Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir - Chapter 26.2

Jiu gave her a resentful glare before nimbly leaping into Dr. Lin’s arms, this person carried the scent of both her masters.

Wan Qing didn’t mind. “So, does this mean our empire truly has a little heir now?”

Dr. Lin nodded with a smile. “I’ve drawn a small blood sample from Her Highness the future Empress to run a match with His Majesty’s. It’s practically a certainty.”

“Wonderful!” Wan Qing clenched her fists in exhilaration.

Panting slightly, she made a request. “Dr. Lin, after the matching is done, could you prepare some documentation for me?”

“Her Majesty has called a meeting with the Elder Council tomorrow. I must deliver the news of the heir right to their faces!”

Lately, due to the previous diagnosis that the Emperor had lost his reproductive capabilities, Zhen Qianqiu had endured no end of grievances from the Elder Council. This time, Wan Qing was determined to repay them with interest.

Dr. Lin glanced at Xi Shuwen and added, “This was also an oversight on your team’s part.”

“After all the examinations showing His Majesty’s improvement and the frequent marital activities, how did none of you consider the possibility of a child?”

Xi Shuwen raised her hands in surrender. “Please, don’t tease me.”

“I’ve been silent this whole time precisely because I’ve been reflecting on that very oversight.”

She sighed. “Back then, our entire team was focused on His Majesty’s health recovery. Who could’ve imagined this outcome?”

“Who knew that after disappearing for three months, His Majesty would return not only with restored health but also with an heir,”

“Wait, no.” Mid-sentence, Xi Shuwen corrected herself, counting on her fingers. “This is actually three blessings in one.”

“His Majesty’s recovery, the future Empress, and now an imperial heir!”

Wan Qing nodded in agreement.

She exhaled deeply, murmuring, “His Majesty has endured so much in the past.”

“From now on, I only hope she and her future Empress can live happily, free from all those unsavory disturbances.”

Xi Shuwen and Dr. Lin exchanged a meaningful glance before their gazes inadvertently drifted toward the direction of the Empress Dowager’s chambers.

Meanwhile, back with Yu Zhitao.

After the medical staff departed, the bedroom returned to silence.

A short while later, Zhen Qianqiu returned.

She sat on the edge of the bed, taking Yu Zhitao’s hand as she asked, “Feeling better now?”

Yu Zhitao hid half her face under the blanket. “Much better.”

The whole ordeal, getting so worked up over nothing that she gave herself a stomachache, causing an entire entourage to fuss over her was frankly embarrassing if word got out.

Zhen Qianqiu gently tugged at the blanket covering her face. “You’ll suffocate like this.”

Yu Zhitao resisted, engaging in a playful tug-of-war over the blanket.

With an amused sigh, Zhen Qianqiu said, “Everyone else has left. It’s just me in the room now.”

“Be good. There’s nothing to be shy about.”

Yu Zhitao widened her eyes at her: “Really?”

Though she said this, she still pulled the blanket down herself.

Then, she abruptly sat up on the bed, staring seriously at Zhen Qianqiu. “Ah Jiu, is there something you need to confess to me?”

Her words were phrased as a question, but her tone was firm.

Zhen Qianqiu smiled at her. “I thought you’d already figured it out.”

“You…” Yu Zhitao bit her own fist. “You’re really the Empress?”

She had heard those people addressing Zhen Qianqiu as “Your Majesty” over and over.

Zhen Qianqiu gently wrapped her hand around Yu Zhitao’s fist. “Zhitao, let me reintroduce myself.

“My name is Zhen Qianqiu. Ah Jiu is my nickname.

“As you can see, I am the current Empress of the Huaqi Star Dominion.”

“Mm.” Yu Zhitao covered her face with her hands.

Zhen Qianqiu looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“What have I been doing all this time?” Yu Zhitao mumbled.

Recalling their journey from meeting, living together, to acknowledging their relationship, she had always treated her Ah Jiu as an ordinary person who had faced some hardships in life.

But now, the situation had taken a complete 180-degree turn. Her Ah Jiu was actually the Empress of this nation.

Yet, upon closer thought, there had been many hints about Ah Jiu’s identity.

Like Ah Jiu’s extraordinary combat skills, those vivid dreams at night, and the spaceship Ah Jiu had promised to give her before they parted.

All of these pointed to Ah Jiu’s extraordinary status.

