Chapter 39 The Child

My head is spinning.

But it's not the kind of dizziness where you know absolutely nothing.

His mind was like a bottle of soda that had been shaken violently and then opened, bubbling and releasing lots of bubbles. He was made dizzy by these sweet bubbles.

Sweet?

Zhuang Dongqing was slightly lost in thought.

Cen Yan noticed that his tongue had been lightly bitten.

"Hmm."

He couldn't help but let out some shameful sobs again.

Her waist was wrapped in strong arms, and before she knew it, she was clinging to Cen Yan, holding him tightly.

Sometimes the view was clear, sometimes it seemed shrouded in mist; after a while, the world became surreal.

I can't catch my breath.

The air seemed to follow our breath, becoming humid, hot, and sticky.

Zhuang Dongqing's face was burning hot. She tilted her head back to avoid the kiss, her fair neck exposed as her Adam's apple was captured in a kiss.

Zhuang Dongqing's back began to tremble again.

I don't understand why every part of my body reacts so violently when touched.

This feels unfamiliar.

But it's not unpleasant.

"That's enough, that's enough."

Unable to contain himself, Zhuang Dongqing spoke up, but his voice was broken.

Immediately, his Adam's apple was gently bitten.

Zhuang Dongqing blinked, and tears slid down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying?"

"No, I didn't, I didn't cry..."

He just couldn't control his reaction...

Ugh, how embarrassing.

Her eyes were immediately and gently stroked by fingertips, wiping away her disheveled tears. Zhuang Dongqing kept her eyes tightly closed, turned her face slightly to the side, and tried her best to avoid the gaze falling on her face, her eyelashes trembling incessantly.

"Don't you like it so bright?"

A hoarse voice asked in my ear.

Zhuang Dongqing just shook her head, remaining silent and unwilling to speak.

Cen Yan looked at him for a moment, then suddenly said, "Hold me tight."

Before Zhuang Dongqing could think, his body was lifted into the air again. When he opened his eyes in a panic, the white gauze separating the inside and outside of the room swept over his head. Zhuang Dongqing was stunned. The surrounding light dimmed in an instant, and then he was put down.

He sat down... on his own bed.

What a terrible location.

What a terrible scene.

What a terrible atmosphere.

Zhuang Dongqing's face flushed red again, steaming and rising upwards. The next moment, her head was pressed into the other person's arms. "Take a break."

“Don’t think too much,” Cen Yan swallowed, his throat dry, “The injury on my shoulder hasn’t fully healed yet.”

Zhuang Dongqing: "..."

Zhuang Dongqing deliberately buried her face closer to Cen Yan's waist.

Ashamed of the hidden meaning within it.

"...You didn't have to tell me."

Zhuang Dongqing said in a muffled voice.

Cen Yanhan replied with a smile, "No, that won't do. You've taken care of me for so long these past few days, haven't you?"

"I didn't..." I didn't expect there would be any follow-up.

Cen Yan interrupted, "Yes, yes, our young master is upright and honorable..."

After a pause, he said softly, "It's me who's thinking."

"..."

shameless!

Zhuang Dongqing fell completely silent, unable to speak, and her face burned again.

Yeah, I can't control it.

At the same time, within the time it took Cen Yan to say a few words, a jumble of thoughts began to flood his mind... Help!

Fortunately, Cen Yan really gave him a break, and after that he didn't say anything, Cen Yan also quieted down.

After an unknown amount of time, once Zhuang Dongqing had calmed his racing thoughts and collected his breath, Cen Yan asked him again, "Do I still smell of fragrance?"

Zhuang Dongqing abandoned all shame, burying her face in the other person's body, and took a deep breath in that position.

Zhuang Dongqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. "...It's gone."

Upon hearing this, Cen Yan gave a short laugh.

"?"

"Want to know what I'm laughing at? Don't try to hide when I tell you."

