Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir - Chapter 29.2

Zhen Qian Qiu nodded.

Dr. Lin continued, “As for the frequency of intimate relations, the report indicates the current situation is very healthy, so the two of you can adjust as you see fit.”

Yu Zhi Tao froze.

Unconvinced, she asked, “Are you sure?”

“Because I feel like… the current frequency is a bit too high.”

Her intention was to have Dr. Lin, from a professional standpoint, advise Zhen Qian Qiu—this beast—to tone it down.

But Dr. Lin merely glanced at the report again and stated matter-of-factly, “But… the report shows that your body also craves physical closeness.”

“Pregnant Omegas naturally require their Alpha’s pheromones for comfort. You should be wanting it—or at least not rejecting it, right?”

The moment these words were spoken, Yu Zhi Tao’s face burned crimson.

She wanted to argue, but against the cold, hard data from the machine, any protest felt hollow.

Zhen Qian Qiu, on the other hand, was delighted.

A faint smile curled her lips as she nodded slightly at Dr. Lin. “Understood. Thank you.”

Dr. Lin hastily waved her hands. “No need, no need. It’s my duty.”

She checked the time. “The head nurse should have everything prepared by now. If you have no further questions, you can head there for the related course.”

Zhen Qian Qiu nodded. “Alright.”

Too embarrassed to speak, Yu Zhi Tao trailed behind Zhen Qian Qiu like a wooden puppet, waving stiffly at Dr. Lin before fleeing the examination room.

It wasn’t until the course began and the head nurse’s professional explanations captivated her that she gradually regained her composure.

After the session, they picked up Xiao Jiu, their kitten, who had undergone a checkup and vaccinations, and headed back together.

Having not seen her pet in a while, Yu Zhi Tao was overjoyed at the reunion.

Xiao Jiu seemed to have missed her too, clinging motionlessly to her the entire way. It was only when Zhen Qian Qiu worried the kitten might tire Yu Zhi Tao’s arms that she took it back.

By noon, the two returned to the palace.

After lunch and a short nap, Zhen Qian Qiu left to attend to official business.

During the peaceful afternoon, Xiao Jiu dozed in the sunlight while Yu Zhi Tao, with Gu Ying Ying’s help, gathered some archaeology course materials and attempted to study on her own.

At that moment, a maid entered and announced that someone had come to visit.

Upon inquiry, Yu Zhi Tao learned that it was Yu Zhi Huai.

Since the banquet that day when they had parted in front of the palace, the two had not seen each other again.

Yu Zhi Tao was excited and quickly instructed the servants to bring Yu Zhi Huai into the parlor.

She changed out of her comfortable nightgown and put on a presentable outfit before stepping out.

Yu Zhi Huai was eating a pastry the size of a baby’s fist when she appeared. Seeing her, he hastily set the food aside.

“Big sis! You’re here!” As he spoke, tiny crumbs sprayed from his mouth.

Yu Zhi Tao burst into laughter and reassured him, “Go ahead and eat, no need to rush.”

Blushing, Yu Zhi Huai washed down the pastry in his mouth with a drink brought by a maid.

Yu Zhi Tao watched him leisurely. “Did you skip lunch? You seem so hungry.

“Do you want me to have another plate brought for you?”

Yu Zhi Huai quickly waved his hands. “No need.

“I—I was just a little nervous, so I ate a bit more.”

“What are you nervous about?” Yu Zhi Tao asked curiously.

Yu Zhi Huai shot her an exasperated look. “This is the palace, you know! What if I accidentally run into the Emperor?

“Just thinking about it makes my heart race. There happened to be some food on the plate, so I… I took a bite…”

Yu Zhi Tao puffed her cheeks. “Don’t worry, she’s not here.”

“Ah?” Disappointment was evident on Yu Zhi Huai’s face. “The Emperor isn’t here?”

Yu Zhi Tao teased, “What, do you really want to see her?”

Rubbing her chin, she recalled, “If I remember correctly, you used to hate Ah Jiu so much you wished she’d vanish from our sight.”

Yu Zhi Huai stretched out his hands in despair, as if about to kneel and beg her not to bring up his past blunders.

“I—I didn’t know she was the Emperor back then… If I had known earlier…”

“What then?” Yu Zhi Tao pressed.

Yu Zhi Huai’s face turned an odd shade of red as he muttered, “I would’ve asked her to hit me a couple more times.”

