Chapter 109: Pried Her Mouth Open
“Perhaps Gongzhu just happened to have time today?”
Zhiyi spoke with uncertainty. “In any case… did Gongzhu not also promise Gongzi yesterday?”
Yumianās blue eyes glanced at Zhiyi. “Do you mean to say this Gongzi is being ungrateful?”
Zhiyi lowered his head. “This subordinate dares not!”
Yumian stopped looking at him. “How is the matter I entrusted to you progressing?”
Although Yumian had voluntarily agreed to take Yu Lin’s place for the marriage alliance with the Phoenix Clan, he didn’t do it for nothing. His brother was a natural-born actor, always using his weak health as an excuse to steal the things Yumian liked. This time, he used the life of the Fish Queen as a bargaining chip to force Yumian to agree. He should pay the price for his wrongdoings.
“Has Muhou taken action against Eldest Brother?”
Zhiyi looked at Yumian, clearly unsure how to answer. Yumian wasn’t stupid; seeing Zhiyiās attitude, he knew things might not be as smooth as he imagined.
“Forget it. After all, he is flesh of her flesh. I should have expected this.”
“What was I still hoping for?”
Yumianās tone was dismissive, showing his utter disappointment with everything in Dongting Lake. Seeing the look of loss in Yumianās eyes, Zhiyi felt a sense of injustice for him.
“Gongzi, letās not bother with the affairs of Dongting Lake anymore in the future.”
He said seriously, “It isn’t your fault that the Eldest Gongzi has been weak since childhood. Why should you always have to bear the consequences for him?”
“And the Fish Emperor and Fish Queenāthey already know what kind of person the Eldest Gongzi is, yet they always deliberately wrong you.”
They always scolded him on the grounds that he was “physically strong.” Even a normal person would become depressed under such constant treatment. Fortunately, Yumian was good at self-regulation. Even if he was extremely dissatisfied, he wouldn’t vent it in front of them.
But they truly disregarded Yumianās feelings too much. Yumian did not respond.
“Letās go.”
He was silent for a few seconds before suddenly waving his sleeve and standing up from the water.
“Accompany this Gongzi for a walk.”
The blue fish tail transformed into a pair of human legs as he moved. Zhiyi quickly stepped forward to help him dress. Since Yumian entered the Phoenix Clan and moved into the Muse Palace, he had never gone out for a stroll alone. Now, he considered it a way to clear his mind.
At the same time, in the Minghua Palace, Jun Mo felt very uneasy due to Li Qinghe’s disappearance and Zhao Guijunās death. He knew well that Li Qingheās disappearance was not normal. As for why Zhao Guijun committed suicide by poison, it likely wasn’t as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Now that both were gone, there was no reason for Jun Mo to continue staying in the Phoenix Clan. The best way was to find Li Feng in the Central Harmony Palace and ask for an explanation. Thus, despite his large belly, he dressed and hurried toward the Central Harmony Palace.
As Yumian emerged from the Muse Palace, he happened to see the silhouette of Jun Mo and his confidants hurrying toward the Central Harmony Palace. Seeing Jun Mo, who was nearly seven months pregnant, still looking handsome but with that protruding belly, made Yumian shudder.
If he were the one with a large belly… Yumian didn’t dare imagine it.
“Gongzi, should we inform Gongzhu about this?” Zhiyi asked.
Jun Moās posture made it clear he was going to talk to Li Feng about Li Qingheās disappearance. He might even take the opportunity to propose leaving the Phoenix Clan.
Yumian looked at Zhiyi. “Do you think our Gongzhu can spare any attention for this right now?”
He countered, “As the saying goes, ‘to die under a peony flower is to be a romantic ghost.’ Our Gongzhu probably has no time to deal with this.”
Indeed, as Yumian expected, Li Xuanyue spent the entire day in bed. It wasn’t until the next day that she learned Jun Mo had gone to Li Feng to request to leave for the Snake Clan to nurse his pregnancy.
“Gongzhu, do you think this Second Prince of the Snake Clan will take the opportunity to get rid of the child?” Yinxin asked curiously.
Even if the child in Jun Moās belly wasn’t seven months old, it was at least six. Leaving wouldn’t be that easy. This was a descendant of the Phoenix Clan. Li Feng wouldn’t easily let him take the child away.
Li Xuanyueās hand rubbing her shoulder stopped. “The child has been in his belly for seven months; do you think thatās possible?”
“Leaving aside how much damage an abortion at this stage would do to the Second Princeās body, based on Muhouās methods alone, she would never allow such a thing.”
Otherwise, if the child was going to be lost, it would have been long ago. Why wait until now?
“Gongzhu, come and have some fish soup.”
Suddenly, Zhong He walked in from behind the bed curtains carrying a bowl of fish soup. This sudden, familiar voice startled Li Xuanyue.
“You… you haven’t left?”
After she regained her senses, she questioned him while casting a questioning look toward Yinxin. Her gaze seemed to say, “Why didn’t you remind this Bengong?” Did she say anything embarrassing after waking up?
Zhong Heās hand holding the spoon paused. “Is Gongzhu surprised to see this Chen?”
His tone was serious. His eyes fixed intently on Li Xuanyue as if trying to see something in her gaze.
“Or is it that Gongzhu regrets being with this Chen yesterday?”
Li Xuanyue was no three-year-old child; how could she not hear the meaning in his words? Her face flushed red instantly.
“What is there to regret or not regret?” she muttered shyly. “Itās just that when this Bengong woke up and didn’t see you, I thought…”
“Thought what?”
Seeing she didn’t finish, Zhong Heās soulful eyes filled with mirth again. “Thought this Chen had left?”
“Does this Chen appear to be such an irresponsible person in Gongzhuās eyes?”
Instead of being angry, Zhong He took the spoon, blew on the fish soup, and personally fed it to her lips.
“Eat. This Chen specially stewed this for Gongzhu. You worked hard last night and should nourish yourself.”
Looking at the soup, Li Xuanyue felt something was strange.
“For no reason, why did you suddenly think of making fish soup?”
Was he really not taking the opportunity to warn her about the matter with Yumian? Though she asked, she ultimately couldn’t resist his enthusiasm. Otherwise, if she didn’t drink, the spoon would have pried her mouth open anyway.
Translator’s Note: “To die under a peony flower…” (ē”äø¹č±äøę», å鬼ä¹é£ęµ) is a cheeky way of saying it’s worth dying for a beautiful woman.Ā
Recommended Reads
