Chapter 218 Return II

As the head of the harem, Empress Cheng could not keep clinging to her son forever. She had to deal with the court officials and the women of the inner palace, and also host a banquet with the emperor for the returning soldiers.

It was an hour later when Xie Shang finally escaped Empress Cheng's constant entanglements. Jiang Fenghua, heavily pregnant, was also granted permission by the Emperor not to greet guests like the other princesses.

The palace was bustling with activity, with stewards, maids, and eunuchs moving about at the banquet.

Xie Shang pulled her into the inner palace and headed towards Chenxi Palace. He then dismissed the maids and guards who were following her. Jiang Fenghua, with one hand held by him and the other protecting her belly, walked a little slower.

Seeing that she could no longer walk, he asked her, "I will carry you."

Jiang Fenghua pointed to her belly, "I'm heavier than a pig now."

Xie Shang refused to believe it and was about to reach out when Jiang Fenghua quickly dodged, saying, "I know Your Highness can carry the child, but these are extraordinary times. Please don't hurt the child. I can walk by myself."

Xie Shang only wanted to take her back to Chenxi Palace to ease his longing, but she seemed to be unavailable at the moment.

As they walked, the palace maids and eunuchs around them frequently glanced at them and covered their mouths to chuckle. Xie Shang, without any restraint, stole a kiss on the corner of her lips. He wanted to hear something from Jiang Fenghua that he wanted to hear. After meeting for so long, she hadn't said a word. Was she still angry about Su Tingwan's matter?

"Ruan Ruan, I like you, and I want to be with you forever." Xie Shang suddenly confessed out of the blue.

Jiang Fenghua smiled and replied, "I also like Your Highness. Aren't we together? We've been married for so long, and we're about to have a baby."

"Don't try to fool me. The kind of 'love' I'm talking about isn't the kind between ordinary couples. It's about being inseparable from each other, and you being inseparable from me. It's not about being polite and respectful. I want you to open your heart to me with love." He still remembered the argument they had when he left Beijing. These were the words he wanted to say to her then, but she never gave him an answer.

Jiang Fenghua felt a surge of emotion. Had he sensed her insincerity? She concealed her true feelings and smiled sweetly, "My love for the Prince is genuine."

"Then how can you prove that you've been thinking of me all along?"

Thinking about him? How can you think about him? Does it mean you have to be a lovesick fool every day to be considered missing him? She's very busy in Shengjing too.

The Xie Shang of today is completely different from the Xie Shang of his past life. Could it be that he was also reborn and decided to love her well in order to make up for what he owed her?

Jiang Fenghua shook off the jumbled thoughts in her head.

Xie Shang noticed she was lost in thought. "What are you thinking about?"

"Your Highness, come with me." Jiang Fenghua took his hand and walked towards Chenxi Palace again. This time she walked in front, and he followed her slowly forward.

Aoxue and Lianye followed far behind. Their mission was to protect the princess. The prince had told them to leave, and they really didn't know where to go.

Seeing them heading towards Chenxi Palace, Lianye naturally felt sorry for her young mistress. She had just seen Ye Susu's figure; her eyes were fixed on the prince with affection, as if there was something between them. The princess must have seen it too, but she just didn't say anything.

She muttered to herself, "I wonder if taking a carriage would be faster. When did the prince become so oblivious? The princess is heavily pregnant, and he doesn't even care about the baby in her belly."

Lin Feng suddenly rushed in front of them, "Miss Lianye is criticizing the Prince again."

Lianye glanced at him and readily admitted, "Of course, I was criticizing your prince."

"You're getting bolder and bolder, daring to criticize the Prince. Aren't you afraid the Prince will change your master?" Lin Feng deliberately teased her.

"Replace her with Miss Ye?" Lianye retorted as if she'd been shot. "She's a celestial being! The Prince is practically begging to send maids to her side. It's none of your Prince's business who I end up with! Back then, Guard Lin kept calling her Miss Ye. Could it be that Guard Lin has taken a liking to her too?"

"I didn't do anything to you, why are you yelling at me? Who's interested in her?" Lin Feng felt extremely wronged. She came back without even a welcome, and instead made up some baseless accusations. Are all women this unreasonable?

"Of course someone has taken a liking to her!" She was too lazy to pay attention to him. She had just heard that the prince had a special feeling for Ye Susu, and she was afraid that the prince's mansion would be adding a new concubine. Her young lady was still heavily pregnant.

The young lady may not care, but the maids can't help but feel sad for her. If the prince really takes Ye Susu as a concubine, they can only watch helplessly.

Lianye didn't bother arguing with him and walked away. Lin Feng glanced at Aoxue and asked, "What's wrong with her?"

Aoxue said, "Lianye said she was born to be the princess's person and will die to be the princess's ghost. You still want to change her master? Are you out of your mind?" Aoxue was also angry about the entanglement between the prince and Ye Susu.

"Does she not want to get married and remain an old maid for the rest of her life?" That's what he really meant.

