The couple was so excited about the first fetal movement that they stayed up until midnight, but the baby didn't move again, as if it was just saying hello and then fell asleep again.

Zhao Xiheng couldn't force herself to sleep, fearing it would affect the baby's normal development.

Wei Li held her close, gently touching her abdomen as if she were touching a rare treasure, or like a child who had just received a new toy.

Zhao Xiheng felt itchy in her sleep and mumbled to him, "Stop touching me, I want to sleep."

Wei Li kissed the corner of her mouth, and sure enough, he withdrew his hand and did not continue.

The next morning, as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Wei Li propping his head up. His eyes lit up when he saw that she was awake.

His face was paler than usual, but his eyes were frighteningly dark and bright.

Zhao Xiheng unconsciously tugged at the corner of the blanket: "You didn't sleep all night, did you?"

"Bullshit, do you think I'm that easily fazed?" He stopped abruptly mid-sentence as Zhao Xiheng's hand tightened around his waist.

"Take back your swear words." Zhao Xiheng looked up at him fiercely. "Don't set a bad example for the children."

Wei Li silently shut his mouth, remembering that the little one was moving and might be able to hear him talking. He knew that talking like this would have a bad influence on the child.

"Then let me touch him again," Wei Li said to Zhao Xiheng. "After I touch him again, I'll go practice calligraphy and read books."

Zhao Xiheng lay flat on her back, looking stingy. "Just a little touch is allowed."

After touching it for a while, Wei Li went to the study feeling satisfied and refreshed, showing no signs of having stayed up all night.

As soon as the families of the prefects arrived, they sent people to inquire about Zhao Xiheng's daily routine, preparing to find a time to visit her.

Zhao Xiheng hinted that she would be free these next few days and that they could come anytime.

Wei Li's infamous reputation made Zhao Xiheng a figure to be feared and flattered, for fear of offending him unintentionally.

This is exactly the same as what Wei Li said but didn't mean when he married her.

"One prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer." His reputation determines Zhao Xiheng's reputation.

The attitude others have toward him is the same attitude they have toward Zhao Xiheng.

But Zhao Xiheng was not led astray by everyone who wanted to kill her.

As Wei Li walked from the main courtyard to his study, he saw many unfamiliar faces, both young and old, greeting him. He realized that these were probably the prefects who had already moved into the west courtyard, waiting for him along the way.

He was in a good mood early in the morning, and when he saw the first one, he didn't feel anything. But when he saw the second, third, and fourth, he ran out of patience halfway through. These people, whether young or old, always tried to talk to him a few more times after greeting him.

Wei Li was extremely annoyed and pointed at the people, yelling, "Get back to the West Courtyard! Who gave you permission to wander around the East Courtyard? Don't let me see you again!"

These prefects were in a frenzy. Since they couldn't break through Wei Li's defenses and gain his favor, they could only try to get close to Zhao Xiheng.

So while Zhao Xiheng was still eating breakfast, several family members were already waiting outside.

Amidst the fragrance of clothes and the tinkling of ornaments, the ladies of the household had their hair styled high into the clouds. Zhao Xiheng subconsciously felt that she, as the wife of her lord, was too plain.

Zhao Xiheng thought so, and the families of the prefects below naturally thought so too. They originally thought they would see an extremely noble woman. After all, she was a princess of the imperial family and Wei Li's wife. She couldn't possibly be dressed as poorly as they were.

Despite her slender figure, Zhao Xiheng sat at the head of the table, her appearance and demeanor far surpassing that of the others. Her delicate features and charming eyes did not suggest that she was someone to be trifled with.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone took their seats in turn, and the maids served them tea one by one.

They were not familiar with each other, but these ladies were all shrewd and adept at social interaction, so they naturally had good entry points.

"I am Lady Wang, wife of the Prefect of Changli County. I heard that you are pregnant. This is a prescription that my mother specially had someone prescribe when I was pregnant with my son and daughter. It is helpful for a smooth delivery. I am presenting it to you today. Please accept it." As soon as I sat down, someone spoke first, presenting a box to show their identity.

A gift may not be expensive, but it may be useful.

Zhao Xiheng nodded her thanks and accepted the gift. The others were secretly anxious, so they competed to present their gifts, afraid that if they spoke too late, Zhao Xiheng would not have a deep impression of them. The scene became lively for a while.

Whatever was given to her, Zhao Xiheng accepted it all calmly, without surprise or delight, and made no promises. But she did accept it, which made the ladies feel somewhat at ease.

Since husband and wife are one, and Zhao Xiheng was willing to accept their gifts, it means that Wei Li was not overly dissatisfied with their husbands.

Zhao Xiheng sipped her tea, sighing inwardly. When was the last time she was flattered like this?

She couldn't remember; it was back when her father was still alive.

These people did not come alone; most of them brought their young daughters. The girls, who were about the same age as Zhao Xiheng, sat on embroidered stools behind the lady. They were all delicate and beautiful, and very well-behaved.

Halfway through the conversation, some people pulled their daughter out from behind them.

