"What did you say?" Concubine Xiao thought she had misheard. "My father is going to send my younger sister into the palace?"
"This is impossible!"
"I've never seen you before. You must be lying!"
The little eunuch was not afraid. He let out a low laugh. "Your Ladyship will know whether I'm lying in a few days. I'm just wondering if that second young lady gains favor, will the Xiao family still remember you, the eldest daughter?"
After saying that, the little eunuch left with a low laugh, leaving Concubine Xiao alone on the couch, her face contorted in rage.
"Explain yourself clearly!"
"Come back!"
"Come back!"
...
That night, Ji Junye learned everything that had happened in Ganquan Palace. These news were not concealed from Shen Qing, so she also knew about it.
Shen Qing's almond eyes widened in surprise. "The concubine is also pregnant. Whose child is it?"
It couldn't be what she was thinking, could it?
Ji Junye ruffled her hair. "It's exactly what you're thinking."
Suddenly, Shen Qing sized Ji Junye up and down, her eyes looking a bit strange.
After all, the concubine was his woman. This was like her cuckolding him, yet he didn't seem angry at all. He didn't even show a hint of emotion.
"What are you going to do about the concubine and the child?"
Ji Junye caught her little hand and kissed it gently. "The Xiao family is in a hurry now. Qingqing, if Concubine Xiao were pregnant with a 'prince' at this moment, what do you think they would do?"
They would surely spare no expense to support the prince to the throne.
So, not only should they not deal with the concubine, but they also had to let her take good care of herself to give the Xiao family enough hope.
Shen Qing was silent for a moment and looked at him again. This man was so ruthless that he was even willing to be cuckolded.
Ji Junye understood the meaning in her eyes. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "I've never regarded Xiao Lanyin as my woman. To me, she's just a pawn to be used according to the situation. Her child and who the father is have nothing to do with me."
"But if it were Qingqing..."
He deliberately paused. Shen Qing, dizzy from lack of oxygen, asked, "What?"
The man played with her boneless little hand, his voice as gentle and lingering as usual. "Then I'd kill that man, chain Qingqing to the bed, and punish you so that you can't get out of bed for days. Then Qingqing won't have the energy to find other men."
Ji Junye vividly demonstrated what it meant to say the cruelest words in the gentlest tone.
Shen Qing: "..." Thanks for the invitation. I'd rather die.
"However... isn't there a 'wild man' right in front of me?" Shen Qing winked playfully.
Ji Junye's eyes instantly darkened. His Adam's apple rolled. "So, Madam, do you think... is this humble one wild enough?"
Shen Qing looked up at him. He had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a high and straight nose bridge, and a smooth, chiseled jawline. He was as handsome as a demon. She couldn't help but swallow hard, but her mouth was still stubborn.
"Of course, you're much better than the young actors in the Spring Breeze Pavilion."
Comparing him to a young actor?
Ji Junye's eyes instantly turned dangerous.
Seeing the situation was not good, Shen Qing tried to escape, but he grabbed her back and pinned her against the corner of the bed.
"Then how about compared to Madam's husband? Is Madam more satisfied with this humble one or with him?"
Shen Qing almost bit her own tongue. How could he be getting more and more absurd?
But the man blocked her tightly. It seemed that he wouldn't let her go until she gave an answer.
"... You."
With her charming eyes and shy look, she didn't know that in front of the man, she was like a ripe fruit, exuding an alluring luster, waiting to be picked.
He couldn't help but lean closer.
Just as he was about to kiss her, he felt the protruding belly between them.
Ji Junye: "..."
If it were before, Ji Junye might have played around with her gently. But now, seeing Shen Qing's belly getting bigger and bigger, he didn't dare to have any thoughts at all.
Rarely seeing him at a loss, Shen Qing couldn't help but laugh.
Ji Junye was even more depressed. He buried his head in her neck and gently bit her. "When the baby is born, Qingqing has to compensate me well."
Shen Qing didn't take it seriously. They could cross that bridge when they came to it.
During these days with Ji Junye, Shen Qing never had a moment of leisure. Every day was filled with fun. Before she knew it, it was almost the New Year.
On Chinese New Year's Eve, both of them got up early.
There was a palace banquet today. Shen Qing definitely couldn't attend this year, but Ji Junye still had to go through the motions. He had to leave after breakfast.
"Stay at home and wait for me obediently. Just stay in the courtyard and don't go anywhere. If you're hungry in the evening, eat something to tide you over, okay?"
He kept instructing her again and again. Shen Qing's ears were getting numb. She quickly urged him to go. "Okay, go quickly. I know all that."
It was just half a day. People who didn't know might think it was half a year.
Ji Junye helplessly instructed Yingxiu and Zhuxing. "Take good care of your young lady. If there's anything, send a message to the palace."
Yingxiu and Zhuxing glanced at each other. They couldn't hide the smiles in their eyes.
"Yes!"
After Ji Junye left, Shen Qing thought for a while and decided to find something to do.
"Yingxiu, go get some red paper. Let's cut window decorations."
"Great!" Yingxiu's eyes lit up. "We'll paste them all over the courtyard later. It'll look so nice. I'll go get the things right away!"
Yingxiu was the best at cutting window decorations. She was just worried about having nothing to do!
Just as she was about to go get the things, Shen Qing called her back. "Don't be in a hurry. The red paper is easy to break. Use red silk instead. Brush a layer of glutinous rice paste evenly on it. Bring it to me after it's dried and shaped."
"Okay, I'll call someone to help right away!"
Yingxiu said and ran out. "The young lady said we're going to cut window decorations. Those who don't have anything urgent come here!"
It was winter now. The snow had been swept away in the morning. Most people didn't have anything urgent to do at this time. The little maids immediately surrounded Yingxiu.
"Sister Yingxiu, what do you want us to do?"
Yingxiu began to assign tasks to them. Some were to boil the glutinous rice paste, some were to tear the red silk, some were to brush the paste, and those who could cut window decorations were to come and cut together.
Hearing the chattering outside, Shen Qing couldn't help but feel happy.
It was so lively. This was the taste of the New Year.
When everything was ready, Shen Qing directly asked them to carry the things into the inner room. Yingxiu was very skillful. In a short time, a paper-cut of a magpie on a plum blossom branch appeared in her hand.
The magpie perched on the plum blossom branch, looking so lifelike that it won a burst of admiration from the little maids.
Yingxiu couldn't help but feel proud. "I tell you, when the young lady was still unmarried, I cut the window decorations every year. Even the madam praised me for my good craftsmanship."
After saying that, Yingxiu suddenly stopped. She couldn't help but look in Shen Qing's direction. The atmosphere became a bit delicate for a moment.
Just then, Yuzhen came in with a basket. She snatched the paper-cut away and said with a smile, "Sister Yingxiu is so skillful. I'll take this first one. It'll bring me good luck. Maybe I'll have a pair of hands as skillful as yours next year!"
Yingxiu immediately went to grab it back. "Who said I'm giving it to you? This is for the young lady!"
Yuzhen refused to give it back. "Hey, it's in my hand now, so it's mine. The young lady won't fight with me for it!"
Shen Qing was lying on the couch, watching them making a fuss.
How long had it been since she had celebrated such a lively New Year?
Even she herself couldn't remember.