After Being Marked by the Eldest Princess, I Got Pregnant with Her Child [Transmigration into a Novel] - Chapter 19

“Xiao Tao, wait here.”

Outside the Fragrant Pavilion of the Princess’s estate, beside an ancient towering tree, Song Shujiu, dressed in a lavender butterfly-embroidered ruqun, stood on a bamboo ladder, stretching her arm as far as she could. Below, Xiao Tao stood with her hands cupped around her mouth, shouting, “Miss, be careful!”

Early in the morning, a cat was perched in the tree, seemingly injured, though no one knew how it had climbed up there.

“Come here, come here.”

Song Shujiu beckoned to it. It was a pure black stray, its eyes gleaming with a cold golden hue through the leaves.

“You’re hurt. Let me help you.”

Balancing on tiptoes on the bamboo ladder, Song Shujiu reached out while Xiao Tao watched nervously from below.

The little stray stared at her and suddenly let out a soft “meow,” calling twice.

Smiling, Song Shujiu was about to touch its ankle when, Swoosh!

The cat suddenly stood up, wariness flashing in its eyes. Song Shujiu thought, Oh no. She only wanted to help, but the little thing was skittish, baring its teeth menacingly.

“I just—ah!”

Before she could finish, the black kitten kicked off and lunged at her. Startled, Song Shujiu lost her footing, her body tilting backward.

Rip!

Xiao Tao screamed, covering her mouth.

Song Shujiu thought, This is it.

From such a height, she’d be lucky to escape without serious injury.

“Mmph—”

Her body landed heavily in a broad embrace, a pair of hands firmly encircling her waist.

Opening her eyes, Song Shujiu saw Yan Chen’s handsome face.

Had she just returned from morning court?

“What are you doing?”

Yan Chen steadied her. Song Shujiu was always up to something now climbing trees at dawn?

“Catch that cat, Yan Chen!”

Song Shujiu immediately grabbed her sleeve, urgency in her voice. “That cat’s hurt. If we don’t help, it might end up lame.”

A cat?

Yan Chen followed her gaze and spotted a small black kitten crouched at the base of the tree, staring straight at them. One of its front paws hung limply likely broken.

When had a cat slipped into the estate?

She walked over, and the kitten began meowing incessantly, its earlier hostility replaced by an almost ingratiating obedience.

“Meow~”

Yan Chen reached out, and the kitten willingly nuzzled into her hand.

“The cat’s better behaved than you.”

Holding the kitten, Yan Chen shook her head at Song Shujiu.

Song Shujiu protested, “It nearly killed me just now!”

This ungrateful little beast! She’d only wanted to help, yet it had lashed out at her. But the moment it saw Yan Chen, it turned docile as a lamb. Song Shujiu’s goodwill toward the black cat vanished entirely.

Fine, she wouldn’t save it.

“Since it likes you, you take care of it.”

Song Shujiu pouted, her lips puckered enough to hang an oil jug.

Yan Chen raised an eyebrow at her sulky expression. “If I take responsibility for it, what about you?”

Song Shujiu’s face instantly crumpled, her voice small and eyes reddening. “Then I’ll just leave.”

Yan Chen played along. “If you leave, this place would be far too quiet.”

Without Song Shujiu’s constant chatter and bustling around, Yan Chen realized she’d actually miss it.

Habits were terrifying.

Song Shujiu’s heart skipped a beat, her expression brightening immediately. “Are you saying you’d miss me?”

Yan Chen was telling her that he couldn’t lose her, that he couldn’t live without her?

Song Shujiu’s heart instantly felt as sweet as honey. Even the smelly cat in her arms didn’t seem so annoying anymore.

Seeing her spirits lift, Yan Chen said, “Well, not exactly.”

“Huh?”

Song Shujiu’s little face fell again.

Not wanting to tease her further, Yan Chen moved closer, glancing between the cat and her. “Song Shidu, getting jealous over a cat is beneath your dignity.”

How could this cat compare to Song Shujiu?

Seeing her flushed cheeks, Yan Chen thought she was countless times cuter than the cat.

“Punish yourself by tending to its wounds.”

With an elegant and noble air, Yan Chen gestured with his lips.

Song Shujiu blinked. Fine, since Yan Chen was pleading for the cat, she’d reluctantly bandage it up.

Inside the room.

