Shen Yunshu had been serving as a palace maid for less than a month but had already been promoted twice. Hearing the good news that her third younger sister was expecting brought her immense joy.
Yet Xie Heng’s lingering resentment was rather intense.
His anger manifested behind the curtains—his lips pressed tight, face stern, silent, but with relentless determination as he repeatedly thrust himself inside her.
Since their last meeting, while exchanging updates on each other’s lives, their bodies communicated as well. After all, opportunities to meet were rare, and moments to share a bed even rarer. They both wished they could stretch a single spring night into two.
But this time, throughout their first round, he barely spoke a word, yet stubbornly refused to let her go, holding her close from behind.
“What’s wrong?” Shen Yunshu asked after catching her breath. “What happened?”
Xie Heng had been waiting for her to ask. He said angrily, “I think you’ve been lying to me…”
“When did I lie to you?”
“What did you say to me when we agreed to separate? You said once Grandfather no longer doubted the Shen family, we’d be able to live peacefully together. But now…” He sounded aggrieved. “It’s been over a month since we parted. Your father has a new position, Grandfather no longer opposes us—when will you come back to my side?”
That day, when his eldest brother invited him to the Pei residence to cook for Shen Youran, he saw the couple’s affection—inseparable and sweet. It made him envious. He longed to live such a life with Shen Yunshu—not just read books at the Wen Yuan Pavilion every day and then clutch her undergarments at night.
So he once again pleaded with Grandfather, deciding that if Grandfather refused, he would kneel in the Imperial Study and not rise.
But the moment he knelt, Grandfather said leisurely, “Didn’t you sign the divorce papers yourselves? Your matters, you two young spouses decide.”
Xie Heng looked up sharply. “You… you knew?”
“Who can hide such little thoughts from me?” Grandfather gestured for him to rise and sit. “I don’t dislike that girl from the Shen family. I only wanted to test her a bit. Now, with her intelligence and character, she suits you… hehe…”
Hehe?
Was that to say he was unworthy of Shen Yunshu?
Well, Xie Heng admitted that much himself. At this moment, the only thing matching her was his identity as a prince.
But did Grandfather mean he agreed to them being together?
Xie Heng’s heart leapt. Suddenly, he asked, “Grandfather, if I bring her back, will she still continue being a palace maid?”
“You are still studying, not involved in politics yet, so she can continue her duties as a palace maid.”
Overcome with emotion, Xie Heng threw aside all previous formal distance and embraced the dear elder. “Thank you, Grandfather!”
However, when he shared the good news with Shen Yunshu, although she was happy, she was reluctant to move back to the palace. She even asked him to keep their relationship hidden for now and not reveal it publicly.
“I’ve just been promoted two ranks in a row. Some colleagues are already unhappy. If we reveal our relationship now, won’t they suspect I only advanced because of your identity?”
“Your abilities are clear for all to see. As long as we’re honest with ourselves, let them think whatever they want…”
“It’s not the same. I want to gain more experience these months. That’s better for both of us in the long run…”
That day in the Imperial Study, His Majesty told her it would be good for her to gain some experience as a palace maid. If Xie Heng succeeded in the future, she would be an excellent internal aide.
This meant His Majesty truly intended to cultivate Xie Heng as the crown prince.
At first, Shen Yunshu didn’t understand why His Majesty had such thoughts. If it was only out of guilt for deposing the former crown prince, appointing Xie Heng seemed frivolous.
It wasn’t until she served as a palace maid and came into contact with the daily imperial affairs and documents that she learned how fiercely the various princes fought for the crown prince position. His Majesty was troubled by it all.
Since the deposition of the former crown prince and Xie Heng’s return, His Majesty had appointed crown princes twice—both ended in deposition. The eastern palace remained empty, and His Majesty had not appointed a new heir, evidently dissatisfied with the remaining princes.
Xie Heng was brought back at this critical time. He hadn’t studied much and had a simple nature—like a blank sheet appearing before His Majesty. His Majesty could shape him into whatever kind of crown prince he wanted.
Xie Heng was still very young, and His Majesty was not overly strict. As long as Xie Heng was willing to learn, he could grow into a crown prince pleasing to His Majesty.
Hence, His Majesty told Shen Yunshu that day: she must not only be Xie Heng’s beloved but also his capable aide.
Shen Yunshu disagreed with revealing their relationship; Xie Heng couldn’t persuade her, so he reluctantly agreed but remained deeply resentful.
He didn’t say a word, refusing even a moment apart from her, rising and falling within her, tossing her into exhaustion until she drifted into a hazy sleep.
Yet it was like sleeping on restless waves, a dreamless unrest.
When her third younger sister’s first child was born, Shen Yunshu was promoted half a rank higher. Amidst her busy schedule, she carved out half a day to visit the Pei residence.
Her third sister had given birth to a tender, rosy baby girl—soft, chubby, and giggling easily. She was utterly adorable.
After playing with the child, her sister said, “Sister, I once thought pregnancy was simple—just a bigger belly, nothing scary. But only after getting pregnant did I realize women who’ve been through it really know how to keep their mouths shut.”
This pregnancy had been truly tough for her sister—suffering from morning sickness for three or four months. Even Xie Heng had been summoned to Pei residence to cook.
“I thought you weren’t in a hurry to have children? How come you still got pregnant?”
“Ah,” Shen Youran said, fearing her sister would laugh at her, “Originally, to avoid pregnancy, my husband had a needle implanted, but the marital relations were too frequent. Somehow, I still got pregnant…”
“A needle implant…”
Shen Yunshu recalled Xie Heng mentioning this method of contraception before, saying it was quite effective and that Pei Huaijin had also used it.
Yet even this method wasn’t foolproof—there was still a chance of pregnancy.
