Chapter 61 This child cannot be kept.

Bai Xuerou was extremely shocked.

"How could she be pregnant?" she retorted instinctively. At the same time, Ling Xun spoke up almost simultaneously, exclaiming in surprise, "Sister is pregnant?"

Two voices rang out simultaneously. Hearing the prince's joy, the physician, filled with trepidation, realized he had discovered some incredible secret. He lowered his head slightly and said, "It seems to be a slippery pulse, but it's still too early to be certain."

Bai Xuerou forced herself to regain her composure, took a deep breath, and said, "Impossible. I fell into the water back then, so it would be difficult for me to have children again."

She had been married to Ling Xun for several years, and had done nothing, nor had she ever conceived. That was why she was so convinced of her pregnancy. But now, after only a few times with Ling Xun, how could she possibly be pregnant by such a coincidence?

As she spoke, Bai Xuerou didn't see Ling Xun beside her, who was slightly lowering his eyes and seemed to feel somewhat guilty.

He knew that Bai Xue Rou had never been pregnant, and he was well aware that it was due to poisoning. He had even subtly mentioned trying to detoxify Bai Xue Rou, but she had no intention of doing so.

After Ling Zheng passed away, he secretly treated her health. Although the poison only prevented her from having children and had no other effect, it was still bad for her health.

He had absolutely no intention of planning for the present.

It was indeed a coincidence.

But Ling Xun knew that it was useless to say these things now; Bai Xue Rou wouldn't believe him.

The doctor was unaware of the details, but the pulse was indeed as described. However, Bai Xue Rou's firm stance must have a reason, so he hesitated for a moment.

“If Madam is still worried, why don’t we wait a month and I will come to check your pulse again?” he said, feeling uneasy and even fearful, lest he be silenced because of this secret.

Lady Bai is pregnant, yet the Prince of Zhenbei is so happy; the deeper meaning behind this is self-evident.

Bai Xuerou took a deep breath and said nothing more. She ordered someone to take the doctor away and make sure the patient was properly cared for. Ling Xun then instructed his personal guards to go.

She didn't say anything.

Regardless of whether this matter is true or false, it is indeed not appropriate for anyone to know about it. It is most appropriate to let Ling Xun settle down.

However, she also said that the doctor should be taken good care of, implying that she did not intend to take the doctor's life.

Ling Xun indicated that he knew.

Upon hearing this, the physician breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his life had been saved.

The doctor left, and the room became quiet.

"Sister, I will immediately ask the Emperor to issue a decree to grant us a marriage." Ling Xun stood up, knelt down in front of Bai Xuerou, held her hand, and looked up at her.

No one knows what he was thinking in that short period of time. First, he was overjoyed, then he thought about the wedding arrangements, the life of his child, his future title, and so on.

Whether it's a girl or a boy, as long as it's his sister's child, he will cherish them all.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Bai Xuerou retorted decisively. "Whether it's true or false, if it really exists, it absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

Not to mention how outsiders would speculate if we rushed into marriage, even if we did get married, the pregnancy would not be in the correct gestation period.

She and Ling Xun would be the subject of gossip, and the child would not be spared either.

Bai Xuerou couldn't say whether she liked the child or not, but she wondered if the child could be happy if he always lived in the midst of other people's gossip.

Ling Xun was completely overwhelmed with joy. Upon hearing this, his first thought was sadness, sadness that Bai Xue Rou didn't want their child.

His power and influence are growing stronger, and few dare to contradict him. But no matter how he acts in public, he is different when he is with Bai Xuerou.

He didn't even show any displeasure; he simply pleaded with Bai Xuerou, saying, "Sister-in-law, it's all my fault, no matter what. But this is our child. Let's keep her, okay?"

The maids inside had never seen such a scene before. The dignified Prince of Zhenbei was kneeling down in front of his master, speaking cautiously.

They were all startled, then tightened their grip and immediately lowered their heads, not daring to look any further.

"Stay?" Bai Xuerou had been thinking about this all afternoon, but the more she thought about it, the more complicated and troubled she became. Hearing Ling Xun's simple yet firm statement, she was initially satisfied—

Ling Xun was quite thoughtful.

Then came anger.

"Does this mean you can just stay like that?" she said angrily, trying to shake off Ling Xun's hand.

Ling Xun held her hand tightly and hurriedly reminded her, "If you're unhappy, hit me, but be careful not to bump your head."

Bai Xue Rou's anger was momentarily interrupted by this untimely remark. She managed to calm down a bit and said irritably, "I'd rather not hit you than risk hurting my hand."

