After Disguising As A Woman To Marry The Foolish Prince, I Became Pregnant - Chapter 4

The people of the Prince’s mansion were already accustomed to the Prince’s sudden outbursts of temper. Hearing the commotion, they assumed the Prince was acting up again, until they saw him rushing out of the courtyard carrying the Princess Consort over his shoulder. They stood there in a daze, staring at each other in utter confusion.

After several breaths, someone finally reacted and cried out anxiously, “Quick, after them!”

At that, everyone dropped what they were doing and gave chase.

They could tolerate the Prince of Zhao hitting people or destroying property, but they could not allow him to run around alone. If he bumped or bruised himself, they could find an excuse to gloss it over, but if he were actually injured, the Imperial Noble Consort would surely skin them alive.

“My Lord!”

“My Lord, please stop running!”

“My Lord!!”

The shouts rose and fell as they trailed behind, but He Tianyun had no intention of paying them any mind, continuing to sprint through the mansion with Zhu Man slung over his shoulder.

Zhu Man hung over his shoulder, covering his mouth and squirming restlessly, trying to get He Tianyun to set him down.

He didn’t dare open his mouth right now. For one, he had shouted in such a panicked rush earlier that he had forgotten to pinch his voice, and he didn’t know if anyone had discovered his true identity. Secondly… He Tianyun’s shoulder was digging into his stomach, making him feel so nauseous that he feared he might vomit the moment he spoke.

Dizzy and disoriented from the jostling, Zhu Man listened to the screams of the crowd and felt like dying.

He Tianyun, however, didn’t care what he thought. He sprinted all the way to his destination before setting him down. It was a small, secluded corner of the mansion’s garden, hidden behind a large tree and not easily discovered; it was a mystery why He Tianyun would come here.

Zhu Man leaned against the tree trunk to recover for a while. The thought of dying had vanished, and he had transferred the desire for death onto He Tianyun’s head instead.

He clenched his fists, the words squeezed out from between his teeth: “You had better have a…”

Before he could finish, a small flower was thrust in front of his face.

“Princess…” He Tianyun placed the flower in his lap, then turned to pluck a new one for him.

Looking at the chrysanthemum that had slid onto his legs, Zhu Man’s fists clenched even tighter.

But He Tianyun showed no awareness of having done anything wrong. He squatted on the ground, pulling up handfuls of flourishing flowers by the roots, dirt and all. He bunched them together so tightly in his hand that the stems snapped, causing the flower heads to droop as if he had squeezed the life out of them.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Man’s anger softened slightly. He thought to himself: Why am I getting worked up over a fool?

As for the rest of his anger, it essentially evaporated when He Tianyun handed him the bundle of red and yellow flowers.

There were no chrysanthemums this time. They were all layered, beautiful, and exquisite flowers that made He Tianyun’s face look exceptionally handsome by contrast.

Zhu Man sighed inwardly that “fresh flowers should be paired with a beauty.” Taking the flowers into his hand, he said with a wry smile, “You carried me all the way here just to give me these?”

This time, He Tianyun seemed to understand. He nodded at him, revealed a smile, and said, “Princess, pretty, flowers.”

It was hard to tell exactly what he was praising, but Zhu Man could feel the kindness in it, so he smiled back. “Thank you, I like them very much.”

Because he was supposed to go to the palace, his makeup today was quite light, softening his naturally vivid features and giving him an air of spirited gentleness. When he lowered his head and smiled, he looked as charming as blossoms and willows, possessing a soul-stirring allure.

Unfortunately, He Tianyun’s soul couldn’t be stirred. He just sat down beside him with a chuckle and placed the bouquet on his lap.

Zhu Man’s eyes crinkled into a smile. He reached out to pick up one of the flowers but was suddenly pricked.

He startled, only then realizing there were a few thorny stems mixed in, most of which had been snapped by He Tianyun’s tight grip.

He immediately grabbed He Tianyun’s hand and saw that there were indeed several cuts on his palm.

“Are you…” He was about to scold He Tianyun when he felt a sudden warmth on his face.

