Chapter 53, Part 53: Snuggling into her bed
After a spring rain, the faint redness at the corners of the woman's eyes and the smile on the young man's lips lingered for a long time.
Back at the princess's residence after leaving the palace, Yuezhi would often think of that kiss in the pavilion. From that moment on, Pei Heng was no longer just a "younger brother" to her, but a "lover" who could support her.
She always felt like she was using him.
But her body and time didn't allow her to think any further. The morning sickness in early pregnancy came on fiercely, and she vomited from morning till night. At one point, she vomited until her stomach was empty and she felt like she was about to throw up.
The morning sickness lasted for about twenty days. I couldn't eat anything, and even the slightest strange smell made me want to vomit. My already weak body lost even more weight.
Fortunately, the spring rains had been intermittent these past few days, so there hadn't been much of a chance for her to go out. Pei Heng was busy recuperating from his injuries and diligently performing his duties in the palace. Knowing that she was suffering from severe morning sickness and vomiting, he specially came over to take care of her. However, he was covered in a strong scent of ambergris, and as soon as she got a little close, Yuezhi felt uncomfortable and started to wrinkle her nose.
Seeing how thin she was, Pei Heng frowned, feeling both distressed and aggrieved: "What should we do?"
Yuezhi was too weak to speak to him, so she waved her hand at him.
Hua Chun hurriedly stepped forward to persuade her, "The princess has been feeling very unwell these past two days and can't stand any smells. Please, Your Majesty, return to the palace first and let the princess rest."
Pei Heng had no choice but to leave the room and had the eunuch summon the three imperial physicians guarding the princess's residence, specifically choosing Su Jingyun to ask questions.
"Why is the princess's health so poor? Is there something wrong with your pregnancy-preserving medicine?"
The three imperial physicians knelt on the ground, and Su Jingyun respectfully replied: "Princess, your constitution is weak and cold, and this is your first pregnancy, so it is normal for you to have severe morning sickness. Your humble servant has already adjusted the prescription for the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine, and it has been given to the princess for the past two days. It should take effect in three to five days."
Pei Heng looked down at him with disdain, "Since you've made such a bold promise, then take good care of the princess. If it doesn't work out, I will hold you responsible."
"Your humble servant obeys the decree." Su Jingyun passed the test without any major incident.
What he didn't say was that Yuezhi's severe morning sickness was largely due to Pei Heng. One was physically weak, the other strong; Yuezhi had already suffered quite a bit in their sex life, and now that she was pregnant, it was naturally even more difficult.
But who dares to say that the princess still believes the child belongs to the "prince consort"? The emperor, who is the culprit, stands here to hold "someone else's child" accountable, without fear of arousing the princess's suspicion.
That kiss in the rain that day, their hearts were connected, and Yuezhi kept it a secret in her heart, telling no one.
To outsiders, they were still "siblings," even if their relationship was somewhat ambiguous. This was still better than the reputation of "she turned to the emperor while pregnant with the prince consort's child."
A few days later, the new pregnancy-stabilizing medicine prescribed by Su Jingyun took effect, and Yuezhi's vomiting subsided.
Pei Heng tried to visit several times, but Yue Zhi refused each time.
Firstly, she still couldn't stand strong smells, and secondly, she had lost a lot of energy and blood due to morning sickness and vomiting, so she really didn't have the strength to deal with him.
Compared to Pei Heng, who was already lively and energetic even before his injuries had fully healed, she preferred to invite He Zhiyan to her residence for a chat. The two were both pregnant, had similar temperaments, and could talk to each other more.
"Your belly is already three months along, isn't it?"
In the back hall, He Zhiyan, with her hair in a married woman's bun and dressed in an elegant royal blue dress, lovingly stroked Yuezhi's lower abdomen, then looked down at her own still-flat stomach.
“I’ve only been pregnant for two months, and I’ve had terrible morning sickness these past few days. I can’t eat anything, and I feel listless and have no energy. My husband is busy with work and doesn’t have time to spend with me. If you hadn’t come to talk to me, I’m afraid I would have stayed cooped up in the yard all day.”
