After Being Marked by the Eldest Princess, I Got Pregnant with Her Child [Transmigration into a Novel] - Chapter 22

“I’m about to suffocate from boredom.”

And from craving.

Ever since her pregnancy was confirmed, Song Shujiu’s diet had been severely restricted. Yan Chen had hired a specialized chef to prepare pregnancy-safe meals for her, forbidding this and that until she felt utterly stifled.

No way.

In daily life, she’d seen pregnant women indulging in all sorts of snacks to satisfy their cravings. Surviving on nothing but bland soups and plain dishes every day was simply unacceptable.

“Xiaotao, I want some luosifen.” Her taste buds had grown bolder since becoming pregnant.

“What?”

Xiaotao looked utterly bewildered. She had never even heard of such a dish, where was she supposed to get it?

“Come on, I know the ingredients and how to make it.”

Seizing the opportunity while Yan Chen was away, Song Shujiu dragged her out.

On the bustling streets, they shopped for various items. Song Shujiu bought some rice noodles, but after taking a few steps, she suddenly collided with someone. Staggering back, she was steadied by a hand at her waist.

A woman in a deep purple robe stood before her, wearing a bamboo hat and followed by three or five maids. Song Shujiu, still shaken, was held firmly by her.

The woman exuded a cold, eerie aura. Her face was obscured by a black veil, but her bearing suggested she was a stunning beauty. Song Shujiu frowned. The woman steadied her, and one of the maids behind her snapped, “Are you blind?”

The woman raised a hand to silence her, her gaze fixed intently on Song Shujiu. The maid in the pale blue dress immediately fell quiet.

“Who are you calling blind?”

Xiaotao couldn’t take it. Her mistress was the esteemed daughter of the Prime Minister since when did some commoner’s servant dare to insult her?

“If you can’t watch where you’re walking, you must be blind.”

The maid’s tone was indifferent, her words icy, as if she regarded the two of them with utter disdain.

“You were the ones who bumped into us first! You’re the blind ones. ”

Xiaotao grew furious, rolling up her sleeves as if ready for a fight.

“Enough.”

The woman in purple flashed a look of impatience, her voice low but carrying undeniable authority. The blue-robed maid reluctantly stepped back, though her eyes lingered on Song Shujiu with a hint of something unreadable.

Song Shujiu found it strange, this woman felt oddly familiar, as if they’d met before, though she couldn’t place where.

“Let’s go.”

The woman in purple shoved her aside dismissively and strode off.

Song Shujiu hadn’t wanted to escalate things in public, but the woman’s blatant disregard for her was infuriating. She couldn’t just let her walk away.

“You should discipline your maid. It’s unbecoming to hurl insults in the streets.”

The woman halted, a flash of hostility crossing her features before she replied coldly, “How I discipline my servants is none of your concern.”

Her patience had limits. This young woman dared to block her path when she had more pressing matters to attend to. She had no desire to waste time on such trivialities.

Yet her softly spoken words carried a veiled insult, striking a nerve and fueling her disdain.

“Truly, like mistress, like maid.”

Song Shujiu smiled sweetly. The woman in purple’s eyes darkened with murderous intent, but before she could act, her maid lunged forward, a palm strike aimed at Song Shujiu’s face. Terrified, Song Shujiu shut her eyes.

At the last moment, the blue-robed maid’s wrist was caught by the woman in purple, who had turned back.

“Don’t cause trouble,” she hissed.

They had just arrived in Zhaoguo, right under the imperial capital’s nose. A murder here would draw unwanted attention from the authorities, bringing unnecessary complications.

Turning back to glance at Song Shujiu with an icy expression, she said coldly, “Know when to stop, little girl.”

Song Shujiu opened her eyes and saw her enveloped in a chilling aura, just a fleeting sensation, yet razor-sharp, like a blade grazing the skin.

Xiao Tao was also stunned by her overwhelming presence.

For a moment, both fell silent.

