Pregnant
At the other end of the Chaoxia Courtyard, Xichun, after bathing, sat on the swing set in the courtyard, enjoying the breeze. Two larks frolicked in the crabapple tree in the courtyard, and after playing for a while, they flapped their wings and flew to another part of the sky. She envied these birds at this moment, so free and unrestrained. She also wanted to fly away like them, but now she was trapped in this deep courtyard with its high red walls.
"Miss, it's time to eat." Shui Xian came to find her in the courtyard after dinner was laid out.
Xichun looked up at the sky ablaze with the colors of the sunset, and it took her a long time to get off the swing. She had little appetite, and after a couple of bites, she put down her chopsticks. Seeing Xichun like this, Shuixian felt a pang of heartache; the young lady had been in low spirits ever since the prince brought her back. "Miss, are you unhappy?"
Xichun grabbed her hand. "Narcissus, I'm sorry, I lied to you yesterday."
Narcissus shook her head, grasped her hand in return, and said earnestly, "You can trust Narcissus, Miss. Narcissus wants you to be happy."
Last night, sitting on the stone steps, she finally understood what had happened when the girl disappeared on the street last time. Just like this time, the girl had sent her away and then vanished. The girl must be unhappy with the prince, which was why she wanted to run away. And the girl didn't trust her, which was why she hadn't told her the truth.
If the girl is still unhappy and still wants to leave after returning to the palace, she will do everything in her power to help her leave.
Xichun couldn't help but shed tears, feeling guilty for betraying Shuixian's sincere feelings for her.
"Narcissus, I believe you."
Inside Yunhe Hall, Wei Qiao and Ming Chuqing sat on opposite sides of the chess table, playing chess. Watching her carefully laid plans being completely defeated by her opponent, Ming Chuqing stood up and conceded defeat, saying, "Your Highness's chess skills are superb, and I humbly admit defeat."
"Your Highness is too kind. Your Highness is too kind. My victory was merely by chance." Wei Qiao looked up at the dark, inky sky outside, feeling very uneasy.
He had long envisioned a harmonious and loving marriage with Ming Chuqing. But now, in the same room, while her words and actions pleased him, he felt none of the same feelings he had for Xichun. The thought of being naked together filled Wei Qiao with a deep-seated aversion.
He had played several games of chess with the princess, and now it was past midnight, and he could no longer find any reason to delay.
"Your Highness, it's time to rest," Ming Chuqing said softly. After bathing, Ming Chuqing was dressed in a cool white nightgown embroidered with colorful butterflies, preparing to sleep with him. She considered herself to be quite beautiful, with a slender yet shapely figure. Any other man would have already pulled her to bed, but Wei Qiao was so focused on playing chess with her that she tried to interrupt him several times, but his words silenced her.
Ming Chuqing came over and took his hand, wanting to lead him to bed. Last night, on their wedding night, he abandoned her to search for someone; tonight, she absolutely couldn't let him go again.
He had barely entered the household as the official princess when he already bestowed the title of concubine upon the woman from Chaoxia Courtyard, clearly showing his deep affection for her. She had no intention of competing for the prince's favor, but she would absolutely not allow the woman to lord it over her. She wanted to be the first to give birth to the prince's child, and once the child was firmly established as the heir apparent, she would have no more worries.
Wei Qiao sat motionless on the daybed, slowly tidying up the chessboard, hoping to buy some more time. His eyes swept over the spot where Ming Chuqing had just sat and noticed a pool of bright red. He looked closer and, sure enough, it was a pool of blood. He immediately breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
Wei Qiao pointed to the cushion and said gently to Ming Chuqing, "Your Highness, you... have started your period."
Upon hearing his words, Ming Chuqing looked up at the cushion and blushed when she saw the bright red stain. She quickly apologized to him and went to the inner room to change.
After a long while, she returned to him and said apologetically, "Your Highness, I am unable to serve you tonight. Why don't you go to my sister's place instead?"
"It's alright, I'll stay with the Princess tonight." He wasn't there on his wedding night, and if he comes and leaves again today, even the servants in the manor might have something to say about his Princess.
The two lay in bed pretending to be asleep, but each had their own thoughts on their minds.
Wei Qiao recalled the way Xi Chun pleaded with him in the carriage earlier that day; she was absolutely stunning when she was aroused. He felt as if he were under her spell, relentlessly taking from her. But he admitted it: he was happy, he was happy doing that with Xi Chun.
Ming Chuqing gazed at the dark bed curtains, recalling the time she met Wei Kang at Princess Kangle's flower-viewing party when she was fifteen. He was only seventeen then, a handsome young man. Knowing she had lost her hairpin and worried that others might find it and spread rumors, he silently helped her search for it, finally finding it by the pond and returning it to her. He was always humble and polite, never overstepping his bounds with her, yet his smile was etched into her heart. All these years later, she had never forgotten it.
Xichun in Chaoxia Courtyard was also sleepless. On the carriage, Wei Qiao had told her he would be going to the Princess's place that night. The thought of them being intimate that morning and then sharing a bed with another woman that night filled her with utter disgust. She only had him, yet he wasn't content with just her. She didn't want Wei Qiao's kind of affection. For her, love meant exclusivity; she only wanted exclusivity.
As dawn approached, Wei Qiao immediately got out of bed. Ming Chuqing was fast asleep and didn't notice the movement of the person beside her. Wei Qiao quietly dressed and returned to Ming'an Hall. Agui noticed his dark circles under his eyes and his listless appearance. She couldn't help but ask, "Didn't Your Highness get any rest last night?"
