Chapter 58

After experiencing such an embarrassing incident, the couple couldn’t sleep and lay in bed with their eyes open, waiting for dawn.

Pei Mushan feared Yan Shaoling might feel too embarrassed to sleep and keep herself awake. Yan Shaoling, feeling stifled, got up at the second crow of the rooster and went to practice martial arts in the backyard.

On the first day after their wedding, the tea ceremony was lively and joyous for the entire Yan family, but the newlyweds looked somewhat listless. Everyone assumed they had just stayed up late and didn’t think much of it.

After the morning tea ceremony, Yan Youhe and others dragged Pei Mushan to play mahjong. After lunch, Yan Ping personally led the couple to the palace to express their gratitude. Noble Consort Yan kept Pei Mushan for a long conversation, and they only returned home when it was dark.

At night, the young couple lay together, and Yan Shaoling was naturally agitated. However, he restrained himself for fear of disappointing Pei Mushan again.

Finally, on the third day of their return, Pei Mushan hurriedly took Yan Shaoling to have breakfast and couldn’t wait to rush to the palace.

Pei Muheng was not at home last night due to his duty. Prince Xi and his two sons greeted Yan Shaoling, while Pei Mushan paid respect to her father and went straight to the backyard. She saw her two sisters-in-law but not the third sister-in-law. Impatient, she asked her mother, “Where is the third sister-in-law?”

Princess Consort Xi gave her a reproachful look and said, “It’s not even Si hour yet. Who expected you to come back so early? Your third sister-in-law is still in Qinghui Garden.”

Pei Mushan scratched her head and smiled, “I’ll go find the third sister-in-law to play.”

Pei Mushan rushed to Qinghui Garden and saw Xu Yunqi return after practicing a set of Five Animals Exercises.

“Sister-in-law!”

Xu Yunqi, sweating and wiping herself with a handkerchief, stood at the door and looked back, seeing Pei Mushan rushing over with a surprised face, “Shanshan, you’re back so early?”

Pei Mushan, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, “I missed you, sister-in-law.”

Xu Yunqi didn’t believe her and invited her inside for tea, saying, “Wait for me to change my clothes.”

“Alright,” Pei Mushan said, watching her elegant figure. She felt a bit uneasy. Yin Xing went in to help Xu Yunqi change clothes while Nanny Chen brought in a cup of milk tea. “Young Miss, have you had breakfast?”

“I have. Has sister-in-law not eaten yet?”

Nanny Chen nodded.

After a while, Xu Yunqi came out in fresh clothes, and Nanny Chen brought five types of pastries. Pei Mushan sat beside her, watching her eat.

Pei Mushan couldn’t hide her worries, her face full of anxiety. Xu Yunqi noticed and quickly finished her meal, then sent everyone else away and asked, “What’s troubling you?”

Pei Mushan, with a bitter expression, moved her chair closer and said hurriedly, “Sister-in-law, something serious happened.”

Xu Yunqi raised her eyebrows slightly and asked in a deep voice, “What’s the matter?”

Pei Mushan, almost in tears, replied, “It’s about Yan Shaoling.”

Xu Yunqi was genuinely surprised. Yan Shaoling was tall and energetic, and Xu Yunqi feared he might have exhausted her little sister-in-law. How could it be that it didn’t work out?

“Why do you say that?” Xu Yunqi asked calmly.

Pei Mushan then lightly whispered the details in her ear.

After listening, Xu Yunqi looked at her with an indescribable expression, “Didn’t you try a second time?”

“How could we dare!” Pei Mushan said, almost in tears, gulping a cup of tea. “You don’t know how we got through last night. Seeing him wanting but not daring, it really broke my heart…”

Xu Yunqi burst into laughter. “Two silly fools!”

Pei Mushan was utterly confused by her reaction. “Sister-in-law, don’t just laugh. Think of a solution quickly. I’m still young; I don’t want to live like a widow.”

Xu Yunqi covered her mouth and laughed for a while, which made Pei Mushan anxious. She shook Xu Yunqi’s arm hard.

Xu Yunqi then sat up straight and explained to her, “Silly girl, it’s common for the first time to be like this. Just try again a few more times.”

“Really?” Pei Mushan looked skeptical but also felt a sense of relief. “Was my brother like this too?”

This question stumped Xu Yunqi.

Pei Muheng was indeed not like this. Either someone had served him before, or he had a deep sense of self-control and knew how to handle things. Xu Yunqi guessed the latter was more likely.

“Although not everyone is like this, most are. Don’t worry about it. Go back and guide him well. Let things happen naturally, and it will all work out.”