The blue-clad maid’s eyes gleamed with triumph. They were lucky.

After the woman left, Song Shujiu snapped out of it, her entire body trembling.

That woman’s aura was terrifyingly strong.

“Go back and tell the princess to have her arrested.”

Xiao Tao murmured as if she had just escaped death’s door.

“It’s fine. Let’s go buy some fried tofu skin and perilla peanuts, then head back.”

She couldn’t let trivial matters ruin her mood, getting agitated wouldn’t be good for the baby.

“Your Majesty, it’s her.”

The blue-clad woman’s voice reverted to its earlier tone. The woman paused, glancing back at the spot with an amused expression. “Oh?”

“So it’s her.”

There seemed to be an unspoken understanding between women. Xiao Yunli could discern her condition at a glance. Earlier, while steadying her, she had inadvertently taken her pulse. To think she was carrying Yan Chen’s child?

A surge of fury darkened Xiao Yunli’s eyes. The thought that the man who had fought side by side with her on the battlefield had chosen someone so fragile filled her with resentment. “Had I known, I wouldn’t have let her leave so easily.”

“I’ll go fetch her.”

The disguised Shaoshi brushed off nonexistent dust from her clothes, her eyes burning with hatred. She wanted to crush everyone connected to Yan Chen.

“Let it be. There’s no rush, she’s already here.”

Now that she stood on Zhao Kingdom’s soil, what she desired would inevitably be hers.

Yan Chen, they would meet again.

As for that little girl, how could she possibly compare?

“Let’s go.”

Their figures gradually disappeared into the crowd.

Dragging in bags of groceries, Song Shujiu was exhausted.

Luckily, Yan Chen was still at the palace and hadn’t returned yet. Perfect timing to show him modern delicacies eating bird’s nest and deer antlers every day was too much. Over-nourishment could be harmful too.

In the kitchen, Song Shujiu slipped on an apron. Garlic, cinnamon, bay leaves, chili peppers, and ginger were prepped. She heated oil in the wok, fried the spices until fragrant, then added dried bamboo shoots, stir-frying with a splash of vinegar. Next came river snails and perilla, stir-fried over high heat.

“Xiao Tao, bring the chicken bones and pork bones, along with the boiled water.”

The wok was already aromatic. She poured in the boiling water and bones, filling it to the brim.

Song Shujiu clapped her hands, half the battle was won. “Now, let it simmer.”

Turning back to the chopping board, she saw Xiao Tao had already minced the scallions. “Fry the scallions in hot oil, then sprinkle in chili powder to make chili oil.”

Though clumsy in the kitchen, Song Shujiu had mastered this dish, all for the love of food. She had researched online, following a food blogger’s method, and practiced several times. No way this would fail.

The chili oil was poured into the large pot of broth to continue simmering.

“We also bought tofu puffs and duck feet toss them in too.”

Xiao Tao kept feeding firewood under the pot. The broth bubbled vigorously, its rich aroma filling the air. Song Shujiu almost couldn’t resist diving right in.

She couldn’t wait for Yan Chen to taste her cooking. Soon, he’d be tugging at her sleeve, begging her to make it for him.

The thought of winning over the one she loved with a single dish made her heart flutter.

Her face bloomed into a radiant smile.

Inside the palace.

“You shouldn’t keep running outside before fully recovering.”

Yan Chen noticed her pale complexion as she hurried in through the door. Yan Yue had always carried herself with steady composure this was the first time she’d seen her so visibly unsettled.

Without asking where she’d been, Yan Chen simply approached and carefully adjusted her clothing. “At least wear a cloak before going out.”

Seeing her sister, Yan Yue’s eyes reddened. For so many years, Yan Chen had been her protector and comfort. After being humiliated by Xie Mingyou, her mind had gone blank. Now, seeing her sister, she suddenly stepped forward and embraced her, her voice nearly choking: “Sister.”

Noticing the intensity of her emotions, Yan Chen hesitated before gently patting her back. “What’s troubling you?”

