Who said the heir would die out? The concubine is pregnant again!

Feeling disheartened, Liang Yunqian suddenly appeared in front of them.

Although Liang Xingzhou could not see people, he could hear footsteps.

"Someone's coming."

Upon seeing the familiar figure, Yingzhu was startled.

"Young Master? When did you arrive?"

But his face was gloomy as he walked towards her step by step, his gaze fixed on her.

"Did you really embroider this handkerchief for Liang Xingzhou? When was that? I don't believe him, I only believe you."

He was questioning her, but thankfully he didn't immediately make a judgment; he simply asked her to explain.

Composing herself, Yingzhu said calmly:

"It was embroidered for him, but it was given to his mother before I entered the Prince's mansion, when I broke off the engagement with him."

At the time, I said that it would be a pity to burn the handkerchiefs, so I would give them to Aunt Song for safekeeping, and we would have no further dealings with them after that. I also returned all the betrothal gifts.

I don't know how Aunt Song ended up giving it to Fourth Master, or what she said to him, but in any case, I didn't deliver this handkerchief to him.

After hearing her explanation, Liang Yunqian's tightly pursed lips finally relaxed.

He didn't ask any more questions and turned to look directly at Liang Xingzhou.

"Yingzhu is not a fickle person. Since she made the decision to break up with you, she has not left herself any way out. You must have been deceived by your mother."

She probably wanted to persuade you to get treatment for your eyes, so she made up various excuses to lie and say that Yingzhu still had feelings for you. In reality, Yingzhu had already given up; now, her heart and soul belong only to me, and no one else.

Yingzhu slowly turned her head to look at Liang Yunqian, her furrowed brows showing a hint of surprise.

She had never said such cheesy things, but in order to make Liang Xingzhou completely believe her, she didn't refute it.

"Fourth Master, I don't want to hurt you intentionally, but I also don't want to keep you hanging on, giving you hope only to disappoint you, which would be especially cruel."

I have decided to marry the Crown Prince. You don't need to wait for me. Even after giving birth, I will not leave the palace or the Crown Prince. You should focus on recovering from your injuries and treating your eyes. I believe that once you are fully healed, you will surely meet your destined partner.

The spring breeze was gentle and warm as it brushed past him, but Liang Xingzhou could see nothing. He could only hear Yingzhu's voice, melodious yet cruel, as she spoke her so-called truth.

He didn't want to believe it, but she kept rejecting him. If he continued to pester her, it seemed he would only annoy her.

Did she really change her mind and fall in love with Liang Yunqian, or did she agree to marry Liang Yunqian out of gratitude, weighing the pros and cons, and fearing that she would implicate him?

And what about him? Should he persist, or let go and give her freedom?

He simply couldn't accept the current situation; his heart felt like it had been thrown into a frying pan, sizzling and crackling.

"Why? Why did it turn out like this? You always said that I was the only one in your heart, and that you would always wait for me. Even after two years of hearing the news of my death, you refused to give up and kept waiting for me."

Now that I'm finally back, you've given up? How can I accept this? It's all Xu Fanglin's fault, it's all Xu Kaishan's fault. It was those two who forced you; this wasn't your intention!

Yingzhu, I don't want to give up on you. Don't marry him. Give me another chance, wait for me, just six months!

His earnest pleas and trembling voice were heartbreaking to hear.

Even Yingzhu couldn't determine who was right and who was wrong.

Occasionally, birds chirped, but Yingzhu's resolve remained exceptionally firm.

She looked into Liang Xingzhou's unpredictable dark eyes, but the feelings she once had for him could no longer surface, for between her and Liang Xingzhou, there was already a vast distance separating them.

"When I waited for you before, it was with true heart; now that our fate has ended, it is also true."

Not all regrets can be remedied; some past events are meant to be forgotten.

Previously, Liang Yunqian would be angry and furious about Liang Xingzhou's obsession, but since he cleared up the misunderstanding with Yingzhu, he has come to understand Yingzhu's character and has become less hostile towards Liang Xingzhou.

"Ask yourself honestly, do you want Yingzhu to be happy, or do you simply want to possess her? Do you want to win against me?"

"Of course I want her to be happy! Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone to the battlefield without hesitation and risked my life!"

Without a second thought, Liang Xingzhou answered decisively, prompting Liang Yunqian to correct him:

"You went to the battlefield for your own ideals and ambitions, to make military achievements. Don't attribute all the benefits you desire to Yingzhu!"

You're putting pressure on her. This is your own choice. You should have borne the consequences of leaving that year. Now you've missed out on Yingzhu, which is also a result of your choice. You can't blame anyone else.

Perhaps you and Yingzhu once had a connection, but it was a tragic one, long since severed. Whether you admit it or not, it cannot change the fact that I am her destined partner, her husband, and the father of her child!

