Chapter 31: Pregnant?
Sheng Qianheng noticed Chu Yi clutching his lower abdomen, his body swaying slightly. He reached out and pulled him directly onto his lap, his gaze carefully studying his face. “Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
For some reason, Chu Yi kept feeling a pain in his lower abdomen. Logically, he should have recovered by now. Could it be that Sheng Qianheng had been too rough?
The moment he was pulled into Sheng Qianheng’s embrace, his body had already rested against him before his mind could catch up. Smelling the faint floral scent on him, he complained, “It’s all your fault!”
Sheng Qianheng raised a hand, lifted the eunuch’s uniform, and rubbed Chu Yi’s lower abdomen. He only felt at ease when he saw his brows gradually relax.
He hadn’t gone to Jingyang Palace these past few days. Firstly, he was still sending people to investigate the reason for his separation from Chu Yi on the street. Secondly, he was carefully pondering his relationship with Chu Yi.
He was able to sit firmly on the throne today because of Chu Yi’s meticulous care when he was a child. He knew Chu Yi’s character. If Chu Yi had secretly made up his mind, no one could stop his decision.
But was Chu Yi determined to leave him now? And why had he come to Yangxin Hall to see him?
“Why did you disguise yourself as a little eunuch and run to Yangxin Hall today?”
Chu Yi felt that the warmth from Sheng Qianheng’s palm was just right to soothe his discomfort. He slowly said, “I only came because I was angry that you were going to select consorts…”
Sheng Qianheng sighed unconsciously, his gaze falling on Chu Yi’s tired profile. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to be harsh. “The matter of selecting consorts is just to temporarily placate those old officials…”
Chu Yi had wanted to continue pretending to be angry, but since Sheng Qianheng had said so, he couldn’t say anything more.
But after a moment of relaxation, Sheng Qianheng’s cold question sounded by Chu Yi’s ear, “Chu Yi, do you really care about me? Why do I always feel that you are strangely distant from me?”
Chu Yi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He straightened his back, his eyes darting around slightly. After a long daze, he finally replied, “Why do you ask…”
The two of them looked at each other, and the air seemed to freeze, leaving only the sound of their breathing.
Chu Yi’s heart trembled unconsciously. He felt as if Sheng Qianheng’s gaze was about to see right through him.
He tried to move his body but was held in place by the hand on his lower back. There was nowhere to run…
Sheng Qianheng didn’t reply. He was waiting for Chu Yi to explain why he had repeatedly tried to run away.
As long as Chu Yi spoke, he wouldn’t hold anything against him, no matter the reason.
“Sheng Qianheng, you ask if I care about you?” Chu Yi’s lips were a little pale from nervousness. “I came today because you were going to select consorts. Isn’t that reason enough? If I didn’t care, what would it matter to me how many consorts you take? Wouldn’t it be better for me to stay in Jingyang Palace and be your Consort Hui? If I didn’t care about you, I would never have let you touch a single finger of mine… What more do you want from me?”
Perhaps the moment he asked, Sheng Qianheng had already considered all possible answers in his mind. Even the most unbearable rejection, or the most indifferent perfunctory response, he had imagined them thousands of times.
But Chu Yi was still the same as a few days ago. Every word of his reply was perfect, without a single flaw. Chu Yi was still that Chu Yi… but he always felt that this was not what he wanted.
Could it be that he had over-interpreted Chu Yi’s every move?
He placed a kiss on Chu Yi’s cheek and held him tightly in his arms, comforting him, “Alright, alright. I’ve been busy with court affairs these past few days and have neglected you. Can you not be angry with me anymore?”
Chu Yi hummed in agreement. These past two days, he had felt extremely guilty whenever he deceived Sheng Qianheng. Lying all the time was indeed not a good thing… He must be under too much psychological burden!
“You can delay the selection of consorts, but what about the matter of heirs? What then? Are you expecting me to conjure up a child for you?”
Seeing that Chu Yi had never thought about the possibility of him getting pregnant, Sheng Qianheng’s brows furrowed unconsciously. Could it be that Lianfang had never told Chu Yi that he was already a Kunze? Lianfang was Chu Yi’s confidante. She should have noticed that he was a Kunze.
Had the usually astute Chu Yi really not noticed anything amiss?
He couldn’t help but probe again, “Didn’t I say you could have one for me? Although you are a Zhongyong, a Zhongyong also has a womb, it’s just not fully developed…”
Chu Yi’s mind was bombarded by the sudden vocabulary… What Zhongyong? What womb? Ah…? His worldview had been shattered!
“What did you say? I can get pregnant?”
Sheng Qianheng nodded. He raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at Chu Yi’s reaction. “If you want to, you can get pregnant with just a little effort from me.”
Chu Yi’s brain instantly shut down. Although he was gay and indeed the one on the bottom, and he had indeed enjoyed Sheng Qianheng’s service these past few days, it didn’t mean that he could accept getting pregnant and having a child after transmigrating into a book…
He forced a smile and asked Sheng Qianheng in return, “Then does that mean if I get pregnant, I can shut those old officials’ mouths?”
Sheng Qianheng pinched the back of Chu Yi’s neck. Seeing his apparent resistance to the matter of pregnancy, he didn’t bring it up again. “Logically, yes, but you don’t have to worry. We’ll let nature take its course with the child. I don’t want a child so early either.”
Chu Yi nodded blankly. Then the pain in his lower abdomen now, could it be that he was already pregnant? Was it an unstable pregnancy caused by excessive exercise?
But on second thought, Imperial Physician Xu had taken his pulse and hadn’t mentioned anything about pregnancy. He shouldn’t be pregnant yet… right…
Chu Yi’s intention of coming to coax Sheng Qianheng had been completely thrown to the wind. All his attention was now focused on his lower abdomen.
