The pregnant woman pressed down on the wife, and the cousin collapsed into the prince's arms.

Pei Jingnian's courtesy name was Chengyuan.

Seeing that Madam Wang looked unwell, Pei Jingnian quickly went to the bedside and said anxiously, "Mother is not feeling well, why didn't you call the family physician?"

Then, turning to Shiliu, he said, "Aren't you going to invite them?"

He was only twenty-two years old this year, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and was exceptionally handsome. At this moment, he wore a jade crown, his eyes were like glass, and he was as noble and refined as an immortal. However, his handsome eyebrows were now furrowed, revealing a hint of anxiety.

Shi Liu was naturally at a loss after being scolded by the young master. It was Wang Shi who held Pei Jingnian's hand and sighed, "My son, there's no need to worry. It's just an old ailment. The doctor will just prescribe the same old remedies. There's nothing new about it. I'll rest and be fine tomorrow."

Pei Jingnian still felt something was amiss and was about to offer further advice when he heard Madam Wang ramble on, "If it's an illness, it's a mental one. You have no children, and your mother is so anxious that she'll get sick too."

Hearing this, Pei Jingnian sighed inwardly. The issue of having children had been a topic of conversation ever since he got married, and recently it had become a daily occurrence.

In fact, he also felt somewhat powerless about this matter. The affairs of the Ministry of Personnel were complicated, but he felt that going home was even more of a headache.

Madam Wang discreetly observed Pei Jingnian's expression, and seeing that he showed no resistance, she continued, "The Crown Princess has found a servant from her family to be your concubine. I think this is feasible. What do you think?"

Pei Jingnian was somewhat surprised to hear the news, but it also seemed to be within his expectations.

When Wang saw that her son did not express his opinion, she thought he was unhappy. After all, she knew that her son was not the kind of person who was obsessed with women.

"Chengyuan, your third uncle's fifth brother already has children, but you've been married for three years and still have no offspring. What will people think of you?"

Although Pei Jingnian is the eldest son of the main branch of the family, he is the third among his cousins. In recent years, not only his older cousins, but even his fifth brother, who just got married last year, has already had a child.

No one knows a son better than his mother. She knew how to speak to Pei Jingnian and even though he was as aloof as an immortal, his expression was somewhat stiff at this moment.

The principal wife suffered from uterine cold, and the two concubines also suffered health problems. These were undeniable facts, but they also concerned the reputation of the Jingyuan Marquis's mansion, so they could not be revealed to outsiders.

To outsiders, he had a wife and concubines but no children, and over time, people might speculate that he was in poor health.

Seeing that he was somewhat swayed, Madam Wang pressed her advantage: "Originally, even if Wanrou hadn't mentioned it, I would have arranged for you to take a concubine. But now that she's interested, I'll go with the flow. I think she's genuinely repented. When your child is born, even though he'll be born out of wedlock, he'll be raised like a legitimate son. We won't let others laugh at our main branch for not having any descendants."

Hearing this, Pei Jingnian felt like he was the one suffering from a headache. He paused for a moment before saying, "I leave it to Mother to decide."

Upon hearing his agreement, Madam Wang smiled, and her headache immediately disappeared. She then instructed Liu Mama to quickly go to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Faced with a table full of delicious food, Pei Jingnian had no appetite. He ate a few bites and then left Fuxi Hall.

Almost as soon as I stepped out the door, I saw a figure in the distance, slender and graceful, like a quiet and elegant magnolia.

Pei Jingnian was momentarily dazed, but after a while he remembered that this should be his cousin who came from Yangzhou a while ago.

Shen Yunshuang stopped in front of Pei Jingnian, gave a graceful curtsy, and said in a soft voice, "Greetings, cousin."

"No need for formalities, cousin." To be honest, this was the first time Pei Jingnian had met Shen Yunshuang. He couldn't help but take a look at her. She was wearing a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a semi-transparent smoky blue gauze outer garment, as light and thin as mist. When he called her name, she looked up and revealed a delicate and fair face as white as mutton fat jade.

Pei Jingnian was slightly taken aback, and a poem involuntarily came to mind: "Her face is plain, her makeup is rich, and her jade cup is held high against the blue sky."

"Cousin, were you just having dinner with Aunt?" Shen Yunshuang asked softly, her eyes sparkling with interest, without showing any fear.

Pei Jingnian snapped out of his reverie and responded, then noticed Shen Yunshuang's slender figure and delicate, frail appearance, suggesting she was still ill. He asked with concern, "Are you feeling better?"

Shen Yunshuang, with a graceful demeanor, smiled sweetly: "I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, cousin."

When she lowered her eyes and smiled gently, her already beautiful face was made even more radiant. Pei Jingnian suddenly felt a strange sensation in his heart and did not want to talk to Shen Yunshuang anymore. He said, "Okay, go and keep your mother company. If you need anything, just tell Wanrou."

Before he finished speaking, he took a step away, his wide sleeves accidentally brushing against the Buddhist scriptures in Green Bud's arms.

The Buddhist scripture was written on Xuan paper, which was thin and light. When it fell to the ground, it unfolded, revealing the delicate characters inside. The strokes were graceful and elegant, and there seemed to be a faint fragrance in the air.

"Green Bud!" Shen Yunshuang frowned. "You must not offend the Crown Prince."

Green Bud hurriedly knelt down and confessed her sins.

"It's alright." Pei Jingnian knew it wasn't the maid's fault, so he waved his hand and bent down to pick up the Buddhist scriptures himself.

When her fingertips touched the Xuan paper, an indescribable fragrance filled her nose. It turned out that Shen Yunshuang had also bent down to pick it up.

Their fingers touched, and a strange heat rose within them. Shen Yunshuang quickly withdrew her fingers, and when Pei Jingnian returned the Buddhist scripture to her, he saw that her cheeks were flushed, like peach petals on a spring branch.

He felt a moment of panic, subconsciously averting his gaze, and had no intention of admiring the handwriting that had just amazed him. Without saying a word, he hurriedly left.

Seeing Pei Jingnian's noticeably quickened pace, Shen Yunshuang slightly curled her lips. Pei Jingnian was cold and aloof. In her previous life, she felt extremely inferior in front of him and didn't dare to get close to him at all.

But having "lived" for so many years, she has been able to control all her emotions and has seen through the affairs between men and women. In her view, what does it matter if someone is as noble as an immortal? As long as they are men, they have the most primal love and desire.

____

Wang hadn't expected Shen Yunshuang to come so late.

"Aunt, Shuang'er thought that this Buddhist scripture needs to be enshrined, so we must be very careful and not make any mistakes. I have copied it in several different fonts, please choose one."

Looking at the beautiful woman before her, Madam Wang couldn't help but like her. She smiled and accepted the several scrolls of Buddhist scriptures, saying, "You are such a thoughtful child."

While Wang was reading Buddhist scriptures, Shen Yunshuang mentioned, "I just ran into my cousin outside, and he seemed a little displeased."

Shen Yunshuang came to Fuxi Hall so late just to meet Pei Jingnian. Of course, saying he was not surprised was just a random thought. After all, Pei Jingnian always had an icy expression and rarely showed any happiness. The slight panic he revealed when she got close was very subtle and could not be noticed unless one observed carefully and knew him very well.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang brought up the matter from earlier. Yun Shuang was her own niece, so naturally she wasn't an outsider.

Moreover, her arrival not only provides her with company, but also allows her to listen to her and relieve her inner distress.

"I don't know what he was unhappy about, but at least he agreed, so I'm thankful."