Chapter 142: Jealousy, This Is Enough

Don’t like children? Shen Qianmo looked up from his embrace, her face filled with suspicion. In their past casual conversations, he had never shown any disdain for children. Besides, hadn’t he been quite gentle and kind toward the innocent, childlike Fourth Prince Meng Tianlin?

She placed her hand on her belly and asked the man, who was pouting and sulking, “Why don’t you like him? He is our child. I’ve put so much effort into protecting him.”

Meng Yuanheng pursed his lips in silence. Hearing Shen Qianmo’s words, he glared fiercely at her abdomen, his expression growing even darker.

Uh, could it be that he thought the child’s arrival caused her to suffer more hardships and was now taking out his anger on this little life?

Shen Qianmo didn’t expect Meng Yuanheng to be so childish. It was both infuriating and amusing. She gently stroked her belly and whispered softly, “But I love him. I believe this child will be very adorable.”

Having endured so many dangers and hardships alongside her and still surviving robustly in her womb, this child was destined to be extraordinary.

Meng Yuanheng’s face instantly turned pale. He lifted Shen Qianmo’s face, staring at her intently before shifting his gaze to her still flat belly, eyes brimming with anger and jealousy.

Shen Qianmo was momentarily stunned, then recalling her earlier words, she couldn’t help but laugh softly to herself.

Meng Yuanheng, you’re even jealous of your unborn child—could you be any more immature?

Faced with this man’s outrageously childish temper, Shen Qianmo was truly at a loss. Ignoring his increasingly gloomy handsome face, she patted his hand and said, “Alright, let’s go back. Yun Yi and the others must be waiting anxiously... um...”

Before she could finish, Meng Yuanheng bent down and kissed her fiercely. His heavy lips pressed onto her tender cherry mouth, swallowing the unfinished words. After a deep kiss, he grabbed her shoulders and stared at her with displeasure, saying, “Mo’er, I told you, you can only love me...”

Seeing the darkening shadow on his handsome face grow heavier, it was clear he was truly sulking. Shen Qianmo didn’t want to tease him any further. She leaned in, kissed the corner of his lips, then whispered softly by his ear, breath like orchids, “Fool, I love this child because... I love his father. How about that? Still angry?”

Suddenly, it was as if the rain had cleared the sky. Meng Yuanheng’s once gloomy expression brightened instantly, his eyes filling with tender affection. Shen Qianmo had always been calm and rational, rarely revealing such a shy and enchanting side in front of him, nor had she ever confessed such sweet, loving words.

She loved him! At this moment, no language in the world could surpass Shen Qianmo’s heartfelt words.

“Mo’er... Mo’er...” He didn’t know how to express his joy, so he lowered his head again and kissed her luscious cherry lips fiercely, murmuring her name over and over, carved deep into his heart, unwilling to awaken from this sweet intoxication.

In the tranquil mountain clearing, bathed in warm noon sunlight, two lovers clung tightly to each other, lips and tongues entwined, breaths mingling, exchanging their longing and love in a passionate reunion.

“Mo’er... I won’t let you leave me again. No one will take you away from me...”

Perhaps the sunlight filtering through the woods was too warm and comforting. Amid Meng Yuanheng’s possessive and heartfelt murmurs, Shen Qianmo actually fell asleep. When she opened her eyes, seeing the man leaning against the hillside beside her, eyes closed in deep slumber, she smiled softly.

It seemed they both were too exhausted. And even in sleep, Meng Yuanheng’s brows remained tightly furrowed, never relaxing.

Feeling a pang of sadness, she shifted slightly, and the man beside her immediately opened his eyes.

“Mo’er?”

“It’s alright, Ah Heng. If you’re tired, just sleep a bit longer.” She covered his hand with hers, soothing him gently.

“Hmm.” Meng Yuanheng closed his eyes again, adjusting his posture, burying his face in Shen Qianmo’s embrace, drawing in her familiar fragrance.

A few strands of silver hair fell onto his shoulder, shading his pale, gaunt, bloodless face. Shen Qianmo reached out to stroke the gray-white strands lightly, heart aching, tears welling up uncontrollably, slipping down her cheeks. She hurriedly wiped them away, but a few drops still fell onto Meng Yuanheng’s hand.

