Zhenxu glared at Baohe, yet still opened the umbrella as she ran into the snow, holding the paper umbrella over both You Yuji and Si Que.
You Yuji withdrew her gaze from the sugar-roasted chestnuts hidden in Si Que’s arms and smiled gently at him.
Snowflakes drifted heavily, dyeing the night white.
“Let’s go inside and talk,” she said, her hand naturally sliding down from Si Que’s forearm to hold his hand, leading him back into the house.
Zhenxu and Baohe did not follow them inside; they sensibly left quickly.
“Hehe, the Princess braved the heavy snow to buy roasted chestnuts for the Madam! Even though we have them in the residence, the Princess insisted on buying them herself!” Baohe’s eyes sparkled.
Zhenxu didn’t respond but remembered that the Madam had also bought a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts on her way back. Was this a tacit understanding? Glancing at the beaming Baohe, she couldn’t help but feel happy for the Madam and smiled.
Although You Yuji had only been outside for a short while, she still felt the warmth of the room upon entering. She immediately pulled Si Que to sit by the beauty couch near the brazier, using a cloth to brush the snow off his shoulders.
Her soft voice carried a hint of reproach, “Why did you personally go out to buy these in such heavy snow? Even if you wanted chestnuts from a particular vendor, you could have sent a servant.”
Brushing the snow off Si Que’s shoulders, she noticed his clothes were wet. You Yuji turned and went out to order hot water, intending for Si Que to take a hot bath.
“We must make sure you don’t catch a cold…” She hurried to the small room to fetch Si Que’s change of clothes.
Si Que watched her hurried figure and silently opened the paper bag, taking out a sugar-roasted chestnut and peeling it.
When You Yuji returned with his clothes, she saw him eating chestnuts and asked softly, “Are you hungry? Would you like some snacks?”
Si Que leisurely peeled the chestnut and brought the meat to You Yuji’s lips.
You Yuji’s eyes softened as she looked at him with a gentle smile. She opened her mouth and ate the chestnut he offered. Her soft lips brushed against his cold fingers.
Sitting beside him, You Yuji took his hands in hers, rubbing them repeatedly to transfer her warmth to him.
That night, Si Que was very quiet, hardly speaking.
Si Que soaked in the hot bath for a long time in the clean room. While waiting for him, You Yuji sat on the beauty couch, eating the sugar-roasted chestnuts he had bought.
They were sweet, fragrant, and soft.
When Si Que returned after his bath, You Yuji carefully observed his face and noticed he looked particularly pale.
She assumed that his naturally weak constitution had caught a chill in the cold snowy night.
With the lights off, they lay down on the bed.
In the darkness, You Yuji could still see Si Que’s pale face in her mind; she was always worried about his health, remembering that he had stopped his medication to help her conceive a child.
Thinking about her failure to conceive yet again, her mood sank.
She turned over, facing Si Que, and in the darkness, held his hand.
You Yuji frowned.
Despite soaking in the hot bath for so long, why was he still so cold?
“Are you feeling unwell?” She suppressed her worry and gently asked in a calm and soft tone.
Si Que indeed felt uncomfortable and very tired. But he still said, “No, sister.”
He heard a faint rustling of clothing. Then, his hand was pulled into You Yuji’s bodice, using her body to warm his perpetually cold hands.
Si Que’s hand stiffened, and he instinctively wanted to pull it back.
The next moment, You Yuji’s hand reached over to untie his clothes. Then, her warm body leaned over, holding him tightly. Perhaps because Si Que was so weak, he didn’t notice when she undid her own clothes.
Si Que closed his eyes, leaned in, found You Yuji’s ankle, and tried to lift her leg.
You Yuji was taken aback, her delicate hand pressed against his shoulder as she hastily said, “I didn’t mean it that way, I just wanted to warm you up.”
Even though today was also a red-ringed day, given his weakness, how could she unreasonably take advantage of him? That would be too detrimental to his health…
Si Que slowly exhaled, the gloom in his heart slightly lifted.
See, although his sister was good to everyone, she only used blankets and fires to warm the poisoned Pavilion master who was as cold as ice, and even then, it was the guards who were instructed to cover him with blankets. Unlike with him, she used her own body to provide warmth.
“Sister is really kind.”
He slowly smiled, grasped her hands that were pressing against his shoulders, and pinned them above her head, holding her firmly.
The next day, You Yuji woke up later than usual. She propped herself up and looked at Si Que beside her. Seeing that he was still asleep, she carefully placed the back of her hand on his forehead, feeling that his body was not as cold as yesterday, and finally let out a sigh of relief.
She gazed at Si Que’s brows and eyes, telling herself that she must take good care of him in the future, not letting him neglect his health, and ensuring he doesn’t get cold again.
She lifted the quilt and tried to get out of bed. Her sore legs moved down, her feet stepping on her shoes. She frowned, not finding her clothes immediately.
Looking down, You Yuji’s gaze inadvertently fell on her abdomen. She couldn’t help but place her hand on her stomach, the worrisome issue of not being able to conceive once again resurfacing in her mind.
She hoped that last night would bring her a child.
She exhaled, dispelled her worries, and quietly got out of bed to dress and bathe. During breakfast, Si Que hadn’t gotten up yet, and You Yuji didn’t wake him. She ate by herself and then went to the flower hall.
Lin Yingying still hadn’t been heard from, and it seemed everyone in the residence had accepted that she wouldn’t return.
Cuiyu’s mood had improved a bit, at least she could now chat and laugh. She was a talkative person, and without Lin Yingying, she always pulled Chunxing to talk.
Hongzan now also stayed a bit longer after paying respects to You Yuji.
