Forcibly Snatched by the Tyrant After Transmigrating into a Book 71

Chapter 71: Stretch Marks

When Chu Yi woke up from his nap, Chu Mingzhao was no longer on the bed. He sat up and, seeing that there was no one in the room, slowly stood up.

The moment he tried to bend down to put on his shoes, he was obstructed by his belly. Chu Yi poked his belly and said with a helpless smile, “You’re growing quite fast~”

After chatting with Shun’er for a few sentences, Chu Yi still sat blankly by the bed. He looked at the neatly arranged boots in front of the bed and suddenly didn’t know what to do.

For the past half a month, Sheng Qianheng had been the one to dress him in everything. He had never thought that just waking up from a nap would put Chu Yi in such a predicament.

He smiled helplessly and turned sideways, trying to reach for his shoes.

But no matter how he tried, it was to no avail.

Chu Yi called out, “Lianfang? Lianfang?”

But there seemed to be no one outside the hall. Helpless, Chu Yi had no choice but to get off the bed barefoot. He walked to the hall door, pushed it open, and saw that it was as if there were no one in the entire royal palace.

He lowered his head and looked at his own feet, which were almost completely blocked by his belly, and then sighed deeply.

Just as Chu Yi was about to turn and go back to his room, he heard Chu Rui’s voice from a distance, “Yi’er, why are you standing at the door in the wind?”

Chu Yi looked back at Chu Rui and gave a faint smile. But when he realized that he was not wearing shoes, he was suddenly embarrassed.

He tried his best to hide his feet and replied, “Older brother, why are you here?”

Chu Rui noticed Chu Yi’s abnormality, lowered his gaze, and noticed that he was actually barefoot. It was freezing now, and his younger brother was pregnant. It would be terrible if he caught a cold.

He supported Chu Yi into the room and reprimanded, “Why aren’t you wearing shoes? Where is Sheng Qianheng? Did he just leave you here and ignore you?”

Chu Yi had just sat back on the bed and hadn’t even had time to speak up for Sheng Qianheng.

Chu Rui squatted down and supported his ankle. Chu Yi immediately pulled his foot back and whispered, “Older brother, what are you doing?”

Chu Rui took his younger brother’s shoes and said slowly, “When your sister-in-law was pregnant back then, I also served her by putting on her shoes like this. When she was about the same month as you, she was very delicate~”

Chu Yi only felt that it was strange. He didn’t like others touching his feet…

But he couldn’t just brush off his older brother’s concern for him. He could only endure the discomfort.

“Where is Sheng Qianheng? Why isn’t he by your side taking care of you? He’s been absent for two months and still doesn’t care?” Chu Rui stood up, took a towel from the side, and only continued after wiping his hands, “He even swore to Gu that he wanted to take you back to Da Mo. What a fool’s dream!”

Chu Yi tugged on Chu Rui’s sleeve and said in a low, soft voice, “Older brother, why are you and Sheng Qianheng always arguing like this, as if neither of you can stand the other?”

For some reason, Chu Rui had been absent-minded all day, the image of his late wife faintly appearing in his mind. He had originally been just strolling in the imperial garden, but for some reason, when he came back to his senses, he was already standing at the door of Chu Yi’s hall.

His gaze swept across Chu Yi’s hall, as if he were intentionally looking for someone’s figure.

Chu Yi tugged slightly at Chu Rui. Seeing his preoccupied look, he asked, “Older brother, did you hear what I said?”

“Cough cough, of course I did.” Chu Rui paced slowly to the sandalwood table, poured himself a cup of clear tea, took a slow sip, and said with a slight frown, “Gu and Sheng Qianheng are both emperors. But he is a full thirteen years younger than Gu. How can Gu be at ease entrusting my younger brother, who has suffered for many years, to such a young junior? In Gu’s eyes, Sheng Qianheng is just a naive little boy who has just started out.”

He looked up, and even carefully scanned every inch of the roof beam, but he still couldn’t find a single trace of Suifeng. Could it be that he had really guessed wrong? He had originally thought that Sheng Qianheng would definitely order Suifeng to secretly protect Chu Yi at all times.

Chu Yi gently caressed his abdomen and suddenly didn’t know what to say.

