Green Cloud
When it was time to retire for the night, Xichun saw that Wei Qiao seemed to want to stay, so she quickly said, "Your Highness, I cannot serve you. Please go somewhere else."
Seeing her nervous expression, Wei Qiao reached out and gently stroked her pert nose, saying softly, "I'm not here just to do 'that'; I just want to keep you company."
The candlelight went out, plunging the bed into darkness. Xichun could sense that the person beside her was not asleep; he was playing with a strand of her hair, occasionally letting out a soft laugh. She could tell he was in a good mood.
Xi Chun lay in Wei Qiao's arms as usual. His embrace was still warm, but now that it was tainted with the scent of another woman, she just wanted to escape.
Wei Qiao's joy had not diminished at all. Thinking that their child would be born in just over seven months, he felt so happy he wanted to fly.
"Xichun, do you think the baby in your belly will be a boy or a girl?" Wei Qiao asked her with a smile.
Xi Chun didn't answer him. She was still in shock from the news of her pregnancy and hadn't thought about the question yet. Thinking of the tiny life inside her, connected to her by blood, she unconsciously placed her hand on her lower abdomen, and then another warm hand covered it.
Wei Qiao gently stroked Xi Chun's hand, turned to the side and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Xi Chun, let's live well together from now on, okay?"
Although he couldn't marry only her like her brother Miao, he would still try his best to treat her well. In the future, her children would enjoy the same treatment as the princess's children. He would never allow anyone in the Zhao Prince's Mansion to mistreat them.
Hearing his words, Xichun could only laugh. She wasn't some object to be summoned and dismissed at will. He could say these words to her with such deep affection today, and he could say them to his beloved princess again tomorrow.
He wanted to use this impure love to win her wholehearted devotion, but she couldn't do that.
Xi Chun didn't answer him, and he assumed she was still angry with him for forcing her to come back a few days ago. But how could he just watch her leave and run into another man's arms?
He could never do that in his lifetime.
Moreover, she was carrying his child. He was only grateful that he had found her in time and brought her back to the palace. It didn't matter if she was angry for a moment; he believed that with time she would understand his intentions.
The news of Xichun's pregnancy spread throughout the entire mansion yesterday after the imperial physician left. Ming Chuqing was playing the zither in the small flower hall of Yunhe Hall when she heard Cuiju's report. After listening to it, she broke one of the strings of her beloved Qutong Qifeng zither.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Cuiju asked anxiously.
Ming Chuqing looked down at the broken zither string and sneered. What a Jiang Xichun! She'd only just entered the palace and she'd already been made a concubine. And now, before she'd even consummated her marriage with the prince, Jiang Xichun had already gotten pregnant right in front of her. The day Jiang Xichun came to Yunhe Hall to greet her, her attitude was respectful and compliant; she'd thought Jiang Xichun was obedient. Now it seemed she'd underestimated her.
Since the prince is so fond of her, she might as well let them be affectionate.
On a clear morning in early Ming Dynasty, Cuiju waved to him and whispered a few words in his ear.
“Miss, this…” Cuiju had never done such a wicked thing before, and she was very afraid.
Ming Chuqing glanced at her unhappily. This maid was good in every way except that she was too timid.
"Go ahead and do it. I'm just putting out bait there; whether it bites or not is up to fate. Besides, the scent will dissipate in a day, so what are you afraid of?"
He had always been obedient to his young mistress, Cuiju. Although he was frightened, he nodded and retreated.
The following evening, upon learning that Wei Qiao had returned to the mansion, Cuiju led two servants from Yunhe Hall to Ming'an Hall.
After bowing to Wei Qiao, Cui Ju respectfully said, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort has sent me to deliver two pots of Green Cloud flowers to you. These flowers were carefully cultivated by the Princess Consort, and I hope Your Highness will like them."
He glanced at the blooming green chrysanthemums; their slender green petals cascaded from the center like a cloud, truly a masterpiece among flowers. He had heard that the princess was quite fond of chrysanthemums, and that there was a flower hall in the Ming residence specifically for displaying the chrysanthemums she cultivated.
"Go back and tell the Princess that I like it very much," Wei Qiao said to Cuiju.
Cuiju glanced at the two pots, accepted the golden melon seeds bestowed upon her by Wei Qiao, and hurriedly took her leave.
Two pots of green cloud chrysanthemums were placed on a yellow pear wood flower stand by the window. Wei Qiao was not particularly fond of chrysanthemums. The first time he appreciated chrysanthemums in his life was when Wei Kang dragged him to see a pot of Yu Hu Chun chrysanthemums that he had planted at the Wei Mansion.