Early this morning, the princess had grandly summoned the imperial physician. The princess’s health had never been good, especially with a persistent headache. Early in the morning, she had invited the imperial physician from the palace, and everyone in the residence thought she was unwell again.
Who would have thought that not long after, the whole residence was filled with joyous news — the princess was pregnant.
At that time, Hongzan hadn’t left You Yuji’s flower hall yet. Listening to Cuiyu and Chunxing talk about the matter, she couldn’t help but add a few words. Although she didn’t think much of Cuiyu’s background, living under the same roof required maintaining appearances.
“What is it? What joyous news?” You Yuji came out of a small inner room.
Cuiyu immediately told her about the princess’s pregnancy. She smiled and remarked, “I didn’t expect the princess to get pregnant at her age!”
Zhenxu came in from outside to report, “Madam, the owner of Lingbao Pavilion has delivered the items.”
She opened a box, allowing You Yuji to inspect it personally.
Inside was a gold collar for a baby, which You Yuji had specially ordered from Lingbao Pavilion for Jiang Chun’s unborn child.
The concubines were happily discussing the princess’s pregnancy.
Looking at the golden collar in the ornate box, a feeling of melancholy slowly crept into You Yuji’s heart.
Even the Princess of Jinnan could conceive again after more than ten years, so why couldn’t she…
—
The news reached the Anxiang Courtyard, and Fang Qingyi was stunned.
She swayed and almost fell backward, but luckily Lushu caught her, preventing her from collapsing. Lushu helped her to sit by the table.
Lushu clumsily spoke, “Madam must take care of her health, don’t harm the child in your belly.”
At the mention of the child, Fang Qingyi felt a sharp pain in her heart.
“Leave me. I want to be alone for a while,” Fang Qingyi said.
Lushu didn’t dare say more and quickly withdrew.
In Fang Qingyi’s plan, she was the only one carrying Chen Anzhi’s child. As long as she got rid of Chen Anzhi, she could use her child to secure her status. Then, those she disliked could be dealt with at her discretion.
But she never expected the princess to get pregnant again!
Although the current heir was still Chen Anzhi, and upon his death, the title should be passed to his legitimate son. However, knowing the princess well, Fang Qingyi was certain that if the princess gave birth to a son, the succession would definitely change.
“No, I can’t panic…” Fang Qingyi closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.
She had no way back now.
Early in the morning, the news of the Princess of Jinnan’s pregnancy spread throughout the mansion, and some close relatives immediately came to offer their congratulations.
By noon, the doctor came out of the Anxiang Courtyard, and Fang Qingyi’s pregnancy was also made public.
Fang Qingyi gracefully walked to the main hall, holding Lushu’s hand, intending to kneel and pay her respects. Considering her pregnancy, the princess’s maid, Gu Momo, quickly went to support her, not allowing her to kneel.
“I’ve been taking contraceptive soup, but somehow I still got pregnant. I think this might be heaven’s will. I hope my aunt and the madam can understand and support me.”
She had been pregnant before marriage, but after entering the household, she hid her pregnancy, and when the time was right, she revealed it today, pretending that she got pregnant after the marriage.
The room was filled with guests, all close female relatives. They exchanged glances in silence. The affairs of the Heir Apparent An were well known in the capital. Now, another illegitimate child was going to be born before the legitimate one, which was not something to be proud of.
The princess pondered for a moment before speaking, “Pregnancy is a joyous event for the princely estate. However, it is customary that an illegitimate child should not be born before a legitimate one.”
Fang Qingyi was stunned and quickly looked up at the princess.
She had calculated everything but hadn’t foreseen this!
Could her aunt really be so ruthless as to make her abort the child? Rationally, she knew her aunt wouldn’t, but she couldn’t help feeling a moment of dread. Was this the fate of a concubine?
The princess turned to You Yuji, who was sitting quietly on the side, and said, “Since you are Anzhi’s wife, this matter should be decided by you.”
The female relatives remained silent, sneaking glances at You Yuji, guessing what her decision would be. These women had all entered their households as proper wives carried in grand sedan chairs. They couldn’t help but wonder, if they were in You Yuji’s position, what would they do…
Fang Qingyi’s heart tightened again. She looked at You Yuji with a pale face.
At this moment, she deeply felt the fear of having her fate in someone else’s hands. If the child in her belly was a daughter, she swore she would rather kill her than let her become a concubine in the future!
You Yuji came to her senses and looked at Fang Qingyi, saying indifferently, “Take good care of your pregnancy.”
Fang Qingyi’s tightly wound heart finally relaxed. The sense of narrowly escaping disaster didn’t bring her joy but rather humiliation!
You Yuji didn’t stay long with the princess before returning to Tanxiang Yingyue. Others thought she was unhappy because the illegitimate child would be born first, but they didn’t know she was troubled by something else.
Although she had known about Fang Qingyi’s pregnancy for a long time, the official announcement today affected her differently.
In one day, two women in the household had announced their pregnancies. The people in the residence called it the joy of double pregnancies.
She stopped walking and gazed at the snowy peaks in the distance, feeling extremely depressed.
Why hadn’t she shown any signs of pregnancy?
She often heard about the concept of the fate of having children—if the time wasn’t right, it couldn’t be forced. But why hadn’t her time come yet? Did she not seem like a good mother? Why wouldn’t a single star from the sky be willing to fall into her womb?
You Yuji sighed deeply, feeling dejected as she returned to Tanxiang Yingyue.
Si Que woke up at noon, ate something, bathed again, and upon learning that You Yuji wasn’t around, he lay back on the bed and played with Baisui.
“Sister?” Si Que looked up with a smile at You Yuji as she entered.
“Stop playing with Baisui,” she said.
Si Que let go of the toy and, with a serious expression, asked, “What’s wrong?”