Pei Mushan understood, and her worries dissipated. She smiled brightly, “Thank you, sister-in-law!”

She then went to the main hall to find Yan Shaoling, found an excuse to pull him aside, and whispered to him. The couple looked at each other and couldn’t help but laugh. With Xu Yunqi’s explanation, they finally felt enlightened.

The young couple stayed at the palace for the entire day and only returned in the evening.

Pei Muheng didn’t make it back in time for dinner and only returned at the beginning of Xu hour. As usual, he first went to Jinghua Hall to greet his parents. Prince and Princess Consort Xi were discussing their daughter and son-in-law in the warm pavilion.

Prince Xi was very pleased with his son-in-law. “This boy has a fiery temper, but he treats Shanshan well. Yan Ping personally accompanied them today, which shows the Yan family’s seriousness. I truly feel reassured now. We’re just waiting for the mourning period for the boy from the Xu family to end, and Lan’er can marry him. Everything in our house will be complete.”

Pei Mulan had been engaged to the Xu family’s Minister of Rites last year, but the groom had to mourn his mother, delaying the wedding for a year.

Since she wasn’t her biological child, Princess Consort Xi wasn’t too concerned. “How is it complete? Have you forgotten about Heng’er and Yunqi?”

She implied that the third house still had no offspring.

At this, the couple saw the main person casually walking in from behind the screen. They looked at each other, and Prince Xi rubbed his eyebrows, pointing to the brocade stool in front of him.

“Henger, sit.”

Pei Muheng hadn’t planned to sit, but seeing his parents’ stance, it was clear they wanted to have a long talk. He had no choice but to join them.

When the conversation started, Princess Consort Xi didn’t hold back.

“Previously, you wouldn’t let me interfere in Qinghui Garden’s affairs, and I didn’t make things difficult for you. I turned a blind eye to everything. But now, the second daughter-in-law is pregnant again, and I’m worried. Henger, you’ve been married for a whole year; it’s time to have some news.”

Pei Muheng was wearing a black cloak with black velvet hanging down to the floor, making his handsome face look even paler and sharper. He lowered his eyes and said nothing. He had always wanted a child, but such things couldn’t be rushed. Moreover, they had been married for a year but only consummated the marriage for half a year. He didn’t want to put pressure on Yunqi. “Mother, I have this matter under control, so you needn’t worry.”

Prince Xi sat closer to Pei Muheng, and with a glance, he saw the sternness at the corner of his eye, feeling a sigh in his heart.

Pei Muheng was striving for the throne, so how could he not be eager for offspring? He just didn’t show it. So he explained for his son, “Children depend on fate; the more you rush, the more chaotic it gets.”

Princess Consort Xi understood this too. The more she pressured the couple, the more stressed they would become, leading to counterproductive results. So, she said no more.

Pei Muheng got up, saluted, and left Jinhua Hall. He walked along the winding corridor to the side door of Jinhua Hall and headed towards Qinghui Garden.

The winding corridor was brightly lit, and there were two night guards patrolling in the courtyard. Pei Muheng walked very lightly, and they didn’t notice him.

“Second young madam is really blessed. Not long after giving birth to Young Master Xun, she has happy news again. If she has a daughter this time, it will be perfect.”

“Isn’t that so? But don’t say it out loud. If Nanny Hao hears it, we’ll get scolded again. The Second Young Master has had a lot of happy events, but there’s no news from the third house. Princess Consort is not pleased. Let’s not get ourselves into trouble…”

“That’s true…”

Not knowing what fruit she had stolen to eat, the maid wiped the juice from her mouth with her sleeve. Turning her head, she saw someone walking behind her. He was wearing a black cloak, standing tall like a pine, with eyes as black as a deep pool, and a cold gaze like ink in water, making people afraid to meet his eyes. Recognizing Pei Muheng, the two maids were so frightened that they knelt and kowtowed.

Pei Muheng disliked gossipers and frowned at them. “Go punish yourselves.” He then left without looking back.

He walked to the side door of Qinghui Garden and went straight in. Not many people were serving in the courtyard, so it was quiet. Following the path, he stepped onto the main house veranda and saw someone sitting inside through the transparent stained-glass window.

She was wearing an old white shirt, sitting quietly behind a long table. Her fair skin, black hair, and almond-shaped eyes made her look beautiful. She smiled, leaning on her hand, lost in thought, her beauty enhanced by the light.

If they had a child, she wouldn’t have easily mentioned separation. With a child, she would have settled down and never thought of leaving. From any perspective, Pei Muheng’s desire for a child was unquestionable.

