Gu Qianying never knew that Nangong Mo, this fellow, was so cold and aloof in front of others, always wearing a poker face.
Behind closed doors, every night, he completely transformed.
"Wife, are you tired? Would you like your husband to wash your feet?"
"Wife, are you hungry? Would you like your husband to cook for you?"
"Wife, are you cold? Hurry to bed, would you like your husband to warm the covers for you?"
"Wife, husband is cold... so cold, come up quickly and warm me, alright?"
"Wife, husband has undressed, please embrace me."
For a full ten days, the gates of the Ninth Prince's mansion were shut tight.
And those "outsiders" who wanted to stay in the Ninth Prince's mansion were all driven out by the Ninth Prince Nangong Mo.
The reason given was: his wife needed to rest and recuperate peacefully, and should not be disturbed.
And for several consecutive days, the old men in the mansion were busy with great enthusiasm.
Sewing cotton clothes for the infant, preparing necessities for the baby.
During this period, Old Man Wu and Old Man Guo, these two, had even found several midwives.
In addition, the top embroiderers in the capital were rushing to prepare clothes for the Ninth Princess Consort for all four seasons.
And in the palace, Empress Meng learned that the Ninth Princess Consort Gu Qianying was pregnant.
She was overjoyed and, on the same day, sent people to deliver some high-grade tonics.
However, before the head eunuch could enter the mansion, outside the main gate, all the delivered tonics were given to Old Man Wu, who then turned and returned to the palace.
In the meantime.
The Sixth Prince Nangong Li, the Southern Barbarian Princess Nangong Xuanning, Du Chun, the Gu family, Gu Yefeng, and others all sent congratulatory gifts.
And these people were also not allowed to enter the mansion, only to leave their gifts.
The Ninth Princess Consort's pregnancy was a great joy, and the mansion was filled with festive cheer.
As for the pregnant Gu Qianying.
In recent days, besides being sleepy, she was particularly gluttonous.
She ate several meals a day and often stayed in bed, refusing to get up.
Her meals were all personally prepared by Nangong Mo.
However, she, who was so sleepy.
It was strange to say.
Every night, she dreamed of the same scene.
And in the scene, she could vaguely see a monstrous woman with a face identical to hers!
She dragged a long fox tail, her purple eyes filled with bloodthirsty killing intent, her three thousand strands of black silk turned into red hair, like a Shura from hell.
And such a person was gnawing on fresh flesh and blood, a woman's fresh skin, a man's bones, and even infants of a few months old were not spared.
In her dream, she watched the woman prostrate on the ground, head bowed, gnawing on flesh and blood.
The woman slowly turned her head, met her gaze, and revealed an evil smile.
Her mouth full of fresh blood, such a person was exactly like her.
She didn't know if the woman in the dream could see her, or if she was also trapped in the dream, not yet awake.
She only remembered that the woman said: Gu Qianying... I am you... you are me, hahaha!
Suddenly opening her eyes, she woke up drenched in sweat.
Beside her, Nangong Mo saw her sit up, and after draping an outer robe over her, he used his sleeve to wipe the sweat from her face: "What's wrong? Having nightmares again? What exactly are you dreaming about? Why are you so scared? It's okay, we're not afraid, I'm not afraid, dreams are fake."
Nangong Mo hugged her, gently patting her back, and spoke words of comfort.
In recent days, his wife had been having nightmares.
He had asked his wife what nightmares she was having.
His wife had never told him what she dreamed about.
This time, Gu Qianying turned her gaze to Nangong Mo.
Her eyes held a hint of unease: "If I turned into a cannibalistic murderer, would you still like me?"
The scene in the dream was very real.
It almost made her doubt that the woman in the dream was her.
But why would she be like this?
Killing people and eating flesh and drinking blood?
How could such a demoness be her?
She didn't believe it... but for several days, she had been having the same dream.
Why was this?
Because the her in the dream was too ugly, she had never told Nangong Mo what kind of dream she had.
But this time, she really wanted to ask.
"Silly girl, no matter what you become, my heart belongs only to you."
Nangong Mo flicked Gu Qianying's nose, his voice gentle.
