Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir - Chapter 25.1

“Thud.”

Yu Zhihuai’s legs gave way, and he dropped to his knees.

A second of silence enveloped the surroundings, followed by muffled snickers.

Yu’s father couldn’t bear to look at his foolish son, yet couldn’t just leave him there either.

With eyes shut, he hauled the young man up before bending over to blend into the background like a statue.

Finally regaining his senses under the crowd’s amused gazes, Yu Zhihuai struggled to stand,

He knew full well he’d just made an utter fool of himself.

As he stood there awkwardly staring at the ground, a gentle woman’s voice sounded before him.

“Are you alright?”

Yu Zhihuai looked up.

Truth be told, seeing her face from this angle felt strangely novel.

Previously whenever he’d seen Ah Jiu this close, he’d always needed to tilt his head up.

But now, by slightly lowering his gaze, he could count the lashes on her eyelids.

This realization struck him immediately.

Though bearing ninety percent resemblance to Ah Jiu, the princess before him was an entirely different person.

Ah Jiu was an Alpha, towering over him in height.

Yet this princess emitted no trace of pheromones, a pure Beta.

And she was far more delicate than ordinary Betas, appearing even more Omega-like than the actual Omega Empress Dowager standing nearby.

Taking a deep breath, Yu Zhihuai stammered, “I-I’m fine.”

Princess Zhen Wuyou covered her lips with a sleeve, chuckling softly.

Rising on tiptoes, she patted his shoulder: “Next time we meet, I expect to see you in better form.”

Yu Zhihuai’s face instantly turned beet red.

Fortunately, the princess in her courtly gown gracefully turned and returned to the Empress Dowager’s side, continuing the procession.

He exhaled in profound relief.

Onlookers naturally assumed his blush stemmed from shyness.

But they were wrong, only Yu Zhihuai knew he’d nearly died of fright moments earlier.

Could anyone imagine that perpetually cold, expressionless face he’d always disliked suddenly grinning at him with such warmth?

He half-expected nightmares tonight.

Before he could compose himself, his father’s hand hovered near his throat as if ready to strangle him.

Through gritted teeth, the older man hissed, “Must you constantly embarrass me?”

Yu Zhihuai hastily retreated two steps: “Father, please, we’re still at the banquet!”

“If we weren’t, you’d already be choking,” his father glared murderously.

Raising his hands in surrender, the young man pleaded, “I was wrong, truly.”

With spectators still watching, Yu’s father lowered his hand.

“Go home immediately,” he ordered, “and don’t cause any more scenes.”

Ignoring the anger, Yu Zhihuai pressed his burning question: “Father… could the princess have any sisters?”

His father laughed bitterly: “Why do you think she’s called the Eldest Princess?”

“Huh?” Yu Zhihuai scratched his head. “Because she’s the emperor’s elder sister?”

Still not connecting the dots, he asked, “What’s that got to do with my question?”

The older man’s pitying look clearly said: This son is beyond redemption.

Under such a highly alert gaze, Yu Zhihuai’s brain finally returned to its proper function.

Of course, the Grand Princess had a sister, and that was the reigning Empress.

Upon reaching this conclusion, Yu Zhihuai was instantly thrown into chaos.

He flailed wildly, twisting himself into the shape of an ancient Earth’s rare creature, the mandrill, while desperately trying to explain, “You mean no, what I meant was uh, no, that’s not it either, Father, I.”

His father couldn’t take it anymore and smacked his hand hard.

Tears welled up in Yu Zhihuai’s eyes from the pain.

His father barked, “Right now, immediately, this instant, go home and reflect on your actions!”

The pain brought a sliver of rationality back to Yu Zhihuai.

Sniffling, he said, “Mm… If you want me to leave, fine. But, but you have to sign Sister’s documents for her.”

If Yu Zhitao knew he was still thinking about her paperwork at a time like this, she’d probably be deeply moved.

What a model younger brother for the Empire!

His father was thoroughly exasperated.

He relented, “Fine, fine! Go get the documents. I’ll sign all ten of them for you.

“Once they’re signed, you and your sister are both going home immediately!”

Hearing this, Yu Zhihuai finally perked up.

He nodded vigorously. “You said it! I’ll go right now, wait here for me!”

Without needing further prompting, he dashed off like the wind.

Leaving his father alone, forced to maintain an awkward smile under the amused gazes of his colleagues as he continued socializing.

