Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir - Chapter 34

Gu Yingying was walking back from the library with an armful of books when she turned into her dormitory hallway and spotted a figure sitting outside her door from afar.

Startled, she moved closer and realized it was Yu Zhitao.

“Peach!” Gu Yingying rushed to her side in quick strides. “What brings you here?”

Yu Zhitao looked up, meeting her gaze, then stood up with a smile, casually brushing the dust off her skirt.

She turned slightly, revealing the bulging backpack behind her, and said, “Yingying, I want to move back into the dorm. Can you take me in for a while?”

Gu Yingying pulled out her key card while opening the door, chiding gently, “Why would you say that? This dorm is yours and mine, you can come back anytime you want!”

Yu Zhitao was touched. “Yingying, you’re the best!”

Once inside, Gu Yingying poured her a cup of warm water before asking, “Peach, what made you come over so suddenly? And where’s your key card?”

Yu Zhitao wrinkled her nose indignantly. “That jerk Zhen Qianqiu took it away. I couldn’t find it.”

Gu Yingying chuckled helplessly.

Yu Zhitao could freely curse Zhen Qianqiu, but she didn’t dare join in badmouthing the Emperor.

From Yu Zhitao’s tone, she guessed, “So… you came back without telling Her Majesty?”

“Of course not,” Yu Zhitao shook her head.

Just as Gu Yingying was about to sigh in relief, Yu Zhitao lifted her chin proudly and declared, “I left her a note before I left. She’ll see it when she gets back.”

Gu Yingying nearly had a heart attack.

After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Did Her Majesty upset you?”

Yu Zhitao nodded without hesitation. “Yes!

“She’s been getting worse lately. I think we need some time apart to cool off.”

Gu Yingying felt conflicted.

Normally, she wouldn’t interfere in a couple’s affairs, but Yu Zhitao was pregnant. If this resentment wasn’t resolved, it might affect her health. After some hesitation, she decided to help Yu Zhitao sort things out.

Carefully, she asked, “So… what did Her Majesty do?

“I think she’s quite nice and down-to-earth. Could there be some misunderstanding between you?”

Yu Zhitao slumped, resting her chin on her hand. “No misunderstanding.”

She recounted the reason for her “running away”: “Last night, we went out together. I bought an iced juice at the night market and was happily drinking it when she snatched it from me and downed the whole thing!”

Gu Yingying was baffled. “Huh?”

Yu Zhitao continued her grievance: “I’m not stingy, if she drank it, fine, I’d just buy another one!

“But that tightwad Zhen Qianqiu wouldn’t let me have any more! She dragged me away from the juice stand!

“I only had two sips! How could she be so unreasonable?!”

Gu Yingying was speechless. “Uh… that’s it?”

Yu Zhitao grabbed her hand, seeking validation. “Last night, she sweet-talked me into forgetting my anger. But when I woke up this morning and she wasn’t home, the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. So I packed my things and came straight to you!

“Yingying, what should I do to make her realize how wrong she was?”

“Ah…” Gu Yingying felt her mind go completely blank.

After calming down and thinking it over, she reminded Yu Zhitao: “Peach, I think the Emperor probably means well? After all, you’re pregnant now, and you really shouldn’t drink too much iced beverages…ah…”

She couldn’t continue after that.

Because Yu Zhitao’s eyes were gradually misting over, looking utterly pitiful!

Gu Yingying’s heart immediately swayed a hundred thousand miles, how could Zhen Qianqiu possibly say “no” to such a pitiful little peach? She certainly couldn’t bring herself to scold such an adorable, aggrieved little thing!

Gu Yingying quickly changed her tune: “Actually, I think the Emperor is being way too harsh!

“It’s just a glass of juice, what’s the big deal?!”

“Exactly!” Yu Zhitao clenched her little fists. “It’s not like we can’t afford it, why won’t she let me have any?”

Gu Yingying nodded emphatically: “She’s being completely unreasonable!”

Having gained her friend’s support, Yu Zhitao was overjoyed: “I knew you’d take my side, Yingying! Let’s go to the night market again tonight, my treat!

“We’ll each have a glass, and we won’t come back until we’re completely satisfied!”

Gu Yingying’s smile froze: “Huh?”

Yu Zhitao looked utterly innocent: “What? Do you have other plans tonight?”

Though momentarily swayed by her pitiful act, Gu Yingying hadn’t completely lost her senses. At least she remembered that Yu Zhitao was in a special condition and needed to be careful with her diet.

