As if understanding Song Shuhao's meaning, Zhang Wan hummed to Zhang Yu, "No, no," and then looked at Song Shuhao with teary eyes, twisting her little body to throw herself into her arms, not afraid of falling at all, without any scruples.
Song Shuhao had no choice but to take Zhang Wan into her arms. After taking a closer look at Zhang Yu, she pursed her lips and asked, "Does His Majesty have something to be happy about?" Once in her mother's arms, Zhang Wan instantly became very obedient, lying on her mother's chest and looking at Zhang Yu with her clear black and white eyes.
Zhang Yu nodded, confirming Song Shuhao's words, and then explained, "My elder sister is coming back. She has already set off and will be able to reach Lin'an before the Mid-Autumn Festival in August." Zhang Jin went to Dayuan about two years ago, which means that Zhang Yu has not seen his sister for two years.
Now that I can finally see him, how could I not be happy?
Song Shuhao was also pleasantly surprised and said with a smile, "That is truly a joyous occasion. Wan'er has never met her aunt before, so she must dress up properly for the first meeting."
Zhang Yu smiled and wrapped his arm around Song Shuhao's back, gently embracing her. He said indulgently, "Your daughter looks beautiful no matter how she's dressed..."
·
Just as Zhang Jin's message had stated, she returned to Lin'an City before the Mid-Autumn Festival in August. However, upon seeing her, Zhang Yu, Song Shuhao, Zhang Xin, and Prince Ning were all stunned. Zhang Xin couldn't help but exclaim, "Elder sister, you're pregnant?! Whose child is it?!"
Zhang Xin's question was shared by everyone else present. The person in front of them was visibly pregnant, yet Zhang Jin had returned to Lin'an with such a large belly, and there was no sign of the child's father with her... It was no wonder that the people who came to pick her up were unsettled.
In contrast, Zhang Jin's face showed neither sweet joy nor sorrow. She simply smiled faintly and calmly uttered, "Ji Heng's."
Upon hearing the name, Zhang Xin froze for a moment, then felt like she was about to explode. Ji Heng?! The ruler of Dayuan?! Her elder sister had been in Dayuan for the past two years; their interactions had been far too in-depth…
She stared in disbelief, unsure how to react. "No way...it can't be real..." These two sentences echoed repeatedly in Zhang Xin's mind. Even knowing Zhang Jin wasn't joking, she still couldn't immediately accept this fact.
Zhang Jin had already started playing with Xia Yucheng and Zhang Wan, listening to them call her in their sweet, soft voices. Unfortunately, she was too heavy to hold them. When Zhang Jin left, Xia Yucheng had only been born a short time, but now he could walk and run, and he could call out to people very fluently.
Xia Yucheng was being led by the Prince of Ning, while Zhang Wan was being held in Zhang Yu's arms. Zhang Jin looked at the rosy-cheeked Zhang Wan and smiled, "Wan'er, Auntie brought you back a lot of gifts. We'll unpack them slowly when we get back."
Zhang Wan wrapped her arms around Zhang Yu's neck, leaned back shyly, and said softly, "Thank... Aunt..." Even though she knew she should thank her, she couldn't quite express it clearly.
However, Zhang Jin was pleased and pinched her cheek. After chatting with everyone for a while, she got back into the carriage and headed towards the Princess's residence.
Upon learning of her return, the Princess's residence was thoroughly cleaned, but nothing was touched. It remained exactly as it had been when Zhang Jin left.
Ling Xiao was nine months pregnant and nearing her due date. Prince Ning dared not let her travel, so he did not bring her along. Zhang Jin understood this and did not blame her. Although she had been in Dayuan, she frequently corresponded with Zhang Yu and was aware of all their important matters.
Back in Lin'an, even the air felt familiar. Even though she hadn't suffered any hardship or injustice in Dayuan, Zhang Jin, leaning against the carriage wall, still couldn't help but sigh, "It's so good to be home." She couldn't help but think of Ji Heng again, but only a slight smile played on her lips.
Zhang Yu carried Zhang Wan into the carriage, and Song Shuhao followed. Zhang Wan snuggled up to Song Shuhao, wanting to be with her mother. Song Shuhao smiled and patted her head, then, remembering Zhang Jin's matter, asked Zhang Yu, "Did His Majesty know before?"
The fact that the eldest princess of Daqi was pregnant with the child of the king of Dayuan was no small matter. However, Song Shuhao felt that Zhang Yu probably didn't know this beforehand. If he had known, he might have mentioned it to her briefly. Zhang Jin's attitude was too frank, and Song Shuhao wasn't sure what Zhang Yu was thinking now.
Zhang Yu knew that Zhang Jin and Ji Heng had been in frequent contact, but he was unaware that their relationship had progressed to this point, indicating that he was still being kept in the dark. Considering Zhang Jin's age, Zhang Yu assumed she was well aware of what she was doing and didn't want to comment.
Therefore, in response to Song Shuhao's question, Zhang Yu only replied, "Since my elder sister kept this child, she must understand the meaning behind it." Outsiders may have their opinions, but ultimately he and Xiao Shi would protect her. Most importantly, she herself understood what she was doing.
Zhang Yu then thought that Zhang Jin had not encountered any obstacles on her way back—if she had, he would have known, which showed that her relationship with Ji Heng had not collapsed. So he felt at ease again.
Seeing that Zhang Yu was deep in thought, Song Shuhao did not disturb him.
