The Crown Prince had never expected Liu Fuyin to be pregnant, so when the imperial physician came to examine her, he did so openly without dismissing the servants in the room. Everyone present heard the news clearly.
The Crown Prince’s initial displeasure instantly vanished, and he stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning. It was only when Tian Zhongshun led the congratulations that he snapped back to reality, speaking as if awakening from a dream, “Is Liu truly pregnant?”
After receiving Imperial Physician Chen’s confirmation once again, the Crown Prince felt a surge of wild joy, but soon worry took over: “Liangdi fainted. Is there something wrong with the child in her womb?”
“Your Highness, there is some disturbance to the fetus, but I have already ordered someone to prepare medicine to stabilize the pregnancy.”
“Good! Rewards! Everyone shall be rewarded!” Like a first-time father, the Crown Prince was so overjoyed he could hardly resist picking Liu Fuyin up and spinning her around.
At that moment, Liu Fuyin suddenly woke up. Seeing the man before her, she clung to him as if he were her lifeline, gripping his hand in terror. “Your Highness! Your Highness, there was a snake in my room. I was so scared…”
In her panic, she even referred to herself as “I,” a sign of how truly frightened she was.
Seeing the woman’s terrified cries, the Crown Prince quickly pulled her into his arms, soothing her gently: “Don’t cry anymore. It’s all right now, Yin Yin. Look carefully—this is my front courtyard. You are pregnant now, so you mustn’t cry and harm your health!”
Liu Fuyin nestled in his arms, sobbing softly for a while before finally calming down. She looked up in disbelief: “Is Your Highness telling the truth?”
The Crown Prince, also overjoyed, showed rare tenderness as he took her hand and placed it on her flat abdomen. “It’s been over a month already. You must take good care of yourself.”
Just then, the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine ordered by Imperial Physician Chen was brought in. The Crown Prince took it and personally fed it to her.
Liu Fuyin took only one sip before her brows furrowed tightly. “Ugh, it’s so bitter.”
The Crown Prince sighed helplessly. “Be good, Yin Yin. Now that you’re with child, how can you not take your medicine?”
Liu Fuyin was merely testing her standing in his heart by acting spoiled. The Crown Prince wasn’t angered; instead, he patiently coaxed her to drink the medicine. Truly, a mother’s status rose with her child—now that she was pregnant, her position in the Crown Prince’s heart had soared!
Unfortunately, this “child” was destined to be nothing but an empty joy.
For a while, the front courtyard was filled with jubilation. Chen Wanjun, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, stood at the doorway like an outsider, unnoticed for a long time.
Seeing the intimate scene between the two, her heart turned cold. The mark she had seen that day was real—Anlang had long since consummated his relationship with Liu. Only she had been foolish enough to forbid him from touching Liu.
No wonder, no wonder he had appeared the moment there was a snake in Liu’s courtyard and had even brought her directly to the front courtyard.
Had he already been captivated by Liu’s beauty?
No, that couldn’t be. Perhaps Anlang merely wanted a son but had kept it from her to spare her feelings.
Chen Wanjun’s thoughts churned violently, and her desire to make this woman disappear reached its peak.
Just as she was about to speak up and demand answers, Liu, who had thrown herself into Anlang’s arms, suddenly looked at her and flashed a triumphant smile.
The anger Chen Wanjun had barely suppressed surged uncontrollably. She shouted furiously, “Anlang! How could you hide it from me and indulge with a mere concubine, even getting her pregnant! How could you treat me like this?”
If the man hadn’t been tightly holding that wretched woman, Chen Wanjun truly wished to slap her to vent her anger.
Having lived for so many years, no one had ever snatched away what belonged to her. This wretched woman was truly putting on a facade, privately calling her “sister” repeatedly, but who would have thought she was actually a seductive fox spirit!
The Crown Prince deeply felt he had wronged her, releasing his hold on Liu Fuyin and rising to console her: “Wanwan, don’t say anymore. This matter ultimately arose from specific circumstances.”
Chen Wanjun had never endured such humiliation, especially when that woman deliberately provoked her with mocking eyes in her gaze. Ignoring the dissuasion of those around her, she angrily pointed at Liu Fuyin: “Why can’t I speak?” Anlang, she is a fox spirit who deliberately seduced you! Look at her—she’s just pretending to be kind! Perhaps even her pregnancy is fabricated, just to tear us apart. Anlang, don’t be deceived by her!”
Chen Wanjun stomped her feet in fury, but the Crown Prince grew increasingly disappointed. “Enough! Lady Liu is my Liangdi. Such talk of seduction and fox spirits is too harsh. If she truly were, then wouldn’t I be utterly foolish? Crown Princess, were you so frightened by the snake tonight that you’re speaking without restraint?”
The man’s icy gaze swept over her, and Chen Wanjun felt chilled throughout her body.
Ying Dong, who followed her, softly reminded: “Your Highness, you must have been frightened.”
This excuse of being frightened was merely a way out the Crown Prince offered her, and Chen Wanjun could see it clearly. Yet, she simply couldn’t swallow this grievance.
This pregnancy of over a month clearly indicated that the Crown Prince had touched this wretched woman from the very beginning, yet he repeatedly claimed to despise her. Those angry reprimands in the study room must also have been lies to deceive her!
Chen Wanjun step by step approached the man, her face filled with despair: “Anlang, do you still remember what you promised me?” Do you recall those times when we depended on each other while being pursued? Is Lady Liu, a mere Liangdi, worthy of your such protection? I am your Crown Princess, your wife! You once vowed to love and respect me for life! Have you forgotten, bewitched by this woman?”
These days, you said you rested in the study, but you were actually on this wretched woman’s bed, deliberately hiding it from me, coaxing me, treating me like a fool. Anlang, do you still love me?”
Each word was uttered with all one’s might, but aside from stirring some guilt in the Crown Prince, it mostly evoked irritation.
To dare question him so boldly in front of subordinates, leaving him no face whatsoever, the Crown Prince felt Wanwan’s temperament had grown increasingly arrogant—she had truly been spoiled by him! She utterly disregarded rank, completely not placing him, the Crown Prince, in her eyes!
The guilt that had surged up was suppressed by the woman’s inappropriate accusations. He was the Crown Prince; did his actions need to heed others’ opinions?
Moreover, he had done this for her sake, fearing she would be distressed, hence keeping it secret. Yet now, it had become her excuse to accuse him.
Over these years, how many times had he endured pressure and argued with his biological mother for her? These days, he had been suppressed by his Imperial Father to the point of suffocation. If she failed to be considerate, that was one thing, but now she caused such a fuss merely because he touched a concubine.
Anger surged in his heart momentarily, and the Crown Prince disappointedly glanced at Chen Wanjun: “Enough, Wanwan!” Have I not treated you well enough? Must you make things so ugly?”
As the two were about to start arguing, Liu Fuyin obediently got out of bed and knelt on the floor with a thud. “Sister, this is all my fault. It was because I admired Your Highness that I clung to him. Your Highness has been very tired these days. Please don’t argue with him anymore. If you must blame someone, blame me.”
After delivering this manipulative speech, Liu Fuyin was about to kowtow, putting on an act of being willing to sacrifice everything as long as they didn’t argue. The Crown Prince, mindful of her pregnancy, quickly lifted her up and gently placed her on the couch. “What are you doing? How could this possibly be your fault?”
Liu Fuyin bit her lip, her face filled with guilt. “When it comes down to it, if it weren’t for me, sister wouldn’t be upset with Your Highness. If you two really started arguing, I would be so troubled I couldn’t eat or sleep—I might as well die!”