Widowed for Five Years, the Widow is Pregnant with the Emperor’s Child

Chapter 217

"Seventh Master, that is Madam Yun," whispered Jiang Fusheng, who was dressed as an attendant.

At first, he truly believed the situation in Jiangnan was critical, prompting his master to come and inspect it personally. But upon arriving in Jiangnan, as soon as they disembarked, he had followed his master, riding at top speed straight to this place.

It was only when he learned that Fengshui Alley was nearby that it finally dawned on him.

All that talk about secretly investigating smuggled salt and counterfeit coins was clearly just an excuse!

Emperor Jingxuan gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment, his gaze fixed intently on the pale green silhouette not far away.

Of course he knew she was the little widow named Yun Wan; he had confirmed it the very first moment he laid eyes on her.

A voice clamored in his mind, urging him to stop and go to her.

The person who had haunted his dreams all these days finally had a clear face, materializing into reality.

Emperor Jingxuan watched the little widow in the distance. After tasting a pomegranate, her eyes curved into a smile. She casually fed a piece to the maid beside her, laughing as she asked if it was sweet.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he watched her in silent contemplation.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a few good-for-nothings eyeing the little widow's direction, looking restless. His gaze instantly turned sharp.

...

After buying the pomegranates, Yun Wan and her maid Chunye prepared to head back. However, they hadn't taken more than a few steps before they ran into a group of men blocking their path.

The leading man was dressed in fine, luxurious clothes, but his body was obese. When he moved, he swayed from side to side like a walking barrel. His footsteps were unsteady, a clear sign that his body had been hollowed out by wine and women.

Sensitive to smells, Yun Wan caught the stench of alcohol and cheap powder on him. She frowned, covered her nose, and instinctively stepped aside to avoid him.

The richly dressed man smiled lecherously and reached out a hand. "Please wait a moment, beauty."

Yun Wan did not want to pay him any attention. Pretending not to hear, she continued walking forward, only to be stopped by the man's servants.

Chunye thought to herself that this was bad. She recognized this man; he was a notorious playboy in Yangzhou City, obsessed with beautiful women, and had committed many acts of harassing women on the streets and forcibly taking commoner girls.

Because he had a relative serving as a high-ranking official in the capital, his background was formidable. Even the local governor could do nothing about him and always turned a blind eye.

Yun Wan naturally saw that they came with ill intentions. As she calculated how to escape, she said coldly on the surface, "Get out of the way."

A beauty was a beauty; even with a cold face, she was absolutely stunning.

How could there be a beauty in Yangzhou City that he didn't know about?

A look of infatuation appeared on the richly dressed man's face. His lecherous eyes looked Yun Wan up and down. Even though he could tell she was a married woman, he didn't feel it was a pity.

It wasn't as if he hadn't toyed with married women before.

He straightened his collar, revealing what he thought was a handsome and dashing smile, and raised his hands in a bow. "I am Zhang Qiu—Ah!"

The moment he opened his mouth, his chest suffered a violent blow. His obese body arched like a shrimp as he flew over ten feet away, crashing heavily onto the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

His servants turned pale with fright. "Young Master!"

"Young Master, are you alright?!"

Two of them helped the man up, while the rest looked warily at the culprit, speaking fiercely, "Who are you? Do you know who our Young Master is? Our Young Master is the brother-in-law of Minister Li in the capital!"

"You dare hurt him? Our master will not let you off!"

The person who had kicked him was none other than Emperor Jingxuan. At this moment, he sat steadily on horseback, looking down from above with an arrogant and disdainful gaze.

Supported by his servants, Zhang Qiu barely managed to stand up. His face was deathly pale, his breath weak. With trembling fingertips, he pointed at Emperor Jingxuan on the horse:

"You, you have a lot of nerve! Tell me your name if you have the guts! I won't let you get away with this!"

Emperor Jingxuan cast a casual glance at him. "Noisy."

"Drag them away."

With a clatter, the Imperial Feather Forest Guards dressed as escorts swiftly gagged the men, dislocated their limbs, and dragged them away.

Seeing the local menace dealt with, the onlookers on the street immediately clapped and cheered, while also feeling curious about the identities of these men.

Only Yun Wan's mind went completely blank after seeing the newcomer's face clearly.

Why was he here?

