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Chapter 537 Consort Hui is Pregnant

"To kill someone, you must destroy their spirit..." she muttered to herself. After a long while, as if suddenly realizing something, she slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Oh! I think I understand now!"

"So you're saying that the old hag will never be able to hold her head up in front of her daughter-in-law again, and she'll have to watch her son being affectionate with those two girls all the time, while she gets nothing in return, and she'll feel really resentful, right?"

Chu Ruohan nodded with a smile: "That's exactly right. Compared to physical pain, this kind of daily torment is a much heavier punishment for her."

Song Ruyan breathed a long sigh of relief, and the anger on her face subsided considerably.

"You scholars are so complicated; even a fight is so troublesome."

She picked up her teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "However, as long as that old hag doesn't have a good time, I'll be at ease!"

Chu Ruohan smiled and said, "It's just that this child has been spoiled and his temperament has become a bit bad; he still needs to be taught slowly."

Song Ruyan said, "It's alright. The child just went astray temporarily. We can bring her back."

She paused, then added with some concern, "If that Third Madam Gu dares to cause any more trouble, just tell me, and I'll deal with her!"

Chu Ruohan chuckled: "I understand, Miss Song."

She knew in her heart that Song Ruyan truly cared about Lan Jie'er.

Now that this matter is settled, the most important thing is still Lan Jie'er.

Chu Ruohan filled Lan Jie'er's schedule with lessons, not only teaching her to read and write, but also teaching her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—all the things that a young lady from a prominent family should learn.

Even at Chenshi (7-9 AM), Song Ruyan would drag me out of bed to run...

Although Song Ruyan is now pregnant, it does not hinder her from training her young apprentice at all.

This is much later than when she started practicing martial arts!

When Lan Jie was studying, Xuan Ge would sit beside her, propping his little head up on a stool.

After a while, one person after another started to doze off...

Chu Ruohan smiled gently, beckoned to the maid beside her, and lowered her voice.

"Xuan-ge'er is sleepy. Be careful and carry him back to his room to rest. Don't disturb him."

The maid curtsied and replied "Yes," then tiptoed forward, carefully picked up the sleeping Xuan-ge'er, and carried him back to his room.

That day, Chu Ruohan was checking Lan Jie'er's homework when a maid announced that Chu Yueshu had arrived.

As soon as Chu Yueshu entered, her face showed a mixture of barely concealed excitement and worry. "Sister!"

Chu Ruohan put down the book in her hand and gestured for Lan Jie'er to go and review her studies first.

"What's wrong? Why do you look so rushed?"

Chu Yueshu sat down beside her and lowered her voice, saying, "News has come from the palace that Consort Liu is pregnant, already three months along. The Emperor is overjoyed and has decreed that she be promoted to Consort Hui!"

Chu Ruohan paused slightly in her teacup, then took a sip as if nothing had happened.

Consort Liu, Consort Hui.

The image of the frightened horse in the hunting grounds flashed through her mind instantly.

"So that means she was already pregnant when she went hunting in the hunting grounds?" Chu Ruohan asked calmly.

Chu Yueshu nodded: "That's right! This Consort Liu, oh no, now Consort Hui, is far too daring! She dares to ride a horse while pregnant with the emperor's child, what if something goes wrong..."

Chu Ruohan said calmly, "She's so willing to go all out, she must have her reasons. It took her three months to let the palace make a sound, she must feel that the pregnancy is stable and she has no more worries."

As Chu Yueshu listened, the excitement on her face faded somewhat, replaced by worry: "Then Her Majesty the Empress..."

She paused, then tentatively asked, "Sister, now that Consort Hui is pregnant, Her Majesty the Empress must be having an even harder time in the palace. Would you like to find an opportunity to go to the palace and visit Her Majesty the Empress?"

Chu Ruohan slowly shook her head, her gaze clear and distant: "No need."

She said softly, "Sooner or later she will have to learn to adapt and truly let go of those unrealistic expectations of the Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yueshu sighed softly and said in a low voice, "To be honest, being an empress isn't all that great. You're restricted in every way and have to worry about all sorts of things. Unlike me and Yingqing, he only has me in his heart."

As she spoke, she looked at Chu Ruohan with a hint of relief, "My brother-in-law is devoted to my sister and would never take a concubine. That's true blessing."

A faint smile appeared on Chu Ruohan's lips. She didn't speak, but simply picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

She knew in her heart that Consort Hui's child would probably not be able to be born.

If the emperor truly desired offspring, with so many concubines in the harem, princes and princesses should have been born long ago.

He has been slow to act and doesn't seem to care much about the pregnancies of the women in the harem. What he really wants is probably the legitimate son in the empress's womb.

This Consort Hui has probably overthought things.

Chu Yueshu chatted on and on about other things, and seeing that it was getting late, she got up to say goodbye.

She was lost in thought when suddenly her waist tightened, and a familiar, warm breath wrapped around her from behind.

"What are you thinking about?" Gu Junze's deep voice sounded in her ear, with a hint of lazy hoarseness.

Chu Ruohan stiffened slightly, then relaxed and gently leaned into his arms.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about some things in the palace."

Gu Junze rested his chin on the top of her head and gently rubbed it. "The Emperor will take care of the affairs in the palace; you don't need to worry about them."

Gu Junze took her hand, kissed it gently, and said tenderly, "It's getting late. You've had a busy day, it's time to rest."

He pulled her towards the inner room, saying as they walked, "I've asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite late-night snack. Eat it first, then go to sleep."

Chu Ruohan smiled faintly, letting him lead her.

With him by my side, all those troubles seem to become less important.

The two had a late-night snack, talked for a while, and then fell asleep in each other's arms.

"Bang bang bang!"

The voice was urgent and chaotic, completely unlike its usual order.

"Madam! Something terrible has happened! The caravan has encountered trouble!"

Outside the door, Yu Ling's voice was choked with sobs.

"I'll go take a look." Gu Junze immediately sat up, all sleepiness gone.

Chu Ruohan also threw off the covers and got up. She noticed something was off about Yu Ling's voice...

She put on her coat, walked quickly to the door, and pulled it open.

Outside the door, Yu Ling's face was pale, her eyes were red, and even her hair was disheveled, clearly indicating that she had run all the way here.

"What happened? Tell me slowly." Chu Ruohan supported her slightly trembling shoulders.

Yu Ling gasped for breath, her voice filled with fear: "It's...it's Qin Fang! Qin Fang is back!"

"He said that the caravan was robbed by a group of bandits when it passed through Black Wind Ridge... He was the only one who managed to escape with his life!"

The wet nurse only had this one son...

Chu Ruohan's heart tightened.

Gu Junze strode out, his face ashen: "Where is he?"

"The gatekeeper's women carried him in. He was in the front yard, covered in blood, and almost dead!" Yu Ling said, tears streaming down her face.