Qin Yuhang led his wife into the pavilion, sitting on the felt mat, holding her. He transformed their separation’s longing into kisses, closing his eyes, his tongue exploring her lips, seeking a familiar taste, intertwining with hers, drawing in her fragrant juices and swallowing.
They kissed for a long time. Ye Hui noticed Guard B secretly watching and became angry, picking up a peach slice and throwing it. Guard B didn’t dare dodge and was hit squarely, peach juice splashing his face. With her strength, she couldn’t hurt him, but he looked quite embarrassed.
Qin Yuhang chuckled, turning her body: “They are your personal guards. Don’t mind them.” He had heard about their identities from Huangfu Zeduan and was unconcerned.
“Guards or not, it’s not acceptable,” Ye Hui said, her eyes showing embarrassment. “Moqi, have them stand twenty meters away with their backs turned.”
The two guards heard and, without waiting for Moqi’s message, retreated and stood with their backs turned. Twenty meters wasn’t far, and with their deep internal skills, they could still clearly hear the conversation in the pavilion, growing more surprised and incredulous.
Ye Hui sat on the footstool, extending her wrist for him to take her pulse. This doctor claimed to be the imperial physician, though it was unclear if this was true. When asked his name, he stroked his beard confidently and said to just call him Doctor Zhou!
What a narcissist!
“Everything is normal,” Doctor Zhou said after taking her pulse, addressing Huangfu Zeduan: “There’s still a month until the expected delivery date. This is a critical time. You must not disturb the fetal qi. She should walk around more to loosen her muscles, which will make childbirth easier.”
Author’s note: I’ve been unwell these past few days, which delayed the update. For those wanting the intimate scenes, I’ve sent emails. If you didn’t receive them, the address was incorrect. I’ll resend. I can’t write too much about the intimate scenes after V, afraid of being reported. Those wanting the later intimate scenes, please leave your email. Sorry to disappoint you O(∩_∩)O~
Hearing the physician say everything was normal, Huangfu Zeduan’s serious face softened momentarily before becoming grave again: “Can you determine if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“It’s not my child, how would I know?” Doctor Zhou, accustomed to dealing with commoners in the capital, spoke without restraint, momentarily forgetting who he was examining. By the time he realized his mistake, it was too late.
Huangfu Zeduan slammed the table and shouted, “Impudent!” Frightening Doctor Zhou, who broke out in a cold sweat, stammering, “Your… Your…” A stern look from Huangfu Zeduan made him quickly change his address: “When a woman is pregnant, her blood and qi gather, the uterus is full, so the pulse will be smooth and rapid…”
He tried to obfuscate with medical terminology, but Huangfu Zeduan was impatient: “Is it a boy or a girl?”
Doctor Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Men are determined by qi, women by blood. Your honored wife’s left pulse is deep, so it should be… should be…”
He dared not speak rashly, fearing a mistake could offend the prince.
“Enough, my lord. Don’t trouble Doctor Zhou,” Ye Hui intervened, not fully believing pulse diagnosis could determine the baby’s sex. Perhaps a skilled traditional doctor might, but Doctor Zhou clearly wasn’t up to the task.
“Get out,” Huangfu Zeduan said angrily, wondering why his father would send such a useless physician.
Doctor Zhou, granted permission to leave, hastily bowed and retreated, thinking these noble-born individuals were increasingly temperamental.
Fa Cai passed on the information he had found to Ye Hui.
“Call Lin Zongguang over, Moqi, stop playing the pipa, I’m going crazy,” Ye Hui said, rubbing her belly. The terrifying pipa music made the fetus move violently. When the music stopped, the commotion in her belly also subsided. No wonder people in the past emphasized fetal education; it turns out that fetuses can indeed sense sounds.
Fa Cai received the order and went to find Lin Zongguang.
“Miss, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Moqi put down the pipa, seeing her mistress rubbing her belly with concern. “Should I call Doctor Zhou and the midwife?”
“What for?” Ye Hui laughed and shook her head, placing both hands on her belly. “Pick up the pipa and play again.”
Moqi picked up the pipa, puzzled, and as the music started, the fetus protested vigorously again. Ye Hui laughed, “This little one is quite interesting! I wonder how the child’s father would react.” She waved for Moqi to stop, as the music was about to pierce her eardrums.
Shortly after, Fa Cai brought Lin Zongguang, who quickly bowed upon arrival.
“Did you call for this old servant?” Lin Zongguang smiled, already knowing the news from the imperial capital. The emperor was finally excited about the Ninth Prince, sending imperial physicians, a midwife, and royal chefs, and bestowing gifts. He regretted his past blindness and offending the future empress.
Ye Hui sent Fa Cai away, not wanting him to hear what was to be discussed.
She glanced at Lin Zongguang, sitting upright with a sharp gaze, and took a sip of chilled strawberry juice. “Considering your years of service to the prince and your meritorious contributions, the prince says you will continue to manage the household affairs.”
Moqi understood her mistress’s intentions and began playing the pipa again, its sound piercing, almost preventing Lin Zongguang from hearing anything.
“The prince really said this?” Lin Zongguang’s joy was evident. Ye Hui remained composed, sipping her juice. “As a long-time palace servant, you should be accommodating, considering the emperor and empress’s face, right?”
“Indeed, indeed. I once served in the imperial study, was a court scribe, and helped draft imperial edicts. If not for my competence, I wouldn’t have been sent to serve near the prince’s residence,” Lin Zongguang thought to himself that nothing could be hidden between a young couple.
He was unaware that Ye Hui was extracting information from him.
A eunuch! Ye Hui’s mind was in turmoil, but her exterior remained calm. “You may leave. Tomorrow, Moqi will bring you the storehouse keys. As I’m indisposed, you’ll manage it for a while. And keep today’s conversation confidential. I’m still just an ordinary mistress in this household.”
“Yes, my lady,” Lin Zongguang bowed reverently, almost like a saint, and left.
Moqi stopped playing, shocked beyond words. Although he had suspected Huangfu Zedan’s identity, learning he was a prince was like being struck by lightning.
“Miss, is this true?” he whispered, seeing his mistress deep in thought.
“It’s nothing. Help me back.”
Though prepared, she was still shocked by the revelation. She had suspected something when inspecting the storeroom, with its mountain of treasures, some jade pieces even bearing the imperial seal. She had questioned Huangfu Zedan before, but he explained they were gifts.
She had scoffed then, wondering who would be so generous as to gift such valuable treasures?
The two husbands returned late, with Huangfu Zedan staying to accompany his wife, while Qin Yuhang had been staying in the West Wing’s Siyue Residence.
Huangfu Zedan embraced his wife, his fatigue disappearing. Scout reports indicated the Turkic army was camped 500 li away. Confident, he had been preparing troops, siege weapons, and conducting multiple drills to strike the Turks.
Pingzhou had always been a multi-ethnic area, predominantly Qiang people. The Ying Tang had long used a “use barbarians to control barbarians” strategy. His military force was mostly borrowed from Qiang tribes. Given the previous betrayal in Shazhou, he had detained all Qiang kings and their families in Pingzhou to ensure the upcoming battle’s success.