Liang Yunqian's repeated statements, delivered in a loud and clear tone, startled Liang Xingzhou, causing his heart to stop and him to stumble back two steps.

He never realized that his words were actually putting pressure on Yingzhu.

Liang Xingzhou had always believed that Liang Yunqian was a greedy man who deliberately tried to steal Yingzhu from him for the sake of his male pride. However, Liang Yunqian's words today made him realize---

Liang Yunqian seemed to really care about Yingzhu, and could even put himself in her shoes.

Was it pure sincerity, or was it mixed with calculation?

Before Liang Xingzhou could confirm, he heard Yingzhu's voice.

"I've already made everything clear. From now on, we should avoid each other. And please don't call me by my name anymore; it's impolite."

After giving her instructions, Yingzhu said to Liang Yunqian:

"It's windy outside, let's go back!"

"Okay." Liang Yunqian looked back at her, smiled gently, took her hand, and walked back.

A gentle spring breeze brushed against his hair ribbon. Liang Xingzhou could not see the sunlight; he could only feel a blinding white emptiness.

Yingzhu's footsteps faded into the distance. She had found someone to walk beside her, while he remained stuck in the same place, unable to let go, unwilling to leave...

After returning to his room, Liang Yunqian changed out of his regular clothes and into casual clothes, but he remained silent, seemingly preoccupied.

"Haven't we already made things clear? What are you still wondering about?"

Yingzhu thought she had been honest enough; could he still be suspicious?

Liang Yunqian did have a question, and he hesitated whether he should voice it.

He knew that telling her might upset her, but if he didn't mention it, it would remain a thorn in his heart.

After much hesitation, he finally decided to speak his mind.

"At that time, I saw that handkerchief. Besides the eagle embroidered on it, there were also two lines of poetry: 'A message to the sparrows: do not chatter, for the clouds and sky are high and boundless.'"

He actually saw the two lines of embroidered poetry.

Yingzhu was only focused on clarifying things and didn't think much of it. But when Liang Yunqian asked about it and met his dark eyes, she belatedly realized that something was wrong!

Sure enough, the next moment, Liang Yunqian's doubts followed.

"The handkerchief was embroidered before you entered the manor, but you told me that you don't know many characters and asked me to read you the fire avoidance diagram and teach you to write."

"You've always been literate, you've been lying to me?"

Having been exposed, Yingzhu had no way to deny it. If she continued to lie, he probably wouldn't believe her anyway, so she finally nodded.

"I am indeed literate, and I did lie to you back then. The reason I did that was because everyone in the household said that you were cold and aloof, and that you were very hostile towards me, the so-called 'pregnant' one."

But I must consummate our marriage that night, or I might be kicked out. Left with no other choice, I lied and said I was illiterate, begging you to read the "Fire Avoidance Chart" and to teach me to write, all to bring us closer and get pregnant as soon as possible.

After confessing, Yingzhu breathed a sigh of relief.

She slowly raised her eyes and glanced at Liang Yunqian.

"I did use many methods to get closer to you, but I never drugged you. I was just using excuses to get closer to you."

However, it is true that I deceived you, I cannot deny that. If Your Highness minds, the wedding next month... can be canceled.

The handkerchief wrapped around her fingers again and again; Yingzhu was bold and decisive, choosing to speak her mind.

She didn't want Liang Yunqian to harbor resentment and force himself to marry her, only to hold a grudge later; that would be pointless.

Liang Yunqian remained silent for a long time, seemingly deep in thought.

It seems she guessed right; he really was considering canceling the wedding.

She was in the wrong first, so she has no right to complain.

At least it's laid out before the wedding, which avoids a lot of trouble.

After a brief pause, Yingzhu continued:

"If you're too embarrassed to say it, I'll go talk to Princess Rui and make things clear. She doesn't like me anyway. If I say the wedding is canceled, I think... she'll be very happy."

"Who said I was going to cancel the wedding?"

"You've been silent all this time, isn't that because you're bothered by it? You don't need to force yourself. I was the one who was wrong. I lied to you first. Even if you want to call off the engagement, it's only natural. I won't blame you."

Even now, I still feel that our engagement is like a dream, very unreal.

Perhaps it's because we're simply not meant to be together! Even if we force ourselves to stay together, we'll likely have many disagreements in the future...

As she continued, Yingzhu didn't shed tears, but her voice was clearly choked with emotion.

"During this period of time, people have been looking at me with mixed feelings, some with envy and others with jealousy."

I don't dare take those congratulations seriously. The wedding is next month, but I'm constantly filled with anxiety, always thinking, "What if I suddenly wake up one day and everything changes?"

No wonder Yingzhu has been absent-minded lately. When asked what was wrong, she refused to say, only giving him a forced smile.

