Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir - Chapter 25.2

But at the time, Zhen Qianqiu had just emerged from the healing pod and wasn’t fully recovered, so she hadn’t responded immediately.

By the time she remembered, she and Yu Zhitao had already resumed their usual communication.

Since Heng Ying hadn’t followed up, assuming it wasn’t anything urgent, she had simply set the matter aside.

Recalling this detail now, Zhen Qianqiu thought for a moment before pressing the [Call Back] button.

As the call connected, Yu Zhihuai finally remembered the origin of the medicine.

He nodded. “Yes, I asked a friend to send those over, uh.”

He paused for a moment before adding in a small voice, “But I gave them to my older sister.”

Zhen Qianqiu stared at the screen of her smart device and gave a slight nod.

“Just smelling that medicine makes her unable to stop vomiting.”

Yu Zhihuai was stunned.

He still hadn’t fully processed Zhen Qianqiu’s identity—or rather, he had already guessed.

But his fragile young mind refused to acknowledge the truth.

So he remained in a dazed state, avoiding deeper thoughts about the Empress’s identity and simply answering honestly.

“Ah, right.

“My friend mentioned that this type of medicine has minimal side effects for Omegas, with only one drawback.

“If someone who’s pregnant smells it, they’ll have a physiological reaction of nausea.”

The implications of that statement were enormous.

Zhen Qianqiu took a rare moment to process it.

Then, she looked up. “What did you say?”

Before Yu Zhihuai could answer, the call she had returned to Heng Ying connected on the other end.

Heng Ying’s face appeared on the virtual screen, with the slightly noisy backdrop of a bar visible behind her.

“Your Majesty!”

Sometimes, coincidences just happen to pile up all at once.

Zhen Qianqiu raised her hand to stop Yu Zhihuai from speaking and turned to Heng Ying, asking, “What do you need from me?”

“Oh, nothing major,” Heng Ying replied. “It’s just that the young girl you asked me to keep an eye on seems to have gone missing.”

Zhen Qianqiu shot to her feet.

“Missing? Where? What were your people doing?!”

Heng Ying had been drinking and enjoying herself moments ago, but now her scalp prickled with dread.

She hadn’t expected someone Zhen Qianqiu had casually asked her to watch over to hold such importance in her eyes.

Hastily composing herself, Heng Ying explained, “A few days ago, she suddenly bought a ticket back to the capital planet. I tried to contact you but received no response.

“At the time, I assumed that since she was returning to the capital, she’d be within your jurisdiction, so I didn’t worry too much afterward.

“The girl stayed in the noble district of the capital’s upper city for two days. Then tonight, she was taken away in a luxury car with the license plate ending in AAA56981, heading toward the palace.

“My people lost track of her midway along Third Central Avenue because they couldn’t pass the security checkpoint.”

She spoke quickly, providing precise details. Zhen Qianqiu quickly pieced together Yu Zhitao’s likely whereabouts.

Still, she pressed Heng Ying for confirmation: “Who owns the car with the plate AAA56981?”

Heng Ying swallowed nervously. “I—I haven’t checked yet.”

Zhen Qianqiu let out a cold laugh and abruptly ended the call.

In the dazzlingly chaotic bar, surrounded by lively companions, Heng Ying suddenly felt as if she’d plunged into an icy abyss, a chill creeping down her neck.

One of the girls tried to comfort her, but she pushed them away.

“I’m done for. I’m completely done for,” she muttered, shoving through the crowd. She fled to the parking lot, her face twisted in despair as she drove home, bracing herself for the punishment to come.

Back in the lounge, Zhen Qianqiu fixed her gaze on Yu Zhihuai.

Having overheard the conversation, Yu Zhihuai meekly raised his hand. “AAA56981?

“Uh! I think that’s mine.”

Zhen Qianqiu set the cat down on a cushion, ignoring its indignant meows, and demanded, “Where is Yu Zhitao?”

Yu Zhihuai’s eyes glazed over. “I—I came with her, but I,  I can’t find her now.”

Without another word, Zhen Qianqiu strode past him and left the room.

In the banquet hall, though everyone had returned to listening to Zhen Wuyou’s speech after the Emperor’s earlier departure, their attention had still lingered on the corridor above.

