Widowed for Five Years, the Widow is Pregnant with the Emperor’s Child

Chapter 220

Emperor Jingxuan swept a glance over her, and the rest of her words caught in her throat.

Father Yun broke out in a cold sweat and scolded sharply, “Shiyue, show some respect! Apologize to your sister immediately!”

Although the emperor before him was young, his ruthless methods were well-known, and he feared his second daughter might provoke this iron-fisted sovereign.

Yun Shiyue’s face flushed red, but she still refused to lower her head, not a single word of apology escaping her lips.

Emperor Jingxuan ignored the father and daughter pair, instead looking down at the little girl who barely reached his chest. “Was it her who bullied you just now? Made you cry?”

Who he meant by “her” was obvious.

Yun Wan pressed her small mouth together, saying nothing but tacitly confirming it.

Emperor Jingxuan said, “She bullied you, so go bully her back.”

Bully her back?

Yun Wan’s expression froze slightly. She turned her head to glance at her astonished father and Yun Shiyue, hesitation flickering across her face.

How was she supposed to bully her back?

As if reading her thoughts, Emperor Jingxuan stroked the top of her head, casually pinching her rabbit-ear hair bun as he said in a calm tone, “She was rude to you, so slap her mouth and teach her a lesson.”

Father Yun’s heart lurched. “Your Majesty, my daughter is still young—”

Emperor Jingxuan interrupted, “Say another word, and it won’t be just a few slaps.”

His tone was icy, carrying authority without anger.

Father Yun trembled with fear, not daring to plead further.

Encouraged by Emperor Jingxuan’s gaze, Yun Wan stepped forward and, with the palace attendants holding Yun Shiyue down, delivered a slap.

“Slap!”

One slap left Yun Shiyue’s cheek red and swollen.

Yun Wan said sternly, “This slap is for your disrespect toward my mother.”

“Slap!” Then another slap followed.

“And this one is to vent my own anger.”

After those two slaps, seeing her half-sister, who had tormented her at the dinner table moments ago, looking pitiful, Yun Wan felt satisfied.

Emperor Jingxuan raised an eyebrow. “Not hitting anymore?”

Yun Wan shook her head. Facing her father and stepmother’s grim expressions, she took a half-step back to stand beside him, like a small animal seeking shelter.

“Did your hand hurt from hitting? Let me see.”

Emperor Jingxuan took her hand and saw her palm red and swollen. He was both helpless and sympathetic.

Yun Wan quickly pulled her hand back and hid it behind her, muttering softly, “It doesn’t hurt.”

Seeing this, Emperor Jingxuan let out a light laugh. Such a face-saving little girl.

His smile faded slightly. When he lifted his eyes again, only coldness remained. “Then the rest will be noted.”

“From now on, if anyone dares to bully you, just fight back. I’ll take responsibility for everything. Understand?”

He knew that because she had lost her mother, his wife had grown up with no one to rely on, enduring much hardship. Even in her own home, she had lived like a stranger.

Since heaven had given him a second chance, he would never let his wife suffer the slightest grievance again.

Yun Wan nodded with vague understanding, then belatedly realized it seemed someone was backing her up.

Emperor Jingxuan said, “Minister Yun, if you still fail to teach your daughters properly in the future, I won’t mind having someone else do it for you.”

With that, he took Yun Wan’s hand and led her out. “Come, my little lucky star.”

With his long legs, one step equaled three of the ten-year-old girl’s. Even though he deliberately slowed his pace, Yun Wan still struggled to keep up.

Sensing the little girl’s panting, Emperor Jingxuan stopped and waited for her.

Yun Wan looked up, her face flushed, and asked, “Where are we going?”

Emperor Jingxuan bent down to wipe the sweat from her forehead, a faint smile curving his lips. “You are my lucky star. Naturally, you’re coming back to the palace with me.”

Yun Wan didn’t quite understand what “lucky star” meant, but seeing Yun Shiyue’s earlier envy, she guessed it must be something good.

“Can I still go out later?” she asked.

Noticing she showed no resistance, Emperor Jingxuan’s smile deepened. “Of course. If you want to leave the palace, you can. From now on, no one will bully you like today.”

Yun Wan blinked, then a faint smile tugged at her lips. Emperor Jingxuan felt an urge to pinch the soft flesh of her cheek.

Strangely, even though she knew the person before her was the most exalted emperor in the world, Yun Wan felt no fear of him, as if she was certain he would never harm her.

Inside the luxurious carriage, Yun Wan was unusually quiet.

Noticing her silence, Emperor Jingxuan spoke first, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

He thought she might be nervous, but she replied, “I’m hungry. No energy to talk.”

As if on cue, Yun Wan’s stomach growled, making her quickly cover it, her ears turning red.

Emperor Jingxuan couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Catching her reproachful look, he forcibly suppressed his smile, realizing that in his rush, no snacks had been prepared in the carriage.

