“Mm.” Xiao Yingtao nodded, her pink lips pouting sky-high.

“I don’t want it, it’s uncomfortable!”

“Alright, we won’t.” Xing Zizhou, looking pained, pulled Xiao Yingtao close and held her tightly.

Qiao Mu glanced at the two of them, feeling a bit awkward, and looked away.

“Let’s go, I need to head back and sleep.”

“Jiu’er, leave me the prescription.” Xing Zizhou looked at Feng Jiu’er anxiously.

“First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll go buy the medicine. This can’t wait.”

“It’s fine.” Feng Jiu’er sat down and picked up her writing brush.

“Rest well, take good care of her, and she’ll be fine soon.”

“Also, when are you two planning to hold the wedding? That can’t wait either.”

Feng Jiu’er pulled out a sheet of paper and began writing the prescription.

“Don’t wait until her belly’s showing to hold it—that wouldn’t be good for Xiao Yingtao.”

“Jiu’er, when do you think would be a good time?” Xing Zizhou asked.

Neither Xing Zizhou nor Xiao Yingtao had any parents left, so Feng Jiu’er was the only one who could officiate.

“Once things in Nanshan Town are settled, we’ll head to Panlong Stronghold. The wedding can be held there.”

“What do you two think?” Feng Jiu’er stood and handed the prescription to Xing Zizhou.

Xing Zizhou took the prescription and said, “Jiu’er, just arrange it however you see fit. I’ll take good care of Xiao Yingtao these next few days.”

“Xiao Yingtao.” Xing Zizhou looked down at the girl in his arms. “Would you like to hold the wedding at Panlong Stronghold?”

Xiao Yingtao, her face flushed red, didn’t answer, but instead pressed both hands against Xing Zizhou’s chest and gave him a push.

“Go on outside, I have something to discuss with Jiu’er.”

“Alright.” Seeing that she wasn’t refusing him, Xing Zizhou couldn’t hide his smile.

He let her go and gently stroked her small face.

“Take your time, but don’t talk too long, it’s late.”

“Get out.” Xiao Yingtao pushed him again and turned away.

Xing Zizhou nodded, looked up, and smiled at Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu.

“You all talk, I’ll wait outside.”

“Alright.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand. “Have Xinyue come in for a moment, there’s something I want to discuss with her.”

“Mm.” Xing Zizhou nodded.

He paused, gave Feng Jiu’er a bow, then turned and left.

Before Xing Zizhou had even finished walking out, Qiao Mu had already come to Xiao Yingtao’s side.

“So?” She bumped Xiao Yingtao’s shoulder with her own.

Caught off balance, Xiao Yingtao tipped over the other way and bumped into Feng Jiu’er.

“Don’t tell me you’re this weak on your feet after just one night?” Qiao Mu eyed Xiao Yingtao sideways.

“When did all this happen? Come on, tell me.” She placed a hand on Xiao Yingtao’s shoulder and pressed down gently.

Xiao Yingtao offered no resistance and was pushed right down, ending up seated beside Feng Jiu’er.

“Come on, tell us? Tell us how it happened, I want to know everything.” Qiao Mu said, quite excited, her voice not the least bit quiet.

Xing Zizhou seemed to remember something, and his face suddenly flushed.

He shook his head slightly, lifted the tent flap, and walked out.

“Xiao Yingtao, come on! Tell us.” Qiao Mu nudged her again.

Xiao Yingtao glanced sideways at her, then looked away.

“What do you want me to say?” Her small face had gone completely red.

“Aside from the happy news between you and Xing Zizhou, what else do you think I’d be interested in?” Qiao Mu frowned.

“Hurry up and tell me!”

“I…” Xiao Yingtao didn’t dare look up, her chin nearly touching her chest.

“I don’t know, I don’t know anything.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Qiao Mu frowned. “Out of everyone here, you’re the most experienced, aren’t you?”

