Chapter 144: Tender Care, The Residual Poison Remains

The man lying on the bed, seemingly lost in a deep, unconscious slumber, was none other than Meng Yuanheng.

"Master Situ, has the Prince's cold poison still not been cured?" Shen Qianmo asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding Meng Yuanheng’s icy hand, her expression filled with worry.

Throughout the journey in the carriage, Shen Qianmo had not noticed any obvious abnormalities in him. Yet, just as they were about to enter Jingzhou City, he had suddenly begun to tremble, breaking out in a cold sweat as if suffering from heart-piercing agony, and soon after, he lapsed into a coma, which had truly frightened her.

Situ Gong, who was already well-accustomed to the procedure, began applying silver needles to Meng Yuanheng. Seeing Shen Qianmo’s anxious face, he offered reassurance: "Please rest assured, Your Highness. The Prince is fine. When he was treated for the cold poison last time, he skipped the final course of therapy. While this does not hinder his normal movement or martial arts, the residual poison has not been fully purged. Consequently, he suffers from intense pain during the full moon. After I apply these needles, he will be back to normal."

So that was it. He had skipped the final treatment to prioritize his concern for her and ensure they reached Jinyang Pass as quickly as possible.

"But today is not the night of the full moon. Did his condition flare up prematurely?" Shen Qianmo turned to look at the man on the bed, his thin lips pressed tightly together in quiet sleep, a wave of deep guilt and heartache washing over her.

"It is likely due to the exhaustion of searching for you these past few days. The Prince’s condition flared up a few days early this time, and it was far more severe than the last. It was my lack of foresight to not prepare earlier; please forgive me, Your Highness." Having finished with the needles, Situ Gong bowed to offer his apologies.

Shen Qianmo shook her head. "Master Situ, what are you saying? The Prince’s health has only been able to recover this well thanks to your care. The night is deep; you should go and rest. I will watch over the Prince."

Situ Gong glanced at her and said with a respectful bow, "Your Highness’s own health is not what it once was, and you require more rest. Would you like me to prescribe some remedies for fetal nourishment and health?"

"Fetal nourishment?" Lüzhu repeated the words blankly, not immediately grasping their meaning. Once it registered, she was overcome with surprise and joy. She grabbed Shen Qianmo’s arm and exclaimed in a hushed voice, "My Lady, you… you are with child?"

Shen Qianmo patted the back of Lüzhu’s hand, the girl’s eyes wide with disbelief, and smiled generously. She told Situ Gong, "It seems nothing can escape your eyes, Master Situ. I shall trouble you then. Lüzhu, go with Master Situ to fetch the medicine."

Upon hearing the news of her mistress’s pregnancy, Lüzhu’s initial shock turned into pure joy, and she could not hold back her tears. She quickly wiped them away, helped Shen Qianmo sit on the edge of the bed, and followed Situ Gong out of the room.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Shen Qianmo sat by the bedside, her fingers gently brushing across Meng Yuanheng’s sharp, handsome features as he slept. A bitter ache welled up in her heart.

She finally understood the root of his insecurity. It was because of his own broken and fragile health that he felt apologetic and guilty toward her, and in his subconscious, there always lingered a fear of loss. That was the source of his intense jealousy and possessiveness.

"A-Heng…" As her fingertips traced his pale skin, her eyes were filled with nothing but tenderness for the man before her.

When Shen Qianmo woke the next morning, she found herself tucked into a warm embrace. She was slightly startled; she remembered sleeping on the recliner on the other side of the room to avoid disturbing him, yet here she was, in his arms.

As she stirred, the man beside her immediately opened his eyes.

"Mo'er?" he murmured in a low, soft voice.

Meeting his clear, gentle eyes beneath those long lashes, Shen Qianmo gave a faint smile. "Are you still in pain?"

Meng Yuanheng shook his head, burying his face in her embrace and wrapping his arms around her slender waist. "With you here, it doesn't hurt," he replied, his voice muffled.

In truth, he had long grown accustomed to physical pain. Such agony was nothing compared to the tearing sensation he felt the day he watched her fall off the cliff, thinking he had lost her forever. During those days of separation, he had almost wished the pain would never leave, for only then did he feel alive, and only then could he numb the boundless darkness and emptiness within his heart.

Gently stroking his silver hair, Shen Qianmo felt a bitter, aching sensation. She whispered softly, "It is still early; sleep a little longer."

"Mn," came a low sound from his chest. "Stay and sleep with me, Mo'er."