He Tianyun reached out and pinched his cheek, leaving a dirty smudge on his soft skin.

Zhu Man froze for several breaths before snapping out of it. He raised his hand to wipe his face, only for the back of his hand to be smeared with dirt and blood as well; one could well imagine the state of his face.

He was so angry he laughed. “Do you know how long it took to do my makeup? You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

He Tianyun smiled and reached out to pinch his nose again.

Zhu Man instantly lost his temper—or rather, he lost the will to be angry.

What is the point of arguing with a fool?

He pulled He Tianyun’s hand over to examine it closely. Seeing that the wounds weren’t deep, he took a handkerchief to gently wipe away some of the dirt. However, as soon as he touched him, He Tianyun struggled to pull his hand back. Zhu Man had no choice but to lower his head and blow on the cuts, asking, “Does it hurt?”

He Tianyun looked at him without speaking.

Zhu Man had to stop. He said softly, “Let’s go back first. We’ll wash your hands and find a doctor for some medicine, alright?”

He Tianyun didn’t answer but reached for the bouquet again. Zhu Man stopped him, so he could only sullenly wipe his bloody hand on Zhu Man’s clothes.

But no matter how soft the fabric was, the friction against the wounds still stung. He Tianyun’s face immediately crumpled.

Zhu Man sighed, saying helplessly, “Of course it hurts like that. Let’s go back and get you some medicine.”

He Tianyun refused to move, still staring at the flowers he had just picked.

Zhu Man had no choice but to tuck his hand into his sleeve, using the fabric to pick up the bouquet. He said, “Is this alright? Get up now.”

Only then did He Tianyun stand up, happily following behind him.

By this time, the people who had been shouting behind them had found them. Seeing blood on He Tianyun’s hand, their expressions turned grim. They hurried over to pull him away: “My Lord, let’s go back quickly and have the manor doctor look at you.”

He Tianyun, however, stood stubbornly by Zhu Man’s side and refused to go. When they pulled too hard, he simply plopped down on the ground and began looking around as if searching for something.

Noticing his movements, the others immediately became tense. The person holding him even let go, fearing he might suddenly have an episode and hit someone.

Zhu Man, however, wasn’t afraid of him. He stood by and waited for the others to step back before going over to pull him up. “Go back. Doesn’t your hand hurt?”

He Tianyun likely didn’t understand the words, but as soon as Zhu Man pulled, he stood up and followed him back cheerfully.

Having been carried there earlier, Zhu Man hadn’t paid much attention to the surroundings. Now, he noticed that the mansion’s garden was quite “primitive.” Perhaps for fear that He Tianyun might get hurt while playing, there weren’t many decorative rockeries. The only lake was very small and enclosed by high railings, looking like a prison for fish. Aside from that, there was only a resting pavilion and vast stretches of green grass and flowers that bloomed in different seasons.

And the place He Tianyun had just taken him was the most secluded spot in the garden. By climbing that tree, one could go directly over the wall and out of the mansion.

Thinking of this, his mood brightened, and his steps became much lighter.

He Tianyun followed behind at first, but later walked up to take his hand, looking very happy as well.

Seeing this, Zhu Man smiled. Fearing he might rub against the injuries, he gently withdrew his hand and moved to the other side to hold He Tianyun’s uninjured hand, leading him back to find the doctor.

In Zhu Man’s impression, skilled doctors were all white-haired men with long beards. Since the Imperial Noble Consort reportedly doted on He Tianyun, she should have found him the best doctor possible. Yet, to his surprise, the manor’s doctor was quite young—or rather, excessively young. He looked like little more than a child.

Zhu Man set aside the flowers He Tianyun had picked and sat nearby to watch the doctor apply medicine to He Tianyun’s hand. He asked curiously how the boy had come to work at the Prince’s mansion.

The doctor’s name was Xu Yi’an, and his age was exactly as Zhu Man guessed—only fourteen. If he went outside and claimed to be a doctor who could treat injuries, few would likely believe him.

