Chapter 78: I Do Not Wish for You to Be Pregnant

Chapter 78: I Don’t Want You to Conceive

Though Zhao Shi’s attempted poisoning failed, the incident caused quite a stir in the capital at the time, so Pei Yun had also heard of it. Like many others, she struggled to believe that Zhao Shi could commit such a wicked act.

Rumors later claimed that Liu Sanlang, though heartbroken, could not bring himself to punish his wife. Instead of handing her over to the authorities, he placed her under house arrest within their courtyard. Perhaps out of remorse, Zhao Shi poisoned herself in her room a month later.

A tragic end indeed.

After all, in her previous life, Pei Yun had interacted with Zhao Shi a few times and always thought her a gentle and kind woman.

But as the saying goes, "You can know a man’s face, but not his heart." Some matters were not for Pei Yun to judge lightly.

A few days after the Dragon Boat Festival, Pei Yun took the chance to call Shu Yan over and asked if she was willing to marry Yang Zhuo. Upon hearing this, Shu Yan knelt down and wept, saying she had let her down.

Pei Yun just smiled and helped her up, assuring her she had done nothing wrong. If anything, Pei Yun was the one who’d held her back for so many years. She promised to prepare a dowry and arrange an auspicious date the following month for Shu Yan's wedding.

Shu Yan and Shu Mo had followed her since childhood—from Wunan to Cangzhou, then to the capital. Beyond their master-servant relationship, they were more like sisters. In both her past and present lives, they had accompanied her through many difficult times.

Shu Mo had no desire to marry and chose to stay by her side. Pei Yun promised she’d always take care of her. As for Shu Yan, though she would marry, Pei Yun would silently support her from behind, making sure no one mistreated her.

Pei Yun personally selected and prepared Shu Yan's dowry. She hadn’t noticed how weak she’d grown—after handling just these few tasks, she overslept the next day. When she awoke, her waist ached, her body felt weak, and there was a faint pain in her lower abdomen.

Noticing Pei Yun's condition, Shu Mo seemed to realize something and asked, "Is Her period approaching?"

Her cycle was always unpredictable, arriving either early or late. This time, it had been delayed by about ten days compared to the last, so it should have arrived by now.

After helping Pei Yun rise, Shu Mo ran into Shu Yan outside and took the copper basin from her hands, saying, "Her period might be starting. Please prepare the necessary items in advance."

Seeing Shu Yan hesitate slightly, Shu Mo couldn’t resist teasing, "What, not happy about it now? Well, once you become an official’s wife, you’ll just boss people around. Right now, you must be eagerly awaiting your wedding day."

Shu Yan knew Shu Mo was joking and shot her a glare. "Keep talking, and I won’t let my future children call you godmother."

"Fine, fine, I’ll stop teasing you. It’s just that while you’re still in the palace, we can still joke around like this. Once you leave, there won’t be another chance." Shu Mo’s tone was calm, but it stirred a pang of melancholy in Shu Yan.

Once she left the palace, she might never return. Though they would both remain in the capital, the two of them, who had once spent every day together, might not even see each other once a year.

"Then I’ll go prepare the things first," Shu Yan said, no longer up for joking, and turned away listlessly.

Feeling unwell, Pei Yun barely touched her lunch, though she ate several pieces of hawthorn cake to stimulate her appetite. Afterward, she lay down again and slept. When she awoke, she noticed through the window that the sky outside had darkened. Surprised, she realized she had slept for nearly two hours.

As she roused, she faintly heard the Crown Prince speaking in the outer chamber. Soon after, the bed curtains were drawn aside. Seeing she was awake, the Crown Prince helped her sit up and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell? Any better?"

"It’s nothing," Pei Yun dismissed lightly. "My period is likely approaching, hence the soreness and fatigue. Once I take some medicine and rest a while longer, I’ll be fine."

Just then, Shu Yan brought over a bowl of dark, bitter medicine. As Pei Yun reached for it, the Crown Prince asked, "What medicine is this?"

Shu Yan replied, "Before Her period, she often experiences abdominal pain and discomfort. This medicine usually eases her symptoms. I just fetched it from the Imperial Hospital."

Li Changye’s brows furrowed slightly. His gaze drifted and suddenly landed on the half-eaten plate of hawthorn cake by the bedside.

Turning back to see Pei Yun about to drink the medicine, he swiftly snatched the bowl from her hands.

Pei Yun blinked in confusion.

"Are you…" Li Changye paused, his lips pressing together briefly before saying, "Don’t take medicine without caution." He then instructed Shu Yan, "Go to the Imperial Hospital and summon Physician Zheng."