The absurdity of his words made both siblings burst into laughter.

After the laughter subsided, Yu Zhi Huai finally relaxed a little.

He asked, “Big sis, how have you been in the palace? Are you settling in alright?”

Yu Zhi Tao pressed her lips together before answering, “It’s fine. With Ah Jiu by my side, there’s nothing I’m not used to.”

After sharing her own situation, she turned the question back on him. “What about you? How have you been these past few days?”

Remembering what Zhen Qianqiu had told her earlier, she pressed further, “Father and Mother have returned home, right?

“Are they doing alright?”

Yu Zhi Huai flushed slightly. “After how they treated you, you still care about them?”

Yu Zhi Tao sighed.

“Looking back, the situation was chaotic, and I wasn’t entirely blameless either.”

As a soul from another world, she had little emotional attachment to Yu Zhi Tao’s parents.

But from Yu Zhi Tao’s father’s perspective, she was his biological daughter, raised for nearly twenty years.

When his daughter ended up pregnant before marriage, his fury was understandable.

Of course, she still couldn’t condone some of his harsh actions, and even now, the memory made her angry.

Yu Zhi Huai nodded in understanding.

“They were technically detained, but Father and Mother just stayed in the palace for a day and a night. After that, the Emperor arranged for them to be sent home.

“They’re fine, nothing’s wrong.”

Yu Zhi Tao nodded. “That’s good.”

This kind of mutual non-indebtedness was exactly what Yu Zhitao wanted to see.

But Yu Zhihuai soon frowned again and brought up another matter: “But… recently, the elders in the family have been quite upset with Father’s behavior.”

“They’re discussing… it seems they no longer want Father to be the family head. They want… they want me to take over the family business.”

Yu Zhitao was momentarily stunned, then immediately felt happy for Yu Zhihuai.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

Yu Zhihuai spread his hands: “I haven’t even graduated yet. How can I shoulder the family’s responsibilities?”

Yu Zhitao comforted him: “Don’t worry, the elders must have considered that.”

“Here’s what you do: focus on your training while preparing for military academy, and start learning to manage some family affairs at the same time.”

“By the time you graduate smoothly, everything will fall into place naturally.”

Yu Zhihuai let out a sigh: “I hope it works out that way.”

“And… how is Father taking the loss of his position as family head?” Yu Zhitao asked again.

Yu Zhihuai nodded.

“He was depressed for most of the day, but last night he came downstairs and had dinner with Mother and me.”

“Although he didn’t say anything, I think… he’ll gradually come to accept it.”

Yu Zhitao smiled: “After all, he’s passing the family business to you. There’s nothing for him to regret.”

“You need to stand up and do even better than he did.”

Yu Zhihuai pleaded: “Big sis, stop talking. The more you say, the more pressure I feel.”

Yu Zhitao nodded.

After taking a sip of water to moisten her throat, she asked: “So you came today just to tell me these things?”

Yu Zhihuai shook his head.

He cleared his throat and said seriously: “You might not believe this, but I was summoned to the palace by Her Majesty’s order.”

“I’ve been wanting to visit you for the past few days, but couldn’t get permission until now.”

Yu Zhitao looked surprised: “A-Jiu called you here?”

Yu Zhihuai nodded: “She said we needed to discuss…”

He glanced at Yu Zhitao sheepishly: “…discuss your marriage with Her Majesty.”

However, since he arrived too early and Zhen Qianqiu still had other matters to arrange, she had him sent here first to keep Yu Zhitao company.

Hearing this, Yu Zhitao blushed.

Yu Zhihuai seized the opportunity to ask: “So, big sis, are you really… getting married?”

“So that document doesn’t need Father’s signature anymore? Her Majesty handled it for you directly?!”

Yu Zhitao nodded.

She explained: “Since the school only gave us one month’s deadline… the wedding arrangements are quite rushed too.”

Yu Zhihuai’s face flushed with excitement.

He began to stammer: “Th-th-then, does that mean Her Majesty is really going to be my sister-in-law?!”

Although he’d had a premonition, only now with the confirmation from the person involved did he dare to fully express his emotions.

What does it feel like when your idol, seemingly out of reach, suddenly marries your sister one day?

Yu Zhihuai felt so happy he could ascend to heaven on the spot!

Yu Zhitao grabbed him: “Calm down.”