Yuezhi frowned slightly, curious: "You're pregnant, don't Liang Xiu take time off to be with you?"
"It's only been two months, why are you so precious?" He Zhiyan smiled gently and teased, "Besides, even if he tries his best to coax me, I still find it annoying. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have to suffer like this."
Upon hearing this, Yuezhi smiled knowingly.
She was too embarrassed to say that when she was suffering from severe morning sickness, she felt annoyed by men, but not by the prince consort, but by Pei Heng, who would come to her door every now and then to ask her all sorts of questions.
After hesitating for a moment, he murmured, "Zhiyan, what has Lord Liang and Madam Liang decided to do about the matter of the Imperial Son-in-Law?"
She finally asked the question.
A hint of seriousness flashed across He Zhiyan's brows. She quickly adjusted her tone, making it heavy yet calm, "The Shuntian Prefecture has not yet made a decision, but it is highly likely that the prince consort was harmed by that group of rebels who plotted rebellion. My father-in-law and mother-in-law are still having a hard time accepting this and don't want anyone to mention it. We can only go along with it to avoid upsetting the old folks."
Yuezhi nodded in understanding. "After all, we were husband and wife. If there is a memorial tablet in the Liang family, please light incense for him when you have time."
"Okay." He Zhiyan agreed, then casually mentioned, "I heard that the Emperor often visits the Princess's residence. Is it because of your pregnancy?"
Mentioning Pei Heng, Yue Zhi unconsciously lowered her eyes, her face flushing. "Well... I was also suffering from severe morning sickness at that time, and he was worried about me, so he came to check on me."
"His Majesty treats you so well." He Zhiyan's gaze softened as she looked at Yuezhi, showing relief that she had been entrusted with her life's purpose, but also a hint of pity for the person in the cage.
Yuezhi couldn't see her eyes, but from her words, she sensed that outsiders seemed to be speculating about something regarding the fact that "the emperor often visits the princess's residence."
He hurriedly explained, "He doesn't have many close friends in the capital. Since I'm the older sister who grew up with him, he naturally treats me well."
“But you are not related by blood. Since the Emperor ascended the throne, he has been diligent in governing, but I have never heard of him having time to register your name in the imperial genealogy. Although you grew up together, you are not really siblings.” He Zhiyan said softly, with a hidden meaning.
Yuezhi grew increasingly guilty as she listened, and asked directly, "Zhiyan, why are you suddenly saying these things... Have you heard something?"
He Zhiyan panicked for a moment, then quickly tried to cover it up, "Why would I need to hear about it? For such an important matter as praying to Buddha for blessings, the Emperor has asked you to lead the imperial relatives and noblewomen, which clearly shows that he places you in a very important position."
Yuezhi has lost her voice.
She couldn't see, so she just stood wherever the master of ceremonies told her to stand, and did whatever he asked her to do according to etiquette. She never imagined that the position next to the emperor was so important.
Seeing her face turn bright red, He Zhiyan could guess that there was something going on between the two: the Emperor had gone to great lengths to get rid of Erlang and fabricated the illusion of "disappearance." If he wasn't interested in Yuezhi, what else could it be?
As Yuezhi's friend, she also felt that Erlang was a bit of a coward, only knowing how to observe etiquette and obey the orders of his father and emperor, and handing over his wife and children to others for nothing.
Since that's the case, it would be better to arrange a marriage between Yuezhi and the Emperor as soon as possible. If Yuezhi can become a Noble Consort or even an Empress, she can also benefit from it. After all, the children in their wombs are cousins.
"Erlang is not coming back, but life must go on. Look at us, our bellies are getting bigger every day. How can we manage without someone to rely on?"
"I see that you and the Emperor have a bond that dates back to childhood. He relies on you so much, and he even dotes on the children you have with the Prince Consort. You are truly an excellent husband."