But Yu Zhitao had never imagined she would be the legendary, mysterious Empress.

At this thought, she peeked at Ah Jiu through her fingers. “So, I managed to woo our Empress with just 300,000 star coins?”

Zhen Qianqiu chuckled.

After a moment’s thought, she replied, “You did win over your Empress, but it wasn’t with the 300,000.”

Yu Zhitao tilted her head. “Then what was it?”

Zhen Qianqiu calmly removed her boots and coat, then climbed onto the bed to sit facing her.

“With yourself.”

Yu Zhitao blushed belatedly.

Zhen Qianqiu lowered her gaze to Yu Zhitao’s abdomen. “So, you’re really carrying our child here, aren’t you?”

Yu Zhitao turned her face away. “Didn’t the doctor just explain it clearly?”

Zhen Qianqiu said earnestly, “I want to hear it from you.

“Zhitao, say it to me.”

Yu Zhitao had nowhere to hide, so she turned back to face her.

Just as the words were about to leave her lips, she couldn’t help but smile first.

Then, resting her chin on her knees, she spoke in the soft, tender tone of a girl sharing her most precious secret with the one she loved. “Ah Jiu, we’re going to have a baby!

“I brought her back to you.”

Zhen Qianqiu’s expression froze for a moment before tears welled up in her eyes.

Yu Zhitao had said a lot earlier, and Dr. Lin had already explained the pregnancy in detail.

Even before that, she had pieced it together from the information Yu Zhihuai provided and the words of Yu Zhitao’s parents.

But these clues from others weren’t the joyous news she wanted to hear.

Only when it came from Yu Zhitao’s lips did the news of their child truly hold meaning for her.

“I never thought I’d have a child of my own,” Zhen Qianqiu said, lifting her gaze to meet Yu Zhitao’s eyes. “Not even before I was injured.”

She seemed at a loss. “I don’t know how to handle a child.”

“I don’t want to mold them into someone like Zhen Wuyou, or even someone like me.”

Yu Zhitao noticed her vulnerability and gently cupped her face: “Ah Jiu.”

But Zhen Qianqiu quickly snapped out of that state: “However, Zhitao, do you know something?

“When you told me this news, all I felt in my heart was excitement and gratitude.”

The young emperor, having fought battles for half his life, shed tears for the first time before his beloved and confessed, ” I want a child who looks just like you.”

Yu Zhitao opened her arms and drew Zhen Qianqiu’s head into her embrace.

“You’re so sly, Ah-Jiu,” she whispered softly.

But before Zhen Qianqiu could question her, she continued, “Well, I’ll indulge you this time.

“Next time, I want a child who looks just like Ah-Jiu!”

Zhen Qianqiu hugged her tightly. “Alright.”

With quiet strength, she gently laid Yu Zhitao down on the bed and pressed herself over her.

Gazing closely at Zhen Qianqiu’s face, Yu Zhitao blinked her eyes.

Unable to resist, she lifted her head slightly and planted a soft kiss at the corner of Zhen Qianqiu’s lips.

Then, with an innocent expression, she asked, “Ah-Jiu, are we going to sleep now?”

Zhen Qianqiu traced her fingers slowly along Yu Zhitao’s cheek. “Not yet. Wait a little longer.”

Yu Zhitao caught her hand. “Hmm?”

“The doctor said we need to complete the deep marking soon,” Zhen Qianqiu murmured, pressing a kiss to Yu Zhitao’s forehead. “Zhitao,  are you ready?”

Yu Zhitao’s response was to blush and press another light kiss to Zhen Qianqiu’s face.

Encouraged, Zhen Qianqiu curved her lips and leaned down slowly.

This intimate moment was no different from before, yet somehow, everything felt entirely new.

After baring their hearts to each other, both of them were more open, and the deep marking became far more lingering than the temporary ones they had shared before.

When Yu Zhitao felt Zhen Qianqiu’s teeth sink into the gland at the back of her neck, she was enveloped in the rich scent of sandalwood.

At the same time, her own pheromones seeped into Zhen Qianqiu’s body.

Like wild cherry blossoms drenched in cream, blooming in the heart of a dense forest.

A small whimper escaped Yu Zhitao and Zhen Qianqiu turned her head to kiss away the tears on her face.

Even so, by the end, Yu Zhitao still fell asleep with a smile and tear-stained cheeks.

