The Double
Chapter 530 - 160 Pregnancy_3

Chapter 530: Chapter 160 Pregnancy_3

Doctor Zhang suddenly retracted his hand and stood up. He dared not even glance at Princess Yongning, and with his head lowered, hesitated to speak, his voice trembling, "Your Highness, I, I may have made a mistake. Your Highness may wish to seek another expert to find out the real cause."

The more he spoke, the more doubts arose in Princess Yongning’s heart. She said, "In the Imperial Medical Bureau, you are the only one I trust. Doctor Zhang, tell me what is truly going on; otherwise, I will hold you accountable for deception!"

Doctor Zhang was startled and immediately knelt down. Despite his age, his voice was filled with uncontrollable panic, as if he was about to burst into tears the next moment. He begged, "Spare my life, Your Highness! Spare my life! Your Highness... you might be pregnant!"

Pregnant! The news struck her like a clap of thunder, leaving Princess Yongning shocked and almost unable to collect her thoughts.

"How dare you utter such nonsense in front of Your Highness! Take him away!" Mei Xiang reacted swiftly and commanded immediately.

"I dare not speak nonsense, please spare my life, Your Highness!" Doctor Zhang continuously kowtowed, his voice becoming increasingly plaintive.

Princess Yongning frowned, as if she finally grasped the meaning of his words; she looked at Doctor Zhang and suddenly asked, "Is what you say true?"

Doctor Zhang hastily responded, "I dare not speak nonsense."

"Considering the time, how long has it been now?" Princess Yongning inquired.

Doctor Zhang, drenched in a cold sweat, yet not daring to disregard Princess Yongning’s question, answered, "It should be just over a month."

"Just over a month..." Princess Yongning murmured. The timing did indeed fit; during this period, she had only met with Shen Yurong a few times. However, what she didn’t understand was that she had taken the Contraceptive Medicine each time, and Shen Yurong had been very careful about that. Of course, Princess Yongning herself had no wish to be pregnant before marriage; even in the liberal customs of Northern Yan, such a scandal could not be publicly acknowledged in a common household.

Yet, despite all precautions, she had conceived Shen Yurong’s child.

Princess Yongning’s hand subconsciously caressed her belly.

Seeing this, Mei Xiang anxiously said, "Your Highness, do you intend to..." She did not finish her sentence. Princess Yongning turned to look at her and asked, "Prepare what?"

Mei Xiang hesitantly said, "Do you intend to keep the child?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Yongning harshly slapped her, sending Mei Xiang’s head to one side. She rebuked sternly, "Does a mere servant like you presume to have a say in the child in my womb?"

Doctor Zhang, still kneeling on the ground, trembled with fright. Mei Xiang, too, knelt down, with the imprint of five fingers clearly on her face. She seemed oblivious to it and continued, "The child within your belly is growing day by day, and you will not be able to conceal it forever. If the Emperor finds out, if outsiders find out, I fear it will be impossible to explain. You cherish that man dearly; if this comes to light, the Emperor and others will surely not let the matter rest. If it is discovered to be that man’s child, his career would be ruined, and Your Highness would surely be heartbroken."

Because Doctor Zhang was present, Mei Xiang dared not speak Shen Yurong’s name and referred to him as "that man." Her words struck a chord with Princess Yongning. The child would grow, and her belly would not be able to conceal it forever. If the Emperor discovered the truth, he would seek accountability, and if it was found to be Shen Yurong’s child, Shen Yurong’s career would be over. Although Princess Yongning didn’t care whether Shen Yurong held an official post or not, he himself would certainly not be happy; if Shen Yurong was unhappy, Princess Yongning would not find joy either.

She felt a headache coming on.

"But this is the child of me and him..." Princess Yongning said, her eyes betraying a look that was almost tender and loving, as though a kind mother was anticipating the arrival of new life.

This was her and Shen Yurong’s child. Just this fact alone gave Princess Yongning countless reasons not to abandon it. It could be a son, or perhaps another daughter. Maybe the child would have eyes like Shen Yurong or a mouth like hers. When the child grew up, it would call Shen Yurong ’father’ and her ’mother.’ This child was the proof of her deep feelings for Shen Yurong; there was no way she would abandon this child.

"I want to keep him," Princess Yongning declared resolutely. Both Mei Xiang and Doctor Zhang kneeling on the ground were startled, and they remained silent.

"As for what to do next, there is no rush; my condition is not yet visible. The top priority is to take good care of my child. Nowadays, there are numerous people with malicious intentions who would harm my child; I must protect him," Princess Yongning said.