"Your Highness, the chrysanthemums planted by the Princess Consort are truly beautiful. This is the first time I've ever seen a chrysanthemum that is entirely green," Zhao Yu exclaimed.
Under the sunlight, the green cloud-like petals resembled fine silk, their graceful forms exuding elegance. Planted in a pine-green porcelain pot, they were like two verdant mountains brought indoors. Wei Qiao, who had just grown tired from reading, approached to admire the chrysanthemums. From afar, they were simply beautiful; up close, however, a faint, sweet fragrance wafted through the air. The delicate aroma entered his lungs, bringing a sense of comfort, and he couldn't help but linger a while longer to inhale their scent.
In the evening, Wei Qiao went to Yunhe Hall to have dinner with Ming Chuqing. After dinner, Ming Chuqing served him a cup of chrysanthemum tea that she had personally brewed.
"This chrysanthemum tea is good for the liver and eyes, and is most suitable for someone as hardworking as Your Highness," Ming Chuqing said with a dignified smile.
Wei Qiao took a sip and found that instead of the bitter taste of chrysanthemum, it had a faint sweetness. Looking at Ming Chuqing's expectant gaze, he finished the cup of chrysanthemum tea.
As night deepened outside the window, Wei Qiao grew increasingly agitated. He wanted to go to Chaoxia Courtyard to find Xichun, but he couldn't think of a good reason to face the Princess. Ming Chuqing glanced at the empty teacup and secretly smiled smugly at Cuiju beside her.
“Your Highness, I am not feeling well today and would like to rest alone. Your Highness, why don’t you go to Chaoxia Courtyard tonight and keep my sister company? She is newly pregnant and must be feeling anxious and would very much like your company,” Ming Chuqing said to Wei Qiao.
Ming Chuqing's words were exactly what Wei Qiao wanted to hear. "In that case, Your Highness should rest early. I will take my leave now." After saying that, he immediately got up and left Yunhe Hall, heading straight for Chaoxia Courtyard.
In the Chaoxia Courtyard, Xichun, having finished her herbal medicine, was embroidering a handkerchief under the lamp. Whenever she had free time, she couldn't help but think about her entanglement with Wei Qiao; having something to do made her mind clearer.
Wei Qiao entered the bedroom and saw Xi Chun embroidering something again. He walked over and saw a tiger on the handkerchief. He was surprised and said, "When did Xi Chun recognize this tiger?"
Hearing his voice, Xichun looked up at him. Remembering her experience of watching acrobatics with Brother Miao, she said, "I saw an acrobatic performance in the market before, and there was one of them."
"Oh, I see. Your embroidery is quite lifelike." Wei Qiao said, walking over to Xi Chun and sitting down next to her. He hadn't drunk any alcohol tonight, but now, being close to Xi Chun, he felt a tingling sensation all over his body.
Xi Chun put down her embroidery stand and turned to look at him: "Why has Your Highness come here?"
"I want to stay with you," Wei Qiao said, taking her hand.
The moment Wei Qiao touched Xi Chun's hand, a stronger desire welled up within him. Gazing into Xi Chun's dark eyes, he reached out and caressed her face, unable to resist kissing her rosy lips. With each suck and nibble, Wei Qiao's burning desire intensified.
Xichun passively accepted his kisses, feeling breathless from them. She tried to push him away, but his hands enveloped her tightly like an iron barrel.
After a long while, Wei Qiao finally stopped kissing, picked up Xi Chun, and walked towards the bed. After placing her on the bed, he leaned over and tried to remove her clothes, wanting to unite with her body and soul.
Seeing the dazed look in his eyes, Xichun quickly grabbed his hand and exclaimed, "Wei Qiao, no, I'm pregnant!"
Wei Qiao, who had been burying his face in her neck, was suddenly jolted awake by Xi Chun's voice. He took several deep breaths to calm himself down.
How could he be so unrestrained today? It was truly fortunate that his intimate encounter with Xichun in the carriage last time did not affect the child. But he cannot do that again in the future. He has already consulted the physician, who said that the fetus is most vulnerable in the first few months of pregnancy and that intercourse should be avoided during this period.
Wei Qiao, panting heavily, got up from Xi Chun. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he carefully brushed the stray hairs from her face and comforted her, "Don't be afraid. I acted impulsively just now. I'll go back to my room tonight. You should go to sleep early too." After saying that, he got out of bed, drew the curtains for Xi Chun, and hurriedly left Chaoxia Courtyard.
