Yi Binghu burned incense and bathed, then opened the secret edict with utmost reverence. The brief sentence on it nearly made him cry from devastation.

The secret edict ordered him not to be disrespectful to Prince Zhongshun and the Princess, and he must escort them back with princely ceremonial procession, treating them with courtesy throughout the journey.

What did His Majesty mean by this!

Originally he had been ordered to escort Pang Xiao back to the capital like a criminal, stuffing him into a prisoner’s cart and bringing him back under guard for sentencing.

Why had His Majesty now changed his mind?

He had already torn his face with Pang Xiao, but now he was required by imperial edict to be respectful and courteous to Pang Xiao – wouldn’t this mean losing both face and dignity?

Yi Binghu was furious, but didn’t dare truly anger His Majesty, so he could only blame all these faults on Pang Xiao.

If not for Pang Xiao, would he have lost such face?

Previously in the Huben Army he had been humiliated. Now outside, he was originally the one sent by imperial order to escort a criminal, but now he had to grovel and bow.

Yi Binghu held his breath with no way to resolve it, finally only able to grit his teeth and change his attitude.

When seeing Pang Xiao, he now knew to bow and use respectful titles, no longer urging departure daily with disdain.

Pang Xiao observed all this, and upon returning, told Qin Yining about it as an amusing tale.

Qin Yining also laughed for a while, then said puzzledly: “Why did he suddenly change his nature? When things are abnormal, there must be demons at work. Investigate thoroughly – there must be some reason that made him change his mind.”

“We thought of the same thing.” Pang Xiao’s eyes were full of approval and tenderness as he looked at Qin Yining. “His Majesty gave him a secret edict. Our people intercepted and read it before delivering it to him. His Majesty ordered him to treat us well.”

Qin Yining immediately understood: “It seems the capital is already prepared. His Majesty fears startling us into fleeing midway, wasting all the schemes he’s laid out?”

“Exactly. Moreover, His Majesty does care about face. When he claimed I betrayed the country, not many people believed it. Setting aside my character and achievements, with my wife having killed the Tatar Khan, how could I possibly defect to the Tatars? His Majesty may have been so angered initially that he spoke of my treason without thinking.

“Now His Majesty has changed tactics. Perhaps too many people outside don’t believe this matter, and public opinion is too strong. His Majesty can’t maintain face, so naturally he wants to find ways to quell this. The best method is to coax us back first – under his watch, it will naturally be convenient for him to deal with us.”

Qin Yining nodded, frowning with some worry. Perhaps due to excessive anxiety, she again felt her stomach churning with nausea, but not wanting to worry Pang Xiao, she kept swallowing saliva trying to suppress the sick feeling.

Pang Xiao was most skilled at observation, and Qin Yining was his precious treasure. These past few days Qin Yining’s appetite hadn’t been good, and this morning she had woken up nauseous and dry-heaving, saying her stomach was uncomfortable. Seeing her pale face now, continuously swallowing saliva while holding her breath, he couldn’t help but worry.

“Is your stomach still uncomfortable? Still nauseous?”

Qin Yining shook her head. Due to enduring it, her eyes already contained physiological tears, but in the end she couldn’t hold it back. She pushed Pang Xiao away and bent over the kang edge to vomit.

Pang Xiao immediately panicked, helplessly patting her back: “What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Then he shouted toward the outside: “Someone come! Quickly fetch a physician!”

Tao Jun hadn’t brought his family members, and there were no women in the office. Even the maidservants in the courtyard were hastily prepared after Pang Xiao’s party arrived.

Hearing Pang Xiao’s thunderous roar, the maidservants were all frightened silly. After a moment of stunned confusion, they frantically ran outside to fetch a physician.

Qin Yining vomited up all the porridge she had eaten in the morning. Some that couldn’t be expelled rushed into her nose, stimulating her with such pain she couldn’t open her eyes. Physiological tears fell like rain.

Pang Xiao’s heart ached so much he nearly cried along with her. He took a handkerchief to wipe her face, then brought water for her to rinse her mouth. Afterward he swept her up and carried her to the inner room, placing her on the warm kang already prepared with bedding. Sitting on the kang edge and grasping her ice-cold hands, he said: “What can we do? You didn’t eat anything unusual – could it be… someone poisoned you?”

The more he thought about it, the more possible this seemed. Pang Xiao remembered Yi Binghu’s face that twisted with hatred whenever he saw him, becoming even more certain of this guess. He raged: “That dog Yi Binghu! I’ll take his life!”

Qin Yining’s head ached from his rambling, and hearing him inexplicably wanting to kill someone, she said helplessly: “Don’t make noise, it hurts my head.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t make noise. I’ll stay here with you.” In his heart he had already planned how to flay Yi Binghu alive later. He didn’t care if Yi Binghu was sent by His Majesty – whoever dared touch a finger of his wife, he would take their life!

The physician arrived within moments, and Tao Jun, having heard the news, came along with the physician.

Pang Xiao had the physician examine Qin Yining while he waited anxiously beside them.

Tao Jun stood in the courtyard with complex feelings.

His Lordship loved the Princess deeply. If something truly happened to the Princess, where would His Lordship’s devoted love find refuge?

