It struck Zhao Jiaqi as odd that she needed to be instructed to take her medicine.
Yet, once the suspicion arose, a tickle like a cat’s scratch grew in her heart.
At lunch, as expected, the pregnancy-securing medicine appeared again. The Commander, seeing this, was quite curious and asked, "Is Madam unwell?"
Zhao Jiaqi shook her head. She picked up the bowl of steaming herbal medicine and poured it into a nearby flowerpot. Then, with a happy tone, she replied, "I'm pregnant."
The Commander: ......
After a long while, he finally reacted. They were going to have a little master! This news delighted him so much that the crow's feet around his eyes seemed to have aged more than he had.
"Madam, when the little master is born, may I train him in martial arts?"
Zhao Jiaqi heard this and was filled with exclamation marks.
Her hand, gripping the chopsticks, didn't know whether to eat the dish or the rice first: "What, you think the baby this madam is carrying is definitely a boy?"
The Commander chuckled: "Master is strong and healthy, Madam must be carrying a boy."
Zhao Jiaqi was speechless. While pregnancy had something to do with the man, it wasn't related to being strong and healthy; it was about chromosomes.
But how could she explain this? There was no way to explain it.
"What if... what if I'm carrying a girl?"
The Commander shrugged indifferently: "Your subordinate can teach her too. Princess Yumeng learned from me. I don't mind taking care of another young one."
Zhao Jiaqi was very angry. She directly picked a chicken drumstick and placed it in his bowl: "This time, I will personally guide the upbringing. Whether it's a boy or a girl, they will follow a normal person's path."
Her own three children’s education had failed. Learning from the lessons of the past, she was determined to raise the one in her belly well, no matter what.
If it were a boy, she’d have him pursue the imperial examinations. If it were a girl, she’d have her possess the demeanor of a young lady of high birth. This was her current wish.
The Commander said little, but in his heart, he had already concluded that he would start training the little master once he turned three.
Without a good physique, one would suffer everywhere. Just like their Prince, his ability to kill a dog with a single punch was beyond ordinary people.
Speaking of children, Zhao Jiaqi saw how much the Commander also liked them, so she asked him, "You're not young anymore. It’s time for you to get married and have a couple of children."
Mentioning marriage, the Commander shook his head: "People like us who kill are not qualified to marry. If something were to happen one day and leave behind a wife and children... they would suffer."
Though he spoke casually, Zhao Jiaqi felt a sense of bitterness from them. At the same time, these people who lived in the shadows were silently safeguarding the inner city's safety.
The food in Zhao Jiaqi's mouth no longer tasted sweet, and the joy of pregnancy faded, replaced by a sense of oppression and guilt.
"Although I've known you for many years, we've never really communicated or shared our hearts. I don't know much about your lives. But after what you've said today, I feel that my husband and I have neglected you. I apologize."
The sudden apology left the Commander bewildered and flustered: "My Lady... Why apologize? This is what your subordinate should do."
"You are all human beings and deserve respect. But rest assured, I will plan carefully for the future. It won't be long before I can give all of you your own homes, and no longer have you live a life of licking blood from the edge of a knife. I promise you."
These words deeply touched the Commander. He respected the Princess from the bottom of his heart, but the Princess's actions today made him, a grown man of seven feet, shed tears.
He nodded choked with emotion: "Thank you... Thank you, my Lady."
Zhao Jiaqi smiled: "Eat. However, please don't tell my husband about my pregnancy for now. So he doesn't worry."
The Commander: "Yes. Master should be reaching Songling Prefecture. If all goes as expected, he will return this afternoon and should arrive by noon tomorrow."
This was his calculation based on the Prince's speed. For an ordinary person, it might take three days, but the Prince cared so much about the Princess that he would naturally rush his journey.
In the afternoon, Wang Hui arrived, bringing with her some good news.
She smiled and handed the item in her hand to Zhao Jiaqi: "Look, these are poppy seeds. I stole a bag and hid it in my room."
Zhao Jiaqi took the seeds from her palm and examined them carefully. She was certain they were poppy seeds and couldn't help but sigh.
"You took so much, won't your father notice?"
Wang Hui shrugged: "There were many sacks full. I just took a little from each sack. How could he notice?"
Alright, after hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi didn't feel surprised anymore: "My husband will be back in two days. Shall I take you with me then?"
"Okay, I'll prepare more goods."
The "goods" Wang Hui spoke of were the Divine Elixir. Zhao Jiaqi looked at the girl still dreaming of a beautiful future, unaware that she was about to step into the gates of hell.
As they talked, Zhao Jiaqi expressed a desire to go up the mountain: "You always talk about the cave, what it's like. I really want to see it."
Hearing this request, Wang Hui immediately shook her head in refusal, her expression also darkening: "No, we can't get in. Unless my father leads the way, it's impossible."
Zhao Jiaqi: "Why?"
"I don't know either. Anyway, without my father leading the way, those guards won't let us just go in."
"Then when does your father usually go to the cave? Maybe we can follow him secretly?"
Wang Hui tilted her head and thought: "He almost always goes in the evening. He always goes alone. Occasionally, when he's in a good mood, he’ll take me, but that's only after I beg him."
Zhao Jiaqi let out a scoff: "So, your father actually dotes on you quite a bit."
After saying that, she curiously inquired: "Then what does your father do when he enters the cave? Does he visit the people working in the cave, or chat with them? I think your father is very good at talking. Does he often talk to those working there?"
Wang Hui, sensing her interest in her father, became enthusiastic and began to imitate Wang Yuanzhi's demeanor when he entered the cave.
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and looked at the Commander. The latter nodded at her, understanding her intention. He then watched attentively as Wang Hui vividly performed, remembering the lines almost verbatim.
She didn't stay long here before Wang Yuanzhi called her away. As she was leaving, Zhao Jiaqi didn't forget to remind her: "This is our little secret. If your father finds out, he might think I like him. That would be a big misunderstanding."
Wang Hui scoffed and said: "My father likes Sister Xiaoqian. Unfortunately, my father can't win Sister Xiaoqian's heart. But her body... hehe."
After saying that, she gave a sarcastic laugh.
Xiaoqian?
Who was this Xiaoqian? It seemed she had a rather close relationship with this Wang Yuanzhi!
The Commander watched as the person left, then closed the door and waited for his Lady to speak.