Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

Chapter 1024 - 745: The Princess Is Pregnant 2

The Princess is with child!The news spread quickly like it had wings. When they returned to Qianqiu Palace, Yu Wenye hadn’t even woken up from his ecstatic state when Eunuch Yu happily came to offer congratulations and announced, "Your Majesty has summoned you at Liangyi Hall."

So the two of them quickly got up, tidied their attire, and headed towards Liangyi Hall.

As soon as they walked into this palace, they saw Yu Wenquan sitting right in front, looking at them with a beaming smile. There was a pile of documents beside him, perhaps he was reviewing memorials when he heard the news, and immediately set aside his work to have Eunuch Yu summon the two over.

As they walked into the hall, they saw another familiar figure standing beside them.

It was Yu Wenqian.

He might have come to report something and should have just arrived at Liangyi Hall, so he was still standing. But—he naturally carried an ethereal and unworldly aura, standing alone in the vast hall, giving off a sense of isolating from worldly affairs.

Shang Ruyi glanced at him, and her heart trembled slightly.

However, she didn’t have time to think much about it and immediately, along with Yu Wenye, knelt and saluted Yu Wenquan, "Your son and daughter pay respects to Father Emperor."

As soon as she finished her words, Yu Wenquan’s smiling voice rang out: "Stand up, quickly stand up. Don’t tire yourselves."

As he spoke, he personally came down, reached out to help Shang Ruyi up. His dark, naturally authoritative face was full of kindness, his eyes brimming with joy that seemed about to overflow, repeatedly saying, "In the future, you don’t need to perform so many formalities during an audience. Ruyi, now that you are with child, you mustn’t strain yourself."

Shang Ruyi replied in alarm, "How dare your child disobey, rites must not be abandoned."

Yu Wenquan laughed, repeatedly patting the back of her hand, and said, "What are you saying, whatever I say is the rule!"

Having said this, he personally arranged for her to sit, only then attending to his sons, casually gesturing beside him, "You sit by yourselves."

Yu Wenye didn’t say much, sat beside Shang Ruyi, and softly asked if she was comfortable, offering to get her an extra cushion. Shang Ruyi’s face turned red immediately. The Emperor himself arranged her seat, how could it not be comfortable? Even if it wasn’t, it was a royal favor, and it was inappropriate for him to ask such things publicly. So she quietly tugged his sleeve, and only then did Yu Wenye stop talking.

When they looked up, Yu Wenqian had also taken his seat opposite them. However, his movements seemed slower than usual; they had exchanged a few words before he finally settled down.

Yu Wenquan also cheerfully sat back down, asked about Shang Ruyi’s health, how she discovered the pregnancy, and if there were any issues. Yu Wenye quickly answered on her behalf. But when Yu Wenquan heard she was already three months pregnant, and only discovered it today, his brows furrowed unconsciously, recalling that Shang Ruyi journeyed from Taiyuan to Chang An with a child, making him break out in sweat.

He sighed deeply and said, "Fortunately, the ancestors protected."

After speaking, he glared at Yu Wenye and said, "How could you be so careless?"

Yu Wenye immediately said, "Your son admits guilt."

Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Father Emperor, please don’t blame Feng Chen. It was also my carelessness for not realizing I was with child. Fortunately, under Your Majesty’s care, after Doctor Su’s pulse diagnosis, there was no abnormality with my health."

"This is good."

Yu Wenquan nodded, then said, "The one who diagnosed the happy pulse was Su Qinglan from the Imperial Medical Bureau, correct?"

Shang Ruyi replied, "Yes, without her alertness, I would still be in the dark now."

Yu Wenquan laughed, "I remember her, it was because of her that the illness at Changle Square was contained, though a woman, she has a resolute character, with exceptional medical skills."

Having said that, he ordered, "Good, issue the decree, from now on Imperial Doctor Su Qinglan will be solely responsible for attending to Princess Qin’s pregnancy and medication, disregarding other matters of the Imperial Hospital. Afterwards, I will grant a substantial reward."

Eunuch Yu followed the command and immediately sent someone to convey the message to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Shang Ruyi and Yu Wenye exchanged a glance, sharing a look of joy. Actually, with Princess Qin pregnant, even if the Imperial Hospital didn’t assign someone, Yu Wenye intended to request a medical officer to care for her. Given Su Qinglan’s excellent medical skills, steady disposition, and shared experience of fighting the epidemic with Shang Ruyi, she was the most suitable choice.

So both of them thanked Yu Wenquan for the favor together.

Yet Yu Wenquan still felt it might not be adequate, and after some thought, he asked, "Are there enough people to serve you at Qianqiu Palace? If not—"

As he spoke, just about to turn his head, the Chief Lady Aunt Hui, who had been serving quietly behind him, stepped forward. She wore a smile, though her eyes were devoid of warmth, addressing the Emperor, "Your Majesty, at Qianqiu Palace there are three palace maids for Princess Qin’s personal service, three for general duties, and two eunuchs. This number already exceeds the standard for a prince."

