Chapter 57 Pregnancy, just a bastard child.
Mingying's usually quiet eyes flickered, and a ripple of emotion gradually appeared within them.
But no matter how much it ripples, it remains a stagnant pool, devoid of any sign of life.
She stared at her abdomen, her eyes filled with resentment.
It turned out that her drowsiness and lethargy those two days weren't due to a change in environment, but rather...
That's ridiculous. How could she be pregnant with his child again?
When Pei Xiaoyun heard that she was pregnant, her eyelids twitched a few times, and an indescribable emotion surged into her heart.
Two months—could it have been that night on the ship?
That night, as he was about to go to sea for battle, he regarded her as his sanctuary of tenderness, and entangled himself with her again and again.
He once made her drink abortion pills, trying to get rid of their first child. He also tried every means to force her to get pregnant again, so that there would be something to hold her back and she would stay by his side.
Pregnancy—these two simple and light words concealed his true intentions.
Now, without any preparation or plan, the child has arrived.
For the first time, he felt that those two words carried some weight.
His gaze lingered on her flat stomach, but then unexpectedly met her icy eyes.
He sensed something from her resentful gaze.
She realized that she could no longer be alone in such a place; he would be caught off guard.
He told He Lianqing to go out first, then approached her, reaching out his hand almost to touch the gauze on her neck: "From today onwards, come back to the manor with me."
With a "smack," Mingying slapped his hand away. She began to feel that the life inside her was flowing with his blood, which was an extremely disgusting thing.
"Kill me now!" she cried. "If you don't kill me, I won't let my child live!"
Pei Xiaoyun's heart skipped a beat. He pinched her cheeks, his voice trembling, and told her, "You're not allowed to say such things."
He knew that once she opened her mouth, she wouldn't utter any good words. He tried to pick her up horizontally, but he couldn't withstand her struggles, so he simply hoisted her onto his shoulder and carried her out of the cell.
"Let me go, let me go!" Mingying clenched her fists and pounded on his shoulder with all her might. Through his clothes, she bit his shoulder as if she wanted to tear off a piece of flesh.
She took revenge on him as if he were her enemy, and she did so with great force.
Pei Xiaoyun was in pain, but he remained calm and steady, refusing to let go.
When the carriage arrived at the mansion, he carried the person down, crossed the covered walkway, and went straight into the mansion.
Upon arriving at the main house, I kicked open the door and was greeted by a spacious and luxurious living room.
No one had ever lived in this room; he had his maid open it this morning.
"Let me go, you beast, you're not even human!"
The magnificent walls of the courtyard were more suffocating than the dark, boundless prison cells.
Mingying punched and beat him, her curses echoing throughout the courtyard. Due to her excessive excitement, the wound on her neck reopened.
Pei Xiaoyun smelled a strong stench of blood, and finally put her down, going outside to call He Lianqing in to properly apply medicine to her.
He stood outside listening, and finally it quieted down inside. He waited patiently for a while.
He waited until He Lianqing came out before going in.
Mingying sat blankly by the couch, a new gauze bandage on her neck. Perhaps because of the hemostatic medicine, the gauze was no longer red.
He looked around and felt that she was different from before. Before, she was expressionless, but now her face was full of coldness.
"Go in and wash her, change her into clean clothes, and be careful of her wound." He turned his face away, instructed the maid, and went outside again with his hands behind his back.
The maids, carrying bath tubs and clean clothes, filed in one after another with small, quick steps.
The room was filled with steam and mist. After taking off her clothes, the hot steam seeped into her fair skin, instantly giving her a rosy glow.
Mingying didn't want to make things difficult for the servants, so she let them bathe, wash, and dry her hair for her.
When the heat dissipated and the sound of water subsided, she was enveloped in a round-necked vest and a gold-embroidered horse-face skirt.
The bath tub was carried out, and the curtain to block the wind was drawn before Pei Xiaoyun entered, followed by another group of maids who came in to serve the meal.
Seeing her clean and beautiful face after washing, he finally felt a little relieved.
The table was filled with all sorts of bowls and plates, including sour plum duck, crab meat dumplings, ham and pig's trotter soup, and green rice porridge, plus several soft and sticky snacks that she loved.
Mingying glanced at the food coldly, feeling a wave of nausea and losing all appetite.
After setting out the bowls and chopsticks, Pei Xiaoyun sat down beside her and, without making a sound, first served her a piece of pickled plum duck.
Having gone to such lengths, he was willing to forgive her sins and reconcile with her.
Pregnancy is a stepping stone, and also a new beginning.
The duck meat fell into the white porcelain bowl. Mingying lifted the bowl with one hand, and shards flew everywhere with a jarring sound.
Pei Xiaoyun's forehead twitched. She gritted her teeth and tried her best to keep her breathing calm: "How can you not eat? You're pregnant."
Mingying blurted out, "It's just a bastard child, I should be happy?"
