Chapter 54 A Family of Three Lin Zhi still felt a lingering joy in her heart…
Fang Shiyun was even more confused than last time. "I just went out for a short while, what are you two doing?"
"It's almost the end of the year, alright, alright!"
Xie Zheng still showed no sign of letting go, and Pei Lang coldly pried open his fingers one by one, using so much force that he almost broke them.
"Xie Zheng, there are some people you can't catch up with no matter what you do. Here's a piece of advice: you're not getting any younger, settle down and start a family soon."
"Stop staring at other people's business like a crow's eye; it's none of your business and you can't interfere."
Fang Shiyun frowned in confusion after hearing their barbed words: "Oh, alright, alright, didn't you just say your wife is pregnant? Then how come you have time to come out with us?"
"Isn't it true that pregnant women need the most care?"
Lin Zhi didn't even know she was pregnant, how could she tell them?
Pei Lang picked up his wine glass and sat down without reacting, but Xie Zheng scoffed coldly: "Could it be that you've gone crazy trying to tie her down, and made up this whole story?"
Pei Lang was too lazy to waste words with him, so he simply tapped the table with his knuckles: "Any progress on what His Majesty sent you to investigate?"
What exactly is the relationship between the princess and the He family?
When it came to business, Xie Zheng reluctantly put aside his dissatisfaction with Pei Lang. "The princess's actions were meticulous and secretive, yet she was found to have had close ties with Prime Minister He over the past few years. I'm afraid their relationship is not simple."
"Although His Majesty has granted me the privilege of commanding a troop of imperial guards, if I make a big show of it now, I'm afraid it will alert the enemy."
Upon hearing that Xiao Ting had given Xie Zheng a squad of imperial guards, Pei Lang's eyes subtly changed, a dark glint flashing within them.
When Lin Zhi woke up from her afternoon nap, snow was still falling softly outside, and the candlelight inside was crackling and popping. For a moment, she couldn't tell what time it was.
With a creak, the window opened, and a cold wind rushed in, dispelling her lingering sleepiness. Gazing at the plum blossoms in the courtyard, Lin Zhi belatedly realized how much she had been sleeping these past few days.
"Miss, you just woke up, why are you being exposed to the cold wind? Be careful not to catch a cold."
Chuntao brought in pastries and quickly pulled Lin Zhi aside to close the window.
"Chuntao, do you think I've gotten a bit rounder these days? I think I slept for two hours today, even though I went to bed early last night."
Hearing Lin Zhi's muttered questions, Chun Tao didn't even dare to raise her head. She lowered her eyes and hurriedly put down what she was holding, vaguely replying, "That's how it is in winter. Even my waist has gotten thicker."
"Miss is already in poor health, so it would be good for her to rest more now."
Lin Zhi nestled on the chaise lounge, drank half a bowl of sweet soup, then frowned and put it down: "It's too greasy. I don't want to eat dinner. I'm going out for a walk."
Lin Zhi had only just reached the door when she saw Chun Tao following closely behind her. At first, she thought Chun Tao was worried about her being alone, so Lin Zhi put on her cloak and comforted her, "It's not dark yet, I just wanted to clear my head before I came back."
But Chun Tao still frowned, uneasy. Lin Zhi was somewhat displeased, and her voice turned slightly cold: "Don't follow me."
Chun Tao stopped in her tracks, only to see Lin Zhi just step out and down the steps when her foot suddenly slipped!
"Miss, be careful!"
Lin Zhi had barely managed to steady herself when Chun Tao rushed in front of her, trying to cushion her fall and protect her. Her hand scraped against the ground, leaving a large gash.
"Chuntao, what are you doing!"
Lin Zhi quickly bent down to help the person up, but Chun Tao pulled her off balance and she was about to fall when a pair of strong hands suddenly appeared around her waist.
Even if Chun Tao is loyal, there's no need to be so reckless. She's wearing thick clothes in winter, so what if she falls?
Suddenly a thought flashed through her mind. After telling Chun Tao to go back and apply the medicine herself, Lin Zhi pulled Pei Lang into the room with an extremely unpleasant expression and slammed the door shut.
Pei Lang followed her in obediently, looking down at the slender white hand that was holding his wrist.
Pei Lang couldn't even remember how long it had been since Lin Zhi had been this close to him.
A faint disappointment had barely crossed her mind when Lin Zhi forcefully shook off his hand: "Pei Lang, tell me the truth, what did I do?"
Lin Zhi trembled uncontrollably as she braced herself against the table beside her. "No matter how loyal Chun Tao is, she would never be this worried about me on a normal day."
