After Being Marked by the Eldest Princess, I Got Pregnant with Her Child [Transmigration into a Novel] - Chapter 9

“Your Highness.”

Seventeen entered from outside, looking slightly flustered.

“What’s wrong?”

Yan Chen noticed that Seventeen, who was usually composed, was unusually expressive today.

“Huang Ying has fainted.”

Yan Chen paused. “Did she entertain guests last night?”

Seventeen thought for a moment. “It’s strange, she collapsed out of nowhere. Aunt Mei called a physician, but they couldn’t find anything wrong. Yet she still won’t wake up.”

With her remaining unconscious, there was no solution in sight. Aunt Mei was frantic but couldn’t leave the Moonlit Pavilion, so she had sent word instead.

Yan Chen set down the document and stood. “No need to panic. I’ll dispatch two palace physicians take them with you to assess the situation.”

Huang Ying was the youngest and had always been in good health. For her to faint without cause and with no discernible reason, Yan Chen pondered for a moment before adding, “The spies from Li Kingdom have already been rooted out. Double-check to ensure none were missed.”

The Moonlit Pavilion was her territory not only the fastest place to earn silver notes but also the best spot for gathering intelligence.

The Moonlit Pavilion could not afford any mishaps.

Seventeen nodded.

As she turned to leave, she collided headlong with someone.

“Oof—!”

The person stumbled back, clutching something protectively to their chest.

Seventeen recognized the figure and gasped. “S-Song, Song Shujiu?”

Song Shujiu steadied herself and smiled brightly. “Greetings, Guard Seventeen.”

Seventeen quickly glanced between her and Yan Chen, a flicker of understanding flashing in her eyes before she nodded and hurried off.

That day in Yan Chen’s chambers, she had suspected something was off about the rabbit lantern. Now, seeing the plate in Song Shujiu’s hands and the adorable rabbit-shaped crystal cakes, everything clicked.

So that’s how it was.

Once Seventeen was gone, Yan Chen raised a brow. “Song Shujiu.”

Song Shujiu approached, lifting the plate with a grin. “I was passing by.”

“Did you make these?”

Yan Chen glanced at the misshapen little rabbits their lopsided eyes were almost painful to look at, their white bodies smudged with pink, and their ears uneven. Up close, she had no doubt that only Song Shujiu in the entire estate could produce such hideously deformed rabbit pastries.

“Yes.”

“Want to try one?”

Song Shujiu picked one up and held it out. Seeing her eagerness, Yan Chen suddenly asked, “Did you do something wrong?”

Unwarranted enthusiasm often hid ulterior motives.

Song Shu Jiu’s sudden warmth might mean the pastries contained something unusual. Yan Chen hesitated should she take it?

Unaware of her suspicions, Song Shu Jiu’s voice drooped slightly. “As your shidu, I don’t have much to do every day. While organizing the reading materials, I found a book on culinary arts. I got curious and decided to try my hand at it.”

The book was titled something like Secret Palace Recipes for Pastries.

It made sense only Yan Chen’s estate would have such materials, meant for imperial chefs.

Yan Chen took the pastry, though the rabbit’s appearance did little to whet her appetite.

Seeing her accept it, Song Shujiu perked up immediately, her eyes lively. “I kneaded the dough with milk. Don’t let the looks fool you, it tastes decent.”

Yan Chen remained skeptical. “Oh?”

It was similar to the desserts from modern pastry shops, though the ingredients here were far more limited. Even so, her first attempt had turned out somewhat recognizable ugly, yes, but she had taste-tested it before bringing it over.

“You don’t like it?”

“I made it.”

Then she blinked at Yan Chen, her eyes far more vibrant than the poorly dotted rabbit’s.

Yan Chen’s heart skipped a beat before she took a bite.

“How was it?”

Song Shujiu, like a child eagerly awaiting praise from her teacher, followed Yan Chen’s every move, hardly daring to breathe, afraid she might say something that didn’t match her expectations.

Yan Chen swallowed with difficulty. Of course, what could one expect from the first attempt of a young lady from the Prime Minister’s residence? Just by looking at the pastry’s appearance, she should have guessed how it would taste.

“You said you tasted it?”

Song Shujiu nodded.

“How did you taste it?”

Song Shujiu was baffled. With her mouth, obviously was Yan Chen’s brain really not working right?

“Keep trying.”

Yan Chen dropped the comment and set down the half-eaten pastry.

Song Shujiu noticed her lips, red and alluring, and suddenly reached out with a handkerchief, gently wiping the corner of Yan Chen’s mouth. Yan Chen stiffened. “How bold.”

Song Shujiu was growing increasingly unruly. The pale pink silk handkerchief carried a faint fragrance as she leaned in, pressing Yan Chen halfway against the table. Yan Chen had no choice but to brace herself with her hands behind her, tilting her upper body backward.

Song Shujiu said, “There were crumbs.”

The crystal pastry was made with rice flour, and a few tiny white grains had stuck to the corner of Yan Chen’s lips. As Song Shujiu wiped them away with the handkerchief, she noticed traces of lipstick staining the silk. Suddenly, her mind went blank with impulse. She tucked the handkerchief away and leaned in, lightly licking the spot beside Yan Chen’s lips.

