she’ll be completely well."

"Good." An Ning responded, "Retire and prepare the medicine."

"Your humble servant takes leave."

The Imperial Physician departed.

Xie Qianyun touched her own belly.

So she wasn’t pregnant?!

It scared her a lot.

She really wasn’t ready to be a mother.

Qiu Yin beside her was dying of embarrassment.

She was the one who spread the rumor about the Empress being pregnant, resulting in a big misunderstanding.

"Qianyun, how do you feel? Where do you feel unwell?" An Ning asked gently.

No hint of disappointment for not being pregnant.

"Mother, it’s just a bit of nausea, lacking energy."

"Make sure to obediently take the medicine prepared by the Imperial Physician later."

"Okay, thank you for your care, mother." Xie Qianyun respectfully, "Mother, are you disappointed that I’m not pregnant?"

"Why would I be?" An Ning gently touched Xie Qianyun’s hair, "You’re still young, there’s no rush."

"Thank you, mother." Xie Qianyun instantly beamed with joy.

"But Luming’s age is not small anymore." An Ning mentioned casually.

"Mother, don’t worry. I will surely work hard to have the concubines give the Emperor offspring." Xie Qianyun promised.

An Ning smiled and didn’t say much, "Then rest well, you’ll need to take care a lot of the matters in the harem."

"Mmm." Xie Qianyun nodded obediently.

An Ning gave a few more reminders before she left.

Returned to Fengqi Palace.

Xiao Jinxing was sitting on a soft couch practicing calligraphy.

He casually asked, "How was it? Is she pregnant?"

"No." An Ning sat down and took a sip of tea, "Apparently, they haven’t consummated."

"..." Xiao Jinxing put down his pen and ink.

"I’m not in a hurry either." An Ning said, "Qianyun is indeed still young."

Xiao Jinxing drank some tea, "But the royal family needs heirs, still need to urge Luming."

An Ning nodded slightly.

"Has Qianyun been behaving more properly lately?" Xiao Jinxing asked again.

"Probably not much change." An Ning said, "Today I bumped into Luming, Luming’s right eye was bruised, probably beaten by Qianyun. I heard Luming let Qianyun practice boxing with him."

Xiao Jinxing frowned, saying, "Still need to teach Qianyun some manners, after all, she’s the mother of the nation, can’t let her be laughed at."

"This matter truly isn’t something we can rush." An Ning said seriously, "I’m not saying you’re wrong, I genuinely like Qianyun’s personality and also feel Luming is too stiff and needs a girl like Qianyun to bring him more joy in life. Haven’t you noticed the palace has become much livelier these days?"

"But..."

"I understand your concerns. My point is, Qianyun was raised under the tutelage of Song Yanqing and Xie Ruotong. Even their education couldn’t make Qianyun into a graceful lady, do you think we have the ability to change her? Qianyun is not someone who blindly conforms. I even feel Qianyun being unruly and making noise in the palace is partly intentional, a silent protest against this arranged marriage. But Qianyun is a filial child; she won’t do things excessively to truly lose her composure and implicate her entire family."

Xiao Jinxing pursed his lips.

"I’ve also asked my father, he personally led the etiquette lessons for Qianyun. Qianyun’s learning ability is incredibly strong. Did she make any mistakes during the coronation ceremony? After all, being the daughter of that old fox Song Yanqing, how could her intelligence differ? Qianyun is smart!"

Xiao Luming nodded, agreeing with An Ning’s perspective.

"So, the only real way to change Qianyun is if Qianyun wholeheartedly wants to change, and the only way for her to truly change is if she falls in love with Luming, truly accepts the marriage between her and Luming." An Ning said, "So this takes time and can’t be rushed."

"Do you think Luming and Qianyun can truly develop feelings?" Xiao Jinxing was uncertain.

After all, no matter how he viewed it, Luming and Qianyun indeed seemed like mismatched people.

"Of course they can." An Ning said firmly, "Qianyun’s such a wonderful girl, Luming will surely come to like her. It just takes time for him to understand and appreciate a girl like Qianyun, instead of deeply believing that all women should be like Anqi to be considered outstanding. As for whether Qianyun will like Luming... without exaggeration, Luming is perfect in many aspects. If he adjusts his personality, no woman wouldn’t like him. It just depends on whether he can show sincerity!"