Let her forget the past, not think about the future, just focus on the present and embrace all the warmth in his arms.
After the brief tenderness, Zhao Changdu wanted to take the little girl back to Qingjiang Manor. What would it be like for her to be with Ning Si every day?
Did she even know who her real husband was?
Before leaving, Gu Ying opened her eyes, "No, I have to stay. Ning Si really needs me right now."
Zhao Changdu frowned, not feeling great.
Why were both men and women trying to take his little girl from him?
Gu Ying had no choice but to tell him about Ning Si's unexplained pregnancy before he let go of her hand and reluctantly agreed, "Fine. I'll come get you in a few days. If this plague outbreak happens, I'll only feel at ease with you by my side."
Gu Ying nodded, "Mm..."
Zhao Changdu said plainly, "Ning Si's situation is not so simple. I will send people to secretly investigate what really happened in Bianjing."
Gu Ying's face paled slightly as she anxiously responded, "Your Highness, this concerns Ning Si's reputation..."
Zhao Changdu reassured her, "I know my limits."
The prince had always been a man of few words who did not meddle in other people's affairs. Gu Ying knew he would not spread this matter.
But as the good friend of Prince Duan, if this somehow reached the prince's ears, she worried it would affect Ning Si's engagement to him.
Zhao Changdu could see what the little girl was worrying about and affectionately ruffled her hair, "Don't worry, I won't tell Prince Duan about this. You can rest assured."
Gu Ying blinked her eyes and smiled.
Zhao Changdu's mouth curved up slightly as he leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose, "I'm going."
Gu Ying closed her eyes, "Mm..."
A fleeting, feather-light kiss.
When she opened her eyes again, the prince's figure was gone.
She stood in front of the low couch, feeling lost and distressed. Once someone starts lying, the guilt in their heart only grows deeper.
She owed the prince far too much. One day, it would all have to be repaid.
"Mistress, the medicine is ready."
Yin Lan's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Gu Ying gathered her outer robe and walked out of the bathroom toward the main hall.
Yin Lan stood at the door holding a bowl of medicine, glancing around the courtyard. Gu Ying had already sent away all the other maids and servants, and she told Cai Xiu to rest after the girl fetched some books from Elder Ning's place.
Now, in the whole Biyun Manor, only the three of them were awake.
"Mistress, let's go in. The hot water, towels, and clean clothes are all prepared."
Gu Ying nodded and brought Yin Lan into the room.
Ning Si sat anxiously on the edge of the bed, staring wide-eyed at the bowl of medicine in Yin Lan's hands. A trace of fear arose in her heart.
"Ying..."
"Don't be scared."
Ning Si held the medicine in her hands and glanced down at the pitch-black liquid.
She had drank many medicinal soups before but had never felt this awful.
"I..." She raised her eyes, her quivering lips growing moist as she choked out, "Ying, this is a living life."
Gu Ying's fingers tightened around the bowl. She sat down beside Ning Si and gently advised, "Si, you have one last chance to choose."
This really was the final chance.
If she decided to terminate this child, what she would face in the future was far more complicated than simply calling off the royal engagement.
Ning Si didn't speak for a long time, her hand placed over her lower abdomen.
Gu Ying and Yin Lan quietly waited for her to think it over.
After a long while, Ning Si set down the medicine bowl, took a deep breath, and steeled her resolve. "Ying, I've decided...I'm going to give birth to this child."
Yin Lan pressed her lips together, about to try persuading her otherwise.
But Gu Ying suddenly smiled and said, "Maybe this is Ning Si's destiny. I've read storybooks before where the protagonist exhibited miraculous signs at birth. Not to mention faraway cases, even Dong Li's founding emperor saw the clouds in the sky roll up into the shape of a massive dragon when he was born. And when the mother of Emperor Renzong gave birth, the entire imperial palace was surrounded by magpies, all incredibly auspicious signs. Unexplained pregnancies like Ning Si's might just lead to the next legend. This child is likely no ordinary being, it wouldn't be strange to say a divine immortal from heaven descended into your womb. This is a blessed child."
