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Because when facing Chun Xi, he didn’t know how to react.

He also feared that if Chun Xi refused the gift he had given, he wouldn’t know how to persuade her to accept it.

So after giving the gift, he simply fled.

After all, he had martial arts skills, and Chun Xi couldn’t catch up to him.

Qin Xiao saw Chun Xi had eaten the dragon beard candy, not only tasted it but finished it too; it seemed girls really did like these sweet treats.

Then he watched as Chun Xi opened the wooden box, examined the Pearl Flower inside for a long time before finally putting it back and keeping the box.

Seeing Chun Xi accept the gifts, Qin Xiao then turned and left.

Chun Xi looked up toward the entrance of Xiaoxiang Pavilion, her eyes full of confusion, "He doesn’t even say why he’s giving the gifts? And why run away after giving them?"

After leaving Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Qin Xiao headed straight to where Master Lu was.

The master had left for the front four months ago, yet Qin Xiao, his personal guard, ended up having to find his own food every day–

Lu Zhaoyan had recently been troubled by an issue, unable to come to a conclusion.

When Qin Xiao arrived, Master Lu, supporting his head with one hand, was busily writing something with the other.

"Master Lu."

Lu Zhaoyan looked up at Qin Xiao wearily and said, "Guard Qin, you’ve come."

Qin Xiao asked, "Why do you look so devoid of spirit, Master Lu?"

Lu Zhaoyan sighed, "Don’t even mention it."

As soon as Qin Xiao sat down, Lu Zhaoyan leaned in, "Let me calculate your marriage prospects, free of charge."

Fortune-telling of marriage prospects was a hobby of Master Lu’s–

Qin Xiao was initially taken aback, then quickly nodded his approval, "All right, go ahead and calculate."

Lu Zhaoyan sat up straight, "Stretch out your hand."

With great openness, Qin Xiao extended his hand toward Lu Zhaoyan.

Lu Zhaoyan examined the lines on Qin Xiao’s palm carefully and seriously, then raised his head to look at Qin Xiao’s face.

Lu Zhaoyan had known Qin Xiao for many years and was fairly familiar with him.

"Your marital fate..."

Qin Xiao hurriedly pressed, "What about it? It’s not worse than Weichi’s, is it?"

Weichi might not have children his entire life, he couldn’t possibly remain a bachelor forever–

When Lu Zhaoyan heard Weichi’s name, the corners of his mouth twitched. He shook his head, "It’s not bad, not bad, definitely better than Weichi’s."

Qin Xiao grew anxious, "Well, what is it exactly?"

Letting go of Qin Xiao’s hand, Lu Zhaoyan said leisurely, "You’ll marry a beautiful and delicate wife, and rear a plump little boy."

Hearing this, Qin Xiao suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, "Really?"

Lu Zhaoyan raised an eyebrow, "I’m the Imperial Astrologer, and you dare to doubt my words?"

Qin Xiao couldn’t help but ask, "Which beautiful and delicate woman would that be?"

With a mysterious face, Lu Zhaoyan said, "Far away in the horizon, yet near right before your eyes."

*

After getting plenty of rest, Shen Chuwei, with nothing to do, took her homemade fishing rod to fish at the neighboring Xiyun Pavilion.

The fish pond was already full of fish, and lately, almost all the fish they ate had been caught there.

Shen Chuwei had Little Guizi make a parasol for her. Under it, she placed a rattan chair, and after casting the fishing line, she lay on the chair, waiting for the fish to bite.

The weather was dry and hot in September.

Chun Xi, holding a round fan, fanned Shen Chuwei, watching the fishing line in the pond and then looking at the now asleep Chuwei, genuinely puzzled about the point of this fishing endeavor.

When Chuwei woke up, upon seeing Chun Xi, she suddenly asked, "Prince Yu said His Highness would arrive at the capital in five days, and tomorrow is the fifth day, yet there’s no news at all?"

Chun Xi shook her head, "I don’t know, should I ask Qin Xiao to come over and inquire?"

Supporting herself on the armrests of the rattan chair, Chuwei sat up, "Call Qin Xiao over."

"Alright." Chun Xi trotted off to find Qin Xiao.

Inside Xiaoxiang Pavilion

Sitting on the couch, Chuwei watched as Chun Xi and Qin Xiao walked in one after the other, then she asked, "Do you know if His Highness is returning tomorrow?"

Qin Xiao bowed his head and nodded respectfully, "I’m not aware."

Chuwei asked with puzzlement, "Aren’t you His Highness’s personal guard? How could you not know his whereabouts?"

"I am not by the master’s side at present, so I am not informed of the master’s movements," Qin Xiao replied honestly.

"Oh," Chuwei had thought that Qin Xiao knew Xiao Jinyan’s whereabouts. She spoke lightly, "Even if he cannot reach the capital tomorrow, he’ll definitely return the day after."

