Chapter 951: Chapter 951: 949 Their Child

“The position of the young madam at the Marquis’s Manor is not one that just anyone can casually assume.”

A sharp glint flickered in Su Yingxue’s eyes.

She had no good feelings for Lu Ying to date, and harbored deep suspicions towards her.

Even though Lu Ying had taken a knife for her, during the days they spent in the cave, she knew Su Hao’s heart wasn’t with her, yet she still clung to him desperately, even deliberately losing the handkerchief Wu Jinyan had given Su Hao.

She had clearly warned her of the handkerchief’s significance.

The setup against Su Hao at the Bamboo Leaf Pass remains to be investigated.

Su Yingxue waited for Su Hao to send Lu Ying back to her room, and then waited for him at the courtyard gate.

“Brother.”

Su Yingxue called out softly.

Su Hao, in low spirits, wore a saddened look on his handsome face. Only when he saw Su Yingxue did a light appear in his eyes, “Sister, you’re back. How was your time at the prince’s mansion? Has His Highness been treating you well?”

After returning, he had been suspended pending investigation. Although the prince had not overly pursued his lapse in responsibility, he had been instructed not to return to the military camp for the time being.

His only fear was that his own troubles might adversely affect Su Yingxue’s standing in Chu Yihan’s heart.

With a smile in her eyes and a face as blooming as the peach blossoms of spring that carpeted the mountains and fields, Su Yingxue reassured, “Brother, you don’t need to worry. His Highness loves me and won’t let anyone affect our feelings. So you should stop blaming yourself too.”

Reassured by her words, Su Hao felt relieved.

Remembering that Su Yingxue was close with Wu Jinyan, he couldn’t help asking, “Have you visited Sister Jinyan since you’ve been back?”

Su Yingxue nodded honestly, “I’ve visited her. I urged her to start taking her medicine and eating. With Sister Han’s concern over these past days, her health should gradually improve.”

“And her child…”

Su Hao urgently wanted to ask about the child, but the rest of the words choked in his throat, unable to be voiced.

Su Yingxue understood that the child was a pain in both their hearts, but it was a matter that needed to be resolved.

“Sister Jinyan couldn’t bring herself to terminate the pregnancy. Brother, about her and you…” Su Yingxue’s eyes queried.

He was filled with a sense of powerlessness and defeat, and even his obsidian-like eyes had lost their usual luster. He sat dejectedly under the porch, “That child… makes me feel so incompetent. If only I had noticed her arrival, if only I could have protected her, she wouldn’t have experienced such an ordeal. Later, I didn’t take care of her promptly and instead yelled at her, lost my temper with her.”

Su Hao was full of regret. His many years of affection with Wu Jinyan had become tainted due to his momentary impulse.

“Brother still loves Sister Jinyan, but Brother, I must remind you, if there is this child, you and Sister Jinyan will need to consider it very carefully.”

As the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’ household and now the Ninth Princess Consort, Su Yingxue was all too clear that a woman pregnant with another man’s child could never secure her position as the mistress of a household. The child would be a lifelong stain.

She and the child would both suffer greatly.

“I failed to protect her. If she wishes to keep the child, I will not stop her, but Su Hao’s wife, in this life, must be only her.”

Su Hao’s eyes were resolute, heavy like a thousand-pound rock within.

Unshakeable.

Encouraged by Su Yingxue, Su Hao gathered up his courage and went to the Thousand-Jiao Pavilion to see Wu Jinyan.

Wu Jinyan’s health seemed to have improved, her complexion appeared rosier under the sunlight.

Having not left the house for months, she now stood in the courtyard, letting the sunlight bathe her, feeling the warmth of early spring.