chapter 2
The next day, when I saw my Seventh Imperial Brother, he was having tea with Pei Shuning, Pei Qingxuan’s elder sister.
That year, Southern Chu presented five hundred boys and girls in tribute to Northern Liang. Imperial Father selected some of the most beautiful among them and bestowed them upon the royal relatives and nobles of Tian Du City.
“Brother.” I threw myself into my Seventh Imperial Brother’s arms.
He is my brother from the same mother; our bond is the closest of all.
Seventh Imperial Brother dotingly patted my head. “Yuan Si, a princess should behave like a princess. You shouldn’t always be hugging and clinging.”
I paid it no mind. “I’m hugging my own Brother, not anyone else.”
Pei Qingxuan stepped aside and paid respects to Seventh Imperial Brother, but he paid him no heed.
He doesn’t like Pei Qingxuan.
He says that Pei Qingxuan doesn’t resemble a musician, but rather a young noble from a general’s household.
He also says Pei Qingxuan and Pei Shuning look quite different, not at all like real siblings.
He was firmly against Pei Qingxuan becoming my Consort, even to the point of wanting to kill him.
But since I liked Pei Qingxuan, there was nothing he could do.
The four of us sat together, and Pei Shuning chatted with Pei Qingxuan.
I, meanwhile, curiously watched Pei Shuning’s belly. After not seeing her for a month, it had grown even larger.
No one had ever said of her, “She is not one of us; her heart must be different.”
For she truly was like a beautiful, fragile dodder flower, showing not the slightest trace of ambition.
“Would the Princess like to touch it?” Pei Shuning asked me gently.
I nodded and, curious, placed my hand on her belly.
The child inside seemed to sense my presence and actually moved.
I felt both happy and somewhat wistful.
I like children and also wish to have one of my own.
But for three years, my belly has shown no sign.
The Imperial Physician in the palace has examined both me and Pei Qingxuan and found no major issues.
The Imperial Physician prescribed me some Fertility Medicine to take after each time we shared a bed.
But it has still been of no use.