"You're saying he's a bastard?" Pei Xiaoyun stared at her face, his voice trembling.
He couldn't believe she would do such a thing, cursing their unborn child.
She used to protect their first child so fiercely.
"What, did I say something wrong?" Mingying's gaze sharpened, her cold breath brushing against his face. "You conceived this child through your bewitching and rape; what else could it be but an illegitimate offspring?"
With a resounding "clatter," Pei Xiaoyun put down his jade chopsticks, his suppressed anger almost bursting forth. His wrist trembled, and he used all his strength to extinguish the flames of rage.
The openwork wooden window lattice blocked out the light and shadow, and many dappled beams of light fell on her slender profile.
Pei Xiaoyun watched as the flickering light and shadow were suppressed by the cool aura emanating from her. Knowing her answer, he couldn't help but probe, "If I really can't come back, and you find out you're pregnant, what will you do?"
“Naturally, a bowl of medicine will suffice.”
Mingying answered crisply and decisively, without any hesitation.
Pei Xiaoyun lowered his head and chuckled, just as he had expected.
"Are you really that heartless?"
"Isn't this your original method?" Mingying retorted. "If you do it, it's because you have your reasons. If I do it too, it's because I'm heartless?"
Whether he lives or dies, she will not keep this child.
She hated him to death; this child, born with hatred, should never have been born.
Pei Xiaoyun turned her head, her chest heaving, the bloodshot in her eyes like a trapped beast lying in wait, but suppressed by her harsh words, she could not release anything.
“The past is the past.” He began to agree with what she had said that day.
Then, he continued, "I have been unkind to you, but you have also betrayed me. I almost lost my life at sea, all because of you. Let bygones be bygones, and I will forgive and forget everything."
He hoped she would give birth to a child, then he would marry her and they could live together as a family.
Mingying's eyes were filled with resentment, her white teeth flashing as she said, "Aren't you still sitting here now? If you were dead, I would let bygones be bygones."
Can what he did to her be easily forgiven with just a simple "let bygones be bygones"?
Pei Xiaoyun frowned and stood up: "Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
Mingying slowly stretched out her hands towards him, wrists together, suspended in mid-air: "No need for further words, you can tie me up and send me back to prison."
Pei Xiaoyun had a cold smile on her lips, but a hint of bitterness crept into the fleeting smile. She glanced at her, feeling disappointed, yet there was nothing she could do.
"Don't even think about it."
He forced out three words through gritted teeth, then left the room and instructed the maids, "Keep an eye on her. If anything happens, you won't be able to keep your heads either."
The maids agreed tremblingly, and every fifteen minutes they would go in to check on Mingying, fearing that something might have happened to her.
Mingying sat alone in the room, and with just a slight glance, she could sense many eyes staring at her.
It seems he's determined to keep her locked up until she gives birth.
She won't do as he wishes!
Later that evening, the door opened, and the night dew and the sound of the wind rushed in.
Pei Xiaoyun's figure was stretched long by the lamplight, and behind him was a short shadow.
Pei Yu'an, dressed in a light yellow silk jacket and with her hair styled in a cute bun, followed behind Pei Xiaoyun.
Her father said he would bring her to see her mother, but she had never seen her mother before.
Pei Xiaoyun released her hand, patted the top of her head, and said softly, "Go."
He had instructed his daughter on what to do when she met Mingying, as she was intelligent and would surely do a good job.
It was his oversight that the mother and daughter had never met.
He should have brought his daughter to see her sooner; perhaps things wouldn't have come to this.
Mingying is a soft-hearted woman, and that has never changed.
Even if she now sees him as an enemy, their daughter is already so grown up, and they should be a happy family. Can she really be so heartless?
Mingying heard an unusual noise, raised her hazy eyes, and saw a small figure taking small steps toward her.
She was momentarily stunned when Pei Yu'an grabbed her hand.
Her small hands were soft and warm, transferring warmth to her cold palms. Her clear eyes blinked: "Mother, my name is Pei Yu'an, and my nickname is An'an."
Perhaps it was the blood ties between mother and daughter that made Pei Yu'an feel an innate sense of closeness to her mother, even though it was the first time she had met her. She held her hand tightly and wouldn't let go.
The little girl's voice was clear and melodious, like the purest mountain spring, flowing over the rocks and into the heart.
A burning sensation rose in Mingying's chest, and her nose tingled slightly. She looked closely at the little girl's features, which were as white as snow and as pure as jade, like a delicately sculpted little figure. The brilliance in her eyes seemed to ignite sparks.
It wasn't the first time she had seen her, but it was the first time she had really looked at her.
She really is a well-behaved and beautiful little girl.
This child is the culmination of our deepest affections and also a catalyst for breaking down false friendships.
She was overwhelmed with mixed feelings and felt somewhat at a loss. Looking into her daughter's innocent eyes, she didn't know what to say to her.