Yuezhi pursed her lips, too embarrassed to respond.
He Zhiyan tugged at her sleeve, "Don't be confused. Reputation and honor are just for outsiders to hear. Only you know whether life is good or bad. Pregnancy is hard, and I don't want you to bear it alone, without even a person who cares about you."
Fearing she wouldn't listen, I reminded her again and again, "What's past is past. People always have to look forward. In the end, if you hadn't married Erlang back then, you might have been the emperor's concubine long ago."
"People destined to meet will always meet, while for some, the connection will end and they will part ways. Yuezhi, when fate brings you together, you must seize the opportunity."
Yuezhi listened and kept it in mind.
She is easily influenced by the people around her. When others say that the prince consort is good, she also thinks that he is good. Now that they all say that Pei Heng is good, she often thinks about him.
When her morning sickness turned into a strange sadness, she fumbled around in the room and found the clothes, shoes and socks that the prince consort had worn, as well as the pearl and jade belt.
Along with those love poems, her jade hairpin... everything related to him was gathered up, packed into a large box, and then someone was asked to put the box in the most secluded courtyard.
She was happy to be in love with him, but the days without him were really hard to bear. If it weren't for Pei Heng's persistent passion and sincerity that opened her heart, she might still be trapped in grief, her health would have deteriorated, and she might not even have been able to keep her child.
We must always look forward.
From now on, she will never think about him again.
*
As the spring breeze grows warmer day by day, the flowers in the princess's mansion bloom, and the courtyard is tinged with tender green, creating a vibrant and lively scene.
After the agonizing morning sickness subsided, Yuezhi became inexplicably energetic. She started finding things to do again: blending perfumes, slicing bamboo shoots to dry, drying bamboo shoots, making bamboo tip tea, and boating on the lake with her maids to collect fallen leaves floating on the water.
Perhaps because they had let go of their psychological burdens and were no longer sad, they lived a relaxed and happy life.
That night, as it was late, Yuezhi was wide awake.
Lying on the bed, with her hands stroking her noticeably protruding belly, a gnawing hunger surged in her stomach.
I'm so hungry, I really want to eat something.
In her fourth month of pregnancy, her appetite became picky and urgent, as if she wanted to make up for all the blood and energy she had lost due to morning sickness in the previous months.
Now, all she can think about is that winter's treat: stewed chicken with wild mushrooms, cooked by Pei Heng himself.
Fresh, tender wild mushrooms picked from the mountains behind Wangshan Village are simmered with a plump hen over a low flame until the broth is clear and topped with a layer of oil. The chicken is tender and melts in your mouth, and the mushrooms absorb the delicious broth, bursting with flavor with every bite...
Even when Pei Heng was just a young boy, he knew how to share her burdens, learning to cook, do laundry, and chop wood. He could do everything, which made her never lift a finger.
The more I thought about it, the hungrier I became; my stomach felt empty, and I even felt a little wronged.
She groped her way to sit up, startling the maidservant who was guarding the outer room. The maidservant hurriedly asked, "Does Your Highness need to get up in the middle of the night, or is something wrong?"
Yuezhi frowned, tears welling in her eyes, and said aggrievedly, "I'm so hungry, I can't sleep, I want to eat stewed chicken with wild mushrooms."
The maidservant quickly replied, "Princess, please wait a moment. I will go and have the cook prepare it right away."
The Princess's residence has no shortage of cooks these days. Ever since Yuezhi started having morning sickness, Pei Heng has been sending imperial chefs to the Princess's residence one after another. Now the cooks in the residence's kitchen work in three shifts, so that whenever Yuezhi wants to eat, she can have the hottest and freshest food.
“No.” Yuezhi shook her head. “It wasn’t made by the imperial chefs. It was made by Aheng… Yes, by the Emperor. It’s different from what others make.”
The maid looked troubled. It was the middle of the night, and she was supposed to go to the palace to report this to the emperor?