"Don't interrupt, this child cannot be kept." Bai Xuerou became more and more determined as she spoke, and was about to tell her maid to go find the doctor.

Ling Xun called out to the maid, "Wait a minute."

"Ling Xun!" Bai Xuerou shouted angrily.

"Sister-in-law, let her stay."

Bai Xue Rou's anger was almost burning away her reason, but Ling Xun's insistence only made her angrier.

“Keep her, and then what?” She looked directly at Ling Xun and said, “Have you thought about the consequences? Have you thought about the criticism this child will face afterward?”

“There are some things that you and I don’t care about, but what about the children?” she said.

Ling Xun paused.

"No, I will protect her," he said, but his voice lowered slightly.

“I believe in you,” Bai Xuerou said, “but public opinion is something that cannot be stopped, even if you hold great power and control the world.”

She believed in Ling Xun and in the protection that elders would give to their children, but public opinion was a powerful force that she could not sway with her power.

“There will be a way,” Ling Xun said.

"What method?" Bai Xuerou asked in return.

Ling Xun's expression calmed down, and in a short time, he came up with an idea.

“Blur the child’s birth date,” he said. “We’ll substitute her for someone else and let her meet people again after she turns one.”

Bai Xuerou was taken aback.

“But it’s not easy,” she said.

This is indeed a feasible method, but it is interconnected, and a single misstep could lead to failure.

“It’s too risky, let’s forget about it,” Bai Xuerou said. “You’ll have children in the future.”

"I will only have my sister-in-law's child in my life," Ling Xun said. "She was conceived by my sister-in-law, how could I bear to abandon her?"

His voice was gentle, and the sincerity within it would move even the most hard-hearted person. As he spoke, he leaned against Bai Xuerou's lower abdomen, as if sensing the unformed little life inside.

Bai Xuerou looked down at his profile, her heart pounding, and turned away, her eyes stinging with tears.

All that had happened during this period came vividly to mind. Ling Xun had practically laid his whole heart out before her, how could Bai Xue Rou remain unmoved?

She almost agreed several times, but barely managed to hold back.

Until now.

And this child.

Bai Xuerou has no particular likes or dislikes towards children. Sometimes she finds children really noisy and annoying, while at other times she finds these little lives so adorable that they can melt your heart.

Besides, who knows if this child will resemble Ling Xun or her?

Bai Xuerou tried to recall what Ling Xun looked like as a child; he was handsome from a young age. As a child, he was exquisitely beautiful, like a jade doll.

She sometimes regrets not taking care of Ling Xun sooner, causing him so much suffering. She thinks that having this child could make up for it.

I've been thinking about all sorts of random things.

Bai Xuerou once again clearly felt her impulse.

But she managed to restrain herself.

"No." Bai Xuerou clearly heard herself say.

"We absolutely cannot let them stay," Bai Xuerou said firmly.

She couldn't be so selfish, bringing this child into the world on a whim and subjecting him to countless criticisms.

"Sister." Seeing her determination and knowing that what she said was right, Ling Xun was still reluctant and called out almost pleadingly.

Bai Xuerou turned her face away and told her maid to call the doctor to prepare abortion medicine.

The maids, who had been listening to the argument between the two, were inevitably flustered. Upon hearing this, they instinctively looked at Ling Xun and then hurriedly went to find a doctor.

They returned shortly afterward.

"The doctor said that abortion pills are harmful to the body, and given the inaccurate pulse diagnosis, it's not certain that she is pregnant. If she isn't, the harm to her body would be even greater, so he dared not prescribe the medicine rashly. He sent me to report this to you, Madam, so please consider it carefully."

Yin Gui said calmly.

Jin Tao and the others all looked at Bai Xue Rou with concern in their eyes, wanting to persuade her, but not knowing how to start.

"Sister," Ling Xun tried to persuade her again, suggesting that they wait another month.

He is now more worried about Bai Xuerou's health and doesn't want her to ruin herself because of it.

"Open," Bai Xuerou simply said.

The maidservant withdrew.

Her unwavering resolve and lack of hesitation made Ling Xun wonder if it was a sign of her anger directed at him.

Ling Xun suddenly fell silent.

In the quiet hall, he knelt before her, the dim candlelight casting its glow upon him. He was already a tall and handsome man, his appearance clearly visible even while kneeling, yet at this moment, he exuded a profound loneliness, revealing the helplessness and pain that only existed in his youth.