Suddenly catching a sweet fragrance, Emperor Jingxuan ordered outside, “Go buy some crispy chestnut cake.”

The palace attendant quickly brought it. Yun Wan unwrapped the oil paper and took a bite, the rich sweetness filling her mouth.

Hungry as she was, she gulped it down and mumbled, “I ate this chestnut cake when I was little!”

Suppressing a smile, Emperor Jingxuan handed her a cup of hot tea and asked playfully, “Little? How little?”

Thinking hard for a moment, Yun Wan spread four fingers and said, “About four years old, I think. My mother bought it.”

“After my mother passed away, no one ever bought it for me again.”

Her tone was light, but it tugged at the listener’s heart.

Emperor Jingxuan said, “From now on, if you want to eat it, I’ll have someone buy it for you.”

Or he could consider summoning the chef from the Five Flavors Kitchen into the palace to make it for her every day.

No, wait.

He looked at the childish face before him and thought to himself that children shouldn’t eat too many sweets.

As he pondered, a piece of golden pastry appeared before him.

“Your Majesty, want some?” Yun Wan held the soft cake, carefully bringing it to his lips, her eyes full of anticipation.

Without hesitation, Emperor Jingxuan swallowed it in one bite.

Indeed, his wife had been considerate since she was young.

“Don’t eat too much. We’ll have a proper meal soon,” he reminded her.

“Oh.” Yun Wan obediently put down the chestnut cake she had just picked up and sat up straight, though her eyes still lingered on the table, blinking wistfully—a sight that stirred his sympathy.

Seeing this, Emperor Jingxuan paused, sighed, and said, “Fine, one more piece, then.”

“Just one,” he emphasized.

Yun Wan’s eyes lit up, her joy unmistakable. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Jingxuan looked at her with helpless affection.

…

In the Purple Glow Hall, Emperor Jingxuan led the little girl inside. As they passed, the palace attendants looked at them with curiosity, wondering if this was the so-called Lucky Star’s daughter—such a young girl.

Emperor Jingxuan addressed everyone directly, announcing Yun Wan’s status. “This is my lucky star. Address her as Miss Yun. From now on, serve her just as you would serve me. Do not neglect her!”

His gaze swept over them, his tone stern.

The attendants replied in unison, “We obey!”

Yun Wan gazed at the grand palace, surrounded by a sea of attendants calling her “Miss Yun,” yet she felt no awkwardness—only a strange familiarity, even though it was her first time entering the palace.

Mindful that his little girl was still hungry, Emperor Jingxuan ordered the meal.

Soon, attendants filed in with dishes, and Jiang Fusheng said cheerfully, “Your Majesty, Miss Yun, these dishes are all made by the new chef from Yangzhou.”

Emperor Jingxuan hummed in acknowledgment and gestured to Yun Wan. “Try them and see if they suit your taste.”

Looking at the feast before her, Yun Wan nodded. “I like it.”

Every dish was exactly to her liking.

In reality, everything was indeed prepared according to her tastes.

Emperor Jingxuan knew her preferences like the back of his hand.

Especially since the young girl had just returned from Yangzhou, she naturally preferred Yangzhou-style dishes.

Holding his ivory chopsticks with a smile, he picked up a piece of fish, carefully removed every bone, and placed it into Yun Wan’s bowl.

The belly of the fish had no fine bones, but he was still uneasy—his habit of deboning fish for her had become second nature.

Seeing the emperor personally remove fish bones for the young girl, the eunuch Jiang Fusheng was utterly astonished.

This meal was the most satisfying and reassuring one Yun Wan had had since leaving Yangzhou.

No one made things difficult for her.

After the meal, Emperor Jingxuan led her to a side hall.

When the doors swung open, a faint floral fragrance wafted toward them, and as the interior came into view, Yun Wan stood frozen in place.

Every detail in the hall—the colors, styles, and arrangement—was exactly to her liking. Anyone could tell at a glance that this was a young lady’s chambers: bright, resplendent, and ornate.

“Is this for me?” she asked, turning back with an expression of disbelief springing.

Emperor Jingxuan nodded. “Do you like it?”

Yun Wan wandered around the room for a while before skipping lightly back to him, her youthful face beaming with joy. “I love it! Thank you, Your Majesty!”

This ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍room had obviously been decorated with great care—how could she not adore it?

SheFingered the little cat figurine on the desk, her eyes curving into a sweet, innocent smile.

Unable to resist, Emperor Jingxuan reached out and pinched her plump cheeks.

The texture was as delightful as he had imagined.

This was what his wife looked like at the age of ten, and his heart swelled with boundless tenderness.

According to custom, boys and girls over seven should not share a seat, but faced with this man so much older than herself, Yun Wan felt no resistance. She let him pinch her cheek without protest.

Gazing at the luxurious room around her, she hesitated for a moment before asking, “Your Majesty, is there something I need to do for you?”

She looked at him, her tone serious.

