Drunk on Madness - Chapter 63

Fortunately, Zhou Mingxuan hadn’t drunk much, and the effects of the drug soon wore off. After arranging their clothes, he carried Li Xiang back to the room to clean up.

Li Xiang’s back was quite badly injured, and Zhou Mingxuan, being somewhat heavy-handed, was afraid of hurting her again. He called for Aunt Fang and Nanny Liu to attend to her.

Li Xiang lay on the carved pearwood bed, her snow-white back marked with three bloody red welts. Upon closer inspection, a few small gravel fragments were embedded in the skin. Fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and her exposed slender waist trembled slightly, adding to her delicate appearance.

Nanny Liu quickly lowered her head and began tending to the wounds on Li Xiang’s back.

Aunt Fang, noticing Li Xiang’s pale complexion, took her pulse and suddenly asked, “Second consort, how long has your monthly cycle been delayed?”

Li Xiang stiffened. Just then, Nanny Liu touched the wound, causing a sharp pain. Li Xiang’s delicate brows furrowed, and her shoulders trembled slightly as she replied, “There were too many things happening last month, so I didn’t pay attention. It seems it’s been over a month since it last came.” After speaking, she bit her lower lip gently.

Zhou Mingxuan used his sleeve to wipe the fine sweat from Li Xiang’s forehead, his eyes filled with remorse. Afraid she was in pain, he leaned close to her medicated back and blew a soft, warm breath. The gentle warmth brushed against her skin, causing Li Xiang to freeze instantly.

Li Xiang glanced at Zhou Mingxuan’s action; he didn’t seem to think there was anything inappropriate about it. She quickly grabbed his hand and said, “Stop blowing.”

Zhou Mingxuan immediately ceased at her words.

Aunt Fang looked somewhat embarrassed and gave a light cough before continuing, “Second consort, you are two months pregnant.”

Li Xiang was startled and propped herself up to look at Aunt Fang. Zhou Mingxuan’s ears turned red, and he quickly turned his gaze toward Aunt Fang as well.

Thinking Li Xiang was worried about having jostled the child in her womb, Aunt Fang reassured her, “Don’t worry, Secon consort, the baby is healthy. Just drink a bowl of miscarriage-preventing medicine later, and all will be well.”

Li Xiang’s heart sank. It had only been a little over a year since she gave birth to Yiyi and Qingqing, and she had always been careful about contraception, except for that one time with Su Mo. A nameless fire seemed to burn in her heart, and her eyes flickered with uncertainty.

Clenching her fingers, Li Xiang suppressed the panic in her heart and said, “Thank you, Aunt Fang.”

After the medicine was applied, Nanny Liu and Aunt Fang withdrew.

Zhou Mingxuan brushed the stray hairs from Li Xiang’s forehead behind her ear. He explained how he had been drugged and apologized once again.

With her back injured, Li Xiang could only lie on her stomach for the time being. Distracted by thoughts of the child in her womb and unsure of what to do, she paid little attention to Zhou Mingxuan’s explanation. She reached out and covered his chattering mouth, saying, “Alright, I know you didn’t do it on purpose.”

“You’re so outstanding and likable. Naturally, there will be women who try every means to get close to you. You’re still the Crown Prince now, and in the future, if you become the Emperor, there will be even more such women. This is only the first one, and you can’t handle it?”

Zhou Mingxuan, hurt by her teasing attitude, looked deeply into her eyes and said, “I have no interest in them. My heart belongs only to you.”

Li Xiang had never doubted Zhou Mingxuan’s sincerity toward her, but it was precisely because of his deep affection that she and Su Mo had been unable to be together. Should she be grateful for his misplaced love? Or resent him for his selfishness? Her feelings were complicated.

Zhou Mingxuan caught a flicker of evasion in her eyes, and a sense of helplessness washed over him.