But the Emperor did indeed instruct that whatever the princess did, he should report it to him, especially since the princess's emotions had been fluctuating greatly lately, so he could not be negligent.
"I'll go and think of a solution right away." The maid left the room.
Yuezhi lay back on the couch, the hunger and the sensitivity of pregnancy intertwined, making her nose sting and causing her to sob softly, tears silently sliding down her pillow.
She felt that what she was doing was really inappropriate, but she just couldn't control her feelings of grievance and her craving for the food.
The bed was so cold, the pillow was empty, and her stomach felt empty too. She was all alone in the bedroom; no one cared about her at all…
She didn't know how much time had passed, but in a daze, she smelled a familiar aroma wafting over. It wasn't coming from the direction of the main kitchen, but rather from the small kitchen not far from the main courtyard.
She was puzzled, but the aroma made her even hungrier, and her stomach started to rumble.
She's going to starve to death if she doesn't eat soon.
Without a second thought, Yuezhi called over the maid waiting outside the door and helped her walk towards the small kitchen.
Tonight, the clouds obscure the moon, and in the pitch-black night, all she sees is darkness.
Gradually, a warm yellow halo appeared in the darkness, marking the location of the small kitchen, like a warm star in the silent darkness.
The closer you get, the clearer the glow becomes, and you can hear faint sounds coming from inside: the clinking of porcelain, the crackling of firewood burning in the stove, and a low but still clear and strong male voice instructing the kitchen helpers to "keep the heat down" and "chop it until it's soft and tender"...
She recognized the voice; her heart pounded as if struck by lightning, and she quickened her pace to the kitchen doorway.
Through a hazy light, she saw a tall figure bending over in front of the stove, intently watching the blazing fire.
The young man removed his dragon robe and wore only a simple everyday outfit, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong forearms. Because he left the palace in a hurry, he didn't have time to tie his hair up, and simply tied it at the end with a hairband.
The emperor, who holds the power of life and death, is cooking soup with one hand tonight. His face is focused and serious, without the slightest hint of malice. Instead, he exudes a calm demeanor as if he has something on his mind.
"Aheng?" Yuezhi leaned against the door frame, calling softly to the blurry figure in her eyes, her eyes still wet with tears.
Upon hearing the sound, Pei Heng immediately turned around.
Through the rising steam from the kitchen, I saw her standing at the doorway wearing only a thin nightgown. Her pregnant belly was slightly protruding, pushing the nightgown into an arc. Her eyes were red, and she was biting her lips in a wronged manner.
He frowned, strode over, and took off his outer robe to wrap her up. "It's chilly at night, why did you come out like this? The servants aren't careful enough."
The maidservant beside him hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was confused during my night watch. It is all my fault."
Pei Heng was about to punish her when Yue Zhi stopped him.
"Why blame her? I was hungry in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep, so I woke them up and they were busy with all this. I smelled the food and thought I'd come and check. Anyway, I'm pregnant and my body gets hot, so I won't get cold." She said, rubbing her nose sadly.
Seeing her rosy cheeks and tearful eyes, Pei Heng's heart couldn't harden. He wrapped her tightly in his outer robe and brushed his fingertips across her tear-stained cheeks.
"Why are you crying? Are you really that hungry?"
It would have been better if she hadn't asked. Once she did, Yuezhi's pent-up frustration from being starving clashed with her current emotions of being moved and overjoyed. Her tears fell even harder, and she choked up, unable to speak, only nodding.
Pei Heng was immediately flustered. He had never seen her look so pitiful yet adorable. His heart ached. Ignoring whether he was covered in grease, he gently pulled her into his arms and patted her back to comfort her.
"Don't cry, the mushroom and chicken stew will be ready soon. I'll make it for you. You can have whatever you want to eat, as much as you want."
"Hmm..." Yuezhi sniffed.
Pei Heng advised her to go back to her room first, so she wouldn't be bothered by the cooking fumes. He said he would cook the food and then come over to eat with her.
Yuezhi simply shook her head. "I want to stay here, with you."
