Chapter 328: Morning Vomiting and Dreaming, Undercurrents Surge Again
In the east courtyard of Prince Rong's mansion, morning dew still clung to the petals of the crabapple blossoms, bringing a refreshing coolness. Little Swallow reclined on the soft couch by the window, clutching a half-bitten piece of osmanthus cake, her brow furrowed in a knot.
"Hmm..." She suddenly covered her mouth, a sour feeling rushed into her throat. She hurriedly pushed the pastries away and staggered to the copper basin with carvings and gold painting.
"Princess!" Little Dengzi, who was guarding the door, was quick-witted and rushed forward to support her, not even bothering to put down the teacup in his hand. "What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell again?"
Xiaoyanzi leaned over the edge of the basin and retched for a long time, only to vomit out sour water. Her face was as pale as rice paper, and even the rouge on her lips had mostly faded. She waved her hand and stood up, taking the warm water from Xiao Dengzi and rinsing her mouth. Her voice was hoarse and weak, "It's okay... Maybe this osmanthus cake is too sweet."
As soon as she finished speaking, her stomach started to churn again. She quickly covered her mouth again, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
Xiao Zhuozi came in with freshly warmed bird's nest porridge. Seeing this, he quickly put the tray on the table and came over to say, "Princess, it's been almost two months. The period hasn't come on time, and she's always nauseous. I think..." He rubbed his hands, his eyes flashing with excitement, "Could it be that you're pregnant?"
Xiaoyanzi paused, then instinctively reached for her belly. Yes, her period had indeed not come in two months. A while ago, she'd thought it was just the change of seasons and the craving for cooler weather that had damaged her spleen and stomach, but lately, she's been throwing up everything she eats. Even the braised duck tongues Yongqi had specially sent from Jiangnan tasted fishy to her...
"Don't guess blindly." She glared at Xiao Zhuozi, her ears turning red. But the secret joy in her heart was like a little rabbit, fluttering and making her heart tremble.
As he was speaking, familiar footsteps were heard outside the courtyard. Yongqi, dressed in a dark blue uniform, walked in with the chill of morning dew. He had just returned from the palace with a reply, and there was still some white frost on his shoulders like broken stars.
"What's wrong?" Yongqi noticed Xiaoyanzi's pale face and walked over to her. He reached out and touched her forehead. "Are you feeling unwell again? Do you want to call the imperial physician?"
His fingertips carried the coolness of the outside air, causing Xiaoyanzi to shrink her neck, but she didn't shy away. She looked at the faint dark circles under his eyes, her heart softening, and she shook her head, "No, maybe I didn't sleep well last night."
Little Bug came back from a walk outside, clutching a newly sprouted willow branch. Seeing this scene, he leaned over to Little Mosquito and whispered, "The princess looks just like she did last year when she was pregnant with twins."
Little Wenzi was squatting in the corridor teasing the white cat that had just turned one month old. He scoffed when he heard this, but stopped petting the cat. "Wow, boom! If this is true, our East Courtyard will have another little master!"
The two of them didn't try to lower their voices, and Yongqi heard everything clearly. He suddenly looked at Xiaoyanzi, his eyes first showing shock, then uncontrollable ecstasy, and his hands trembled as he grasped her: "Xiaoyanzi, you... are you..."
Xiaoyanzi felt embarrassed by his gaze. She struggled to get her hands free but failed. She simply turned her face away and said in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "I haven't asked the imperial physician to check it yet. I'm not sure..."
"If you want to invite me, please come in now!" Yongqi was about to call someone out when he was stopped by Xiaoyanzi.
"Don't!" she said anxiously. "There are so many people in the mansion right now, and if word gets out, it'll be a false alarm. What will happen? Besides..." She glanced in the direction of the west courtyard, her voice hushed. "Some people might be hoping that something goes wrong with me."
Yongqi's smile faded. He naturally knew who Xiaoyanzi was talking about. Ever since Zhihua gave birth to Mianyi, there had been no peace in the West Courtyard, and subtle movements, both overt and covert, had never ceased. He held Xiaoyanzi's hand tightly, his fingertips stroking the warm jade bracelet on her wrist. "Don't worry, I'll be watching over it myself this time. It won't be like last time..."