Now, as Zhen Qianqiu reappeared, excitement rippled through the crowd once more.

Zhen Wuyou, who had been mingling with a glass in hand, suddenly noticed the high-ranking officials who had been fawning over her moments ago now turning their attention elsewhere, bowing and calling out greetings to the figure striding swiftly along the upper walkway.

“Your Majesty.”

“May Your Majesty be well.”

“…”

Her face darkened instantly.

Yet, at the same time, Zhen Wuyou felt a flicker of surprise.

She knew her sister all too well.

Before she had bared her fangs, Zhen Qianqiu had been very close to her, and she had long since deciphered her sister’s temperament.

Zhen Qianqiu had few interests—she preferred immersing herself in military life, dividing her days between training and governance, with occasional concern for her sister and mother.

But she was unshakably composed, the type to remain unfazed even if a mountain crumbled before her.

Except for the period when she discovered it was her own sister who had framed her, Zhen Wuyou had never seen her in such a flustered state before.

But now, striding ahead with her close guards like Wan Qing left trailing behind, she looked completely different from her usual self.

Frowning, Zhen Wuyou felt she must have overlooked some crucial information.

Zhen Qianqiu had no time to spare for her at the moment.

From her vantage point on the second floor, a quick scan told her that Yu Zhiyi was nowhere to be seen in the banquet hall.

Not only that, even Yu Zhiyi’s parents, who had been present just moments ago, had vanished.

If Yu Zhiyi hadn’t come to the banquet, where could she have gone?

Telling herself not to panic, she turned to Yu Zhihuai, who had caught up behind her.

Just as she was about to confirm whether Yu Zhiyi had actually entered the palace, she recalled what Yu Zhihuai had said before her call with Heng Ying.

“Pregnant people will feel nauseous when they smell it.”

Zhen Qianqiu’s brows furrowed deeply.

Pregnant? Could it really be true? Without her knowing?

Earlier, Xi Shuwen had mentioned that during the three months she was away, her physical condition had improved significantly.

But she hadn’t noticed any changes herself, nor had she considered the implications for her fertility.

What if, even before her return, she had already recovered enough to get Yu Zhiyi pregnant?

The thought nearly made her forget to breathe.

Skipping any further questions for Yu Zhihuai, she immediately locked onto her target and led her people toward the last checkpoint where the Omega had been examined.

The banquet attendees, unaware of the situation, only saw her descend the stairs and head toward the outer areas of the venue.

Though confused, they wouldn’t miss this chance to get close to the Empress.

Excited, they followed at a safe distance behind Zhen Qianqiu as she strode out.

——

Ten minutes earlier.

Perhaps due to the stuffy air in the restroom, combined with Yu Zhiyi’s already low spirits, she began feeling short of breath after sitting for a while.

The female guard accompanying her noticed her pale complexion and grew concerned.

She approached Yu Zhiyi, asking if she needed a doctor, but was politely refused, which only deepened her worry.

Left with no choice, she contacted Yu Zhiyi’s mother directly.

Just as Zhen Qianqiu had finished speaking, Yu’s mother was stunned by the guard’s sudden call.

Upon confirming that it was Yu Zhiyi, not her own daughter Yu Zhiqiao, who was pregnant, she sighed in relief.

Not wanting to get involved, she immediately informed Yu’s father.

Yu’s father was so furious he could have strangled his children on the spot!

Trembling, he excused himself from his colleagues, found his wife, and together they rushed to the checkpoint.

Yu Zhiyi had been waiting for Yu Zhihuai to help her out of the situation, but when she looked up, it was her long-absent parents standing at the door.

She stood up. “Father? Mother?”

With the guard still present, Yu’s father could only suppress his anger.

“I heard,  you’re pregnant?”

There was no point hiding it now.

Yu Zhiyi nodded. “Yes.”

Gritting his teeth, Yu’s father asked, “So the document your brother asked me to sign earlier—was it the liability waiver for your pregnancy required by the university?”

Yu Zhiyi nodded again.

Pressing her lips together, she said, “Father, I’m sorry.”