Who in this palace would dare mistreat her?

“I just, haven’t held you like this in so long. I missed it.”

When they were very young, before Yan Chen had established her own residence, they stayed together in the palace every day. In the evenings, Yan Chen would hold her close as she rested her cheek against her sister’s shoulder, watching the stars together. Those were happy times. Because of her poor health, Yan Chen would keep the heating stove burning all day and make her various cloaks embroidered with different flowers, birds, and fish in vibrant colors.

As she looked at Yan Chen, Yan Yue’s mind suddenly flashed to another scene inside the palace bedchambers, she was nestled close to a young girl who placed a hairpin in her hair. “This is a golden hairpin my mother taught me to make. I crafted a crabapple blossom inlaid with gold for you. Do you like it?”

That face was delicate, her clear eyes filled with nothing but Yan Yue, her pupils reflecting her image. Xie Mingyou fastened the hairpin for her, and they smiled at each other.

Yan Yue recoiled as if struck. Heavens, why was she thinking of that face?

Not long ago, that same person had humiliated her. Yet now, her memory blurred the lines between Xie Mingyou and Yan Chen.

“Why are you so distracted today?”

Yan Chen frowned. Where had Yan Yue gone? These thoughts swirled in her mind.

Yan Yue breathed rapidly, meeting her gaze. “I’m fine. Just tired. My mind is playing tricks on me.”

How could she have memories of Xie Mingyou from before their first meeting? She must have been so angered by that woman that her subconscious conjured these images.

Xie Mingyou holding her hand as they walked through the palace. Xie Mingyou studying and playing chess with her, Xie Mingyou brushing her nose and kissing her brow.

Yan Yue felt her head might explode.

“In this state, how will you attend tomorrow’s welcoming banquet for the envoys from Yue Kingdom?”

Yan Chen’s expression remained calm, though her tone carried resignation. She guided Yan Yue to bed and soothed her to sleep.

Watching her sister’s final glance filled with unspoken questions, Yan Chen realized her little sister had grown up. She now had secrets and had learned to hide them.

Yan Chen stood and walked toward the door.

“Where did Her Majesty go today?”

Hua Ling knelt on the floor, thinking carefully. “We did not accompany her.”

Yan Chen fixed her with a stare. “You let her go out alone?”

“Her Majesty said she was feeling troubled lately and wished to be alone. She forbade us from following.”

Hua Ling was deeply concerned, but she couldn’t disobey the imperial decree. Yan Yue knew the palace inside out, slipping away unnoticed was effortless for her.

Yan Chen paced back and forth, lost in thought.

“Delicious, delicious!”

At the grand princess’s residence, Song Shujiu had set up a table with a clay pot simmering on it, filled with the pungent yet fragrant luosifen. She scooped bowl after bowl, the familiar smell so strong it nearly made her faint both from the stench and the deliciousness.

Xiao Tao had initially been disgusted, but after some coaxing, she took a couple of bites. “Miss, how did you discover this heavenly delicacy?”

Despite the smell, it was irresistibly tasty, the kind of stink that made you crave more.

“Don’t ask. If you must know, it’s love.”

Half the pot remained when footsteps approached outside. Song Shujiu immediately pulled Xiao Tao into the nearby bushes.

Yan Chen entered the house as dusk fell.

She had spent most of the day at Yan Yue’s place, only returning exhausted after summoning a physician to confirm everything was fine.

But the moment she stepped into the estate, a foul stench assaulted her.

Following the odor, she found a long table with something still steaming. What in the world was this?

Frowning, she took a few steps forward. Seventeen, trailing behind her, warned, “Your Highness, be careful.”

The strange smell, could it be poison?

Yan Chen cautiously kept her distance while Seventeen stepped forward, lifting the lid of the clay pot with his sword, wary of hidden traps.

When no projectiles flew out, he relaxed. “Your Highness, this is!”

What exactly was it?

He had never seen anything like it.