Xiao Yingtao’s head shot up, and she looked at Qiao Mu.

“How am I the most experienced? I… I don’t understand, stop asking.”

“Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao turned and looped her arm through Feng Jiu’er’s.

“I want to…” She lowered her head, let out a long sigh, then looked up.

“Do you… have a good way? I mean, that thing… I…”

“I don’t want to become a mother so soon. Jiu’er, at least, not until things settle down a bit, so…”

Feng Jiu’er looked at the girl whose face had gone as red as pig liver and asked, “You want to ask about a way to avoid getting pregnant for now, is that it?”

Xiao Yingtao looked at her with some surprise, then quickly recovered and nodded.

“Is there? Is there such a way?”

“And here you said you didn’t want to do it anymore?” Qiao Mu clicked her tongue. “Saying one thing, meaning another.”

Xiao Yingtao turned and glared at her, frowning.

“Of course it’s not what I want, it hurts, doesn’t it?”

“But he just can’t help himself, especially once he’s already… started. I don’t want him to keep suffering either.”

Xiao Yingtao looked away and took a deep breath.

“I’ve known Xing Zizhou’s feelings for a long time. Since I’ve already decided on him, there’s nothing left to be afraid of.”

“It’s just.” Xiao Yingtao looked at Feng Jiu’er again, “I’d like to wait until things settle down before having children.”

“I don’t want to become a burden to you all, and I don’t want to be separated from you either.”

“I believe we’ll find Prince Ye soon, and then we can all get pregnant and have children together—wouldn’t that be nice?”

Feng Jiu’er held Xiao Yingtao’s head and pressed it gently against her own shoulder, stroking it softly.

“Thank you all for the journey together. I believe we’ll find Father soon too.”

Sensing the mood had grown a bit heavy, Qiao Mu coughed lightly. “So, do you want to hear how it happened or not?”

Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao both turned their heads at the same time to look at her.

“You’re the elder sister here, how could you not understand these things already?” Xiao Yingtao rolled her eyes at Qiao Mu.

But then, right beside her other ear, Feng Jiu’er’s voice rang out.

“Actually, I’d like to hear how it happened too.”

Xiao Yingtao frowned, turned back, and muttered under her breath, looking at Feng Jiu’er.

“Shouldn’t Jiu’er understand these things better than us? You and the Prince have been together for so long.”

Feng Jiu’er thought of her man and sighed softly.

“He doesn’t dare. Am I supposed to make the first move?”

“He doesn’t dare?” Xiao Yingtao and Qiao Mu asked in unison.

“Are you too fierce with him?” Xiao Yingtao asked.

“It must be that she’s too forward.” Qiao Mu added.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the two of them and rolled her eyes.

“My Ninth Imperial Uncle is very old-fashioned—he insists on waiting until our wedding night.”

“For the sake of that one night, he’s been avoiding me lately, sigh!”

“Pfft.” Xiao Yingtao couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“No way, he’s a prince—second only to the emperor himself. No! He was the emperor, standing above everyone else.”

“For your sake, he willingly gave up the throne. For your sake, he’d walk through fire without hesitation. For your sake, he…”

Xiao Yingtao waved a hand. “Anyway, I can’t even finish listing it all.”

“The Prince has a face that could topple cities, wealth that rivals nations, and abilities unmatched by anyone before or since. He’s not only devoted, he’s pure of heart too.”

“Tsk tsk, it’s only right that Jiu’er should take the initiative a bit more.”

“Exactly.” Qiao Mu pursed her lips. “It’s just that she’s too forward—no man could stand it.”

“Qiao Mu, could you not be so jealous?” Feng Jiu’er glanced at Qiao Mu.

“Me, jealous?” Qiao Mu said disdainfully.

“If you’re really that envious, you could take the initiative too!” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow.

Qiao Mu waved a hand and stood up.

“Would a beauty like me even need to take the initiative?”