Thinking this, she quickly bent over, clutching her stomach: “Ugh…I, I’m on my period right now, my stomach’s not feeling great. I probably can’t go with you tonight.”

Yu Zhitao was stunned: “Oh…I see…”

Gu Yingying could play pitiful too, and asked: “Sorry, am I ruining the fun? Maybe we should still go, I’ll be fine.”

Yu Zhitao waved her hands: “No no no, if you’re on your period we definitely can’t go! The night market food might be delicious, but hygiene isn’t guaranteed. If you get sick now, you might be ill for a while.”

When it didn’t involve herself, Yu Zhitao could be quite reasonable.

Gu Yingying smiled: “Well, then…let’s go together after I’m better.”

Yu Zhitao nodded: “Yeah, it’s only a few days, I’ll wait for you!”

They pinky promised, then smiled at each other.

After that, they set aside the topic of Zhen Qianqiu and chatted about recent campus gossip. Though the two friends kept in touch online, having this chance to talk face-to-face made the conversation especially enjoyable.

Time flew by, and soon orange clouds filled the sky as evening and dinnertime arrived together.

Just as Yu Zhitao was considering what to have for dinner, there was a knock at the dorm room door.

Gu Yingying was committed to her period act, so Yu Zhitao went to answer.

But the moment she cracked the door open and saw who was outside, her face darkened and she tried to shut it again.

Zhen Qianqiu swiftly blocked the door with her hand.

She seemed puzzled: “Zhitao, it’s getting late. I came to take you home.”

Her expression and demeanor were so unusual that Yu Zhitao suddenly realized something: “You haven’t been back to the apartment yet?”

Zhen Qianqiu said it like it was obvious: “After finishing my business, I came straight here to get you.”

Yu Zhitao crossed her arms.

With her no longer blocking the way, the door opened smoothly but now she herself stood blocking the entrance.

She confronted Zhen Qianqiu: “I never told you I was coming back to the dorm. How did you know my exact location? Zhen Qianqiu, are you spying on me?”

Zhen Qianqiu sighed helplessly.

She stepped forward, intending to pull Yu Zhitao into an embrace, but was coldly pushed away.

Still unaware of the gravity of the situation, she explained, “It’s not spying. I told you before, don’t you remember? There are bodyguards assigned to protect you, and they’re the ones who informed me of your location.”

Of course, Yu Zhitao also had several tracking devices on her to minimize any potential risks.

But Zhen Qianqiu wasn’t foolish enough to reveal that detail.

Yu Zhitao reluctantly accepted the explanation.

She said, “Go back by yourself. I left you a ‘farewell letter’ at home. Read it, and you’ll understand everything.

“We both need some time apart to cool off. Don’t come looking for me these next few days.”

Zhen Qianqiu’s mind worked quickly, and she grasped the implication almost instantly.

She caught Yu Zhitao’s hand before she could shut the door, soothing her, “Why do we need to separate? I don’t think we need any cooling-off period. Whatever happened, just talk to me, okay?”

Yu Zhitao turned her face away angrily. “Well, I need it!

“Anyway, I’m staying with Yingying for a couple of days. When I’ll come back… we’ll see.”

Zhen Qianqiu tightened her grip, just enough to hold her firmly without hurting her and pulled Yu Zhitao into her arms. Though they hadn’t known each other for long, their understanding of one another ran deep. Knowing Yu Zhitao responded better to gentleness than force, she pressed a kiss to her earlobe and murmured in a low voice, “What’s wrong with my queen? Just last night, didn’t you promise to love me forever and stay by my side?

“And now, after barely any time has passed, you’re abandoning me?”

Yu Zhitao’s face flushed as she weakly pushed against her shoulders.

Truthfully, she had grown accustomed to Zhen Qianqiu’s embrace, and truly resisting its warmth wasn’t easy.

After a token struggle that failed to free her, she gave up and relaxed into Zhen Qianqiu’s arms.

She accused, “You dare bring up last night? Last night, I only… only acted that way because you tricked me!”

Zhen Qianqiu chuckled, her breath warm against Yu Zhitao’s hair.

“I don’t believe my brilliant queen could be so easily deceived. Hmm… if someone did trick you, they must have poured their whole heart into it, right?”

Yu Zhitao had no retort.

She lifted her head sullenly and bumped it against Zhen Qianqiu’s chest in frustration. “Bad Ah-Jiu, when did you become so smooth-tongued?”

Just a few months ago, when they lived together in a small apartment in the suburbs of the Upper District of the capital, Zhen Qianqiu had still been a woman of few words. Guessing how many sentences she’d speak each day had been Yu Zhitao’s favorite pastime, a little game she played with herself.

