The veiled person let out a giggle, "You are right. As long as she is defeated, the country will be mine, and her lover too. I will make her watch as I take everything that belongs to her..."
"That depends on whether you have the ability..."
"Are all arrangements made?"
"Yes..."
"Xue Zining, your good fortune has run out!"
Li Residence
"My Lord, you have returned!" the young servant at the door greeted respectfully, taking the reins from Li Chenxuan.
"Mm," Li Chenxuan responded.
A maid stepped forward in the courtyard, "My Lord, Madam is waiting for you to dine."
Li Chenxuan's brow furrowed slightly at the words, "Madam is waiting to dine?"
The maid shook her head, "She is waiting for My Lord to dine together."
"Didn't I tell Madam not to wait for me to dine?" Li Chenxuan's expression turned a little cold.
The maid flinched and quickly said, "This servant tried to persuade her, but Madam did not listen."
Li Chenxuan's expression grew colder, and he said sternly, "Go back and tell Madam that she doesn't need to wait for me. I'll be in the study."
"Yes, this servant will inform Madam right away." The maid hurried away.
"Xiu'er, have the kitchen reheat the food. My Lord should be entering the residence by now. Reheat it and bring it up," Jiang Xinqin said softly, touching her belly.
Xiu'er nodded, "Madam, please rest assured, this servant will give the order right away."
A rumbling sound came from Jiang Xinqin's stomach. She smiled and gently patted it, "Wait a little longer. When your father returns, we'll eat together, alright?"
"Cao'er, can you not be so hasty?" Xiu'er sighed, having almost been bumped into by Cao'er.
Suddenly remembering something, she asked in a low voice, "Where is My Lord?"
Cao'er replied, "My Lord said he won't be dining and asked Madam not to wait for him."
Xiu'er paused, looking at Madam's reflection in the room, and sighed, "Madam waited all afternoon, only to be told My Lord isn't coming. How disappointed Madam will be."
"Sister Xiu'er, could it be that My Lord..."
Xiu'er covered Cao'er's mouth and whispered, "Matters of the masters are not for us servants to discuss. Be careful not to bring disaster upon yourself with your words."
Cao'er nodded.
Xiu'er continued, "Go to the kitchen and get something light. Madam is experiencing morning sickness and cannot eat oily food. I will go and tell Madam."
Cao'er nodded and left.
Seeing Xiu'er return, Jiang Xinqin felt an inexplicable chill. "Xiu'er, is My Lord not coming?"
Xiu'er hesitated slightly and said, "Madam, My Lord is very busy. He specifically instructed the household staff to serve Madam well."
Jiang Xinqin heard this and said, "I understand. Xiu'er, you may go out now. I want to be alone..."
"Madam, you haven't dined yet..."
"Go out. I can't eat," Jiang Xinqin shook her head.
"Madam, if not for yourself, then for the young master in your belly."
Jiang Xinqin trembled all over. She lowered her head, looking at her not-yet-prominent belly, and bit her lower lip. "Have them bring it up!"
When the food was served, she picked up her chopsticks, took a few bites of vegetables, and tears began to fall, until finally, she collapsed onto the table and wept.
Xiu'er stepped forward, "Madam, please don't get too agitated. The baby in your belly..."
"He doesn't care at all. What does the child mean to him?" Jiang Xinqin cried out.
Xiu'er was stunned and froze.
Jiang Xinqin covered her face and wept bitterly.
After a long while, she calmed down, looked at the startled Xiu'er, and said coldly, "Take it away. Not a single word of what just happened is to be passed on."
Xiu'er replied, "Madam, please be assured."
"You may leave!" Jiang Xinqin walked towards the inner chamber and sat on the bed, curling herself up.
What happened in Xinyuan reached Li Chenxuan's ears, word for word.
He got up and said, "Go to Xinyuan."
When Jiang Xinqin saw the man before her, her body trembled. "My Lord, you..."
"Come and sit here!" Jiang Xinqin was startled. Li Chenxuan walked forward, took her hand, led her to a chair, and took out a scroll.
Jiang Xinqin's gaze faltered. She remembered this scroll very clearly. Once, she had curiously wanted to open it, but My Lord had sternly stopped her.
It was as if, as long as she opened it, My Lord would fight her to the death.
However, from then on, this painting had become a persistent worry in her heart.
"My Lord, what is the meaning of this?" Before, she wasn't allowed to see it, not even to touch it. Today, he was taking it out voluntarily, letting her see it?
Li Chenxuan remained silent, unrolling the scroll. It was a portrait, with several people in it.
The figures were lifelike, as if they were truly present on the painting.
"My Lord, you want me to look at this?" Jiang Xinqin asked.
"I am here," Li Chenxuan said in a low voice.
Jiang Xinqin's eyes widened. She lowered her head and indeed saw Li Chenxuan in the background. My Lord looked very young then. Suddenly, she saw several youths surrounding a maiden. She hadn't paid much attention before, but now she found the maiden in the center increasingly familiar.
The maiden had a pure and unparalleled beautiful face, and especially her eyes, which were clear and bright, making it impossible to forget them once seen.
"She is the most noble person in Huangze, the Empress of Huangze," Li Chenxuan said abruptly.
Jiang Xinqin trembled all over, "She..."
"I told you, I was once one of the Empress's consorts."
Li Chenxuan's voice was as calm as water.
Jiang Xinqin looked closely at the scroll, and the more she looked, the more she felt that she had seen the maiden in the painting somewhere before.
"You met Her Majesty today," Li Chenxuan said slowly.
Jiang Xinqin suddenly remembered, "Miss Feng?"
Li Chenxuan nodded, "Yes."
Jiang Xinqin's heart slowly sank. So, she was the Empress.
"My Lord, I understand. I will stay in the residence and behave myself from now on," Jiang Xinqin said, biting her lower lip.
"I told you this, and showed you this, not for you to misunderstand anything. I just want to tell you that even if I liked the Empress before, it's something that can never happen."
Jiang Xinqin trembled all over, "My Lord, you..."
"The Empress and I cannot be together, not in the past, nor in the future."
Because the Empress did not have him in her heart.
"My Lord..." Jiang Xinqin boldly held Li Chenxuan's hand.
"Xingqin, you are my lawfully wedded wife, and the mother of my future children. I hope you won't doubt this fact based on a few words from others. Your status will not change."
"My Lord..." Tears streamed down Jiang Xinqin's face.
"I may not be a good husband, but I will strive to be."
Jiang Xinqin could no longer hold back and threw herself into Li Chenxuan's arms.
The room was filled with intimacy.
"Xiu'er, prepare the water..." Jiang Xinqin got up and called out softly to the outside.
The door was gently pushed open. Xiu'er looked delighted, "Madam, is My Lord staying here tonight?"
Jiang Xinqin's face flushed as she nodded, then urged, "Bring the water in. I will help My Lord clean himself."
Jiang Xinqin gently wiped Li Chenxuan's body, her heart filled with joy. This was the second time she had shared a room with My Lord.
"Your Majesty..." Li Chenxuan murmured from the bed.
The handkerchief in Jiang Xinqin's hand fell to the floor.