Chapter 183

“What’s wrong with Her Highness Princess Consort Zhan? Even the imperial doctor was sent here.”

“You don’t say. I heard that she was carried back by His Highness. She must be really sick.”

“Alas. May Her Highness be fine. If anything happens to her, His Highness must break down.”

“Don’t make wild conjectures. Her Highness is not sick at all,” a young maid heard their conversation and couldn’t help striking in.

Upon hearing that, Maid Zhang and Maid Wang immediately approached the young maid, “Her Highness is fine. Then why did His Highness carry Her Highness back and send for the imperial doctors?”

The young maid cracked a proud smile, “Why can’t Her Highness see a doctor because she is fine? Listen, Her Highness is pregnant.”

“Pregnant…” Maid Zhang and Maid Wang screamed upon hearing that and then both looked ecstatic. Her Highness was pregnant. That was so terrific.

Huai’er stewing the cubilose aside stiffened upon hearing the word–“pregnant”. Then, she tensed herself to listen.

That young maid became even prouder upon hearing the exclaiming of Maid Zhang and Maid Wang, “Her Highness is not only pregnant but also carries twins.”

Maid Zhang and Maid Wang were astonished again upon hearing that. Twins! This was great news!

“Her Highness is not only beautiful and exalted but also excels at having babies!” Maid Zhang sighed after being shocked.

“You bet. Having twins is really rare! His Highness and Her Highness are so both so good-looking. Their children must be very pretty too. I’m so thrilled.” Maid Wang also looked expectant.

Huai’er aside heard their conversation and walked to the young maid, “Xiaoque, why are you so clear about that?”

“Huai’er, it’s you!” The young maid slightly curtsied to Huai’er and then said with a red face, “I heard it from a servant in the Eastern Courtyard. Her Highness’s pregnancy is not a secret in Prince Zhan’s mansion now. It’s just because we work in the external courtyard that we didn’t hear of it. Yet, it was this morning that Her Highness was found pregnant with twins.”

Upon hearing that, Huai’er walked out of the kitchen reflectively. Behind her, Maid Zhang, Maid Wang and Xiaoque were still talking.

“Now that Her Highness is pregnant, I wonder what Her Highness wants to eat. If only we could be responsible for Her Highness’s meals.”

“Stop dreaming. Her Highness’s meals are certainly the job of the staff in the internal courtyard. How can we have the honor to do that?”

“Exactly. Putting us aside, even the staff in the kitchen of the internal courtyard can’t get to prepare for Her Highness’s meals. I heard from a servant in the Eastern Courtyard that it was His Highness who cooked all the meals for Her Highness.”

“Oh really?”

“Can His Highness cook?”

…

In Liqing’s room in the Northern Courtyard.

“Sacred Maiden.” Huai’er slightly curtsied to Liqing on the daybed.

Hearing Huai’er’s voice, Liqing took a glance at her, “Is the stewed cubilose ready?”

Huai’er slightly hung her head and answered, “Not yet.”

Liqing knitted her eyebrows and stared at Huai’er, saying with disgruntlement, “In this case, why are you back?”

Upon hearing that, Huai’er bowed again, “Sacred Maiden, I have something important to report.”

Staring at Huai’er’s serious face, Liqing arched her eyebrows, “Say it.”

“When I was stewing the cubilose in the kitchen, Xiaoque said… Princess Consort Zhan was pregnant.”

Upon hearing the last few words, Liqing directly jumped up from the daybed and snarled at Huai’er, “What did you say?”

Faced with Liqing’s astounded facial expression, Huai’er took a deep breath and repeated, “Princess Consort Zhan is pregnant… with twins.”

Instantly, Liqing slumped on the daybed in dejection. Duanmu Xi was pregnant with twins. He must be very happy! At the thought of him cooking porridge and side dishes for Duanmu Xi that day, her heart thumped with pain.

Liqing slightly narrowed her eyes with jealousy and clenched the edge of the daybed with both hands. The tips of her fingers slightly whitened. She couldn’t help thinking, “Why can Duanmu Xi be pregnant with his babies? Why can she gain his favor? I’ve sacrificed so much for him and even sold my soul for him. Yet, I got nothing in return. He doesn’t even bother to cast a glance at me. I can’t bear with this. I really can’t.”

Then, she got up from the daybed and rushed outside.

Huai’er looked at Liqing storming out with a slight frown and caught up with her.

In Xuelan House of Prince Zhan’s mansion.

Xuanyuan Mo looked at the soundly sleeping woman in his arms, his amber eyes full of tenderness. He raised his hand and stroked her belly. The babies were still too small so her belly was flat. Shortly, as the babies grew, her belly would become bigger. He only hoped that the babies wouldn’t torture their mother.

He was lost in thought when he heard some noise. He subconsciously looked at the woman in his arms only to see that her brow furrowed. It seemed that she also heard the noise.

He took his hand away from under her neck, put on his clothes gently and got out of the room. He looked somewhere and shouted, “Yu Ying.”

Upon being summoned, Yu Ying immediately appeared in front of Xuanyuan Mo, “Your Highness.”

