pillow bird spring

After finishing the last peony embroidery, Shen Yinshuang turned to look at the contraceptive soup beside her.

It's a little hot.

It smelled so familiar; she'd been drinking it for two years.

Her slender fingers rested on the rim of the bowl, but Shen Yinshuang did not hesitate at all.

She picked up the bowl, already bringing the contraceptive soup to her lips.

Suddenly, the sound of the door being pushed open came from outside.

Shen Yinshuang subconsciously looked towards the door, assuming it was Cuixi.

It turned out that Xiao Yin was the one who pushed open the door.

Shen Yinshuang, however, was not nervous at all and remained very calm.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yin frowned slightly and walked directly towards Shen Yingshuang.

"Why did you suddenly come back?" Shen Yinshuang asked Xiao Yin in a low voice.

Xiao Yin didn't answer, but just looked at her: "Are you feeling unwell?"

Soon, Xiao Yin walked up to Shen Yinshuang.

Shen Yinshuang's red lips twitched slightly, as if she was about to speak.

Xiao Yin's face darkened completely.

Xiao Yin could already smell the medicine; it was a contraceptive soup.

"Who gave you permission to drink?" Xiao Yin asked Shen Yinshuang with a stern face.

The contraceptive soup had already been taken from Shen Yinshuang's hands.

Shen Yinshuang stared at Xiao Yin in astonishment.

She didn't understand the meaning behind Xiao Yin's words.

But she still calmly said, "Xiao Yin, I don't want to go through that again. I don't want to cause any trouble. A mistress cannot be pregnant."

As she spoke, Shen Yinshuang suddenly lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of sorrow.

Her gaze remained open and honest as she looked at Xiao Yin.

"Besides, we're going to separate. After you give me the divorce papers, we won't have any contact anymore, and I can't have the child. That would only hurt him."

Shen Yinshuang spoke of reality in every word.

Xiao Yin fell silent after hearing Shen Yinshuang's words.

His gaze was fixed on Shen Yinshuang.

Shen Yinshuang wanted to take back the contraceptive soup, but Xiao Yin stopped her again.

Xiao Yin poured out the medicine right in front of Shen Yinshuang.

"Xiao Yin..." Shen Yinshuang was even more astonished.

Xiao Yin said succinctly, "If you're pregnant, then give birth to the child."

Shen Yinshuang had no choice but to agree.

Shen Yinshuang had already composed herself and quietly looked at Xiao Yin: "And then what? I gave birth to him, and he's treated like a child without a father? I can't do that."

She had thought about it.

She even considered taking her child with her.

But she has already seen the final result.

So she couldn't accept that even though the child was born safely, he would have to live a life of hardship and displacement.

In the end, he couldn't escape death.

The rules and regulations within the inner palace are numerous and varied.

One wrong move and you're shattered to pieces.

"Don't worry about this. If you really are pregnant, keep her, and I'll take you as my concubine," Xiao Yin said without changing his expression.

His gaze remained calmly fixed on Shen Yinshuang.

He thought he would see excitement on Shen Yinshuang's face.

After all, this is indeed the best outcome for a mistress.

Shen Yinshuang was truly stunned when she heard this.

Then she chuckled softly.

Xiao Yin remained silent; in his view, Shen Yinshuang had compromised.

"Miss Cui will not agree." Shen Yinshuang finally spoke after a long silence.

"You don't believe me?" Xiao Yin asked without thinking.

Shen Yinshuang didn't answer but asked a question in return, her tone becoming increasingly calm: "Because I won't become a concubine."

This is a refusal.

Xiao Yin's gaze darkened: "Are you worried about Lingyi?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yin didn't give Shen Yingshuang a chance to refute him again, and quickly continued, "If that's the case, you don't need to worry. Lingyi won't object. She knows our relationship, and the fact that she pleaded for you to be brought out of the dungeon means she agreed."

Xiao Yin said directly, "Lingyi won't do anything to make things difficult for me. She's not as narrow-minded as you think."

Shen Yinshuang listened calmly until Xiao Yin finished speaking.

