This spring hunt outing was filled with sudden incidents, few of which pleased Emperor He. Especially en route, the dense, swirling crows overhead cried out with their crude, hoarse calls of mourning.
This was certainly not a good omen.
Not until the news that the Fourth Prince Consort was fiercely vomiting, and the Imperial Physician diagnosed a pregnancy pulse, which was revealed by Princess Consort Jing, did Emperor He finally manage a smile. He repeatedly uttered "good" three times.
There are taboos associated with the first three months. The news had not yet spread, known only within the Imperial Family.
Empress Zou inevitably admonished the Crown Princess Consort sitting beside her.
"Over these years, the Fourth Prince Mansion has had one piece of good news after another. Last year, they were blessed with a divine son, and now, it seems the Fourth Prince Consort is pregnant again. In contrast, the Eastern Palace is cold and quiet."