He gently pushed away the hand that was rubbing his belly. “Sheng Qianheng, you don’t think I’m already pregnant, do you?”
Imperial Physician Xu had taken Chu Yi’s pulse recently and hadn’t reported anything unusual to Sheng Qianheng. He shouldn’t be pregnant yet.
“I don’t know either. Why, are you unwilling?”
Chu Yi shook his head. Of course he was unwilling. What man would be willing to give birth?
“I haven’t thought about this matter… Don’t overthink it…”
Sheng Qianheng cupped Chu Yi’s face, kissed his lips, and said, “If you’re not willing, we can just adopt one. Can I force you?”
Chu Yi recalled that day in the Flower-Filled Pavilion when Sheng Qianheng had kept talking about a child. He was afraid he had long had the intention of forcing him to get pregnant…
He found Sheng Qianheng’s current pleasant expression strange. He lifted his head and pecked him lightly. “A-Heng, I’m tired. I want to go back and rest…”
Seeing Chu Yi’s unexpectedly strong reaction, Sheng Qianheng couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious. Even if Chu Yi had never had the slightest doubt about his own gender change, logically, even if he was still a Zhongyong, he should still have the possibility of getting pregnant. He shouldn’t be so resistant.
“Do you need someone to send you back?”
Chu Yi shook his head, stood up, bowed, and left Yangxin Hall directly.
All the way, he was pondering the meanings of the words Zhongyong, womb, and pregnancy in this book’s world. Could there be a different interpretation from what he knew?
But no matter what, there was only one understanding: he had transmigrated into an mpreg novel? He could get pregnant and have a child?!
Chu Yi returned to Jingyang Palace in a daze, not even bothering with the eunuch’s uniform on him, and threw himself onto the bed.
He hugged the quilt and rolled back and forth several times, venting his frustration.
Seeing this, Lianfang thought that Chu Yi had failed to coax Sheng Qianheng. “Your Ladyship, is His Majesty still angry?”
Noticing that Lianfang was still in the room, Chu Yi immediately remembered that she knew pharmacology and could take pulses. He said, “Lianfang, quickly take my pulse and have a look!”
Lianfang immediately stepped forward, squatted down, and pinched Chu Yi’s wrist. “Your Ladyship, are you feeling unwell?”
“My lower abdomen has been uncomfortable these past few days. See if there’s any illness.” Chu Yi was extremely anxious and unconsciously bit his lip until it seemed to bleed, without even noticing.
Lianfang took his pulse for a long time but couldn’t find anything wrong. She could only say, “Your Ladyship, your body is fine…”
Chu Yi immediately pressed, “Really? I’m not pregnant?”
Lianfang was stumped by Chu Yi’s direct question.
In the past, when Chu Yi was still the Prince Regent, he had hated those who coveted him and mentioned “bearing heirs” when they tried to curry favor with him…
Lianfang: “Your Ladyship, this servant can still detect a pregnancy pulse. Although it is somewhat similar to a pregnancy pulse, it is just that Your Ladyship’s spleen and stomach are weak. There is no need to worry.”
Only then did Chu Yi feel relieved.
When he lay down again, he thought about the meaning of the word Zhongyong. He chose his words for a long time before asking Lianfang, “Lianfang, can a Zhongyong really get pregnant?”
Lianfang guessed that Chu Yi must know that he was already a Kunze, which was why he was so worried.
“Your Ladyship, although a Zhongyong is not as good as a Kunze, the chances of getting pregnant still depend on whether the Qianyuan works hard. Besides, the Qianyuan’s ability is not something we can decide…”
Hearing two more unfamiliar words, Chu Yi raised a hand to his forehead, unwilling to accept it.
“Tell me in detail about this Qianyuan and Kunze you mentioned…”
Lianfang: “Ah? Your Ladyship, what are you…?”
Only then did Chu Yi realize that his words might arouse suspicion. He immediately tried to cover it up, “I didn’t like to listen to those things before… Now that I’ve entered the palace, I have to understand some things for the sake of the imperial heirs…”
Lianfang stood up, took the palace regulations book from the bottom of the pile on Chu Yi’s desk, and handed it to him. “Your Ladyship, you were unwilling to read this book before. Now, are you going to…?”
Chu Yi immediately took it and flipped through it. From his understanding, it was just the author’s private setting to satisfy a sexual fetish…
Seeing Chu Yi’s pale face, Lianfang couldn’t help but worry. “Your Ladyship, what’s wrong?”
Chu Yi shook his head, thinking, if he really got pregnant, could he still have an abortion?
“If I really get pregnant, can I still have an abortion?”
Lianfang immediately stood up, making a lot of noise. She checked outside the room and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming there was no one there. “Your Ladyship! You can’t say such inauspicious things. Harming an imperial heir is punishable by beheading. Besides, if Your Ladyship really gets pregnant, you should be happy. This is the eldest prince.”
For some reason, Chu Yi couldn’t hear a single word Lianfang was saying…
He muttered to himself, “If I really get pregnant, I can only get rid of it secretly…”
Sheng Qianheng held a memorial, but his mind could not be at peace. Although his gaze fell on the dense words, he couldn’t take any of it in.
As the supreme ruler, in his high position, he had long been accustomed to being suspicious of those around him. Perhaps it was his unintentional probing that had been noticed by Chu Yi, which had caused such an emotional fluctuation, leading to such coldness and distance.
Thinking of this, Sheng Qianheng couldn’t help but sigh. In a moment, he put down the memorial, stood up, and ordered someone to prepare the palanquin, rushing to Jingyang Palace.
However, when he stood outside the bedchamber of Jingyang Palace, just as he was about to push the door open, he unexpectedly heard Chu Yi’s extremely cold words, each word like ice, piercing his ears and his heart.
