Xiao Zai was swarmed the moment he returned to the throne room. The volume of the arguments going on inside could be heard from behind the closed doors, but it couldn't compare to the cacophony once he stepped inside.
He spent ages answering the same questions. Yes his Grace was fine and so was the child. There really was a child inside him and not just a hearty meal. Several people knew about the pregnancy including the Queen Dowager, his dam, and his Grace's parents, who had even sent out word of their desire to host the child's 100 day ceremony -- Xiao Zai had their letter right there.
That particular point silenced a lot of the discordant voices, who seemed to resign themselves to the fact that this was really happening.
But the question on the tip of everyone's tongue was: how was it possible?
