Su Xuening gently stroked her belly, too embarrassed to answer.
Lady Bai gave Xuanyuan Peng a reproachful look: "I already said it's the little grandson of the emperor, so it's naturally a boy."
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Peng was overjoyed: "Really? My little grandson is wonderful! He is my first legitimate grandson!"
"Ahem~" Bai coughed lightly, glancing at Xuan Yuanzhan and Su Xuening, meaning that with the child here, they couldn't talk nonsense.
Xuanyuan Peng was overjoyed, and since everyone in the room was his own family, he couldn't care less about anything else: "Is the little prince still healthy? Should we have Hang Yuqing check his pulse again?"
Su Xuening's lowered eyes narrowed slightly.
Now that the silver needles are no longer in her meridians, Hang Yuqing's medical skills will surely be able to determine the true month of her pregnancy. Although he can explain it to the Emperor, it is not exactly something to be proud of.
Moreover, she couldn't possibly explain to everyone, so if the matter really got out, it would definitely affect her and the reputation of the Holy King's Mansion.
Bai Shi understood Su Xuening's situation and thoughts, so before Su Xuening could speak, she directly declined on Su Xuening's behalf: "Don't worry, Ning'er has a dedicated physician who checks her pulse every day. You can see from her appearance how healthy the little prince is."
Xuan Yuanpeng saw that Su Xuening's belly was round and her complexion was rosy, which showed that she was indeed taking good care of her health.
Xuanyuan Zhan didn't want Xuanyuan Peng to actually call the imperial physician to examine Su Xuening's pulse, so he said directly, "Alright, Ning'er must be tired from the long journey. Let's head back to the palace first. You two haven't seen each other for a long time, so talk for a while longer."
...Bai looked at Xuanyuan Zhan with a blank expression.
This guy is now willing to betray even his wife for her sake.
Bai glanced at her obedient and lovely daughter-in-law and resigned herself to her fate.
Fine, for the sake of their Ning'er, let's sell her.
Being able to spend time alone with Bai Shi was exactly what Xuan Yuanpeng wanted, so he naturally had no objections: "Alright then, take your wife back to rest."
Xuanyuan Zhan and Su Xuening stood up, bowed to Xuanyuan Peng, and then went out together.
After Xuan Yuanzhan and Su Xuening left, Zong Jiu tactfully led the palace servants away.
Before long, only Xuanyuan Peng and Bai Shi remained in the main hall.
Xuanyuan Peng walked to Bai Shi's side, took her hand, and said with a wronged expression, "Ya'er, is that West Suburb Villa really that fun? That it would make you leave me and stay away for months?"
Seeing Xuan Yuanpeng's coquettish expression, Bai deliberately said, "How could you be someone I abandoned? Are you even mine?"
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Peng became somewhat anxious. He knelt down in front of Bai Shi and looked at her earnestly, as if making a vow: "How could I not be yours? Ever since I came into your life, it has only been you. I belong to you alone!"
Seeing Xuan Yuanpeng's sincerity, Bai Shi was moved. She reached out and cupped Xuan Yuanpeng's face in her hands: "Xuan Yuanpeng, you don't have to treat me like this. I've never asked anything of you. You can have three palaces and six courtyards, seventy-two concubines; you don't need to have only me. We're not husband and wife; you don't need to be loyal to me..."
"No!" The words "not husband and wife" stung Xuanyuan Peng. This was not what he wanted to hear. He said with shame, "Although I have never given you a title, in my heart, you have long been my wife and my empress."
Aside from their official status, they were already a real couple!
Bai's eyes shimmered slightly, her mind too complicated to utter a single word.
Xuanyuan Peng stroked Bai Shi's hand and promised, "Ya'er, give me a little more time, and I will give you and Zhan'er an explanation."
He has been planning this for twenty years, and it's time for it to come to a conclusion.
Knowing that he was truly trying, Bai smiled and said, "I believe in you!"
Seeing Bai smile, Xuanyuan Peng was delighted and looked at her eagerly: "Ya'er, have you missed me for so long?"
Faced with Xuanyuan Peng's gaze, which was even more intense than fire, Bai Shi stiffened, unsure how to respond: "Hmm..."
"No need to answer me." Before Bai could speak, Xuanyuan Peng simply picked her up in his arms.
Bai instinctively wrapped her arms around Xuanyuan Peng's neck.
"I miss you, Ya'er."
Xuanyuan Peng stared intently at Bai Shi, then carried her to the dragon bed in the inner room.
Knowing what he wanted to do, Bai, unusually, did not refuse him with any excuses and obediently agreed.
As Xuanyuan Zhan and Su Xuening passed by the Imperial Garden, they saw the lotus pond again.
Su Xuening recalled that before she left the capital, Xuan Yuanzhan had planted many lotus seeds in the small lake at Linshui Pavilion: "Do we have lotus flowers at Linshui Pavilion yet?"
Xuanyuan Zhan laughed and said, "You'll know when you get back and see for yourself."
Su Xuening could tell from his expression that he was definitely pregnant.
Indeed, she hadn't returned to the Holy King's Mansion for almost half a year. In the past five months, the lotus flowers planted by Xuan Yuanzhan must have bloomed.
"Greetings, Concubine."
As the two were talking, they heard the sound of palace servants bowing.
Su Xuening looked up and saw Su Feiling being supported by several palace maids.
Su Feiling also saw Su Xuening, glanced at her large belly, a flash of jealousy quickly crossing her eyes, and then deliberately sticking out her own belly before walking over.
"I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well, so I won't be able to bow to Your Highness and my elder sister."
Ignoring her arrogant expression, Su Xuening said calmly, "It's alright. Second sister is quite heavy, so please take care of yourself."
Su Feiling looked at Su Xuening's big belly again: "Big sister, you must be more than seven months pregnant."
Su Xuening's eyes were sharp as arrows, and her voice turned cold: "Second sister has misremembered the date; it's only six and a half months."
As if remembering something, Su Feiling deliberately said, "That's right, eldest sister has only been married for less than seven months, but her belly looks like she's seven or eight months along."
Su Xuening could easily tell that Su Feiling's words had a hidden meaning. Su Feiling was probably still suspicious about Zui Hehuan's matter. Even though she had previously tried to prove her innocence, it hadn't dispelled Su Feiling's suspicions.
Su Xuening also glanced at Su Feiling's belly, looking surprised: "Second sister's belly seems to be bigger than mine, it looks like she's about to give birth."
As Su Xuening spoke, she reached out to touch Su Feiling's stomach.
Su Feiling was so startled that she staggered back a few steps and almost fell, but fortunately, several palace maids nearby quickly supported her.
"Your Highness, Concubine".
The palace maids supported Su Feiling with terrified expressions, all staring worriedly at her belly, fearing that something might go wrong with the imperial grandson inside her.
Consort Su repeatedly instructed them to take good care of the Third Prince's concubine. If the concubine had a miscarriage, they would all be buried with the little prince.
Looking at the panicked Su Feiling, Su Xuening asked with a half-smile, "What's wrong, Second Sister? I just wanted to touch your belly, why are you so scared?"
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