The sweetness of the pastry mixed with the faint taste of rouge filled her mouth. She blinked. “It actually tastes pretty good.”

Yan Chen’s hands, braced against the table, trembled almost imperceptibly beneath her sleeves. After a long pause, she glared at Song Shujiu. “Get up.”

Realizing what she had done, Song Shujiu immediately stepped back, her face suddenly burning.

Yan Chen said coldly, “No sense of propriety.”

“Earlier, you said you had nothing to do as my attendant?”

Song Shujiu nodded. “I’ve already organized all the books in the library. Those obscure texts give me a headache.”

Yan Chen hadn’t assigned her any other tasks wasn’t an attendant’s job simply to accompany her in study?

“Then go wash all the dishes in the kitchen.”

“Huh?”

Song Shujiu froze. “My job is to accompany you.”

“This princess doesn’t need your company right now. Since you refuse to stay idle, you can go do something else.”

“Since when did I refuse to stay idle?”

Song Shujiu panicked at the thought of being relegated to such menial labor washing pots and pans in the kitchen?

Yan Chen had already stood up, a fleeting hint of amusement in her eyes before it vanished. “I’ll check later. If you don’t finish, you’ll be permanently reassigned to kitchen duty.”

If she didn’t discipline Song Shujiu a little, the girl would soon grow too audacious.

The faint flutter in her heart from earlier was now buried under stern words.

The soft press of lips against her skin had sent a jolt through Yan Chen, making her narrow her eyes.

Somehow, without her realizing, this girl had begun to occupy her thoughts.

It was unbelievable. At first, she had merely found her amusing but now, she couldn’t shake her from her mind.

Song Shujiu wore a bitter expression, about to protest, but Yan Chen’s face hardened with severity. “Since you’ve obtained the palace’s medicinal cuisine manual, you might as well study it properly in your free time.”

Song Shujiu was starting to regret bringing her pastries.

As she stepped out of the room, she suddenly remembered the conversation she had overheard between Yan Chen and Shiqi when she first arrived, someone was sick?

Gazing in the direction Yan Chen had left, Song Shujiu fell into thought.

Yan Chen’s private kitchen was unreasonably luxurious.

The kitchen staff seemed to have received orders from above, as not a single person was present when she arrived.

Song Shujiu stared at the vast, empty kitchen, her frown deepening.

Fine. Washing dishes? Okay. It wouldn’t defeat her.

Song Shujiurolled up her sleeves.

Still tucked at her waist was the secret imperial cuisine recipe she had brought from the library.

“Your Highness.”

At Lanyue Pavilion, Yan Chen descended from the carriage draped in a white cloak and entered the private room on the second floor, where Hong Chou and others were already waiting.

They rose and bowed upon her arrival.

Glancing at the bed, Yan Chen’s upturned phoenix eyes lifted slightly as she asked in a deep voice, “How is she?”

“Your Highness,” the imperial physician rose shakily, his expression grim. “In all my years of practice, I’ve never encountered such a strange illness. I can’t diagnose any cause Huang Ying’s condition is truly bizarre.”

Her face was flushed with persistent high fever, unable to eat, only moistening her lips with water drops while remaining unconscious. Yet the physician couldn’t pinpoint the root of the problem.

“What did she eat?”

Yan Chen’s expression darkened. Everything had been fine before, how could it suddenly become so hopeless?

“Does Your Highness suspect Huang Ying consumed something unclean?”

Hong Chou stepped forward gracefully. “Our meals were all supervised by Aunt Mei. It wouldn’t be easy for outsiders to tamper with our food.”

Moreover, they had undergone special training since childhood and were well-versed in recognizing poisons and knockout drugs none had ever fallen victim over the years.

Yan Chen withdrew her gaze, pacing a few steps before standing by the window with hands clasped behind her back. “We just dealt with several spies from Li Kingdom, and now Lanyue Pavilion has an incident.”

The group exchanged glances. This wasn’t an ordinary pleasure house they all had missions to fulfill.

Hong Chou said, “I’ll have the other sisters be more cautious.”

Their greatest fear was Lanyue Pavilion being targeted.

If so, with enemies hidden and themselves exposed, they might be caught off guard.

“Stay vigilant. I’ll deploy more personnel to hunt down remaining conspirators.”

The undetected Li Kingdom operatives in Zhao Kingdom remained a thorn in Yan Chen’s side.

Imperial Palace.

Hua Ling presented a secret report to Yan Yue: “Your Majesty, Yue Kingdom has sent congratulations upon hearing of your ascension.”

After reading, Yan Yue closed the document.

“The Yue Kingdom’s State Preceptor will soon visit our Zhao Kingdom. What do you make of this move?”

Zhao Kingdom faced internal and external troubles.

They couldn’t afford further conflict. With Li Kingdom stirring and Yue Kingdom’s previously ambiguous stance were they friend or foe this time?

The situation remained clouded and unclear.

“Your Majesty needn’t worry excessively. Since Yue Kingdom sent congratulations in advance, they likely intend alliance.”

