The Prince's "pregnancy" caused chaos and turmoil.
The news of Princess Yi's pregnancy filled the entire Prince's mansion with joy. However, when this joy was mainly reflected in their Prince Zhao Jingyi, it completely changed – turning into an all-encompassing, utterly ridiculous, and excessive tension.
Act One: The Food Dispute
"Remove it! Remove it from the table right now!" Zhao Jingyi pointed at a plate of steamed sea bass on the table, looking delicious and splendid, as if facing a major crisis. "The imperial physician said that pregnant women should avoid certain foods, and this fish has bones! What if the princess chokes on one of them? Take it away immediately!"
Qin Yuti's hand holding the chopsticks froze in mid-air. Helplessly, she said, "Your Highness, the chef has carefully removed all the fish bones."
"That won't do!" Zhao Jingyi said firmly. "Better safe than sorry! From now on, anything with bones, thorns, that's a little tough, that's a little cold, that's a little greasy... is absolutely forbidden from being served!"
As a result, Qin Yuti's meals became extremely monotonous: white porridge, soft noodles, and minced meat stewed until it melted in her mouth... After eating these for three consecutive days, Qin Yuti finally couldn't bear it any longer. When Zhao Jingyi tried to feed her the fifth bite of chicken soup that had no flavor at all, she gently but firmly pushed the bowl away.
“Zhao Jingyi,” she said with a smile, “if you don’t let me eat something normal, do you believe I’ll ‘go into miscarriage’ right now, and you’ll regret it?”
Seeing the familiar, murderous smile on the princess's face, Zhao Jingyi instantly cowered and weakly said, "Then... then I'll just have a small piece of braised pork? It has to be stewed until it's very tender!"
Act Two: Movement Control Order
Qin Yuti wanted to take a walk in the garden to digest her food. Just as she stood up, Zhao Jingyi rushed over and said, "Don't move! Let me help you!"
From the bedroom to the garden, a distance of no more than a hundred steps, Zhao Jingyi made it seem like he was trekking across a mountain. He held Qin Yuti tightly around the waist with one arm, and held the other hand out in front of him, his eyes fixed on the ground, muttering repeatedly, "Slow down! Slow down! There are steps! Watch out for the pebbles! Oops, why are these tiles a bit slippery? Fugui! Go lay down a Persian carpet! The thickest kind!"
Qin Yuti: "...Your Highness, I am only pregnant, not paralyzed."
"You don't understand!" Zhao Jingyi said seriously. "Now you're carrying two people! You're very important! You have to be careful!"
Qin Yuti took a deep breath and told herself that she couldn't get angry, as it would be bad for the fetus.
Act Three: Cramming for Knowledge and Nightmares
Zhao Jingyi somehow acquired a pile of medical books such as "The Collection of Precious Stories for Childbirth" and "Good Prescriptions for Women," and began to study them diligently. However, his literacy level was limited, he didn't recognize many characters, and his understanding was wildly flawed.
That night, Qin Yuti was fast asleep when she was suddenly awakened by a violent shaking. Zhao Jingyi, holding a medical book, was pale and his voice trembling, cried out, "Yuti! Yuti, wake up! The book says 'restless fetal movement'! You just turned over! Did the baby move? Is it restless? Quick! Summon the imperial physician!!"
Qin Yuti was so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping. She kicked him in annoyance: "Zhao Jingyi! It's the middle of the night and you're not sleeping. I think you're the one who's restless! If you don't sleep, go to the study and copy the 'Meditation Mantra'!"
Zhao Jingyi felt relieved after being kicked: "He can still kick people, so he seems to be alright..." Then he hugged the blanket and curled up in a ball at the foot of the bed, feeling wronged. He dared not sleep anymore and kept watch with his eyes open for half the night, afraid that something might happen to the princess and his "treasure".
Act IV: The Naming Battle
One sunny day, Zhao Jingyi looked at Qin Yuti's gentle profile bathed in sunlight and was suddenly overwhelmed with paternal love, and began to imagine the future.
"Honey, what do you think we should name our child? If it's a son, let's name him Zhao Qingtian! Powerful! If it's a daughter, let's name her Zhao Qingcheng! Beautiful!"
Qin Yuti didn't even lift her eyelids: "Qingtian? Why don't you call yourself Dingtian? Qingcheng? That's so vulgar."
"Then what should we call it?" Zhao Jingyi leaned closer.
"If it's a son, he should be humble and kind; Zhao Huaijin will suffice. If it's a daughter, may she be peaceful and joyful; Zhao Anle will be fine." Qin Yuti had already decided.
Zhao Jingyi clicked his tongue: "Huaijin? Anle? Not catchy enough! Our child, that must be..."
"Hmm?" Qin Yuti glanced at them.
Zhao Jingyi immediately changed his tune: "Huaijin is good! Anle is wonderful! The Princess Consort is truly learned! It's settled then!" But secretly, he thought: His nickname has to be imposing! How about Tiger? Or Overlord!
And so, the Prince Yi's residence passed its days amidst the constant chaos and intermittent normalcy of its prince. Qin Yuti's temper was gradually worn down; after all, arguing with a "pregnant man" whose intelligence seemed to be constantly on the verge of dropping out was simply beneath her dignity.
Meanwhile, Zhao Jingyi, amidst the bittersweet experience of "serving" his child, eagerly awaited the birth of the baby he could "beat eight times a day" (his one-sided fantasy). Little did he know that once the child was born, his status as the father would likely be downgraded even further.
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