Chapter 254 Not Planning to Stay

The surging, burning passion in my heart was like being doused with a bucket of cold water; everything came to an abrupt halt, as if I had sunk to the bottom of the water.

Yes.

The day after she met him, Jiang Zhi got drunk and had sex with Shen Ci'an...

The smile that lingered on Lu Yuan's lips froze in place, gradually fading into coldness.

Driven by jealousy and hatred, Xie Qi continued to stab Lu Yuan in the heart.

“Zhizhi and Shen Ci’an are the real couple. No matter whose child she is carrying, she will have to call Shen Ci’an ‘father’ when the child is born.”

Xie Qi leaned against the bedpost, arms crossed, his once shimmering peach blossom eyes now clouded with gloom, yet a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, though the smile didn't reach his eyes at all.

"Shut up." Lu Yuan's eyes were bloodshot from Xie Qi's provocation, his chest heaved violently, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on Jiang Zhi's hand.

He gritted his teeth, his voice strained as he squeezed it out of his throat, "No matter what, the child in Azhi's womb can only be mine, and the child we have can only call me Dad."

Xie Qi almost laughed in anger, "Why should you? You have no title or status, what right do you have to say such things?"

Why should he give up what he can't have to Lu Yuan?

"None of this concerns Young Master Xie. Some people's arguing is nothing but a joke." Lu Yuan's eyes were sinister. If Jiang Zhi weren't pregnant and couldn't be easily frightened, he would have drawn his sword against him immediately.

"Is that so?" Xie Qi couldn't stand his smugness and sneered, licking his back teeth. "Believe it or not, I'll send a message to Kyoto right now and have Shen Ci'an come over to have a proper talk with you about who the child's father really is."

"Xie Qi, you're asking for it."

Lu Yuan's usual self-control, which he was always so proud of, vanished at this moment. His eyes were bloodshot, and he gripped the Embroidered Spring Blade tightly to his side, his knuckles turning a pale blue.

"Alright, Xie Qi, shut up right now," Jiang Zhi said, holding Lu Yuan back from the brink of exploding. She felt a splitting headache and couldn't help but pinch her brow. "Isn't everything complicated enough already?"

The pregnancy came suddenly, catching her off guard and causing her some panic.

She wasn't ready to be a mother yet, and although she knew the child would only be Lu Yuan's, she... didn't plan to keep it.

Judging from Lu Yuan's current expression, he clearly won't agree.

We still need to persuade him properly.

"Young Master Xie, may I ask you to leave first? I have something I would like to say to Lord Lu."

Xie Qi stared at her with his dark eyes, his tone tinged with grievance, "You always send me away."

But she obediently stopped insisting and left.

Now that Zhizhi is pregnant, the imperial physician has said that she shouldn't be upset or overworked, so he dares not upset her.

My earlier statement about sending a message to Shen Ci'an was just an angry outburst.

Lu Yuan was already annoying enough; he didn't want another one to compete with him for Zhi Zhi.

Only the two of them remained inside.

Lu Yuan helped Jiang Zhi lie down on the bed and poured her a cup of hot tea.

His warm, broad hand rested lightly above her lower abdomen.

The warmth from his body emanated through his clothes.

Jiang Zhi was still thinking about how best to persuade Lu Yuan.

Unexpectedly, he spoke first.

"Ah Zhi, this is amazing, I've never felt this way before."

His eyelashes drooped, his gaze falling on her flat stomach, his hands moving carefully, as if he were facing a rare treasure.

"I have no memory of my parents. It was the Emperor who took pity on me and took me in to raise me."

Lu Yuan's voice was deep, and if you listened carefully, you could hear a slight tremor in it.

"People respect and fear me because of the power I hold, but I have never experienced the feeling of family."

He raised his head, his lips pressed tightly together, his brows furrowed deeply, seemingly at a loss. "Just thinking about the child in your belly that is connected to me by blood makes me so happy that I don't know what to do."

As he said, as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the people of the capital feared him more than they respected him. On the surface, they were trembling with fear and walking on thin ice towards him, but they all hoped that he would fall from his high position so that everyone could step on him.

He must make himself so powerful that he has no weaknesses in order to subdue those demons and monsters.

But now, he has someone he loves and his own flesh and blood.

This feeling brought him joy, but also an inexplicable sorrow.

Jiang Zhi opened her lips, but swallowed back the words that were just about to come out of her throat.

Yes, Lu Yuan has always been a loner, and his residence in Kyoto is only occupied by servants.

It is said that even on New Year's Eve, he stayed overnight at the Northern Garrison to handle cases, and the festivities of others seemed to have nothing to do with him.

She hesitated before asking him, "But what if this child isn't yours?"

Perhaps he will give up the child for this reason.

The atmosphere in the room became stagnant.

After a long silence, Lu Yuan sighed and his hand moved lightly over her lower abdomen.

"Now that things have come to this, I can treat it as my own flesh and blood and never let anyone else know about it."

When talking about other people, Lu Yuan visibly gritted his teeth, his heart churning with unease.

If Azhi is willing to marry him, they will definitely have their own children in the future.

He will treat everyone equally and without any favoritism.

Jiang Zhi felt a pang of sadness, suddenly unsure how to bring it up and tell him that she didn't plan to have children.

"What did you want to say to me just now?" he asked her.

Jiang Zhi thought for a moment and said, "I want you to help me find a reliable doctor outside to take my pulse again."

She always found it strange.

Why was she perfectly fine before, but after visiting the Lin residence, she was diagnosed with pregnancy?

To ruin her reputation and sow discord between her and Xie Qi, Lin Qiyun must have made thorough preparations for this fireside banquet.

But all of this was done after she knew she was more than three months pregnant.

Even she herself didn't know the truth, so how could Lin Qiyun be so sure?

I don't believe there's nothing fishy about it.

Lu Yuan readily agreed when he heard Jiang Zhi say this.

Now that she's pregnant, it's understandable that she should be cautious.

"You don't look well, you need to rest more. I'll take care of everything else."

After Lu Yuan left, Jiang Zhi fell into deep thought.

The arrival of this child completely disrupted her original plans.

She needs to think this through carefully.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Jiang Zhi got up to open it and found that it was Xiao Xuanyou, who was being pushed in a wheelchair by Wen Quan.

Since the imperial physician had examined her pulse, Xiao Xuanyou must have already received the news, and Jiang Zhi had no intention of hiding it from him.

But seeing that his expression was surprisingly calm, without the slightest hint of gloom, surprised her.

Has Hsiao Hsuan-yu really changed his ways?

But after Wen Quan went out and closed the door for the two of them, Xiao Xuanyou's deep, cold voice rang out, "Chanyi, do you plan to keep this child?"

Jiang Zhi was stunned.

Neither Xie Qi nor Lu Yuan noticed, yet Xiao Xuanyou asked her directly.

She shook her head with a wry smile, making no attempt to hide it, "I really don't want it."

Xiao Xuanyou stared at her intently, remaining silent for a few moments.

He then said in an unquestionable tone, "No, I disagree."