When she woke again, Yu Zhitao didn’t realize she was dreaming.

Looking at the younger version of Zhen Qianqiu, she mumbled drowsily, “Ah-Jiu, why have you gotten smaller?”

Teenage Ah-Jiu turned her head away coolly.

Only then did Yu Zhitao fully wake up.

She glanced around. “Ah, I’m back again!”

Teenage Ah-Jiu wrinkled her nose. “You slept for a long time this time.”

Yu Zhitao was in high spirits.

She sat up and looked around excitedly. “Wow, Ah-Jiu, you’ve already fixed this place up?”

Teenage Ah-Jiu stood beside her and shook her head. “It wasn’t just me.

“‘She’ seems to have undergone new treatments recently and improved a lot, so this place changed along with her.”

Yu Zhitao understood. “So, Ah-Jiu’s body is getting better?”

Teenage Ah-Jiu nodded. “Probably.”

Overjoyed by the news, Yu Zhitao jumped up on the spot.

But the moment she made such a sudden movement, she immediately hunched over, clutching her stomach.

Teenage Ah-Jiu startled. “What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing,” Yu Zhitao replied awkwardly.

Because of her previous stomach pains, Ah-Jiu had been especially concerned about her condition.

Even during their earlier intimacy, she had frequently asked if Yu Zhitao was uncomfortable.

So when she jumped just now, the memory made her freeze instinctively.

She quickly changed the subject. “You know what?”

“It’s almost identical to the real greenhouse now,” Yu Zhitao remarked with surprise.

The young girl Ah Jiu asked curiously, “Have you seen the real palace?”

Blushing, Yu Zhitao nodded. “Yes… well, by some twist of fate, I entered the imperial palace tonight.”

Suddenly remembering something, she pinched Ah Jiu’s cheeks with both hands. “Ah Jiu, how could you keep this from me for so long?”

In reality, she wouldn’t dare do this to Ah Jiu. Though the thought of tugging at the grown emperor’s cheeks seemed thrilling, every time she reached out, seeing the slightly puzzled look in Zhen Qianqiu’s eyes would make her withdraw her hand guiltily.

But with the young Ah Jiu, it was different! Though still cool and composed, she was just a child after all. Most importantly, like her grown-up counterpart, she was incredibly indulgent and wouldn’t mind such small gestures, right?

Ah Jiu sighed helplessly, “You never asked.”

Yu Zhitao wrinkled her nose in protest. “Something this important, you should have told me whether I asked or not!”

Then, releasing her hold, she said, “Fine, I’m generous. I won’t hold it against you. By the way, where’s our little flower? Have you been taking good care of it? I want to see it!”

She still remembered their agreement about that miraculously surviving flower in this space.

Ah Jiu nodded. “Follow me.” She led Yu Zhitao out of the greenhouse, heading straight for the palace.

Yu Zhitao realized in surprise, “You kept the flower inside the palace?”

Ah Jiu confirmed, “It seems to prefer cooler places.”

“But…” Yu Zhitao grew anxious. “Doesn’t Xiao Wu and her mother still live in the palace?”

At this, realization dawned on her belatedly. If Xiao Wu and that woman who wanted to kill Ah Jiu truly existed, then they corresponded to, the real-life Grand Princess and the Empress Dowager.

Though she hadn’t seen them in person, from Yu Zhi Huai’s earlier descriptions, she knew tonight’s palace banquet was held for that so-called Grand Princess.

The thought made her stamp her foot in frustration. What was Ah Jiu thinking? Why would she host a banquet for that Xiao Wu who was so desperate to harm her?

Ah Jiu, unaware of her anger, simply said, “They’re gone. The palace is ours now.”

Yu Zhitao missed the latter part, stunned. “Gone? How could they just disappear? Did you finally come to your senses and drive them away?”

Ah Jiu turned back. “I didn’t need to drive them away.” She smiled. “‘That person’ came to a realization. These were like inner demons to her once she understood, they could no longer occupy the palace. So I say, the palace is ours now. From now on, only you, me, and that little flower will live here.”

Yu Zhitao stood frozen for a long moment before finally exhaling in relief. “That’s good.”

Though in reality, the Empress Dowager and Grand Princess still existed. She wondered how Ah Jiu would deal with them after this. Yu Zhitao didn’t care about anything else, she just hoped Ah Jiu would follow her heart, be kinder to herself, and break free from their control.

