A man in his prime, how could he resist such temptation? Especially when this temptation came from his beloved wife.
The unique subtle fragrance in the room seemed to merge with the person pressed against him, alluring like a deadly man-eating flower.
In Xiao Huayong's memory, Shen Xihe was a dignified and elegant woman, as pure as a Jade Flower with a hint of autumn night's chill. He never dreamed she would ever make such a move...
Naturally, they spent the night in passionate union until dawn.
While doing her morning toilette, Shen Xihe was unusually yawning repeatedly. As she had to pay respects to Your Majesty on the first and fifteenth of each month, she could only force herself to endure. Xiao Huayong felt both satisfied and guilty, his emotions quite conflicted.
Noticing Biyu carrying the incense burner past him as she tidied the room, he finally asked: "Last night's incense wasn't your usual blend."
"Mmm, a newly concocted fragrance." Shen Xihe propped her head up, her eyes slightly closed, her voice as soft as tangible cotton wool.
She naturally wouldn't tell Xiao Huayong about this incense's purpose, nor did she know whether it would be effective.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips. Back in the northwest, she had seen many married women struggling to conceive, going through extreme measures just to have a child. At that time, she felt puzzled and even somewhat disappointed in their lack of self-respect. As a woman herself, she didn't want women to only focus on serving husbands and raising children, as if being unable to bear children made them less of a woman.
A woman's worth shouldn't be determined by her ability to bear children.
Never did she imagine that one day, she too would exhaust all efforts to have a child, even daring to try methods she had never tested before. It was only now that she realized not all women wanting their own flesh and blood did so merely for status or validation.
Or perhaps it was also because... of love.
Love?
This word unexpectedly flashed through her mind, and she suddenly sat upright, all drowsiness vanishing instantly as she became completely alert.
She stared blankly at Xiao Huayong smiling as he approached her, as if suddenly his features had become more pleasing to her eyes than ever before. This was the same face she had looked at for so long, the same smile she had seen countless times...
So she hadn't just developed feelings for him - she had fallen in love with him.
This love might run deeper than she had imagined, enough to make someone as calm and rational as her abandon the safest path of adopting a child as substitute, instead resolutely choosing to undergo the pains of childbirth herself.
When Xiao Huayong suggested feigning pregnancy that day and she firmly rejected it, she hadn't deeply considered these reasons.
So this was what it felt like to have someone in your heart - just looking at him made her feel overflowing joy; just sensing his approach made her unable to suppress a smile; just meeting his gaze made her eyes fill with involuntary tenderness.
Shen Xihe didn't reject this unfamiliar yet novel feeling, even knowing Xiao Huayong's days were numbered. She wasn't a greedy person - being able to feel it, to have experienced it, whether for a fleeting moment or eternity, she would cherish it dearly.
"Why do I smell something familiar?" Xiao Huayong brought the incense burner before her, opening the lid to sniff.
Shen Xihe also leaned forward, only noticing upon smelling it that the scent of Fairy Ribbon was particularly distinct at this moment: "I added some Fairy Ribbon to the incense."Her connection with Xiao Huayong began through the Fairy Ribbon, which had always been kept by her. Shen Xihe carefully stored it in a Cold Jade box placed in the ice cellar, rarely taking it out. It remained emerald green, with even the pink stamens still vibrant.
Rarely moving it meant seldom retrieving it from the ice cellar, but each time she did, Shen Xihe took a considerable amount. After requesting fragrant spices from Xiangguo Temple, she discovered that incense blended with Fairy Ribbon became more refined and its effects more miraculous, so she added some this time as well.
"Yes, it's the scent of Fairy Ribbon." Xiao Huayong had only seen and smelled the Fairy Ribbon when disguised as Hua Fuhai to seek out Old Man with White Hair. Later, when Shen Xihe sent someone to deliver the Fairy Ribbon to him, Xiao Huayong directly ordered it returned. Thus, his memory of it was not deep, but upon Shen Xihe's mention, he recalled it.
Shen Xihe said, "I’ve always felt that the Fairy Ribbon is a token of luck for you and me."
"Youyou is absolutely right. I feel the same way." Xiao Huayong took Shen Xihe’s hand, agreeing with her words. The couple gazed at each other and couldn’t help but share a sweet smile. They walked all the way from the Eastern Palace to the Hall of Diligent Governance without taking a carriage. Anyone who caught even a distant glimpse of Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong would inexplicably sense a honey-like sweetness enveloping them. As they passed through the palace’s grand garden, two colorful butterflies even followed them all the way, only staying behind in the garden after they exited.
In the days that followed, the sweetness of the Eastern Palace couple seemed to permeate every corner. Those who saw them felt that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, already deeply devoted, appeared even more affectionate.
A month later, as spring ended and summer arrived, Shen Xihe was abruptly awakened in the faint morning light by an uncontrollable wave of nausea. She turned and leaned over the bedside, retching dryly. Xiao Huayong, startled awake, paled and flung open the bed curtains, shouting, "Zhenzhu!"
It wasn’t Zhenzhu’s night to be on duty. Biyu, who was keeping watch, heard the call and immediately sent a young palace maid to summon Zhenzhu while rushing in herself.
She saw the Crown Prince, draped in an outer robe, pouring a cup of water and bringing it to Shen Xihe’s lips. "Drink some water to ease it."
Shen Xihe took a few sips, guided by his hand, and managed to suppress the discomfort. Lifting her head, she met Xiao Huayong’s furrowed brow and gently smoothed his forehead with her fingertips. "I’m fine. I had a strange dream that made me uncomfortable."
"A dream? What kind of dream?" Xiao Huayong couldn’t help but ask.
"I dreamed we were admiring the scenery by the lake when a school of colorful koi swam over. Among them was a lively, dazzling golden koi that seemed to recognize me and swam straight toward me. I couldn’t help but crouch down to get a closer look, and it suddenly leaped up, startling me so much I cried out. At that moment, it darted right into my mouth…"
Recalling the dream scene, the nausea she had just suppressed began to resurface. Shen Xihe took two more sips of warm water to settle her stomach.
Just then, Zhenzhu pushed the door open.
Seeing Zhenzhu, Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile wryly. "I’m alright."
"Since Zhenzhu is here, let her check your pulse. It will set both me and the others at ease."
Shen Xihe had no choice but to obediently extend her wrist. Zhenzhu half-knelt on the footstool and placed her fingertips on Shen Xihe’s fair wrist.
Xiao Huayong gathered Shen Xihe into his embrace, tugging the quilt to carefully wrap her up and keep her from catching a chill.After a few moments, Zhenzhu first gasped in surprise, then carefully checked Shen Xihe's pulse once more before she couldn't contain her excitement: "Your Highness, Your Highness is with child. The little one is already one month along."
Just ten days ago when she had examined Shen Xihe's pulse, she hadn't detected any signs. She never expected it to be so clear now.
One month... Shen Xihe couldn't help but look toward Xiao Huayong.
Xiao Huayong's heart was pounding as if about to leap from his chest. In that moment, he had no time for other thoughts—sheer joy overwhelmed him as he pressed his forehead against Shen Xihe's: "Youyou, we're going to have a child."
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