“I truly hope you can help me with this. Of course, it’s fine if you refuse.

“I just thought. I should at least try.”

“Try what?” Father Yu approached Yu Zhitao, lowering his voice. “Do you have any idea how much shame you’ve brought upon the Yu family? Huh?”

Yu Zhitao looked up at him: “Perhaps I really haven’t been a good daughter to you.

“But I’m not ashamed of my choices or my child.”

Father Yu laughed in anger.

He grabbed Yu Zhitao’s hand and started dragging her out: “Come with me right now. You’re going home with your mother immediately.”

As he walked, he glared at his wife: “Find a reliable hospital to get rid of that thing in her belly.

“I won’t allow such a scandal to taint the Yu family!”

Yu Zhitao had been docilely letting him pull her along, but upon hearing this, she immediately resisted.

She struggled to break free, protesting: “No! You have no right to do this.”

Father Yu turned to look at her with a cold laugh: “No right?

“Let me tell you, if you dare keep this child, I’ll sever our father-daughter relationship tomorrow!”

There were several palace guards nearby, but their status was too low to intervene.

Without colleagues present, Father Yu still cared about appearances but had fewer reservations.

Yu Zhitao stood her ground: “Then go ahead and sever it!”

Father Yu released her, even raising his hand to strike her.

Fortunately, the palace guards wouldn’t permit such actions.

The female guard who had previously examined Yu Zhitao intercepted Father Yu’s attack, saying coldly: “Mr. Yu, we won’t interfere in family matters, but please refrain from provocative behavior in the palace.

“Otherwise, by law, I’ll have to arrest you.”

Father Yu reluctantly lowered his hand.

Unable to strike, he continued verbally: “Look at yourself, completely bewitched by some stray Alpha.

“You left with such pride before, yet now you come crawling back, needing my signature just to continue your studies.

“Tell me, where is that Alpha who got you pregnant?

“What has she ever done for you besides humiliating you? And you’d cut ties with me for such an outsider?”

Yu Zhitao replied coldly: “This has little to do with her.

“Even before her, didn’t I dare defy you?

“I just want to live my own life, walk my own path, without being controlled by anyone.”

Father Yu’s face flushed red: “You,  just wait.

“Throwing away the bright future of the Yu family for the worst possible path!

“I’m giving you one last chance. If you come begging again, I swear the door will be permanently closed.”

Yu Zhitao wiped away her uncontrollable tears: “I understand.

“Then I’ll never return.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Mother Yu blocked her path: “Zhitao, don’t be foolish!

“Come home with me. We’ll discuss the rest later.”

With Mother Yu blocking the front and Father Yu blocking the rear, Yu Zhitao found herself trapped.

Yu Zhihuai, whom she’d been trying to contact, was nowhere to be found. Even if she made it outside, without Yu Zhihuai to guide her, she couldn’t pass through the security checkpoints again.

Suddenly, Yu Zhitao felt utterly helpless.

Overwhelmed, she crouched down, burying her face in her knees.

Shutting out the surrounding noise, this position finally gave her some small comfort.

Yu’s father’s face turned ashen with anger. Assessing the situation, Yu’s stepmother approached Yu Zhitao and softly coaxed, “Zhitao, look at the state you’re in.

“It’s the Yu family that made you a young lady, giving you the privilege to attend palace banquets. Why must you be so stubborn with your father?

“Come to your senses—your future is at stake. Do you really think the other mother of that bastard in your belly could give you a better life than you have now?”

She wasn’t Yu Zhitao’s birth mother and hadn’t bothered with her since the housekeeper mentioned her return days ago. Seeing Yu Zhitao in such a state now only amused her.

A dignified young lady of the Yu family, reduced to this pitiable condition.

So while her words seemed gentle and persuasive, she was actually maintaining her image in Yu’s father’s eyes while secretly relishing the spectacle, curious to see how much further Yu Zhitao would degrade herself.

But just as she finished her veiled insults, hurried footsteps echoed from the banquet hall.

The next moment, a vaguely familiar voice thundered in her ears.

“Why not?”

At this critical juncture, Zhen Qianqiu had finally arrived.

From afar, she spotted Yu Zhitao curled into herself, arms wrapped tightly around her knees, and her heart clenched as if pierced by needles.