Bai Xuerou couldn't help but glance at him, but was stung by the sadness in his calm eyes and instinctively looked away.

That's fine too. Ling Xun is sad now, and maybe he'll change his mind.

Bai Xuerou thought this way, but the bitterness in her heart was undeniable. She couldn't help feeling sad and reluctant to part.

She couldn't bear to see Ling Xun so sad.

She couldn't bear the thought of him resenting her for it.

Did they want the plot of those melodramatic novels to happen to them? Recalling the idiotic misunderstandings in those stories of forced marriages and reconciliations, Bai Xuerou made up her mind almost immediately.

“My child deserves all the good things in the world and grows up happily and joyfully, not amidst the criticism of others.”

Ling Xun glanced at her subconsciously, his eyes brightening slightly.

Was his sister explaining something to him? Just the thought of that possibility made him happy.

"Sister," he called softly.

"Liu Lang, it's not that I don't love her. It's precisely because we love her that we need to consider things carefully for her sake," Bai Xuerou said softly.

“There is no other reason,” she said.

"Sister-in-law, you're explaining this to me," Ling Xun said, as if repeating, as if confirming, "Are you worried about me?"

Bai Xuerou remained silent.

Ling Xun looked at her and couldn't help but smile softly.

Looking back at that thought now, it felt like he was under a spell. How could he have thought that? His sister-in-law wasn't the type to compromise or feign compliance.

He saw her struggles, her anxieties, and her worries.

It's not that my sister-in-law doesn't care about him; she just hasn't been able to make up her mind yet.

"Get up," Bai Xuerou said.

Ling Xun had been squatting there for a long time.

Ling Xun didn't move. No, he did move. He leaned forward gently and pressed his head close to Bai Xuerou's stomach.

"Sister-in-law, let me stay with her a little longer," he said.

Ling Xun regained his senses and thought about many things in a short period of time.

He still wanted Bai Xuerou to keep the child, believing he could raise it well. But he couldn't be forceful; Bai Xuerou was gentle on the outside but firm on the inside, responding better to gentleness than force. The more he pressured her, the more resolute she became.

Bai Xuerou paused, then said nothing more.

Ling Xun's movements were very gentle, and when he approached her lower abdomen, he gave off a feeling of tenderness. The contours of his face, eyes, and nose were clear and sharp. Although he was silent, one could see the expectation and reluctance in his expression.

Bai Xuerou just watched, and her heart softened, yet a touch of bitterness and sadness welled up within her.

The two stood quietly side by side, the distance between them shrinking infinitely in that moment.

"Sister, do you think she's a girl or a boy?" Ling Xun asked.

"I have no idea."

“I hope to be a girl like my sister. I always regret not being able to see what you looked like when you were young,” Ling Xun said.

"What's the big deal? When I was young, I was just like any other girl, no different from anyone else."

“How could that be? To me, my sister is different no matter what she’s like,” Ling Xun retorted earnestly, but then added, “But I would prefer that she’s a boy.”

Bai Xuerou's heart skipped a beat. After a pause, she finally asked, "Why?"

"I will make him my heir, my crown prince, and he will be my sister's support. Will that make my sister believe in my sincerity?"

Bai Xuerou fell completely silent.

"Sister, do you want a boy or a girl?" Ling Xun asked softly, seemingly oblivious to her silence.

"That's fine," Bai Xuerou said.

She had no preference for boys or girls; they were all the same to her.

"If she is a girl, she will be like her sister. I will make her hairpins, clothes, and make her the most beautiful and carefree little girl. If she is a boy, I will teach him riding and archery so that he can protect his sister in the future."

As Bai Xuerou listened, she couldn't help but imagine what the child would look like, following Ling Xun's words, but she still subconsciously added, "Don't girls learn riding, archery, and martial arts?"

She was a quiet person, not fond of activity, and had no ambition; she was content with whatever came her way. But she didn't believe that women should be like that; they could be whatever they wanted to be.

“Of course, if she likes it, then so be it,” Ling Xun said immediately.

"If it were a girl, would you make her the heir apparent or the crown prince?" Bai Xuerou asked again.

Ling Xun paused slightly, but still said the same thing, "If she likes it, of course she can."

"You hesitated," Bai Xuerou said, somewhat displeased.

Ling Xun was puzzled as to why she was unhappy, but he still looked up at her immediately and explained seriously, "I just hadn't thought about that possibility."

“But as long as she’s my daughter, why can’t she have whatever she wants?” he laughed. “She is entitled to have everything she desires.”