Chu Qianli didn't know what was wrong with her today; her stomach felt very uncomfortable.
She had drunk too much before, but she had never felt this unwell.
Her stomach was clearly empty, yet she kept dry heaving.
"Princess Consort, how are you feeling? Are you feeling better?"
Xian'er had been patting her back.
After going out for a walk, she was completely sober from the night's drinking.
Seeing Chu Qianli dry heaving so badly, Xian'er looked anxious. "Do you want me to find a doctor to examine you?"
"It's nothing, just the after-effects of drinking."
She rubbed her stomach and looked up.
She hadn't returned to the Duke's mansion for five days. Although she had left medicine for Steward Han, she was still worried without seeing her grandfather in person.
There were no guards at the entrance of Qianyun Pavilion. If that was the case, were the people blocking her exit also gone?
She should hurry and try her luck.
The mistress and maid walked away.
Consort Jin emerged from behind the nearby flower bushes, step by step.
Looking at Chu Qianli's receding back, the ten fingers gripping her handkerchief gradually tightened.
Chu Qianli was pregnant?
She had seen this dry heaving many times in the harem!
This damned enchantress dared to be pregnant with Ye Xuan's child!
She was carrying royal blood!
It must have been that night, the night the enchantress drugged Prince Xuan!
She hadn't expected to get pregnant.
If this child were born, the Xuan Prince's mansion would be the enchantress's domain, and there would be no place for her.
She had had enough of the lonely days in the harem. Finally, after Ye Xuan had been seriously ill, she was allowed to return and share family happiness.
She absolutely could not let Chu Qianli ruin her plans!
This child must not be born!
Prince Xuan would have many more children in the future, but they would not be born of Chu Qianli!
...
Chu Huaiyu seemed to be in better spirits today.
Qingming couldn't help but brighten when he saw her. "Miss Huaiyu, your complexion is much better than it was a few days ago."
Chu Huaiyu nodded and smiled faintly. "Thank you for your care, Master Qingming. Huaiyu is feeling better."
Qingming looked at her, momentarily lost in thought.
She was clearly a young lady of noble birth, yet she was always elegant and polite, without a trace of arrogance.
Compared to the uncivilized and weak Chu Qianli, a girl like Chu Huaiyu was more qualified to be the mistress of their Xuan Prince's mansion!
Although he felt a bit disappointed, he was comforted by the thought that once Chu Huaiyu became the Crown Princess, he would be able to see her day and night.
He glanced at the maid behind her, who was holding a bowl of soup. Qingming smiled. "Are you bringing soup for the Prince?"
"I heard that the Prince has been working very hard recently. Huaiyu just brewed some ginseng tea for the Prince to try," Chu Huaiyu said softly.
"The Prince is in the study. Miss Huaiyu, please wait a moment, I will announce you."
Qingming walked to the door and knocked. "Prince, Miss Huaiyu is here to see you."
A moment later, Feng Yexuan's faint voice came from inside. "Enter."
Qingming immediately opened the door and glanced at the maid behind Huaiyu, reminding her:
"This is the Prince's residence, and he dislikes too many unrelated women entering. Please forgive us."
Chu Huaiyu was slightly stunned, and then a hint of joy appeared in her eyes.
So the rumors that Prince Xuan was indifferent to women were true.
She had entered this Wuzhou Garden, and along the way, she hadn't seen a single maid.
Chu Huaiyu took the tray from Xiaoya's hand and walked in.
She came to Feng Yexuan's desk, leaned forward, and bowed. "Huaiyu greets the Prince."
"Something wrong?" Feng Yexuan was reading letters from various regions.
Looking at the pile on the desk, it was evident how busy he usually was.
Chu Huaiyu had probably not expected his attitude to be so indifferent.
Her prepared speech suddenly became incoherent.
She was at a loss.
Qingming watched, and his heart ached.
The more awkward Chu Huaiyu was, the more he cherished her, which only showed that this girl had never tried to please men.
What a good girl, pure and untainted.
He quickly said, "Prince, Miss Huaiyu brewed ginseng tea and brought it for you."
"Mm." Feng Yexuan was still reading the letters, not even looking up.
Qingming subtly signaled Chu Huaiyu to place the tray on the tea table, as holding it for so long was tiring.
Seeing his expression, Chu Huaiyu immediately nodded and walked to the tea table, placing the tray down.
"You seem to have recovered quite well."
Feng Yexuan's words were somewhat abrupt. Chu Huaiyu quickly straightened up and bowed to him.
"Thanks to the Prince's care, Huaiyu has been staying in the Prince's mansion for a few days, and my body has already recovered a lot."
Feng Yexuan nodded. "Since you have recovered, I will have Qingming personally escort you back to your residence."
Chu Huaiyu was stunned. She had never expected this outcome.
She had thought... she had thought that now that she was better, the Prince would take her around the mansion.
After all, she was not familiar with the mansion.
To her surprise, now that she was well, his first thought was to send her back to the Duke's mansion.
She had returned to the Prince's mansion with Prince Xuan at the Empress's banquet, but now she was being sent back. What would others think?
Chu Huaiyu's face turned pale, and she took a small step back.
However, perhaps because her body was still too fragile, she lost her footing and almost fell to the ground.
"Miss Huaiyu, what's wrong?" Qingming rushed forward.
He wanted to help, but he dared not, for fear of defiling Miss Huaiyu's purity.
He could only stand by, anxiously.
Chu Huaiyu's body still swayed slightly, as if she could barely stand.
But she still forced herself to stand firm, looked at Qingming, and shook her head.
"I... I'm fine, just a little dizzy. I'll be fine after a rest. I'm really fine."
"Should I get a doctor to examine you?" Qingming was very anxious.
Feng Yexuan frowned slightly, finally looking up, his gaze falling on Chu Huaiyu for the first time.
"Aren't you already recovered?"
Chu Huaiyu hurried to bow to him, but as soon as she took a step, her body swayed and she fell towards the ground.
Qingming couldn't hold back anymore and immediately supported her.
But he only dared to hold her arm.
"Miss Huaiyu!"
He looked at Feng Yexuan. "Prince, Miss Huaiyu seems... seems unwell."
Feng Yexuan said nothing. His gaze swept over Chu Huaiyu's pale face, then fell outside.
The woman in the plain white dress approached with brisk steps, her face now wearing that inscrutable smile.
A smile that was not a smile.
"Yes, if being well means having to return to the Duke's mansion, then Miss Huaiyu's illness will probably never get better."
Chu Qianli hadn't expected to witness such a scene upon her arrival.
The frail beauty. In the past, it was a phrase that evoked pity. Now, there were too many imitations, and it had become a derogatory term.
She glanced at Chu Huaiyu indifferently and sneered, "Miss Huaiyu's illness will probably only get better when she marries into the Prince's mansion."