Sensing Ning Si's worrying, she continued reassuring, "Si, whether you keep the child or not, in the future he or she can recognize me as a godmother."
Gu Ying's words instantly lightened the tense mood that had gripped Ning Si's heart.
Before Gu Ying entered, she had been agonizing over whether or not to keep the child.
Her mother's health was poor. After giving birth to Ning Si, she was never able to conceive again. To continue the Ning family line, Ning Si found beautiful concubines for her father with her own hands, expanding the inner quarters.
The Ning family welcomed child after child, yet her mother would forever only have her as a daughter.
Although she had been pampered since she was young and lived a comfortable life, Ning Si's constitution was also weak like her mother's, often falling ill.
If she lost this child, she didn't know if she would ever be able to have one of her own.
Naturally, if she kept the child, she also foresaw all the consequences.
How would her family look at her? How would the public revile her? How would Prince Duan be so disappointed with her?
She had liked Prince Duan for many years. The pain of having to give up on that affection now was something she didn't know if she could withstand.
Only when she held that abortion drug in her hands did she realize she couldn't bear to terminate the small life inside her.
"Thank you, Ying." Ning Si's tears rolled down her fair cheeks in streams as she squeezed Gu Ying's hand, eyes reddened but with a ray of light peeking through the clouds in her gaze. "I've made my decision. I absolutely won't regret it."
Gu Ying asked, "What about Prince Duan then?"
"I'm calling off the engagement with him. He doesn't love me and I no longer deserve him. The Prince and I were fated to never be...I won't ask for anything else, I just hope he stays safe and healthy. As for me...silently protecting him will be enough."
Hearing this, Gu Ying realized Ning Si had thoroughly considered everything.
Still, breaking off an engagement with the imperial clan would be extremely difficult. It would be best to find a way for Prince Duan to voluntarily propose ending it.
"Mm. Since you've made up your mind, I'll just have to find a way to help." Gu Ying gave a faint smile, lightening the gloom in the room.
Ning Si looked at Gu Ying in bewilderment, "Huh?" How could she possibly marry in her current state?
Let her forget the past, not think about the future, just focus on the present and embrace all the warmth in his arms.
After the brief tenderness, Zhao Changdu wanted to take the little girl back to Qingjiang Manor. What would it be like for her to be with Ning Si every day?
Did she even know who her real husband was?
Before leaving, Gu Ying opened her eyes, "No, I have to stay. Ning Si really needs me right now."
Zhao Changdu frowned, not feeling great.
Why were both men and women trying to take his little girl from him?
Gu Ying had no choice but to tell him about Ning Si's unexplained pregnancy before he let go of her hand and reluctantly agreed, "Fine. I'll come get you in a few days. If this plague outbreak happens, I'll only feel at ease with you by my side."
Gu Ying nodded, "Mm..."
Zhao Changdu said plainly, "Ning Si's situation is not so simple. I will send people to secretly investigate what really happened in Bianjing."
Gu Ying's face paled slightly as she anxiously responded, "Your Highness, this concerns Ning Si's reputation..."
Zhao Changdu reassured her, "I know my limits."
The prince had always been a man of few words who did not meddle in other people's affairs. Gu Ying knew he would not spread this matter.
But as the good friend of Prince Duan, if this somehow reached the prince's ears, she worried it would affect Ning Si's engagement to him.
Zhao Changdu could see what the little girl was worrying about and affectionately ruffled her hair, "Don't worry, I won't tell Prince Duan about this. You can rest assured."
Gu Ying blinked her eyes and smiled.
Zhao Changdu's mouth curved up slightly as he leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose, "I'm going."
Gu Ying closed her eyes, "Mm..."
A fleeting, feather-light kiss.
When she opened her eyes again, the prince's figure was gone.
She stood in front of the low couch, feeling lost and distressed. Once someone starts lying, the guilt in their heart only grows deeper.
She owed the prince far too much. One day, it would all have to be repaid.
"Mistress, the medicine is ready."
Yin Lan's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Gu Ying gathered her outer robe and walked out of the bathroom toward the main hall.