If the warlike Li Kingdom joined forces with Yue Kingdom and Zhao fell, Yue would be next.

“The Yue ruler isn’t foolish enough to willingly enter such a predicament.”

“I once heard Zhao sent someone to Yue Kingdom for political marriage. I wonder how that person fares now?”

Only knowing the envoy had gone to Yue Kingdom before losing contact years ago, Yan Yue struggled to recall who it had been.

Deeper thought brought a familiar, blurry pain to her mind.

Noticing this, Hua Ling quickly stepped forward to soothe her. “Your Majesty, you’re weary.”

A fleeting look of evasion crossed his eyes as Yan Yue leaned weakly against the dragon throne. “I see a vague figure, but can’t recall any features.”

Yan Chen had mentioned it being Minister Li’s daughter, a beautiful, resilient illegitimate daughter selected by the late emperor for this duty.

“I wonder how she fares alone in that foreign land.”

Yan Yue couldn’t help but sigh. For a concubine-born daughter to undertake the marriage mission meant for a royal princess must have been arduous indeed.

“Your Majesty, it was her honor.”

Hua Ling massaged her shoulders and helped smooth her breathing.

Yan Yue nodded, feeling a surge of admiration for this woman.

“Don’t dwell on it. You’ve just finished reviewing the memorials. I’ve already prepared the medicinal bath for you, it should help ease your fatigue.”

Yan Yue rose to her feet, her body truly exhausted and weak.

This body had always been like this.

Hua Ling supported her as they walked toward the bathing pool.

Yan Yue said, “Tomorrow, when my sister arrives, we’ll discuss the matter of the envoy from Yue Kingdom before making any decisions.”

…

At the Grand Princess’s residence.

Yan Chen had just stepped out of her carriage, intending to return to her chambers, when she suddenly recalled those pitiful almond-shaped eyes from earlier that morning. The girl had brought her a bowl of unpalatable rabbit-shaped pastries, only to be sent off to the kitchen. She wondered how she was faring now.

With that thought, she changed direction.

Inside the kitchen.

Song Shujiu was so exhausted she could barely straighten her back. Fine, she had to admit Yan Chen had bested her. Next time, she wouldn’t bring her any food or drink, ever again.

She had nearly worked herself to death.

All these broken bowls and chopsticks, how could there be so many people in her household?

With so many bowls shattered, she now had plenty to keep her busy.

Tears welled up in Song Shu Jiu’s eyes as she sniffled, her nose red. “Can I… write an IOU to my mother to pay you back?”

Yan Chen arched a brow, playing along with a nod. “That could work. But did the Prime Minister not tell you? Everything in my residence is either custom-made or tribute gifts from vassal states to the minor royal family. How much do you think you’d need to borrow from the Prime Minister to cover that?”

Song Shu Jiu’s mind nearly exploded at the words.

Her mother was a clean official—the kind who wouldn’t embezzle a single coin. Where would she get the money to repay these tributes?

Now she was truly doomed.

“Then what should I do?”

Her voice was faint, as if she might depart this world any second.

The corner of Yan Chen’s lips quirked as she watched the girl slump weakly into her arms.

A crimson birthmark, just an inch from her left ear, peeked through the strands of disheveled hair. Yan Chen’s throat tightened, her eyelids lowering slightly. The flickering kitchen lanterns cast dancing shadows as she bent down, pressing the girl beneath her, and bit the spot behind her ear.

Song Shujiu shuddered as if struck by lightning, her hands weakly clutching at Yan Chen’s collar. Her vision filled with the delicate contours of Yan Chen’s collarbone and the elegant curve of her neck. She wanted to say something in her defense, but not a single word escaped her lips.

In her dazed state, the tingling at the base of her ear only intensified. Was Yan Chen part dog? Had she developed a biting addiction?

When she was suddenly lifted and pressed against the kitchen counter, Song Shujiu blurted out incoherently, “If the pot breaks, I’m not paying for it.”

Yan Chen’s mouth was filled with the subtle fragrance of wisteria. Hearing this, her smile deepened. “Granted.”

Her dark eyes were already clouded with desire, intoxicated by Song Shu Jiu’s delicate scent. The temptation emanating from her glands only made her suck harder right now, all she wanted was to sink her teeth into that fragrant, confined space.

“Yan Chen, slow down that bowl’s about to fall.”

She had washed it earlier and left it there. Now, with them pressed against the counter, it teetered precariously at the edge.

“Quiet.”

Yan Chen’s voice was hoarse, her patience fraying at the edges for this foolish girl. As Song Shu Jiu’s head was pressed into the crook of her neck, the cool, soft skin against her lips made her heart skip. No wonder Yan Chen liked biting her ear the sensation here was indescribably strange.

She leaned in, wrapping her arms around the broad shoulders of the woman before her.

The intoxicating poppy-like fragrance belonging to Yan Chen overwhelmed her, leaving her powerless to resist as she succumbed to the gentle intoxication.

As for the shattered dishes let them be. Right now, all she wanted was to engage in a passionate, biting exchange with the man before her.

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