the second reason

Cui Xiang nearly infuriated everyone in the room, oblivious to their reactions, continuing: "This is Wu Wang's mansion. I'm His Highness's younger brother. Using some money from the treasury, what's wrong with that? Need I consult you? Who are you?"

The steward's eyes bulged, speechless, nearly fainting.

"Shut up!" Chi Ying managed to recover, almost collapsing again from anger. "Huai You, do you know the treasury's money is reserved for major events? Without informing anyone, you took it. Even if the steward is a servant, you're part of the family. At least tell me, your sister-in-law!"

The accountant panicked, kowtowing: "Forgive me, Madam! Prince Jing said he needed money. I thought it was a minor matter and didn't need to disturb you. I didn't realize he took so much. Forgive me!"

Cui Xiang remained unrepentant: "So what if I took it? It's not much. Why be so stingy, Second Sister-in-law?"

Chi Ying laughed bitterly, her voice rising: "Stingy? Stingy?! Cui Huaiyou! Your brother left Beijing penniless. We nearly starved before reaching Gan Prefecture. Yan Prefecture is remote and barren. Bai Lian traveled far to buy rice. General Yang hunted in the snow. General Cao planted crops early spring, braving cold snowmelt. Do you know any of this?"

Xiao Qiu knelt, sobbing: "Madam, please calm down! Don't hurt the baby!"

Chi Ying clutched her abdomen, collapsing weakly. Zhong Lvping screamed, "Sister! Sister, what's wrong? Quickly, fetch a doctor!"

A soldier rushed to summon a doctor. An hour later, after taking medicine, Chi Ying fell asleep. Xiao Qiu paid the doctor and sent him off.

Two hours later, Chi Ying, after taking the fetal protection medicine and lying down, Xiao Qiu paid the doctor and escorted him out. The main hall...

In the main hall, only the group of derelict bodyguards, the steward, and Cui Xiang, who sat dazed in his chair, remained.

Zhong Lüping had settled Chi Ying down and instructed the wet nurse not to let Xiao Cui Xian disturb her rest before quietly returning to the main hall.

The steward hurriedly greeted her as soon as he saw her approach: "Cousin! Is Lady alright?"

"The doctor said it was due to extreme anger affecting her pregnancy, but she has taken the medicine and is now asleep. It should be fine," Zhong Lüping reassured the steward gently, then turned to Cui Xiang, "Your Highness."

Only now did Cui Xiang realize the gravity of his mistake, slowly raising his head, his gaze evasive.

Without a word, Zhong Lüping slapped him across the face with a loud "smack," startling even Xia Qiu who was about to step over the threshold.

Cui Xiang stared at her, completely stunned, forgetting even to touch his cheek.

"This slap is on behalf of His Highness," Zhong Lüping's face was grim, her normally beautiful features now looking fierce, clearly enraged. "When everyone in Yanzhou is being frugal and self-reliant, you indulge in laziness and squander money from the royal treasury on frivolous pursuits. When discovered by Lady, instead of repenting, you insulted the steward and caused her to miscarry. Now that His Highness is away, you may still have a good life, but when he returns, we'll see whose slap hurts more—mine or his."

Cui Xiang finally realized he had been slapped, touching his swollen cheek, which had already reddened after just a short while.

Zhong Lüping was indeed a woman of military background; though she couldn't ride horses or fight like her father and brothers, she must have practiced martial arts for fitness since childhood. The force of her slap was almost comparable to a man's, and if she hadn't held back, someone as frail as Cui Xiang might have bled from the mouth.

"Zhong sister... Lüping, you... you hit me?" Cui Xiang felt his fragile heart shatter into countless pieces, nearly losing all hope.

Ignoring him, Zhong Lüping turned to the steward, "Steward Fang, I haven't touched the gifts sent by Seventh Prince; they are all stored in boxes. Tomorrow, please send someone to collect them. Those that can be returned should be, and those that can't, sell them. I will find ways to cover the shortfall. If Lady asks, say nothing is missing, understood?"

The steward, filled with guilt, repeatedly replied, "How can this be? The money disappeared without a trace from the treasury, it's my fault for failing to notice. How can I let Cousin bear the loss? Let me handle it!"

Zhong Lüping removed her earrings and, thinking again, took off her jade bracelet, handing them both to him, "These are things I brought from home. Sell them as best as you can. If necessary, my embroidery skills are decent enough to make handkerchiefs and sachets to sell. Over time, we can make up the difference. I also share responsibility for this; if I had told Lady earlier, none of this would have happened."

The steward was almost in tears, "Please don't trouble Cousin with needlework, I will find another way!" The bodyguards also contributed, stuffing valuable items into the steward's arms.

Heartbroken Cui Xiang stood neglected, like an abandoned weed.

A few days later, Cui Yi returned to Yanzhou Prefecture. Before hearing the happy news of Chi Ying's pregnancy, he first heard about her miscarriage, nearly exploding with rage. He immediately scolded everyone, including Baili Zan, regardless of their innocence, then rushed anxiously to the bedroom.

Cui Xiang didn't dare go out to greet him. Hearing the servant's report, he turned pale and began searching for white silk to hang himself, only stopped by servants who dragged him back inside.