Meeting Emperor Jingxuan's gaze, Yun Wan quickly lowered her head, keeping her tone composed as she said, "Thank you, young master, for your help. I am endlessly grateful. Unfortunately, there is an urgent matter at home. If fate allows, I will thank you again. I must take my leave now!"

She bowed to express her thanks, then pulled Chunye along and hurried away.

Not missing the panic in her eyes when she saw him, Emperor Jingxuan curled his lips, certain that the little widow had recognized him.

Watching her hurried back, looking as if she were being chased by wild beasts, he slightly raised an eyebrow.

Catching ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‍sight of the pomegranates nearby from the corner of his eye, he spoke up, "I'll take all of these."

Jiang Fusheng ordered his men to load the two baskets of pomegranates onto the carriage. Turning around, he saw his master riding away and hurriedly asked, "Master, where are you going?"

"To deliver pomegranates."

...

Returning home and closing the door, Yun Wan still couldn't stop her panic. It was partly lingering fear from encountering the playboy, and partly shock at Emperor Jingxuan's sudden appearance.

Why would he be in Yangzhou?

The face of the man on horseback today surfaced in her mind, gradually overlapping with the blurry face from that night of passionate confusion. Yun Wan couldn't help but shiver.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence. He shouldn't have recognized her, right?

As drowsiness washed over her, she gradually fell asleep.

When Yun Wan woke up, Chunye told her that someone had delivered two baskets of fresh pomegranates and asked if she wanted to accept them.

Someone delivered pomegranates?

Full of doubts, Yun Wan went to the door. When she saw the man outside, who had changed his clothes but still had the same face, she immediately turned around to leave.

But the man had already spotted her. "What a coincidence, Madam. We meet again."

Unable to leave, Yun Wan forced a smile and exchanged pleasantries, "I was fortunate to be saved by you today, young master. But I wonder how you knew my home was here? And what brings you here?"

Her eyes revealed a probing look.

Chunye seeing that the two had things to discuss, stepped down.

Emperor Jingxuan stared straight at her. "There is indeed a matter I wish to verify, and only you, Madam, can provide the answer."

Hearing this, Yun Wan's heart sank, and an ominous premonition arose. "You and I have never met before..."

"Won't you invite me in for a seat, Madam?" Emperor Jingxuan glanced inside, interrupting her.

Yun Wan paused, subtly blocking the doorway, and tactfully refused, "My humble home is crude, I'm afraid it would be inconvenient. Please forgive me."

She just wanted to quickly send this great Buddha away.

Seeing this, Emperor Jingxuan sneered and said bluntly, "Since you have already recognized me, why pretend to be strangers?"

Her fingers suddenly tightened. Yun Wan lowered her head. "I... don't know what you are talking about."

Staring intently at her for a long while, Emperor Jingxuan simply pulled out a silk handkerchief. "This is what you left behind that night, Madam. Are you going to continue pretending—"

His gaze paused, and his expression changed drastically. "You're pregnant?! Whose is it? Lu San's?"

"Or did you get married again?"

Emperor Jingxuan stared fixedly at Yun Wan's slightly bulging belly, finding it hard to believe.

Yun Wan instinctively raised her sleeve to cover herself, lowering her eyes to hide her panic, and said coldly, "This has nothing to do with you."

She didn't understand why the Emperor, who should have been in the imperial palace in the capital, had appeared in Yangzhou. And from the looks of it, he clearly already knew that the person from that night was her.

Emperor Jingxuan remained silent, a low-pressure aura swirling around him.

Until a questioning voice came from behind: "Who are you? What are you doing blocking the door to my house?"

Cen Yuanzhou had heard that his cousin ran into a playboy on the street, felt something was wrong, and rushed back in a hurry.

As a result, as soon as he got home, he saw a man blocking the entrance. Seeing the man's tall, sturdy build and intimidating presence, he immediately became alert, thinking it was yet another toad lusting after swan meat, coveting his cousin.

Cen Yuanzhou immediately shoved the man away with a forceful elbow strike and stepped into his own courtyard. He shielded Yun Wan behind him. "Don't be afraid, Cousin! I will never let him hurt you!"

He then grabbed a broom from behind the door and pointed it at Emperor Jingxuan. "Who are you? What are you doing at my house? Get out right now!"

Seeing him so protective, Emperor Jingxuan narrowed his long eyes and looked at Yun Wan. "The child in your belly is his? He is the man you married?"

Before Yun Wan could answer, Cen Yuanzhou snapped fiercely, "So what if it is? I advise you to leave at once and stop pestering my family, or don't blame me for not holding back!"