She then spoke quietly, "Miss Cui, are you truly willing to let me in?"

As she spoke, she chuckled faintly, "Or are you still planning to torment me after I walk in?"

These words sounded casual and unassuming, but were only half true and half false.

However, Shen Yinshuang was testing Xiao Yin's attitude.

As expected, Xiao Yin frowned: "If Lingyi wanted to cause you trouble, why would she plead for your release from the dungeon? Wouldn't it have been easier to torture you there?"

Shen Yinshuang became unusually quiet after hearing Xiao Yin's words.

She could sense Xiao Yin's trust in Cui Lingyi.

The words that were on the tip of her tongue seemed to be completely blocked, and she could no longer utter a sound.

In the end, Shen Yinshuang gave up.

For the last two weeks, they didn't need to argue about it.

"Yinshuang." Xiao Yin lowered his head and pinched Shen Yinshuang's chin. "Don't judge a gentleman by your own petty standards. Lingyi is not what you think."

Shen Yinshuang listened and responded calmly, "Okay."

Xiao Yin couldn't possibly have failed to see through Shen Yinshuang's disguise.

He didn't expose it.

But Xiao Yin knew that their entanglement would only continue if Shen Yinshuang became pregnant.

With this thought in mind, the room suddenly fell silent.

The atmosphere became slightly tense.

"General," He Jiu's voice came from outside, "The Emperor is looking for you."

Xiao Yin hummed in agreement.

He then looked at Shen Yinshuang, breaking the silence.

"I'll be going out with the Emperor for the next two or three days," Xiao Yin said quickly. "You stay in the temple and don't leave, understand? If anything happens, go find Nangong Zhao; he'll help you."

Xiao Yin didn't explain anything further.

This is also why Xiao Yin suddenly turned back.

Shen Yinshuang nodded obediently: "Okay."

"Remember, do not leave the temple. No matter the reason or who comes looking for you, do not leave." Xiao Yin looked down at Shen Yinshuang seriously.

Shen Yinshuang sensed something unusual in Xiao Yin's attitude.

Her brow furrowed slightly, and she tensed up for a moment: "Has something happened?"

"Don't overthink it. It's just that I won't be able to take care of you if something happens to you while I'm away," Xiao Yin replied calmly.

Shen Yinshuang remained silent.

But for some time now, I've had a persistent unease weighing on my mind.

It haunted me like a ghost.

She couldn't say what would happen.

With this thought in mind, her brows furrowed slightly.

Xiao Yin noticed this and gently smoothed away Shen Yinshuang's brows with his calloused fingertips.

Shen Yinshuang remained passive throughout.

"Yinshuang," Xiao Yin whispered Shen Yinshuang's name, "Be good."

As soon as he finished speaking, he lowered his head and kissed Shen Yinshuang's lips.

very gentle.

He remained patient and calm, patiently waiting for her to compromise.

Shen Yinshuang did not resist, letting Xiao Yin kiss her.

Until her breathing became rapid.

Xiao Yincai loosened his grip on Shen Yinshuang.

He didn't say much, but He Jiu outside urged him again.

Xiao Yin then turned and hurriedly left.

Shen Yinshuang watched Xiao Yin leave quietly without saying a word.

She looked at the empty bowl in front of her.

"Cuixi, brew me another bowl," Shen Yingshuang instructed Cuixi calmly.

"Miss, the general has already agreed, so why are you..." Cui Xi looked at Shen Yinshuang with some confusion.

"Do as I say." Shen Yinshuang did not hesitate.

Cui Xi probably knew Shen Yinshuang's temper, so she didn't say anything in the end.

Soon, Cui Xi sighed, turned around, and walked out.

Shen Yinshuang remained silent, growing even quieter.

It wasn't until Cuixi brought in the contraceptive soup again that the problem was resolved.

Shen Yinshuang looked at it, and without hesitation, quickly finished drinking it.

Cui Xi didn't say anything, picked up the empty bowl, turned around and walked out.

The room fell silent.

Shen Yinshuang continued to embroider the wedding dress in front of the embroidery frame.

……