Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Reunion with Master, The Surprise About the Birthmark
 

Murong Jiu’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Jun Yuyan, “Prince, I can walk by myself.”

“Don’t move. I’ll take you back,” he said.

Jun Yuyan’s gaze fixed ahead. Despite an old injury on his leg, he walked steadily. Held in his arms, Murong Jiu felt not only comfortable but also less tired.

Under the mask, Jun Yuyan’s jawline was smooth and resolute. His body emitted a faint scent of ambergris, a familiar smell that reassured her.

Murong Jiu, held by his strong and solid hands, had no desire to struggle.

“Prince, thank you for just now,” she said.

She whispered so that only the two of them could hear.

However, Jun Yuyan said, “Pregnancy has been hard on you. You’ve been through a lot.”

Murong Jiu was stunned. She had never expected Jun Yuyan to acknowledge her hardships instead of blaming her for almost exposing them in public.

She felt it incredible, and a warm current surged in her heart at the same time.

Having been deprived of love in her past life, a little bit of concern from others was enough to overwhelm her. Now, though her heart had grown much colder, she was still moved by Jun Yuyan’s few words.

How could he be so kind, taking the blame for her pregnancy upon himself so that no one could call her flirtatious again in the future? But the child was not his, and certainly, misunderstandings would arise with the woman he loved.

She whispered softly, “In the future, I will explain everything to the woman you love, Prince.”

Jun Yuyan’s brow furrowed slightly, and he pursed his lips. He paused in his stride, turning to Murong Jiu and said, “Actually…”

“Master, look who I have brought!”

Just then, a guard’s voice rang out not far away.

Murong Jiu, fearing being seen, quickly tried to get down from Jun Yuyan’s arms, but he held her tightly and securely, preventing her from successful movement.

“Ah Jiu, don’t move. Be careful not to disturb the fetal qi,” he said with a slightly stern tone.

Murong Jiu laughed, “It’s not that easy to disturb the fetal qi, Prince. Please let me down, I can walk now; I feel much better.”

“What fetal qi? Young lady, you are pregnant?”

Suddenly a familiar voice entered her ears, and her eyes widened in delight, “Master!”

Her master had been delayed a day or two on the road and had finally returned!

The agile and lean old man hurried over. Who else could it be but her master?

Without a word, her master grabbed her hand to take her pulse. As he did so, his expression grew increasingly strange, and he glanced at the Prince several times, seeming to hesitate to speak.

Before she could say anything, Jun Yuyan interjected, “You’ve come from far and must be tired from the journey. Have some tea first, then catch up with Ah Jiu.”

The master looked around at the servants, nodding, “Then let’s go to the girl’s residence first so this old body can rest a bit.”

Murong Jiu felt somewhat embarrassed.

As a master physician, her master could determine her month of pregnancy just by taking her pulse, and since she and Jun Yuyan had only been married for just over twenty days, her master would undoubtedly notice the discrepancy.

“Prince, please let me down,” she requested.

Her master was right there, and several guards were staring with a mix of curiosity and surprise. She felt extremely embarrassed.

“We are almost there.”

Jun Yuyan did not put her down but instead quickened his pace.

The master stroked his beard and followed behind, deep in thought.

They soon arrived at Qiyun Courtyard where Bai Aoshuang was slacking off. Hearing the sound, she quickly got up from her chair and grabbed a cloth, pretending to be busy.

She then cautiously looked up and was instantly dumbfounded.

The Prince was actually holding Murong Jiu in his arms as he returned!

This ugly freak, what merit or ability does he have!

Feeling the Prince’s icy gaze, Bai Aoshuang’s heart trembled, and she quickly lowered her head.

Jun Yuyan carried Murong Jiu directly to the bed and laid her down, then poured her a cup of hot tea himself and handed it to her.

“You had thrown up earlier; do you feel like eating anything now? I can instruct the kitchen to prepare something for you,” he said.

Murong Jiu shook her head, “Thank you, Your Highness, but I am not hungry and don’t crave anything.”

The old master followed behind and walked in. When he looked around, Jun Yuyan personally poured tea and offered it: “Divine Doctor Zhai, please have some tea.”

The old master chuckled as he watched him, “Your Highness indeed is exceptional, even finding out about my origins, the little old man’s background.”

Even Murong Jiu didn’t know that the master’s surname was Zhai; she had asked him before, but he never said.

Jun Yuyan commanded, “Chun Tao, stand by the door and let no one approach.”

Chun Tao was somewhat worried. Although the Prince was very good to the lady, would he turn his face if he knew the child in the lady’s womb was not his?

“Go, Chun Tao.”

“Yes, Your Highness, Princess Consort.”

Chun Tao hurried out, blocking Zhen Zhu who was trying to enter at the doorway, and whispered, “The Prince has ordered that no one should approach; what are you sneakily trying to do?”

Zhen Zhu was furious, “When have I ever been sneaky?”

Chun Tao scared her, “The Prince has excellent Martial Arts skills and extraordinary hearing; be careful or you’ll end up like Cai Yun, unrecognizable in death.”

At these words, Zhen Zhu’s face turned pale, and she dared not eavesdrop any further, unhappily returning to the servants’ quarters.

Bai Aoshuang dropped the cloth and hurriedly asked, “Zhen Zhu, what’s wrong with the Princess Consort, why did the Prince carry her back?”

“The Princess Consort is pregnant,” Zhen Zhu replied impatiently.

“What?”

Bai Aoshuang opened her mouth in disbelief.

How did Murong Jiu, this ugly girl, have such good fortune!

Seeing her envious look, Zhen Zhu sneered inwardly, thinking that the child in Murong Jiu’s womb was an unknown beggar’s bastard. Bribing the Mansion Physician wouldn’t matter, as it would inevitably come to light someday.

Yet, she dared not gossip carelessly, lest she ruin the Second Prince’s major plans.

“Master, how have you become so thin and dark?”

Murong Jiu said to the old master with eyes faintly reddening, her heart aching.

In her previous life, she hadn’t even seen her master for the last time; now, thanks to Jun Yuyan’s blessing, she could see her living master again.

“Why cry, old man? I am still very robust. I had a big find on this mountain trip. Didn’t I say I would give you a surprise? Did you guess what it is?” he said.

She shook her head, “Whatever the surprise is, it’s not as important as my master’s life. If it weren’t for His Highness’s help, I dare not think what could have happened to you in those deep mountains.”

Speaking of this, the old master clasped his hands and turned to thank Jun Yuyan.

“That’s true, if it weren’t for His Highness sending people to assist, this old skeleton might really have been left there. But I am blessed with great fortune, which is why His Highness helped me turn disaster into fortune,” he said.

Jun Yuyan said gently, “You don’t need to be so polite, your being Ah Jiu’s master makes you my master too.”

“You, young man, are not bad.”

The master was quirky and never praised anyone; it was Murong Jiu’s first time hearing him compliment another person.

Nevertheless, Jun Yuyan indeed deserved the master’s praise.

At this moment, the master got back to the point, and he said to her, “Girl, I’ve been telling you all these years that the birthmark on your face couldn’t be removed because I didn’t want you to harbor hope then face disappointment.”

Murong Jiu stared at him in shock, “Do you mean, Master, that…”