The little black cat perched on the tea table as Song Shujiu brought over the small medical kit. She first cleaned its injured paw, then applied ointment.

“All bandaged up. Where will it stay?”

It was unclear whether the cat had an owner.

Yan Chen said, “If you want to keep it, you can have it here. I’ll have someone build a cat house for it.”

It was obvious Song Shujiu liked the little black creature. Keeping one more cat in the princess’s residence meant nothing to her.

As long as Song Shujiu was happy.

“I can handle this myself.”

Building a cat house was her specialty. Back when she was a corporate drone, she’d once fostered a little Persian for a friend.

Yan Chen raised an eyebrow. So, Song Shujiu actually loved cats.

“Ugh—”

After tending to the cat, Song Shujiu suddenly clutched her stomach and dry-heaved toward an empty spot.

She felt like she was about to vomit bile.

She’d eaten breakfast that morning—why was she feeling nauseous?

A few days ago, Yan Chen had even brewed her medicinal soup, and she’d been careful to stay warm. Why wasn’t she getting better?

Her cheeks flushed from coughing, tears welling in her eyes as Yan Chen came over to pat her back.

Song Shujiusaid, “Did you give me fake medicine?”

Yan Chen glanced at her, looking slightly uncomfortable. “The medicine was meant to nourish your body. There’s nothing fake in my residence.”

Song Shujiu felt utterly drained. Every time she vomited, her legs turned weak, and she felt lightheaded when walking.

This sensation was just like.

Just like a colleague she’d once seen at work, a pregnant colleague.

That girl had suffered from morning sickness for the first three months after finding out she was pregnant, to the point of needing IV drips.

Could this mean she,  Oh my god!

Song Shujiu was terrified by her own thoughts. Since transmigrating into this trashy novel, she hadn’t seen a single man. Yet women here could have descendants, she herself was the child of Song Lan and Jiang Yafeng, a child they’d conceived together.

Did that mean this world allowed childbirth?

Thinking back on all the intimate moments she’d shared with Yan Chen, Song Shujiu felt like a new world had opened up. Anything was possible in this book after all, it was a romance novel.

Her period.

She counted the days. Since arriving here, she hadn’t had her period. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became, her scalp tingling with dread.

Song Shujiu clutched her stomach, bending over in pain. “Yan Chen, my stomach, it hurts.”

Seeing her genuine distress, Yan Chen carried her to the bed. “Seventeen.”

Seventeen vanished like the wind out the window.

Song Shujiu’s pain worsened as she curled into herself. “My stomach’s been bothering me lately. I don’t know what’s wrong.”

Yan Chen frowned. Hadn’t Hong Chou said her pregnancy was stable, with no issues?

“Yan Chen, I… I…”

Song Shujiu’s eyes rolled back as she fainted.

Yan Chen immediately steadied her shoulders. “Song Shujiu?”

“Quick, check on her.”

As Hong Chou entered the room, she noticed an unprecedented look of anxiety on Yan Chen’s face and couldn’t help but glance at Song Shujiu lying on the bed.

Pulse, normal.

Heartbeat normal.

Her flushed complexion also seemed perfectly fine.

Baffled, Hong Chou turned to Yan Chen, who wore a grave expression. “She climbed a ladder earlier and fell from it.”

“How careless! Climbing a ladder while pregnant.”

Hong Chou flicked her handkerchief in disapproval. How reckless of the Prime Minister’s daughter to wander around while carrying the princess’s child.

No sooner had she spoken than a thunderous exclamation erupted.

“What?! I’m really pregnant?!”

Song Shujiu sat bolt upright, her eyes wide as saucers.

Good heavens! This trashy novel really brought nothing but trouble. What kind of ridiculous plot was this?

As realization dawned, she looked ahead—only to see Yan Chen’s refined face gazing at her with an amused smirk.

“Feeling better already?”

Anxiety had clouded judgment. Had she been more attentive, she would’ve easily noticed Song Shujiu was faking.

Yan Chen’s expression darkened. This girl had some nerve, daring to deceive her right to her face.

“Heh—hehe…”

Cold sweat beaded on Song Shujiu’s forehead. She had only wanted to test if she was really about to become a mother, but she’d overplayed her hand. Yan Chen’s icy glare drew closer.

Song Shujiu had a feeling today was going to end badly.

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