Her words, albeit somewhat cold and indifferent, were factual.

For an ordinary prince and princess in the palace, the personal service palace maids should not exceed two, two to three general-duty palace maids, two eunuchs. Shang Ruyi having three personal maids indeed exceeded the limit.

Yu Wenquan said, "Now that she is with child, naturally more people are needed to serve her properly."

Aunt Hui replied, "In that case, should I select—"

She hadn’t finished speaking when Shang Ruyi promptly said, "Father Emperor, the people around me are sufficient. There’s really no need to add more, lest Aunt Hui troubles herself further."

Aunt Hui glanced at her.

Yu Wenquan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Really don’t need more manpower?"

Shang Ruyi replied sincerely, "Really not necessary."

"Well, okay then."

Aunt Hui continued with a smile, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. If Qianqiu Palace truly needs more people, with just a word from the Princess, I will immediately arrange it, and there will be no delay in the Princess’s important affairs."

Yu Wenquan nodded, still smiling, "After all, this is Ruyi’s first pregnancy, and it must be well taken care of. If there is anything needed, feel free to speak to me, also Yu Mingli and Han Yuhui, both of you keep a close eye on Qianqiu Palace, ensure Princess Qin lacks nothing, understood?"

Eunuch Yu and Aunt Hui immediately took their orders.

However, Shang Ruyi felt a slight shadow pass through her heart upon hearing this. Sitting beside her, Yu Wenye’s breath also grew heavier—others might not know, but they were all too aware, that this was not Shang Ruyi’s first pregnancy. Their first child had already been lost on the blood-stained night at Jiangdu Palace.

But now...

Just as Shang Ruyi felt a twinge of pain in her heart, a warm hand reached over and gently held hers.

It was Yu Wenye.

When she looked up at him again, she saw sadness in his eyes, but more prominently, there was determination, a determination that gradually steadied Shang Ruyi’s heartbeat—they must focus on the present, for the past cannot be undone.

Thus, she also nodded gently to Yu Wenye.

At this moment, in the now-quiet hall, a very calm voice sounded—

"Congratulations to Second Brother, congratulations to sister-in-law."

This voice was incredibly stable, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, almost cold, perhaps because it suddenly emerged in the quiet hall, creating a distant feeling, as if it came from miles away, seemingly detached from the worldly hustle and bustle. Shang Ruyi looked up and saw Yu Wenqian sitting across, gazing calmly at them, his face perpetually with a gentle smile.

He was offering his congratulations.

His smile was sincere, and his words were impeccably polite, even the most critical person couldn’t find any fault.

Yet, for Shang Ruyi, it inexplicably brought a chill.

This chill came suddenly, piercing through her bones, making her throat constrict, barely able to speak, but thankfully Yu Wenye had already responded in a calm voice, "Thank you, elder brother."

Shang Ruyi also softly said, "Thank you, elder brother."

Yu Wenqian nodded lightly, then lowered his eyes. It was Yu Wenquan who spoke, "By the way, weren’t you going to report some matters? Is there something going on?"

Yu Wenqian lowered his head, "Nothing major, since there’s good news about sister-in-law today, these small matters I will handle myself."

Yu Wenquan laughed, "True."

Afterward, he asked Shang Ruyi many questions, mostly reminding her to take good care of her health and avoid any mishaps, to which Shang Ruyi agreed. After some chit-chat, Yu Wenye glanced at the sky and said, "If Father has no other instructions, may I take Ruyi to leave? We’ve been out for most of the day, and Ruyi is a bit tired."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenquan hurriedly said, "In that case, go back and rest, don’t come out anymore."

"Yes, your son takes his leave."

Having said this, Yu Wenye helped Shang Ruyi up, paid respect to the two, then turned and walked out.

As they walked out of Liangyi Hall, Shang Ruyi subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could continue moving, she heard Yu Wenquan’s voice, jubilant yet tinged with helplessness and resentment, from behind, "See, your second brother is younger than you and already has heirs, while you have no one at your side. Last time, the two concubines I selected for you, in any case, you should accept them first—what are you looking at?"

"...Not looking at anything."

Without saying a word, Shang Ruyi’s fingers in Yu Wenye’s palm grew colder, even after walking out of Liangyi Hall, she still felt the icy gaze from Yu Wenqian, as if somehow still watching her, causing a chilling sensation to seep from her heart.

Only then did she come to a realization—

The true source of her unease was that from the moment she entered Liangyi Hall, sat down, to when they conversed, and even after they left, Yu Wenqian never once looked at her.

So, how could he be watching her from behind?

Is it an illusion?