Hongli had already built his own residence, so he no longer lingered in the palace. As soon as the Fourth Prince announced the disbandment, he left the palace and returned to his Prince's residence.
The Prince's Mansion is located on the North Street of the Imperial Palace. This street is inhabited by nobles; if you threw a stone down there, nine out of ten people would hold official positions, and the remaining one would have some kind of kinship with a court official. Both civil and military officials live on the North Street, so today this street is particularly lively because the military generals are returning to the capital in triumph.
Hongli watched as lion dances were performed at the gates of other mansions, and some people even brought him gifts. Young girls were also secretly glancing at him.
The Fourth Prince's residence was located at the very top of North Street. Once you got there, there were only a few houses left, and the bustling crowds of people welcoming guests were gone. This was the place where curfew was imposed. Hongli immediately spotted Mingyu waiting at the door.
Her belly was already quite large, and she needed servants to help her stand up.
Hongli's heart stirred, and seeing that she was pregnant, he became more anxious.
After Hongli dismounted, he walked towards his own front door.
When Mingyu saw him, her eyes welled up with tears: "After the news came from Your Highness a few days ago, I have been waiting for Your Highness to return. I have been looking forward to it day and night, and I am finally glad that you have returned." After saying that, she called on Su Shi and Gao Shi, who were standing behind her, to come and pay their respects to Hongli.
Mingyu looked Hongli up and down, and seeing that he had become thin, she turned her gaze away with some heartache, focusing on the guards following behind him, and then on Xueying and Piqiu behind them.
When Hongli saw Mingyu's tears, his heart stirred, and all the longing he had for her was stirred up. He quickly walked to Mingyu's side, helped her up as she was about to bow, and supported her with his own hands.
The couple looked at each other with smiles, exchanging tender affection.
"During the time I was away, have you been taking good care of yourself?" Hongli asked. Mingyu was not the same as before; she was now pregnant with his child and needed more care.
Mingyu smiled gently, with the joy and awkwardness of becoming a mother for the first time: "I have always followed your instructions, and the baby in my belly is very well-behaved and never makes a fuss... Ouch!" She said one sentence that the baby was not making a fuss, but the next sentence Mingyu let out a cry of pain.
"What's wrong? Let me take a look." Hongli was very nervous.
Mingyu smiled and said, "Master, the baby knows you're back and is greeting you. Feel it." She asked Hongli to place his hand on her belly so that he could feel the baby's presence.
Hongli waited a while, and sure enough, the child kicked Mingyu again. He exclaimed excitedly, "The child moved!"
“Yes,” Mingyu affirmed.
Seeing Hongli and Mingyu's loving and intimate relationship, Xueying felt particularly uneasy. She felt a little lost and suddenly wondered if Hongli would be just as happy if she were pregnant, and if he would touch the baby in her belly and smile at her with such sincerity.
Mingyu had been watching Xueying out of the corner of her eye. Seeing the much thinner Xueying wringing her handkerchief with her head down, Mingyu understood, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. Many days had passed, and her belly was already so large that her clothes could no longer conceal it. From now on, Hongli would only value her most. Even if Xueying went to the battlefield with Hongli, what difference would it make?
The person who will be favored will still be Inspector Mingyu.
“Master, it’s chilly outside,” Mingyu said first.
Hongli nodded. "Yes, you can't be exposed to the wind right now."
Hongli had someone help Mingyu up, then turned to look at the group that had come out to greet them and said, "Everyone, go back now."
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