·
After escorting Zhang Jin back to the Princess's residence, Zhang Yu ordered someone to summon the imperial physician to examine her pulse. Compared to other women, Zhang Jin was thirty-two years old when she conceived this child, which was undoubtedly very late and of a higher risk, requiring utmost caution.
The imperial physician said that the journey had been arduous, causing some instability in the pregnancy, but fortunately there were no major problems. He prescribed medicine to stabilize the pregnancy and instructed Zhang Jin to take it carefully. Everyone was considerate of Zhang Jin's fatigue and did not surround her with too much conversation. Since the Mid-Autumn Festival was the next day, the banquet was scheduled for the following day, both to celebrate the festival and to welcome her back.
After weighing the options, everyone gathered at the Ning Prince's residence for the Mid-Autumn Festival, since Ling Xiao was simply unable to go out. Compared to Ling Xiao, Zhang Jin, who was five months pregnant, could easily walk around a bit. The Ning Prince's residence and the Princess's residence were only a quarter of an hour apart, very close.
This year's Mid-Autumn Festival was even more lively than before because of Zhang Jin's return. Not to mention, the two little girls, Xia Yucheng and Zhang Wan, would occasionally say something funny, making everyone laugh non-stop.
Everyone at the table seemed to have finally found their place. Zhang Yu and Song Shuhao, Zhang Ye and Ling Xiao, Zhang Xin and Xia Mingzhe, Zhang Jin... Zhang Yu had talked to her about Ji Heng and knew there was no need to worry about her.
Everyone was in high spirits, so the atmosphere remained harmonious and cheerful throughout the meal. Worries and annoyances were forgotten at this moment, as if everything had vanished, leaving only a hall filled with the joy of a perfect union.
At the banquet, Zhang Yu drank quite a bit and reeked of alcohol. Zhang Wan smelled it and refused to go near him, muttering "stinky daddy" under her breath several times before going to play with Xia Yucheng. Later, the two of them got sleepy and were taken to bed by their nanny.
Ling Xiao and Zhang Jin are both pregnant, so it's not advisable to be too boisterous or stay out too late. After dinner, everyone admired the moon for a while and then went home. After sending Zhang Jin back to the Princess's residence, Zhang Yu returned with Song Shuhao and Zhang Wan to go back to the palace.
Zhang Wan was sleeping soundly when she was picked up; she sensed something, murmured a couple of times, but didn't wake up. Song Shuhao took a small jacket and covered her up slightly to keep her warm. Zhang Yu, perhaps because he had been drinking, was rather restless, his hands roaming all over her body, from her back to her waist and then to her chest…
There was no light inside the carriage, only moonlight filtering through the windows. Zhang Yu happened to be sitting by the window, and the soft light shone on his face, making his expression somewhat dreamy.
He was still holding the sleeping Zhang Wan in his arms, and Song Shuhao, mindful of this, simply moved his hand away. Looking up again and seeing his expression, she pursed her lips and whispered, "If Your Majesty intends to feign drunkenness and act recklessly, I can't hold it against you while Wan'er is here, but after we return..."
"What are you going to do to me when we get back?" Zhang Yu asked deliberately before Song Shu could finish her compliments.
Song Shuhao glanced at him again and sighed, "I won't do anything to His Majesty, I just think it would be nice to sleep with Wan'er for ten or fifteen days."
Zhang Yu: "...No!"
·
Even though he doted on his daughter Zhang Wan, bestowing upon her the title of Princess Chang Le upon her birth, His Majesty still harbored an unspeakable heartache—
Even when the wet nurse took her to rest, Zhang Wan would often come crying to Song Shuhao in the middle of the night. She would stay in bed and refuse to leave, only going back to sleep when Song Shuhao was holding her. Because she loved her daughter dearly, Song Shuhao instructed her that if Zhang Wan came looking for her at night, she could simply bring Zhang Wan over.
Because of this, after Zhang Yuan almost saw Zhang Yu pressing down on Song Shuhao, Song Shuhao often refused to be with him... Every time this happened, Zhang Yu would regret not having children later.
This is why when Song Shuhao threatened to sleep with Zhang Wan, Zhang Yu's first reaction was to stop her and give in. Not being able to have her was pitiful enough, not being able to see her or touch her... in short, he temporarily conceded defeat.
Throughout the rest of the journey, Zhang Yu behaved himself and did not lay a finger on Song Shuhao again.
After returning to the palace, the wet nurse took Zhang Wan to bed, and Zhang Yu then clung to Song Shuhao, who was removing her jewelry. He hugged her from behind, rested his chin on Song Shuhao's shoulder, kissed her neck, and then nibbled on her ear.
Neither of them had washed or dressed yet. Although the smell of alcohol on Zhang Yu had dissipated somewhat, it was still clearly audible. As soon as he approached, especially so close, the smell of alcohol assaulted Song Shuhao's nose.
She had just removed her red agate earrings and was still holding her arm up when Zhang Yu pressed himself against her. Song Shuhao simply touched his face. The places where Zhang Yu had kissed and bitten her tingled with itchiness. She moved slightly and said, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. It's time to wash up and rest."
Zhang Yu seemed not to hear her, burying his face in her neck and kissing her tenderly again and again. Song Shuhao grabbed his face with her hand and turned away somewhat awkwardly. Zhang Yu looked at her passionately, but said softly, "It's been so many days..." as if he felt wronged.