“Who is making noise outside?” Xuanyuan Mo’s voice was lowered but it could still tell that he was angry. Yu Ying immediately bowed and said upon hearing that, “It’s Liqing. She is clamoring to meet Your Highness.”

Upon hearing that, Xuanyuan Mo knitted his eyebrows with annoyance in his eyes. This woman was so annoying. It was so late now. How dared she come to disturb Xi’s sleep? She was courting death.

“Get her out of here. If she doesn’t leave, seal her dumb acupoint and throw her out.” His voice was cold and emotionless.

Upon hearing that, Yu Ying immediately said with a bow, “Yes.”

Outside Xuelan House, Liqing glared at the two guards outside the courtyard fiercely, “If you don’t let me in now, I will teach you a lesson.”

“What do you want to do then?” Yu Ying narrowed his eyes and stared at Liqing with disdain. How dared she talk wildly? Did she really think these guards didn’t dare to hurt her?

“There you are.” Upon seeing Yu Ying, Liqing was slightly dazed and lifted her chin, saying haughtily, “It’s great that you are here. I want to meet Cousin Mo.”

Yu Ying’s eyes glistened with mockery. This woman was extraordinarily annoying. “Miss, please go back. His Highness doesn’t want to meet you.” His voice was slightly cold with sarcasm.

With a flick of sleeves, Liqing snorted, “You don’t even report this to Cousin Mo. How do you know he doesn’t want to meet me?”

Yu Ying sneered and said coldly, “His Highness told you to leave. He said if you didn’t leave, I should seal your dumb acupoint and throw you out.”

Hearing that, Liqing staggered a step back, her coquettish eyes full of sorrow. He wouldn’t do this to her. Even if he didn’t care about her, he should care about her baby!

She pointed fingers at Yu Ying and shouted, “You… You are lying! I don’t believe a single word you said. I must meet Cousin Mo.”

Then, she wanted to rush inside forcibly.

The two guards immediately stopped her and prevented her from entering the courtyard.

Looking at Liqing yelling, Yu Ying frowned and said sternly, “You had better stop messing up. If His Highness comes out, I’m afraid you not only have to leave the Eastern Courtyard. By then, you can’t even stay in the Northern Courtyard.”

Yu Ying’s words made Liqing’s face pale at once. She just stayed still rigidly in situ.

Huai’er took a look at Yu Ying and went forward to whisper to Liqing, “Sacred Maiden, let’s leave here first!”

Liqing took a fierce glance at Yu Ying. With a flick of sleeves, she turned around and strode away.

Huai’er slightly curtsied to Yu Ying and ran after Liqing.

Liqing didn’t go back to the Northern Courtyard. Instead, she went to Mozhu Hall behind the Eastern Courtyard. That was the place for the secret guards including Lishang, Yu Ying and Yu Feng.

Liqing directly walked to the innermost room where Lishang lived and then turned to tell Huai’er, “Wait for me outside.”

“Yes,” Huai’er immediately replied with a bow.

Without knocking on the door, Liqing directly pushed open the door and then closed it.

Upon hearing the voice, Lishang raised his head. Upon seeing the comer, Lishang slightly frowned, “Why are you here?” His voice didn’t sound friendly.

“I’m here to take a look at you.” Regardless of Lishang’s disgruntlement, Liqing started to scrutinize Lishang’s room.

Lishang sneered, “Don’t try to feign kindness. What do you want?” He knew his sister well. She wouldn’t come to him without a motive. If she really cared about him, she should have come to visit him on the day he was whipped three hundred times.

Upon hearing that, Liqing slightly knitted her eyebrows and looked at Lishang with disgruntlement, “How can you talk to me like this? Am I your sister or not?”

Lishang snorted, “If I don’t treat you as my sister, I will directly kick you out.”

If she were not his sister, why would he be punished by His Highness to guard the gate? Yet, he regarded her as his sister but she might not treat him as her brother.

“If you have nothing to say, just go back. I’m going to bed.”

“Is that woman really pregnant?” Looking at Lishang’s impatient face, Liqing finally spoke of why she came here.

Upon hearing that, Lishang stared at Liqing and said with disgruntlement, “How can you address her as that woman? She is Princess Consort Zhan. Mind your manners.”

Liqing was furious but in order to get the result, she could only swallow insult and humiliation, “Is she pregnant or not?”

Having glanced at Liqing, Lishang was confused, “Why do you ask about it? Here is the warning for you. Don’t try to hold any ulterior motive. If anything untoward happens to Her Highness, I won’t let you go even though you are my sister.”

Lishang stared at Lishang and gnashed her teeth, “Are you my brother? You’re not my brother at all.” Then, she stormed out of the room.

Lishang looked at Liqing’s going away with a frown.

Having been back to the Northern Courtyard, Liqing lost her temper again.

When Liqing was done venting her anger, Huai’er went forward and slightly bowed to Liqing, “Sacred Maiden, Region Master has sent a message to you.”

Liqing was slightly dazed to hear that and then reached out her hand, “Give it to me.”

Then, Huai’er put the note in Liqing’s hand.

Liqing unfolded the note. After reading the note, she sneered. “Duanmu Xi, don’t blame me. You shouldn’t have been pregnant with his babies,” she thought viciously.