Adjusting his mood, he walked into the eastern side room as usual. Nanny Chen personally took his cloak and hung it on the screen, then poured him tea.

“You’re back,” Xu Yunqi said, hearing the noise and smiling at him.

Pei Muheng washed his hands, drank the tea, and sat opposite her.

Xu Yunqi had been busy organizing the medicinal herbs he brought back from Miaojiang in the past two days. Among them was a box of Dendrobium officinale. Xu Yunqi picked one up and chewed on it, sorting them into different compartments based on their size. She was doing it meticulously, and Pei Muheng didn’t want to disturb her.

“You go ahead; I’ll be in the study and return later.”

Xu Yunqi was a bit surprised and quickly looked up, asking, “Is there something you need, Third Master?”

Pei Muheng felt a bit uneasy. He got up, moved a drum stool closer, sat opposite her at the long table, and stretched out his arm, revealing a lean wrist. “Yunqi, take my pulse.”

Xu Yunqi’s throat tightened, and her expression became serious. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Pei Muheng glanced at Nanny Chen, who hurriedly knelt and left, sending away everyone in the corridor.

After they had left, Pei Muheng looked at Xu Yunqi seriously. “We have been married for a long time, and our marital relationship is quite frequent, yet there is still no happy news. Check if I have any issues regarding offspring.”

Xu Yunqi, being a doctor, took good care of herself. If there were any problems, it would only be from him.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yunqi’s brush slipped from her hand, and her heart tightened. She remained silent for a while. After a moment, she softly asked, “Why do you think that?”

Seeing her nervous expression, Pei Muheng’s gaze softened, and his eyes showed a glimmer. “It’s better to be safe than sorry; checking in advance is always good.”

Xu Yunqi thought for a moment and quickly understood the cause and effect.

During lunch today, her second sister-in-law, Li Xuanyan, vomited, and she immediately diagnosed her with a pregnancy pulse. Princess Consort Xi’s face turned stiff at that moment.

Connecting this with Pei Muheng’s behavior made it easy to understand. Pei Muheng must be extremely anxious to the point of doubting his own health.

Xu Yunqi felt a mix of emotions in her heart. After a moment of silence, she went to the bathroom to wash her hands, then returned and placed her hand on his wrist, closing her eyes to take his pulse.

After a brief moment of taking his pulse, she released him.

This man’s pulse was steady and even, with no signs of any issues. Observing his complexion and examining his hand, she found no abnormalities in the corresponding acupoints.

Xu Yunqi knew better than anyone that Pei Muheng was in good health. They hadn’t conceived before because the timing wasn’t right. Now… Xu Yunqi felt a bit uncomfortable, but she still smiled and said, “Third Master, your health is excellent.”

After saying this, she lowered her eyes.

Xu Yunqi’s face turned slightly red. Pei Muheng thought she was just shy, smiled, turned his hand over, and gently held her soft hand, rubbing it for a moment. “Alright, I have something to do in the study. I’ll come back later.”

Pei Muheng stood up, took his cloak from the screen, put it back on, and left.

Xu Yunqi’s gaze followed his back until he completely disappeared through the moon gate, and her eyes dimmed.

If it weren’t for today’s events, she was confident she could have kept it a secret. But seeing the obvious expectation in his dark eyes, Xu Yunqi couldn’t remain indifferent. She had to truthfully inform him that she couldn’t get pregnant in the short term.

Pei Muheng wasn’t a reckless person. Once she told him about her grandfather’s situation, they could calmly analyze, weigh the pros and cons, and decide whether to part ways amicably or take it step by step. Xu Yunqi could accept either outcome.

With that decision made, Xu Yunqi didn’t hesitate. She got up, changed into a thick coat, and, with Nanny Chen, headed to the front yard study.

Unbeknownst to her, a drizzle had started, making the courtyard even colder with the wind.

Nanny Chen shivered and couldn’t help but ask, “Young Madam, should I fetch a cloak for you?”

Raindrops clung to her eyebrows like frost. Xu Yunqi stood in the corridor and nodded. Soon, Nanny Chen hurried over with a silver mink fur cloak, wrapping her tightly from behind.

Xu Yunqi looked back and smiled at Nanny Chen, touched by the rare meticulous care she had received in her hardships.

“It’s cold. You stay in the side room; I’ll go alone.”

She was used to not troubling anyone, even servants.

Servants are people, too.

Before Nanny Chen could respond, she gracefully stepped out through the moon gate.