"Really?"
Gu Qianying kept looking at Nangong Mo.
For some reason, since she became pregnant, she had become very sentimental.
Sometimes she also felt a little helpless and irritable.
Even she herself didn't know the reason.
For several days, she had been taking her own pulse.
But her pulse was normal, and the fetus in her womb was developing extremely well.
However, her mood fluctuated more and more, why was this?
And now, she was worried about her nightmares every night.
This safety was not like her usual self.
What was wrong with her?
"Silly, this prince never lies, and never lies to you."
Nangong Mo's eyes held sincerity.
What he said were all true words.
But Gu Qianying was still very suspicious.
"Then... if I become ugly, if I become so ugly after giving birth that I can't bear to look at myself, what will you do then?"
"Then this prince will become ugly with you."
At night, the weather was cold.
Even indoors, Nangong Mo was still uneasy.
Seeing Gu Qianying sitting there, not intending to sleep, he directly wrapped her in the quilt, only allowing her head to be exposed.
Since she was not sleepy and wanted to chat, he would accompany her.
"Your words, you men, cannot be trusted!"
At this moment, Gu Qianying suddenly remembered everything she had experienced in her past life.
Nanrong Qi, that scumbag, was dead, but she still hated him so much.
Nangong Mo: "..."
"Well, if my wife doesn't believe me, then your husband will prove it with actions. I can become ugly first, and let my wife dislike me, so my wife doesn't have to worry, okay?"
Nangong Mo held Gu Qianying, patiently coaxing her.
He held her hands, fingers intertwined.
Although he didn't know why his wife had been a little anxious these past few days.
And why she always had nightmares.
But no matter what, he would accompany her and coax her, as long as his wife was happy.
"No, if you become ugly, I'll see you every day, what if the child in my womb is also born ugly?"
Nangong Mo: "..."
"How about this, before I give birth, Your Highness will write a guarantee letter. If you do not implement the terms above, then I can divorce you, take my child and fly solo, and you cannot acknowledge this child. In addition, all the gold, silver, jewelry, and deeds in the mansion must be given to me. You will be a poor prince, how about that?"
"..."
This... ?
"Okay, everything will be as my wife says."
Whatever his wife said, he would do.
"Then it's settled! Lu Zhu, prepare the brush and ink, His Highness needs to write!"
Nangong Mo: "..."
His wife was serious?
Lu Zhu, who was guarding outside the door, was startled.
In the middle of the night, did her Princess Consort and Prince need to write poetry?
A moment later, the brush and ink were ready.
Nangong Mo put on his clothes, got out of bed, and went to the desk.
Whatever Gu Qianying said, he repeated.
After finishing writing, Gu Qianying even instructed Lu Zhu: "Go, take this into the palace and have the Empress stamp it."
Nangong Mo: "..."
Lu Zhu obeyed and acted.
This back and forth, it was already past midnight.
Gu Qianying was still not sleepy.
She was held by Nangong Mo.
Nangong Mo told her "stories"!
During this time, Gu Qianying felt hungry, and Nangong Li also made her some snacks.
His cooking skills for making snacks were also learned recently.
He was very willing to cook for his wife.
As dawn approached, Gu Qianying finally fell asleep.
Nangong Mo, of course, did not sleep all night, and then got up early to personally prepare breakfast for Gu Qianying.
The cooks in the mansion were his own people, trustworthy.
But even so, he still wanted to personally take care of his wife.
One month later.
Just as Gu Qianying was sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun and nurturing her pregnancy.
A man with a broken arm, dressed in black robes and in a very disheveled state, rushed in with a sword.
Outside the gates of the Ninth Prince's mansion, two guarding young servants lay dead.
When Meng Yi entered, all the guards in the mansion who were protecting Gu Qianying's safety had appeared.
"Intruder, capture the assassin!"
Before Meng Yi could get close, he was surrounded by many guards, labeled as an assassin.
Under the glint of swords and the flash of blades.
Gu Qianying acted swiftly.
She pulled out a hairpin from her head and, with a flick of her wrist, flung the hairpin in her hand fiercely.