“…Alright.” Yinzhen gave Yin Qingyi a deep look, his smile fading, but he still nodded in agreement.
Yin Qingyi didn't say anything more, only gave Yinzhen a deep look before turning and walking into the peach grove. This peach grove was truly strange; it was already autumn, but the leaves were still lush and green, looking more like summer than autumn.
As Yinzhen watched Yin Qingyi disappear into the peach grove, his heart leaped into his throat. He involuntarily took a step forward, but quickly pulled back, clenching his fists and keeping his eyes fixed on the peach grove. He was gambling, gambling that this little woman couldn't bear to part with her child... couldn't bear to part with him.
A full hour passed, from noon until early afternoon. Yinzhen wanted to go in and see more than once, but he held back. Su Peisheng had called him from outside the door many times, but he hadn't let Su Peisheng in. This hour felt longer than any other time to him, as if ten or twenty years had passed. When he finally saw that pink figure appear before him, Yinzhen felt as if the air around him had come alive and become exceptionally pleasant.
"You're out? Everything went smoothly?" Yinzhen straightened his stiff body and walked to Yin Qingyi's side, asking gently.
"Yes, everything went smoothly. You've been waiting like this? Have you had lunch yet?" Yin Qingyi's eyes were full of smiles. This time, she had gained a lot. The little flower's petals had grown from five to nine, and she... in short, she had benefited greatly.
"I have no appetite with you inside. It's alright, we can eat when we get back to the manor." Yinzhen looked at Yin Qingyi carefully. She seemed unchanged, yet everything about her had changed. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt that this young woman had an even stronger ethereal aura.
“How can that be? They’ll starve.” Yin Qingyi looked at Yinzhen disapprovingly.
"I won't starve, and this isn't the first time this has happened," Yinzhen said nonchalantly.
“…Su Peisheng!” Yin Qingyi glared at Yinzhen fiercely, then shouted loudly.
“Your servant is here!!” Su Peisheng’s voice came from outside.
"Is there any food prepared?" Yin Qingyi asked as she led Yinzhen out.
"Of course it's prepared, but Master won't let me in. The food's already cold, and I'm afraid it'll upset my stomach if I eat it," Su Peisheng quickly replied.
"Are there any pastries in the car?" Yin Qingyi frowned as she looked at the greasy food on the table. It was getting cold, and the food would start to foam when it got cold, which made it look unappetizing.
"Yes, but it's cold." Su Peisheng answered softly. At that moment, Su Peisheng didn't even realize that his respect for Yin Qingyi was somewhat unreasonable, after all, his proper master, Yinzhen, hadn't said anything.
"It's alright, we can just eat a few bites of the pastries even if they're cold, and we can eat them again when we get back to the manor." Yin Qingyi pulled Yinzhen into the carriage, saying that the pastries could still be eaten even if they were cold.
Yinzhen was fed a few pastries by Yin Qingyi. Actually, he didn't like eating these, but he was happy to be cared for by this little woman, so he didn't care about these small details. Moreover, Yin Qingyi fed him these pastries herself, and he wished she would feed him a few more.
By the time the carriage finally arrived at the Prince's residence, it was already late afternoon, dusk was falling, and the moon was already high in the sky.
"Master, you're finally back! The master said he has something urgent to discuss with you." Su Xiaobao ran quickly to the carriage, his face showing urgency.
"What did you say?" Yinzhen asked quickly, his expression turning serious.
"No, but judging from the gentleman's expression, I'm afraid..." Su Xiaobao shook his head.
"Go ahead, don't delay things." Yin Qingyi nudged Yinzhen from behind. She had already told him she could go by herself, but he insisted on coming along.
"Alright, then go back and get some rest. I'll come see you and the child when I have time." Yinzhen thought for a moment and realized that important matters were more important.
"Okay, go ahead." Yin Qingyi glared at Yinzhen impatiently. Did he think she was a child? So long-winded.
Yinzhen glanced helplessly at Yin Qingyi before getting off the carriage and following Su Xiaobao inside.
"Eunuch Su, remember to ask the kitchen to make a bowl of noodles for the master later. Remember to tell him that I asked the kitchen to make it!" Yin Qingyi called out to Su Peisheng, who was about to follow her.
"Yes, this old servant has noted it down," Su Peisheng replied respectfully.
---------------- ...
Luoxuexuan
As soon as Yin Qingyi returned to Luoxue Pavilion, she sent someone to the kitchen to order food. She was starving; she hadn't eaten anything all day except for breakfast, and she was incredibly hungry.
"Did you not eat all day while you were out? You're so hungry as soon as you get back?" Granny Qi looked at the dejected Yin Qingyi with heartache.
"I haven't had a chance to eat, and neither has Your Majesty. He's got other things to do right now, so he's probably even hungrier than I am." Yin Qingyi shook her head with a smile. She hadn't eaten all day, and this Yinzhen was so foolish! He didn't even know to eat lunch and wait for her, insisting on waiting on an empty stomach. Thinking this, Yin Qingyi understood Yinzhen's actions; he cared about her, that's why he did this.
"This is really something. I don't know what you and Master are doing out here, but no matter what you're doing, you can't neglect yourselves. You're just taking advantage of your youth and good health to do this, but Master, you know your own body right now. How can you be so careless? What if something happens to you?" Granny Qi said with a stern face.
"Yes, yes, it's all my fault. I won't do it again. And don't worry, Grandma, he's very well-behaved and has never bothered me." Yin Qingyi gently stroked her belly with a soft smile on her face.
"It's here, it's here! The meal is here, Your Highness, come quickly! It's all your favorite dishes!" Chunlan's loud voice rang out, interrupting what Granny Naqi was about to say.
"Keep your voice down! How many times have I told you not to shout? Don't you remember any of these rules?" Granny Qi glared at Chunlan.
"..." Chunlan shrank her neck after being told off by Granny Naqi, stuck out her tongue, and obediently began to set out the meal.
Yin Qingyi got up and sat down at the table. Looking at the delicious food on the table, she was very hungry. Although she didn't feel tired after a day, she was really hungry. Moreover, she was not eating alone, so she was even hungrier.
"Eat slowly, Your Highness, don't choke." Granny Naqi was frightened by Yin Qingyi's ravenous eating and kept advising her.
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