Qi Shen’s expression darkened. He ordered them to return down the mountain, threw his outer robe over Jing Xin, and lifted her onto his horse, galloping back.
Qin Wuheng arrived with the feudal lords and the guards, stepping forward quickly.
“Your Majesty, are you injured? We arrived late to protect you. Please punish us!” he said.
“Where is the imperial physician? Summon him immediately.” Qi Shen was about to spur his horse again.
“Wait.”
A woman’s voice came from behind them. Shen Qingyue had spoken.
Qi Shen turned to look at her. Shen Qingyue said, “I know a little about medicine. The Imperial Consort Jing is frail. It may be that the jolting from the horse has disrupted her circulation. If that is the case, she must not be jolted again, or her vital channels may be blocked.”
Qi Shen quickly ordered a carriage to be brought.
Qin Wuheng lowered his eyes. “Your Majesty, we were fortunate that this woman arrived in time to protect you today.”
Before the imperial carriage arrived, Qi Shen looked at the person in his arms. Jing Xin’s skin had always been fair, but now it was even paler than usual, almost without any color, even her lips frighteningly white. She must have been terrified today. He rarely felt such concern for her, in fact, this was the first time.
He glanced at the red-clothed woman standing beside Qin Wuheng. He recognized her as the woman Qin Wuheng had been secretly meeting the night before.
He had originally planned to question Qin Wuheng about his private affairs later.
Qi Shen said indifferently, “Mm, this woman has merit.”
Qin Wuheng raised his head slightly and smiled. “I also think she is excellent. She is brave and knows how to make the desserts Your Majesty enjoys. These past two days, all the imperial pastries have been made by her.” He turned and asked Shen Qingyue, “Tell His Majesty your name.”
“This commoner is called Shen Qingyue.” Shen Qingyue bowed gracefully.
Qin Wuheng said, “Your Majesty, why not bring her along to serve you? You have yet to capture a live tiger. She lives in Yuping and understands the habits of wild beasts, so she may be of help. Imperial Consort Jing is delicate as well, so she can also take care of her and attend to Your Majesty.”
When he said the last phrase, “attend to Your Majesty,” Qin Wuheng did not notice the faint shock and depth that flashed through Qi Shen’s eyes.
“Bring her along to serve?” Qi Shen asked.
As an emperor, he rarely showed emotion, and his tone remained calm.
“Yes! With Miss Shen accompanying you, I will also be more at ease.”
The imperial carriage finally arrived. Qi Shen lifted Jing Xin into it and did not look at Qin Wuheng again. Only his peripheral vision caught the retreating red figure before he said flatly, “Very well.”
No one noticed the darkened depths in his eyes.
Chang Huan had already heard that Jing Xin had nearly been eaten by a tiger. She and the imperial physician were waiting anxiously at the foot of the mountain. When she saw the carriage emerging from the forest, she nearly burst into tears.
Back in the bedchamber, Jing Xin was still unconscious. Her face was frighteningly pale. Her left shoulder was exposed slightly, revealing bandages and a scraped wound beneath the undergarment. The red injury contrasted sharply against her fair skin.
Chang Huan cried out, calling for her mistress, forgetting to cover her with the quilt.
Qi Shen frowned and pulled the blanket over her.
The imperial physician knelt outside the curtain and began taking her pulse. His expression gradually turned serious. After checking again carefully, he asked, “Has the Consort recently shown any unusual symptoms?”
Qi Shen did not pay attention to Jing Xin’s daily condition and glanced at Chang Huan instead.
Chang Huan wiped her tears and shook her head. “No.”
The physician then asked, “When was her last menstrual cycle?”
Chang Huan hesitated. Jing Xin’s cycles had never been regular. She had taken many secret medicines to maintain her fragrance and appearance, even ingesting herbs to refine her body so she could please the emperor. Over time, her health had been affected, and her cycles had become irregular. But she could not say this aloud. A woman of the Emperor’s bedchamber not only served him but was also expected to bear heirs.
Chang Huan trembled and knelt. “I… I do not remember clearly.”
Qi Shen snapped, “Are you deaf? The physician is asking you.”
Chang Huan cried, “Your Majesty, our consort has always been weak, her cycle is irregular, this servant truly cannot recall…”
She then added through tears, “It has probably been about two months.”
The physician’s expression eased slightly. He asked again gently, “Has the Consort experienced vomiting recently?”
“Yes, this morning she even vomited.”
After further examination, the physician suddenly knelt heavily and bowed.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Imperial Consort Jing is with a child. From her pulse, she is likely around two months pregnant. Though further confirmation is needed, it is unmistakably a slippery pulse.”