Although he couldn't see Zhuang Dongqing's expression, Cen Yan seemed to know what he was thinking.

Zhuang Dongqing was still feeling unwell and hadn't made up his mind yet, so Cen Yan didn't give him any more time to choose.

"You sound quite relieved, and logically I should feel relieved too, but... I feel rather disappointed?"

Cen Yan: "I found it amazing and couldn't help but laugh."

Actually, he was laughing at himself; he was just saying one thing and meaning another.

Zhuang Dongqing is done.

She rubbed her burning ears and closed her eyes again: "...Stop talking."

Cen Yan agreed, "Okay."

Zhuang Dongqing heard a hint of coaxing in the word "only".

"..."

He couldn't think about it anymore.

Zhuang Dongqing pretended to be dead again.

After the ostrich shrank back for a while, Cen Yan didn't urge him. Zhuang Dongqing took a deep breath and said, "Alright, are you going to look at him now?"

The sooner you die, the sooner you'll be reborn. Things are already like this, so hurry up and get it over with

After that, he would wash up, and once he was done, he would bury himself completely under the covers and curl up in his own little world.

"Is it okay now?"

Zhuang Dongqing gritted her teeth, "If we delay until next time, it really won't work!"

I can't bear the shame anymore, sob.

Realizing something, Cen Yan gave a low "hmm".

Zhuang Dongqing raised her hand in mid-air, constantly trying to reassure herself. It's okay, he's the child's other father, it's okay, she already promised, it's okay, she's already lost face in front of Cen Yan so many times, one more won't make a difference...

Zhuang Dongqing untied the belt.

Because of his health condition, and fearing it might be bad for the child, none of the clothes he had made after coming to the Prince's residence had a waist sash, so...

It's still easy to take it off.

After removing three straps, Zhuang Dongqing felt a breeze enter her chest, and her toes gripped the ground... It was a bit too easy to take off.

A piece of inner garment hung down.

Zhuang Dongqing swallowed hard, then pulled out another cigarette. A chill ran through him, and he shivered.

"Come and see for yourself."

After stammering for a moment, Zhuang Dongqing closed her eyes.

I simply can't face this scene; I'll just bury my head in the sand.

If you can't see it, it never happened!

Zhuang Dongqing deceived himself.

Cen Yan chuckled again, and Zhuang Dongqing's ears remained red. He gritted her teeth upon hearing this.

Are you nervous?

"No..." Zhuang Dongqing broke down and said honestly, "It's shameful."

Can I lean against this spot?

Cen Yan guided Zhuang Dongqing to lean against the carved pillar of the bed frame. Only then did Zhuang Dongqing belatedly realize that he was still nestled in the other's arms, a position that Cen Yan couldn't bear to look at.

"...Okay, okay."

Without opening her eyes, Zhuang Dongqing said patiently.

He grabbed the bed frame as if it were a lifeline, but held his head high, waiting to be executed.

It's okay, it's okay, it'll be quick, very quick...

The moment Zhuang Dongqing felt her clothes being tugged, she instantly lost her composure. It had only just begun!

It's not fast at all; it can't be fast at all.

Because Cen Yan then said, "Wait for me."

A moment later, he turned around and came back. Although Zhuang Dongqing couldn't see him, he could sense what the other person had done.

Because the light on the eyelids has been intensified...

Cen Yan brought in a lamp, and whimpered.

Before Zhuang Dongqing could react, she felt a chill on her ribs as her clothes were completely ripped open.

Zhuang Dongqing shuddered, her fingers gripping the bed frame tightened even more, and her whole face scrunched up.

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay... Yeah, right!

Don't reach out your hand!

Thinking it would only be a moment, Zhuang Dongqing was surprised when the knuckles rubbed against her skin and spread outwards. "Ahhh!" she cried, opening her eyes. "You..."

She blushed and uttered just one word, but when she saw Cen Yan's expression, she froze.

It wasn't what he was thinking, it wasn't...flirting.