"Madam is in her prime, while I am old and afraid I will not be able to talk to her. If Madam does not mind, you can call my youngest daughter to talk to you in your spare time. At least she can keep you company."

They spoke sincerely, so Zhao Xiheng replied with some polite words, "The young ladies are about my age, and I like them very much. If you have time, you can come and visit me."

She was half sincere and half perfunctory.

Zhao Xiheng had few close friends since childhood. In Pingzhou, Chen Ruonan was one, but compared to others, there were far too few. It would be good to make more friends with young women of similar age, especially since they were all beautiful and she liked them very much.

But seeing that these ladies were all so timid and obsequious towards her, and that the young ladies were following suit, Zhao Xiheng probably wouldn't be able to get close to her either. She didn't have high hopes of making friends with them.

The Jiangdong prefect's summary report was well-written, and Zhao Xiheng paid special attention to his wife.

With high cheekbones and shrewd, almond-shaped eyes, she looked at him for a few moments before turning her gaze away, becoming more hesitant about the Jiangdong Prefect.

People came and went in a flurry. Zhao Xiheng kept her body tense until she could no longer hear any noise, then she relaxed her shoulders and called to Xiao Tao and the others, "Quickly, quickly, rub my back."

"I'm exhausted. Welcoming and seeing off guests is no human job." She leaned back lazily on the couch, kicked off her shoes, and wished she could catch up on some sleep.

Now, when she thinks about how her mother not only had to deal with those noblewomen at the beginning of each month, but also manage the harem, which was several times more tiring than her own, she can't help but feel a little guilty. At that time, she was young and ignorant, and always caused trouble for her mother, which was really wrong of her.

The ladies went back, shared the news with their husbands, and then whispered amongst themselves behind closed doors.

The governor of Changli County pointed to his neck and said, "I saw bite marks on my lord's neck today."

His wife, Madam Wang, was shocked. "I noticed his wife's belly is already showing, and the two of them are still doing *that*."

"Young people are healthy, and our lord only has one wife, so sometimes it's inevitable..."

"How could a princess of a fallen kingdom manage to keep her lord so firmly under her control?" The governor of Changli County pondered.

Madam Wang clapped her hands and said, "Huh, you have no idea how beautiful that lady is. If I were a man, I would definitely favor her too. Besides, the young couple has just gotten married and will be inseparable for the next three years. If they say they won't allow concubines, then naturally they won't."

The two men thought this made sense, and while Zhao Xiheng was still favored, they would try to flatter her and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. Once the Great Zhou Dynasty was completely destroyed, Zhao Xiheng would no longer be a novelty, her beauty would no longer be as splendid as before, and she would no longer have a powerful family to rely on. Who knew what would become of her?

Wang sighed inwardly, but then cursed herself for thinking such nonsense. If Zhao Xiheng gave birth to a son this time, he would be the lord's eldest son and first child. Even if a new person replaced the old one in the future, it wouldn't be too bad for the sake of the child.

The couple had a clear vision; they didn't intend to send someone between them while Zhao Xiheng was enjoying great favor. If they were going to send someone to whisper in her ear, they would wait until Wei Li took his first concubine before sending someone over.

Zhao Xiheng's words were just a casual remark, but some people took them seriously.

Some were genuine and sincere; the young girl was honest and kind, and she didn't find it annoying to talk to her. Others, however, had ulterior motives.

If it happens once or twice when Wei Li is around, it's a coincidence; if it happens three or four times, it must be intentional.

Zhao Xiheng cast a long, meaningful glance at Wei Li, who was shuffling the cards. Wei Li, oblivious to her, was still grumbling irritably, "Zhao Xiheng, why do you always make me shuffle the cards?"

The two of them fought seventeen or eighteen times tonight, and Wei Li washed all of them.

"Young lady from the Liu family has arrived."

"My mother's here today, Zhao Xiheng, you have to shuffle the cards for me too." Wei Li slammed the cards on the table in frustration, turned around and ordered, "Tell that Liu family brat to get lost!"

Zhao Xiheng smiled, leaned back casually, and picked up a card at random. "She's a young and beautiful lady, the youngest daughter of the prefect. She's come here several times already."

Wei Li was taken aback. Hearing Zhao Xiheng say that the young lady had come several times, he hurriedly asked, "You like her? Should I have someone call her back?"

Calling them back wouldn't be a bad idea; that way, someone could shuffle the deck for the two of them.

"I don't like it." Zhao Xiheng shook her head.

"Then why did you bring her up? Let alone the daughter of the governor, I don't know how many times I've scolded her father. Why would I care about his daughter?" Wei Li followed her as she drew cards. "If you don't like her, then don't let her come. She's probably not a good person."

Zhao Xiheng felt a little better and fed him a cherry, saying, "You go first this time."

Wei Li was flattered and even a little flustered. "You didn't cheat, did you...?"

"Pah!" Zhao Xiheng muttered under her breath, full of disdain. "I've always done the right thing."

Wei Li pinched her cheek, "What's wrong with you? You won't let me swear, so you swear yourself?"

"Where did I say that? Besides, I didn't stop you when you were swearing just now." Zhao Xiheng slapped his hand away.