"The most important thing is, it's one thing for her to spout all this nonsense, but she even said… that the child in her womb is the Wei Dynasty's crown prince's! She demanded that we release her! Said we couldn't afford to bear the responsibility of harming the imperial bloodline."

The Southern Yue Princess Consort?

Childhood sweethearts with Xie Jin Yan?

And pregnant?

Then what about Sister Yu?

Hearing this, Song Yilan frowned tightly, displeasure flashing in her eyes.

After a moment, she said, "Let's go find Sister Yu and them."

"We can't let this Southern Yue Princess Consort spout nonsense."

Who knows, if they keep dragging it out, it might turn into a scandal between the Wei Dynasty's crown prince and the Southern Yue Princess Consort, and then even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn't clear their names.

With that, Song Yilan immediately walked ahead, Song Guan closely following behind. The two inquired along the way, heading towards the small waterfall.

At that moment, with the sound of rushing water, a curtain of water came into view.

As they approached the water, the surrounding chill intensified.

Although winter had passed, it was only late spring, and not particularly warm.

Especially since Yu Qingwu had a weakness for the cold, she couldn't help but tremble as she approached.

"Cold?"

Xie Jin Yan lowered his head, taking a deep look at her. Seeing her slightly pale face, he couldn't help but recall the scene of pushing her into the water all those years ago.

He gently placed his hand on her shoulder, naturally pulling her into his embrace, and said softly, "When Junior Sister Yan arrives in Qingzhou, I'll ask her to take a look at you, see if she can help regulate your condition."

Regulate?

Even Master was helpless back then, so what could Junior Sister Yan do?

Yu Qingwu smiled bitterly in her heart. To be honest, she still resented Xie Jin Yan for that matter.

The reason she could forgive him was largely due to their shared dependence in their youth, and the need for his help to seek revenge later on.

But what could she do with her resentment?

In the end, it couldn't change anything. She couldn't possibly take his life, could she?

Or perhaps, cripple his cultivation? But crippling his cultivation would not benefit her in any way.

Therefore, from the moment she began to treat him kindly, she had actually decided to look forward.

Besides, he had already paid the price for it.

Looking up at the man with guilt in his eyes, Yu Qingwu sighed softly, shook her head, and smiled, "Your Highness, there's no need. Even Master couldn't do anything, so what can Junior Sister Yan do?"

"Although Master did indeed want to use me as a pawn, allowing me to develop this sensitivity to the cold brought him no benefit either."

After all, it was extremely difficult for a woman with a cold constitution to conceive.

A concubine who couldn't get pregnant would have even less footing in front of certain nobles, which would indeed be of no benefit to Xiao Yunqi.

Thinking of this, Yu Qingwu suddenly felt a little sad.

Yes, a sensitivity to the cold meant she couldn't get pregnant, so did that mean she would never have children in this life?

Yu Qingwu had never thought about this question before.

But now, when she had truly decided to advance and retreat with Xie Jin Yan, to truly spend her life with him, she felt a little scared and cared about it.

Looking up at the handsome man beside her, Yu Qingwu suddenly asked him, as if possessed, "Your Highness, do you like children?"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Xie Jin Yan was stunned for a moment, but when he met Yu Qingwu's suddenly dimmed eyes, he quickly realized something.

Their eyes met, but he didn't speak. He only moved his hand slightly, tightening his grip, and suddenly pulled her into his arms.

He whispered, "Awu, I don't care about anything else. I only hope you can be well, that you can feel better."

"Besides, we've already fallen to this point. We don't even know if we can live to see tomorrow, so what's the point of thinking so much?"

"Even if we can't have children in the future, we can adopt one. The Wei Dynasty imperial family is not without such precedents. Moreover, childbirth is like stepping into the gates of hell with one foot. Sometimes I think, not having them might not be a bad thing."

A good thing.

Yes, for ordinary families, if the husband can accept it and deeply loves his wife, it is indeed a good thing for the woman.

But being in the imperial family is different.

However, Xie Jin Yan was right.

Now that they had fallen to this state, they didn't even know if they would live to see the sun tomorrow, so what was the point of talking about the future?

Thinking of this, the stone pressing down on Yu Qingwu's heart instantly fell away. She looked up at the rushing waterfall and nodded slightly at Xie Jin Yan, leaning gently into his arms.

The two leaned on each other like this, their hearts heavy, but also lighter than ever before.

Heavy with the life-and-death situation ahead, lighter because they were no longer bound by rules. Because they had embraced the mentality of dying at any moment, the two of them no longer seemed to be guarding against each other, wary of each other, or testing each other like before, which had only led to daily quarrels.

Now, in this situation, while they were wary of others' assassinations every day, it was as if they had returned to their childhood, trusting each other, relying on each other, without any barriers.

"Sister Yu… Young Master Xie!"

In a daze, Yu Qingwu suddenly heard Song Yilan's clear voice coming from behind.

The sudden haste broke the ambiguous atmosphere.

Yu Qingwu was slightly startled and hurriedly pushed Xie Jin Yan away. She turned her head to look at Song Yilan and Song Guan, who were coming towards them, and asked them a little awkwardly, "Miss Song, Young Master Song, why have you come here? Is something the matter?"

At this moment, Xie Jin Yan also spoke.

Compared to Yu Qingwu, he seemed much more composed.

He even glanced at Yu Qingwu secretly, deliberately approaching her with a hint of amusement, and echoed Song Yilan's question, "Miss Song, have those Southern Yue spies caused trouble again?"

"It's not that this time…"

"It's… it's the Southern Yue Princess Consort…"

Song Yilan stammered, glancing subconsciously at Yu Qingwu as she spoke, and said with some difficulty, "It's like this, wasn't that Southern Yue Princess Consort captured a few days ago? She keeps shouting, saying that she and you are childhood sweethearts, and wants us to release her."

"She also said… that the child in her womb is your child, and that we can't afford to bear the responsibility of harming the imperial bloodline…"

"You're saying, the Southern Yue Princess Consort was captured? And she's pregnant?"

Before Song Yilan could finish speaking, Xie Jin Yan immediately asked in return.

A hint of gravity flashed across his expression.

Seeing his expression, Song Yilan's heart immediately sank.

Judging by this reaction, could it be true?

Then… then what about Sister Yu?

"Miss Song, where is she being held? Please take us to see her."

Just as Song Yilan was speculating in her heart, wondering whether or not to stand up for Sister Yu, Yu Qingwu on the opposite side suddenly spoke.

She glanced at Song Yilan indifferently and said calmly, "Also, find a doctor to carefully examine her and see if she is actually pregnant."

???

What's up with Sister Yu's reaction?

Could it be that she's going to accept the Southern Yue Princess Consort as Xie Jin Yan's second wife?