Emperor Jingxuan swept his gaze over the frail, skinny pretty boy in front of him, his eyes flashing with disdain. "Not holding back against me? You?"

Cen Yuanzhou glared fiercely, rolling up his sleeves to bare his arms. "Yes, me!"

"Cousin..." Yun Wan tugged at his sleeve, afraid that the man opposite them would feel offended and do something harmful to her cousin.

Cen Yuanzhou turned his head and comforted her in a low voice, "Don't be afraid, Cousin. Even if I have to risk my life today, I won't let him lay a single finger on you!"

After saying that, he stared fixedly at Emperor Jingxuan, thrusting the broom a few inches forward. "If you want to touch my cousin, you'll have to step over my dead body! And even if I die, I won't let a lecher like you off as a ghost!"

Yun Wan watched with a pounding heart, her gaze toward Emperor Jingxuan filled with pleading.

"Heh."

He was willing to risk his life for her, making himself look like the villain trying to break up a pair of lovebirds. What a joke.

Emperor Jingxuan's face was as cold as frost as he turned and walked away.

Seeing the man gone, Cen Yuanzhou quickly closed the door, dropped the broom, and let out a long breath.

The man just now looked like a trained martial artist; he really wouldn't have been able to beat him. Fortunately, the man knew what was good for him.

He turned and warned Yun Wan, "Cousin, don't go out these next few days. If Mom and Dad aren't home and someone knocks, don't open the door, understand?"

In his heart, he pondered buying a big yellow dog that would bite, so it could pounce on and attack such ill-intentioned scoundrels.

Yun Wan nodded hastily, thinking to herself that he probably wouldn't come back again.

Over the following days, the Cen household was peaceful and quiet. No strangers appeared at their door, and Yun Wan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

.......

In a luxurious residence somewhere in Yangzhou City, Jiang Fusheng looked at the two baskets of pomegranates on the ground that had been returned. He stole a careful glance at his master's gloomy face and asked cautiously, "Master, how should these pomegranates be dealt with?"

Emperor Jingxuan sneered, "Feed them to the dogs!"

"Ah?"

Jiang Fusheng was bewildered. But dogs don't eat pomegranates, do they?

"And Madam Yun?"

"Don't let me hear about that woman ever again."

Jiang Fusheng nodded hastily.

He actually really wanted to know what had happened. Why did his master return from Fengshui Alley with a face so ugly it looked like he wanted to eat someone? But he didn't dare to ask.

However, he understood that it undoubtedly had to do with that Madam Yun.

Just then, a subordinate came to report, "Master, the suspects have been caught and are locked in the dungeon."

Emperor Jingxuan said expressionlessly, "Use whatever means necessary to pry their mouths open. I want to hear useful information."

Emperor Jingxuan, who had originally planned to bide his time and deal with those people slowly, now only wanted to resolve things quickly and return to the capital as soon as possible.

The climate in Yangzhou, just like its plum rains in June, was thoroughly displeasing.

Within ten days, the matter of illicit salt and counterfeit currency was completely resolved. The masterminds behind it were caught in one fell swoop, and Emperor Jingxuan prepared to set off for the capital.

Right before departure, Jiang Fusheng ran in panting, "Master! This servant has an important matter to report!"

Emperor Jingxuan looked at him coldly.

This dog of a servant was getting bolder. He didn't know where he had been fooling around these past few days, nowhere to be seen all day. Once they returned to the capital, he would reward him with thirty strikes of the board.

Inexplicably, a shiver ran through Jiang Fusheng's body. He quickly said, "Master, this servant found out that Madam Yun's unborn child is already three months along, and the neighbors have never heard of any wedding taking place in the Cen family!"

And Yun Wan had only returned to Yangzhou from the capital a little over a month ago, so the child in her belly couldn't possibly be her cousin's.

Emperor Jingxuan's expression shifted slightly.

Jiang Fusheng continued, "This servant also found out that the Third Young Master of the Lu family fell severely ill and became bedridden half a year ago, frequently falling into comas."

His expression pausing, a gleam flashed through Emperor Jingxuan's eyes. "Are you saying that the child in her belly is mine?"

Jiang Fusheng nodded frantically.

When he looked up again, his master was already striding away.

He froze. "Master, where are you going?"

Emperor Jingxuan laughed loudly. "To see my woman and my child."