Recalling her unusual behavior over the past few days, Lin Zhi unconsciously clutched her lower abdomen, frowned as she looked at Pei Lang, and insisted on waiting for his answer.
Pei Lang pursed his lips and sighed: "Azhi, we are husband and wife, there should be no secrets between us."
"I'm just too scared. I'm afraid you'll act impulsively and leave us with a lifetime of regret."
Having said all that, how could Lin Zhi not understand his meaning? But she still clenched her fists and slowly walked up to Pei Lang.
The two were quite different in height, so Lin Zhi had to look up at him, but even so, her imposing manner was not diminished in the slightest.
“Pei Lang, I want you to tell me this yourself.”
Seeing Lin Zhi's determination to get an answer, Pei Lang frowned slightly, reached out to steady her arm, and said softly, "Yes, you are pregnant, we have a child."
A seemingly casual remark struck Lin Zhi like a hammer blow, leaving her feeling dizzy and unsteady.
Fortunately, Pei Lang was prepared and quickly steadied Lin Zhi to prevent her from falling.
"No...no way..."
She hadn't even taken any of those health-promoting and fertility-enhancing medicines, so how could she be pregnant so quickly?
Lin Zhi abruptly broke free from Pei Lang's grasp, stumbled to the edge of the bed and sat down, her hands trembling as she covered her still flat stomach, but she vaguely felt another small, gentle heartbeat inside her.
Lin Zhi's silence startled Pei Lang. He had thought that Lin Zhi would soften because of the child, but he did not expect her to react like this.
He couldn't say much more, for fear of provoking Lin Zhi into doing something rash.
But Lin Zhi suddenly sprang up, grabbed the candlestick beside her, and raised it high, ready to smash it down on her lower abdomen!
"Ah Zhi!"
Pei Lang swiftly snatched the candlestick and threw it away, then tightly held onto Lin Zhi's arms to prevent her from making any rash moves.
The veins on his forehead were bulging, and his eyes were filled with shock and anger. "Are you out of your mind?!"
"Your body is so weak, if you abort the child like this, you will die!"
"I'd rather die than let an innocent child come into this world and suffer the consequences of our mistakes!"
Lin Zhi's slender neck veins bulged as she gripped Pei Lang's hand tightly.
That used to be one of her favorite parts of Pei Lang's body, but now she was gripping his hand so tightly that it was covered in red marks, and she wouldn't let go.
Pei Lang stared blankly at her eyes, which were filled with hatred and sorrow, but couldn't help but tighten his grip on her.
"...Pei Lang, I was wrong..."
"I shouldn't have provoked you, please let me go..."
With tears streaming down her red eyes, Lin Zhi looked up at Pei Lang, then collapsed to the ground, her knees buckling as if she were about to kneel before him.
Pei Lang entered the court in his teens and had seen countless people pleading for mercy, but he had never felt a pang of pity. However, now, looking at Lin Zhi, he felt a pang of regret.
He probably shouldn't have involved her...
Pei Lang held her firmly with his chin taut, preventing her knees from touching the ground. Lin Zhi, however, shook her head silently with red and swollen eyes, climbed up by his arm, stood up on tiptoe, and placed her entire weight on Pei Lang's arms before closing her eyes and kissing him.
The excessively moist softness was a taste Pei Lang hadn't experienced in a long time, just like the scene in his beautiful dream a few days ago, only with a touch more bitterness.
Cold, salty tears streamed down their lips as they met; Pei Lang had never felt such torment before.
"I won't leave, but I'll abort the child."
"I will stay by your side, whether as a concubine or a maidservant, I will always stay with you..."
"But absolutely, don't let this child be born..."
Lin Zhi lowered her head and lay face down on Pei Lang's chest, her fingers tearing and crumpling his brocade robe, her whole body trembling like a dying butterfly.
Ignoring the hidden pain in his heart, Pei Lang slowly closed his eyes and reached out to embrace her, bringing her closer to his heart.
After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh, then grabbed Lin Zhi's chin from his arms and made her look at him: "...I promise you."
"But I will go to the imperial physician for the best medicine. Until then, you are not allowed to make any rash moves."
Lin Zhi cried so hard she could barely breathe. The moment the weight lifted from her heart, an indescribable sadness seemed to surge up again.
From this day forward, her connection with her child will become increasingly shorter.
After Lin Zhi cried herself to sleep, Pei Lang carried her back to the bed. Looking at her delicate eyebrows that were still furrowed in her peaceful sleeping face, Pei Lang reached out his hand as if possessed, but then stopped in mid-air.
He was unwilling to confront his feelings for Lin Zhi. With Lin Shaowan's matter resolved, she was no longer of much use. However, Pei Lang felt that keeping her by his side would save him a lot of trouble.