But it turned out that she had never truly felt at ease. The wedding ceremony he promised did not bring her a sense of security; instead, it made her feel anxious and insecure.

She didn't even try to stop him, bluntly saying that the engagement could be called off!

Does she really not care about him at all?

When this thought popped into his head, Liang Yunqian felt a pang of sadness, but it was only for a moment. He quickly remembered that Yingzhu had once told him that she felt insecure and was unsure about the feelings he had expressed.

That means the real problem lies with him; he hasn't earned her enough trust, which is why she's overthinking things.

Thinking of this, Liang Yunqian felt a wave of relief wash over him.

She turned around, and he walked around to stand in front of her, looking directly into her eyes, taking her hand, trying to let her feel the warmth of his palm.

"You were simply led astray by Xu Kaishan. The path you're on now has shaped your resilience and courage. But hardship is hardship, and you shouldn't have had to endure it."

I want to marry you because I truly like you, admire you, and hope that you can become the Crown Princess to make up for the suffering you endured in the past.

I truly regret not being a part of your life. If I could, I would have loved to have lived with you since childhood, to have been your childhood sweetheart, and to have experienced your joys and sorrows.

It's a pity I missed your first twenty years, but I want to walk the rest of your journey with you. When you walk the same path many times, you become fellow travelers on the same road.

The sincerity in his eyes was almost overflowing, and Yingzhu was momentarily at a loss.

The current situation is completely different from what she imagined. She had even thought about how to explain to her mother that she had broken off the engagement, but he actually said that he had no such intention.

"But I lied to you, more than once. You... really don't mind? You're not planning to call off the engagement?"

"You lied to me just to get pregnant, which is perfectly understandable."

Liang Yunqian smiled gently, as if he were talking about something trivial, without a trace of anger.

"It's normal for you to have doubts because you don't know me well enough yet. It's alright. Once we're married and spend more time together, you'll know that I haven't been lying to you."

The reason I brought up that old story today is simply to be honest with you. If you have any doubts, just say them and ask clearly. It's better than hiding things and being suspicious, right?

You've explained, and I believe you. I can't possibly call off the engagement, and you don't need to worry. No matter what lies ahead, whether it's stormy weather or sunny skies, I'll be with you, walking this path together forever!

His thoughtfulness, like a spring breeze and the rising sun, melted the snow that had been buried deep in Yingzhu's heart for so long, and dispelled her worries.

"Yunqian, I was being petty. I misunderstood you. I shouldn't have thought of you that way."

Those few simple words made Liang Yunqian's eyes light up instantly!

Was she calling for... Yun Qian just now?

Last time, he forced her to call out his name, but today, Yingzhu actually called out his name on her own initiative!

So he took another step towards her?

He's not far from winning her heart...

With a sense of relief, Liang Yunqian put his arm around her slender, delicate shoulders and pulled her into his embrace.

New buds have sprouted on the branches outside the window; the cold winter is gone and the warm spring is coming.

Yingzhu nestled against Liang Yunqian's shoulder, feeling a peace and tranquility she had never known before.

Liang Yunqian couldn't help but ask expectantly, "Do you think this baby will be a boy or a girl?"

Yingzhu's belly wasn't very noticeably protruding. "I don't know! It's only been three months, you can't tell anything yet."

"Then we need to choose two names, one for a boy and one for a girl."

Liang Yunqian was pondering to himself when Yingzhu said thoughtfully:

"I prefer a daughter. How about this: I'll choose a girl's name, and you choose a boy's name. We'll decide which one to use after the baby is born."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

Liang Yunqian tilted his head slightly and placed a light kiss between her eyebrows and eyes.

Love is something that can't be forced. Some people may never meet their soulmate even if they spend their whole lives trying. But Liang Yunqian was lucky enough. The Taoist priest's fabricated story of a "pregnant woman" bound him and Yingzhu together.

They came for profit, but stayed because of affection.

Being able to embrace the person he loves and spend the rest of his life with her is a warm and sweet feeling that makes him very content.

Next, they would wait for the wedding ceremony on the sixth day of the second lunar month, and for the birth of their child.

In this life, without Xu Fanglin's interference, Yingzhu believes she will be able to give birth to her child safely and change the tragedy of her previous life.

As for Liang Yunqian's heart, she didn't bother to investigate what was true or false. Every day they spent together, she treated him with sincerity, which was extremely rare.

Whether there will be changes in the future is not something she should worry about; it's up to fate. As for her, she only needs to have a clear conscience.

The way is:

Prophecies may be false, but the heart is true; doubt, resentment, worry, joy, love, and hate arise from them.

It's a pity that the red thread of fate, once connected, has now broken; before we knew it, our love had already taken deep root.

---End of main text----

Bamboo is reluctant to leave, but must say goodbye. Thank you for your support, my little darlings. We'll meet again someday!