Hearing Zhu Man’s question, he said frankly, “Because my medical skills are not good.”

Zhu Man looked at him in confusion.

Xu Yi’an explained, “In the mansion, I only help the Prince with minor injuries. If he truly falls ill, they always send for an Imperial Physician from the palace. It never falls to me.”

Zhu Man understood. He said with a chuckle, “You certainly have a relaxed life. Do you not want to go to the palace to be an Imperial Physician?”

Xu Yi’an curled his lip. “The palace is full of ‘wealthy people’s illnesses.’ There’s nothing interesting to see there.”

Zhu Man raised an eyebrow. “Quite ambitious. But the Imperial Academy of Medicine has the most medical books in the world, and there are many brilliant physicians there. You could learn a lot if you went.”

“It doesn’t matter. I can meet those Imperial Physicians here at the mansion,” Xu Yi’an said proudly. “If I do my job well and the Emperor is happy, maybe he’ll let me go to the Imperial Academy just to read the books.”

Zhu Man was amused. “You have quite a few schemes.” He continued, “Do you usually live in the mansion? Or do you go out to see patients?”

Xu Yi’an said, “I used to see patients at Ren’an Clinic, but because I was too young, no one would come to me. I see more people here in the mansion. Whenever anyone has a headache or a fever, they come to me. Some older people also come to me for medicine to tonify their bodies.”

Zhu Man nodded understandingly. “So that means there should be some medicine stored in the mansion.”

“Of course there is,” Xu Yi’an explained. “Besides the common ones, there are also precious medicinal herbs bestowed by the palace!”

Zhu Man gave an “Oh.” “And if they run out?”

“Then we go outside to buy them,” Xu Yi’an said. “But new supplies are delivered every month, so usually we don’t run out.”

“Every month?” Zhu Man continued to probe. “Are all the mansion’s supplies delivered? When?”

Xu Yi’an finally sensed something was off and looked at Zhu Man suspiciously. “Why are you asking all this, Princess?”

“Just asking,” Zhu Man said. “Since I’ve become the Princess Consort, I’ll have to manage the household sooner or later. It’s better to understand things early so I won’t be caught in a flustered mess when the time comes.”

Xu Yi’an didn’t doubt him further and replied, “Fresh ingredients are delivered to the mansion every morning. Everything else is delivered on the fifth of every month. If you need anything, just tell the steward.”

“The steward?” Zhu Man frowned slightly. “Pan Fu?”

Xu Yi’an laughed. “How could that be? It’s the one in charge of the storehouse. From the gold and silver in the vaults down to a single vegetable leaf, you can talk to him. Though, talking to Manager Pan is much the same; the steward has to listen to him anyway.”

Zhu Man understood and asked a few more questions.

Xu Yi’an answered them one by one. Finally, seeing Zhu Man looking like he had a firm grasp of the situation, he couldn’t help but offer a reminder: “The Imperial Noble Consort trusts Manager Pan and Nanny Du very much. She will surely have them help you. You don’t need to worry at all, Princess.”

At the mention of the Imperial Noble Consort, Zhu Man thought of the rumors circulating in the streets. Thinking about meeting her shortly, his head began to ache.

Earlier, Nanny Du had told him not to believe the folk rumors, saying the Consort had a good temper and was easy-going, but he didn’t believe for a second that someone who could remain a favorite in the harem for over twenty years lacked schemes or means.

And his current situation was precisely the kind that could not withstand scrutiny. If the Consort grew even slightly suspicious and investigated, it would be the crime of deceiving the Emperor. When that happened, the entire Zhu family—including his sister—would suffer. He had to be careful before he could make his escape.

Looking at the young boy before him, he put on a friendly smile and asked, “Have you seen the Imperial Noble Consort? What kind of person is she?”

Xu Yi’an glanced at him, sounding a bit speechless. “The Imperial Noble Consort is in the palace. How could I have seen her?”

Zhu Man said matter-of-factly, “Perhaps you’ve been to the palace? Or at least you should have heard others talk about her?”