Yu Zhihuai was breathing rapidly, clearly extremely excited: “How can I calm down, big sis? That’s Her Majesty we’re talking about!”

“The great hero who led the Imperial Army in a three-day-and-night battle to drive the Qizhe people away! Wow, big sis, you’re amazing.”

“Her Majesty conquered the universe, and you conquered Her Majesty!”

Yu Zhitao wished she could find a hole to crawl into from embarrassment.

What did he mean by her conquering Her Majesty?

It was clearly that beast in human skin, Zhen Qianqiu, who had her completely pinned down!

Yu Zhitao could only feign seriousness and reminded him, “We’re still in the palace.”

Her words had an immediate effect. Yu Zhihuai glanced at the maids nearby and finally calmed down.

He then realized his own impropriety, and as embarrassment washed over him, his face flushed from his neck to the tips of his ears.

Yu Zhitao changed the subject, “If it was A-Jiu who called you here, you’ll probably see her soon.

“As for the wedding preparations… I’ll have to trouble you these days.”

“Not at all, not at all,” Yu Zhihuai laughed. “I’m more than honored!”

Yu Zhitao teased, “Are you really up for it?

“I’m afraid your legs might go weak again when you see A-Jiu later.”

“How could that be?” Yu Zhihuai puffed out his chest. “After all, I’m now the Emperor’s future brother-in-law.

“I hold a high status now—I’m not afraid of her at all!”

In front of Yu Zhitao, he boasted without restraint.

But when Zhen Qianqiu’s subordinate actually arrived to escort him to the meeting hall, his courage faltered.

Forcing himself to bid farewell to Yu Zhitao, he spent the entire journey pestering the guard.

“Where is Her Majesty? Are we going to see her now? Will I meet her alone or with others? Brother, do you think my outfit is appropriate? Should I go home and change my tie first?”

The guard was thoroughly exasperated.

Without turning his head, he replied, “You’ll find out when we get there. No need to be so nervous.”

Yu Zhihuai held his breath. “I’m not nervous at all. I’m perfectly calm.

“So, do you think this tie is a bit too flashy? Hey, your uniform looks great—is it standard issue in the palace? Can I get one too?

“Oh, and could we stop by the restroom first? I think I drank too much water at my sister’s place.”

This time, the guard simply pretended not to hear and quickened his pace, leading Yu Zhihuai forward at a near sprint.

After all, Yu Zhihuai was an Alpha—there was no worry he couldn’t keep up.

Fifteen minutes later, they finally arrived at their destination.

The guard inwardly sighed in relief. “Her Majesty is inside. You may enter on your own.”

Yu Zhihuai’s lips trembled. “R-really can’t we stop by the restroom first?”

The guard imagined himself as a statue—seeing nothing, hearing nothing, reacting to nothing.

Yu Zhihuai pouted.

Left with no choice, he mustered his courage and stepped forward to knock.

Three seconds later, the door opened from within.

Wan Qing stood at the entrance, coming face-to-face with Yu Zhihuai.

Incidentally, the two had met at a banquet two days prior.

Back then, Zhen Qianqiu had personally dragged Yu Zhihuai down from a railing, and Wan Qing had privately dismissed him as some clueless fool who appeared out of nowhere.

But now that the truth had come to light, she understood why Zhen Qianqiu had treated him differently.

Seeing him again, Wan Qing could still recall Yu Zhihuai’s dazed expression that night.

She gave a slight nod. “Come in.”

Yu Zhihuai swallowed hard.

“Th-thank you.”

Wan Qing’s lips curved slightly.

Deep inside the meeting room, Zhen Qianqiu had just concluded an appointment and was organizing documents.

Yu Zhihuai approached slowly.

After waiting a couple of seconds without Zhen Qianqiu acknowledging him, he took two deep breaths and tentatively called out in a soft voice, “Y-Your Majesty.”

Zhen Qianqiu finally looked up.

Yu Zhihuai had originally intended to perform a simple curtsy, but under her indifferent gaze, his legs gave way.

With a “thud,” he dropped to his knees.

Zhen Qianqiu was also taken aback.

Her indifferent expression earlier wasn’t directed at Yu Zhihuai specifically—it was simply her usual demeanor when not interacting with Yu Zhitao.

Seeing Yu Zhihuai suddenly perform such a grand bow left her momentarily stunned.

“Ahem, there’s no need for that. Get up.”

Yu Zhihuai gripped the nearby chair, struggling to rise.

