Chapter 69: Pregnant!

Another two days passed.

After more than half a month of constant rain, the skies over the capital finally cleared. The air after the rain felt especially fresh.

Xiao Ji at last received a letter from Pei Chen.

Pei Chen had indeed been ambushed, but he was unharmed.

This was within Xiao Ji’s expectations. After all, since Xiao Hong’s men had hired Si-xi, naturally Si-xi’s people could not truly kill Pei Chen.

“Send word to Si-dong; make sure Zhao girl and Pei Chen are kept safe. Si-xi failed, but those people won’t give up so easily.”

At best, Si-xi had only bought Pei Chen a few days of breathing space.

“Yes,” Si-nan immediately responded.

Leaving the study, Xiao Ji saw the fine weather and walked toward the main quarters.

Xie Yao’s cycle was now three days late.

At this moment, she was listening to Zhuxin’s report. “Crown Princess, last night under cover of darkness, Song Wenbo went again to Princess He Yi’s residence, and he only returned to the Song estate this morning.”

“His leg is healed?” Xie Yao was curious. A while ago, Song Wenbo’s leg had been broken by someone, and he had been lying quietly in bed recovering.

“He went on crutches,” Zhuxin quickly explained. “Scholar Song’s injury wasn’t too severe, it didn’t reach the bone.”

Otherwise, half a month of rest would never have been enough.

Xie Yao nodded. “Keep watch on the Song family.”

Zhuxin turned to leave, but right at the doorway she ran into Xiao Ji. She jumped in fright and quickly saluted. “Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Xiao Ji waved his hand, signaling her to withdraw.

“Your Highness.” Xie Yao rose at once, uncertain whether Xiao Ji had overheard something he shouldn’t have. But seeing no unusual expression on his face, she was able to set her heart at ease.

Xiao Ji came forward and helped her sit down. “I’ve found a few more physicians…”

“Your Highness.” By now, Xie Yao had her own suspicions. “You needn’t worry. Didn’t the court physician already examine me?”

“If Your Highness doesn’t believe it, you can summon him again to see me right now.”

That physician was Xiao Ji’s trusted man.

“Very well.” Seeing Xie Yao’s complexion rosy and her eyes clear, Xiao Ji nodded.

Although the female physician had said earlier that a delay of a few days could be normal, Zhuqing had mentioned that Xie Yao had always been punctual.

The physician soon arrived.

But this time, he felt her pulse for an unusually long while.

His brows furrowed slightly, his expression hesitant, and from time to time he dared to sneak glances at Xie Yao.

Her expression stayed calm, but Xiao Ji’s grew darker by the moment. For him to be taking so long… could there be some problem?

Yet while the physician was taking the pulse, he couldn’t speak and risk disturbing him. He could only wait.

The instant the physician withdrew his hand, Xiao Ji’s voice came out hurried, “Well?”

“This…” The physician hesitated before saying, “Your Highness, the Crown Princess’s health is fine, only… perhaps in a few more days I can be more certain.”

“What do you mean?” Xiao Ji frowned.

The physician bowed his head even lower. Though it was not yet hot in early summer, beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

How should he put this?

Could it be a pregnancy pulse?

That ought to be good news, but he knew the Crown Prince was believed to be sterile, it was impossible for him to have children of his own!

Judging only from the pulse, it was still too early to be certain. He dared not speak recklessly. Even if he did, he couldn’t say it outright in front of the Crown Princess.

“I am not skilled enough. I need to return and consult the medical texts,” the physician said, bowing even lower.

Xiao Ji gave him a deep, heavy look, then turned back to comfort Xie Yao before leading the physician out.

Only once they found a secluded spot did Xiao Ji speak. “Say it!”

The physician’s knees gave way and he dropped to the ground. “Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

“The Crown Princess… she… seems to have the pulse of pregnancy.”

What?

Xiao Ji was stunned.

Of course he knew what a pregnancy pulse meant. He stared at the physician in disbelief. “Are you sure?”

Kneeling, the physician’s voice trembled. “It is still early, so I cannot be absolutely sure. But… eight or nine chances out of ten.”

Xiao Ji stood frozen for a long time before finally saying, “Withdraw.”

This was not something a physician could afford to speak carelessly.

More than anger, Xiao Ji felt bewildered. Whenever Xie Yao went out, she was surrounded by people. Ever since they had opened their hearts to each other, he had even arranged for secret guards to protect her.

He was certain, he was Xie Yao’s first and only man.

He… was sterile, and yet Xie Yao was pregnant.

“Your Highness.”

Xie Yao’s voice pulled him back. He looked at her, his expression complicated.

Xie Yao came up to him and clasped his hand.

His hand was cold.

“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.” She tugged him back inside the room.

After dismissing the attendants, Xie Yao finally said, “Your Highness, didn’t the physician tell you? I should be pregnant.”

Xiao Ji’s expression grew even stranger.

So when she had told him a few days ago not to worry, she had already suspected it.

“If Your Highness does not believe me…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Ji said, “I believe you.”

Although he had no idea how this child had come to be, he believed his Crown Princess had not betrayed him.

Xie Yao’s eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering in her gaze. “Your Highness believes me?”

“Yes.” Xiao Ji clasped her hand and intertwined their fingers.

Her heart gave an uncontrollable thump at the gesture, but she forced down the strange feeling.

“This is Your Highness’s child.” She guided his hand to rest on her lower abdomen.

Her belly was still flat, so there was nothing to feel.

Yet somehow, Xiao Ji felt a strange sensation.

His fingers curled slightly, his voice rasping, “This is our child, mine and Yao-yao’s.”

Xie Yao leaned gently against his chest. “Your Highness, I’ve heard that before three months, announcing such news is bad for the child. Should we not make it public for now?”

…

Bang!

In the Second Prince’s residence, Xiao Hong furiously smashed the letter in his hand onto the floor.

The paper was far too light to satisfy his anger.

He grabbed a vase from the side and hurled it down, shattering it. “Useless! Useless! A pack of useless fools!”

“It’s been so long yet why is Pei Chen still alive?”

Inside the room, aside from Minister Li, several other high-ranking officials were seated, all of them silent with fear.

“Now tell me, has Pei Chen gathered any evidence?”

Minister Li pondered for a moment, and then said, “All the evidence from back then has already been destroyed. Your Highness may rest assured.”

Only then did Xiao Hong’s fury ease slightly, though he still growled, “No matter what, Pei Chen must not return to the capital alive.”

“This concerns the heads on your shoulders, gentlemen. You had best take it seriously.”