Chapter 326: Chapter 231
The spring in the southern region always arrives swiftly, and by the time Xie Wanqing was three months pregnant, the aroma of flowers filled Bianzhou City.
With her heavy winter coat replaced, she felt as if her whole body was lighter.
Li Family’s Mother-in-law said that both sisters had excellent pregnancies, calculating the due dates were in the autumn, when the heat fades and the cold hasn’t arrived, making it the most suitable temperature.
After Chen Xixi became pregnant, Granny Li forbade her daughter-in-law from helping at the pastry shop, only requiring her to feed the chickens and cook meals at home.
The two families were close, so when she was free, she would seek out Xie Wanqing for conversation.
Regarding Xie Wanqing’s identity, Chen Xixi dared not tell anyone, not even her husband, who only knew her as his widowed cousin.
Mr. Li was a scholar, his attention to national affairs greater than that of ordinary folk, and every time Chen Xixi heard anything from her husband, she would relay it to Xie Wanqing.
Although news that a mere scholar heard wasn’t considered secretive, it still surpassed the knowledge of common people.
This was the only way Xie Wanqing, nestled in her small courtyard, learned about the world’s state of affairs.
In April, a decree was issued from the Capital City, announcing that the Fifth Prince, born of the late Empress who returned to her clan last year, was made Crown Prince.
The Great Khan had a successor.
High and mighty, as if seated on clouds, the romantic tales of nobles always stirred up waves of gossip.
In May, the scandal of the current Crown Prince forcefully taking Miss Xie, already married to the Young Master of Duke Pei Mansion, and driving her to flee into Northern Dayang Lake spread across Jiangnan at a terrifying speed.
In the southern city of Bianzhou, far from the Emperor, many spoke of it in the streets and alleyways.
Xie Wanqing overheard some of it.
Ordinary people often marveled, wondering what kind of unparalleled beauty the legitimate daughter of Marquis Xuanping Mansion was, to make a national heir disregard her status as a married woman and seize her for his wife.
The rest praised her virtue, saying that while the Crown Prince was now Prince Zhenbei, she’d have been a dignified Princess Consort, perhaps even the future Empress, yet remained unmoved by power, resolutely choosing to flee.
As these discussions reached her ears, Xie Wanqing found them amusing and felt a bit relieved.
Luckily, her affairs hadn’t tarnished the reputation of the Xie family’s daughters.
Yet to her parents, she was an unfilial daughter.
Thinking of her parents suffering the anguish of a parent burying their child, Xie Wanqing felt a deep heartache.
... Perhaps she will never have the chance to see them again in this life.
Day by day, time passed, the weather gradually became hotter, and Xie Wanqing’s belly finally showed signs of her pregnancy.
Her appetite improved, no longer lost with each meal, nor did sleep elude her.
In mid-June, with three months left until her due date, Xie Wanqing received news from Chen Xixi.
News that the Commander of Xiangzhou defending Yanyun Pass, General Yucheng, was exposed for having secret dealings with Da Jin, with stamped letters on display before the Imperial Desk, enraging the Holy Emperor, who fainted in fury in court.
The Emperor, being advanced in age, suffered health complications from the rush of anger, suspending court for three consecutive days.
The Crown Prince emerged to oversee the administration and then requested to lead forces personally to Xiangzhou to suppress the rebellious general.
The Emperor permitted it.
With news arriving from the Capital, it took at least ten to fifteen days; calculating time suggests the Crown Prince is nearing Xiangzhou.
Xiangzhou, being southwest of the Great Khan, lay only one prefecture away from their location in Bianzhou.
No more than two hundred miles apart.
Upon hearing the news, Xie Wanqing touched her now prominent belly, lost in thought.