She didn't even want to leave his embrace, wanting him to hold her tighter. Even though she was covered in ashes from the stove and smelled of steaming chicken fat, she still thought he smelled wonderful and was so hungry that she wanted to hug his arm and take a bite.
It's a pity I can't eat it in front of people.
Thinking of this, she let out two more aggrieved whimpers.
Pei Heng couldn't hold back her tears. After hearing her whimper twice, she lost her composure. He had to ask someone to bring a stool for her to sit in the kitchen doorway. Only after settling her in did he return to the stove.
Yuezhi sat quietly, gazing at the busy figure before her, a surge of immense satisfaction welling up within her.
It's not that no one cares about her; although the child's father isn't there, Pei Heng is.
With him around, she was not alone.
Soon, the stewed chicken with wild mushrooms was ready. Pei Heng personally ladled out a large bowl and placed it on the small table in front of her. He also brought over a plate of steamed corn cakes, fanned the steam from the freshly cooked dish with his sleeve, and then placed the spoon in her hand.
"Try it, is this the taste you wanted?"
Yuezhi held onto the large bowl of stewed chicken in front of her, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and put it in her mouth.
It was warm but not scalding, the broth was delicious, the chicken was tender and juicy, and the wild mushrooms were smooth and tender... It was exactly the taste she had been longing for. When eaten with soft cornbread, it tasted exactly the same as the one she had eaten during the New Year in the village.
"This is exactly the taste! Even the texture of the meat is just what I wanted. It's so delicious!"
Normally, they would serve themselves in small bowls, but today they were so hungry that they didn't care about manners and started eating from a large bowl all by themselves.
Pei Heng watched her eat, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face. He got up and, using the available ingredients, quickly stir-fried a refreshing vegetable dish, pan-fried a fish she usually liked, and also cooked a sweet white fungus soup.
Before long, several dishes were laid out on the small table, and Yuezhi ate with a happy expression.
"Eat slowly, don't choke." Pei Heng said as he served her food, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.
Yuezhi ate to her heart's content; her stomach felt warm, and her heart was filled with joy.
His meticulous care and understanding dispelled all her unease and grievances.
She looked up at him, a relaxed smile she hadn't shown in a long time: "Aheng, you're so good to me."
She had praised him more than once, but now, the praise seemed less like the appreciation and affection an older person would have for a younger person, and more like an indescribable intimacy and flutter of the heart.
Seeing her smiling face as she ate with relish, Pei Heng felt all the fatigue from worrying about state affairs for days vanish. A simple yet genuine sense of happiness enveloped him, making him feel exceptionally peaceful.
He picked up a handkerchief and naturally wiped away a little oil stain from the corner of her mouth.
"Even if my elder sister doesn't praise me, I will still treat you well," he said softly, his voice tinged with laughter. "Eat slowly, it's all yours, no one will take it from you."
The night was dark outside, but the small kitchen was warm with firelight and fragrant aromas.
*
As the night deepened and the last embers of the stove in the kitchen went out, Yuezhi, having eaten her fill, felt a lazy drowsiness creeping over her.
Without her saying anything, Pei Heng saw her yawning from exhaustion, so he went over to help her up. Seeing that she was weak in her limbs, he simply picked her up and carried her back to the main courtyard.
The maids followed quietly behind, heads bowed, not daring to look or disturb the tranquil warmth.
Yuezhi was really sleepy. She didn't care about maintaining the dignity of a princess, nor did she have the mind to think about what was wrong with being held like this. She nestled comfortably in his arms and fell asleep before they even entered the bedroom.
In a daze, she heard people chanting "raise your hand" and "turn over," and she did as they said. The emperor, the supreme ruler, took off her outer robe, squatted in front of her bed, and took off her shoes and socks.
When his rough palm touched her toes, Yuezhi felt a sensitive itch and instinctively tried to pull her foot away, but his large hand gently held her ankle.
