After Li Chengyuan was taken back by Constable Chang, she was placed directly in the cave she had been in before.
Six more people were added outside to take turns guarding her, and they absolutely did not allow her to leave. No matter how Li Chengyuan threatened or tempted them, these six people, after repeated warnings from Constable Chang, blocked her every move.
The trapped Li Chengyuan, in her anger, smashed everything that could be broken inside the cave.
The rain outside began to lighten.
Standing outside the Mountain God Temple, Constable Chang watched the winding mountain road, but he never saw Yan Wanqing’s figure.
Just as he was about to go out and search, he saw Yan Wanqing slowly walking up the mountain along the road.
Her hair was wet from the rain, but she walked through the jungle as if oblivious to everything, ethereal and serene like a spirit of the mountains.
When he got closer, Constable Chang noticed that Yan Wanqing’s clothing was torn in several places, and there were pine needles on her shoulder.
"Commander Yan," Constable Chang raised the umbrella over Yan Wanqing’s head.
Yan Wanqing pushed it away, "No need, it’ll dry as soon as I use my Inner Strength."
After saying this, she walked past Constable Chang.
Just now, she had not been able to contain the surge of her emotions and had let them out in a place where no one could see her, and now her turbulent mood was calmer.
"The rain has lessened. We can send out scouts now," Yan Wanqing suddenly remembered to say.
Constable Chang nodded, "Already done. One team went forward, and another one back."
Yan Wanqing nodded and looked at Constable Chang, sparing no praise, "Well done."
A hint of red flashed across Constable Chang’s face. He scratched his head, embarrassed, "These are all duties I am supposed to perform."
"Has Li Chengyuan woken up yet?" she asked next.
Constable Chang replied truthfully, "She woke up on the way back. After returning, she threw quite the tantrum."
"She didn’t give you a hard time, did she?"
Constable Chang remembered the slaps he received from Li Chengyuan on the way back, and still felt somewhat uncomfortable. He wanted to tell Yan Wanqing, but he also did not want to trouble her, so he shook his head, "No."
"I will go see her. You go reorganize the troops. The rain should stop by night. We’ll set out at dawn tomorrow. We’ll split into two groups. You lead one group ahead, and I’ll follow closely behind."
Constable Chang frowned, "Is it because of Princess Yaochi..."
"Mm, it’s a situation we can’t do anything about." It happened so suddenly, and was not something one could foresee.
After giving her instructions, Yan Wanqing headed towards Li Chengyuan’s location.
She still had to inform Li Chengyuan about her pregnancy to prevent her from continuing to act rashly, lest the child be lost and the blame be placed on her and the army.
When she arrived, Li Chengyuan’s curses could still faintly be heard from inside.
Yan Wanqing poured a glass of water and walked in, placing it gently on the table.
"Yan Wanqing, you dare show up! Weren’t you going to offer me as a sacrifice to the Mountain God? Why have I been brought back here?!" As soon as Li Chengyuan saw Yan Wanqing, her emotions erupted again.
Seeing that Yan Wanqing remained silent, Li Chengyuan continued with a cold laugh, "Or perhaps you’re afraid."
"Afraid?" Yan Wanqing chewed on the word, letting out a self-deprecating laugh, her voice containing a single syllable of scoffing breath, "Perhaps."
Perhaps she was really afraid.
She pushed the glass of water forward, "You’ve been cursing for a while, you must be thirsty."
"Crocodile tears. What are you doing here? What happened during the time I was unconscious?" Li Chengyuan asked warily.
By now, Yan Wanqing had already taken a seat, "Drink the water, then I’ll tell you."
"You didn’t poison the water, did you?" Li Chengyuan had been cursing for a long time without a sip and, upon seeing the water, she unconsciously licked her lips, her throat truly parched now.
Yan Wanqing’s gaze shifted down from her face, eventually resting on her flat belly that showed no sign of being noticeable, her look lingering.
"What are you looking at?" Li Chengyuan felt uneasy as she sat down, holding the glass.
The stone table blocked Yan Wanqing’s view.
Yan Wanqing looked at her and said, "If I wanted to harm you, I would have simply killed you just now. There’s no need to poison you now and waste time."
The logic in those words was sound.
After hearing this, Li Chengyuan tilted her head back and downed the water in her cup, then placed the cup on the table.
"Having said that, what important matter requires the famed General Yan to come personally?" Li Chengyuan said sarcastically after she had finished her water.
She was the typical sort who cursed out the kindness shown to her.
Yan Wanqing let it slide.
"The Prince’s entourage is just behind us, roughly two days’ journey away; going forward, I shall personally escort you," Yan Wanqing continued amid Li Chengyuan’s confused and wary gaze: "You are pregnant."
"What?!" Li Chengyuan shot up from her chair.
She looked down at her flat belly, unable to believe Yan Wanqing’s words: "Impossible!"
"How is it impossible?" Yan Wanqing rolled her eyes, "Didn’t you claim to be carrying the Prince’s offspring? Why feign surprise now? Everything has been clearly explained to you; we’ll set out at daybreak tomorrow. You’d better rest early."
She would have to see Bai Village’s head later to arrange a carriage.
Yan Wanqing stood up to leave.
Behind her, Li Chengyuan grabbed at her sleeve, and Yan Wanqing reflexively pulled her sleeve away.
Li Chengyuan insisted on asking.
Seeing this, Yan Wanqing understood immediately: "So your previous claim of being pregnant was indeed a lie."
Observing Li Chengyuan’s obviously uncomfortable expression, Yan Wanqing kindly added, "It was the village midwife who said so. There’s no mistake about it. Therefore, you should curb your temper for a while. If it affects the child in your womb, the Prince will hold you accountable."
"You!" Li Chengyuan glared at Yan Wanqing’s retreating figure, enraged.
This damn woman really had no tact.
She walked back and sat down in her chair.
Her heart was filled with trepidation and strangeness.
She was not at all prepared for pregnancy.
In her previous life, due to her messiness, she had had several abortions and ended up infertile.
And now, she was pregnant again.
But she had no idea how far along the child was.
She was uncertain whether the child belonged to Prince Xiao Hongshen or to Wa Chengnan.
Li Chengyuan knew very well that Prince Xiao Hongshen had always been concerned about her not being a virgin.
But if she had preserved her virginity, how could she have leveraged Wa Chengnan to help her gain access to the Prince?
It was simply a situation where she couldn’t have the best of both worlds.
The implication of Yan Wanqing’s words was she wouldn’t be sent back; it meant there was no option but to keep moving forward.
Ahead was the westernmost city, which was also the town closest to the Japanese pirates—Xiliang.
She could only find an old midwife there to consult with.
Li Chengyuan was completely unprepared for motherhood.
The arrival of this child disrupted all her plans.
With a pregnancy, how on earth could she continue to strive for military achievements?!
The more Li Chengyuan thought about it, the more she felt the child within her was a burden.