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Jiang Fusheng hurried to follow him.

.......

Today happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival. As evening approached, the children playing in the streets and alleys were called home by the adults to eat a reunion dinner and admire the full moon.

The Cen family was no exception. In the afternoon, the family gathered around the stove and baked two batches of mooncakes. In the evening, they prepared a large table full of dishes.

During this time, everyone refused to let Yun Wan near the stove. Since she couldn't sit still, Lin Xiu pinched off a lump of dough and shoved it into her hands, sending her off to play on the side, just like when she was a child.

By the time the Mid-Autumn dinner was ready, the alley was filled with the mouthwatering aromas of everyone's suppers, with the Cen family's smelling the best of all.

Cen Zhuo even brought out a fine wine he had treasured for years, ready to drink to his heart's content.

Just as the final dish was served, there was a knock at the door.

Thinking it was a neighbor dropping by to exchange mooncakes, Cen Zhuo set down the wine jug and got up to open the door.

When he returned, he wore a dark expression, followed by a tall, sturdily built man.

Seeing clearly who had arrived, both Yun Wan and Cen Yuanzhou were stunned.

"You?! You again?"

Cen Yuanzhou's immediate reaction was to look around for a broom, but he couldn't find one.

He frowned, his face full of wariness. "Dad, why did you bring this man inside? Do you know he's up to no good?"

Cen Zhuo glared at him. "He says he is..."

He sighed. "He says he is the father of the child in A-Wan's belly. Seeing him so earnest and devoid of the stench of alcohol, he seemed clear-headed, so I let him in."

"A-Wan, is what he says true?" he asked Yun Wan.

If it wasn't, he would be looking for a broom to chase the man out too.

She still couldn't hide it. Meeting Emperor Jingxuan's burning gaze, Yun Wan nodded in admission. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I originally didn't want to bring this up."

She glanced over. "But I didn't expect him to find me."

Hearing this, Cen Zhuo understood most of it. He looked at the man who was standing foolishly, staring intently at his niece. "Sit down and talk."

With Emperor Jingxuan, the small dining table was perfectly full.

Yun Wan gave a brief and concise explanation, deliberately omitting the fact that the man sitting across from her was the Emperor.

After listening, Cen Zhuo waved his hand. "Never mind. It doesn't matter who the child's father is, as long as it's born to A-Wan."

It not being a child of the Lu family might actually be a good thing.

Cen Zhuo looked at Emperor Jingxuan and fired off a series of questions: "What is your name? Where are you from? What does your family do for a living? How many people are in your family? Do you have a wife?"

Emperor Jingxuan replied, "My surname is Qi, my name is Ye. I am from the capital, and for generations my family has..."

"Done business!"

Terrified that he would blurt out that his family had ruled as kings for generations, Yun Wan interrupted immediately, "His family is in business!"

Hearing this, Emperor Jingxuan raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.

Cen Zhuo's face, however, darkened.

Being in business was no good; it would affect the child's eligibility for the imperial examinations. The child would have to take its mother's surname.

"There are quite a few brothers and sisters in my family."

Cen Zhuo's face fell further.

"But they have all married and started their own families. The family assets are all in my hands."

Cen Zhuo's expression softened.

"I have concubines."

Cen Zhuo's brows furrowed in displeasure.

"But no wife."

Cen Zhuo's brows relaxed slightly.

Seeing her uncle's face shifting through a myriad of expressions, Yun Wan hurriedly changed the subject. "Uncle, let's eat first, or the food will get cold. Whatever it is, we can talk about it after dinner."

She was afraid that if they kept talking, her uncle would get upset, and the man sitting across from them would be displeased as well.

Cen Zhuo nodded. "Let's eat."

The atmosphere throughout the meal was surprisingly pleasant. Despite the presence of an uninvited guest, it did not dampen the joy of their family reunion.

In fact, after Cen Zhuo and Emperor Jingxuan had a chat post-dinner, Cen Zhuo's impression of him improved so drastically that he even brought out his treasured vintage wine to share.

The moon hung high in the night sky. Emperor Jingxuan stepped out of the Cen residence with the lingering scent of wine about him, but his strides were steady and his face was radiant with high spirits.

"Master, are we still heading back to the capital?" Jiang Fusheng asked with a bright smile, following closely behind.

Emperor Jingxuan shot him a sideways glance. "If you want to go back, you can get lost and head back by yourself!"