Hongli has always loved children. To fulfill his wish, she once hoped to conceive a son or daughter. However, the child arrived at such an awkward time. She had considered aborting the child, but in the end, she couldn't bear to.
Whether it was because she couldn't bear to part with the child, or because she couldn't bear to completely sever the last ties between her and Hongli, even she herself couldn't say for sure.
This child has gone through too many setbacks, and it's still uncertain whether he can keep the baby. His palms were warm and very gentle, caressing her belly as if holding a precious treasure, wanting to feel the baby's presence.
The doctor said that fetal movement should start around four or five months, but she hasn't felt it yet. Although the movements are gentle, she's still a little worried.
"Won't you roll over on the child like that?"
"Huh? Really?" He didn't press down hard on her abdomen; his arm remained deliberately raised. But after hearing her words, he felt a little scared too.
“Our child is indeed a bit too delicate, and you have suffered. The imperial physician said that as long as you can survive seven days, the child can be saved.”
Seven days, only two days have passed, and she still feels pain in her abdomen. Su Yushan couldn't help but worry, "If... I mean, if... the baby can't be saved..." She didn't finish her sentence. Hongli found it hard to accept just imagining it. His nose tingled slightly, and he carefully ran his fingers over her abdomen, gently embracing her from behind.
"No, our child is very lucky and will definitely survive. He will definitely get through this ordeal safely."
Women are generally very sensitive, and I guessed that Yu Shan had some other worries when she said those words. To prevent her from overthinking, Hongli added:
"Even if we really miss the opportunity, you don't need to be afraid. I will always be by your side. In my heart, the child can only come second. You will always be the most important one."
She also hoped that her child would be alright, but in her vague memory, it seemed that Emperor Qianlong's first child was not born to Consort Chun. So what would happen to the fetus in her womb?
Will it be a chance to change history and be born successfully? Or will it be a chance to follow the course of history and never be born?
She dared not think about these questions too deeply; the more she thought about them, the more terrified she became. Taking a deep breath, Su Yushan silently warned herself not to worry unnecessarily; thinking too much would only bring her trouble.
She will take her medicine on time and try her best to keep the pregnancy going; whether she can keep it or not is up to fate.
The topic was a bit heavy, and Hongli, not wanting to worry her, didn't continue the conversation.
Having lay on his side for too long, Su Yushan's back ached a little, so she slowly turned over to lie flat on her back. He wanted to hold her as he used to, but he would accidentally press on her abdomen. Helpless, Hongli had to give up the idea and lay flat on his back next to her.
Even if she doesn't speak, just watching her sleep peacefully is a simple kind of happiness for him.
She seemed genuinely tired; soon her breathing became steady, and she must have drifted off to sleep.
As he gently stroked the stray hairs by her temples, Hongli felt a sudden sweetness in his heart, and the corners of his lips unconsciously turned up slowly.
He was glad he had come to his senses in time and hadn't been so stubborn, and had the courage to speak his mind. He knew very well that it wouldn't be easy for the two of them to go back to the way things were before, so he wouldn't force them to go back to the past. After all, people have to move forward, and his greatest wish was to start over with Yu Shan and walk the rest of their lives together.
As his thoughts drifted, Hongli gradually closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. He slept exceptionally soundly tonight, probably the most restful sleep he had had in the past few months.
Nothing was said that night. The next day, after court, the two brothers unexpectedly met. In the past, Hongzhou would definitely have taken the initiative to greet him, but today, even though he clearly saw him, he ignored him and continued walking. In the end, Hongli hurried a few steps to catch up.
"What's wrong? Are you still angry with me? Why are you acting like a young lady, so temperamental?"
Hongzhou's peach blossom eyes, which always held a hint of a smile, were instead met with a casual glance today, followed by a drawn-out, sarcastic tone.
"Your Majesty, you flatter me. Who am I to dare to hold a grudge against you?"
He wouldn't dare, would he? "Your whole body, even your eyebrows, scream 'If I'm not happy, Hongli, stay away!'"
Did he? Fine! Since the fourth brother saw through him, he stopped pretending and spoke frankly, "Ask yourself honestly, when have I ever failed to do my best to fulfill your orders? I treat you as a brother, what do you take me for?"
Just because you say you can't investigate doesn't mean you can't investigate. Everyone has curiosity, okay? At least give me a reason, or I'll start speculating and losing sleep. You don't know, I've been thinking about this constantly these past few days, something just doesn't feel right, I even thought…”
He stopped mid-sentence, his expression inscrutable. Hongli asked curiously, "What did you think?"
Hongzhou seized the opportunity and said, "You want to know? I won't tell you. You were keeping me in suspense like this the other day."
"..." Resisting the urge to hit him, Hongli scoffed, "You're clearly doing this on purpose."
"So what if it is? Now you know how hateful people who keep you in suspense are, right?" Hongzhou put himself in Hongzhou's shoes, determined to make him feel the same way.
"If you still consider me a brother, tell me the truth, otherwise..."
"Or what? Are we not going to be brothers anymore?"
"Not really," he said, his brotherly bond was stronger than blood, and he couldn't bring himself to say such harsh words. "But don't expect me to help you anymore."
Hongli shook his head and smiled wryly, inwardly sighing that his fifth son really loved to throw tantrums. Knowing his temperament, he wouldn't give up until he got an answer. Left with no other choice, Hongli had to give him an explanation.
"I didn't let you investigate because I remember that handkerchief."
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