Chapter 290

Gu Ying could see the man's sharp, bobbing Adam's apple, and even more clearly discern the restrained lust in his eyes.

The doctor had previously said that after three months... they could do that...

She actually missed him quite a bit...

Gu Ying's cheeks grew hot and her earlobes followed suit, flushing red. She took his large hand in hers, her eyes peering earnestly into his dark pupils, "Ah Du, it's getting late, should we rest first?"

Zhao Changdu let out a soft chuckle, cupping her cheek to give her a light kiss on the forehead, "I'll have someone prepare hot water for you to get washed up. This clinic is full of the stench of sickness, you're carrying our child, you must take care of your health."

The man stood up swiftly and cleanly, making it clear he would not be touching her.

He had actually endured at such a moment.

Gu Ying stared at his retreating back in disbelief.

Could it be? Was it possible that after she had gotten pregnant, the Crown Prince no longer held that carnal desire towards her?

As she watched the man's departing figure, Gu Ying regretfully caressed her own slender waist, involuntarily murmuring to herself, "It's still rather slim and soft..."

Her belly had not yet begun to swell, her figure remained lithe and supple, especially a certain area, which was becoming more and more impressive.

Logically speaking, her current self still held quite an allure towards men.

But the Crown Prince's expression was far too cold, appearing unusually abstinent, as if he had no plans to break his eight hundred year fast.

A hard nut to crack--in matters between husband and wife, it had always been the Crown Prince who took the initiative while she was too shy, and despite pondering over it for some time, she still lacked the audacity to entice him.

Her cheeks burning red, Gu Ying let out a sigh, the flush fading somewhat from her face. She got out of bed and went to take a look at the medical records the doctors had written regarding the patients' conditions.

Not long after, Zhao Changdu entered the room to feed her health preserving medicine for the fetus.

Her eyes were sharp and she immediately noticed that pomegranate flower sachet now clearly hanging from his jade belt. Unable to help herself, she felt like laughing, but seeing the Crown Prince's frosty visage, she did not utter a sound.

Zhao Changdu carried her impassively to bathe her, and Gu Ying shamelessly enjoyed the bathing service provided by the Crown Prince. In her mind, she calculated just how to pull that bastard Jiang Yin down as well. It was a pity that the Crown Prince's gaze did not stray to her body at all as he bathed her.

After bathing, only her face was flushed red like a boiled shrimp, the steam in the tub rising in wisps to fog her mind.

She leaned limply against him as she changed into fresh clothes before getting into bed.

There were no lamps lit in the room. Ensconced within the thick and expansive quilt, Gu Ying's cheeks still burned as she pillowed her head against his sturdy arm. After going so long without sleeping alongside the Crown Prince, she tossed and turned, closing her eyes and opening them again, simply unable to fall asleep.

"Ah Du, do you still remember what the doctor said before?"

"Mm, what's wrong?"

"I feel like I'm ready now!"

"Don't make trouble."

Gu Ying puffed her lips out in a pout, "Ah Du, could it be you don't like me anymore?"

The man's voice was hoarse to an excessive degree in the darkness, his palm stroking her delicate shoulder, "Of course not, don't think random thoughts."

Gu Ying's small hand meaningfully crept towards his lower abdomen, "Ah Du, then why won't you touch me..."

Zhao Changdu opened his eyes, pressing down on the little girl's hand that was causing trouble, heat rushing urgently to a certain part of his body.

He ground his back teeth, suppressing himself, and drew the person in his embrace even closer, "Don't move...go to sleep quickly."

He had always been extremely fierce in such matters--he could not injure her at such a critical moment. Once the child in her belly was born, there would be ample time for intimacy.

Gu Ying resigned herself, knowing she could not arouse this man, and obediently went to sleep.

The little girl who had just bathed gave off an alluring sweet fragrance, her soft body nestling against him.

Zhao Changdu had been busy alone with the plague for half a month. Holding her as she fell asleep now, listening to her softly feline-like breathing as she drifted off, he painfully tortured himself for half the night.

...

The next day upon waking,

The sky had just barely brightened, the early spring chill still bitter. Mist hovered outside the window lattices, seeming to veil everything under a layer of hazy gauze.

Gu Ying abruptly opened her eyes, immediately seeing the man propping his chin up as he gazed at her affectionately.

Seeing that she had woken up, the corner of the man's mouth ticked up slightly.

A light kiss carrying the scent of water lilies landed on her lips.

The environment in Qingjiang Manor was naturally incomparable to the luxurious bed and soft pillows of Biyun Manor in times past. Still muddled from sleep, she had suffered a night of chaotic, messy dreams, either dreaming of Jiang Yin or of an indistinct toddler. Jiang Yin's features were loathsome, ten years in a crumbled temple inflicting heartrending pain that cut to the bone--only that small glutinous rice ball in her dream gave her some small comfort. Yet she also didn't know if she was simply too anxious, actually having a nightmare.

That little one had called her mother over and over, its voice tenderly softening her heart.

The child looked extremely tiny, with full, chubby cheeks, and skin as tender and delicate as a bubble that could break at the slightest touch. It joyfully stretched out its soft, fair pudgy hands to run towards her... Overjoyed, she had wanted to take it into her arms, but who knew Jiang Yin would abruptly burst out from midway, his face dark, a longsword in his hand. With a sweep of his sword, the child lay in a pool of its own blood, its limbs torn apart, its small body hacked to pieces.

She was scared witless, her voice choked in her throat, unable even to let out a sound. Then her entire body stiffened and she startled awake from the dream.

Her heart pounded rapidly, nearly jumping out from her throat, cold sweat seeping from her palms.

She calmed herself for a while, her eyes still filled with confusion and bewilderment.

Nian Bao...that was her Nian Bao...

That bastard Jiang Yin would kill her Nian Bao...

Gu Ying's eyes began to moisten, a surge of heat rising up in the depths of her eyes.

She turned her panicked, helpless gaze towards Zhao Changdu. Seeing this, pain lanced through his heart and he immediately pulled her into his embrace.

"What's wrong? Had a nightmare?"

The man's large, slightly cool hand pressed against the girl's forehead, a worried look surfacing on his face.

Gu Ying's fearful, uneasy heart gradually settled. She forced her tears back, smiling as she met the man's scorching gaze. Her heartbeat quickened.

"Mm...but it was only a dream after all."

In her previous life, Jiang Yin had used an abortifacient to kill the child she had with the Crown Prince, leaving her with deep scars across her heart. Fortunately this dream was not a recollection of the past, only a nightmare.

Perhaps she had just been too anxious lately, thoughts occupying both her days and dreams, thus bringing about such an inauspicious nightmare.

She swore to well protect Nian Bao, not giving Jiang Yin another chance to kill Nian Bao.

With a soft sob, her eyes still glistening damply, she stretched out both arms from beneath the quilt, winding them tightly about his neck as she actively kissed him.

As their kiss ended, they rested with their foreheads touching, both their breathing somewhat hurried.

Gu Ying's face was flushed, her voice still holding the soft, nasal tone of having just woken, speaking lowly, "Ah Du, I want to stay by your side as we help Yueyang weather this storm. Leave managing the patients to you while I handle everything else, alright?"

Preoccupied, with only Cousin and Zhou Yan, there were few people he could trust in Yueyang City.

Gu Ying was aware of his difficulties, and had long thought of how to help him, only held back by Jiang Yin without an opportunity to voice her thoughts.

Not until last night had she finally worked up the courage to directly tell the Crown Prince "certain things".

After speaking words that had long been trapped in her heart, she felt much better. She could also let go of many matters and handle them personally, but what delighted her more was that the Crown Prince believed in her.