Yu Jingchen followed her wishes and sent people to the largest inn in the capital. During the journey, the atmosphere in the carriage was somewhat awkward. Yu Jingchen sat upright beside her, his eyes closed as if resting. Nan Zhixun, however, was restless and filled with apprehension, completely unsure of what she should do.
"Sleep if you're tired, why be so tense?" Yu Jingchen's sudden voice startled Nan Zhixun.
But how could Nan Zhixun relax? Just as the two were in a stalemate, the carriage suddenly lurched violently. Nan Zhixun, already distracted, lost her footing and stumbled forward.
Just as Nan Zhixun thought she would fall to the ground, Yu Jingchen pulled her, and she fell into his embrace. The warm breath that washed over her seemed unfamiliar, yet it evoked a sense of heartache.
Xing Lai, observing from the side, raised an eyebrow slightly. This was more like it; it still depended on him... Xing Lai, who had concealed his abilities, sat down quietly. He had heard the commotion inside and had indeed lent a hand.
The moment Nan Zhixun stumbled into Yu Jingchen's embrace, she tried to get up immediately. However, Yu Jingchen held her back, and Nan Zhixun looked up at him. kuAiδugg
"Pay attention to your belly. Why are you distracted at a time like this? What if you had truly fallen?" Yu Jingchen's tone suggested that he only cared about the child. He then gently released his hand, allowing Nan Zhixun to sit up again. But...
Before Nan Zhixun could sigh in relief, Yu Jingchen shifted his position and moved to sit beside Nan Zhixun. Her body immediately stiffened.
"Have another one," Yu Jingchen took out the bottle from his person, containing the tocolytic pills they had taken today.
Nan Zhixun was quite surprised to see this. She hadn't expected Yu Jingchen to carry this item with him.
Yu Jingchen handed her the pill. Nan Zhixun obediently took it and put it in her mouth, her heart a complex mix of emotions. Should this child truly be kept? She was actually... starting to hesitate. If she couldn't leave, would having a child be better? But... after the child was born, would he truly be happy? Wouldn't it be harming him?
Nan Zhixun clenched her fist. From Yu Jingchen's current attitude, she could tell that he seemed to... be gradually growing concerned about this child. But who could guarantee that it would remain so in the future? Who could guarantee that his current demeanor was genuine?
What if Yu Jingchen's attitude changed after the child was born? If he still didn't like the child, then keeping him would only be a burden, an unfortunate existence. Even if she tried her best, she might not be able to protect him. What good would her love be? As long as Yu Jingchen disliked him, happiness was out of the question. Wasn't she living proof of that?
Yu Jingchen sat beside her and clearly sensed Nan Zhixun's unease. Looking at her hand placed on her belly, he could probably guess the reason.
Yu Jingchen couldn't quite articulate his current feelings. Logically, he shouldn't allow this child to exist. But... he did want to keep this child now. Perhaps it was partly due to trusting the Nan family, the Empress Dowager, and her; perhaps it was because this child was their shared bloodline; or perhaps it was because... if the child stayed, Nan Zhixun might not be so insistent on leaving the palace and completely severing her ties with him.
"Don't overthink it. The child will stay. You have no choice if you don't want it," Yu Jingchen stated it directly.
Nan Zhixun didn't know why Yu Jingchen suddenly brought up this topic. But was he truly determined to keep this child?
"Don't make decisions on your own. Otherwise, consider this a threat from me. If the child is lost due to your actions, I can't guarantee what I might do. Do you understand?" Yu Jingchen was blunt. What if this was the only way? As long as it worked.
"The imperial physician said..." Nan Zhixun was about to say that the imperial physician had mentioned the child would have a difficult time. But Yu Jingchen, as if he could guess what she was going to say, quickly interrupted her and said, "Therefore, you must listen carefully to the imperial physician, take good care of your body, and pay attention to your emotions."
Nan Zhixun was speechless. The last time she had spoken with the Empress Dowager, she had expressed her desire not to have this child. The Empress Dowager had said it wasn't the right time yet. So... when was the right time? What choice should she ultimately make?
In the beginning, she might not have hesitated like this. But as time passed, perhaps her reason had returned, perhaps it was compassion, or perhaps Yu Jingchen's threat had been effective. She had become conflicted.
"For the next two days, I will allow you to do some things you wish to do, as long as they are within the boundaries. You can do anything you want. But there is only one condition: quickly compose yourself and don't be like you were before, looking half-dead. Understand?" Yu Jingchen's way of speaking was peculiar. What he thought and what he said were completely different. Why was it that when certain words came out of his mouth, they sounded like commands or scoldings?
Clearly, what he actually meant was for Nan Zhixun to take good care of herself, do things she wanted to do, and relax without too many worries, to be happier. But the way he expressed it completely distorted the meaning.
Nan Zhixun lowered her head again, her thoughts unclear. The conversation had reached this point, and both fell silent. Fortunately, the inn was almost within reach, so the awkward atmosphere didn't last long.
Upon arriving at the inn, Yu Jingchen alighted from the carriage first. Just as a servant stepped forward to help Nan Zhixun lift the carriage curtain and alight, Yu Jingchen waved his hand, signaling the servant to retreat.
Nan Zhixun, who was about to reach out, paused. What did Yu Jingchen mean by this now? Nan Zhixun dared not ask further. Just as she was about to get down herself, a hand reached out—it was Yu Jingchen's.
Nan Zhixun was blocked by this hand, feeling bewildered. Was he going to help her down from the carriage? But he was Yu Jingchen; how could he possibly do such a thing?
"What's wrong? Stunned? Hurry up and get down," Yu Jingchen, seeing the dazed Nan Zhixun, couldn't help but urge her.