Shu Yan curtsied in reply.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Physician Zheng arrived in haste, followed by Si Er carrying a medicine chest.

But now it seems he can no longer be called Si Er.

On his first day in the Imperial Medical Academy, Imperial Physician Zheng found his name far too casual and decided to change it from Qiu Si Er to Qiu Ci.

The deep blue bed curtains were drawn, and Pei Yun lay within, extending only a slender, pale arm for Imperial Physician Zheng to place a silk handkerchief over and take her pulse.

Seeing the Crown Prince seated beside her with a grave expression, Pei Yun thought he was being overly cautious. Yet moments later, Imperial Physician Zheng suddenly widened his eyes and dropped to his knees on the floor.

Pei Yun was startled, fearing she had contracted some serious illness, only to hear Imperial Physician Zheng hesitate before speaking.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, congratulations, Your Ladyship. The pulse is undeniably the signs of a sliding pulse—Your Ladyship is with child, likely a little over a month along..."

Pei Yun was stunned for a long while, nearly sitting up in shock. She had never expected to conceive at a time when she was completely unprepared.

When she was pregnant with Jin Er and Chen'er, her reactions had been severe—constant nausea made it obvious even without a physician's diagnosis. But this pregnancy was different, like her monthly courses. Moreover, she had assumed conception would not happen so soon, leading her to overlook the signs.

That dream she had earlier... it must have been a pregnancy dream.

Pei Yun carefully placed a hand over her still-flat abdomen. In her past life, this pregnancy should have been two years away. Yet in this life, the child had arrived so much earlier.

But then again, back then, their conjugal relations had been rare. Now, however, on nights they shared a bed, he often claimed her multiple times—how could she not conceive?

A faint smile curved her lips. The little girl she had yearned for—would she finally be born safely into this world in this life?

Her heart full of joy, she turned to the Crown Prince, only to find his expression somber, devoid of any joy—a stark contrast to his reaction in her past life when he had learned of her pregnancy.

Back then, he had smiled softly, his gaze tender, sharing her anticipation for the child's arrival.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, the Crown Prince looked up and took her hand, asking, "Is the Crown Princess unwell?"

Imperial Physician Zheng replied, "This lowly physician finds Her Ladyship slightly weak, but there is no major concern. I shall prescribe medicine to secure the pregnancy for her to recuperate."

Li Changye nodded and exchanged a few more words with Pei Yun before leaving, though not without casting a discreet glance at Imperial Physician Zheng.

After the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, Imperial Physician Zheng left the Luminous Hall (Linglang Dian) and headed for the Crown Prince's study in the Clear Radiance Palace (Chenghua Dian).

Qiu Ci followed behind, but when they reached the study doors, Imperial Physician Zheng did not allow him inside, ordering him to wait outside instead.

An attentive eunuch promptly shut the doors, and as the panels closed, Qiu Ci caught the Crown Prince's voice drifting out.

"How is the Crown Princess with child...?"

The low voice held an edge of anger, leaving Qiu Ci momentarily frozen in place.

The next day, news of Pei Yun's pregnancy spread swiftly through the palace. With the imperial family welcoming one child after another, the Empress Dowager was overjoyed and even made a special trip to the temple to burn incense in thanksgiving.

Lady Zhou also came to the palace to see her. Though this was Pei Yun's third pregnancy, her mother still fretted endlessly, stressing the importance of caution during the first three months.

Pei Yun smiled and agreed, mentioning that she had initially planned to visit and hold her newborn nephew but would likely have to postpone. She asked her mother to deliver the first-month celebration gifts she had prepared for Pei Zhongxi in her stead.

Meanwhile, ever since the pregnancy was confirmed, Shu Yan had been vowing daily that she wouldn’t marry—she wanted to stay by Her Ladyship's side until the birth.

Shu Mo couldn't help teasing her, "It's Her Ladyship giving birth, not you. Whether you're here or not makes no difference."

It seemed everyone was delighted by the pregnancy—except the Crown Prince.

Though he tried to conceal it, Pei Yun could see his reluctance, as though he did not welcome the child's arrival.

After days of quiet contemplation, Pei Yun gradually realized the strange nature of Imperial Physician Zheng's behavior during her diagnosis. When he had dropped to his knees to announce the happy news, his eyes had revealed a flicker of panic as he glanced at the Crown Prince—as if her pregnancy was something he should not have detected at all.

But how could that be? He had always arranged their conjugal visits during her most fertile period. Shouldn’t he have expected her pregnancy?

At this thought, Pei Yun's hand holding the medicine bowl paused slightly. Her eyes narrowed as she suddenly realized where the crux of the problem lay.

