Chapter 312 - Unthinking Revelation

"So?" Prince Yi prodded with a frown after the doctor had spent a longer than necessary period of time checking Princess Nalan's pulse. 

Prince Yi had initially wanted doctor Lou to verify the potency of his medicine himself but the doctor seemed to have traveled or something. So Tian Ji found him this backup plan who claimed to also be an "expert "in the affairs of pregnancy.

Prince Yi had this doctor ready for a few days now but he just had to work out how to go about getting Princess Nalan tested without seeming suspicious. After all, suspicion would be a bad way to start a possibly lifetime arrangement that is marriage. 

Anyway, here they were. He had done his part but this "expert" was here looking confused. 

The doctor knit his brows and c.o.c.ked his head to the side, before releasing Princess Nalan's wrist and bowing his head, "Well...I can't be sure-"

"Can't be sure of what?" Prince Yi interjected, his frown deepening.

"Am I sick? ...It wouldn't be something incurable, right?" Princess Nalan asked knitting her brows in concern. She had heard of healthy people starting out like this with something small and then suddenly dropping down with a severe illness a few hours later. 

"Ah, no, nothing like that..." The doctor swiftly reassured and then went on to say, "It's just that it's very weak, but it should be nothing to worry about. It's probably because it's very early on. It's a bit unusual you're getting this symptom so early on as well but it should be nothing of concern, the adjustment might just be a bit stressful on your body hence the symptoms coming in earlier -"

"Symptom? What's wrong with me?" Princess Nalan asked in confusion, this doctor was talking in confusing circles.

The Doctor blinked at her and then realized she was not aware and then bowed with a smile, "Congratulations Your highness, you are pregnant..."

Princess Nalan's eyes went wide and she froze, while Prince Yi knit his brows when he saw her appalled expression. 

This was not the reaction he was expecting, and it was a bit - just a bit upsetting. He had thought that she liked him and so would be happy to hear that she was pregnant but her expression right now held no happiness. He could only see panic, confusion, worry...and maybe even regret.

It seems his suspicion was right, she saw him as a simple summer's fling, one she would quickly forget in a few days. 

Of course, she did not actually like him. This was the reason she never asked him about his intentions for them or anything...They never had a serious conversation because she had no need for one. She was simply enjoying the thrill of an affair, using him to entertain herself with the intention of discarding him once she left. 

This was upsetting. 

When no one spoke, the doctor glanced at the two dark expressions in front of him and then went on to add, "I can prescribe something to help re-"

"That's enough, leave." Prince Yi interjected.

The doctor blinked up at Prince Yi and quickly got the clue that this was not the news that the couple wanted. He did not understand why the prince would be upset that one of his wives was pregnant with the first royal child of this next generation. Regardless of his thoughts, the doctor decided to quickly retrace his steps so as not to lose the favor that had landed on his lap so instead of leaving, he said, "As I said, it is still very early and so I cannot be certain sand even if it is so, I have medicine to abo-"

"I said leave." Prince Yi sternly ordered, shutting up the doctor before he could say something to ruin things for him. Tian Ji swiftly yanked the doctor up and dragged him off, as the maid smartly followed along, leaving Prince Yi and Princess Nalan alone to talk. 

The two sat silently for a while, Princess Nalan digesting the shocking information while Prince Yi was upset about the fact that she was upset over this news. He was not interested in the idea of forcing a woman to be with him. Obviously, if she had not shown interest in him, he would not have forced himself on her. 

But regardless of his annoyance now, he still had to persuade her that this was not such a bad idea. It was already too late to turn back and he would not allow her to terminate his child. That would be too cruel. Even if she did not want to anymore, he would still go ahead with his plan. 

But obviously it would be best for both their sakes if they were both on board with the program. 

"I'm pregnant..." Princess Nalan quietly, breaking the silence still in disbelief. Pregnancy was the last thing on her mind - it was not even on her mind.

"En..." Prince Yi disinterestedly responded, before correcting his tone and solemnly going, I'm sorry." 

"It was just one time though..." Princess Nalan said turning Prince Yi with a flabbergasted expression. 

Prince Yi frowned and averted his gaze and informed in an almost condescending tone, "One time is enough..."

His irritated tone completely flew over her head as Princess Nalan was going through her own emotions right now, she took a deep breath and then a few more and then jumped to her feet, "I think that doctor did not know what he was talking, we should find someone else better -"

Prince Yi swiftly shot to his feet and grabbed her arm before she could race off, "Nalan, calm down -"

"Calm down? Do you know wha- ? How am I supposed to -?" She was at a loss for words, she put a hand to her head as she tried to think but her mind seemed to be frozen right now. She had definitely not expected to get pregnant.

"Is it such a bad thing?" Prince Yi finally asked, "You said you wouldn't regret it..." He said as he released her arm, leaving her free to run off if she wanted.

Princess Nalan froze and blinked at him and seeing the hurt expression on his face, she calmed down and reigned her panic in, realizing how her behavior must seem to him. She sighed and held his arm and said, "I don't regret it but...telling my father that I'm pregnant is..." She frowned and sighed, words failed her again, "a bit much...It's-"

Prince Yi took her hand and weakly smiled, "I understand...but Nalan, this isn't such a bad thing. Even though I'm not an Emperor, I'm still a prince and I still don't have a Princess consort. We can get married and even if they want to object, you're pregnant - they would have to accept it and the fact that marriage is the only way to fix this." He reassuringly explained, somewhat excited - although careful not to be too excited.

"Get married?" Princess Nalan asked, blinking in surprise.

Prince Yi frowned, "Or you don't want to?"

"No, no...let's." Princess Nalan said with a smile, "It's just...I thought you didn't want to because of your brother an-"

"He doesn't matter. I know how to handle him..." Prince Yi dismissively said. Of course, he had thought about how to handle the Emperor since he concocted this plan of his. Prince Yi smiled and sat Princess Nalan down and then sat with her and then asked, "D- do you need anything?"

Princess Nalan shook her head and then put her elbows on the table and cradled held her head in her hand and groaned.

It was one thing to tell her father that she wanted to marry Prince Yi and not the Emperor but actually being pregnant for him was another thing, "How am I going to explain this? My grandfather is going to kill me..." Her maternal grandfather was already not in support of her coming here or marrying the Emperor, now she was pregnant and not married, she could already see his face becoming red with anger.

She would not even be surprised if he finally passed out due to this news- she always thought that he looked on the verge of passing out whenever he was angry. He never passed out, but this news might finally be the one and she will miss it...thankfully.

"It's okay. I can help you write the letter if you want~" Prince Yi offered, reassuringly patting her back.

Princess Nalan glanced at him and his smile brightened and she sighed and said, "You don't know him..."

"It's alright. I can handle everything. Stress is bad for the baby~" Prince Yi said with a smile, waving over the maid. This was actually much better than expected, forget Prince Houyi, he could connect to her grandfather directly. After all, Prince Houyi derived his power from said grandfather...Therefore, an introductory letter from his apologetic "love-stricken" son-in-law was in order. 

Princess Nalan weakly smiled as she watched Prince Yi happily ordering paper and ink to begin writing to who he called his "in-laws". She was not so ecstatic about the endeavor but seeing him like this was a bit heartwarming.

{...Well, at least he's happy about it, that's good...pregnant, how can I be -? O_O)...}