He thought to himself: Lianye is quite cute, and she's good at cooking. If I marry her, at least I won't go hungry.

"Lianye, wait for me..." Lin Feng chased after her, "I haven't had Lianye's cooking for months, I really miss it."

"Whoever wants to cook for you, go ask your Miss Ye to cook!" Lianye said, her voice like a cannon.

"Is there really nothing between Miss Ye and me?"

"What's going on between that person and her?"

Instantly, Lin Feng dared not speak. He could only guess that the prince might like Ye Susu, and that Ye Susu might also like the prince.

-

Jiang Fenghua brought Xie Shang back to Chenxi Palace. She pointed to the tallest tree in the courtyard, where fresh tender leaves occasionally sprouted from the branches. The sunlight shone on the tender leaves, making people feel that they were full of vitality.

"Your Highness, look up there." Her smile softened, and her voice grew softer, as if afraid of disturbing the lovers in the tree branches.

Xie Shang's mind wasn't on the tree either. He was a little confused and pulled Jiang Fenghua into his arms. "This tree was planted when I was a child. I never expected it to grow so tall."

Jiang Fenghua felt that she and he were not on the same wavelength. This man's mind was full of filthy thoughts whenever he saw her, and she was heavily pregnant.

Xie Shang hugged her and wanted to kiss her, but Jiang Fenghua said, "There is a bird's nest up there, and there is a pair of magpies inside. When the prince is not around, I often come to see them build their nest. It has grown from a little bit to this big. They are still decorating their nest. I wonder what it will look like in the end."

Xie Shang followed her gaze and said, "From now on, a pair of loving magpies will live in the Morning Light Palace. They will have a bunch of babies there, just like Ruan Ruan and I."

"Humans and animals are ultimately different. Magpies have only one mate for life, but humans cannot be monogamous for life," Jiang Fenghua said.

Xie Shang looked at the bird's nest in the tree, where there were indeed two magpies nestled together. The scene was as beautiful as a painting, and time seemed to stand still. "Birds are just birds after all. They don't ask for much, which is why they can be so loyal to each other."

"Ruan Ruan's love for the Prince is unwavering, and Ruan Ruan doesn't ask for much." She sensed the helplessness in his words; there was still a distance between their hearts. Jiang Fenghua couldn't get over it, and Xie Shang couldn't give her any promises.

Although they share the same destination, they are each moving towards their own goals in their own way.

Jiang Fenghua threw herself into his arms, avoiding his gaze, and said things she didn't mean, "These past few months, I've been hoping every day that Your Highness would return safely. I've been missing Your Highness and our children. They also long to see their father. Even if we can't be like birds, I'll be content as long as I know that Your Highness has me in your heart."

Xie Shang loved hearing her sweet words. Sometimes he acted like a child who never grew up and needed her to coax him to be satisfied.

He is a person who desperately craves love.

He held her tightly and planted a deep kiss on her forehead.

With Jiang Fenghua around, he instantly forgot all his feelings for Ye Susu.

Jiang Fenghua thought: If you say that Xie Shang didn't have any other thoughts after spending so much time with Ye Susu, even he himself wouldn't believe it!

Men's inherent flaws can never be eradicated; if he can't remain faithful to one woman, how can he expect her to love him wholeheartedly?

At this moment, Jiang Fenghua suddenly exclaimed, "Your Highness, they kicked me! Just now, it felt like the baby rolled around and moved inside my belly."

Xie Shang was stunned. He placed his hand on her stomach and felt movement inside. He pressed his ear to her belly and heard what sounded like something inside. "Are they greeting me?"

Jiang Fenghua smiled gently, "They must have sensed that their father had returned safely, and they were happy for him too!"

"How amazing, how wonderful." Xie Shang likes children and hopes to have children, but it's all just talk. After all, he doesn't have any real feelings for them yet. But at this moment, he can directly feel their existence, which makes him suddenly excited. They are vibrant lives.

"I also find it amazing. This is probably what people often call blood ties, that blood is thicker than water! We are their parents, so they can sense it." In this life, she only wants to give them the best of everything in the world, without regrets or remorse, only joy and happiness.

"Ruan Ruan, you've worked so hard. Since you became pregnant, I haven't had time to be by your side. From now on, I will be with you every day until you give birth." He held her hand, making a sincere promise, as if to cover up his humility.

Little did she know that after he became the crown prince, he would be so busy that he would rarely see her.

Jiang Fenghua nodded happily, "Yes." I hope so, so you can love them even more.

"Your Highness, shouldn't we go to the banquet? You are a general who has made great contributions. It wouldn't be good if the general wasn't here!" Jiang Fenghua began to flatter him.

Xie Shang pulled her into the house, saying, "Take a nap before you go. Father is busy entertaining General Su right now and doesn't have time for me."

She wanted to say something more, but she was also tired and wanted to take a nap so that she would have the energy to deal with her enemies in the afternoon.