After marrying Ye Luan, Xiao Chizhan resided in the Northern Palace.
One day, upon returning from the imperial palace, Xiao Chizhan headed straight for Yun Shang Que. However, upon entering the hall, he couldn't find Ye Luan.
His expression immediately darkened. "Where is she?"
A palace maid, waiting outside, hurried in and knelt respectfully on the ground.
"The Princess Consort has returned to the Duke's mansion."
"----"
This habit of returning to her maternal home after a quarrel, where did she pick that up?
Xiao Chizhan raised an eyebrow and strode out.
When the Prince of Dingbei personally arrived at the Bai residence, the household staff rushed out to greet him.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Xiao Chizhan personally stepped forward to help up the Old Madam.
"We are all family. Old Madam, there's no need for such formality."
Everyone was silent.
Since ancient times, when a married daughter married into the imperial family, she became a subject of the sovereign. Loyalty to the sovereign came before familial ties. Never had a prince or royal descendant shown such courtesy to his wife's relatives.
It was even more peculiar when this occurred with the Prince of Dingbei, who was known for his ruthlessness.
The Duke was also astonished. Having served in the same court as the Prince of Dingbei for many years, he had never seen him act in such a manner.
"How dare I? There are distinctions between ruler and subject." The Old Madam steadied herself with her dragon-headed cane. "Your Highness must be looking for A'luan. She has gone out."
"Where did she go?"
"She went to listen to opera with someone."
Xiao Chizhan cast a lazy glance behind him, his deep red eyes narrowing slightly.
Those around him immediately sensed the change in the fearsome god's demeanor.
The Old Madam explained, "It was Miss Wei who invited A'luan to listen to opera. I was worried about A'luan getting hurt, so I had her cousin send them off."
Xiao Chizhan stated, "Then I shall wait here for her return."
"----"
He sat in the main hall, waiting. No one dared to leave.
They all stood respectfully on either side.
"Please, sit."
The Old Madam, being elderly and tiring of standing, did not refuse and took a seat.
When Ye Luan returned, having bought a pile of things, she saw that dog staring at her from the main hall, radiating hostility, while everyone around him dared not move.
Angrily, she glared at him. "Why is Your Highness here?"
Upon seeing her, Xiao Chizhan immediately stood up and walked over to support her by the waist. "Are you tired?"
There were people all around.
Ye Luan felt shy and subtly pinched him. "Let go."
What was wrong with him holding his own Princess Consort?
A hint of resentment flashed in Xiao Chizhan's red eyes. He glanced at Bai Muheng, who was carrying large bags, and refused to let go.
Bai Muheng shivered.
Why did he feel a chill down his neck?
Ye Luan understood this dog's temperament too well. Without arguing with him, she handed the purchased items to the Old Madam, exchanged a few words, and then pulled Xiao Chizhan towards the Moon Pavilion where she resided.
Once they rounded the corridor and no longer felt his gaze on them, Ye Luan's expression immediately turned cold, and she pulled her hand away.
Xiao Chizhan looked down at his now empty palm, displeased.
"Why aren't you holding me anymore?"
Ye Luan let out a cold snort. Just as she was about to turn and scold him, her body suddenly lifted into the air, and she was carried horizontally.
"You—"
Her face flushed, and she punched his chest.
There were people all over the garden. The curious eyes of servants and maids stole glances.
Ye Luan felt uncomfortable and spat at him, "Put me down."
"No, I won't. Come home with me."
"No, I won't. Put me down."
Xiao Chizhan lowered his gaze. "I'm holding you. Be careful of the child in your belly."
Ye Luan glared at him. "You didn't want it, did you? Why are you bothering with us now?"
"----" He chuckled and gently coaxed her. "Are you still angry?"
Ye Luan huffed and turned her head away.
"I don't want to talk to you."
Xiao Chizhan strode away, carrying her.
"We'll talk about it when we get back."
Ye Luan knew his temper and didn't want to cause a scene at someone else's home. She allowed him to carry her away. As they left, she informed the Old Madam.
The Old Madam, knowing she was pregnant, gave her several earnest instructions before letting them go.
After they returned to the Northern Palace, Ye Luan locked him out of the door and went about her business.
Xiao Chizhan was not one to wait obediently outside the door. He directly climbed through the window.
Finding her not in the hall, he went around to the back of the washroom and saw her bathing in the bathtub.