At least I don't have to be forced to have people around me anymore, so it's much quieter.
He absolutely cannot agree to aborting the child.
Lin Zhi thought she didn't understand her, but she was also naively foolish.
How could he not see through her little scheme? Now that she has a child, she can't run away easily. Without the child to keep her tied down, how could she possibly stay obediently by his side?
Pei Lang's eyes were devoid of warmth and full of calculation. He reached out and brushed aside the stray hairs on her face, his voice gentle and coaxing: "Be good, have a good sleep."
However, ever since the two had a fight but then reached a strange consensus, Lin Zhi felt that her appetite had improved a lot.
At least I no longer experience morning sickness or a huge appetite, and I feel inexplicably happy. Sometimes I even almost forget that I am carrying a little baby in my belly.
"Miss, tonight is New Year's Eve. Once the appointed time has passed, people will come to pay their respects!"
Chun Tao handed Lin Zhi the exquisite gold scissors and red paper, hoping to please her, but Lin Zhi only smiled absentmindedly after taking them.
They had no relatives left in the capital, so who would come to pay them New Year's visits?
But as the red paper fluttered in her hands, she unknowingly cut out a pattern of reunion.
Staring quietly at the paper-cut window decoration in her hand, Lin Zhi impatiently crumpled it into a ball and threw it aside.
Several bright fireworks burst in the night sky, attracting everyone to come out and watch. Lin Zhi was also persuaded by Chun Tao and Xia Ying to come out.
Standing under the corridor, looking up at the colorful array of sights, Lin Zhi's face showed a hint of emotion, but when a tall figure appeared beside her, her expression turned somber.
Lin Zhi turned to leave, but Pei Lang blocked her way.
"Look, this was specially prepared for you."
Pei Lang lowered his head and coaxed softly, "Even if it's just for our unborn child to see, he won't be able to see it again later...."
Pei Lang's words were exceptionally clear amidst the exploding fireworks, each syllable piercing Lin Zhi's heart with a chilling sharpness.
Although she stopped in her tracks, she calmly asked while admiring the fireworks, "How long are you going to drag this out?"
"If you go back on your word, all the promises I made to you will be null and void."
Pei Lang turned his head to look at Lin Zhi's slightly raised chin profile. Her brow bone was outstanding, and her nose was straight and upturned. If their child were born, he wondered how beautiful it would be.
Pei Lang withdrew his gaze and reached out to grasp her icy fingertips in his palm: "Don't worry, I already instructed the imperial physicians in the palace."
"But it's a holiday season, and we can't let people not be able to reunite with their families."
"At most twenty days, after which I will fulfill my promise."
The 20th, a date that Lin Zhi should have been looking forward to, instead gently stirred a bittersweet feeling in her heart.
Unconsciously, Lin Zhi reached out and touched her slightly protruding belly. Listening to the popping sounds of fireworks exploding in her ears, she vaguely felt a slight throbbing under her palm.
The child seemed to sense that she didn't want to stay, and these days he was unusually quiet and well-behaved, not bothering her at all.
Whether it was her natural maternal instincts or not, Lin Zhi suddenly felt like crying, wanting to cherish the remaining twenty days she had with this child.
"Lord Pei! Happy New Year!"
The gates of the Pei residence were knocked open, and Lin Zhi stared blankly at the children of all ages pouring in. The youngest could barely walk steadily, and the oldest looked like a young boy.
The middle-aged, honest-looking man at the back smiled and bowed to Pei Lang: "Lord Pei, Madam, Happy New Year!"
"We're really sorry to bother you, but the children all said they wanted to come and thank you."
Seeing Lin Zhi's bewildered look, Pei Lang smiled and introduced her: "This is Manager Xu from Jiyoutang."
“They brought all the children in the capital who had nowhere to beg back to Jiyoutang. Although they didn’t live a life of luxury, they were able to ensure that the children had enough to eat and wear and would not end up on the streets.”
Lin Zhi suddenly realized what was going on and praised him with great emotion.
"Madam, you flatter me. I was just doing what I could. It is Lord Pei who is kind and often sends money and food to help the children."
"They even found teachers for the children."
Lin Zhi turned her head slightly to look at Pei Lang's expression, but she didn't see a trace of boasting or seeking credit. Instead, she saw only a faint pity: "You once said that you lost your parents at a young age, and that it was difficult for you to even survive, let alone study."
"I couldn't help you before, so it's good to make up for it by helping some children now."
Pei Lang's voice was calm, yet it stirred ripples in Lin Zhi's heart like a stone thrown into a still lake; her hands trembled slightly, revealing the emotions that had been touched.