Meanwhile, on Yu Zhitao’s side.

The female attendant checked the nearby smart terminal and said, “Pregnant individuals attending the banquet must register in advance. I’ve checked, and you haven’t filed any prior notice.”

Yu Zhitao stiffened slightly. “You need to register beforehand?”

“Yes,” the attendant confirmed. “The banquet serves many alcoholic beverages and desserts unsuitable for pregnant individuals.

“With prior notice, the staff can better guide and protect you.”

Yu Zhitao froze.

Originally, only Yu Zhihuai in the Yu family knew about her pregnancy.

And Yu Zhihuai, being a young master, would have no idea about such formalities.

Thus, this misunderstanding had occurred.

Collecting herself, Yu Zhitao asked, “Can I submit the notice now?”

“Of course,” the attendant replied.

After tapping on the smart terminal for a moment, she frowned. “You’re Miss Yu, Yu Zhitao, correct?

“The records show you don’t have a legal spouse. We’ll need your parents to come assist with the process.”

Yu Zhitao panicked.

Because Omegas were physically frailer than average, this world placed stringent protections on pregnant Omegas.

Unlike Beta pregnancies, Omega pregnancies required a partner’s pheromones for timely soothing to ensure the health of both mother and child.

In some more conservative star systems, cases like hers unwed pregnancies weren’t even permitted.

In places like the Capital Star or Academia Star, while allowed, they still required a legal spouse or parental guardianship to ensure the pregnant Omega’s well-being.

Naturally, if her records had shown she was married, this step wouldn’t have been necessary.

Yu Zhitao took a step back. “I, I’ll contact them first.”

The attendant moved closer. “Let me escort you to the lounge. You can wait there for your parents to arrive.”

Yu Zhitao nodded and followed her to a small reception room nearby.

She sent a message to Yu Zhihuai, informing him of her current situation.

Unfortunately, Yu Zhihuai didn’t reply immediately.

He was at the banquet, and she had no idea what was happening there. Not daring to call him recklessly, she could only send a few more messages before shutting off her smart device and waiting in the reception room.

As time ticked by, her anxiety and frustration grew.

How had she, just by being pregnant, suddenly turned into a helpless burden?

Yu Zhitao sighed helplessly.

Meanwhile, Yu Zhihuai arrived at their agreed meeting spot.

He had thought that after being delayed by his father, Yu Zhitao might have been waiting there for a long time.

But to his surprise, when he got there, he couldn’t find her anywhere.

He asked around both guests and waitstaff but no one had seen her.

Just as he was about to open his smart device to check for messages, a commotion erupted in the banquet hall.

“The Empress is here!”

“It’s really her! And I see Deputy Wan too, oh my god!”

“Of course, the Empress wouldn’t miss the banquet welcoming the Eldest Princess. Let’s go!”

The voices of the crowd reached Yu Zhihuai’s ears, and he froze.

The questions about the Eldest Princess that had been swirling in his mind earlier resurfaced.

He hadn’t dared to dwell on them before, but now, the truth seemed about to unfold before his eyes.

Without hesitation, suppressing his racing heart, he followed the crowd as they surged toward the central stage in the banquet hall.

The crowd was too dense, packed with many Omegas, and Yu Zhihuai, trying to be polite, ended up being pushed to the back.

Using his height to his advantage, he jumped to peer over the crowd, but still couldn’t see anything.

After a futile struggle, he suddenly noticed the second-floor corridor along the edge of the banquet hall.

The corridor was elevated, and though it was a bit far from the central stage, it offered a perfect view of everything below.

This way, he could not only catch a glimpse of his idol, the Empress, but also look for his sister.

Without wasting another second, Yu Zhihuai sprang into action.

He left the crowd, found the stairs leading to the second-floor balcony, and climbed them two at a time.

After some effort, he secured a spot with the best view along the railing.

Leaning over, he craned his neck to look toward the stage where the crowd had gathered.

With his sharp Alpha vision, he quickly spotted a petite, beautiful woman standing on the stage, smiling as she addressed the audience.

“Isn’t that the Eldest Princess? Where’s the Empress?” Yu Zhihuai wondered.

From his vantage point, only the Empress Dowager and the Eldest Princess stood on the stage, along with their guards and attendants.

The Empress everyone had been talking about was nowhere to be seen.

Yu Zhihuai refused to give up.