Yin Lan stood at the door holding a bowl of medicine, glancing around the courtyard. Gu Ying had already sent away all the other maids and servants, and she told Cai Xiu to rest after the girl fetched some books from Elder Ning's place.
Now, in the whole Biyun Manor, only the three of them were awake.
"Mistress, let's go in. The hot water, towels, and clean clothes are all prepared."
Gu Ying nodded and brought Yin Lan into the room.
Ning Si sat anxiously on the edge of the bed, staring wide-eyed at the bowl of medicine in Yin Lan's hands. A trace of fear arose in her heart.
"Ying..."
"Don't be scared."
Ning Si held the medicine in her hands and glanced down at the pitch-black liquid.
She had drank many medicinal soups before but had never felt this awful.
"I..." She raised her eyes, her quivering lips growing moist as she choked out, "Ying, this is a living life."
Gu Ying's fingers tightened around the bowl. She sat down beside Ning Si and gently advised, "Si, you have one last chance to choose."
This really was the final chance.
If she decided to terminate this child, what she would face in the future was far more complicated than simply calling off the royal engagement.
Ning Si didn't speak for a long time, her hand placed over her lower abdomen.
Gu Ying and Yin Lan quietly waited for her to think it over.
After a long while, Ning Si set down the medicine bowl, took a deep breath, and steeled her resolve. "Ying, I've decided...I'm going to give birth to this child."
Yin Lan pressed her lips together, about to try persuading her otherwise.
But Gu Ying suddenly smiled and said, "Maybe this is Ning Si's destiny. I've read storybooks before where the protagonist exhibited miraculous signs at birth. Not to mention faraway cases, even Dong Li's founding emperor saw the clouds in the sky roll up into the shape of a massive dragon when he was born. And when the mother of Emperor Renzong gave birth, the entire imperial palace was surrounded by magpies, all incredibly auspicious signs. Unexplained pregnancies like Ning Si's might just lead to the next legend. This child is likely no ordinary being, it wouldn't be strange to say a divine immortal from heaven descended into your womb. This is a blessed child."
Sensing Ning Si's worrying, she continued reassuring, "Si, whether you keep the child or not, in the future he or she can recognize me as a godmother."
Gu Ying's words instantly lightened the tense mood that had gripped Ning Si's heart.
Before Gu Ying entered, she had been agonizing over whether or not to keep the child.
Her mother's health was poor. After giving birth to Ning Si, she was never able to conceive again. To continue the Ning family line, Ning Si found beautiful concubines for her father with her own hands, expanding the inner quarters.
The Ning family welcomed child after child, yet her mother would forever only have her as a daughter.
Although she had been pampered since she was young and lived a comfortable life, Ning Si's constitution was also weak like her mother's, often falling ill.
If she lost this child, she didn't know if she would ever be able to have one of her own.
Naturally, if she kept the child, she also foresaw all the consequences.
How would her family look at her? How would the public revile her? How would Prince Duan be so disappointed with her?
She had liked Prince Duan for many years. The pain of having to give up on that affection now was something she didn't know if she could withstand.
Only when she held that abortion drug in her hands did she realize she couldn't bear to terminate the small life inside her.
"Thank you, Ying." Ning Si's tears rolled down her fair cheeks in streams as she squeezed Gu Ying's hand, eyes reddened but with a ray of light peeking through the clouds in her gaze. "I've made my decision. I absolutely won't regret it."
Gu Ying asked, "What about Prince Duan then?"
"I'm calling off the engagement with him. He doesn't love me and I no longer deserve him. The Prince and I were fated to never be...I won't ask for anything else, I just hope he stays safe and healthy. As for me...silently protecting him will be enough."
Hearing this, Gu Ying realized Ning Si had thoroughly considered everything.
Still, breaking off an engagement with the imperial clan would be extremely difficult. It would be best to find a way for Prince Duan to voluntarily propose ending it.
"Mm. Since you've made up your mind, I'll just have to find a way to help." Gu Ying gave a faint smile, lightening the gloom in the room.
Ning Si looked at Gu Ying in bewilderment, "Huh?" How could she possibly marry in her current state?
