Chapter 243: Chapter 243: "You’re Too Much of a Beast!

Cui Lingyao’s body had been repaired by System Energy.

And System Energy was far more precious than the Hundred Diseases Pill, directly restoring all her bodily functions to their peak condition.

It was, without a doubt, perfect.

Doctor Chen withdrew the hand he had on her pulse, stroking his beard with a smile. "Your Highness has a strong constitution. Although the pregnancy is still in its early stages, your pulse is already very stable."

As he spoke, the tense atmosphere in the room instantly relaxed.

Cui Lingyao was still worried. "These past few days, I’ve been taking a prescription for my shoulder injury that contains musk. Will that have any effect?"

"From the pulse, there’s nothing wrong with your pregnancy. However, musk does invigorate the blood and disperse stasis. If you are concerned, you can take a few doses of pregnancy-stabilizing medicine. Also..."

The old Imperial Physician’s expression faltered slightly as he added in a low voice, "The pregnancy isn’t yet stable in the first trimester. As for marital relations, you must not..."

No matter how strong her constitution was, it couldn’t withstand this much strain.

Cui Lingyao was still thin-skinned. Hearing this, her face flushed red, and she lowered her head without a word.

Xie Jinbai, however, was perfectly composed.

With an unchanged expression, he waved his hand and ordered, "Her shoulder injury can’t be delayed. Change the prescription to one that won’t affect the fetus."

"Yes!" Doctor Chen replied, cupping his hands in a bow.

He led the two junior physicians out to the outer room to write up the prescription.

In the inner chamber, only the husband and wife remained.

Xie Jinbai sat by the bed. In the warm yellow candlelight, he gazed intently at the young woman lying on the chaise.

On her palm-sized face were curved brows, almond eyes, a pert nose, and crimson lips.

After being tormented by him all afternoon, she looked weary. Her hairpins were askew, her makeup was smudged, and her shoulder was still injured.

Xie Jinbai’s gaze slowly drifted downward.

Past the brocade quilt, it landed on her abdomen.

Inside, their child was growing.

Now that the effects of the seductive powder had faded and his mind could think clearly, Xie Jinbai was only just now truly grasping the reality of the situation.

He found that more than joy, what he felt was shock.

She had clearly stated, time and time again, that the thing that brought her to the Great Yue had made her body permanently sterile.

That she would never have children in this lifetime.

But now, just over a month later, her words had been proven false.

She was pregnant, and he was completely unprepared for it.

’Is this really a happy occasion...’

’Her words... which were true, and which were false?’

’She’s a liar with a long track record.’

’Did she lie to me again this time?’

—’What is her goal?’

Cui Lingyao was worried about her mother in the next room and wanted to go check on her. At the very least, she needed to call a doctor over to ask about her condition before she could feel at ease.

But when she looked up, she met the man’s dark, inscrutable eyes.

He stared at her, his gaze deep and cold, as if he were scrutinizing her, trying to figure something out.

Cui Lingyao was startled. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing..." Xie Jinbai’s gaze flickered, the darkness in his eyes vanishing in an instant.

He took her hand, tucked it under the covers, and straightened the corner of the quilt. "Are you tired?"

"..." Cui Lingyao vaguely felt that something was off, but his question still made her press her lips together uncomfortably. "I’m okay. My back is just a little sore."

That afternoon, he hadn’t truly forced his way in, but he hadn’t spared her in any other way.

The hand gripping her waist had only tightened, inch by inch.

No matter how she cursed or struggled, she couldn’t break free.

Thinking of the past several hours where she had been helpless, Cui Lingyao’s anger flared up again. She glared at him and said, "You’re an absolute beast!"

Xie Jinbai chuckled. "I can’t accept that. In the same situation, take any man in the entire Capital City, and I’d be the least beastly of them all. Believe it or not."

"..." Cui Lingyao pressed her lips together and said nothing.

"Alright, no more bickering," Xie Jinbai said, reaching out to gently tousle her hair. He coaxed, "Are you hungry? Let’s get you a bath and then something to eat."

Cui Lingyao frowned. "My mother..."

"She’s not seriously hurt. She’ll be fine after a few days of rest, you don’t need to worry."

As if to prove his words, there was a knock on the door.

It was Lady Zheng.

She was also worried about her daughter, and had come to see her as soon as her own shoulder was bandaged.

When mother and daughter saw each other, Cui Lingyao looked at her mother’s pale face and shot another angry glare at Xie Jinbai.

’He makes it sound so simple, but the one who got hurt was my own mother.’

A pampered noblewoman who had never suffered such an injury in her entire life.

’How could it be a small matter?’

Facing her accusatory gaze, Xie Jinbai rose helplessly. He bowed slightly to Lady Zheng and apologized, "I lost my composure and injured you, Madam. Please forgive me."

"Your Highness, please don’t say that."

Lady Zheng quickly stepped aside to avoid his bow. "It was this humble subject who acted improperly, rashly..."

"Mother!"

Thinking about what her own mother must have heard from outside, Cui Lingyao’s face flushed red, and she quickly cut her off. "Don’t say any more."

Xie Jinbai put a hand to his forehead. To avoid being the target of her anger again, he decided to leave the room to the mother and daughter and turned to walk out.

The door was closed.

Lady Zheng quickly took her daughter’s hand, saying with feigned anger, "You child, you knew you were pregnant. How could you let His Highness be so reckless?"

She had heard everything clearly from outside.

Xie Jinbai hadn’t lost his senses at all.

It was clearly a case of mutual desire for the young couple...

Even though it was her own mother, the topic made Cui Lingyao blush with embarrassment.

She lowered her head and explained in a small voice, "He was drugged with seductive powder. I couldn’t just let him suffer through it."

"There are other ways. You’re carrying a child now; you should never put yourself in danger, no matter what."

After six years of marriage, this was her first pregnancy.

’How could she dare...’

Lady Zheng’s brows were knitted tightly. She asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Cui Lingyao shook her head. "No."

How could Lady Zheng believe her? "Is there anything you can’t tell your own mother?"

To have helped her husband overcome an aphrodisiac in the early stages of pregnancy... how could there be no side effects?

After being questioned by her mother several times, Cui Lingyao had no choice but to stammer, "Really, I’m fine. He didn’t... actually go all the way. The Imperial Physician said it was fine too."

"..." Lady Zheng’s expression froze for a moment.

Realizing what she meant, her own mature face flushed red.

’This...’

CREAK— The door was pushed open again.

Having given the mother and daughter just enough time to exchange a few private words, Xie Jinbai returned.

Lady Zheng fell silent again.

She had always known that her noble son-in-law cared deeply for her daughter, their love remaining strong even after many years without a child.

But only now did she begin to vaguely grasp the true extent of that care.

It seemed he couldn’t even permit a mother and daughter’s private conversation to last for too long.

’Really...’

Xie Jinbai, holding a bowl of medicine, looked at Lady Zheng. "It’s getting late. You had a scare today, Madam. You should go back and rest early."

He was not one for subtlety; the order to leave was direct and to the point.

Cui Lingyao frowned at his words, reaching out to tug on his sleeve.

Lady Zheng was also taken aback, but she quickly curtsied. "...Yes. This humble subject will take her leave."

With that, she glanced at her daughter, gave an imperceptible shake of her head, and turned to leave.

Once she was gone, Cui Lingyao’s face darkened. "What’s the meaning of this? Why did you chase my mother away!"

"I didn’t chase her away. Your body needs rest, and your mother is injured as well. Neither of you should be exerting yourselves. She should go back and rest early."

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