Xu Yi’an was momentarily choked for words. He wanted to refute him, but he had actually seen the Consort. After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, “She is quite good.”

“That’s it?” Zhu Man curled his lip. “You’re not being honest.”

Xu Yi’an: “…”

He really wanted to have a proper talk with this “silly” Princess, but looking up and seeing his furrowed brows and worried expression, the words died in his throat.

He remembered how nervous he had been the first time he met the Consort. The Princess was likely the same. Besides, it wasn’t as if he were being asked something forbidden, so answering wouldn’t hurt.

“The Consort dotes on the Prince very much.” Xu Yi’an finished bandaging He Tianyun and spoke while packing his things. “I don’t know about others, but she was very kind to me. She told me to tell Nanny Du if I had any difficulties in the future and that she would help if she could. I only need to take good care of the Prince.”

Zhu Man understood. “Love me, love my dog.”

Xu Yi’an nodded. “I am just a lowly doctor, and yet the Consort was so easy to talk to. You are the Princess Consort; you don’t need to worry.”

Zhu Man laughed and reached out to tap his forehead. “I wasn’t worried. I was just teasing you.”

Xu Yi’an: ?

Xu Yi’an instantly puffed up like a pufferfish in anger, grabbed his medicine box, and left.

Zhu Man let out a soft laugh.

Xu Yi’an’s words had lightened his heart considerably. As long as he could pass the hurdle of the Imperial Noble Consort, he only needed to find the right time to run away.

Just as he was pondering this, his forehead was suddenly slapped with a “pah.”

Zhu Man covered his forehead and frowned at the culprit.

Seeing him look over, He Tianyun smiled and poked at the hand resting on his forehead. “Princess! Princess!”

Seeing this, Zhu Man also smiled and asked, “What is it?”

He Tianyun looked at him and said slowly, “Mother Consort, very good. The palace is very, very big, with many, many fun things.”

Zhu Man had indeed been a bit afraid of meeting the Consort, which was why he had asked those extra questions. He hadn’t expected He Tianyun to say such things and was momentarily stunned.

Was this meant to be an attempt to comfort me?

Zhu Man laughed again. “You aren’t entirely a fool.”

Hearing this, He Tianyun gave a silly grin, pointed at him, and said slowly, “Princess, wife.”

“So you even know what a ‘wife’ is,” Zhu Man said. “Do you know what ‘wife’ means?”

He Tianyun nodded, pointed to himself, and said, “Mother Consort said, a wife is for sleeping together.”

Zhu Man: “…”

Why on earth would anyone teach this fool that?

Speechless, he shook his head and stopped pursuing the topic. Instead, he said, “Now that the flowers are picked and the injuries are treated, can we go to the palace?”

Upon hearing the words “go to the palace,” He Tianyun pouted and began to shout loudly, “Nanny! Nanny!!”

Before long, Du Pingniang came rushing over, asking gently, “I’m here, I’m here. What’s wrong, My Lord?”

He Tianyun continued to pout without speaking.

Zhu Man had to explain, “I said we should go to the palace, and then he became like this.”

Du Pingniang laughed when she heard this and soothed them, “I sent word to the palace about this earlier. The Emperor and the Consort said that if the Prince doesn’t want to go, then he doesn’t have to.”

Zhu Man was surprised. “That’s actually allowed?”

Du Pingniang smiled. “The Emperor and the Consort have always doted on the Prince.”

Zhu Man immediately gained a sense of just how favored He Tianyun was, and at the same time, he found He Tianyun even more pleasant to look at.

Not having to go to the palace? That’s fantastic.

“Since we don’t have to go to the palace, I’ll head back to my own courtyard first.” Zhu Man stood up with a smile, eager to leave.

But He Tianyun was unhappy again. He reached out and threw his arms around Zhu Man’s waist: “Princess! Don’t go!”

Zhu Man was held fast and couldn’t move, so he had to turn back and ask, “What do you want me to do then?”

He Tianyun said, “Sleep. Sleep together.”