“They say Your Majesty is burdened with dark energy, and that someone is needed to help dispel it, right? Is that something I can do for you?”

Young as she was, Yun Wan already understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch. The emperor had brought her into the palace and given her a home—she knew there had to be a purpose.

Still, if helping him banish dark energy meant she could have a safe place to live, perhaps it wasn’t so bad?

She just had no idea how to rid him of that dark energy, since everyone called her a jinx, steeped in misfortune.

To her surprise, the man chuckled softly at her question. Then, with a flick of his finger, he tapped her forehead. “Silly girl—that was all just a pretense.”

Yun Wan clutched her forehead, her big eyes glistening. “A pretense?”

Emperor Jingxuan nodded.

In this life, there was no such thing as baseless dark energy, and even the chronic headaches that had plagued him for years had not appeared.

But he needed a plausible reason that no one could object to, so he could bring her into the palace, raise her himself, shower her with boundless affection, and shield her from ever being bullied again.

His gaze was cryptic, while she remained innocent and naive, still so young.

Emperor Jingxuan lowered his eyes and let out a light sigh. “As for why… you’ll understand in time.”

“This is our secret,” he said softly. “Keep it for me, won’t you, Wan?”

Yun Wan nodded, her small face solemn. “I swear I won’t tell anyone!”

She trusted that he had his reasons for doing this.

Emperor Jingxuan bent down, placing a hand on her shoulder. His voice was gentle as he instructed, “From now on, the palace is your home. Besides me, you are its second master. You may do whatever you wish, without heed to anyone else. If there is someone you dislike, you never have to see them again. You don’t need to accommodate anyone.”

Yun Wan seemed to ponder this. “Then what should I do?”

Emperor Jingxuan’s brow relaxed, a hint of laughter sparkling in his ink-dark eyes. “What you should do is eat well, sleep well, and grow up healthy and happy. This is my only request of you—do you understand?”

As for all the people and things that had once made her miserable, he would never let her encounter them again in this life. Their suffering would not happen again.

His one regret was that his wife no longer remembered him.

A tinge of melancholy flickered deep in Emperor Jingxuan’s eyes, but he believed that one day, she would recall everything.

“I will,” came her crisp, young voice as Yun Wan proclaimed it with solemnity.

Letting the topic drift, Emperor Jingxuan opened one of the wooden boxes on the table and handed it to her. “Take a look—do you like these?”

The box was filled with jewelry, every piece exquisitely designed, intricate, and dazzling.

There were also dozens of sets of clothing, from spring to winter, from head to toe, all custom-made for Yun Wan.

Yun Wan stared at the jewelry in the box, then blinked and asked in a small voice, “Can I be honest with you?”

Emperor Jingxuan raised an eyebrow, inviting her to speak.

She peeked up at him. “…I don’t like them.”

“They’re too old-fashioned,” she added sheepishly, touching the floral hairpins and bells in her own hair. She liked those much better.

Emperor Jingxuan put a hand to his brow and smiled wryly.

He had forgotten. These jewels, though delicately ornate, were not suitable for a little girl. Wearing them would make her look like a child playing dress-up, a bit comical.

So he ordered a new set of accessories more befitting her age.

News swiftly spread that the “daughter of fortune” who was said to be a child blessed with the power to dispel the dark energy from the emperor’s presence had been found, personally escorted to the palace by His Majesty himself.

When people learned it was Yun Wan, publicly ignored and newly returned from Yangzhou as the Yun family’s eldest daughter, they couldn’t help but envy her. How had the Yun household landed such rare good luck, rather than their own families?

But the bitterness inside was something only Father Yun truly understood. That eldest daughter, whom he had neglected for years, was not close to her own family at all.

What’s more, the emperor was determined to keep her away from the Yun family. He had even sent all of Yun Wan’s belongings from Yangzhou directly into the palace.

And the emperor’s affection for the girl was plain for all to see—from the highest to the lowest.

He had settled her in the side hall of the Zichen Hall, and treasures from his vault were brought in like they cost nothing, lining the chambers where the girl slept.

Because Yun Wan loved flowers and incense, every garden in the palace was planted with a variety of blossoms, and the precious incense and herbs of the incense bureau were made freely available to her.

Beyond all this, the emperor personally taught her to read and write each day, joined her at meals, took her on walks for digestion—in essence, he cradled her in his palms, fearful she might break, and kept her as though she were a treasure he dared not drop, in constant danger of melting if held in his mouth.

…

“Liaochen, you say that fate, predetermined, connects us all, that it is the same for my wife and me. Then why hasn’t her memory returned yet?”

Meeting the master monk Liaochen once more, Emperor Jingxuan got straight to the point of his heart’s concern.

He himself had relived nearly a century of memories, so addressing the monk by his religious name was not disrespectful.

Yet Liaochen merely pressed his palms together. “Amitabha, Your Majesty… wait.”

“Cause and effect have their cycles and destined course; one can only wait patiently for them.”