Changyue couldn't help but worry because her mistress had been favored for so long but hadn't conceived.

Once, she missed her period for two months in a row, and even Su Yushan thought she was pregnant. However, when the doctor came to diagnose her, he said it was not a pregnancy, but rather menstrual irregularity.

Hongli thought she was weak and asked a doctor to prescribe medicine to regulate her body, but she disliked the taste of the medicine and vomited as soon as she drank it, so she couldn't eat and felt very uncomfortable.

Hongli couldn't bear to see her suffer, so he stopped making her take the medicine. As for the child, he could only leave it to fate.

Although the Fourth Prince does indeed dote on the princess now, Chang Yue has seen too much of the coldness and indifference in the inner quarters, and she is always worried that the Fourth Prince will change his mind. Therefore, she often hopes that her mistress can get pregnant, so that even if she really loses favor in the future, at least she will have a child to comfort her.

Unfortunately, she waited and waited but never received good news from her master; instead, she received good news from someone else in the household.

Since the Fujin entered the household, the other maids, in an effort to curry favor with her, would frequently visit Lanzhao Courtyard to chat with her and build a good relationship.

Xi Lan and Su Yushan were on good terms, so naturally Xi Lan didn't want to go out of her way to please the Fujin. Fucha Gege visited more and more frequently, and Gao Gege and Jin Gege would also visit every few days. Only Chen Gege and Su Yushan rarely visited each other except on the first and fifteenth of the month.

On the fifteenth of September, Su Yushan went to pay her respects to the Fujin according to custom.

On this day, all the maids would gather at Lanzhao Courtyard. When Su Yushan and Xilan entered, several princesses were already present.

Chen Gege sat silently in the mahogany armchair at the far side, while the others chatted and laughed, completely ignoring her. Su Yushan heard Jin Minjing talking to the Fujin as soon as she entered.

"Congratulations, Madam! Oh my! Our household is finally getting a new member. How has your appetite been lately? Are you still able to eat?"

Lady Fucha smiled and replied, "My appetite is alright, but I can't eat greasy food."

Hearing this, Su Yushan understood that the Fujin must be pregnant.

Counting the days, it has been almost two months since the Fujin got married, and she probably got pregnant on their wedding night.

Kim Min-jung deliberately spoke loudly because she spotted Su Yu-shan.

Everyone assumed that the Fujin was pregnant and that she would be embarrassed and jealous. In reality, Su Yushan did not want a child. It was always Hongli who cared more about the child. From the moment she decided to accept that Hongli did not belong entirely to her, she was prepared for the Fujin to be pregnant.

She was only startled for a moment before regaining her composure. After entering the room, she joined the others in offering their congratulations, her smile polite and without any hint of resentment.

"The Princess Consort is so lucky! This is clearly a blessing upon entering the family! Unlike some people who can't conceive even after a year or two!" As she said this, Kim Min-jung's gaze seemingly unintentionally fell on Su Yu-shan. Su Yu-shan could hear her sarcastic remarks, but she did not respond. She simply picked up her teacup and took a sip.

Sitting to the side, Gao Xiuwen looked at Su Yushan and said gently, "Is my sister feeling unwell? I know a doctor who specializes in treating women's ailments. Why don't we invite him to come and take a look?"

Gao Xiuwen spoke kindly, seemingly concerned about her. Su Yushan could easily see that since Jin Minjing's act hadn't worked out, Gao Xiuwen was deliberately adding fuel to the fire and directing the blame at her.

Su Yushan wasn't annoyed, she just smiled slightly, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Gao. Fourth Master has already invited a doctor, and I am currently recuperating."

Lady Fucha comforted her, saying, "Princess Su is still young. She will recover eventually. We sisters must get along well and never compete for favor or be jealous. It is our duty to bear children for the Fourth Prince and continue the family line."

Is it shameful to not be able to have children? Ever since she promised Hongli, Su Yushan had stopped drinking contraceptive soup, but she still couldn't get pregnant, and she didn't know what the problem was.

She didn't mind at first, but everyone's comments, seemingly comforting her, were actually stabbing her in the back, subtly mocking her for being the most favored yet remaining silent.

Unable to bear seeing her good friend suffer, Xi Lan patted her hand and comforted her with a smile, "That's right! Fourth Master often visits Huatang Pavilion, so you'll have plenty of opportunities, which is better than not even being able to see Fourth Master at all, or having no chance at all!"

Enraged by being pointed at, Jin Minjing narrowed her phoenix eyes and rebuked, "Xi Lan! Who are you talking about indirectly?"

Xi Lan was just waiting for her to get angry! With a quick glance, Xi Lan smiled and changed her tune, "I said I'm unhappy because I can't see Fourth Master, okay?"

With a light cough, Su Yushan covered her mouth and chuckled, thinking to herself that Xi Lan's appearance didn't seem unhappy at all; she was clearly very proud!

Xi Lan's few simple words turned the situation around. Everyone stopped mocking Su Yushan and started thinking about how long it had been since they had seen the Fourth Master.

After paying their respects, the maids dispersed. Xi Lan followed Su Yushan to Huatang Pavilion, sat for a while, and then returned to her room.

A few days ago, Yu Chan kept her company, and she felt quite lively. Now that her younger sister has returned to the Zheng family, Su Yushan is living a lonely life again.

Hongli was unusually busy today and didn't return until almost noon. As soon as he got back to the mansion, he heard that his wife was pregnant.

Upon hearing the news, Hongli frowned and did not go to Lanzhao Academy, but instead went to Huatang Pavilion.

When they arrived outside Huatang Pavilion, Changyue was just walking out. Since her master said he wanted to drink rice wine, she went to the kitchen to borrow some.

Upon seeing the Fourth Master, Chang Yue stopped and curtsied.

Hongli paused slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Did Yushan leave the courtyard today?"

Chang Yue replied truthfully, "Today is the fifteenth, and the princess went to pay her respects to the princess consort."

Hongli sighed inwardly, realizing something was amiss. "She knows everything?"

Even though the Fourth Prince didn't say it explicitly, Chang Yue understood what he was asking and nodded in response, "Yes, Princess has heard about it."

Hongli waved his hand, signaling her to step back, and then strode quickly inside.

The blooming roses surrounded the half-open window. Through the window, Hongli saw Su Yushan sitting in the room, holding a wolf-hair brush in one hand and resting her chin on the other, her brows furrowed and sighing.

As he slowly approached the house, Hongli walked to her side.

Hearing footsteps, Su Yushan immediately covered the painting with a handkerchief. Hongli couldn't help but ask curiously, "What are you painting?"

He was about to take a look, but she leaned over to block him, not allowing him to uncover it, "Hey---you can't look, you can't look before the painting is finished, otherwise it will lose its novelty."

She always cared a lot about her paintings, so Hongli didn't insist.

After putting away the painting, Su Yushan walked to the table, picked up a candied red cherry, took a bite, and smiled with satisfaction, "Mmm...sweet and sour, this is delicious, you should try it." As she spoke, she handed the porcelain jar to Hongli.

Hongli took the jar, but had no heart to taste it, because her expression from earlier was still imprinted in his mind. He felt that she was unhappy, but after he entered the room, she had an indifferent expression, which made him even more uneasy.

After a moment's hesitation, Hongli tentatively asked, "Don't you have anything you want to tell me?"

Su Yushan, who was enjoying a cherry, spoke somewhat indistinctly, her bright, starry eyes filled with confusion, "What did you say?"