Jiang Xinrui and Sheng Qianheng were both characters that had already been set in the book, their personalities stable. It seemed that no matter what, they would only be at odds when they met.

Sheng Qianheng had, at some point, already strode into the hall. He was holding the sleeping Chu Anze on his shoulder. When he spoke, he unconsciously lowered his voice, refuting Chu Rui’s words.

“Is the King looking down on the great achievements Zhen has accomplished? Although Zhen cannot compare to the King in terms of age, Da Mo’s hegemonic position in this chaotic world needs no debate.”

Chu Rui saw that his son was actually being held in Sheng Qianheng’s arms and was sleeping so soundly.

He stepped forward, intending to take the child, but the moment he touched little An’er, the child’s face scrunched up as if he were about to cry.

Sheng Qianheng immediately glanced at Chu Rui, took a step back, and held Chu Anze, carefully coaxing him back to sleep.

“The King has rarely held a child, right? Your posture is very unfamiliar!”

Chu Rui smiled faintly. “Gu is busy with state affairs on a daily basis. Only then was I able to bring my younger brother back to his homeland.”

Sheng Qianheng was unwilling to engage in a verbal battle with Chu Rui. He looked at Chu Yi and asked, “Shall I order the evening meal? Does A-Yi have an appetite? I’ve heard that pregnant people have poor appetite, vomiting, and other discomforts.”

Chu Yi had not had any discomfort throughout his pregnancy. It seemed that apart from his gradually rounding and swelling abdomen, he was not like a pregnant person at all.

He also found it very strange. “Is it already time for the evening meal? I’ve been sleeping for so long?”

Sheng Qianheng nodded slightly. Although he was standing outside the hall, he had heard Chu Rui’s words very clearly. He let out a cold laugh and secretly retorted, “Zhen saw A-Yi and Zhao’er taking a nap just now. I was sitting by the bed, flipping through a Qianlin storybook to pass the time. But Zhao’er woke up early. Fearing she would disturb A-Yi, I took her to see little An’er. Who knew that little An’er would seem to be so attached to Zhen? No one else can hold him.”

How could Chu Rui not hear the sarcasm in Sheng Qianheng’s words? He was secretly annoyed and was about to get up and leave.

Suddenly, he heard Chu Yi say, “Older brother, would you like to have a meal with me?”

After the maids had laid out the food, the three of them finally took their seats.

Chu Yi saw that little An’er’s saliva was all over Sheng Qianheng’s collar. He wanted to take the little one but was dodged by Sheng Qianheng.

Sheng Qianheng looked at Chu Yi with a puzzled expression and said comfortingly, “No need to worry about me. Little An’er is not heavy. You just eat well. Eat more. You’re too light when I hold you, not even two taels of meat. I’m afraid all that you’ve eaten has been snatched by Shun’er!”

It was the first time Chu Rui had heard the name “Shun’er.” He couldn’t help but ask, “Shun’er is…?”

Chu Yi touched his belly and replied, “Shun’er is the pet name for the child. I hope he will be safe and sound.”

Chu Rui: “Then what about the formal name? Have you thought about it?”

Chu Yi shook his head slightly. He was having a terrible headache.

Sheng Qianheng picked up food and fed Chu Yi spoonful by spoonful, while his other hand held little An’er steadily.

Chu Rui tried his best to ignore Sheng Qianheng’s actions and asked again, “The child of our Qianlin’s highness must have the surname Chu. What does Yi’er think?”

Chu Yi looked back at Sheng Qianheng, thinking that he would probably want the child to have his surname. Would this idle chat during the meal also turn into an argument?

But neither of the brothers had expected that Sheng Qianheng would not mind this matter at all.

He ladled a bowl of soup for Chu Yi and said, “The child that A-Yi has worked so hard to carry for these few months should naturally have the surname Chu.”

Chu Yi and Chu Rui looked at each other, both with expressions of disbelief.

Seeing that little An’er seemed to have had enough sleep, his tender little hands were randomly grabbing his neck. Seeing little An’er’s appearance, he thought he must be hungry, but there was nothing on the table for a child to eat.