Now, after getting married, Yu Zhitao remained unchanged but Zhen Qianqiu had transformed in many ways.

Of course, all these changes were for the better.

Before meeting Yu Zhitao, the emotionally inexperienced Empress had lived under the oppression of her mother and elder sister, even losing her passion for life at one point.

It was Yu Zhitao, the little Omega who had spent three hundred thousand at the bar to take her away, who had pulled her out of the mire.

After that, not only did she find the courage to break free from her vampire-like family, but she also married the love of her life and was now expecting a child.

Rather than saying Zhen Qianqiu’s personality had changed, it was more accurate to say she had finally shed the shackles that had bound her and rediscovered her true nature.

Yu Zhitao had watched all of this unfold with immense joy. Seeing her “A-Jiu” grow more cheerful and passionate about life had become her driving goal.

But this transformation also came with a small side effect.

For instance, right now, Yu Zhitao was acutely aware that she was no match for Zhen Qianqiu in an argument!

Zhen Qianqiu gently rubbed the top of her head and asked with concern, “Did it hurt when you bumped into me? If you want to hit me, use your fists, or I can find you something else, just don’t use your forehead.”

Yu Zhitao gritted her teeth, feeling an itch in her molars. “I want to bite you!”

Zhen Qianqiu chuckled in amusement. “Oh? Where?”

Yu Zhitao couldn’t take it anymore. Flushing red, she buried her face in Zhen Qianqiu’s chest, she was too embarrassed to show her face!

Zhen Qianqiu waited patiently for her to recover. After a few minutes, she finally brought up the main topic again. “Alright, Zhitao, be good. It’s getting late, let’s head back. Gu Yingying needs to eat and rest too. We shouldn’t disturb her here.”

Yu Zhitao lifted her head and pushed her away. “No!”

She was resolute. “I admit I can’t out-argue you, but I’m not going back with you.

“I said I was moving out, and I’m staying in the dorm! You go back alone. I’ll take Yingying out to eat.”

Zhen Qianqiu hadn’t expected this, she had miscalculated. This time, her coaxing hadn’t worked.

Pursing her lips, she asked, “Why?”

Yu Zhitao huffed. “Hmph! At least Yingying isn’t as petty as you, snatching a drink I only took two sips of!”

Zhen Qianqiu froze for a full three seconds.

Disbelieving, she repeated, “A drink?”

Yu Zhitao bared her teeth. “Yes! My juice!”

Zhen Qianqiu massaged her temples. “So you’re still hung up on that…”

Yu Zhitao was furious. “Haven’t you heard the saying? ‘Only food and love are not to be betrayed.’ That juice was really important to me!”

Now three or four months into her pregnancy, Yu Zhitao had noticed her temper becoming increasingly unpredictable.

A cup of juice shouldn’t have been a big deal, but in her current state, she just couldn’t let it go!

This was partly Zhen Qianqiu’s fault after all, the Emperor herself had spoiled her into this.

So, seeing Yu Zhitao’s stubborn, unyielding attitude, Zhen Qianqiu actually felt a hint of pride.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “Actually, today I specifically had someone buy a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, planning to make juice for you at home. The stuff outside has too much sugar and ice, it’s not good for you or the baby. Let’s go back and make it ourselves. You can have as much as you want, okay?”

Yu Zhitao wavered slightly.

But she held her ground. “No!”

Zhen Qianqiu had no choice but to compromise. “Fresh produce won’t keep long. How about I have someone bring it here and make it for you in the dorm?”

Yu Zhitao thought for a moment, then walked back inside and asked, “Yingying, do you want some juice? Freshly squeezed.”

Zhen Qianqiu followed her in, exchanging a glance with Gu Yingying behind Yu Zhitao’s back.

Having heard everything from inside the room, Gu Yingying wore a smile and nodded at Yu Zhitao in agreement with Zhen Qianqiu. “Mm!”

Yu Zhitao nodded and said to Gu Yingying, “Then let’s make dinner in the dorm tonight. I’ll cook for you, okay?”

Yu Zhitao was now an expectant mother and the Empress of the Empire, how could Gu Yingying possibly let her serve her?

Hearing this, she quickly replied, “No, no! How about this, I’ll do the cooking?”

Yu Zhitao walked over, helped her sit down, and said, “You should rest.”

Lowering her voice, she added, “You’re in a special condition right now, and it’s much harder on you than me. Don’t worry, just watch, I’ll handle it.”