"Lady Chuwei need not worry. The journey from the military camp to the capital is long and requires time," Qin Xiao said.

Shen Chuwei nodded in agreement, "That makes sense."

At that moment, the Empress entered with Imperial Doctor Wen and, upon seeing Qin Xiao, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.

Qin Xiao was the Crown Prince’s personal guard, which the Empress knew.

Qin Xiao clasped his fist and bowed, "Empress Niangniang."

The Empress asked coldly, "Why are you here instead of following the Crown Prince?"

Qin Xiao bowed his head slightly, "Replying to Empress Niangniang, the Master ordered me to stay in the East Palace."

Hearing this, the Empress didn’t ask any more questions, "Fine, you may leave."

"As you command." Qin Xiao left.

The Empress turned to Shen Chuwei, and her gaze immediately softened, "This palace has brought Imperial Doctor Wen to check your pulse for peace of mind."

Shen Chuwei was stunned, as it had been only four days since the last peace-pulse check.

What could she say when the Empress requested a peace-pulse check? Of course, she cooperatively went along.

Imperial Doctor Wen felt somewhat embarrassed. Lady Shen was in no need of his peace-pulse check.

Lady Shen’s medical skills were far superior to his.

With the Empress’s order and Lady Shen’s cooperation, he naturally had to actively cooperate as well.

As usual, Imperial Doctor Wen took out the pulse pillow and a handkerchief, and with Shen Chuwei’s cooperation, he took her pulse.

After the examination, the Empress was the first to inquire, "How is Lady Shen?"

Imperial Doctor Wen bowed, "Replying to Empress Niangniang, Lady Shen is in good health without ailment, and the fetal image is stable."

Lady Shen was pregnant, and the Empress was even more anxious and concerned than Lady Shen because she had seen too many concubines with pregnancies miscarry. That’s why she had brought Imperial Doctor Wen for a peace-pulse check, to ease her mind.

"Then that is good."

Compared to the Empress’s anxious concern, Shen Chuwei was much more composed since she was a doctor and would be the first to notice any issues herself.

After feeling reassured, the Empress, who felt she hadn’t had hotpot for a long time, suddenly suggested, "Lady Shen, how about we have hotpot for our midday meal?"

Craving stir-fried crayfish, Shen Chuwei knew she couldn’t have crayfish, but hotpot was also good, "Alright."

Chun Xi felt embarrassed, really fearing not that the young mistress was a foodie, but that foodies would flock together.

With the Empress Niangniang backing the young mistress, Chun Xi could only go prepare the ingredients.

The ingredients for hotpot were all about appearance, as this was ancient times, and they didn’t have that much variety.

For the midday meal, both Shen Chuwei and the Empress had a hearty feast.

One always ends up overeating with hotpot.

The Empress left Xiaoxiang Pavilion in her Phoenix Carriage.

Back in Fengyi Palace, the Empress touched her own stomach, feeling that she had put on weight; no wonder the dog Emperor had been touching her stomach so much lately.

Although he didn’t say anything derogatory out loud, he must be thinking inside, "How did she get fat again?"

What scene did the Emperor see when he came in?

The Empress was merely lamenting that she had overeaten and gotten fatter.

In the eyes of the Emperor, it signaled pregnancy, her being tired from walking.

Because he had just learned that the Empress had, yet again, run off to Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

But she hadn’t visited the Imperial Study Room even once.

"Empress." The Emperor walked in.

Seeing the dog Emperor arrive, the Empress stood up to greet him but was held steady by the Emperor, "No need for formalities."

With that, he helped the Empress sit down.

Observing the dog Emperor’s gentle and considerate behavior, the Empress wondered if his bout of silliness had still not recovered?

The Emperor spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice, "Why did you go to Xiaoxiang Pavilion again?"

Perhaps because the dog Emperor was being very gentle and considerate, the Empress replied softly, "Your servant was merely there for a chat, Your Majesty need not worry."

The Emperor sighed and felt very frustrated inside. Seeing a few small garments on the table, he stood up, walked over, and picked up a small green garment, examining it. The style was unfamiliar to him, but the garment itself was small and adorable.

The golden and green colors made it clear it was meant for a baby boy or girl.

He hadn’t expected the Empress to have already started preparing clothes for the child.

The Empress’s heart leaped to her throat. It was done for; the dog Emperor had seen them.

...

ps: Second update

(Chapter word counts vary between two, three, and four thousand) Since going live, updates have been six or eight thousand (additional updates for more tickets)

Babies, there was a system bug in Chapter 338 that might have caused double charging. You can go to ’My Account’ to check your consumption history, and if double charging is shown, you can contact customer service to have your coins refunded through the original route.