Seeing this, Chu Rui hurriedly called for a wet nurse.

The wet nurse stepped forward lightly and took little An’er away to be fed.

In an instant, no one at the dining table spoke. It was silent.

Chu Yi lowered his head and ate his rice, ignoring the two of them.

After the evening meal, Chu Rui was unwilling to stay in the same room with Sheng Qianheng anymore and had to leave on the pretext of handling state affairs.

He stood outside the hall and, seeing no trace of Suifeng, couldn’t help but sigh.

Suifeng had been guarding on the eaves all along. Seeing that this King of Qianlin seemed to be looking for him, he jumped down.

He stood before Chu Rui and asked, “Is the King looking for me?”

Chu Rui looked at the Suifeng who had suddenly appeared before him and couldn’t help but see the image of his late wife. After a moment, he finally replied, “Why are you here?”

Suifeng held his sword and replied, “I was ordered by His Majesty to secretly protect His Highness, so I have been guarding here.”

Chu Rui raised an eyebrow. Why hadn’t he noticed him just now? He wasn’t in the hall?

“That’s good. But it’s freezing. You’re wearing so little.”

Suifeng lowered his head to examine his clothes, the corners of his lips curving up slightly. “It’s fine. Hidden guards have all been tempered by heat and cold. A little frost is nothing to worry about.”

Chu Rui pondered for a long time, but in the end, he didn’t know what else to say to Suifeng. He only left a sentence, “That’s good. But I hope you don’t get sick yourself from not protecting my younger brother well.”

Before Suifeng could reply, he saw Chu Rui’s back grow farther and farther away. He only felt that this King of Qianlin was very strange…

Chu Yi leaned against the chaise lounge, carefully considering Shun’er’s formal name.

He saw that Sheng Qianheng seemed to be rubbing his shoulders and neck, which must have been from holding little An’er for a long time.

He had never thought that Sheng Qianheng would be so liked by Chu Mingzhao and Chu Anze.

And Sheng Qianheng was actually so good with children.

He looked at his own pregnant belly, thinking that when Shun’er was born, Sheng Qianheng would surely be a good father.

That night, when Sheng Qianheng was holding Chu Yi and wiping the water from his body after his bath, he actually saw a few stretch marks on his abdomen.

Seeing Sheng Qianheng’s furrowed brow, Chu Yi asked, “What’s wrong?”

Sheng Qianheng dressed Chu Yi and carried him back to the bed, then said, “A-Yi, it’s all my fault that you have to suffer this.”

Chu Yi was at a loss. He had no discomfort. What was wrong?

Sheng Qianheng lowered his head. “You’ve got stretch marks…”

Chu Yi: “Ah?”

Sheng Qianheng gently lifted the hem of Chu Yi’s clothes. Only after Chu Yi had seen clearly did he breathe a sigh of relief and explain, “These are stretch marks. It’s fine. Stretch marks are lines that all ordinary pregnant women get, but there are also some who don’t have a single one.”

Sheng Qianheng held Chu Yi tightly in his embrace and asked, “Does it hurt? Why did they suddenly appear?”

The moment he was held by Sheng Qianheng, his nose happened to land in front of Sheng Qianheng’s gland. In an instant, his nasal cavity was filled with the scent of Zhuǎnrìlián.

Even though the permanent mark between him and Sheng Qianheng had already disappeared, his body’s need for Zhuǎnrìlián was growing day by day.

He only felt his thoughts were a little hazy, and his vision also became blurry.

He gently pushed Sheng Qianheng’s shoulder and chided, “You’re squishing Shun’er!”

Sheng Qianheng immediately released Chu Yi, leaned down close to his abdomen, and apologized, “It’s all Father-Emperor’s fault. But our Shun’er shouldn’t pester your Father-Empress.”

It was the first time in these past few days that Chu Yi had heard the title “Father-Empress.”

That’s right. He, Chu Yi, was the Empress of Da Mo, and the child in his belly was the legitimate son of Da Mo.

But since the matter with Jiang Xinrui, Sheng Qianheng had never mentioned taking him back to Da Mo.

Chu Yi reached out to rub the back of Sheng Qianheng’s neck and asked, “When are you going back to Da Mo?”