CHAPTER 1117: CHAPTER 1111: HARD TO ARRANGE

Inside the Warm Pavilion, Jin Zijin had rested for four hours and was fully revived.

It was Gu Youyou, accustomed to sleeping for a few hours during the day after becoming pregnant, who had not woken up.

He turned his head and saw her in deep sleep.

Her neat nose and lips like cherry blossoms, her face had gained a bit more flesh than before. Though not as delicate as previously, it now had an added touch of naive charm.

He couldn’t help but reach out to pinch her cheek, not expecting that this would awaken Gu Youyou.

Blinking her groggy eyes, she mumbled, "What time is it now? Have you woken up?"

With a doting smile, Jin Zijin said, "If you want to sleep more, then sleep a while longer."

Gu Youyou propped herself up and glanced at the hourglass in the room, estimating that it was now noon.

Jin Zijin had come home early, freshened up, and by the time he took a nap, it was already midday.

No wonder she felt a bit hungry.

Oh right, he had rushed back home through the heavy snow, but had he had anything to eat?

"Did you have breakfast?" Gu Youyou asked worriedly.

Jin Zijin hesitated before replying, "I did, I ate at the station."

In truth, he hadn’t had a proper meal for two or three days, subsisting on just bites of tough bread.

Gu Youyou sat up and declared, "It’s almost time for lunch; I won’t sleep anymore."

Thinking of Miss Du... Gu Youyou felt a bit troubled.

These past few months, she had always dined with Miss Du because, as pregnant women, they ate differently from others, sharing a special prenatal meal.

It was simpler for the two pregnant women to eat together.

Gu Youyou got up and dressed, saying, "Miss Du is at our home, I need to tell her that I won’t join her for lunch and we won’t go out. We’ll just eat here in the Warm Pavilion."

"Why is Miss Du in our house?" Jin Zijin asked while getting dressed.

Gu Youyou paused, not sure how to explain it.

She was truly uncertain how men of this world viewed women who were pregnant before marriage; such a woman, once exposed, would either be drowned or paraded down the streets for people to throw rotten eggs at, wouldn’t they?

Even though Jin Zijin wouldn’t actually throw rotten eggs at Miss Du, she was afraid he would look down upon her and send her away. What then?

After the battle of Xining that lasted six months, the children in their wombs were already seven months along.

The other woman was nearly due to give birth.

After much thought and carefully choosing her words, she said, "Miss Du has some troubles and needs to stay with us a few more months. Only I and a few maids from the inner court know about this, you must not send her away."

Jin Zijin frowned, not quite agreeing with her decision.

Their inner court was a private space for the two of them. It might have been okay when he wasn’t around, but now that he had returned, how could he tolerate an outsider living there?

No matter how close this outsider was to Gu Youyou, it wouldn’t do.

He said, "Since she’s in trouble and is your friend, naturally I won’t send her away. But it’s inconvenient for her to stay in our courtyard. With so many courtyards in the mansion, we’ll arrange another one for her."

Originally, Gu Youyou had arranged for Miss Du to stay in her own courtyard for safety and convenience.

Having two pregnant women living together allowed for the sharing of child-rearing experiences.

Now that it was inconvenient, she supposed mentioning it to Miss Du and changing courtyards shouldn’t be an issue.

But it was not about moving Miss Du; instead, she planned to switch with Jin Zijin.