"Very well, I will stay." Shen Qianmo knew, of course, that with his body in such pain, how could he truly sleep? The man in her arms simply wanted to linger a moment longer in the quiet peace of their togetherness.

But for the two leaders currently overseeing Jingzhou City, things could rarely go exactly as they wished. Less than a quarter of an hour later, the room was disturbed by a clamor outside.

"Sister Shen! Sister Shen!" Urgent calls came from outside—the voice of a young boy.

"It’s Tietou!" Shen Qianmo recognized the voice; it was the boy from Licheng for whom she had once braved the Snow Ridge to harvest Ice Spirit Grass.

She never expected he would follow them to Jingzhou.

Looking at the sky, the sun was already high. Having had little rest lately, they had both fallen into a deep, peaceful sleep and lost track of time.

They had arrived at the Governor’s Mansion late last night, and because Meng Yuanheng was unconscious, they hadn't wanted to disturb anyone. Now that word had spread that she had returned safely, everyone naturally came to pay their respects.

Realizing this, Shen Qianmo felt embarrassed to stay in bed any longer. She patted Meng Yuanheng’s back and said, "A-Heng, it’s time to get up."

Meng Yuanheng sat up with great reluctance, his expression dark and intimidating. Damn it! He had already sent Situ Gong to take that little fox away earlier, hoping for some peace and quiet, yet here they were, still being disturbed!

After rising, they did not call for servants. They washed and dressed themselves before opening the door.

Outside, the morning sun was rising, casting a warm glow. Lüzhu and Changdong stood guard on either side of the door like statues, while Yan Mo and several shadow guards stood dutifully nearby, firmly holding back a ten-year-old boy who was kicking and fussing to get inside. In the courtyard, a crowd had gathered: Yun Yi, Xie Mingyu, Leng Aoshuang, Wen Renyuan, and various officers of the Meng Army and the Flying Cloud Cavalry.

Because of the recent battle at Jinyang Pass, where the Flying Cloud Cavalry had triumphed against the Northern Di army despite the odds, Shen Qianmo’s contribution had been immense, earning her great prestige among the troops. Hearing the news that the Princess had returned safely and was expecting a child, the entire mansion was overjoyed, and they had gathered at dawn to wait for an audience.

Seeing the sun high in the sky and the Prince and Princess still inside, the crowd had grown restless, their voices rising as Tietou made a fuss. But the moment they saw the Prince’s face—dark enough to drip ink and radiating a murderous aura—the entire courtyard fell deathly silent.

Since the incident with the Princess, the Prince’s temper had become increasingly unpredictable. While he remained as brilliant and decisive as ever in matters of state, he was no longer as easygoing as he once was.

Sensing Meng Yuanheng’s rigid tension, Shen Qianmo patted his hand soothingly and nodded at the crowd, apologizing, "My apologies. The Prince and I overslept; thank you all for waiting."

The crowd snapped back to reality and bowed in unison. "We pay our respects to the Prince and the Princess."

Meng Yuanheng stared at his subordinates with a gloomy expression, remaining silent for a long time. Shen Qianmo had no choice but to pull his hand gently, which finally elicited a faint grunt from him.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Highnesses." The crowd seemed relieved, as if granted a pardon.

After the formalities were over and they had confirmed the Princess was safe, those with no further business began to withdraw. Everyone knew that the Prince likely wanted to spend time with the Princess after their long separation and had little interest in seeing them, so they wisely chose to disappear.

Only Yun Yi, Xie Mingyu, Leng Aoshuang, and the stubborn Tietou, who refused to leave, remained in the courtyard.

"Cousin, Aoshuang." Shen Qianmo smiled, stepping forward to greet them. Seeing them after so long brought a rush of emotions. Seeing them holding hands, their unspoken understanding evident, she felt a great sense of relief.

"Mo'er."

"Qianmo."

Xie Mingyu and Leng Aoshuang called her name in unison, their excitement clear. Finding a relative she had thought she would never see again standing right in front of them, even the usually cold Leng Aoshuang could not hide her emotion, her eyes moistening with tears as she clutched Shen Qianmo’s hands.

"Are Grandfather, Uncle, and Aunt doing well?" Shen Qianmo asked, her own eyes misting over as she looked at Xie Mingyu with a smile.

Xie Mingyu, elegant and refined, nodded. "They are all well. My cousin brought word to Suzhou that you were still alive, which brought them great comfort. Father even said he wanted to come to Jingzhou himself; he must have already departed."