Chapter 325: I Want to Be Crown Prince
Chu Yi couldn't resist picking up Yun Chu and spinning her around.
Lin Shi was so frightened she nearly stopped breathing: "Quick, quick, put Chu'er down! The baby has just been conceived and isn't stable yet. Be careful with her health!"
Chu Yi hurriedly and carefully placed Yun Chu back on the chair.
"Your Highness must not be so reckless in the future," Lin Shi paused before continuing, "Chu'er suffered massive bleeding during her previous childbirth, which damaged her foundation. We must be especially careful with this pregnancy. Your Highness should not sleep in Chu'er's room at night to avoid harming the child."
Chu Yi: "..."
Suddenly, he wasn't feeling quite as happy anymore.
Lin Shi thought for a moment and decided she needed to speak with the two children as well. She called out: "Yu Ge'er, Changsheng, come here quickly."
The children had been playing with spinning tops nearby and immediately ran over upon hearing her call.
Just as Lin Shi was about to speak,
Yun Chu tugged at her sleeve. She saw Yun Chu gently shake her head.
Lin Shi suddenly recalled some rumors circulating among the common people.
No one knew that Chu'er was the biological mother of these two children, so some people had started betting pools in gambling houses, wagering on whether the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West would bear another legitimate son.
There were even bets about who would become the future heir to the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor if the Princess Consort did give birth to a legitimate son.
While the adults knew the truth of the matter, the two children might not fully understand.
If they learned that Chu'er was pregnant with a new child, and if someone with ill intentions stirred up trouble, it could lead to unnecessary complications.
"Grandmother, what is it?"
Chu Hongyu asked, looking up.
"It's nothing," Lin Shi smiled. "You haven't even finished eating and you're already playing wildly. Be careful not to go hungry tonight. Come, have some more to eat."
After the meal at the Yun residence, darkness had completely fallen.
The family of four returned to the manor by carriage.
Though they had been away for nearly half a year, the manor remained as orderly as before.
Yun Chu led the two children back to the main courtyard, where maids and matrons came to pay their respects before withdrawing.
"Yu Ge'er, Changsheng, come here," she said with a gentle smile. "Mother has some good news to tell you."
The two little ones immediately gathered around Yun Chu. Chu Hongyu habitually tried to climb onto her lap.
Chu Yi reached out and grabbed him by the back of his collar: "Sit properly by yourself."
"But I want to sit on Mother's lap," the little one pouted. "Father, don't be so mean."
Yun Chu took Chu Hongyu's hand and placed his small palm on her abdomen, smiling as she said: "You're going to have a little brother or sister."
Chu Hongyu was stunned for a moment, then jumped up excitedly: "Mother, do you mean there's a baby in here?"
Yun Chu nodded gently.
"I'm going to be a big sister!" Chu Changsheng's curved eyes were filled with excitement. "This is wonderful, just wonderful!"
The children's reactions were exactly what Yun Chu had expected.
She knew that Yu Ge'er and Changsheng would definitely welcome their new sibling.
However, once news of her pregnancy spread, many people would whisper inappropriate things in the children's ears.
No matter how innocent children might be, hearing such talk every day would eventually affect their feelings.
"A long time ago, both Yu Ge'er and Changsheng grew inside Mother's belly too," Yun Chu explained with a smile. "But due to certain circumstances, you were separated from Mother right after birth. The little house where both of you once lived now has a new little brother or sister living inside. They will become your closest family members."
Chu Hongyu carefully touched Yun Chu's stomach: "I hope it's a little sister."Chu Changsheng nodded: "It's wonderful that it's a little sister. I want to give her the prettiest dress."
Yun Chu massaged her forehead.
She had intended to tell the two children that she was their biological mother.
But the little ones didn't seem to care about this matter.
"Yu Ge'er, Changsheng, come here." Chu Yi cleared his throat and spoke. "Your father has something to say to you."
"I know, I know!" Chu Hongyu immediately said. "Father just wants to tell us not to climb all over Mother anymore, not to let her carry us, and not to sleep with her anymore. Did I guess right?"
"Not just that." Chu Yi looked at the two children. "If someone tells you that after your mother has a baby, she won't love you anymore, would you believe it?"
"How could that be?" Chu Hongyu giggled. "I'm so smart, and Changsheng is so adorable. How could Mother not love us?"
Chu Yi continued asking: "If someone says that after your mother gives birth to a legitimate son, you won't be the heir anymore, what would you think?"
"Then so be it!" Chu Hongyu lifted his chin. "I've said before that I want to make Mother the most noble woman in the world. I'm going to be the Crown Prince—that's much more impressive than being an heir!"
Chu Yi: "..."
Yun Chu: "..."
She immediately covered her son's trouble-making little mouth.
"Father, I understand what you mean." Chu Changsheng's soft voice chimed in. "Whether Mother has more children or not, it won't affect how much you and Mother love us, and it won't affect Brother's position as heir. Of course, if Brother isn't outstanding enough, that's another matter."
After half a year of traveling abroad, the little girl had become increasingly lively and cheerful, now able to speak such long sentences without any pauses.
"I'm going to be the Crown Prince—how could I not be outstanding... mmm!"
Chu Hongyu's mouth was covered again.
As soon as Yun Chu removed her hand, he immediately said: "Don't worry, Mother, I won't say such things recklessly outside. I just said it on purpose to Father, to encourage him to work harder."
Chu Yi: "..."
"Father, I'll work hard with you." The little boy grinned. "It's still early—I'm going to practice martial arts for a while before bed."
"No sense of propriety!" Chu Yi twitched his lips. "This boy speaks without thinking. We need to carefully select the servants attending him to avoid major trouble."
Yun Chu said: "A Mao is a trustworthy child, but we still need to pick a few more pages to serve him."
When children were young, they were attended by nannies and maids. Now that they lived in separate courtyards and were growing older, it would be better to have pages for close personal service.
Two for daily needs, two for studies and martial arts.
Yun Chu pondered this as she gradually drifted off to sleep.
Chu Yi wanted to sleep with her.
But he was truly afraid of bumping into her stomach.
He had heard the maids mention her childbirth six years ago—a accidental fall causing premature labor, massive bleeding, nearly resulting in three deaths...
Pregnant women were so fragile.
How could he dare take even the slightest risk.
He got up quietly and was about to leave when Yun Chu grabbed his arm.
He had no choice but to sit back down by the bed, letting her hold him.
He didn't know when he dozed off, but he woke when Yun Chu stirred.
"Chu Yi, have you been sitting by the bed all night?" Yun Chu propped herself up, looking toward the window. "It's almost dawn."
"Anyway, I don't have court attendance today, and there's nothing urgent to handle." Chu Yi didn't feel tired at all. "It's still early—you should sleep a while longer."Yun Chu sat up. "I need to practice martial arts."
"Can you still practice martial arts while pregnant?" Chu Yi ruffled her messy hair. "Your mother said you need to rest in bed during the first three months. Lie down properly, I'll go get breakfast."
Yun Chu came to her senses.
It was true that she couldn't practice martial arts after getting pregnant. If she were to bump or fall, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Someone who had experienced a childbirth accident before couldn't afford to take even the slightest risk.
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