Yan Chen peered inside, spotting a wooden ladle resting in the pot. The stench clearly came from within. She sniffed, wrinkled her nose, sniffed again, then turned to Seventeen uncertainly. “Is this,  food?”

Seventeen stiffly nodded. Probably. There were duck feet and chili oil in the pot likely edible.

“Is it safe to eat?”

Skeptical, Yan Chen glanced around. No one was in sight.

At her signal, Seventeen served a bowl.

Hidden in the shadows, Song Shujiu watched as Yan Chen took her first bite of luosifen, her heart pounding so hard it might leap out of her throat. Would Yan Chen like it?

If she did, Song Shujiu would make it for her every day.

She loved preparing lavish meals for Yan Chen.

“Not bad.”

Yan Chen swallowed, then spoke slowly under Seventeen’s expectant gaze.

Despite the overpowering smell, the taste wasn’t half bad.

“So you love it, then?”

Song Shujiu emerged from the flower bushes, her eyes brimming with joy.

Yan Chen looked from the bowl to her. “I knew it had to be you.”

Who else in this estate would come up with such bizarre things every day?

“It’s so spicy can you even eat this?”

Wait, no! It was both sour and spicy. How could a pregnant woman eat something like this without worrying about inflammation?

Song Shujiu grinned. “The baby told me in a dream last night that she wanted it.”

What kind of nonsense was that?

Yan Chen couldn’t help but laugh. Song Shujiu, ever the sycophant, asked, “Want me to serve you another bowl?”

She had prepared this behind Yan Chen’s back and was half-expecting a scolding.

When Yan Chen didn’t react, Song Shujiu added more noodles while explaining, “Actually,  I did this for you.”

“Oh?”

Let’s see what excuse she’d come up with now. If she wanted to eat it, she should just say so, why drag her into it?

“You’ve been eating the same dishes for ages. I was afraid your palate would grow dull over time.”

“I’ve eaten them for twenty years.”

Yan Chen stared at her.

Song Shujiu quickly added, “Exactly! That’s why, after I arrived, I thought of introducing something new for you to try.”

“Well, thank you, then.”

“Oh, no need for thanks! As long as you like it.”

Song Shujiu set down the ladle, circled behind Yan Chen, and began massaging her shoulders. “Next time, I’ll make you something else.”

For example, when it came to scrambled eggs with tomatoes, though she was otherwise useless in the kitchen, this dish never failed her.

Yan Chen asked leisurely, “Who taught you this?” There wasn’t a single person in all of Zhao Kingdom who ate like this.

With a mind like Song Shujiu’s, sometimes even she felt she didn’t belong here.

She couldn’t whip up a decent dish even with the imperial chef’s secret recipes, yet the strange, nameless concoctions she came up with herself somehow turned out edible.

Yan Chen was both surprised and unsurprised.

Seeing that she wasn’t rejecting the food, Song Shujiu added, “Mini hotpot.”

“What?”

Song Shujiu winked at her mysteriously. “When it gets cold, I’ll make it for you.”

This was even simpler perfect for someone with terrible cooking skills. Just buy the ingredients and dip them in boiling water.

Once it boiled, it was ready to eat.

“Ugh—”

No sooner had Song Shujiu finished speaking than she suddenly turned her head and gagged. Good heavens, she’d eaten too much, and now the morning sickness was acting up again.

Yan Chen walked over and patted her back to soothe her.

Coughing until her face flushed red, Song Shujiu took the opportunity to collapse into Yan Chen’s arms. Whatever, she was full and had no energy left. She’d just let Yan Chen carry her back; she didn’t feel like walking.

Yan Chen looked down at her and finally scooped her up in a bridal carry, whispering in her ear, “You’re so tired. Let me help you relax when we get back.”

“No, I’ll Walk myself!”

Song Shujiu immediately scrambled out of her arms. Those little toys of Yan Chen’s were far too effective. Even now, the memories of that night were still fresh in her mind, she needed a break.

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