Yet he also felt somewhat glad. At this critical juncture, the Princess falling ill – wasn’t this perfect for delaying Pang Xiao’s return to the capital? In this sense, the Princess’s illness was quite timely.

Inside the room, the old physician carefully examined the pulse in both of Qin Yining’s hands, then said to Pang Xiao: “May the Princess slightly reveal her countenance for this old one to observe her complexion?”

Pang Xiao immediately lifted the curtains hanging over the kang somewhat.

The old physician observed for a while, then examined her tongue coating, and smiled: “Congratulations, Your Lordship. The Princess has a pregnancy pulse.”

Qin Yining immediately widened her eyes in surprise.

Pang Xiao had already petrified like a statue. After a long moment he asked: “What did you say?”

“Congratulations, Your Lordship. The Princess has a pregnancy pulse. She should be over a month pregnant. Though the pulse signs aren’t obvious, this old one has practiced medicine for many years and wouldn’t mistake such pulse patterns.”

Qin Yining couldn’t help but secretly calculate her monthly cycles.

It seemed nearly two months had indeed passed without them coming!

Since she and Pang Xiao were reunited, she didn’t know how many times they had been together. Walking all the way to now, calculating by time, it seemed to be from their very first reunion!

Qin Yining saw Pang Xiao suddenly grinning like a fool.

“Heh heh, pregnant? I’m about to become a father?”

The old physician, seeing this handsome prince display such a foolish smile, remembered his own youth and couldn’t help but smile and bow: “Congratulations, congratulations. Around the eleventh or twelfth lunar month, Your Lordship will become a father.”

Pang Xiao nodded joyfully and called loudly for Huzi to come in: “The old gentleman’s medical skills are excellent, treating so well! Quickly prepare a large red envelope. The Princess’s pulse will need the old gentleman’s frequent attention in the future!”

The old physician smiled as he followed Huzi to receive the red envelope.

Pang Xiao was like a spoiled large cat, immediately jumping onto the kang and carefully embracing Qin Yining while kissing and nuzzling her: “Yining, we have a child! Did you hear? I’m about to become a father!”

Though Qin Yining still felt very uncomfortable, seeing Pang Xiao happy like a child, his silly and foolish appearance truly entertained her.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile: “You spoke so loudly, how could I not hear?”

Pang Xiao smiled and kissed her cheek: “Are you uncomfortable anywhere else? Is there anything you want to eat?” Without waiting for Qin Yining to answer, he asked again: “Do you think this is a son or daughter?”

Qin Yining asked amusedly: “Do you hope for a son or daughter?”

“I think either is good.” Pang Xiao held Qin Yining, lying on his side beside her, fantasizing: “If it’s a daughter, she’ll definitely be as clever and beautiful as you. I’ll definitely spoil her rotten and give her the best life. I can also teach her martial arts. If any son-in-law dares bully her in the future, my daughter and I will beat him to death together!

“If it’s a son, that’s also good. I’ll cultivate him well, teaching him how to be an elder brother. Boys should have masculine responsibility and be able to care for other younger siblings in the future.”

Qin Yining laughed heartily: “You say either son or daughter is good, but listening to you, how do I feel you’re completely biased? If it’s a daughter you’ll spoil her rotten, if it’s a son it’s ‘also good’ and he’ll be strictly managed from childhood?”

“Boys should endure more hardship to have responsibility when they grow up. Girls should be spoiled – however much spoiling is right.”

Pang Xiao spoke righteously, his eyes shining brightly. Then he propped himself up and kissed Qin Yining’s somewhat pale lips: “Yining, thank you.”

Qin Yining looked into Pang Xiao’s affectionate eyes. The softest place in her heart felt wrapped in warm spring water, making her smile with curved eyes. She reached out to embrace his neck and actively kissed his cheek.

“Why thank me? We’re husband and wife. The child will call you father and me mother. If we’re speaking of thanks, shouldn’t I also thank you?”

“You see, it’s this kind of thinking that makes your life harder than ordinary women.” Pang Xiao also embraced her, smiling: “Ten months of pregnancy – you’ll be the one who suffers most. I should be the one giving thanks.”

Qin Yining giggled: “Alright, let’s not keep thanking each other.”

“Yes.” Pang Xiao suddenly realized: “I’ll immediately arrange eight or ten tables of banquets to treat the Elite Tiger Guard brothers to drinks!”

“What are you doing? Is this necessary?”

“How is it not necessary? I’m about to become a father – what’s wrong with celebrating?” Pang Xiao was as happy as a child who finally got candy, striding energetically outside to give orders.

Tao Jun, who had been waiting in the courtyard, smiled his congratulations and said he would bring his brothers to drink and celebrate together.

After giving orders, Pang Xiao immediately returned to the room. He didn’t use any of the four maidservants and two experienced women Tao Jun had sent, doing all the tea and water serving himself. This made all the servants praise repeatedly: “The Princess and Prince have such deep conjugal love” and “The Princess is truly fortunate.”

In contrast to the joy and laughter here, Yi Binghu received news that the Princess was actually pregnant and glowered with anger.

With the Princess pregnant, wouldn’t the journey be delayed even more? Would His Majesty then take his anger out on him?