Chapter 70: Warmth

Gu Qin’s gaze paused, and a different expression finally appeared on his usually stern features. He just stared at the woman in front of him with a frown.

Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Xia Tong discreetly glanced up at him and softly explained, “I’m not joking. It’s what the imperial physician said.”

Before she could finish her sentence, a hot hand suddenly landed on her abdomen, gently stroking it. The intense gaze made her feel uncomfortable, and she could only turn her head away, blushing.

“Why didn’t you tell this king earlier?” He frowned, his eyes fixed on her abdomen.

Feeling very uneasy under his gaze, Xia Tong quickly raised her hand to cover his eyes and huffed, “You clearly have nothing to do but stay in the palace overnight. Who knows if you have your eye on some beautiful palace maid? How can you blame me?”

With a firm grip on her delicate wrist, Gu Qin stared at her intently. The two exchanged fierce looks, but ultimately, the man relented, lowering his head to kiss her forehead and murmuring in a low voice, “In the future, unless it’s an urgent matter, this king will stay in the residence.”

With a smirk, Xia Tong leaned into his embrace, soaking in his warmth. She closed her eyes and fell silent. This treatment was indeed different now that she was pregnant. He wasn’t just keeping her company—he was worried about the baby’s safety.

“In the future, you’re not allowed to wander outside. I’ll have Xifeng keep an eye on you,” Gu Qin said seriously, giving her a stern look that brooked no argument. “And you’re definitely not allowed to leave the residence.”

Xia Tong’s eyes widened immediately. “I’m just pregnant, not injured. Why can’t I go outside?”

“This king says you can’t. Then you can’t.” His voice deepened as he continued to look at her, “Unless you want to go out and meet other men?”

Xia Tong: “…”

There was simply no way to communicate with him. She moved to sit further away from him, turning her head to ignore him.

When they arrived at the residence, she was the first to pull back the curtain and get out. However, before she could step down from the carriage, someone suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her down, placing a cloak over her head.

“Things outside the palace aren’t peaceful these days. Do you understand?” He said, lowering his head, his gaze deep and serious.

Meeting his eyes, Xia Tong chose not to respond. She allowed him to escort her back to her room, only to be urged by her mother to drink herbal medicine for her pregnancy.

She wouldn’t be able to enjoy the reunion dinner today. By evening, the kitchen had prepared a large spread of light, nourishing dishes, and it was easy to guess who had given the orders. However, it was New Year’s, and as the hostess, she still instructed the butler to distribute an extra couple of taels of silver to the staff, adding a bit of festivity.

After the reunion dinner, it seemed Gu Qin and her father had gone to the study to discuss matters, while Xia Tong was forced by her mother to drink black-bone chicken soup. After finally finishing a bowl, she escaped to find her father; if this continued, her stomach wouldn’t be able to handle it.

The study was still lit up. Xifeng, having followed his master’s orders, had been tailing her all day and was becoming more nagging than his master.

“Princess, please watch your step. The ground is slippery,” he warned, heart racing as he watched her carry the lantern ahead. If anything happened to her, the prince would surely make him pay.

“Did your master not reward you for the New Year?” Xia Tong suddenly turned to look at him.

Xifeng hesitated, then shook his head. Ever since the princess had “added” to his monthly salary, he had dared not entertain any other thoughts, while his fellow guards had reaped plenty of rewards.

“Then your master is truly inhumane,” Xia Tong shook her head, deciding to advocate for Xifeng’s benefits. “It’s not easy for anyone during the New Year.”

If Xifeng knew her intentions, he would surely try to stop her. He was already in a tough spot, and if she brought it up, she might not even get to keep fifty taels.

Handing him the lantern, Xia Tong pushed open the study door and walked in. Inside, candlelight flickered gently, revealing her father and Gu Qin deep in conversation, with her father holding a letter.

Seeing his daughter, Xia Zhian also stood up. “It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave.”

Gu Qin remained silent. After Xia Zhian left, Xia Tong untied her cloak and walked toward the desk, curiously looking around. “Why is there charcoal burning in your study today?”

She thought this man wasn’t afraid of the cold.

He pulled her into his arms without a word, his hands roaming gently over her flat abdomen, his expression softer than she had ever seen.

Knowing she would come by from time to time, he was clearly concerned about their unborn child.

Xia Tong felt a twinge of jealousy. Gu Qin had never looked at her this way. Now he was so tender toward a child that wasn’t even born yet. Did he really like children that much?

