The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Madam Shen sighed softly, her gaze falling on her daughter's flat stomach: "Why is there still no news about your belly?"

Shen Tinghe, however, was not anxious. Instead, she smiled with a relaxed expression.

"Mother, His Highness and I are doing well. He will come when the time is right."

Her tone was frank, radiating confidence and composure born from being pampered.

"Besides, we've only been married for about five months."

Mrs. Shen shook her head, her eyes filled with the concern of someone who had been through it all:

"Your father and I had your eldest brother three months after our marriage."

She paused, then took her daughter's hand again: "Never mind, maybe I'm just being impatient. As long as you're happy with your life, there's no rush."

The mother and daughter talked for a long time until it got dark outside the window and the palace lanterns lit up one by one. Only then did Madam Shen get up and leave the palace.

Not long after the palace returned to tranquility, familiar footsteps came from outside the corridor.

When Xie Yanzhao stepped into the bedroom, he immediately saw his young wife reclining on a small couch, cutting paper by candlelight.

"Yuan Yuan".

Shen Tinghe looked up at the sound, her eyes instantly brightening, and she flew into his arms like a joyful little bird.

"My husband!"

Xie Yanzhao opened his arms and caught her steadily, holding her tightly.

Qingdai and the others who were standing by smiled slightly and quietly withdrew. Only the two of them remained in the bedchamber.

Xie Yanzhao carried her back to the couch and asked softly, "What did you do today?"

Shen Tinghe then counted on her fingers: "I chatted with my mother for a long time today, ate the Qiutang cake she made herself, and also learned paper cutting from Qingyu."

She proudly held up the cut-out portrait: "Look, I succeeded on my first try!"

Xie Yanzhao took it and examined it closely.

The paper shows the outline of her profile, simple yet elegant.

He smiled and said, "Yeah, Yuan Yuan is really amazing."

Xie Yanzhao pulled her closer to him, his forehead lightly touching hers, their breaths nearly mingling: "Anything else? Yuan Yuan didn't do anything else today?"

Shen Tinghe blinked: "That's all?"

Xie Yanzhao's eyes darkened slightly. Not hearing the answer he wanted, he directly kissed those lips that always made his heart itch.

Its sweetness and softness, as always, captivated him.

When they parted, both of them were breathing heavily.

He asked again in a hoarse voice, "Think again, what else did you do today?"

Shen Tinghe finally couldn't help but chuckle softly, reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck, her voice gentle and soft.

"I miss you... I miss you so much. I didn't even eat properly today because my brother wasn't here."

If she deliberately softens her tone and acts coquettishly, Xie Yanzhao will absolutely be unable to resist.

He sighed softly and buried his face in the crook of her neck: "Yuan Yuan is the best at coaxing me."

Shen Tinghe straightened up and knelt between his legs, suddenly becoming a little taller than him.

Xie Yanzhao could only look up at her.

She brushed her fingertips across his brow and asked softly, "Did you miss me, brother?"

Xie Yanzhao looked into her eyes: "You're going crazy thinking about it."

Since their marriage, he has been inseparable from her almost every moment.

The night is deep and the candles are warm; the curtains are lightly drawn.

Shen Tinghe's eyes were red at the corners, and her dark black hair was scattered on the pillow.

In the heat of the moment, she suddenly remembered the words her mother had quietly given her a few days earlier.

"elder brother…."

Her voice was soft and sweet as she murmured with her eyes half-closed, "Pillow...I need a pillow to put under my head..."

Although Xie Yanzhao didn't understand why, he still reached out and handed her the soft pillow next to his.

Shen Tinghe took it and awkwardly tucked it behind her back to elevate her waist.

His eyes darkened, a smile playing on his lips, but his actions didn't stop: "Where did Yuan Yuan learn this from?"

She was too shy to answer, so she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down and burying her burning face in his shoulder.

"...Don't ask."

Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly, his kisses falling like gentle rain on her neck: "Alright, I won't ask."

Springtime grew stronger inside the tent, Aba Aba Aba (Don't let me write that).

……

It was late at night, and Shen Tinghe had long since fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing shallow and long.

Xie Yanzhao lay behind her, his arms encircling her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace.

His warm palm rested on her lower abdomen, through a soft nightgown, where a slight bulge seemed to have formed.

Xie Yanzhao smiled silently, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

He lowered his head, his nose gently brushing against her dark hair scattered on the pillow, inhaling her faint, warm fragrance.

Xie Yanzhao gazed at her sleeping profile. Her eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her lips were slightly parted. She looked completely unguarded and so obedient that it softened one's heart.

"My silly Yuan Yuan, you're so impatient." His voice was very low, with a sigh of doting affection.

Xie Yanzhao knew perfectly well what tucking the pillow under his waist meant.

A warm breath brushed past her ear, and Shen Tinghe, seemingly sensing something in her sleep, unconsciously let out two soft "hums".

She groggily rolled over and buried her face in his warm chest, nuzzling him to find a more comfortable position.

Xie Yanzhao tightened his arms around her, and gently stroked her long hair that was draped over her back with his other hand, the movements as gentle as if he were soothing her.

The tent was warm and cozy, while the moonlight flowed silently outside the window.

Xie Yanzhao thought that he should summon Physician Wang tomorrow.

The next morning, as dawn broke, a hazy sleepiness still lingered inside the gauze curtains.

Xie Yanzhao woke up first, and with the slightest movement, he felt the warmth and softness in his arms.

Shen Tinghe was still fast asleep, her cheek pressed against his arm, her lips slightly pouting, looking completely dependent on him.

He looked at her quietly for a moment before very gently withdrawing his arm and trying to get up.

Even though she moved very quietly, the slight rustling of the bed still startled Shen Tinghe.

As soon as he sat up, a soft, warm hand reached out from under the quilt and grasped the corner of his nightgown.

"Um...where are you going?"

Her eyes were still half-closed, veiled by a hazy mist, and her voice carried a heavy, nasal tone and a touch of coquettishness.

Xie Yanzhao's heart softened, and he immediately leaned back, stroking her long hair that was scattered on the pillow with his palm, and coaxed her softly.

"I need to take care of some things in the study. Jiaojiao, keep sleeping. I'll be back to keep you company soon, okay?"

Having received his assurance, Shen Tinghe gave a vague "hmm," and her hand, which had been gripping his clothes, slowly loosened and slipped into the blankets.

Her eyelashes fluttered, but she quickly drifted back into a peaceful sleep.

Xie Yanzhao leaned down and gently kissed her warm cheek, whispering, "Good girl."

Inside the study, Physician Wang was already waiting respectfully with his hands at his sides.

He was a renowned gynecologist at the Imperial Medical Academy. Over fifty years old, with a calm demeanor, he dared not slacken his efforts in the slightest.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince enter, Imperial Physician Wang immediately bowed and greeted, "Your humble servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"rise."

Xie Yanzhao walked straight to the desk and sat down, his gaze calmly falling on Physician Wang.