Though spring had arrived, the pre-dawn air remained biting cold.
Lu Nianfu was awakened by a rustling sound. She opened her eyes to see Situ Yan fastening his belt. The opulent python robe, embroidered with golden thread, draped over his broad shoulders and long legs, lending him an air of innate nobility.
A smile tugged at her lips.
Situ Yan caught her expression and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
"I just think clothes really do make the man. When Your Highness wears this, your demeanor instantly becomes so noble."
"Was I not noble before?" He chuckled at his own words. "You're right, I had nothing to do with nobility before. Why are you up so early? Did I disturb you?"
"Not at all, I just happened to wake up. Ooh, it's really cold now." Lu Nianfu burrowed deeper into the covers. "Your Highness, why don't you stay in the palace? Traveling back and forth every day must be exhausting."
Situ Yan laughed. "Being regent is already enough to make people envious. If I were to reside in the palace, wouldn't that solidify the rumors of me wanting to usurp the throne?"
"You wouldn't be taking your father's sleeping chambers. The palace has so many rooms; you're sure to find a place to sleep."
"Let's not. It's spring now, so it's not too cold. You, on the other hand, are pregnant. Don't worry about such trivialities. If you feel cold, we can turn on the underfloor heating again."
"It's mainly because you're warm. Once you leave the warmth of the bed, it naturally gets cold."
Situ Yan pondered for a moment. "Then tomorrow, when I get up, I'll put a hot water bottle in your arms."
"That's a good idea."
"Go back to sleep. I'm off to court."
Lu Nianfu was indeed sleepy but still cautioned, "It's cold today, no riding horses."
"Don't worry, I'll take the carriage." He wouldn't dare disobey something his wife reminded him of every day.
His breakfast had already been prepared in the kitchen. After washing up and eating, he got into the carriage. Xiao Wuzi placed something warm and round into his arms.
"What's this?"
"Red eggs, Your Highness? Haven't you seen them before?"
"Red eggs? Your wife is...?"
Xiao Wuzi grinned from ear to ear. "Hehe, we found out yesterday. She's two months along. Your Highness, I won't be on duty at the palace gates later, I'm taking leave."
Situ Yan was generous. "You're usually not required to wait at the palace gates. I'll be in the palace all day. If you're busy this evening, just having the driver come is fine too."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Are you going home to accompany Mian'er?"
"Not exactly. Mian'er is pregnant, and she doesn't have any family to send eggs. As her husband, it's only natural for me to do so for her."
"Isn't it said that you shouldn't let outsiders know before three months of pregnancy?"
Xiao Wuzi replied, "That's a rule for wealthy families with many wives and concubines. If the fetus is unstable before three months and someone with ill intentions overhears, they might try to harm her. But in my family, Mian'er is the only one, so I have no such concerns. Your Highness, have an egg."
Although he had just finished breakfast, Situ Yan still cracked the shell of the red egg, a symbol of good fortune, and ate it.
As soon as Lu Nianfu got up, she heard laughter. Qing Ya was helping her wash up and said, "Mistress, Mian'er is pregnant. Xiao Wuzi is outside distributing red eggs."
"Shouldn't this be done by Mian'er's maternal family?"
"That's why they say this lad is good at handling things from a young age. He insisted that since Mian'er has no maternal family, the proper etiquette must still be observed, so he, as her husband, is fulfilling it. Tsk, Mian'er must be even more devoted to him now. This fellow is excellent at winning people over."
"Ha, no wonder he managed to marry Mian'er."
Qing Ya pointed at the red eggs on the table. "He brought them to your chambers first, but you were asleep, so he didn't dare disturb you. When would you like to eat the egg?"
"Whenever." Lu Nianfu glanced at Qing Ya's belly. "Qing Ya, I remember you got married long before Mian'er. How come Mian'er already has news, and you're still quiet?"
"Children are a matter of fate."
"You come here every day; where will you find fate? Tomorrow, no, starting today, you're only allowed to come here three days a month. The rest of the time, stay honestly with your man."
Qing Ya quickly protested, "How can that be? You're pregnant now, and you need someone by your side."
"As a dignified Princess Consort, am I going to lack someone to serve me? As for Wang Shoucheng, if you keep running to my side every day, be careful that other women don't take advantage of the situation. Wang Shoucheng is no longer an apprentice; he's a well-off shopkeeper. Women are lining up to have his children."
This was no exaggeration. Not to mention elsewhere, but within the manor, many servants wished to marry Wang Shoucheng.
What was wrong with being a concubine? As long as she was favored and could use money to support her maternal family, it was better than being randomly assigned to a steward.
Qing Ya pouted and was about to retort when Shui Zi ran in. "Mistress, someone from Pingning Count's manor has arrived, saying that Concubine Zeng has given birth."
"Zeng Weiyang gave birth? A boy or a girl?"
"A girl."
It seemed fate was not kind to gamblers. Look, she had lost the gamble again. But it was for the best; at least she wouldn't face the separation of mother and child, and her life was saved.