"Don't move." His voice was deep, his gaze sweeping lightly over her fair toes, and he unconsciously cleared his throat.
It's so small, even smaller than his.
Holding something so soft in your hands, what would it be like to step on it...?
He took a deep breath and looked up to see the curve of her pregnant belly outlined in the dim candlelight.
Yuezhi has worked so hard, how could he harbor ill intentions?
He suppressed the urge that hadn't yet arisen, shook his head to shake off those filthy thoughts, lifted her legs onto the bed, settled her down, and tucked her in.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her sleep peacefully with her eyes closed, her breathing gradually becoming even and long, just as I was about to leave, the person on the bed suddenly turned over, her long eyelashes trembling, her voice lazy and dreamy.
"Ah Heng... are you going back to the palace?"
As she asked, her hand slowly reached towards him and grabbed his sleeve.
Pei Heng looked at her tired yet reluctant appearance, and his heart softened completely—this was originally their bridal chamber, the place where their love intertwined. He had prayed to the Guanyin Bodhisattva who grants children by the bedside several times. How could he bear to leave again after returning?
He reached out and gently brushed the stray hairs from her temples. "I'll stay here with you until you fall asleep."
Hearing his promise in her hazy state, Yuezhi finally fell into a deep sleep, a faint, satisfied smile on her lips.
Pei Heng didn't leave, but he was also too embarrassed to just lie down on her bed so openly.
Although they had already been intimate, she was pregnant and experiencing emotional fluctuations. She had finally eaten and fallen asleep, and he didn't want his youthful desires to surge up again and cause him to have any reaction towards her.
She gently moved a chair over, placed it beside the bed, and sat down fully clothed.
The faint candlelight flickered slightly. Pei Heng couldn't fall asleep for a while, so he turned his head and carefully traced her sleeping face with his gaze.
After the morning sickness subsided, her appetite doubled. Her originally pointed chin became rounder, and her cheeks became fuller, radiating a healthy blush. Compared to her former graceful and aloof appearance, she now appeared plump and charming.
Just looking at her fills me with a gentle warmth, and the more I look at her, the more I like her.
Great, I've finally gained some weight.
She had previously suffered from morning sickness, which terrified him by making her so thin. Now, she can eat and sleep well, her body is gradually becoming fuller, and her complexion is improving, which puts his mind at ease.
Pei Heng watched tirelessly for a long time, until late at night, when he could no longer hear any movement from the bed, before slowly getting up from the chair.
He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Just as he was about to get up and leave, Yuezhi, who was still asleep, seemed to sense his little movement. She unconsciously let out a soft moan, stretched out her arms, and gently wrapped them around his neck.
Pei Heng, a tall and strong man, was pulled by that soft force, lost his balance, and fell sideways onto the bed.
He was afraid that making a big movement would wake her up, and he was also afraid of pressing on her stomach, so he could only carefully try to untie her arms. But Yuezhi seemed to sense something, and seemed to have found her old habit of hugging her "Prince Consort" to sleep, so she hugged him even tighter.
Like a soft cat, it nuzzled against her shoulder and face, found a comfortable spot in the crook of her neck, and buried its cheek in it.
With a soft, warm body in his arms, the scent of gardenias in her hair, and the comforting aura emanating from her body that permeated his very being, Pei Heng quickly lost his strength.
He took off his clothes and crawled into her bed.
Listening to the breathing so close to mine, I closed my eyes, and what came to mind was not only the joy of being husband and wife, but also the steadfastness and warmth of relying on each other for ten years.
After many twists and turns, she finally belonged only to him.
The two nestled together and slept soundly.
In the early morning, before Yuezhi was fully awake, she felt an itchy and hot sensation on her waist. She twisted her body to try to get away, but found that her back was pressed against an impenetrable wall.
What a strange dream! Why is the wall getting hot? She hasn't done anything wrong, so why is a red-hot branding iron being held against her?
Yuezhi was almost crying from fright. As she whimpered, someone kissed away her pitiful moans from her lips.
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