A moment later, he grimaced. “Y-Your Majesty, my—my legs feel weak.”

Wan Qing, standing at the far end of the conference table, couldn’t help but feel secondhand embarrassment for this future imperial brother-in-law.

She took a deep breath, intending to step forward and help, but Zhen Qianqiu moved faster.

Rising from her seat, Zhen Qianqiu personally reached out and pulled Yu Zhihuai up from the floor.

She even pulled out a chair for him.

Finally able to sit, Yu Zhihuai exhaled quietly in relief.

But the moment he recalled the foolishness he had just displayed, his face flushed a deep crimson.

Zhen Qianqiu glanced at him.

“Before, whenever you saw me, you’d always glare and turn red, but at least you were more composed than this.

“Am I more intimidating now?”

Yu Zhihuai waved his hands frantically. “N-no, not at all!”

He scratched his ear awkwardly. “I-I just had poor judgment back then and offended you.”

Zhen Qianqiu replied coolly, “You couldn’t offend me even if you tried.”

Yu Zhihuai could only laugh awkwardly.

Zhen Qianqiu eyed him with skepticism.

“I was planning to have you stand in for your father and escort Zhitao down the aisle at the wedding. Can you… handle that?”

Given Yu Zhihuai’s current state, she had doubts about whether he could endure such a grand occasion.

Yu Zhihuai immediately perked up, eyes wide. “Your Majesty, I can!

“I swear on my name and honor—I’ll fulfill your task with my life!”

This was exactly the reaction Zhen Qianqiu had feared.

Something about it…

felt unreliable!

But for now, there seemed to be no better alternative, so she nodded.

“Fine.

“Then for the next few days, set aside two hours every afternoon at 3 PM. I’ll have Wan Qing guide you through rehearsals.”

Yu Zhihuai nodded eagerly. “Understood.”

Zhen Qianqiu twirled a pen in her fingers.

She could only hope that repeated practice would toughen up her future brother-in-law—maybe then, Yu Zhihuai would stay calm during the ceremony.

Time passed swiftly as wedding preparations continued.

One morning, with the wedding drawing near, the royal designers delivered the completed wedding gowns to the palace for Yu Zhitao and Zhen Qianqiu to try on.

There were several dresses in total. The first few, being simpler, could be tried on in their private chambers.

The final piece—Yu Zhitao’s main wedding gown—had a train that stretched a full hundred meters when fully unfurled.

Thus, the fitting location shifted from their quarters to a grand hall on the palace’s eastern side.

This venue, typically used for musical and dance performances, was spacious enough to accommodate the full display of the empress’s wedding dress.

Yu Zhitao was thrilled.

The gown was exquisite, and even with the assistance of her attendants, it took over ten minutes for her to fully dress.

Once ready, she approached the door.

Peeking through a small gap, she surveyed the outer room.

The walls on three sides were lined with mirrors, resembling a modern dance studio.

Zhen Qianqiu, already dressed, stood before one of the mirrors, waiting with her head slightly bowed.

Her gown was also white, but far simpler in design compared to Yu Zhitao’s, with far fewer embellishments.

The high waistline of the skirt, combined with Zhen Qianqiu’s naturally striking height and proportions, created the visual illusion of legs stretching endlessly.

This chiffon dress seemed tailor-made to complement Zhen Qianqiu’s aura.

Yu Zhitao’s gaze locked onto her, utterly transfixed.

It wasn’t until Zhen Qianqiu noticed her “peeking” that the spell broke.

The peerlessly beautiful empress smiled. “Why don’t you come out?”

Yu Zhitao instinctively touched her lips first—

Afraid her earlier staring might have left her drooling.

Only after confirming no such embarrassment had occurred did she reply, “I… I don’t look as good as you. I didn’t dare come out.”

No one could maintain confidence in their appearance before Zhen Qianqiu—not even her beloved.

Zhen Qianqiu approached her.

Bracing a hand against the doorframe, she leaned close to Yu Zhitao’s ear, murmuring, “To me, you’ll always be beautiful.”

“Though if I had to choose, I think you looked most beautiful last night… in my arms.”

Flustered and indignant, Yu Zhitao pushed her away.

While physical distance was created, the warmth of those whispered words seeped straight into Yu Zhitao’s heart.

She cleared her throat softly.

“Step back. I’m coming out.”

Obediently, Zhen Qianqiu moved aside.

