The Emperor felt something was amiss, afraid she might be thinking of catching fish, but also afraid that if he didn't let her, his own words would be for naught and that might upset her.
He pondered over his wording and slowly began, "Mmm, well written, your calligraphy is improving. My Lian Hua is quite remarkable." First he would praise her before anything else.
Sure enough, after hearing His Majesty's praise, Little Concubine couldn't help but smile with her eyes crescent-shaped.
Seeing this, he subtly tested further, "The weather has been cold lately, and with you being pregnant, the mist from Huaqing Pool can be too chilly. It's not safe to be too close to the water's edge. Are you perhaps craving fish? Why doesn't His Majesty have someone catch it for you instead?"