Suddenly, Li Xiang leaned close and pressed a kiss to his lips, comforting him as she said, “I know, I’ve always known that you like me and dote on me.” That was why, in the end, she had chosen Zhou Mingxuan. Perhaps it was because of their children, or perhaps because she was tired of the three-way entanglement.

Zhou Mingxuan’s eyes instantly lit up, and he couldn’t help but spread his arms as if to embrace the whole world. The joy in his heart surged like ocean waves, impossible to calm.

She knew, and she was willing to accept him. Even if he wasn’t as important as Su Mo in her heart, there was undoubtedly a place for Zhou Mingxuan.

Li Xiang felt slightly relieved seeing how happy he was. She knew Zhou Mingxuan was easy to appease. Sometimes, Li Xiang felt he was very much like a child, sensitive, quick-tempered, full of energy, and exceptionally easy to placate. It was hard to imagine what he would be like sitting on the throne as emperor.

The relationship between the three of them had just settled down when the arrival of the child caught Li Xiang completely off guard. Her mind was a tangled mess. Privately, she wanted to keep the child, but she felt guilty toward Zhou Mingxuan. If she were to abort it, she would need to find a suitable reason.

After much deliberation, Li Xiang ultimately chose to conceal the truth from Zhou Mingxuan and give birth to Su Mo’s child. Yet, every time she saw Zhou Mingxuan gently caress her belly with tender care in his eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt and shame.

This sense of indebtedness made Li Xiang realize her inadequacy toward Zhou Mingxuan. She tried to cherish him and make up for it through her actions. She began asking Nanny Liu for advice on how to care for him and how to please him.

She would feel sorry for his restraint during her pregnancy and help him relieve it. Every day, she would send him his favorite snacks or dishes.

When they had nothing to do, they would disguise themselves and leave the palace to play, picnicking in the bamboo grove, stargazing hand in hand.

Unconsciously, summer passed. Su Mo had been gone for half a year, and Li Xiang’s belly slowly swelled, beginning to show.

The weather gradually turned cold, and outside the capital, the world was frozen, with biting winds howling.

Seeing the increasingly chilly weather, Li Xiang wanted to knit a scarf for Zhou Mingxuan. She didn’t know how to make the intricate robes of this era, nor was she skilled in needlework or embroidery. The only thing she could manage was knitting scarves, in her previous life, she had knitted one for her mother. She could still remember some of the stitches.

She had someone fetch silk thread and sharpened thin bamboo sticks and began knitting the scarf by the warm stove.

Qingyi came over and, seeing her fiddling with the threads, asked curiously, “What strange thing are you making?”

Seeing her interest, Li Xiang explained, and Qingyi wanted to give it a try herself.

After some experimentation, Li Xiang teased her, “As a princess, who are you planning to give this to?”

Qingyi’s eyes sparkled, and the corners of her lips curled slightly, but she said nothing.

Seeing her like this, Li Xiang was sure she had a sweetheart. “Is there something going on?”

After some questioning, Li Xiang learned that Qingyi and Zhao Jingrui were deeply in love, and Lord Zhao had already requested the emperor’s permission for their marriage. The decree was expected within the next couple of days.

Hearing this, Li Xiang’s eyes filled with delight. As a princess of the nation, Qingyi was undoubtedly fortunate to marry the one she loved, with mutual affection. As a friend, Li Xiang naturally complained that Qingyi had kept her secret romance hidden from her.

Just as Li Xiang was teasing her for prioritizing love over friendship, Zhou Mingxuan returned to Shaoyang Courtyard.

Zhou Mingxuan entered the warm room and said, “Qingyi has grown up and naturally has her own ideas. She can’t discuss everything with you, her sister-in-law.”

Seeing her brother mocking her, Qingyi quickly stood up to leave. “Brother Crown Prince, it wasn’t my idea alone, it was…” Before finishing, her face flushed, and she ran off.

Watching Qingyi’s reaction, Li Xiang turned to Zhou Mingxuan. “Is she angry with you?”

Zhou Mingxuan shrugged it off. “Probably not. More likely, she’s just embarrassed.”