In the main courtyard, Cui Yi held Chi Ying's hand, sitting beside her bed, repeatedly confirming she was safe. Only after the doctor advised further rest did he finally relax.

Xia Qiu vividly recounted the events of that day, describing how Zhong Lüping slapped Cui Xiang. Cui Yi angrily exclaimed, "Well-deserved! Huai You acted recklessly, thinking he could squander money like a wealthy prince. Everyone works hard to earn money, yet he spends it without hesitation. If he doesn't learn his lesson, who knows what bigger trouble he might cause."

He seemed ready to give his brother another lesson, but Chi Ying held him back, "Huai You is young, the youngest son of the late emperor, spoiled since childhood. He can be a bit immature. Zhong sister's slap should suffice; I believe he won't repeat such mistakes. Don't be angry with him."

Cui Yi sighed, "Young, yes, but you're younger than him, and yet you're so capable."

Chi Ying smiled, teasing, "I'm a woman, women mature early. Think back to when you were eighteen or nineteen, were you any better than Huai You?"

Cui Yi was speechless, Xia Qiu giggling behind her hand until he glared, sending her running under the pretense of fetching medicine.

"Are you really okay?" Cui Yi stroked her face, worried, "After three months apart, you've become thinner. With your pregnancy, you should eat more."

Chi Ying smiled, holding his hand, "I ate, but threw it up. Normal during the first four months."

Cui Yi remained concerned but knew there was little he could do about morning sickness. It would pass naturally.

"Speaking of which, in Xuanzhou, I asked local doctors about safflower."

Chi Ying laughed helplessly, "Why are you still thinking about safflower?"

Cui Yi shook his head seriously, "Listen, the doctor said safflower is a strong medicinal herb, effective for promoting blood circulation, but it severely damages the body. Women who take safflower often cannot conceive within a year. So even during menstruation, unless absolutely necessary, they avoid taking it."

Chi Ying knew some women suffered severe menstrual pain but neither she nor her sister needed medication. She hadn't known about this aspect until now, curious, "So what I drank wasn't safflower?"

Cui Yi frowned, "I suspect not. Remember, the imperial physician claimed you were pregnant, despite no evidence. Isn't that strange?"

Chi Ying recalled, "Yes, I found it odd. I meant to tell you, but our carriage was ambushed, and I forgot."

Cui Yi continued, "Shan Fuzhi suggested asking if you remember what the imperial physician looked like. Whoever falsely reported your pregnancy likely faked the safflower too. Someone is secretly helping us. Do you know who it might be?"

Chi Ying rubbed her temples, "I didn't get a good look at the physician... Wait, did you discover this yourself or did Shan suggest it?"

Cui Yi almost roared, "Obviously, I discovered it! How could he know about your pregnancy from Xuanzhou? I'm smart too!"

Chi Ying laughed, cupping his face, "Alright, alright, you're the smartest person in the world. Forget about Shan. If my pregnancy was fake and so was the safflower, the same person must be behind it. They went to great lengths to protect me, not by chance."

Cui Yi chuckled, grinning sheepishly, "Were you secretly flirting with the imperial physician? Next time, bring him along. We wouldn't need to hire doctors anymore."

Chi Ying pinched his nose, laughing, "No! I wanted to learn more from Sister Cheng, but we ended up separated. If there was a suitable imperial physician, I wouldn't let go."

She pondered, recalling a shadowy figure who seemed to fit the criteria of someone trying to protect her, but couldn't quite place who it was.

The next day, at the welcome banquet, Cui Yi publicly reprimanded his younger brother and ordered thirty lashes for the guards responsible for the treasury. He replaced them with new personnel.

The accountant was dismissed with three months' salary for his failure to report the theft, deemed worse than mere negligence. Cui Yi insisted strict punishment was necessary to prevent future insubordination.

Cui Xiang, being a prince, received a month's house arrest, forbidden from seeing anyone without Cui Yi or Chi Ying's permission.

Isolated, Cui Xiang grew increasingly despondent, barely eating. Servants reported that the prince skipped meals, causing Chi Ying to laugh, "For a grown man, he eats less than me, pregnant as I am. Truly lovesick, isn't he?"

Cui Yi, seated opposite, glanced up from his meal, "Ignore him. If he starves himself, so be it. A real man should focus on responsibilities, not unrequited love."

"But Huai You is your brother, closer than others. Don't you feel bad for him?" Chi Ying sipped her soup, "Zhong Lüping checked with General Yang, knowing he has someone else in mind. Why not help Huai You?"

Cui Yi firmly shook his head, "No, one, Zhong Lüping doesn't like him, and I promised Second Uncle she'd marry someone she loves as his wife. Two, Huai You is already married, ruining Zhong Lüping's life would be unforgivable."

Chi Ying nodded, "And the second reason?"

Cui Yi gestured for privacy, Xia Qiu clearing the room. "Shan Fuzhi said no matter whom Zhong Lüping likes, it can't be Huai You. If she marries him, all our efforts could end up benefiting others."

Chi Ying thought for a moment, "I understand, but Second Uncle doesn't seem like that kind of person."