Xie Ruyu is already married, having wed Duan Cheng four years ago, and they have a son and a daughter.
The eldest is only three years old, while the youngest is still in swaddling clothes.
Having become a mother, she has grown considerably more composed compared to the sharp-tongued, soft-hearted young girl she once was.
Duan Cheng received a decree at the beginning of the year to leave the Capital City, but at the time Xie Ruyu was heavily pregnant and unable to accompany him.
Now that the children are born, their delicate bodies unfit for arduous travel, and with Xie Ruyu unable to set her mind at ease over them, the couple remains separated geographically.
Xie Wanqing returned to the Capital at the end of last year, allowing the sisters to meet frequently.
Later, as Xie Ruyu’s pregnancy advanced, her visits to the palace fewer.
A few months ago when her cousin was due to give birth, Xie Wanqing received the news and personally went to the Duan Family.
The Empress personally attended, giving plenty of face to the Duan Family.
Duan Cheng was delighted to have another son, though he was absent from the Capital City, a minor regret.
As several entered the hall, they exchanged small talk.
All were concerned about whether Xie Wanqing’s pregnancy was stable, and after learning that it was going well, they shared amusing stories from their own pregnancies in the past.
It generally revolved around how thrilling the first pregnancy was.
Mrs. Zheng became anxious at the thought of her daughter traveling to a foreign land while pregnant with her grandson, "You were just a young girl, where did you get such courage, traveling with a big belly, eating wind and sleeping out in the open, enduring hardships, luckily Ran’er takes care of his mother without fussing you."
"I didn’t face much hardship," Xie Wanqing chuckled, "My brother came, didn’t he? He was watching over me."
Her toughest days were the month spent traveling from Northern Land to Bianzhou.
But busy on the journey, she didn’t feel much suffering.
After reaching Bianzhou and meeting Chen Xixi, the sisters supported each other, and her days settled.
Though upon discovering her pregnancy, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy, but she didn’t dwell on it for long before her brother appeared.
With her brother around, she had no need to worry and returned to a carefree life.
During childbirth, her brother was just outside; should anything happen to her, the child wouldn’t be alone.
Thus, Xie Wanqing believed she never really suffered.
Mrs. Zheng, already aware of how her children reunited, knew her eldest son has always indulged his younger sister; hearing this, she nodded in agreement and smiled, "Heaven pities you, unwilling to let you suffer, sending your brother to look after you."
Speaking of Xie YanYu, the old mother couldn’t help but feel concerned.
"Your brother..." Mrs. Zheng hesitated, "Why do I feel like your brother seems to have someone in mind?"
"Really?" Xie Wanqing had been lounging on a soft chair eating peeled grapes offered by a maid. Upon hearing this, she suddenly sat up straight, "Which family’s girl?"
Mrs. Zheng was startled, "You’re pregnant, the first three months are unstable, don’t get too excited."
"Oh, I know," Xie Wanqing took her mother’s hand, "Mother, quickly, whose family’s girl?"
"Who else could it be," said Xie Ruyu, knowing the inside story, smiled sweetly, "In all these years, Big Brother has only gotten close to one girl outside the family."
Xie YanYu, being attentive to propriety, appears gentle and jade-like in manner but is actually indifferent and detached, maintaining distance from all girls except his younger sister.
Even with a liberal social atmosphere where speaking a few more words is considered nothing, he was like a peak flower covered in snow, cold and unapproachable.
Upon hearing Xie Ruyu’s words.
An image of someone suddenly popped into Xie Wanqing’s mind.
She then gasped, "No way."