Qi Shen repeated slowly, “What did you say?”
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Imperial Consort is pregnant.”
The room erupted in congratulations. A faint smile finally appeared in Qi Shen’s eyes. For some reason, he suddenly imagined a swaddled infant, a child with her fair skin and his sharp brows.
The physician reminded him that Jing Xin needed rest after shock. Qi Shen dismissed everyone and sat by the bed, looking at her.
A blade of grass was stuck in her hair. He removed it carefully. The more he looked, the more pleased he felt, the smile in his eyes deepening.
But then he thought of how she had nearly died in the tiger’s mouth, and the smile faded slightly into guilt.
…
Jing Xin did not remain unconscious for long. She woke when Chang Huan brought in the medicine.
The one feeding her the medicine was actually Qi Shen.
She sat up abruptly. “Your Majesty…”
Her shoulder hurt badly.
“You’re awake,” Qi Shen said, raising his brow.
That expression looked unusually pleased. Jing Xin was confused, then suddenly thought of Shen Qingyue.
“We were saved?”
“Mm.”
“Was it that red-clothed woman?”
Qi Shen’s gaze darkened slightly before he nodded.
Jing Xin quietly observed his expression. “Where is that woman now?”
“She has been settled in the side room by Ah Heng.”
“Which side room? The one next door?”
Qi Shen gave a faint “mm” and stirred the medicine spoon, bringing it to her lips.
“Why is she staying next door? Are you going to take her in?”
Qi Shen looked at her pale face. “Ah Heng says she is very good.”
Jing Xin said carefully, “But I saw her last night secretly meeting with the Minister…”
A cold, sharp pressure instantly filled Qi Shen’s gaze. The killing intent in his eyes silenced her.
Jing Xin knew nothing of what had happened outside while she was unconscious. Looking out at the bright sunlight, she suddenly felt she might never feel its warmth again.
Qi Shen… had fallen for Shen Qingyue at first sight?
Even knowing she had met secretly with Qin Wuheng, he still liked her?
Was he going to take another man’s woman?
Her mind spun in chaos.
Everything she had done… had it all been for nothing?
Was she still destined to lose to the original female lead as a cannon-fodder side character?
She had never intended to harm Shen Qingyue. She only did not want Qi Shen to fall for her.
Her emotions collapsed.
Ignoring the emperor’s cold gaze, tears fell from Jing Xin’s eyes. She was genuinely panicked.
“You don’t love me anymore? You don’t want me anymore?”
Qi Shen paused.
“You’re going to marry her with a grand procession and make her empress… I feel so sad… I like Your Majesty…”
“Drink the medicine,” Qi Shen interrupted coldly.
“I won’t! If you fall for someone else, I’ll be heartbroken! I—”
“Drink it.”
Jing Xin suddenly threw herself into his arms, trying to sway him with softness.
Fine, she had truly resorted to charm now.
Tears streamed down her face as she touched his brows. “Don’t like other women… I feel so miserable…”
She leaned up and kissed his cold lips.
The medicine spilled onto his robe, burning slightly against his knee.
Qi Shen set the bowl down and wrapped his arm around her waist.
He lifted her face, his voice low and commanding.
“You and the pastries, I want both. As for Shen, do not interfere again. If you ask one more time, I will not spare you just because you are pregnant. Do you understand?”
Jing Xin froze. She was pregnant?
“Drink the medicine,” he repeated.
She stiffly took the bowl, her mouth bitter and her heart even more so.
She did not want to be pregnant.
She was not ready to have a child.
She had not even experienced life properly yet, and she was already jumping straight to childbirth?
She was going to break down.
The pain of childbirth… She did not want even a single stage of it.
Seeing her reaction, Qi Shen frowned slightly. “You do not want to bear my child?”
Jing Xin stared blankly at him. His face was too striking. If they had a child, it would probably be beautiful.
And he seemed to like children.
If she was already here, wouldn’t having an imperial heir be better than watching him be taken by someone else?
She finally surrendered to reality.
With tears in her eyes, she lifted her arms. “Hold me.”
Qi Shen was slightly surprised but still pulled her into his chest.
“I am happy! I am just crying from joy,” Jing Xin sobbed, already imagining ancient childbirth horror stories. “Your Majesty, are you happy?”
“Yes.”
Though his expression was still restrained, he was indeed happy.
Jing Xin hesitated. “Do you prefer a prince or a princess?”
“A prince first, then a princess.”
Jing Xin felt like she was losing her mind.