She was afraid he wouldn’t take her in; disregarding the wound that was bleeding on her body, she kept telling him, "I must leave him because I’m pregnant. The Xiao Family is no longer powerful as it used to be, and I can’t win against them. They say that I, the Crown Princess Consort without any value, will be discarded sooner or later. He won’t allow a Crown Princess Consort, who is destined to be abandoned, to give birth to his eldest son, my child. This is the only way I can save him..."
"Qinqin, don’t talk. I will take you to Lingnan; no one will be able to hurt you."
Yue Tingfang, a man of iron and blood, was at this moment overcome with tears.
He took the blood-covered Xiao Qinqin back to the Lingnan Marquis Residence and vigilantly stayed by her side day and night, causing his newly wedded wife to nearly break down.
"The Marquess brought home a pregnant woman and keeps watch over her day and night?"
The maid beside Madam Yue tried to comfort her mistress, whose eyes were red from crying, "Madam, even if that woman gives birth to a child, it will be without legitimacy. With the Marquess’s status, it’s only a matter of time before he takes more wives and concubines. Don’t be heartbroken."
"But if she gives birth to a boy, he will be the Marquess’s eldest son. How can I not be saddened if a woman of no status takes precedence over me?"
This was indeed a valid point. She had just married into the family and was still unfamiliar with the Marquis Residence. The mistress and servant could only hide in their room, clutching their heads in agony.
Although Yue Tingfang loved Xiao Qinqin dearly, he was, after all, a man of deep affection and sense of duty.
Fang Cuizhen, his wife, was chosen by his father during his lifetime. Since he had married her, he was determined to take responsibility for her.
Hearing that she had locked herself in her room, nearly crying her eyes out, he decided to go see her.
"What newlywed spends her days crying? Azhen, stop crying now."
"Marquess?" Fang Cuizhen cried even harder upon seeing Yue Tingfang, "Servants are saying the Marquess brought back a pregnant woman and, fearing that she and her unborn child would be harmed by Azhen, stays by her side all day and won’t leave for a moment. Azhen has just arrived at the Marquis Residence and can’t even tell the front door from the back. How could I harm the woman the Marquess likes? Azhen is wronged..."
Yue Tingfang whispered comforting words, "Don’t listen to those idle servants’ gossip. The woman is indeed pregnant, but she has no relation to me. She is the daughter of an old friend, and her husband’s family has treated her poorly, refusing to let her give birth to the child, which left her no choice but to turn to me.
I am guarding her because she is in constant danger of her life. Fortunately, she is now out of danger, and you can go see her. But please, don’t talk irresponsibly in front of her and ruin the lady’s reputation."
Fang Cuizhen was stunned for a while before grasping what Yue Tingfang had said, and she immediately burst into laughter.
When they first met, she was lying on the sickbed reading a book, and there stood Fang Cuizhen at the door with a nutritious soup to fortify her, unsure of what to do.
Seeing Fang Cuizhen’s attire, Xiao Qinqin seemed to guess her identity.
She smiled at her gently, "I heard Tingfang has taken a wife; it must be you. Madam Yue, please come in."
She had just married into the Marquis Residence, and she was cautious in every move she made.
"Madam Xiao!" Fang Cuizhen placed the soup on the cabinet beside the bed, whispering, "This is a tonic prescribed by the doctor, which I carefully watched over as it was being prepared for you."
"Thank you, Madam Yue." Xiao Qinqin rose to express her gratitude.
Fang Cuizhen hurriedly helped her to lie back down, saying, "No need for thanks; you’d better lie down quickly. The doctor said you’ve suffered a severe injury, and with the pregnancy not being stable, you need to rest in bed."
Soon they were talking freely, and any previous ill feeling had vanished.