Chapter 9: Signs of Joy?

Lin Ruyan hurried forward, wanting to embrace Lin Yurou, but Lin Yurou deftly sidestepped her. Ruyan wasn’t the least bit embarrassed, instead putting on a delighted expression. “Wonderful, Sister, I’m so glad you’re all right.”

“What could possibly have happened to me? I just went out for a walk to clear my mind. What, were you hoping something would go wrong?” Yurou’s tone was cool.

“How could you think that, Sister?” Ruyan protested, looking aggrieved. “I was just worried you’d been kidnapped by some villain.”

From behind, an onlooker couldn’t help but speak up, “That’s right! You have no idea how many tears your sister shed for you, Miss Lin.”

“Oh, is that so? Then I suppose I should thank you.” Lin Yurou’s gaze was fixed on Lin Ruyan as she spoke.

The First Prince had no interest in listening to the sisters’ bickering; he only wanted to return to his quarters as soon as possible. He intervened at just the right moment, “All right, all right, since Miss Lin is unharmed, it was all a false alarm. Everyone, please disperse.”

With the prince himself dismissing them, the curious crowd had no choice but to leave. So the farce came to an end, and with it, the banquet drew to a close.

The guests began to depart. After once again thanking Jiang Yan, Lin Yurou took Cui’er and headed home. Lin Ruyan, unwilling to embarrass herself by squeezing into the same carriage with Yurou, found herself accosted by a young gentleman who gallantly offered to escort her home. She accepted shyly.

Watching the young man fawn over Lin Ruyan as she boarded the carriage, Jiang Yan thought to himself: As expected of the heroine—never a shortage of admirers! Was this young gentleman another of the inevitable supporting male leads? Judging by his looks, perhaps just one among many...

“Cousin, what are you staring at? Oh, don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to that girl?” Mo Shiyu teased, giving Jiang Yan a playful pat.

Jiang Yan nearly lost his balance. “Don’t talk nonsense! I have absolutely no interest in her whatsoever!”

He wasn’t about to play the lovesick second lead—did he look like he had a death wish, or a head made of stone? From today’s observations, the heroine was clearly not as harmless as she appeared.

“Oh, by the way, Cousin, I’m returning to my sect. We won’t meet again until you come to the Immortal Realm.” Mo Shiyu’s tone turned a bit wistful. She hadn’t had her fill of fun, and back at the sect, her master would have her cooped up refining pills again.

“Is that so? Well, when I make it to the Immortal Realm, I’ll come find you!” Jiang Yan was indeed intrigued by the idea of the Immortal Realm. Recently, he’d learned that although the Mortal Realm and the Immortal Realm were on the same continent, mortals could never find the Immortal Realm because of the barrier between them. As for cultivators, they could enter the Mortal Realm, but since the spiritual energy here was so thin, very few would bother.

Mo Shiyu left Jiang Yan a communication jade and bid him farewell.

Jiang Yan examined the communication jade in his hand; apparently, it could only be used by channeling spiritual power into it. Not bad—when he reached the Immortal Realm, at least he’d know someone!

Stowing the jade away, he headed back to his residence with An Yi. Humming a little tune, he thought: What an unforgettable day!

An Yi, too, found it unforgettable—especially the peculiar flavor it left behind.

---

A month slipped by in the blink of an eye.

To Jiang Yan’s surprise, his belly had grown noticeably larger. That was odd enough, but what was even stranger was the way something seemed to writhe within his dantian. In truth, Jiang Yan had no idea that every night, when he fell asleep, his room would fill with a dazzling array of colored lights. Yet these lights would only surround him, never visible to anyone outside.

Facing the reality of a belly as swollen as a woman six months pregnant, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been poisoned—was death near at hand?

That day, An Yi brought another physician, reputed to be a miracle worker. After taking Jiang Yan’s pulse, the doctor declared it normal—no signs of poisoning. Instead, it resembled...

He frowned, pondering for a moment, then asked, “Have you experienced any nausea? How has your appetite been lately?”

Jiang Yan pressed a hand to his forehead. Was this doctor, like all the quacks before him, about to suggest he was... pregnant?

“Doctor, just tell me the truth. What’s wrong with me?”

The physician’s face showed a trace of apology. “Second Prince, by all indications, you have a pregnancy pulse. But in all my years of practice, I’ve never encountered a case so peculiar. I’m truly at a loss for how to treat you…”

Jiang Yan’s spirits plummeted once more.

Heaven help him—how could he possibly be pregnant? Not only was he still a virgin, but a man becoming pregnant defied all the laws of nature! In the modern world, he’d be the subject of endless research.

Lying on his bed, utterly dejected, Jiang Yan even began composing his last will and testament in his mind. He was convinced he’d been poisoned, even though the antidote pills he’d taken had done nothing. His distended belly remained unchanged. Perhaps, once it grew large enough, he would simply explode and die. (ಥ_ಥ)

“Master, Consort Yu is here,” An Yi announced.

“Why is she here? You didn’t tell her about this, did you?” Jiang Yan asked, alarmed. He’d warned An Yi not to reveal anything.

An Yi felt a little guilty, but more than that, he was concerned for his master. He figured that since Consort Yu was from the Mo family, she might know something about Jiang Yan’s condition.

“Son, what’s this? Are you not happy to see your mother? Is there something you think I shouldn’t know?” Consort Yu’s voice came from outside the door.

“Of course not, Mother. I’ve missed you. I’ve just been unwell lately and didn’t want to risk passing anything on to you.” Jiang Yan sat up, pulling the covers over his belly.

“Don’t underestimate your mother! When I was young, I hunted tigers with my own hands. I’m as strong as an ox. But you—won’t you let your mother come in and sit?”

“Yes, yes, Mother, please come in.” Jiang Yan had no choice but to relent.

As soon as Consort Yu entered, she saw her beloved son sitting on the bed, a heavy quilt draped over his belly. In truth, she already knew about his condition—An Yi had told her.

“My boy, am I about to become a grandmother?” she teased.

“Mother, is this really the time for jokes? How could I possibly be pregnant? I haven’t even held a girl’s hand! Besides, how could a man possibly bear a child…” Jiang Yan’s expression grew more animated with every word.

Consort Yu turned away, dabbing at her reddened eyes. Then she faced him once more, reassuring, “Don’t worry, son. You’ll be all right. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see your great-great-great-grandfather.”

Jiang Yan saw the redness in her eyes, and his heart warmed. What mother didn’t worry for her child?

He looked at her gratefully, his heart full. He’d long since regarded Consort Yu as his true mother, for her love reminded him so much of his mother in the modern world. True affection is always met in kind.

“Thank you, Mother. Tomorrow, let’s go together.”

This thank you came straight from his heart. If not for her reminder, he might have forgotten all about his formidable great-great-great-grandfather.

Seeing him rally, Consort Yu finally relaxed. Once they agreed on the time to set out the next day, she returned to the palace.