Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Xie Run, leaning on Dan Tao, sat down on the couch and said with a faint smile, "The baby just kicked me."

Prince Jing was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is it still kicking you?"

Xie Run felt her belly for a moment. "No, it stopped. I think it was because I was laughing so happily just now—it sensed it."

"The baby can sense when you're happy?"

"Of course."

Xie Run explained to Prince Jing seriously, "My happiness, anger, sadness—everything affects the baby. If it's unhappy, it will move. Sometimes when it's happy, it moves too, but the feeling is different."

Prince Jing listened without a word, his gaze flickering faintly over Xie Run's belly, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

After the incidents involving the eldest and second sons, Prince Jing felt that his fortune with children was shallow.

Afraid of investing too much emotion only to be hurt later, he deliberately restrained his interactions with the pregnant women.

He would visit Xie Run and the others regularly, but generally only asked if the child was healthy, if the pregnant woman had any discomfort, or if she needed anything.

He never asked more than that.

Today, perhaps spurred by the double provocation from both the Emperor and Noble Consort Rou, Prince Jing asked a few extra questions.

Soon, the small kitchen served the meal.

Prince Jing had been busy since the afternoon and hadn't eaten much all day, so he was indeed hungry now.

Seeing Prince Jing eat so heartily, Xie Run was tempted too. "Bring me chopsticks and a bowl too."

Dan Tao wanted to dissuade her, but Xie Run said, "I know my limits. I'll just taste a little of each dish."

Dan Tao said no more and fetched the utensils.

After eating and drinking their fill, Prince Jing went to the bath chamber to bathe.

Xie Run had only eaten a little. After rinsing her mouth, she let the maids help her change and then paced in front of the bed.

As she walked, she began to feel drowsy.

She said to Dan Tao, "I can't stay awake any longer. I'm going to bed. Let the Prince know for me."

Dan Tao said softly, "But... wouldn't that be against the rules?"

She was worried that Xie Run would incur the Prince's anger.

Xie Run's eyelids were heavy, and she replied lazily, "After all, I'm carrying his child. Can't I act spoiled just this once?"

With that, she burrowed under the covers.

It was at that moment that Prince Jing walked in.

He glanced at his "spoiled" Concubine Xie and waved to Dan Tao. "You may withdraw."

"Yes."

One by one, the candles were extinguished, and a corner of the blanket was lifted.

Xie Run felt a wave of warmth and immediately moved closer to Prince Jing, resting her head on him and falling into a deep sleep.

In this cold winter, having a human heater made for an especially restful sleep.

Prince Jing looked down at the woman in his arms and felt a little helpless.

Xie Run was really acting spoiled now.

Seeing that Xie Run was sound asleep, Prince Jing's large hand settled gently on her slightly rounded belly.

Throughout her pregnancy, Xie Run ate well and kept a healthy routine; her limbs stayed slender, only her belly slightly rounded.

If she wore loose clothing, her pregnancy might not even be noticeable.

Suddenly, the warm skin under his palm twitched.

Prince Jing felt as if he'd been scalded and casually withdrew his hand.

After a long while, his broad, warm palm once again came to rest on her belly.

Xie Run, fast asleep, was oblivious to all of this.

The next morning, Xie Run and Prince Jing woke up together.

As she helped him dress, she mentioned something.

Xie Run said, "Yesterday, I ran into Concubine Lu outside the courtyard and chatted for a bit."

"After I came back, Zi Hu said she caught a whiff of musk on Concubine Lu."

Prince Jing's brows knitted slightly.

Xie Run nodded. "I thought it over on the way back and got a bit worried, so I secretly sent someone to warn Concubine Li."

He paused, somewhat surprised that Xie Run was being so open about it.

Prince Jing said, "The Princess told me that Concubine Li came to report it yesterday. I didn't realize it was you who warned her."

Xie Run said softly, "Musk is quite harmful to women, especially those who are pregnant."

"I don't know why Concubine Lu was carrying musk, but it's harmful to Concubine Li, so I stuck my nose in and warned her."

Prince Jing said, "The Princess is already investigating. There will be results soon. What about you? Did the musk affect you?"

Xie Run shook her head. "I was far enough away that I didn't smell it on her."

Prince Jing held her hand. "Your intentions are good. But next time, keep your distance."

Xie Run smiled. "I was already keeping my distance. I just happened to remind Sister Li, as a way to earn some good karma for my baby."

"If it had been dangerous for me, I probably wouldn't have warned her."

Xie Run didn't want to come across as a pure, innocent saint completely above worldly concerns, because if she got involved in anything later, that image would shatter.

It was safer to be a self-serving sweet fool.

After Prince Jing left, word that he had spent the night at Spring Mountain Courtyard quickly spread through the estate.

Everyone was discussing how favored Xie Run was, while also bringing up the topic of "rules."

The prince and princess are sticklers for rules.

Usually, during festivals and on the first and fifteenth of each month, the prince would stay overnight in the main courtyard.

In the past, only when Cefei Ning was at the peak of her favor did one or two irregularities occur.

Since Cefei Ning was demoted, such incidents have not occurred in the inner courtyard.

Now that the prince went to Spring Mountain Courtyard on the winter solstice, isn't that breaking the rules?

Everyone dared not say the prince was improper, so they shifted the blame onto Xie Run.

They said Xie Run appeared demure but was actually a vixen, and now that Shufei Fang is under house arrest and Shufei Yun is ineffective, she is showing her true colors.

Some even secretly went to the princess to tattle, trying to sow discord.

However, they were rebuked by the princess.

She also explained that she was the one who had advised the prince to go to Shufei Xie yesterday.

Some people, reading between the lines, picked up on a different subtext.

Shiqie Lu couldn't help but ponder: "It seems the prince, though he doesn't dote on the princess, holds her in great respect..."

Yesterday, which was the winter solstice, the princess had no time to investigate Shiqie Lu's use of musk to harm others and stealing charcoal, so she first had her subordinates handle it.

Today, after dealing with household affairs, the princess summoned the personal attendants of Shiqie Lu and Shiqie An.

She also sent for the maid Fei Xu from Shiqie Li's side.