A-Gui followed behind Wei Qiao, noticing the unusual flush on his face, and tentatively asked, "Your Highness, shall we go to the Princess's place?" The concubine is currently pregnant and unable to serve Your Highness, but the Princess can.
“No, let’s go back to Ming’an Hall,” Wei Qiao said resolutely.
After soaking in cold water for over an hour, Wei Qiao's restlessness finally subsided. He got up and was dressed by A Gui. Recalling his food and what he had come into contact with that day, apart from the two pots of green cloud flowers sent by the princess, everything else was no different from usual. The fragrance of the flowers was unusual, but even after he had been in contact with them and had dinner with the princess at Yunhe Hall, he had not felt any desire for her.
It shouldn't be because of those two pots of chrysanthemums, and he shouldn't have made such unfounded assumptions about the princess.
It's all because of him; he can't control himself whenever he's around Xichun.
Inside Yunhe Hall, Ming Chuqing was tending to her chrysanthemums in the small flower hall. After marrying into the Zhaowang Mansion, she also moved the chrysanthemums she had planted in the Ming Mansion here. Now most of them are placed in the garden of Yunhe Hall, while some rare ones are placed in this small flower hall.
Cuiju came in and whispered in her ear, "Your Highness, the Prince has returned to Ming'an Hall."
Ming Chuqing paused, her hand holding the scissors nearly snipping a flower bud that was about to bloom. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a cold smile played on her lips. "If it is fate, then so be it. Tomorrow, select two of the finest ginseng from my private treasury and send them to Chaoxia Courtyard. Tell them that I, the Princess Consort, am concerned for the Consort, and that she should take good care of herself during her pregnancy. She does not need to come to Yunhe Hall to pay her respects to me during her pregnancy."
Early the next morning, Cuiju delivered the two ginseng roots to Chaoxia Courtyard and repeated Ming Chuqing's words to Xichun. Xichun rewarded Cuiju with a handful of golden melon seeds and then sent Shuixian to escort the ginseng roots out.
Looking at the red lacquered, carved wooden box containing the ginseng, Xichun recalled the day she first visited the Princess at Yunhe Hall after returning to the manor. Ming Chuqing, dressed in a bright yellow cross-collar jacket and skirt embroidered with peonies, sat gracefully on a rose-shaped chair in the side hall. Her hair was styled in a flying phoenix bun, with two rose-shaped gold hairpins adorning her hair, yet they couldn't overshadow her radiant face. Her kind smile and overall demeanor gave Xichun her first understanding of what a refined lady from a noble family truly meant.
She was dignified and elegant, with graceful bearing, while Xichun, who stood below her and bowed to her, looked like a barefoot country girl. Although she had received instruction in court etiquette when she entered the palace, she still paled in comparison to Ming Chuqing.
Xi Chun suddenly understood why Wei Qiao insisted on marrying Ming Chuqing: they were the same kind of people, both of noble birth and possessing extraordinary bearing. From the perspective of being well-matched, they were a perfect match.
Moreover, they have a predestined relationship spanning two lifetimes, so it is only natural for him to marry her.
When Shuixian returned after delivering Cuiju, she saw Xichun staring blankly at the lacquer box. She asked, "Consort, should I put this ginseng in the small storeroom?"
Hearing the sound, Xichun looked up at the narcissus and said, "Hmm, let's put it there."
Time flew by like flowing water, and October arrived quickly.
At the end of September, Wei Qiao was appointed by the emperor as an imperial envoy to inspect the prefectures and counties of Jiangnan. In early October, Ling Shuang suddenly fell ill, and despite medical treatment, she passed away within a few days. Wei Qiao rushed back from Jiangnan to arrange Ling Shuang's funeral.
In accordance with his wishes, the funeral was kept simple, and his remains were buried next to the tomb of Wei Qiao's mother, Zhang Yunyi.
Xi Chun wanted to see Aunt Ling Shuang off on her final journey, but Wei Qiao refused on the grounds that she was pregnant. Therefore, Xi Chun could only hold a simple memorial service at the Prince's Mansion.
When Wei Qiao returned to the Zhao Prince's residence after handling Ling Shuang's funeral, it was already dusk. Xi Chun was having dinner in the Chaoxia Courtyard. She was more than three months pregnant, and after drinking the herbal soup prescribed by the palace physician, her appetite had returned to normal. Apart from her growing belly, she had no other discomforts, and her appetite had returned to its usual level.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Shui Xian, while ladling soup for Xi Chun, turned her head and caught sight of Wei Qiao walking outside. She quickly bowed to him.
Upon hearing Shui Xian's voice, Xi Chun put down her chopsticks and turned around to see Wei Qiao looking exhausted.
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