“If I can’t get pregnant for a long time, would you go find another woman?” She asked softly.

The man’s brow furrowed, clearly puzzled by her line of thought. He didn’t respond, merely returning to his book.

Seeing him silent, Xia Tong grew increasingly unhappy. She found a pen and started doodling a turtle on rice paper, adding the words “Gu Qin, bastard” beside it. Men were all the same.

The room was warm as spring, the candlelight soft and quiet. Xia Tong’s delicate features had lost some of their youthfulness, appearing more gentle in the candlelight. Yet, she was no longer as obedient and docile as before; she was becoming more and more unruly, and it wasn’t just because of anyone’s indulgence.

Her slender, fair neck caught his attention. Gu Qin’s gaze darkened. He suddenly felt that having children wasn’t such a great idea after all. But he still took out a green jade hairpin from his sleeve, slowly inserting it into her hair.

“What is this?”

Noticing something unusual, Xia Tong immediately reached to pull out the hairpin. In her hand, the jade was exceptionally bright and beautiful, glimmering under the candlelight.

“This was hand-carved by me. Do you like it?” He asked softly.

She hadn’t expected a New Year’s gift. Xia Tong smiled slightly, glancing at him before nodding. It seemed this man still had a conscience.

Touching the little head, Gu Qin curled his lips slightly but said nothing. He also understood this woman’s personality. She would only respond to soft words and would not tolerate tough ones. She was very delicate and pampered.

Embracing the man’s waist, Xia Tong let out a soft yawn and murmured, “Can we go to sleep now?”

She was afraid of the cold when alone. The bed was always chilly at night. But when Gu Qin was with her, she could sleep warmly until dawn. Now that she was pregnant, she didn’t need to worry about what he might do.

Gu Qin sighed softly. This woman was just there to torment him.

The night was cool as water. Once they got under the covers, Xia Tong immediately burrowed into the man’s arms, clutching his arm tightly. The warm bedding made her drowsy.

Feeling the heat rising between them, Gu Qin pressed his hand against her waist and said in a husky voice, “Don’t move around.”

He had regretted letting her get pregnant so quickly; it was his mistake. This woman was clearly seeking revenge on him.

“I’m not moving,” she mumbled in the dark. After a moment of thought, she suddenly raised her head and asked, “Why didn’t you kill me back then?”

This question had puzzled her for a long time. Given his character, she was sure she would have met a tragic end at the hands of Xifeng during their first encounter.

In the pitch-black room, her soft body was a constant temptation to his self-control. Gu Qin pressed her head down, his tone unfriendly. “So this king regrets it.”

But it was too late for that.

Xia Tong pouted and fell silent, sensing his discomfort. She didn’t move anymore and soon drifted back to sleep.

The night was long. When her breathing finally became steady, Gu Qin carefully turned and got out of bed, moving gently as if afraid to wake her. After dressing and stepping outside, he found Xifeng waiting there.

Taking a step forward, Xifeng lowered his voice. “Minister Liu and the others have been waiting for a long time.”

Gu Qin said nothing, glancing at the dark night before walking calmly down the corridor.

*

Xia Tong slept very soundly. When she woke up the next day, there was no one beside her. She knew that the other party would not sleep in with her. However, the quilt was cold, so she did not stay in bed any longer. Instead, she asked someone to come in and wash up.

“The prince said that from now on, Madam should stay in the residence to watch over you. You’ll probably have to stay here for the next few days,” Qing’er said while arranging her hair.

Xia Tong, still drowsy, suddenly perked up and stared at her blurry reflection in the mirror. She knew Gu Qin wouldn’t let things go easily, and now he had even asked her mother to stay. Wouldn’t she have to drink a ton of nourishing soup every day?

“Also, early this morning, Princess Changyang came to see the prince. I’m not sure if she’s left yet,” Qing’er added with a look of concern.

Hearing this, Xia Tong frowned. Although Gu Qin had mentioned his plans, her intuition as a woman told her that Princess Changyang was not to be underestimated.

“She came to the regent’s residence in person, disregarding her royal status. What can we say?” Xia Tong put on the jade hairpin Gu Qin had given her and smiled at her reflection. Suddenly, she stood up and said, “Let’s have breakfast.”

At that moment, Fang Yu hurried into the room and bowed, saying, “Master, Princess Changyang is here.”