Thinking of this, Shen Yunshu’s heart suddenly tightened: if the needle implant wasn’t completely reliable and Xie Heng was using it, did that mean she herself could become pregnant?
Coincidentally, her period was two days late this month.
Although sometimes irregular, after hearing her sister’s story, doubt crept into her heart.
“Youran, besides a late period, did you have other symptoms when you were pregnant?”
“Yes—poor appetite, chest tightness, and a slight fever…”
Shen Yunshu grew increasingly uneasy. Recently, she had felt a loss of appetite, chest discomfort, and a slightly higher body temperature—but hadn’t thought she was ill.
She had assumed it was due to overwork and planned to rest more. But after her sister’s words, an unsettling thought took hold.
But it couldn’t be such a coincidence, right?
Her sister got pregnant despite trying to avoid it due to frequent relations, yet in her case, Xie Heng had been with her fewer than ten times over two months—not exactly frequent.
Still, on that recent occasion, it happened to be within a month. Xie Heng had been with her all night, and she woke up in the morning with an indescribable fullness—and he was still inside…
Shen Yunshu drew in a sharp breath.
After leaving the Pei residence, Shen Yunshu immediately went to a medical clinic to have a doctor examine her pulse.
Though she had already suspected it, hearing the doctor smile and congratulate her still chilled her heart.
If she had known this method wasn’t foolproof, she would never have let him do as he pleased.
Fortunately, she was only one month pregnant. The doctor said the belly wouldn’t show during the first three months, and since the third month would be in winter, she could wear thick clothes to hide it.
When it became obvious, she would return to Xie Heng’s side. After all, he was eagerly awaiting her return. Judging by his furious demeanor, if she didn’t come back soon, he might reveal everything himself.
Shen Yunshu had planned carefully, but unexpectedly, a colleague who didn’t get along with her happened to see her at the clinic.
Before long, news of her pregnancy spread throughout the Palace Department.
Her colleagues knew she had once been married to the Crown Prince and that Xie Heng often sought her out during her palace duties.
However, once assigned specific roles, she rarely saw Xie Heng, who studied at the Wen Yuan Pavilion. Their meetings were infrequent and secretive, leading colleagues to believe their relationship had ended. Some even mocked that Xie Heng had discarded her.
Shen Yunshu never bothered to argue with them or reveal that she was still Xie Heng’s wife. She wanted to see the true character of the people and the situation during her time as a palace maid.
Therefore, when news of her pregnancy leaked, the colleagues immediately suspected Xie Heng and accused her of immoral conduct, reporting her to the Minister of the Internal Palace.
The Minister summoned her, and the accusers were present. Upon her arrival, they sneered triumphantly.
Shen Yunshu’s gaze calmly swept over them before respectfully bowing to the Minister.
The Minister looked at her regretfully. “Yunshu, among all the palace maids, you are the most outstanding in ability. I truly didn’t expect you to be so foolish as to make such a mistake…”
Shen Yunshu replied calmly, “Sir, may I ask what mistake I have made?”
The accuser sneered, “Yunshu, we were among the first chosen from outside the palace and should be exemplary women—strict and pure. Yet here you are, a palace maid who’s had illicit relations and now carries an illegitimate child. And you still shamelessly claim you’ve done nothing wrong?”
Shen Yunshu glanced at her. “Do you have any proof that I had illicit relations?”
The woman produced a medical report. “This is from the clinic where you were diagnosed. I obtained it from the doctor who examined you. The doctor himself confirmed you’re pregnant. If you deny it, bring him here for confrontation.”
“Laws don’t say palace maids cannot become pregnant, and being pregnant doesn’t necessarily mean I had illicit relations…”
“If you didn’t have illicit relations, how else could you be pregnant?”
Since the truth was out, Shen Yunshu revealed honestly, “I’ve been married for three months. Being a wife, pregnancy is only natural…”
“Ridiculous! Everyone knows you and the Crown Prince have divorced. I haven’t heard you remarried anyone else yet.”
“I have divorced the Crown Prince?” Shen Yunshu’s cold eyes locked on the accuser, her tone loaded with meaning. “Are you sure?”
The accuser froze for a moment, a trace of panic creeping over her face.
The Minister couldn’t determine who spoke truth or lies, so he dismissed them and sent someone to the Wen Yuan Pavilion to confirm with the Crown Prince.
At that moment, the Crown Prince was reading at the pavilion. During a break, a palace attendant whispered in his ear.
The next instant, the Crown Prince jumped up, abandoned his book, and dashed out like an arrow.
After Shen Yunshu returned from the Minister’s office, she calmly continued her duties. The accuser couldn’t keep calm, throwing sarcastic remarks her way occasionally, but Shen Yunshu barely heard them.
Then a commotion erupted outside. Normally, outsiders were forbidden from entering the Palace Department. Some intruders were stopped by guards.
Someone recognized the intruder: “It’s the Crown Prince!”
All eyes turned to Shen Yunshu.
She put down her work and stepped out under everyone’s gaze.
Just outside the department, her body suddenly felt light as someone joyfully scooped her up.
“Wife, I heard you’re pregnant!”
When Xie Heng had been invited to Pei Huaijin’s to cook for Shen Youran, Pei had teased him, saying he didn’t know how to cherish a woman, causing Youran to become pregnant so soon. But Pei also warned that the needle implant method was only 99% effective—there was still a small chance of pregnancy. He needed to be careful.
So when he stayed inside her without leaving, he thought perhaps heaven was giving him this chance—so he could gain status through his son and quickly claim the position that belonged to him.
He never imagined it would happen so quickly.
Shen Yunshu steadied his shoulders, urging, “Put me down quickly. Everyone’s watching. It’s improper…”
Proper?
Xie Heng wished he could carry her around the entire palace, telling everyone he was going to be a father!