High-class Spring Joy

Chu Jingxian seemed startled by his own sudden thought. How could he suddenly come up with such an untimely guess?

Regardless of whether Qingyuan is actually pregnant, the fact that an unmarried woman is pregnant has a huge impact on Qingyuan and is a major blow to her reputation.

Even if Qingyuan was indeed pregnant and that's why she fainted, the first person who should be related to her would be Chu Jingyu.

Given the relationship between Qingyuan and Chu Jingyu, it is perfectly reasonable for her to be pregnant.

Based solely on the overlap in time, it is highly likely to be a coincidence.

Chu Jingxian rubbed his temples, trying to use reason to dispel the absurd and outrageous thoughts in his mind. For some reason, the thoughts seemed to have taken root and sprouted in his heart.

He always felt that Qingyuan was the woman he was looking for, the woman he had met in prison that night.

Each of the previous incidents had a reasonable explanation, proving that they were just coincidences, but that doesn't mean Qingyuan wasn't one.

Seeing that his young master remained silent, Zheji, with a profound and perceptive expression, spoke up:

"Young Master, Miss Qingyuan has a joyous occasion today. Shall we go and offer our congratulations?"

Chen Sha scratched his head, puzzled. His previous experience told him to stay silent.

-

The banquet has ended.

Qingyuan followed Madam Dou out of the palace, and Madam Dou was unusually kind and gentle to her.

Before the person even arrived, the Empress Dowager's reward had already arrived.

As soon as Qingyuan returned to the courtyard, many familiar servants rushed to her, all looking extremely excited, as if they had been struck dumb by a shower of gold.

The maids and servants surrounded her, talking nonsense with great joy, and chattered around Qingyuan for a long time before dispersing.

"Aaaaaah, am I seeing things, sister?! Am I still dreaming, sister?! Sister, please pinch me, Qingyuan sister!"

"My goodness, that's a hundred taels! And we didn't do anything, yet it's a hundred taels bestowed by the Empress Dowager herself! Sister Qingyuan, my dear Sister Qingyuan, this is all thanks to you. We shouldn't and wouldn't dare to claim it. Sister Qingyuan, from now on you are my own sister!"

"Yes, I... I've been a servant for so many years, where have I ever received so much silver at once?! My God, this is truly a windfall! Sister Qingyuan, we will never forget your great kindness!"

Hongdou's face was glowing red.

A hundred taels of silver is equivalent to ten years' wages for those who serve them!

One by one, they brought their best gifts to thank Qingyuan. There was wine, food, and the finest jewelry and hairpins. The gifts almost filled Qingyuan and Hongdou's room. They looked at Qingyuan with eyes that practically glowed with envy, as if they were treating her like their second parents.

Qingyuan couldn't refuse their enthusiasm, nor could she go against their wishes, so she could only symbolically accept some food and drink. This only emboldened them, and they all brought out more food and drink. Hongdou ate to her heart's content.

Qingyuan was also happy. She had more than four hundred taels of silver and a wish that the Empress Dowager had personally granted. She planned to wait a couple of days until the envoys from the Southern Frontier left before going to the palace to find the Empress Dowager.

She didn't ask for anything else, only that she could leave the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion safely, take her indenture, and leave with the child in her womb, going far away to do some small business, such as setting up a stall to sell pastries, snacks, purses, and the like, enough to support herself and her child.

Life was peaceful and easy, and she liked those calm and smooth days, hoping that nothing would happen.

That night, Qingyuan truly experienced what it meant to be so excited that she couldn't sleep.

Seeing that she was finally going to be free, that she would never have to see Chu Jingyu again, never have to pretend with those people again, and never have to see anyone who was an eyesore, she was so happy that she couldn't sleep.

Unable to sleep, Qingyuan got up, took a pot of red bean wine, and went out to find a good spot to watch the moon.

In the dead of night, just as Qingyuan climbed onto the roof, she heard a smiling voice from below: "Qingyuan?"

Before Qingyuan could even stand up straight, she was so startled that her legs went weak and she lost her balance and fell down!

The pain she had imagined did not come. When she opened her eyes, she was already being held firmly in Chu Jingxian's arms.

Qingyuan stared blankly at the man in front of her. She hadn't thought much of it at first, but now that he was actually standing in front of her, she realized that it had been a long time since she had seen the Third Young Master.

Under the cool moonlight, he emerged from the endless night, the moonlight shining on his profile, making his face appear as beautiful as jade.

This face, the Third Young Master's face, is truly extremely handsome.

Qingyuan couldn't help but sigh once again.

She had seen many handsome young men before, from Chu Jingyu, who served her every day, to the two young masters of the Song family who had followed Chu Jingyu at the Wan Hua Lou. All of them were outstanding in appearance.

Ironically, all the handsome people Qingyuan had seen before paled in comparison to the Third Young Master's face, giving off a completely different feeling.

She was somewhat lost in thought, unaware that Chu Jingxian was holding her in his arms, their skin touching.

Chu Jingxian noticed her gaze; her gaze was different from others.

In this world, there are few people who would, and even fewer who would, stare at him so intently as she did.

Chu Jingxian had never encountered this before, and was unusually flustered, though he himself didn't even notice the slight upturn of his lips:

"Blue Kite?"

Chu Jingxian's words were like a thunderbolt, instantly bringing Qingyuan back to her senses. Realizing the dangerous distance between them, she quickly stood up and said, "This servant was just a little distracted. Please forgive me, young master."

"What crime have you committed?"

Chu Jingxian spoke with a slight smile.

It was that smile, just the right amount, that made Qingyuan understand a hint of feigned ignorance.

Qingyuan's ears were burning. She couldn't very well say that she had been staring at him so intently that she had lost her focus, could she?

She stammered but couldn't say anything.

Chu Jingxian understood immediately and asked again, "Were you planning to go up to the roof just now?"

"Yes, I can't sleep. Seeing that the moon is out tonight and there are many stars, I thought I'd just enjoy the moon on the roof for a while to pass the time."

Qingyuan explained.

"Really? The moon and stars, the sky must be beautiful tonight."

Chu Jingxian sighed.

Qingyuan then realized that Chu Jingxian had injured his eyes when he was six years old, and therefore had no clear memory of such scenes that ordinary people often see.

In Chu Jingxian's world, the nights are probably no different from the days, except that they are colder, the wind might be stronger, and the chances of rain are higher.

Qingyuan pursed her lips, then smiled again: "It is beautiful, but just now, the Third Young Master frightened me so much that I fell. If you hadn't caught me in time, I'm afraid I would have been seriously injured. So, as an apology from the Third Young Master, please come up and see it with me!"