Chapter 9
Not long after the Lantern Festival, I found out I was pregnant.
That night, Father ordered that all the sharp corners in my room be carefully wrapped in cotton.
The very next day, he braved heavy snow to visit Jingan Temple and brought back a Protective Talisman for me.
Eldest Aunt picked out a different tonic for me every day and had it sent to me.
Even Xie Heng half-knelt before me, gently rubbing my still-flat belly with his fingertips, unable to hide the joy in his eyes.
He looked up at me.
“Jinshu, this is our child.”
Everyone was so happy.
Except for me.
As for his arrival, I felt nothing but sorrow-and pity.
Coincidentally, three days after I discovered my pregnancy, it was my Elder Sister’s birthday.
After discussing with Eldest Aunt, Father decided to throw a grand birthday banquet for my sister, inviting all the officials and relatives, hoping the guests’ blessings would dispel the bad luck brought by illness.
The birthday banquet was bustling with excitement.
There were even more guests than at Father’s birthday celebration.
Elder Sister was unwell. She only came out and sat for a short while, said a couple of words, then was helped back to her room to rest by two Maids.
At the banquet, Father announced the wedding date of Xie Heng and Elder Sister.
It would be at the end of this month.
The guests all offered their congratulations.
But all I felt was nausea.
Ever since becoming pregnant, my body always felt weak.
Now with so many people and noise, I felt even more suffocated in my chest.
Seizing a moment when no one was watching, I stood up and slipped into the backyard.
There was no one in the back courtyard, and as the night breeze swept over me, I finally felt a bit of relief.
After pacing slowly around the courtyard twice, I suddenly heard footsteps behind me.
I turned around.
And just like that, without warning, I saw Jiang Songjing.
He wore a blue long robe, and for a fleeting moment, I almost thought I was seeing the young man from that little village.
As I came back to my senses, I heard his mocking tone. “So it’s Miss Zhou.”
He shifted slightly to the side, clearing the way. “How could a Mountain Village Bumpkin like me block the path of a Marquis Mansion young lady? After you, Miss Zhou.”
Every word was biting, a direct response to the breakup letter I’d sent.
My chest tightened even more.
I had no wish to argue with him and quickened my pace, trying to pass by him as swiftly as I could.
But I just had to make a mistake in my haste.
Behind Jiang Songjing was the Stone Bridge, with a Pond underneath.
As I hurried past, my foot landed right on a raised stone on the bridge.
“Splash-”
It was getting dark, and in my flustered steps, I fell straight into the water.
I couldn’t swim.
“Jiang… Songjing…”
I flailed in the water, calling his name instinctively in panic.
The next thing I knew, there was another splash.
Someone had jumped in and was pulling me out.
But I had swallowed water; my consciousness was already hazy. I could only vaguely hear someone calling my name, “Jinshu.”
His voice was filled with panic.
“Jinshu…”
He dragged me ashore. Through the haze, it felt like someone placed a hand on my wrist.
After coughing up a few mouthfuls of water, I finally regained a bit of clarity.
Jiang Songjing squatted in front of me. With the moon behind him, I couldn’t see his expression.
I wanted so badly to throw myself into his arms and pour out all my grievances-
How unwilling I was when I was forced to write him that letter.
How much it hurt when Eldest Aunt brought people to prick needles between my fingers.
How hopeless I felt when Xie Heng pressed me beneath him and I could not resist.
I missed him so much.
But.
Reason slowly returned, and I knew I couldn’t.
All I could do was force myself to push him away and softly thank him.
Then, little by little, I stood up and headed back to my room to change clothes.
However, I had barely taken two steps when my wrist was suddenly grabbed by him.
His voice trembled.
“Zhou Jinshu, whose child is it?”