As they walked, they finally arrived inside the palace. The once complex structure had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Gone were the winding corridors and strange rooms of before, the palace now appeared much more spacious.

Sunlight filtered through the frosted glass ceiling, warm and gentle, not the least bit harsh on the eyes.

Following the guidance of the young girl Ah Jiu, Yu Zhitao soon spotted the small flower sprout in the corner.

Compared to the last time, the sprout had grown significantly.

Its bud was now about the size of an adult’s thumb, tightly closed yet poised to bloom at any moment.

Yu Zhitao couldn’t tear her eyes away from its pointed tip.

She asked, “Ah Jiu, what do you think it’ll look like when it blooms?”

The young girl Ah Jiu gazed at it tenderly. “As beautiful as you.”

Yu Zhitao puffed out her cheeks. “How can you compare a flower to me?”

Ah Jiu frowned slightly. “I can’t?”

She continued, “But I can’t think of anything else that could compare to you.”

“Ah?” Yu Zhitao finally caught on, her face flushing.

She was beginning to realize that the Ah Jiu in her dreams was far more candid, her words even more disarming than Zhen Qianqiu’s in reality.

Yu Zhitao coughed lightly. “Of course there is.

“Like you, for example.”

She turned to look at Ah Jiu earnestly. “Don’t you know you’re much prettier than me?”

Ah Jiu froze for a long moment.

After a pause, she shook her head. “I’m not pretty.”

“Nonsense!” Yu Zhitao stood up abruptly. “Do you know why I mustered up the courage to invite her home when I first met her?”

Ah Jiu looked at her innocently. “Why?”

“Because…” Yu Zhitao’s face burned. “Because Ah Jiu is just too beautiful.

“So beautiful that I thought, even if she were a liar or a villain,

“If she’d really come home with me, I’d willingly let her swindle me out of my money or my body.”

Admitting her desires for the adult Ah Jiu in front of the younger version wasn’t easy.

After saying those words, Yu Zhitao wanted nothing more than to vanish into the ground.

But to her surprise, Ah Jiu’s face didn’t redden instead, her brows furrowed.

“So, you liked Xiao Wu from the start too, didn’t you?

“You even said she kissed you.”

“Ah?” Yu Zhitao had no idea how the conversation had taken such a strange turn.

She waved her hands dismissively. “Why bring that up?

“Isn’t she gone now?”

“But she’s still around in reality, isn’t she?” Ah Jiu’s expression turned serious. “And she must’ve grown up just like me.

“Do we still look alike?”

Yu Zhitao played dumb. “I don’t know.

“I haven’t seen her yet.”

Ah Jiu’s expression softened slightly.

But she was still visibly displeased. She said to Yu Zhitao, “When you wake up, tell ‘that person’ something for me.”

Yu Zhitao had a bad feeling. “Wh-what is it?”

Ah Jiu stated bluntly, “Tell her to get rid of Zhen Wuyou before you meet her.

“I don’t care if she kills her or banishes her to some remote galaxy, just make sure you never see her.”

Yu Zhitao laughed nervously. “Th-that’s a bit much. Don’t you trust me?”

The young Ah Jiu tilted her head. “Didn’t you say yourself that you really liked my looks?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Since childhood, everyone has always preferred her.”

“Zhen Wuyou is naturally a delicate Beta, and she’s good at pretending, it’s like she’s born to be loved.”

As she spoke, she stood up, placing her hands on her hips in a serious warning. “Anyway,  you can’t go see her, understand?”

Yu Zhitao quickly raised her hand in promise. “I won’t.”

“I won’t like anyone else. I only like our cool Ah Jiu.”

The young Ah Jiu studied her, as if assessing the credibility of her words.

Yu Zhitao promptly pulled her into an embrace, carefully soothing her.

Come to think of it, in reality, Ah Jiu was a full head taller than her, and during hugs, she was always the one nestling into Ah Jiu’s arms.

But the young Ah Jiu was half a head shorter, perfectly fulfilling her wish to wrap Ah Jiu up in her arms.

“And… well…” After some thought, Yu Zhitao decided to share the news. “I’m pregnant.”

“Ah Jiu and I will have a baby soon.”

“I wouldn’t even glance at anyone else!”

This time, the young Ah Jiu froze for a long while.