Cen Yan looked very serious, even somewhat solemn.

It didn't seem like she was facing his lower abdomen; it was more like she was dealing with something important.

he……

As her gaze fell, Zhuang Dongqing saw clearly where his finger was pressing—the red line.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Cen Yan asked gently, puzzled.

Zhuang Dongqing shook her head, feeling that compared to Cen Yan, her brain was full of useless information.

"Oh," Cen Yan seemed to realize he had already touched her after asking, and asked regretfully, "Can I touch her?"

"I couldn't resist just now, if you don't like it, that's fine..."

"...Go ahead and touch it." Zhuang Dongqing gave up completely.

Seeing that he no longer closed his eyes, Cen Yan studied his expression for a while, then spread his five fingers and actually pressed them against his lower abdomen. "It's still flat."

"……Um."

Zhuang Dongqing: "Master Zhao said that the pregnancy will be more noticeable later, and the belly won't be too big."

"That's good, at least you'll suffer less."

Cen Yan touched the red line again, tracing its path, which brought a slight itch.

Perhaps it was because Cen Yan's expression was too focused, or perhaps it was because his words were too serious, but as Cen Yan moved, Zhuang Dongqing's mind cleared up of distractions, and he also sensed something else, such as the fact that there really was a life inside him.

"It feels very strange."

Cen Yan's Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke softly.

Zhuang Dongqing is also one of them.

When I first found out, I would have a strange feeling every time I touched my belly.

"After having this thread, have there been any other noticeable changes?"

Cen Yan looked up, his light-colored pupils filled with pure inquiry.

Suppressing her embarrassment, Zhuang Dongqing said, "Yes, at first I just throw up, and then I get very sleepy, including now. I'm lying in a chair to rest, and I can fall asleep without even realizing it."

"My appetite has improved, and I really want to eat..."

"After walking around for a while, I really want to sit down and rest."

With a slight tremor of her eyelashes, Zhuang Dongqing said, "Sometimes I feel excited, and sometimes I feel scared..."

"What are you afraid of?"

With a gentle voice and a pleasant atmosphere, Zhuang Dongqing couldn't help but reply, "Quite a lot."

"At first I was worried that I wouldn't have the money to raise it properly."

"Later I was afraid... afraid..."

Zhuang Dongqing hesitated.

Cen Yan met his gaze but didn't urge him at all. Zhuang Dongqing was gradually affected by his calmness, and after a moment of lowering her eyes, she confessed, "I'm still a little afraid that you won't want him."

"If something happens to me during childbirth, I'm afraid there will be no one to take care of him..."

If it turns out like this, it's better not to have children at all.

Zhuang Dongqing knew all too well what children without parental protection would go through.

Cen Yan was surprised.

He immediately retorted, "Don't say anything unlucky!"

"I……"

"No." Cen Yan said seriously, staring straight at Zhuang Dongqing, "Nothing will happen."

"Master Zhao's medical skills are already very impressive. If you're still not at ease, we can find a few more doctors later, okay?"

Zhuang Dongqing swallowed hard, and after a moment, nodded obediently.

Cen Yan squatted down, reached out and grasped Zhuang Dongqing's hands, looked up at him, and said slowly with a resolute expression:

"There are many good doctors in the fiefdom, and there are many secret techniques in the southern border. Protecting you should not be a problem."

"If you're really worried, I'll have Master Zhao explain it to you."

Looking down, as if thinking of something, Cen Yan smiled again and said, "They are all very concerned about you, and they certainly won't let anything happen to you."

After all, Cen Yan should only have this one child.

With the abbot of Daci Temple's commentary preceding it, everyone regarded Zhuang Dongqing as the apple of their eye.

Zhuang Dongqing nodded again, a little embarrassed, and said, "I just can't help thinking about this situation, but you've already agreed to let him stay..."

"It's the same, whether I agree or not, it's better for the child to have both parents alive."