When they talked about that last time, they both fell silent. Xiaoyanzi's unexpected miscarriage last year had been like a thorn in their hearts. Yongqi still remembered her pale face, and how she had trembled like a fallen leaf when he held her in his arms.
"This time is different." Xiaoyanzi patted the back of his hand, her eyes sparkling. "I have a feeling this time everything will be safe and sound." She paused and suddenly laughed out loud. "Maybe it'll be another pair of twins, a boy and a girl?"
"Greedy ghost." Yong Qi was amused by her, and the haze in his heart dissipated a lot. He tidied her hair and said softly, "No matter if it's a boy or a girl, as long as you are well, I will be thankful."
As he was speaking, the white cat in the corridor suddenly meowed and its fur stood on end. It arched its back and panted towards the moon gate.
Everyone turned to look, only to see Zhihua, wearing a moon-white cheongsam embroidered with magnolias, holding Mianyi's hand. She had been standing there for who knows how long. She wore a polite smile, but her eyes were fixed on the clasped hands of Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi. Deep within them, a chilling glint could be concealed.
"Are you feeling unwell, sister?" Zhihua walked forward holding Mianyi's hand, her voice as soft as water, "I just heard from the servants that sister vomited again, so I specially stewed some rock sugar and snow pears, saying that it can moisten your throat." The maid behind her was holding a gold-painted food box, and steam was still rising from the lid.
Xiaoyanzi didn't look at the food box. She just glanced at her calmly and said, "Thank you for your concern, sister. I'm fine."
Zhi Xianghua didn't notice the alienation in her tone. She walked straight to the table and opened the food box herself: "I just got this snow pear from the imperial kitchen this morning. It's very sweet. Would you like to try it, sister?" She picked up a silver spoon and scooped a spoonful, handing it to Xiaoyanzi, with a barely perceptible inquiry in her eyes.
When Xiaoyanzi smelled the sweet pear fragrance, her stomach started to churn again. She quickly turned her head away and said, "No, I can't stand sweet things right now."
Yongqi calmly stood in front of Xiaoyanzi, took the silver spoon from Zhihua's hand and put it back in the bowl: "Thank you for your kindness, Concubine. Xiaoyanzi is tired and needs to rest. You can take Mianyi back to the west courtyard."
The smile on Zhihua's face froze for a moment, then relaxed again. She stroked Mianyi's head and said with a smile, "That's right. Then we won't disturb you from resting. Mianyi, say goodbye to the prince and princess."
Mian Yi glanced at Yongqi timidly and whispered, "Goodbye, Your Majesty. Goodbye, Your Majesty." His voice was thin and a little shy.
Yongqi said "hmm", his eyes lingered on Mian Yi's face for a moment, but he didn't say anything in the end.
Zhihua turned around and left with Mian Yi. When they reached the Moon Gate, she looked back as if inadvertently, her eyes swept across Xiaoyanzi's belly, and a very faint, inscrutable smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
It wasn't until the figures in the West Courtyard completely disappeared that Little Mosquito spat, "Wow, long, long, dong! This West Courtyard girl has a sharper nose than a dog. She came here just by smelling the slightest movement here."
Xiaodengzi picked up the bowl of candied pears and was about to throw it away when Xiaoyanzi stopped him: "Don't, or else people will gossip about it." She looked at the bowl of pears with a cold look in her eyes, "Have someone pour it away from us, don't dirty the ground in our east courtyard."
Yongqi helped Xiaoyanzi back to the couch and sat down. He said in a deep voice, "From today on, I will personally oversee the food and drink in the East Courtyard. No one is allowed to bring anything into your room without my permission." He paused, then added, "I'll go and get Doctor Zhang. I'll have him come quietly. Tell him... tell him I've been feeling a little dizzy lately and want him to take a look."
Xiaoyanzi nodded, feeling warm in her heart. She knew that this time, they would all do their utmost to protect this hard-earned child.
The wind blew the crabapple blossoms outside the window, and a few petals fell onto the windowsill, like scattered gold. But no one noticed that beneath the petals was a small sachet embroidered with magnolia flowers—Zhihua had accidentally dropped it when she turned around. The sachet contained some dried, faintly scented safflower powder.
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