He could only touch her cheek and force a faint smile: "An'an, can you read now?"
“Not many yet.” Pei Yu’an gestured with her fingers. Her father hadn’t taught her how to answer this question. She grasped Mingying’s two fingers and blurted out, “Mother, can you teach me?”
Mingying was slightly surprised, her thoughts were drawn to her, and she nodded gently.
Pei Xiaoyun stood behind the mother-of-pearl inlaid flower and bird screen, quietly listening to the movements of the mother and daughter.
I watched as the two figures, one tall and one short, walked to the window and sat down at the altar, their hands moving fluently and clearly as they read the papers.
It really was Mingying teaching An'an to read.
An'an sat on her lap, the candlelight flickering dimly, serene and long.
Seeing how well-behaved their daughter is, would she still resent the child in her womb and desperately try to escape from him?
Mingying circled a few simple characters from "Youxue Qionglin" and taught them to Pei Yu'an. Pei Yu'an sat on her lap and studied very seriously. After he had learned them all, he couldn't help but rub his eyes and yawn.
The room lights had been turned on at some point.
The sound of bowls and plates clattering came from behind the beaded curtain again.
"Miss, young lady, it's time for your meal."
When the maid came to call them, Pei Yu'an got off Mingying's lap.
She was very well-mannered; seeing the sky outside the window darkening, she knew it was time to eat.
Mingying followed her there, and Pei Xiaoyun sat down at the table to wait.
A pot of milky white bird's nest and shredded chicken soup was steaming hot, surrounded by several dishes such as pickled quail, ham hock, and fried fish fillet.
She lowered her face and stood a distance of Pei Yu'an between them.
Pei Xiaoyun could tell that she was deliberately distancing herself from him, and her expression stiffened for a moment. Then, she said calmly, "You didn't eat much for lunch, so you should eat dinner too. Even if you don't care about the baby in your belly, you should at least eat, right?"
Mingying remained silent.
Pei Xiaoyun then added, "I did not harm your brother, and out of consideration for you, I will pardon your brother. Once the situation stabilizes in a few days, you will be allowed to meet again."
He pressed He Lianqing for answers, and she told him that Shen Mingshu had used half his life to remove the curse from her body.
It was a risky gamble, a near-death experience.
That's why she hated him and wanted him dead.
If he were to harm her brother again, they would truly be locked in a lifelong feud.
Mingying's eyes flickered, and she suddenly raised her head, her gaze finally landing on his face. Her eyes were sharp and piercing, refusing to meet his gaze for even a moment.
Hopefully, he will keep his word.
Pei Yu'an naturally couldn't understand what they were saying. He lowered his head and thought for a while, but couldn't figure it out. So he simply picked up his chopsticks. His small body couldn't reach the center of the table, so he stood up and picked up a piece of quail meat for Mingying.
She was estranged from her biological father, but subconsciously felt closer to her biological mother, with whom she had only spent half a day. Considering that Pei Xiaoyun might be unhappy, she also put a piece of meat on his plate.
Pei Xiaoyun didn't care about the behavior of a child; what he cared about was how Mingying would react.
Should I continue to stubbornly refuse to eat, or should I start eating for my daughter's sake?
"Good girl." Mingying stroked Pei Yu'an's hair, picked up the quail meat she had picked up, and took a bite.
She naturally wouldn't refuse her daughter's request.
The atmosphere at dinner was awkward.
Mingying didn't respond to anything Pei Xiaoyun said, and gradually, he stopped talking altogether.
Pei Yu'an sensed that something was wrong, so he obediently ate his meal, keeping his head down and remaining silent.
Mingying occasionally speaks a few words to her daughter, but she is reluctant to say a single word to anyone else.
After dinner, Pei Yu'an got tired of studying characters. A warm breeze blew over her, and she couldn't resist the drowsiness. She rested her head on Mingying's lap and fell asleep.
Looking at the mother and daughter sitting together, Pei Xiaoyun suddenly wanted An'an to stay and keep her company, to comfort her, to strengthen their bond, and to soften her hard heart.
He was about to speak.
At the same time, Mingying also spoke up: "She's tired, have someone take her back to her room to rest."
"You two have reunited, don't you want to spend more time with her?" Pei Xiaoyun didn't expect her to say that.
He watched again in the afternoon; the mother and daughter got along well, their relationship warm and affectionate.
Does she not care about her daughter at all?
Is this really necessary?
Mingying could easily see through his intentions. His methods had never changed, and he was trying to use the child to blackmail her again.
She spread her fingers and gently touched the sleeping face of the little one in her arms, answering him, "If she misses me, she will come to me tomorrow. Instead of you trying every means to persuade her and bring her here."
Pei Xiaoyun was speechless for a long time before finally saying, "She really wants to be close to you, but I have never taught her anything."
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Author's Note: The female protagonist won't give in because of the child; please read on to find out more~
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