After A Lin became pregnant, and now Brother and Qiao Qiao also had a child, Shen Xihe felt a surge of joy before she couldn't help but place a hand on her own lower abdomen.
"Zhenzhu, take my pulse," Shen Xihe suddenly instructed.
The palace had regular imperial physicians who came to check the Pulse of tranquility, all of which had to be recorded in the Imperial Hospital's Pulse records. Since Shen Xihe married into the Eastern Palace, things had become more relaxed. As Shen Xihe brought two subordinates well-versed in medical principles, occasionally when the Imperial Hospital encountered difficult cases, they would invite Zhenzhu and Sui Axi to discuss together.
Thus, the Eastern Palace and the Imperial Hospital maintained a harmonious relationship. Each time, the imperial physicians simply asked Zhenzhu to make a case record. Zhenzhu also checked her Pulse of tranquility every ten days. Ten days ago, she was not pregnant, and it had already been a month since her agreement with Xiao Huayong.
She was feeling somewhat impatient.
Zhenzhu responded and stepped forward. Understanding Shen Xihe's anxiety as her close confidante, Zhenzhu was especially cautious and thorough, but in the end, she could only silently shake her head at Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe felt a pang of disappointment and couldn't help but ask, "Where is His Highness?"
"The Crown Prince left the palace early this morning, saying he had some matters to attend to and would return in the evening. He instructed this servant to inform you not to wait for him for the evening meal," Zhenzhu quickly replied.
Shen Xihe nodded absentmindedly to show she understood.
Lifting her head, she saw emerald-green leaves against the azure sky, the bright sun warm but not scorching. It was the kind of gentle breeze and mild sunlight that should have lifted one's spirits, yet Shen Xihe felt inexplicably listless.
She was not one to dwell on melancholy or be easily affected by emotions that dampened her mood. Startled by her own despondency, she turned and instructed Zhenzhu, "Find me a set of riding clothes. I'm going for a horseback ride."
Ever since she was last angered by Xiao Huayong and went for a few gallops, she suddenly discovered that riding at full speed could truly dispel the gloom in her heart.
After a few laps around the riding ground, the stifling feeling of dejection dissipated. While bathing, Shen Xihe suddenly remembered something. After her bath, she entered her Incense room.
She had once seen an Incense formula for aiding conception in an Incense manual. At the time, she had laughed it off and never attempted to develop it. Now, she felt a sudden interest and wanted to test whether it could work. She threw herself into the Incense room, only emerging for the evening meal. After eating and taking a short walk to aid digestion, Shen Xihe returned to the Incense room.
Xiao Huayong returned under the cover of night, entering the palace through a secret passage. No one else knew he had left the palace that day. Upon his return, he did not see his dearly missed wife and asked Zhenzhu, only to learn that Shen Xihe had taken Hongyu into the Incense room the entire day and had not yet come out.
He surmised that it must be some new Incense formula, otherwise his wife would not be so engrossed.
Being long accustomed to such scenes, Xiao Huayong did not go to investigate immediately. Instead, he leisurely bathed before seeking out Shen Xihe. They met at the door of the Incense room, and Shen Xihe told him she was going to bathe before turning and leaving.
At this point, Xiao Huayong still had not noticed anything unusual about Shen Xihe. When he returned to their room, he routinely inquired about her day, asking Tianyuan what Shen Xihe had done throughout the day. Upon hearing that Shen Xihe had gone for a few horseback rides, he sensed something was amiss.
Shen Xihe did not particularly enjoy riding and archery, nor did she dislike it. When she first learned, she put in considerable effort and now was quite proficient. However, she was inherently inclined toward tranquility and rarely went riding alone. The only previous time she had done so was the last occasion."Did anyone deliver a message today? Did anyone enter the palace requesting an audience with the Crown Princess?" Xiao Huayong became serious.
Tianyuan also focused his mind, carefully thought for a moment, and shook his head with certainty: "This subordinate has been following the Crown Princess all along."
