Page 333

When the imperial edict for their marriage was issued, Grandmother Gui specially inquired about Prince Qi's past, learning that he had never taken a knowledgeable palace maid. When Qi Zhen and he first wed, she had tried to arrange a concubine or a chambermaid for him, but he declined all offers.

Liking someone and not liking them were indeed two different matters.

Back then, when she learned that Prince Qiyuan had a knowledgeable palace maid and even watched him marry his princess consort, Qi Zhen never felt as stifled as she did now.

Once more, Qi Zhen pressed his hand, regulating her disordered breath, and asked, "Xiao Yan, was yesterday... your first time?"

Xiao Yan softly acknowledged with a "Mm," then gently removed her hooded garment, covering her with it. Gazing at her, he said, "Qi Zhen, I want only you."

In this life, there would be no one else between them.

Letting go of his hand again, Qi Zhen instead clutched the bedding beneath her.

Amid the sweltering summer heat, even with ice buckets placed in their bedroom at night, the room still felt like a steaming pot.

Sweaty all over, Qi Zhen couldn't distinguish whether the moisture on her body was her own or Xiao Yan's.

This sort of stickiness and warmth used to be something she disliked the most.

In the capital, the esteemed Miss Qi, accustomed to luxury, would bathe at least twice a day during the summer months.

Yet that night, neither she nor Xiao Yan requested water for bathing.

They slept entwined like two slippery fish in water, unwilling to part for even a moment.

The next day, Qi Zhen awoke well after the sun had risen high. When she stirred, the man's arm was still wrapped around her waist.

Normally, at this hour, he would have already retreated to his study to attend to official duties.

Recalling his dominant behavior the previous night, Qi Zhen assumed he must be exhausted.

But as she looked at him, he appeared refreshed and alert, showing no signs of fatigue.

"You've been awake for a while?" she asked in a hoarse voice.

"For an hour," Xiao Yan replied warmly. Noticing Qi Zhen's furrowed brow, he released his grip on her waist and added, "I'll send someone to bring in some water."

Relieved, Qi Zhen wondered how he had discerned her desire. Indeed, she was longing for a bath.

"Let the nurse take care of it. Tell her I won't need assistance for my bath later," Xiao Yan said, nodding before donning his outer robe and stepping around the screen to summon Nurse Gui.

Qi Zhen felt utterly drained, wondering if Xiao Yan's grip had left an impression on her waist.

The passionate intimacy they shared the previous night made her prefer staying glued to Xiao Yan instead of bathing. But now, after the passion had subsided, she found the stickiness unbearable. Thus, despite her aching back and waist, she made her way to the bathroom to wash away the sensations.

When she emerged, breakfast was already prepared.

Halfway through their morning meal, Nurse Gui hurried in, saying, "Your Highness, Her Highness, just now... Just now, a guard from the mansion came to report that something has happened to Nurse Zhu."

Nurse Zhu?

Qi Zhen knitted her brows. Nurse Zhu was sent from the palace to teach her etiquette and was now one of her most trusted companions.

When she accompanied Xiao Yan on his trip to the county, she didn't want to burden Nurse Zhu or Nurse Gui, so she left them behind.

Yet, how could Nurse Zhu, who was perfectly fine in the An Wang Manor, suddenly encounter trouble?

The anxiety on Nurse Gui's face was genuine; something grave must have happened to Nurse Zhu.

Qi Zhen put down her chopsticks and stood up, addressing Xiao Yan. "Your Highness, I'll go check on Nurse Zhu."

Xiao Yan slowly lifted his gaze and likewise set down his own chopsticks. "I'll accompany you."

Only when Qi Zhen arrived at the outer courtyard did she understand why Nurse Gui had been so frightened. Nurse Zhu's injuries were severe and gruesome – not only were her bones broken by a heavy object, but there wasn't an unscathed patch of skin on her body.

A guard stepped forward to report. "Yesterday, there was a torrential downpour. Nurse Zhu insisted on leaving the manor to look for the princess. Unfortunately, halfway through her journey, she encountered a mudslide and was swept into a bog. By the time this subordinate found her, Nurse Zhu was already in her current condition."

Qi Zhen asked, "What did the physician say?"

The guard knelt to apologize. "The physician said that Nurse Zhu has at most three days left. Preparations for her funeral should be made."

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhen glanced at Nurse Zhu, whose face was as pale as paper and whose breaths were growing weaker. Her heart sank. Just as she was about to speak, Xiao Yan on the side said, "Go choose a good coffin. Send Nurse Zhu back to her hometown for a proper burial and generous rewards. What do you think, Princess?"

Qi Zhen looked at Xiao Yan, surprised that he would take it upon himself to handle the arrangements for Nurse Zhu's funeral without consulting her.

After some thought, she nodded and said, "Let's arrange it this way then."

Mammy Zhu didn't survive until the third day, and Qi Zhen did have some affection for her. She arranged for a religious ceremony to be held in her honor and had her coffin transported back to her hometown.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, September arrived.

Right after the Double Ninth Festival, Qi Zhen realized that her monthly cycle was delayed.

Her periods were always punctual, so when it was late, Mammy Gui was even more anxious than she was.

The First Young Master had secretly written to the Wangfei last month, asking her to choose a date to return to the capital. With the Emperor's serious illness at the beginning of the year, Prince Qiyuan had taken over as regent, and the letters from the Qi family had been more frequent than the entire previous year.

Mammy Gui could guess without even reading the letter what the First Young Master would say.

What if the First Young Master found out that the Wangfei was pregnant?

Qi Zhen, however, was much calmer than Mammy Gui. "We still don't know for sure if I'm with child. Mammy, please find me a doctor first."

Mammy Gui looked into her eyes and cautiously asked, "Should the Wangfei hide this matter from the Wangye?"

Should the child not be desired by the Princess, it would naturally be improper to let the Prince know of her pregnancy.

Qi Zhen lowered her gaze and gently caressed her abdomen, recalling Xiao Yan's words on the bed just a few days prior. She shook her head and said, "There's no need to hide it. If I truly am with child, the Prince would probably be even happier than I."

That night, he had told her that he was fated to have a son and a daughter, and as such, he had already thought of pet names for both children.

Qi Zhen had never seen him speak so casually about the future. Amused, she replied, "It's still too early to tell, but since the Prince has already spoken, what names have you chosen for our children?"