She turned her gaze toward the little flower sprout they had neglected for a while. “So that’s how it is.”

Yu Zhitao also caught on. “You mean this sprout is.”

The young Ah Jiu crouched down. “It appeared beside you once while you were asleep.”

“It’s a gift you gave me.”

Yu Zhitao stared at the sprout for a moment before suddenly laughing. “So that’s possible.”

“Seems like our little one has been trying to make their presence known for a while now.”

“We’re just too dense not to have realized it sooner.”

The young Ah Jiu nodded, gently stroking the sprout’s leaves as if holding a baby’s hand.

Yu Zhitao stood quietly behind her, savoring this peaceful moment that belonged only to them.

Meanwhile, in reality, Yu Zhihuai was on the verge of tears.

With Yu’s parents detained, even though the banquet had ended, he didn’t dare leave.

Fortunately, thanks to Zhen Qianqiu’s earlier words, the palace guards.

Having guessed his identity, they dared not stop him recklessly.

Later, with Wan Qing’s approval, he was finally permitted to be taken to the place where Yu’s parents were being held, allowing him to meet them.

Though termed as “detention,” Wan Qing, out of consideration for their status, had chosen a courtyard on the palace outskirts as the location.

Though secluded, the conditions were far from poor, better than the rooms of most luxury hotels.

When Yu Zhihuai entered the room and saw his parents sitting on the edge of the bed, chatting, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Father, Mother, are you both alright?” he called out.

The moment they saw him, it was as if they had spotted a lifeline, immediately bombarding him with questions about the outside situation.

Truth be told, Yu Zhihuai was also a bit bewildered.

“I don’t know much either.”

“But you don’t need to worry. After all, Eldest Sister is still my sister. Given how things have unfolded, the Emperor surely won’t take serious action against us.”

“However,”

He recalled the expressions on his parents’ faces when he and Zhen Qianqiu had arrived at the checkpoint and sighed. “Father, how could you have been so harsh on Eldest Sister, especially when she’s pregnant?”

“You’ll definitely be fine this time, but the Emperor is probably displeased and wants you to suffer a little.”

“Oh dear!” Yu’s mother slapped her thigh. “How were we supposed to know that your sister’s lover was that person!”

“Regardless of who Eldest Sister’s lover is, you shouldn’t have acted that way!” Yu Zhihuai said sternly.

Hearing even her own son say this, Yu’s mother lowered her head and began to reflect.

Yu’s father, however, wasn’t dwelling on the past. Instead, he asked, “Was the Emperor telling the truth that your sister is the future Empress? And the child in her womb will be the Empire’s heir?”

“Then doesn’t that make our Yu family imperial relatives?”

“Father.” Yu Zhihuai rolled his eyes. “You still have the mind to think about that?”

Yu’s father smacked his shoulder. “What do you know?”

“I’m happy for your sister. We only opposed her earlier because we thought she’d found some rogue Alpha. Now that we know her partner is the Emperor, we should be celebrating for her!”

“Speaking of which, you brat, you and your sister knew all along, didn’t you?”

“Why didn’t you tell your father something so important in advance?”

Yu Zhihuai replied, “I didn’t know. I only found out tonight.”

Recalling the earlier events, he still felt a lingering fear.

“I suspect Eldest Sister found out even later than I did. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have.”

He glanced at his father and boldly finished his thought: “Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come back to you just for a mere signature.”

“She could’ve easily asked the Emperor to buy the entire school outright.”

Yu’s father, angered by his lack of respect, raised his hand to hit him again. “You brat, what nonsense are you spouting?!”

Yu Zhihuai wasn’t foolish, he immediately bolted out the door.

Now that he knew his parents were safe and unharmed, his heart was at ease.

“Alright, Father, Mother, I’ll head back now.”

“I’ll come again tomorrow after the Emperor and Eldest Sister wake up.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to get you both home as soon as possible!”

Without waiting for their response, he dashed off like the wind.

Only when he drove back to the Yu residence and entered his room did he finally snap out of his daze. He threw himself onto the bed, rolling around in sheer delight.

“The Emperor is my sister’s partner!”

“The Emperor is my sister’s partner!”

“Ahhhh, the idol is from my family! My nephew is the idol’s child, ahhhh, Yu Zhihuai, you’re amazing!”

After going crazy for a while, he finally calmed down, but still couldn’t suppress the constant upward curve of his lips.