Three days later, when Imperial Physician Zheng was on leave, Dr. Qiu came to take Pei Yun’s pulse for her health checkup.

After the examination, Pei Yun casually remarked, "Dr. Qiu, you once worked in the Duke of State Stabilization’s household and know I have a younger sister who married into the Marquis of Jian De’s household over a year ago. Yet she still hasn’t conceived. Hearing of my pregnancy again, she wrote to me, asking if I had any methods for conceiving."

Dr. Qiu’s expression immediately tensed, but he kept his head lowered as Pei Yun continued, "To be honest, I didn’t use any special methods. It was just that Imperial Physician Zheng would check my pulse every month and arrange the days for marital relations. Since you’ve been following Physician Zheng for some time, do you know the best days for conception?"

Qiu Ci broke into a cold sweat. Just as he was about to speak, Pei Yun added, "Please explain in as much detail as possible so I can relay it to my sister. After all, I too hope to hear news of her pregnancy soon."

Dr. Qiu hesitated. He had considered lying, but he knew that if he did, the truth would eventually come to light one day, possibly harming another woman. Moreover, he truly didn’t wish to deceive the person who had once saved his life.

Steadying himself, he spoke slowly, "I have limited knowledge and understand little about women’s ailments. However, I was fortunate enough to learn a few basics from Imperial Physician Zheng. The best days for conception are usually determined by a woman’s menstrual cycle. The days before and after menstruation are generally the least likely for conception..."

At this point, Dr. Qiu’s voice abruptly stopped. He cautiously lifted his gaze to glance at Pei Yun.

After a brief moment of distraction, Pei Yun smiled bitterly at him again. "So that’s how it is. What else? When exactly is a woman most likely to conceive..."

Seeing her calm expression, Dr. Qiu grew slightly bolder. "If a woman’s cycle is regular, the middle of the cycle is the most fertile. If it’s irregular, then the most and least fertile days become harder to predict, and mistakes can happen..."

So, in her case, it had been a mistake.

Pei Yun smiled bitterly. Now, she had finally pieced together all the doubts she had harbored before.

That night, when the Crown Prince arrived, Pei Yun was accompanying Chen’er as he drew on paper. Children’s interests come and go—recently, Chen’er had become obsessed with sketching, and Pei Yun indulged him, having simple patterns fetched for him to copy.

Just as Chen’er finished tracing a plump little sparrow, he looked up and saw Li Zhangye. Immediately, he lifted the paper and trotted over to show his father.

"Chen’er drew so well! But it’s late now. Go to bed early, and you can draw more tomorrow, alright?" Li Zhangye crouched down and spoke softly.

Chen’er gave an obedient nod. His older brother had told him that there was now a little brother or sister in their mother’s belly, and Chen’er had to be good—otherwise, the baby might not come out to play with him.

Only after the nursemaid led Chen’er out of the main hall did Li Zhangye approach Pei Yun. "How are you feeling today? If there’s any discomfort, call the imperial physician immediately."

Pei Yun nodded. "Your Highness need not worry. This isn’t my first time being pregnant. Everything is fine."

She stood and sat with the Crown Prince on the small couch. After taking a sip of tea, she suddenly said almost accusingly, "Your Highness didn’t even ask about the baby..."

Li Zhangye’s smile stiffened slightly, and he averted his gaze. "If you’re fine, the baby will be too."

Pei Yun gave him a deep look, done with subtlety. "About the arrangements for marital relations... I’ve already heard from Si Er. Did Your Highness order Imperial Physician Zheng to schedule it this way?"

After a moment of surprise, Li Zhangye pressed his lips together. After a long pause, he murmured a quiet "Mm."

"I didn’t want you to get pregnant..."

Pei Yun’s heart skipped a beat. Had she heard these words in her past life—or even right after her rebirth in this life—she would have surely misunderstood.

Deliberately scheduling marital relations during her least fertile days—how was this different from an emperor giving out contraceptive teas to unfavored concubines after each visit?

No wonder Dr. Qiu had hesitated when revealing the truth to her—he must have feared she would be heartbroken.

As for the Crown Prince’s long concealment of this matter, Pei Yun both wanted to curse him and yet felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

After all, had she known of this in her past life, it would have undoubtedly become a lingering resentment. Even if he had explained, she wouldn’t have believed him. Fortunately, when she found out in this life, it was when she trusted him the most.

Didn’t they say more children meant more blessings? The Empress Dowager would be overjoyed if she bore more children to continue the royal lineage. Moreover, as the only one in the Eastern Palace, and with the Crown Prince having so few heirs, shouldn’t he have encouraged her to conceive more?

Why then...?

When she spoke again, her voice cracked.

"Why?"