Her shout jolted everyone awake. The guards at the checkpoint recognized her immediately, abandoning their tasks to kneel in reverence.

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

Yu’s father and stepmother froze in shock.

They couldn’t fathom why disciplining their wayward daughter would draw the presence of such an exalted figure.

But they quickly regained their senses and, without hesitation, dropped to their knees like everyone else.

Zhen Qianqiu didn’t even spare them a glance.

She rushed straight to Yu Zhitao and, seeing no response, crouched down urgently, pulling her into an embrace.

“Zhitao? Zhitao?” she whispered tenderly into her ear.

Yu Zhitao was dazed.

Earlier, she had been so overwhelmed with grief that, though she heard the commotion, she couldn’t process what was happening.

Now, hearing that familiar voice, she parted like a fragile seashell cracking open slightly, lifting her head to peek out.

The person reflected in her eyes—

It felt somewhat familiar—even the visor on her face was something Yu Zhitao had seen countless times in her dreams.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether she was in reality or still dreaming. Hazily, she reached out, wanting to remove that obstructive visor.

Zhen Qianqiu didn’t move, indulging her with silent affection.

Seeing this, Wan Qing couldn’t help but take a step forward.

Zhen Qianqiu’s visor was of utmost importance. Having followed her for so long, Wan Qing had never once seen her remove it.

Over time, it had become a symbolic emblem of the young Empress in the eyes of the empire’s citizens.

Yet Zhen Qianqiu showed no intention of stopping the girl. Wan Qing could only suppress the storm of shock rising in her heart and swallow back the words she wanted to say to intervene.

She began to speculate about Yu Zhitao’s identity, suddenly recalling her earlier conversation with Xi Shuwen.

This made her even more hesitant to act recklessly.

And so, Yu Zhitao smoothly removed the visor from Zhen Qianqiu’s face.

The onlookers around them held their breaths, not daring to lift their heads, afraid their gazes might offend the young sovereign.

Only Yu Zhitao took in Zhen Qianqiu’s full appearance.

The tears she had barely managed to stop welled up again. Tossing the visor aside, she wrapped her arms around Ah Jiu’s neck.

“Ah Jiu ,sob,  Ah Jiu…”

She no longer remembered this was the imperial palace, didn’t question why the people around them were bowing, and didn’t wonder how Ah Jiu had appeared here.

All she knew was that her Ah Jiu had returned.

So, at this moment, nestled in Ah Jiu’s arms, she didn’t have to exhaust herself running around for documents or silently endure the humiliation from her parents.

She only needed to stay right here, in Ah Jiu’s embrace.

Zhen Qianqiu gently stroked her hair.

She regretted it.

If she had known it would come to this, she would never have kept secrets.

She would have told Yu Zhitao everything from the very beginning—that her lover was the empire’s sole ruler, that she didn’t need to bow to anyone, that wherever she went, she could walk with absolute confidence.

Instead, she had watched her little peach shrink helplessly under the siege of malice, reduced to tears.

Now, Yu Zhitao was more important to her than her own life.

With that thought, she swept Yu Zhitao into her arms in a sudden motion.

Yu Zhitao let out a small gasp.

The change in position finally made her aware of her surroundings. She realized that the outer area of the banquet hall was now filled with people kneeling on the ground—among them, her father, who had just moments ago tried to lay hands on her.

Fear still lingered in her heart. Trembling, she clutched Ah Jiu’s collar tightly.

“Don’t be afraid,” Zhen Qianqiu whispered in her ear. “I’m taking you away.”

Then, holding Yu Zhitao, she strode forward.

The crowd instinctively parted, bowing their heads as they passed.

As they walked by Wan Qing, Zhen Qianqiu spoke coldly, “Detain Yu Zheng and his wife on charges of attempting to harm the future Empress and the empire’s heir.”

Wan Qing barely had time to process the implications of those words before her mouth moved faster than her mind. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Without looking back, Zhen Qianqiu carried Yu Zhitao away.

Behind them, Yu Zheng, only now realizing the gravity of his actions, felt his vision darken as his legs nearly gave out beneath him.