Determined to get a better look, he leaned even farther over the railing, straining to catch sight of his idol.

Below, some guards noticed him and began waving urgently.

“Sir, it’s dangerous! You can’t do that!”

“Sir, come down! You’re not allowed up there!”

But with the Eldest Princess speaking, they didn’t dare raise their voices too loudly.

Yu Zhihuai barely heard them, but what struck him as odd was that despite their frantic expressions, none of the guards actually moved to come up and stop him.

At first, he was a bit scared, but after confirming they really weren’t trying to stop him, he grew bold again.

An Alpha wasn’t raised to be timid!

He made a few gestures downward, signaling, “I’ll come down after I’m done looking, don’t worry.”

After saying that, he turned his attention back to the center of the hall.

The guards were getting anxious.

The way he looked, it was as if he couldn’t wait to step onto the railing and fly straight to the high platform!

They were pacing frantically below, but Yu Zhihuai was thoroughly enjoying the view.

Just as he smacked his lips, wondering if he should move to the other side of the corridor for a better angle, he suddenly felt himself being dragged backward by the collar and pulled off the railing.

“Cough, ugh! Let me go, let me go!” Yu Zhihuai flailed his arms and shouted.

Finally released, he snapped angrily, “What the hell?”

But the moment he took in his surroundings, his bravado vanished.

At some point, five or six people had gathered in the corridor.

All of them wore specially tailored military uniforms, looking both imposing and dignified.

There were men and women among them, and the insignias on their shoulders were so dazzling they nearly blinded Yu Zhihuai, who had never seen such grandeur before.

The Yu family had generations of politicians, with only one Alpha elder in the previous generation having pursued a military career.

Yu Zhihuai had seen the uniform and insignias that elder left behind at home.

But compared to the attire of these individuals, that set was nothing not even in the same league.

The leader, whose shoulders bore the most insignias, was the one who had just plucked him off the railing.

Her long hair was tied simply at the back, and a visor covered most of her face.

Yu Zhihuai inexplicably found her familiar. As he studied her, Wan Qing stepped forward and restrained him from behind.

The technique was so professional that Yu Zhihuai didn’t even have room to struggle.

Slowly, he realized he must have offended some high-ranking official and was about to be hauled away.

But the next moment, the woman at the front waved her hand.

Having served Zhen Qianqiu for so long, Wan Qing understood every gesture.

Though puzzled, she immediately released Yu Zhihuai.

And just like that, Yu Zhihuai was left standing there, unattended.

Dumbfounded, he stood frozen beside the group, utterly bewildered.

Zhen Qianqiu ignored him. She walked to the spot where Yu Zhihuai had been standing and clapped her hands toward the people below.

The sound wasn’t loud.

At first, only the guards who had been watching this area noticed her presence.

They immediately dropped to one knee and called out, “We welcome Your Majesty.”

Soon, like ripples from a stone thrown into water, the entire banquet hall took notice.

From near to far, people gradually reacted.

Without hesitation, they abandoned the Crown Princess mid-speech and turned toward the corridor on the second floor.

Men knelt on one knee, while women gracefully lifted their skirts and curtsied.

“We welcome Your Majesty.”

“We welcome Your Majesty.”

“We welcome Your Majesty.”

In an instant, the focus of the entire banquet hall shifted completely.

In this star system, this nation, this palace, there was only one person worthy of such universal reverence and submission.

Zhen Wuyou stood before the specially prepared microphone, her expression complicated as she looked up at Zhen Qianqiu on the second-floor corridor.

But she quickly reined in her sharpness, even stepping back to take her mother’s hand, persuading her to bow and curtsy toward Zhen Qianqiu as well.

“We welcome Your Majesty.”

In the corridor, Yu Zhihuai stood frozen like a statue.

Through the gaps in the railing, he clearly saw his own mother looking flustered in the crowd below, and his father whose face cycled through shades of black, green, red, and purple.

At this point, escape was impossible!

The only thing he could do was raise his hand slightly to wave at his father, hoping it might calm the man’s rage.

Father Yu trembled violently, lowering his head desperately, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.

If heaven would give him one more chance, he swore he would have personally ended this foolish son’s life the moment Yu Zhihuai showed disrespect to the Grand Princess earlier!

But the foolish son remained oblivious.

After the banquet hall attendees paid their respects, Wan Qing and others behind Zhen Qianqiu bowed in military salute.

