“That means you can all collect three sets of rewards, can’t you?” Yan Yunning teased.

“Yes, yes, yes.” Qiuci laughed with exceptional delight.

In less than half an hour, the news of Yan Yunning’s pregnancy had spread throughout Prince Xuan’s residence. Just as Qiuci had said, both the Grand Emperor and Xuan Yanyu gave out rewards.

——

Prince Xuan’s Bedchamber.

Yan Yunning was cradled in Xuan Yanyu’s arms. She held the ruler she had found rummaging through Xuan Yuncheng’s school bag and rapped it across the man’s hand. “Confess — did you or did you not put anything else in the pastries and jams the maidservants brought me each time?”

Xuan Yanyu lowered his gaze. His large hand rested on her abdomen, and he said languidly, “Isn’t this the best proof? What’s there to overthink?”

Yan Yunning: “……”

She had been overthinking the whole time???

“That soup tasted so dreadful — I have no desire to drink it a second time.” Xuan Yanyu moved close to her ear, his voice low and warm and pleasing. “I trust you. I know you will never leave me and our child.”

“The four of us as a family — we will always be together, won’t we, Ningning.”

“Mn.” A hint of complaint crept into Yan Yunning’s tone. “I kept thinking you were still afraid, and every time you would have the maidservants send pastries or some other food…”

At that, Yan Yunning looked up. “Was it deliberate?”

The man looked guileless. “Wrongfully accused — how would I know you would think that way?”

“You did it deliberately.” Yan Yunning said with conviction.

“I did not.” The corner of Xuan Yanyu’s lips curved upward ever so slightly.

“You did.” Yan Yunning gave his earlobe a bite.

“Mn~” The man let out a low, muffled sound.

“……” Yan Yunning moved her lips, at a complete loss for words. “What are you making that sound for?”

“Mn?” Xuan Yanyu’s voice carried a languid huskiness.

Yan Yunning: “……”

He was absolutely impossible!!

“Sister-in-law, sister-in-law.” Xuan Zhaoran knocked at the chamber door from outside.

Hearing her voice, Yan Yunning sat up properly at once. “Come in.”

“Greetings to Prince Xuan’s elder brother, sister-in-law.” Xuan Zhaoran pushed open the door, the smile on her face even wider than those of Yan Yunning and Xuan Yanyu.

“Ranran, what brings you here?” Yan Yunning drew her down to sit beside her.

“I… of course I’m overjoyed.” Xuan Zhaoran touched Yan Yunning’s abdomen, giggling. “Sister-in-law, I heard from Imperial Mother that it’s been over a month already — so the medicine did work after all.”

The man who had been toying with his teacup paused. He looked at Xuan Zhaoran and narrowed his eyes. “What medicine?”

He had long been curious about how Ningning had suddenly thought to go to the Imperial Medical Court to ask the physician for medicine. Now it was becoming clear — it must have been little Ranran who had given her the idea.

Xuan Zhaoran’s gaze darted away, avoiding Xuan Yanyu’s eyes.

This… this was far too humiliating to say aloud.

She would not say it, but someone else would. Yan Yunning rattled on, “That day when I went to see little Nuonuo, Ranran saw me fussing over Nuonuo and brought it up — she suggested asking you for one, but since you only ever wanted Xiaoxiao, she mentioned going to the Imperial Medical Court.”

Xuan Zhaoran pursed her lips. “Sister-in-law, that’s not quite right — are you saying Prince Xuan’s elder brother didn’t want a child??”

“Yes, that’s right. Otherwise why would—” At that, Yan Yunning stared at Xuan Zhaoran in shock. “What did you think it was?!”

“I… I…” Xuan Zhaoran stammered.

Xuan Yanyu’s expression darkened. “Out.”

“Xuan Zhaoran takes her leave.” Xuan Zhaoran covered her face and fled the bedchamber.

“Ranran misunderstood on her own. It has nothing to do with me.” Yan Yunning quickly distanced herself.

Xuan Yanyu pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

Yan Yunning batted her eyes at him.