She pursed her lips, turned her head away, and refused to look at him again. She simply instructed the servants to distribute some money and cakes to the children to ward off evil spirits.
"Waaaaah!"
The Pei family's courtyard was spacious, and the children, not knowing any better, ran around and bumped into each other. The younger ones were knocked down and started crying loudly.
Lin Zhi frowned, lifted her skirt, and hurried forward. Ignoring the other little girl who was crying loudly, she picked her up from the ground, patted the snow off her little bottom, and softened her expression: "Good girl, don't cry!"
"The pain will disappear after a gentle rub!"
Seeing that Lin Zhi didn't mind the little girl's coarse linen clothes at all, and was holding the little girl in his arms and coaxing her, Pei Lang smiled and told the steward to give the things and silver notes to Steward Xu.
"You did a good job today, here's your reward."
“I can have my staff check Jiyoutang’s accounts anytime. Don’t even think about trying to pull any tricks under my nose.”
When it was really late, Pei Lang finally took Lin Zhi back to her room with a somewhat forceful attitude, asking, "Were you happy today?"
Although Lin Zhi's face was flushed, her expression softened considerably. "Of course, we should be happy for the New Year."
Lin Zhi still felt a lingering sense of joy. Holding the little girl's tiny, soft body, she had experienced a feeling she had never felt before.
If she also had a daughter...
But the budding enthusiasm was extinguished by the twenty-day deadline. The smile on Lin Zhi's lips froze on her face. How could her originally firm heart be shaken?
She glanced awkwardly at Pei Lang not far away, and seeing that he wasn't looking at her, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief and suppressed her disappointment as she went into the inner room.
Perhaps it was because she had been in the snow for too long, but Lin Zhi was woken up in the middle of the night by a sharp pain in her calf. Her face was pale as she felt the throbbing pain in her hamstrings, but she couldn't get up to relieve it.
"Hiss!" Lin Zhi couldn't help but let out a soft groan as she saw a tall figure walking quickly toward her outside the bed curtains.
"What's wrong!"
Pei Lang, wearing only his undergarments, hurriedly lifted the bed curtains and saw Lin Zhi pointing to her leg in pain, unable to speak. He understood immediately and quickly lifted the blanket to hold her cold and stiff calves in his arms and massage them.
If he used too much force, he might hurt her; if he used too little force, it would be useless. Pei Lang adjusted his strength while watching Lin Zhi's reaction.
Lin Zhi's slender, white legs, never seen in the light, were even more exquisite than the finest mutton-fat jade. Feeling the cool, smooth touch beneath his palm, Pei Lang felt no romantic thoughts, only the hardship of pregnancy.
The excruciating pain in her calf had barely subsided when Lin Zhi's forehead was already covered in cold sweat. She struggled to free her leg from Pei Lang's embrace, but before she could even speak, her other leg began to throb uncontrollably.
Seeing that she was still trying to endure it, Pei Lang touched the cold quilt without saying a word, frowning in dissatisfaction: "Why didn't you put the hot water bottle inside to keep warm? You're already prone to feeling cold, and you're still so careless?"
Lin Zhi clutched the blanket in pain, frowned, and kicked him in the chest. "Leave me alone...get off!"
Pei Lang saw that she was stubborn, but he wasn't angry. He continued to soothe her by kneading her calf with his hot hands. When she didn't chase him away anymore, he snuggled up to Lin Zhi and lay down next to her.
Lin Zhi originally wanted to send someone away so he could go back to his chaise lounge, but he was too warm to resist, and she drifted off to sleep.
I finally got a good night's sleep after several days.
When Lin Zhi woke up again, she was gasping for breath. In her dream, she vaguely felt that she was being wrapped around by a heavy python. When she opened her eyes, she saw a strong and slender arm around her waist.
Opening her eyes and waking up, Lin Zhi realized that Pei Lang was still beside her. She reached out to push his arm away, but suddenly found that his palm was gently cupped on her lower abdomen.
Pei Lang's hands were already long and large, and now they were positioned as if protecting her lower abdomen.
As if possessed, Lin Zhi slowly placed her hand on it. Her delicate, slender fingers were between her thumbs. Even though she thought it was impossible, she still vaguely felt that the child in her womb seemed to move slightly in response.
Lin Zhi's tears slowly streamed down her cheeks. She sobbed softly a few times, trying her best to suppress her sobs as she immersed herself in her sorrow.
She didn't notice Pei Lang slowly approaching from behind, inhaling the fragrance of her hair, his eyes filled with an unconscious possessiveness.
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Author's Note: Thank you everyone for supporting the official version! [heart emoji] I will strive to write even more exciting plots! [pat on the head emoji]
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