Pregnant Before the Royal Marriage

Jiang Ning sat to one side, silent all the way.

Neither of them had anything to say.

As they approached the prince’s residence, Li Hongyuan looked back and found that she had curled up in a corner, asleep against the carriage wall.

So sleepy?

She woke up so late in the morning, yet here she was sleeping again around noon.

The carriage slowed down and stopped. An attendant outside announced, “My Lord, we are here.”

Li Hongyuan hopped out of the carriage.

The housekeeper’s wife reached out to undraw the curtains, only to be stopped by Li Hongyuan.

“Wait a while.”

The older woman was puzzled: “What are we waiting for?”

Even Li Hongyuan himself didn’t quite understand his own behavior. He paused for a moment, then spoke lightly: “We will wait until she wakes up.”

He went back to his residence first.

As soon as he had changed clothes, Miss Li from the Spring Breeze Garden brought tea and pastries.

She was adorably delicate and gently moving, like a weak willow caressed by a soft breeze.

“Your Highness has been away for half a day and must be tired. Our food outside must not suit your taste. This is a cake I made myself. Please have a bite.”

“Just put it there.”

“May I massage your shoulders?” she offered, moving behind Li Hongyuan.

Li Hongyuan picked up a book and said coldly, “No need.”

He wasn’t a man of good temperament.

Ms. Li didn’t dare push too far and quickly bowed her head in obedience.

Li Hongyuan spared her a glance: “Who allowed you to dress like this? Go change.”

She was wearing a red pomegranate dress today.

It was newly made, especially for him to see.

Who knew he would not like it, his face dark and his tone harsh?

Ms. Li obediently withdrew to change.

In the afternoon, he had to visit the Emperor Father in the palace and only returned come dinnertime.

The prince’s residence was quiet.

There were not many people in the residence, to begin with.

Everyone around him knew of his bad temper, so the two palace maids didn’t dare to disturb him rashly.

Sitting at the dining table, looking at all the dishes, Li Hongyuan asked his attendant, “When did the Princess Consort return this afternoon?”

The attendant quickly replied, “My Lord, not long after you entered the palace, the Princess Consort left the carriage and returned.”

“Did she have dinner over there?”

“It seems that she didn’t.”

“What do you mean ‘seems’?”

“These days, the Princess Consort takes care of her own meals, clothes, and other necessities, buying her supplies from outside instead of relying on our residence. So… I am not very sure. I just asked, and the lights in the main court were already off. The Princess Consort must be tired after a day out and must have retired early,” explained the attendant cautiously, “Shall I send some dinner over?”

“No need to bother about her.” Li Hongyuan picked up his chopsticks.

After their wedding, Li Hongyuan hadn’t visited Laurel Garden. He either went into the palace or attended to his own affairs. They both minded their own business, and Jiang Ning’s days were quite happy.

So it went on for more than half a month, until the sixth day of the seventh month, which was Concubine Jin’s fortieth birthday.

As it was her landmark birthday, a banquet was arranged in the palace.

As the emperor’s biological son and daughter-in-law, Prince Yu and the Prince Consort of Yu were required to visit the palace to kneel and attend the banquet.

Early in the morning, Jiang Ning got up to sit in front of the mirror, selected her attire, and dressed as befitting a royal-appointed wife.

As she was putting on her skirt, Huang Ying laughed, “Princess Consort, you seem to have put on a little weight.”

“Hm?” Jiang Ning looked down.

She did seem to have a small belly now.

Chunlai laughed, “That’s true. This skirt was originally a bit loose, but it fits just right at the waist now.”

Jiang Ning gave a dry laugh, “It means we’re living well.”

She had been pregnant for more than four months already, it would be strange not to have a belly at all.

But she was originally very slender, and the wide robes and oversized sleeves hid it well, so you couldn’t really tell.

Prince Yu was already waiting.

He sat on his horse, dressed in exquisite prince attire. He was an extraordinarily handsome and statuesque figure, attracting much attention.

More than a half month since their marriage, they were even more distant than strangers, too indifferent to even glance at each other..