Not completely stupid, Yu Zhihuai mimicked them, placing his left hand on his right shoulder as he bowed his head.

“Rise,” said Zhen Qianqiu.

With her permission, everyone finally straightened up, returning to normal composure. Yu Zhihuai also raised his head.

“The Grand Princess’s recovery and return to her position is joyous news for the empire, and something I’ve long awaited.”

“Tonight’s banquet celebrates this grand occasion, and I thank you all for attending…”

Zhen Qianqiu spoke at a measured pace, using simple, concise language.

After briefly explaining the significance of tonight’s event and offering blessings to Grand Princess Zhen Wuyou, Yu Zhihuai initially listened attentively before gradually zoning out.

That back view of the Empress looked increasingly familiar.

During that period, he’d escorted his elder sister and her lover to the station daily, trailing behind them like an eager puppy.

Now, with Yu Zhitao absent, only this familiar silhouette remained before him, he couldn’t possibly fail to recognize it.

Yet the pheromones in the air felt wrong.

He knew A-Jiu’s scent well, that stale, rotting wood aroma he’d always found cheap and low-class.

But this legendary Empress carried the pure, profound fragrance of untouched timber, evoking vast primordial forests, simultaneously perilous and brimming with vitality.

Yu Zhihuai grew bewildered.

Thus he stared blankly at her, lost in thought for several minutes.

When Zhen Qianqiu finished speaking, everyone bowed again to see her off.

Still dazed, Yu Zhihuai mechanically copied Wan Qing’s salute before mindlessly following the group toward a second-floor lounge.

Only when blocked by Wan Qing at the doorway did he snap back to reality.

“This is Her Majesty’s private lounge. Outsiders aren’t permitted entry,” Wan Qing stated coldly.

Yu Zhihuai jolted: “M-my apologies, I—”

He bowed deeply, preparing to leave immediately.

But Zhen Qianqiu’s voice came from inside: “Let him enter.”

Both Wan Qing and Yu Zhihuai froze.

Wan Qing recovered first, stepping aside to clear the path.

With the boldness of youth, Yu Zhihuai eagerly entered upon hearing the summons.

The second floor housed VIP lounges, even featuring virtual screens displaying the banquet hall below.

Disinterested in socializing downstairs, Zhen Qianqiu planned to rest here before potentially leaving early.

Now she watched Zhen Wuyou resume speaking on the central screen while gently stroking Xiao Jiu.

Xiao Jiu stretched lazily, enjoying her owner’s caresses while idly licking her paws.

The Emperor in her black military uniform and the pure white kitten formed an oddly harmonious picture.

When Yu Zhihuai entered, he didn’t know what to do, so he just stood dumbly in the middle of the room.

The officers who had been gathered around Zhen Qianqiu were all observing him, scrutinizing him as if trying to find out why Zhen Qianqiu would take an interest in such a reckless person.

Zhen Qianqiu, however, was completely at ease.

She lifted her chin slightly and gestured, “Sit.”

Yu Zhihuai took a seat on a chair not far across from her.

Xiao Jiu wanted to go over and sniff Yu Zhihuai but was stopped by Zhen Qianqiu.

She pinched the back of Xiao Jiu’s neck and looked at Yu Zhihuai before suddenly asking, “Were you the one who gave her those boxes of medicine?”

After throwing away those boxes of contraceptives, Zhen Qianqiu had figured it out.

Yu Zhitao had been glued to her side all day, and she knew everything the girl had bought.

But those contraceptives weren’t even available on the capital planet, they were only sold on another commercial planet. Yu Zhitao, being a penny-pincher, wouldn’t have spent a fortune to get them.

After some thought, the only suspect was Yu Zhihuai, who had once spoken to Yu Zhitao behind her back.

Yu Zhihuai froze.

His mind was a mess as he asked blankly, “What medicine?”

Zhen Qianqiu named the drug while signaling Wan Qing to hand her the spare smart device.

While Yu Zhihuai was still confused, she opened the messaging interface.

Around 6:30 p.m., she had sent Yu Zhitao a message asking if she had eaten on time, but there was still no reply.

Zhen Qianqiu suddenly felt a little disinterested.

Just then, she noticed an unanswered call from about an hour ago.

This call had come from Heng Ying, who was on the distant Academic Planet.

A few days ago, Heng Ying had also tried to contact her.