She actually used the words Zhuang Dongqing had once said to shut him up.

After a moment of silence, Zhuang Dongqing chuckled.

He nodded emphatically, "Yes, that's right."

"Feeling better?"

Zhuang Dongqing stubbornly insisted, "It's not bad."

"Alright, if the young master says no, then no. Now that we've finished watching, shall we continue?"

"?"

Continue with what? What's continuing?

Cen Yan gave Zhuang Dongqing an answer through his actions: he untied the ties of his inner garment and even pulled on the waistband of his trousers.

Zhuang Dongqing stared blankly as he tore it open.

The next moment, Cen Yan placed a kiss on the red line, and Zhuang Dongqing trembled the instant he touched it.

"Continue with the detoxification,"

"Master Zhao said it's best to vent."

The voice was right next to my ear, impossible to shake off, seductive.

"Will you do it yourself, or will I serve the young master like last time?"

Zhuang Dongqing tried to run, but her ankle was grabbed and she couldn't break free. After a moment, she started whimpering again...

...

Less than half an hour later, Cen Yan ordered hot water.

Zhuang Dongqing buried her face in the pillow, completely devastated.

Hearing the sound of water running as Cen Yan slowly washed his hands, she felt utterly ashamed and indignant!

*

When Zhuang Dongqing woke up the next day, she was still in a daze.

The first time was fine, I don't remember it that clearly, but yesterday, yesterday...

Cen Yan even brought in an extra lamp!

That's outrageous!

That's outrageous! That's outrageous!

He must have done it on purpose!

Liu Fu: "Young Master, don't you like the steamed buns?"

Seeing Zhuang Dongqing poking at the bun with all her might with her chopsticks, Liu Fu was puzzled.

"and!"

The answer was also given through gritted teeth.

As he spoke, Zhuang Dongqing poked at the steamed bun several more times with his chopsticks. Looking at the bun's riddled body, Liu Fu fell silent.

Fortunately, Zhuang Dongqing didn't mind the steamed buns that had been poked.

Breakfast was eaten in this strange atmosphere.

I took the medicine between breakfast and lunch.

Zhuang Dongqing took the bowl, took a big gulp as usual, and then...

"puff--"

"Cough, cough cough cough!"

I was caught off guard and vomited it all up.

Liu Fu was also surprised and quickly came over to pat Zhuang Dongqing's back. While patting, he sent someone to invite Master Zhao.

By the time Master Zhao arrived, Zhuang Dongqing had already tried several times, but she really couldn't drink it.

He wanted to drink it, but Liu Fu persuaded him to stop.

"It's bitter and sour. I don't know why, but it's become especially bitter today, and I can't swallow it."

Zhuang Dongqing said.

Master Zhao tasted the remaining medicine at the bottom of the jar, examined the dregs, and confirmed that the taste and the medicinal materials had not changed at all.

What has changed is Zhuang Dongqing's feeling.

Taking the pulse.

Master Zhao: "Has it been lately...?"

Zhuang Dongqing: "Last night."

He squeezed out each word carefully, "The prince came by, and then... he helped me..."

After saying that, he didn't dare to look at Master Zhao at all.

Fortunately, Master Zhao was a professional. After listening to Zhuang Dongqing's pulse, he took her pulse again. He checked both of Zhuang Dongqing's hands before saying, "Actually, her pulse is much better. The toxins are dissipating."

Zhuang Dongqing: "Then this medicine..."

Master Zhao: "It's not the right medicine. Young Master should have realized it too; the medicine can't suppress the toxins."

"Besides, all medicines have some degree of toxicity. Even if the dosage is very small, it's best not to drink it if you can avoid it."

"Even if it doesn't affect the child, it's not worth it if it affects your health."

Zhuang Dongqing: "..."

Realizing something, Zhuang Dongqing looked at Master Zhao, hesitant to speak, yet still wanting to.

Master Zhao gave him a definite answer, "Stop taking the medicine."