Xiao Huayong furrowed his brows and fell into deep thought. It wasn't until Shen Xihe returned to the room with a slight dampness from bathing that he observed her expression, which didn't seem particularly displeased.
"Is there... something you wish to tell me?" All evening, his eyes had followed her movements as if glued to her.
Xiao Huayong shook his head: "Do you have something to tell me?"
Shen Xihe also shook her head: "Nothing."
Xiao Huayong studied her carefully again but couldn't discern anything, so he asked: "I heard you went horseback riding today?"
"Mhm." Shen Xihe lifted the quilt and slipped into bed.
Xiao Huayong immediately followed, turning on his side to gaze at her: "Is something troubling your heart?"
Shen Xihe couldn't help but curve her lips. He understood her every move completely: "Mhm, Brother sent a letter. Qiao Qiao is with child. Thinking about how both Qiao Qiao and A Lin are becoming mothers, I feel somewhat envious."
Actually, it was more because she hadn't detected a pregnancy pulse, and at that very moment Xiao Huayong happened to be absent, which momentarily dampened her spirits.
She couldn't tell Xiao Huayong this truthfully. He had just managed to shake off his depression about his limited lifespan. If she told him this, it would revive his inner turmoil.
Xiao Huayong found this both amusing and exasperating. He reached out and pulled Shen Xihe into his embrace, leaning close to whisper in her ear: "Let's work harder at it!"
Unfortunately, just as his hands began to wander, Shen Xihe pressed them down: "I don't want to these few days."
Having said this, she pushed Xiao Huayong away, rolling over to escape his embrace while simultaneously pulling over another quilt to cover herself. Lying flat, she smiled slightly: "Let's rest early."
With these words, she closed her eyes.
According to the prescription, they needed to abstain from marital relations for a few days before using this incense. Coincidentally, she hadn't finished preparing the incense yet.
Left with empty arms, Xiao Huayong stared dumbfounded at his wife who had already closed her eyes, sleeping peacefully and comfortably with a relaxed expression. Several times he opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words.
He also turned over, resting his hands behind his head as he stared at the canopy, his heart tangled in confusion: Had he unknowingly offended his wife? Or was he overthinking things?
If she were angry with him, it didn't seem like it - she wasn't the type to give someone the cold shoulder out of anger.
If she weren't angry with him, why had she never slept under separate quilts since their marriage!
Even someone as intelligent as the Crown Prince couldn't figure it out. The next day, sporting dark circles under his eyes, he gave Shen Xihe quite a start. She fussed over him with her usual concern, which he could genuinely feel.
"How did you end up like this?"
"Last night was the first time we slept under separate quilts since our marriage. I couldn't sleep!" Xiao Huayong complained pitifully, not caring that Zhenzhu and Tianyuan were present.
Shen Xihe: ...
Xiao Huayong looked at Shen Xihe with pleading eyes.
Shen Xihe sighed helplessly: "It's my fault. We won't do that tonight, but you must behave yourself."
Shen Xihe kept her word. Although they shared the same quilt, she adamantly refused to let Xiao Huayong touch her. If not for her continued pleasant demeanor toward him during the day, Xiao Huayong might have thought much worse.
Several days later, Xiao Huayong had to make another trip away. Returning again under the cover of night, he was stopped at the entrance to their bedchamber by Zhenzhu who was keeping watch: "Her Highness the Crown Princess has already retired. She has prepared a scented bath for Your Highness. Please proceed this way."Xiao Huayong followed along and noticed today's scented bath was different from usual—the subtle, delicate fragrance was exceptionally soothing. When he stepped into the bedroom, a wave of aroma washed over him, yet it didn't stir any restlessness or discomfort. Instead, it inexplicably evoked a few romantic and enchanting thoughts in his heart.
Just then, a warm, soft body pressed against him from behind, wrapping around his waist. A clear, melodious voice drifted through the fragrant mist and the warm glow of candlelight in the room, alluringly whispering, "Tonight, I'll make it up to you."
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