Remembering how he'd spent the entire night staring at the bed curtains, Wei Qiao sighed deeply. He'd originally planned to sleep for a while, but the scent of osmanthus blossoms in Ming Chuqing's hair kept him awake. He could only stay awake and wait for dawn.
After handing over the memorial to the emperor that had been prepared in the study to Agui, Wei Qiao returned to his bedroom and took a half-day nap.
The imperial decree arrived swiftly, reaching Prince Zhao's residence the following afternoon. Looking at the auspicious robes and headdress befitting a concubine, which were sent with it, Xichun showed no joy. These things were nothing more than chains binding her, bringing her no happiness, only endless suffering.
For several days, Xichun couldn't eat and couldn't sleep well at night, repeatedly dreaming of escaping only to be caught by Wei Qiao. Upon waking, looking at the high walls of Chaoxia Courtyard, the suffocating feeling in her dreams intensified. She hadn't escaped; she had been caught by Wei Qiao.
On the third day after his wedding, Wei Qiao returned to the court. The emperor entrusted him with his most trusted personal guards, and he spent the next few days living in the military camp on the outskirts of the capital, getting to know the generals and familiarizing himself with military affairs.
After returning to the Princess's residence and having lunch with her that day, he went straight to Chaoxia Courtyard to find Xichun. He hadn't seen her since the day he brought her back to the manor. Seeing how much thinner she had become, he tenderly pulled her into his arms, asking, "What happened?"
"I'm fine," Xichun said coldly, pushing him away from her embrace.
"How could you get so thin if nothing's wrong?" Wei Qiao said reproachfully. "You used to scold me for not taking care of my health, but I think you're the one I love the least."
"A-Gui, go and fetch the imperial physician to examine the concubine," Wei Qiao instructed A-Gui.
"It is Your Highness." Ah Gui responded and left.
The imperial physician arrived at Chaoxia Courtyard less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. After greeting the two, he began to take Xichun's pulse. His expression was solemn, making everyone present hold their breath.
"How is the concubine?" Wei Qiao asked the physician with concern. Seeing the physician take his pulse, ponder for a moment, and then take his pulse again, Wei Qiao was alarmed, fearing that Xi Chun had contracted some illness.
The royal physician stepped forward, bowed to the two men, and replied with a smile, "Your Highness, the concubine is not ill, but rather pregnant. Based on her pulse, we can deduce that she is more than two months pregnant."
"What? You said the concubine is pregnant?" Wei Qiao got up from the daybed in surprise and asked the physician again in disbelief.
The imperial physician smiled and nodded, "Your Highness, although my medical skills are not proficient, I can still detect a slippery pulse. The concubine is indeed pregnant."
Wei Qiao turned to Xi Chun, who was still somewhat dazed, and laughed loudly, "Xi Chun, did you hear that? We have a child."
Xi Chun looked down at her still flat stomach. It turned out that a little life had been growing inside her two months ago. She frowned slightly and sighed inwardly. It was a pity that this child had come at the wrong time.
"Rewards! The physician will be rewarded with two hundred taels of silver, and all the maids serving the concubine in Chaoxia Courtyard will receive a year's worth of monthly wages." Wei Qiao announced the rewards to everyone with a loud laugh.
Then he turned around and sat down next to Xichun on the Luohan bed. He turned his head to look at her lower abdomen and imagined their child inside. He grinned for a while before carefully reaching out and placing his hand on Xichun's lower abdomen.
"Xichun, we have a child." Wei Qiao repeated. He was overjoyed. Back when he was with Xichun at the inn, he had wondered what their future child would look like, and now their child had really arrived.
Seeing his joyful expression, Xichun was momentarily moved. He seemed very happy, as if he was eagerly anticipating this unexpected child.
"Hmm," Xichun responded faintly.
"Are you feeling unwell somewhere?" Seeing that she didn't look very happy, Wei Qiao took her hand and asked.
Considering that Xichun was pregnant and had no appetite, she really needed to be taken care of. He instructed the imperial physician, "Prescribe some mild remedies for the concubine to help her recover."
The imperial physician bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."
Shuixian brought the prepared herbal medicine into the room. The prince and his concubine sat side by side on the daybed. The concubine was reading a book, and the prince also held a book, but his eyes were not on the books; they were fixed on the concubine's face. Seeing this, Shuixian felt that the prince loved his concubine, but she couldn't understand why he had neglected and hurt her before loving her.
"Your Highness, Consort, the medicine is ready." Shui Xian brought the medicine to Xi Chun.
Looking at the dark medicine, Xichun felt a little scared. She thought that she had only recently lost her appetite and did not need to take medicine.
"Just leave it there for now, I'll eat it later."
The freshly brewed medicine was still piping hot, so Shui Xian didn't try to persuade her. She simply took the medicine bowl from under the tray and placed it on the tea table next to her.
After a while, Xichun still showed no sign of drinking the medicine. Wei Qiao got up and gently touched the bowl, which had become lukewarm. He placed the medicine in front of Xichun, scooped up a spoonful of the medicine, and held it to her lips. "The medicine is cold. Drink it quickly."
Seeing him about to feed her, Xichun reached out and took the bowl of medicine, then drank the broth in a few gulps. The bitter taste filled her mouth, and she picked up the tea beside her, wanting to drink some to mask the medicine's flavor. Wei Qiao, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a piece of pine nut candy and offered it to her lips.
"Here, have a candy," Wei Qiao said softly, gazing gently into her eyes.
She couldn't resist the sweetness, so she opened her mouth and ate the pine nut candy.
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