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

After the last few strokes were finished, Lü Rui stepped forward to support Shen Yun Shuang and advised, "Consort, please rest. If the young master and the old lady find out that you have been standing for so long painting, they will probably punish all of us."

Shen Yunshuang supported her waist. Three months had passed, and although her limbs were still slender, her belly had already slightly protruded, showing signs of pregnancy: "Lying down every day makes my bones feel weak. It's more comfortable to stand for a while."

Ever since Shen Yunshuang was diagnosed with pregnancy, Pei Jingnian treated her like a fragile glass lamp. For the first three months, he rarely let her get out of bed and walk around. Only after the pregnancy was stable and Dr. Zhang gave her a positive diagnosis could she paint and take walks as usual.

A thick blanket was already laid out on the soft couch by the window. Green Bud helped Shen Yunshuang sit down and asked, "The kitchen sent someone to ask if there's anything you particularly want to eat today?"

Shen Yunshuang started experiencing morning sickness when she was a little over a month pregnant. After that, whenever she encountered any meat or food that didn't suit her taste, she would feel nauseous and have acid reflux. Because of the morning sickness, it was even more difficult for her to eat anything.

Pei Jingnian had never seen anything like this before. While feeling sorry for Shen Yunshuang, he was also worried that she might not be able to have a stable pregnancy. Therefore, he gave the kitchen a strict order to prepare dishes according to the concubine's preferences every day.

To help the concubine prepare for her pregnancy, the chefs in the imperial kitchen have turned their hair many times white.

Having lived through her past life, Shen Yunshuang knew that morning sickness would subside after the first few months, and that losing a little weight now was fine, as she would regain it later when her appetite returned. Therefore, she didn't worry too much about what she ate each day. Thinking of the delicious "Three Crispy Delicacies from the Mountain Village" made by the kitchen yesterday, she said, "The Three Crispy Delicacies from the Mountain Village yesterday tasted good, please make it again. As for the others..."

Before he could finish speaking, someone came in from outside, and a clear, melodious voice asked, "What's so good?"

It was Pei Jingnian. He was wearing a black robe embroidered with gold, with a dark blue silk sash tied around his waist. He had a noble appearance, but his eyes and brows held a gentle smile.

Shen Yunshuang's eyes lit up, and she called out, "Young Master~" As she spoke, she supported herself on the soft couch, stood up, and took two steps to greet him.

Pei Jingnian sighed helplessly, "Don't move, just sit still." As he spoke, he put his arm around her waist and gently stroked her pregnant belly a few times, asking, "Are you feeling unwell today?"

Shen Yunshuang shook her head: "I'm much better these days, Master, there's no need to worry. I was just telling Lürui that the kitchen made the 'Three Crispy Delicacies of the Mountain Family' yesterday, using tender bamboo shoots, fresh mushrooms, and three-inch tender buds from the top of wolfberry trees, seasoned with salt and sesame oil. It was crisp, tender, and refreshing, and tasted very good."

Hearing that she was enjoying her meal, Pei Jingnian was naturally happy as well.

Shuang'er was frail and it was her first pregnancy, so he was naturally worried. From the moment he was diagnosed with the pregnancy, he was on edge. It wasn't until her slender waist gradually showed signs of pregnancy that he began to feel the reality and his anxiety subsided.

Pei Jingnian spoke with Shen Yunshuang for a while, then moved to the desk and commented on the painting Shen Yunshuang had just made.

At lunchtime, the maids brought the dishes to the table one after another. The dishes on the table were all exquisite and delicious. The mountain-style three crisp bamboo shoots and fresh mushrooms on the shallow plate with celadon lotus petals were sweet. The perilla, plum, peach and ginger in the small white jade dish with ice patterns had a faint rosy hue. The side dishes were all without spices, with little salt and sugar, and without any heavy oil.

Pei Jingnian dined with Shen Yunshuang, personally serving her dishes.

One of the dishes was a cold pickled side dish specially developed by the small kitchen for Shen Yunshuang's morning sickness. It was made by taking crisp red peaches that had just ripened in early summer, slicing them thinly along the fruit's grain, and layering them with tender white ginger and perilla leaves. Then, it was marinated with rice vinegar and rock sugar, and each slice of peach and ginger was infused with the aroma of fruit and perilla.

Shen Yunshuang's face relaxed after eating, and she praised the food, which prompted Pei Jingnian to reward the kitchen staff handsomely.

Watching the young master condescend to personally serve his concubine his meal, Chun Tao felt a surge of bitterness and jealousy welling up inside her.

The young master is such a virtuous and upright person, he has never served anyone like this before.

The concubine was also domineering. Even though she was pregnant and couldn't serve the young master, she still insisted on clinging to him.

The young master spent almost all his time in the Marquis's mansion in Ningxiang Pavilion.

After the meal, Pei Jingnian helped Shen Yunshuang walk around the room twice before sitting down on the soft couch. A maid came forward and placed a plate of large red cherries and a plate of sliced ​​honeydew melon on the table.

Chun Tao stepped forward to serve tea to Pei Jingnian. If Xue Zhi hadn't been feeling unwell and unable to perform her duties today, Chun Tao wouldn't have entered the inner room.

She bowed her head, and as Pei Jingnian took the teacup away, she quickly glanced at him, her face instantly turning red.

Nestled in Pei Jingnian's arms, Shen Yunshuang gently stroked her lower abdomen with her slender white fingers and suddenly spoke up: "Master, please read a book to me. The child in my womb wants to hear it."

She speaks softly, with a coquettish tone that makes it hard to refuse.

Pei Jingnian coughed lightly twice, then waved away the servants and asked softly, "What do you want to hear?"

Chun Tao was completely stunned. She never knew that the young master could treat someone so gently and cherish them like the apple of his eye.

When I was serving at Jinlan Courtyard, the young master and his wife were clearly respectful to each other, and although there were occasional moments of tenderness, they were not many.

Even after she walked out of the inner room, she couldn't help but turn her head to look at the window of the main house. She saw the embroidered curtains and the intimate moments between the young master and his concubine. How much did the young master love his concubine in that room?

At that moment, Chuntao suddenly wished that the one in the young master's arms was herself.