“Mo’er...” Meng Yuanheng’s fingertips trembled, but he didn’t look up, whispering low in her embrace, “If you don’t like it, I can have Situ Gong dye it black...”

Shen Qianmo tried to hold back her tears but failed. They spilled like broken pearls, and as she wiped them away, she gently shook her head, replying softly, “No, Ah Heng, it’s fine like this... You’re tired, keep sleeping...”

“Hmm.” The man beside her curled closer into her arms, content, and closed his eyes again.

Meng Yuanheng’s rest was short but, for him, it was the most peaceful sleep he’d had in over two months. When they descended the mountain to meet Yun Yi and Yan Mo, it was already two hours later.

The secret guards seemed used to their prince’s occasional temperamental disappearances. Their skill in tracking him had been honed thoroughly, so Yun Yi and the others had long known Meng Yuanheng and Shen Qianmo’s hiding place. But none of them were fools; unless their patience ran out, no one dared disturb the prince and princess’s tender reunion.

After dealing with Lou Xinyue and the Tuba tribe’s guards, the group had no choice but to wait patiently at the mountain’s base, drinking the cold northwest wind.

When they finally saw the prince and princess descend, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the prince had some sense and didn’t keep the princess on the mountain until dark. Ah, the northwest wind really was unpleasant.

However, seeing their clothing creased and rumpled, the crowd’s thoughts turned less innocent.

Prince, though you and the princess have been apart for so long and it’s natural to be overcome with passion, must you be so ravenous? Not to mention you just barely escaped death at the He family military camp, seriously wounded. And the princess is pregnant now—are you sure this is appropriate?

If Meng Yuanheng knew what his subordinates were thinking, he’d probably be so furious he’d spit blood on the spot. Did they really see him as such a beast?

But he never cared about others’ opinions. He ignored Yun Yi and the others’ meaningful, half-smiling glances. Yet, when his gaze swept to a corner where two guards were dragging a disheveled, exhausted woman, his brows furrowed, and his face darkened as he frowned, “Why isn’t she dead yet?”

Yan Mo hurriedly bowed and reported, “Your Highness, this woman claims to know the truth behind the incident at Guinu River seven years ago, so we dared not act without orders...”

“Do you believe her?” Meng Yuanheng’s voice grew colder. “Kill her at once.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Yan Mo’s heart tightened, signaling the two guards.

Lou Xinyue turned pale with fear, shouting, “Prince Xuan, don’t you want to know who really killed your father seven years ago?”

At her words, Meng Yuanheng stiffened, his face darkening instantly.

Shen Qianmo grasped his clenched fists and sighed softly, then said to Yan Mo, “Yan Mo, take her away.”

Meng Yuanheng snorted coldly, offering no objection to Shen Qianmo’s decision. He ignored the others, carefully lifted Shen Qianmo into the carriage, then stretched out his long legs and lowered himself inside.

Baili Xiao watched Meng Yuanheng duck into the carriage with no place to sit, feeling almost ready to cry.

That seat was originally his! But no matter how thick-headed he was, he knew better than to fight Meng Yuanheng for it. Even if the prince allowed it, would he dare? He’d probably be strangled before he even climbed in.

Helpless, he turned to Ye Qinglan and said, “Senior Sister Qinglan, now that Brother Xie is safe, shall we take our leave?”

Ye Qinglan glanced at him coolly, clearly aware of his thoughts, but since she agreed, she didn’t expose him. She nodded and then said to Shen Qianmo, already seated inside the carriage, “Qianmo, now that you’ve reunited with Prince Xuan, your journey to Jingzhou should go smoothly. We’ve fulfilled the elders’ wishes, so we shall take our leave.”

She was used to traveling alone and disliked large groups.

Though Shen Qianmo was reluctant to see them go, she knew Ye Qinglan was a strong-willed woman. Since she had made up her mind, no amount of persuasion would help. So she didn’t insist, but got off the carriage to bid them a proper farewell and made a request.

She asked Ye Qinglan and Baili Xiao to visit the deserted city and invite Mo Qingshan to Jingzhou to officiate her wedding with Meng Yuanheng.