After Disguising As A Woman To Marry The Foolish Prince, I Became Pregnant - Chapter 9

When the carriage arrived at the Zhu Manor, the entire household was already waiting in the courtyard.

The “return to the parental home” was traditionally the day for a son-in-law to pay his respects to his parents-in-law, but since He Tianyun was a member of the Imperial family, the Zhu family had to perform the salutations to him instead.

Zhu Man stood at the very front, pulling He Tianyun along with him. Watching his father lead the entire family in kneeling on the ground gave him an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

His gaze swept through the crowd, finally landing on a figure in the corner. He walked straight toward her and helped her up.

Standing beside him, He Tianyun’s eyes widened the moment he saw the person’s appearance: “Princess!”

Zhu Man’s expression stiffened, and she looked at Zhu Man with a hint of nervousness.

Zhu Man gave her a reassuring smile, then took her hand and led her back to stand before the rest of the group.

This brief interaction was actually quite short—so short that it made Zhu Zhixing’s heart pound with anxiety.

His eldest daughter had always been timid and would never dare to behave with such an attitude.

He suddenly had an ill-omened premonition, but since Prince Zhao had not spoken and the “Princess” had not “spoken” either, he could not stand up.

Zhu Man indeed had no intention of letting them rise. Instead, he pushed Zhu Man forward, letting her take a good look at this scene.

As for He Tianyun, he was naturally simple-minded; he usually just stood there blankly when others bowed to him, relying on those around him to speak. Seeing that Zhu Man had no intention of speaking, Pan Fu stepped forward and said, “Everyone may rise.”

Only then did Zhu Zhixing stand up, his eyes immediately searching for his daughter.

The newly appointed Princess Consort Zhao was dressed in a vibrant, brilliant red today, looking like a blooming flame. However, the look she gave him was cold—a stark contrast to her brother standing beside her, who was dressed plainly and appeared timid and anxious.

The two looked remarkably similar, but their personalities were completely different. Zhu Zhixing realized the truth almost instantly, and his heart sank halfway.

“You… you…”

“What about me? Are you not happy to see me return, Father?” Zhu Man raised an eyebrow at him. That spirited and triumphant look made Zhu Zhixing’s blood boil, his face flushing red with rage.

The angrier he became, the happier Zhu Man felt. He turned to Pan Fu and said, “Bring in the items I prepared for my brother.”

Pan Fu acknowledged the order and immediately commanded the servants to move the items.

Soon, several men carried in a few chests and set them down.

Zhu Man said, “These are the betrothal gifts I’ve added for my brother. Hua Jian, lead the way and have them delivered to my brother’s quarters.”

Hua Jian answered and led the men and the chests toward the courtyard where Zhu Man lived, leaving not a single item behind.

Zhu Zhixing’s face turned green.

It wasn’t that he was greedy for those things, but Zhu Man’s actions were essentially grinding his dignity into the dirt. Normally, he could have beaten him within the manor, but today was different. If he laid a hand on Zhu Man in front of the Prince’s staff, it would be an open provocation to the Imperial family.

Standing to the side, Zhu Man also began to smile with pursed lips. She gently tugged on Zhu Man’s sleeve and gestured slightly: “Going back?”

“You go back first,” Zhu Man said, reaching out to pat her head. “I still have to go see Mother.”

Zhu Man immediately frowned again, her grip on his sleeve tightening.

Zhu Man comforted her, “She couldn’t do anything to me before, and she certainly can’t now. Go on, don’t worry.”

Zhu Man still refused.

Zhu Man had no choice but to say, “Hua Jian was injured at the Prince’s manor; go check on him.”

Zhu Man became nervous. After hesitating for a few moments, she let go and turned to find Hua Jian.

Only then did Zhu Man look at He Tianyun beside him. He flashed a gentle smile and asked, “Do you want to come with me to see Mother, or stay here and keep my father and the others company?”

He Tianyun looked at him with confusion.

Seeing that he didn’t understand, Zhu Man smiled. “Forget it. My father is getting on in years; I’m afraid he won’t be able to handle your antics. I’ll find someone to accompany you.” As he spoke, his gaze swept over the crowd and landed on a man of similar age to himself.

That man had been whispering something to the person next to him with a mocking smile, which he didn’t have time to retract when their eyes met.

Zhu Man smiled instantly, causing the man to freeze and frown slightly.

This was Zhu Tianci, Zhu Man’s younger half-brother. Being only a year younger than Zhu Man, the two had always been at odds; nothing good ever happened when they crossed paths.

Sure enough, a moment later, he heard Zhu Man say with a smile, “Why don’t we let Tianci do it? As a son, it’s only right for you to share Father’s burdens, isn’t it? However, as you know, the Prince is innocent and pure, and the Imperial Concubine dotes on him dearly. If he gets a single bump or scratch, the Imperial Concubine will be furious.”

Zhu Tianci’s expression froze instantly.

Zhu Zhixing’s expression also soured upon hearing this. He hurried to say, “It’s better if I—”

“Your Highness,” Zhu Man said, not even bothering to listen to him. He turned to He Tianyun. “Will you go and play with my younger brother?”

He Tianyun nodded and turned his gaze toward Zhu Tianci.

Zhu Man then looked at Pan Fu and instructed, “Keep an eye on the Prince.”

Pan Fu agreed. Only then did Zhu Man turn around, completely ignoring Zhu Zhixing as he headed toward the inner chambers.

Pan Hong had been waiting in the room for a long time. When she saw “her,” her expression remained cold, but the annoying, nitpicking air she usually carried was gone. However, the daughter standing beside her remained unchanged.