Having exaggerated her illness earlier, Gu Yingying couldn’t risk exposing herself now. She could only shoot a pleading look at Zhen Qianqiu, who was still standing by the door.

Zhen Qianqiu understood, but the next words out of her mouth nearly made Gu Yingying faint.

She said bluntly, “No need to argue. I’ll cook.”

Well, having declined the Empress’s service, the Emperor now intended to take matters into her own hands.

Gu Yingying’s mind went blank. Before she could even formulate a response, Yu Zhitao rolled her eyes dramatically and asked bluntly, “Are you even capable?”

Zhen Qianqiu, utterly indulgent toward her, simply smiled and said, “Never tried before, but with a recipe, I don’t think it’ll be too hard.”

She even reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll take it seriously, it’s for you and the baby, after all.”

With that, she turned and gave an order to the guards. About five minutes later, Wan Qing arrived with a group of people, carrying a large assortment of ingredients.

The student dorms at the university came equipped with kitchens, though Gu Yingying usually ate at the cafeteria, so hers had seen little use. Thanks to regular maintenance by cleaning robots, however, it was spotless and fully functional.

Zhen Qianqiu was the type of person who excelled at anything she put her mind to, if she wanted to, she could make a name for herself in any field.

Once she decided to personally cook for her sulky wife, she pulled up a recipe and got to work with utmost seriousness.

Yu Zhitao had initially stayed outside chatting with Gu Yingying, but before long, the tantalizing aromas wafting from the kitchen caught her attention.

Now pregnant, she was hungrier and more prone to cravings than before.

So, she made an excuse to Gu Yingying, “Yingying, I’m going to supervise a bit, just to make sure Ah Jiu doesn’t ruin dinner.”

Gu Yingying nodded vigorously. “Mm-hmm, go ahead! If you need any help, just call me.”

“No worries,” Yu Zhitao said as she stood up. “I’ve got this!”

With that, she marched into the kitchen with an air of determination.

Just outside, she caught Zhen Qianqiu sipping soup from a small bowl.

Yu Zhitao wrinkled her nose. “You’re sneaking bites already!”

Zhen Qianqiu had just taken a small sip to taste it. Hearing this, she set the bowl down and extended a sincere invitation. “Here, try it.”

Yu Zhitao gave a dignified “Hmph” before eagerly leaning in and gulping down the remaining broth in one go.

Zhen Qianqiu asked, “How is it?”

Yu Zhitao smacked her lips. “Mmm… a bit bland.”

Zhen Qianqiu chuckled. “Yeah, I thought so too. I’ll add a little more salt.”

Yu Zhitao finally realized she was tasting for seasoning and shyly turned her head away.

Zhen Qianqiu seemed not to notice and only asked, “Were you getting impatient? Do you want a piece of bread to tide you over?”

As she spoke, she magically produced a small cake from the nearby cabinet.

The cake was no bigger than a baby’s fist, dusted with sparkling sugar, and looked incredibly soft and delicious.

Yu Zhitao swallowed hard.

Still feeling a bit self-conscious, she asked, “O-only one?”

Zhen Qianqiu nodded. “I didn’t expect we’d be having dinner in the dorm, so I only bought one for you.”

She didn’t have a sweet tooth herself, nor did she want Yu Zhitao snacking too much outside of meals, so she always kept dessert purchases minimal.

Yu Zhitao puffed out her cheeks. “It feels a little unfair if I’m the only one eating it…”

Zhen Qianqiu wanted to tease her but was afraid of upsetting her again.

So she said, “Yingying probably isn’t hungry. You go ahead and eat it. On our way back after dinner, we’ll buy one for Yingying, okay?”

This suggestion eased Yu Zhitao’s dilemma.

Completely missing the key point of “after dinner on our way back,” she nodded eagerly and took the cake.

Sweet treats were sinful, but they were also the most comforting indulgence. Under Zhen Qianqiu’s gaze, Yu Zhitao devoured the cake in a few bites.

After carefully licking her fingers, she pouted. “Ah Jiu… why didn’t you buy more?”

Zhen Qianqiu turned off the stove and said, “I wanted to leave room for the meat. It’s ready can you help me bring it out?”

Yu Zhitao’s attention was quickly drawn to the glistening chicken wings in the pan. She swallowed her drool, her earlier frustration already forgotten. “Mhm!”

And so, in an ordinary dorm room at the university, the Emperor and Empress, along with Gu Yingying, enjoyed the first meal personally cooked by the reigning Emperor.

After dinner, under the pretense of buying cake, the Emperor lured her little Empress back home.

A “conflict” that began with food ultimately ended with it as well.

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