"Get out."
Xiao Chizhan refused to listen. He walked to the edge of the pool and squatted down.
"I was wrong."
Ye Luan was speechless.
This made it difficult for her to play her part.
"How could Your Highness be wrong? It's all my fault."
Hearing her petulant words, Xiao Chizhan took off his clothes and got into the water.
Ye Luan, taking advantage of the situation, picked up a nearby towel and threw it at him.
"It hurts~"
Ye Luan was speechless.
He walked over, grabbed her hand, and touched it to his face.
"It really hurts."
"It doesn't hurt at all, you liar."
Ye Luan said stubbornly, but her hand softened, and her body relaxed.
A smug smile flickered in Xiao Chizhan's eyes. He pushed her against the side of the pool and leaned down to kiss her.
"Luan Luan, giving birth is very painful. Can't we just not have one?"
Ye Luan angrily pinched him. "We already have one, so don't give me any bad ideas."
"But you said there might be heavy bleeding and death."
"And that's all your fault for being so unrestrained."
Xiao Chizhan was too embarrassed to speak and began to pester her, being incredibly clingy.
Ye Luan deliberately put on a stern face. "From now on, you get to do it only once a year."
How could that be? That would be the death of him!
Xiao Chizhan whined and rubbed against her, but his hand was carefully placed behind her waist, as if afraid she might bump into something.
"Once a night, seven times would be more like it."
Ye Luan's face turned red. She pushed him away. "Have some shame, will you?"
He said nothing, lowered his head, and captured her lips, kissing her endlessly.
Neither of them was wearing clothes. Kissing like this in the water could easily lead to trouble.
Ye Luan sensed his arousal and pushed him, preventing him from kissing her.
If it were in the past, Xiao Chizhan wouldn't have cared about such things. But now that she was pregnant, he was afraid of hurting her and didn't dare to be too unrestrained.
The thought that with this little one, her affection would be divided, filled him with dread.
His eyes darkened, looking quite frightening.
Ye Luan noticed and immediately threatened him, "If you dare to have any improper thoughts, I won't want you anymore."
As soon as she spoke, Xiao Chizhan's head shot up, his crimson pupils filled with a frenzied intensity.
"With the child, am I no longer the most important?"
Ye Luan was speechless. She slowly wiped herself, giving him a sidelong glance.
"What's wrong between you and the child?"
He remained silent, his eyes showing a hint of resentment.
Ye Luan immediately coaxed him, "You are definitely the most important. No one can compare."
Xiao Chizhan was still unhappy but dared not cause any more trouble.
After all, she was heavily pregnant, and the imperial physician had said her emotions should not fluctuate too drastically.
Seeing him lost in thought, staring at her belly, Ye Luan put down the towel and hugged him.
"Don't be afraid. I'm a doctor, I know my body. Nothing will happen. Besides, there are so many imperial physicians and midwives in the Northern Palace. If anything happens, they'll all come to see. What could possibly go wrong?"
Xiao Chizhan's gaze remained dark and silent.
Ye Luan sighed inwardly, her expression gentle. She leaned into his embrace and placed his hand on her belly.
"Touch it."
He touched it gently, not with the rough force he used before.
Ye Luan whispered softly, "Didn't you want children before?"
Xiao Chizhan pursed his lips. After she said those words, he no longer wanted them.
He would rather have no children than lose her.
"This is our child. She will resemble you, and she will resemble me. She is the continuation of our love."
Ye Luan pecked him on the cheek and smiled, her lips curved upwards. "It would be nice if it were a daughter. With red eyes like yours, she would be very beautiful."
Xiao Chizhan's expression softened slightly, appeased by her words. What would their child look like?
Ye Luan continued to entice him. "Later, when you're less busy with official duties and the child is a bit older, we can take her traveling."
Xiao Chizhan immediately retorted, "Why bring a burden? It'll just be us. Let's leave the child with Liu Rongruo for some proper training."
"----"
Ye Luan rolled her eyes and offered a few insincere words of agreement.
Seeing her eyes blooming like radiant peach blossoms, Xiao Chizhan's worried heart began to relax.
His hand gently caressed her body, from head to toe.
"Luan Luan, this part seems to have grown."
Ye Luan slapped his hand down. "Behave yourself."
"The imperial physician said I need to be massaged more."
"Don't talk nonsense. How come I didn't know that?"