Xuan Yanyu: “……”

——

With Yan Yunning now pregnant, Xuan Yanyu — who already paid little attention to court affairs — had an even better excuse. He spent the entire pregnancy at Yan Yunning’s side, more devoted than any maidservant.

One night, Yan Yunning felt a heavy, dragging pain in her abdomen. Her voice trembled as she called out Xuan Yanyu’s name.

“Physician, physician!” Xuan Yanyu had been sleeping fully clothed these past few days. He scrambled out of bed and shouted for help.

The physician and midwife heard the commotion and pushed open the bedchamber door. “Greetings to Your Majesty, My Lady.”

“It hurts so much…” Yan Yunning clutched the brocade covers tightly.

“Don’t be afraid… don’t be afraid… I am here with you.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was even more unsteady than hers.

“Your Majesty, you may wait outside.” The midwife curtsied.

Xuan Yanyu held Yan Yunning’s hand and shook his head. This time he would not leave.

“You go wait in the outer hall.” Yan Yunning breathed in deep, labored breaths.

“No.” Xuan Yanyu gripped her hand tighter.

“Go…” Yan Yunning tried to pull her hand free.

“No.”

“Xuan Yanyu!” Yan Yunning looked at him with reddened eyes.

After a standoff, Xuan Yanyu had no choice but to relent. He walked, step by agonizingly slow step, out to the outer hall.

The chamber door was closed by the physician. He pressed himself against it, listening tensely to every sound from within.

He could not put into words what he was feeling right now. Fear consumed him entirely. He did not know how long he stood there before the crying finally came from inside — not just an infant’s cry, but another cry alongside it…

Xuan Yanyu went cold from head to foot. His mind erupted in a deafening roar. The crying from within grew louder and louder. He slumped to the ground, bereft.

“Your Majesty… Your Maj—” Qiuci opened the chamber door and nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of Xuan Yanyu sitting on the floor, dazed and disheveled.

With the door open, the metallic scent of blood drifted out from the bedchamber. Xuan Yanyu’s fingers moved mechanically, his expression blank.

“Your Majesty, you… you should go in and soothe My Lady. She has just given birth to the little Second Prince — she cannot go on crying like this.” Qiuci said anxiously.

“What?” Xuan Yanyu startled, and hope lit his eyes. “Ningning is still here?”

“She is — My Lady, she—”

Before Qiuci could finish, the man on the floor leapt to his feet and ran into the bedchamber.

Qiuci: “…?”

“Xuan Yanyu…” Seeing Xuan Yanyu, Yan Yunning sniffled.

The little bundle who had lived in her womb for ten months was not a soft, fragrant little daughter…

Her hopes had been so high that she simply could not hold herself together…

Was Xuan Yanyu’s bloodline following in his father’s footsteps…

Then her… her soft, fragrant little daughter…

The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to cry…

“Why are you crying like this?” Xuan Yanyu held her close, his own voice choked. “You frightened me terribly.”

“I’m a little disappointed,” Yan Yunning muttered quietly.

“Mn?” Xuan Yanyu wiped away her tears and asked patiently, “How could you be disappointed?”

“In reply to Your Majesty — My Lady learned the child is the Second Prince and not a little princess, and she could not hold back her tears.” Xiao Wan wrung out a cloth and dabbed the beads of sweat from Yan Yunning’s forehead.

Xuan Yanyu frowned slightly. “Not a little princess?”

“Yes… yes, Your Majesty, it is the Second Prince.” Xiao Wan replied with some anxiety. Would His Majesty also break down crying?

“Understood. You may withdraw.” Xuan Yanyu’s gaze fell back on Yan Yunning and found that she had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

He tucked the brocade covers carefully around her, took her hand, and murmured softly, “Thank you, Ningning, for not leaving me.”

——

Of all people, the birth of the little bundle brought the most joy to the Grand Emperor and the Empress Dowager — especially the Grand Emperor, who spared no expense with his rewards and even multiplied his gifts of copper coins to the common people, personally going with the Empress Dowager to pray for the little bundle’s blessings.