Maids slid the doors open as Yu Zhitao adjusted the elaborate folds of her skirt before gliding forward.

Zhen Qianqiu’s expression shifted from amusement to awe, her eyes gradually misting with a luminous glow.

She’d never envisioned marriage or lifelong commitment before.

But after meeting Yu Zhitao, she couldn’t fathom a future without her.

Holding her breath, Yu Zhitao slowly closed the distance between them.

Upon reaching Zhen Qianqiu, she lifted her arm, seeking her hand.

Zhen Qianqiu clasped it tightly.

Yet mere handholding couldn’t quell the tempest within her. Overcome, she attempted to pull Yu Zhitao into an embrace.

To her surprise, Yu Zhitao resisted immediately.

“Ah—no, no, don’t!”

Zhen Qianqiu froze mid-motion.

She froze for a moment before asking, “What’s wrong?”

Yu Zhitao withdrew her hand and carefully adjusted the voluminous skirt again.

“Don’t get too close to me. What if the skirt gets crushed?”

She wrinkled her nose seriously. “It took me forever to put this on.”

Zhen Qianqiu stood rooted in place, stunned.

After processing this, she asked, “So you’re saying I have to stay a meter away from you the entire ceremony?”

Yu Zhitao turned to admire the extravagant gown in the mirror.

She spun in a circle before replying earnestly, “Hmm… is a meter too close? Maybe a bit farther?”

“Ah-Jiu, you have to be careful—you absolutely cannot step on my skirt.”

Zhen Qianqiu was at a loss for words.

She never imagined that the thing keeping her from getting close to Yu Zhitao would be a tiny wedding dress.

This was clearly beyond the empress’s understanding.

So, she turned to the waiting designer and asked, “Can’t the skirt be made smaller?”

The designer smiled apologetically. “Your Majesty, the empress’s wedding gown has always followed this standard design.”

Yu Zhitao stopped her. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Gazing at her reflection, she couldn’t help but preen a little, smugly declaring, “Isn’t this perfect? I think the big skirt looks amazing—it hides flaws and makes my waist look tiny.”

A glimmer of amusement flickered in Zhen Qianqiu’s eyes.

She wasn’t angry—just found the sight of Yu Zhitao rejecting her for the sake of a dress somewhat…

Alluring.

At that moment, the designer stepped forward to discuss their fitting experience.

She took their feedback and meticulously noted adjustments needed.

After twenty minutes, the fitting finally concluded.

After admiring the dress a while longer with Yu Zhitao, Zhen Qianqiu said, “That’s enough. Let’s go change.”

Yu Zhitao nodded in agreement.

She turned toward the dressing room, only to find Zhen Qianqiu following her.

At the door, Yu Zhitao asked, “What are you doing here?”

Zhen Qianqiu signaled for the two attendants inside to leave.

Supporting Yu Zhitao into the room, she murmured, “I’m here to help you.”

Before Yu Zhitao could refuse, the door clicked shut.

Guessing Zhen Qianqiu’s intentions, Yu Zhitao immediately shielded her skirt.

“Zhen Qianqiu! I’m warning you—don’t you dare ruin my wedding dress!”

This was the first time she had ever used Zhen Qianqiu’s full name outside of bed.

Clearly, Yu Zhitao was flustered.

Zhen Qianqiu tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Do you know what I’m planning?”

Yu Zhitao rolled her eyes.

Zhen Qianqiu chuckled.

She reassured her, “Actually, if you cooperate, the dress will be just fine.”

With that, she stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Yu Zhitao’s waist.

Unnoticed, Zhen Qianqiu’s pheromones had already filled the room.

Immersed in the scent of an ancient forest, Yu Zhitao felt as if she were drowning.

She tried pushing her away, but her strength and voice were feeble. “The skirt’s wrinkling.”

“It’s fine,” Zhen Qianqiu murmured, nuzzling her cheek while discreetly reaching for the hem.

In the end, under Zhen Qianqiu’s coaxing and deception, Yu Zhitao relented.

Despite repeated assurances that the dress would be unharmed, Yu Zhitao was nearly in tears afterward at the sight of the crumpled skirt.

The designer pretended not to notice, promising that a quick press would restore it to perfection.

Even so, Yu Zhitao gave Zhen Qianqiu a resentful glare.

She swore to herself that tonight, she would definitely make Zhen Qianqiu sleep in the cat bed with Xiao Jiu!