Just as Zhu Man was about to say something, the maid following him spoke first: “The Princess has returned; the Madam need only perform a half-salutation.”

Pan Hong was stunned and looked at Zhu Man with a frown.

Zhu Man smiled at her. “There is an order to status. Mother always teaches us to observe etiquette; you must lead by example.”

Pan Hong’s expression changed drastically. “You…”

Zhu Man glanced at the maid beside him, who had come from the Prince’s manor.

Pan Hong dared not say anything more. She took her daughter’s hand, stood up, and performed a bow: “Greetings to Princess Consort Zhao.”

Zhu Man curled his lips but didn’t respond. He walked straight to the seat Pan Hong had originally occupied and sat down.

Pan Hong’s face turned pitch black, but she said nothing. However, Zhu Tianhui, standing behind her, did not have such a good temper: “Zhu Man, you—”

“Tianhui!” Pan Hong barked at her sharply. “Shut your mouth!”

Zhu Man laughed. “That’s more like it. We are a family; we share our fortunes and our hardships, don’t we?”

Hearing this, Pan Hong’s face became incredibly unsightly.

It couldn’t be said that she was intimately familiar with the siblings, but she naturally knew that Zhu Man was mute. Therefore, from the moment Zhu Man spoke, she understood everything.

She also knew that Zhu Man sometimes impersonated his sister, but she hadn’t expected his audacity to be this great. If the Emperor found out, it would be the crime of deceiving the monarch.

Zhu Man admired her ever-changing expression, felt satisfied, and stood up. “Since I’ve paid my respects, I’ll go find my brother now.” As he spoke, he looked at the two maids following him. “There’s no need for you two to follow.” Without waiting for Pan Hong’s reaction, he left and headed for his own courtyard.

Zhu Man and Hua Jian were currently in the courtyard, facing a hurriedly arriving and fuming Zhu Zhixing. When Zhu Man entered, he saw his father raising a hand to strike Zhu Man. He rushed over and pulled her away.

Zhu Zhixing hadn’t expected him to return so quickly. The slap swung through empty air, and he froze.

Zhu Man said furiously, “I dare you to try and hit her!”

Zhu Zhixing finally snapped out of it, his rage shifting instantly toward him: “You rebellious son! Do you have any idea what you are doing?!”

Zhu Man pulled Zhu Man behind him and confronted him: “What right do you have to ask me that?”

Zhu Zhixing roared, “I gave you life and raised you! Do you think I don’t have the right?!”

“You don’t!” Zhu Man retorted. “The one who risked her life to give birth to me was Mother. What does it have to do with you? Stop flattering yourself!”

“You still have the face to say that?! If it weren’t for you two jinxes, how could your mother have died?!”

“If I were a jinx, I would have swept you out of the house long ago! You bringer of misfortune, how dare you mention my mother! My mother had the destiny for a long life; she was incredibly unlucky to marry you! If you hadn’t cursed your wife, how could she have died?!”

“How dare you! Do you realize you’re going to bring ruin to the entire Zhu family?!”

Both were heated in their argument until those words were spoken. Zhu Man suddenly paused, looking at Zhu Zhixing’s rage-reddened face, and smiled.

“So, you are afraid of death.” Zhu Man’s tone calmed down. “Then did you ever think about what would happen to Manman if she married into the Prince’s manor?”

Zhu Zhixing fumed, “She went to be a Princess! What could she possibly be dissatisfied with in such a great marriage?!”

“If it’s such a great marriage, why didn’t you arrange it for Zhu Tianhui?” Zhu Man’s gaze turned cold. “Don’t tell me it’s because Manman is the older sister; Zhu Tianci’s wedding date is already set, yet I, the eldest brother, haven’t even been betrothed.”

Zhu Zhixing cursed, “How old is Tianhui?!”

“How old? Old enough for Pan Hong to start scouting for a husband,” Zhu Man said. “We both know exactly what kind of person you are. There are no outsiders here; you don’t need to play the benevolent father.”

Zhu Zhixing was panting with rage. “I am still your father!! What you are committing right now is the crime of deceiving the monarch!”

“Then if you don’t want to involve the whole family, keep the secret well,” Zhu Man said. “Anyway, you’ve been hiding it for so many years; you should be used to it.”

Hearing this, Zhu Zhixing’s expression became even worse. “Do you think the Emperor doesn’t know?”

Zhu Man froze.

Seeing this reaction, Zhu Zhixing’s anger dissipated slightly, replaced by anxiety. He said, “She went to be a Princess; naturally, the Imperial family would investigate thoroughly! Once married, the fact that she is a mute would inevitably be exposed. I would have to be insane to try and hide that!”

Zhu Man’s face changed as well. “So, the Imperial Concubine knows as well?”

“Nonsense!” Zhu Zhixing snapped. “Do you realize now what a disaster you’ve caused?!”

Zhu Man’s expression turned grim. The thoughts in his mind felt like they had been pulverized into a chaotic mess.

Just as he was about to ask more, he heard someone calling for him and was startled.

“Young Master,” it was a maid from the manor. “The Prince and the Third Young Master are fighting!”

Zhu Man’s already confused mind became even more bewildered.

He Tianyun… fighting with someone?

He didn’t have time for more questions and hurriedly followed the maid to find them.

Just as he stepped into the garden, before he could even ask about the situation, a figure blew past him like a gust of wind.

“Your Highness? You…”

“Princess!”

Before Zhu Man could finish his sentence, He Tianyun grabbed him in a tight hug, burying his entire face in the crook of Zhu Man’s neck. His tone was pitiful, as if he had suffered a great grievance.