Chapter 149: Pregnancy Exposed

**Chapter 149: Pregnancy Revealed**

In the end, Hui Gu decided to stay, while Zhou Yan left with Yue Niang, the two of them departing together.

"Your courtyard, Mother, has already been prepared. You can return whenever you wish—it is your home, and no one would dare disrespect you there."

Zhou Yan knew his mother understood Yue Niang’s nature—Yue Niang would never disrespect her and was always eager to show her respect. He said this to defend Yue Niang.

But he miscalculated—Hui Gu didn’t dislike Yue Niang; she just couldn’t stand him.

"Don’t just stand there—you’re in the way."

Hui Gu’s expression remained cold throughout. Seeing he couldn’t change her mind, Zhou Yan had no choice but to slink away with Yue Niang.

A Yuan’s morning sickness was bad, so she didn’t dare stay outside for long. After seeing Zhou Yan and Yue Niang off, she returned to her own courtyard.

She had a small kitchen in her quarters, where Chun Tao made her a bowl of Yangchun noodles. The clear broth held thin, chewy noodles, topped with a few greens and a poached egg—it looked delicious.

"You’ve barely eaten these past two days, throwing up everything. You have to eat something today—no excuses."

A Yuan held a handkerchief to her mouth, her brow slightly furrowed. "Alright."

Hui Gu had originally noticed A Yuan’s recent weight loss and personally went to the kitchen to prepare some nourishing soup for her. Upon overhearing the conversation between mistress and maid, she immediately understood.

"A Yuan, are you pregnant again?"

Hui Gu’s face was stern, her brows tightly knit.

A Yuan hadn’t expected Aunt Hui to arrive so suddenly. Her hands trembled slightly as she held the bowl.

"Auntie..."

She had known this secret wouldn’t stay hidden forever, but she hadn’t expected it to come out so soon.

A Yuan wasn’t married, nor did she have anyone close to her. Who could the father be?

Hui Gu stood across from her, expression grave.

"A Yuan, are you in some kind of trouble?"

She feared that with Xie Zheng away from the capital, A Yuan might have been mistreated.

After all, the capital wasn’t like other places—there were always bullies around.

A Yuan looked down, silent, unsure how to respond.

Seeing her like this, it suddenly hit Hui Gu.

"Is the child... Wei Xun’s?"

If it were someone else’s child, A Yuan wouldn’t be so calm or in such a hurry to choose a husband.

But with Xie Zheng still around, how could Wei Xun get away with this? Hui Gu burned with anger.

Seeing how upset she was, A Yuan realized she had misunderstood. "It’s his, but he didn’t force me this time."

A Yuan told Hui Gu how Wei Xun had saved her and been forced to neutralize the poison in her.

Hui Gu’s face didn’t soften even after hearing the explanation.

"Even if he saved you, he shouldn’t have resorted to such a method. Couldn’t he have used medicine instead?"

They had grown up in the Spring Smoke Pavilion, where they were all too familiar with those dirty drugs. Even the most potent aphrodisiacs like Hundred Charms Powder had antidotes to mitigate their effects.

She refused to believe that the Vice Governor of the Capital Prefecture had no other solution.

A Yuan’s ears grew hot. Though she had no clear memory of that day, she vaguely recalled that she had been the one to make the first move.

"Auntie, I don’t blame him for this. It’s my fault for forgetting to take the morning-after brew, which led to the pregnancy."

It was her first time experiencing a kidnapping—panic made her forget everything.

If not for her late period, she wouldn’t have remembered skipping the morning-after brew at all.

After all, A Yuan was like family—her own child—and Hui Gu couldn’t bring herself to scold her harshly.

A Yuan was young and didn’t understand men’s intentions, but Hui Gu saw right through Wei Xun.

That whole hero-rescues-maiden act was likely his doing.

"So, what do you plan to do with this child? Do you want to keep it?"

She already had A Man. Raising another child would only make life harder.

"You’re still young. Though the General’s household can afford it, carrying a child with an unknown father will harm your reputation."

Seeing how urgently A Yuan was seeking a husband, Hui Gu knew she wanted to break free from Wei Xun.

But if she wished to keep the child, the best solution was to marry Wei Xun.

A Yuan understood this all too well, yet the thought of getting rid of the baby was unbearable.

"Auntie, I want to keep it."

"I know some men are infertile and wouldn’t mind marrying a divorced woman with a child. Besides, I’m willing to waive the bride price and even offer more wedding gifts..."

She had already made up her mind—find a less prominent family and offer them generous compensation.

But before she could finish, Hui Gu’s face darkened.

"You’ve lost your mind if you think such families are a good match. Do you really believe men with hidden shortcomings would treat you well? Dream on! Such households are the most malicious!"

Having lived for decades, Hui Gu had seen all kinds of people.

Some impotent men who seem honest on the surface were warped inside.

With A Yuan’s kind-hearted nature, she’d be eaten alive in such a marriage.

Unaware of the dangers, A Yuan went cold after hearing Hui Gu’s words.

"Then, Auntie... what should I do?"

Those men were out of the question, and other gentlemen were being blocked by Wei Xun. Her belly would only grow larger, and sooner or later, it would become obvious.

"There’s still A Yan. If he marries you, the child’s identity can be explained." Hui Gu hadn’t given up on matchmaking them.

"No." A Yuan shook her head.

"Auntie, Yan-ge already has Yue Niang in his heart. Marrying me would tear them apart. Yan-ge has his own life and shouldn’t be held back any longer because of me."

Four years ago, theirs was still a sham marriage; now, she really couldn't interfere with him anymore.

Besides, if she were to separate the two of them, how would she be any different from Shen Qiuyu back then?

"Then your best option is to marry Wei Xun."

Aunt Hui had strong objections toward Wei Xun, but right now A Yuan didn’t have a better choice. And they already had A Man.

A Yuan kept her head down, silent—clearly unwilling.

"Alright," Aunt Hui sighed softly, "give it some more thought."

"Or wait until General Xie returns and hear what he has to say."

"Mhm."

A Yuan nodded. For now, that was all they could do.

"Just remember, the fewer people who know about your pregnancy, the better. Otherwise, someone might take advantage of General Xie’s absence to smear your name, and you’ll find it hard to fight back."

"I know, Auntie."

"Oh well, drink your tonic and rest. A Man was already a hard pregnancy—this one will probably be just as troublesome too."

Though Aunt Hui worried about the child's standing, her concern was genuine.

"Okay."

A Yuan had already eaten most of a bowl of Yangchun noodles and was full, but under Aunt Hui's watchful eye, she obediently drank half the bowl.

"That’s enough. Don’t push yourself if you can’t finish. I’ll make more for you tomorrow."

A Yuan was delicate and weighed down by worries. With no proper elder in the general’s household, only Aunt Hui could look after her.

"I understand. Thank you, Auntie."

A Yuan’s eyes grew red. She remembered every kindness Aunt Hui had shown her.

"Silly child, get some rest. I’ll go now."

The rear courtyard.

......

A Man sat on the ground, chin in hand, her face twisted in worry.

Zhou Chen put away his sword and crouched beside her, his young face serious.

"What’s wrong?"

A Man furrowed her brows into fuzzy worms. "Brother, do you know how you can tell if there’s a baby in someone’s belly?"