After I transmigrated, the cold king clung to me every day.

Chapter 181 "What! Stay here to rest and prepare for childbirth!"

Sun Lan led Huan'er along a winding path, almost completely covered by weeds, until they reached an extremely secluded place.

Looking around, all that could be seen was wildly growing weeds, tall and short, dense and rustling in the wind, as if they were the only sounds in this desolate place. Apart from the solitary thatched hut in front of him, there was no other house in sight. This place was like a forgotten corner of the world, exuding an indescribable desolation and loneliness.

Huan'er looked around dejectedly at the dilapidated scene, her brows furrowing as a bitter feeling welled up inside her. Perhaps it was the bumpy journey, or perhaps it was the grievances and unease in her heart, but a strong urge to vomit suddenly struck her. With a "vomit," she bent over, her face instantly turning deathly pale.

Seeing this, Sun Lan quickly reached out to support her, her face full of concern, and said, "Miss Huan'er, that's my house over there. You can rest here and prepare for your pregnancy! Although the conditions here are not good, not as good as your royal palace, it's very quiet and there won't be any idle people to disturb you. Just rest here and prepare for your pregnancy!"

Huan'er suppressed her discomfort, wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and said softly with a sob in her voice, "Grandma Sun, Huan'er is just a lowly person and dares not ask for anything. Thank you for taking me in."

Although she said she didn't care, large tears uncontrollably streamed down her cheeks. She looked so pitiful that anyone who saw her couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Sun Lan sighed softly, reached out to wipe away Huan'er's tears, and said in a gentle and loving tone, "Huan'er, don't be sad. Everyone has their ups and downs in life. The most important thing is to get well first and give birth to the baby safely. Just treat this place as your own home. Don't worry, as long as I, Sun Lan, have food to eat, you'll be well taken care of." As she spoke, she carefully helped Huan'er walk step by step towards the thatched hut.

When she reached the front of the house, Sun Lan gently pushed open the somewhat dilapidated door. The furnishings inside were extremely simple, with only a few old tables and chairs and a bed that looked rock hard, but fortunately it was still clean and tidy.

Sun Lan gently helped Huan'er to sit down by the bed, then quickly poured a cup of hot water and handed it to Huan'er, saying softly, "Miss Huan'er, drink some hot water first to calm down. Don't think about so many worries. Everything will be alright."

Huan'er raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed with tear stains still clinging to the corners. With a slight tremor, she reached out and gently took the hot water that Sun Lan offered. She pursed her lips slightly and said softly, "Grandma Sun, thank you, thank you so much."

Sun Lan waved her hand gently, her face full of kindness and her eyes showing a hint of affection, and said, "Don't be so polite, Miss Huan'er. Just make yourself at home. You look about the same age as my daughter. Every time I see you, it's like seeing her. It feels so warm and familiar."

Huan'er frowned slightly, a look of doubt in her eyes, and asked softly, "Your daughter?"

Sun Lan sighed heavily, her face full of regret, and her eyes slightly red. She slowly said, "Oh, it's all my fault. I was addicted to gambling, and I squandered our family fortune little by little. My husband was so angry that he fell ill and eventually passed away. My two sons left after they got married. Only my youngest daughter and I are left to depend on each other."

At this point, Sun Lan paused, her face showing even greater regret, her brows furrowed tightly as if she were deeply mired in self-reproach. She continued, "My daughter, though sharp-tongued, has a soft heart. She's kind and filial, softer than anyone else. Before, when I had those gambling debts, she said she wouldn't care about me anymore, but secretly she went to carry rice herself. Her thin body carried sacks of rice until her back ached so much she couldn't straighten up. She even stayed up late sewing clothes. With the money she earned through hard work, she paid off my gambling debts, and even... she even used up her own dowry!"

As she spoke, Sun Lan's lips trembled slightly, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, tears welling up in her eyes. Her remorseful appearance was enough to break anyone's heart.

Hearing this, Huan'er's eyes reddened, her face full of sympathy. She quickly reached out and gently took Sun Lan's hand, softly comforting her, "Grandma Sun, don't blame yourself too much. Your daughter is so filial; she must have wanted to see you suffer. You must cherish her from now on and never get involved in gambling again. Your daughter has sacrificed so much for you; you should treat her well from now on. The peace and safety of the whole family is more important than anything else."

As she spoke, Huan'er gently patted Sun Lan's hand with her other hand, her eyes full of concern, trying to make Sun Lan feel better in this way.

Sun Lan wiped away the tears welling up in her eyes, her voice choked with emotion, filled with guilt and earnestness as she said, "Now, I don't want anything else, I just hope my daughter can be safe and sound. I've already committed enough sins, I can't cause her any more trouble. As long as she can live a peaceful life, no matter how much hardship or toil I suffer, it's all worth it. I have to change my bad habits, stay by her side from now on, and live a good life. I can't let her worry about me anymore." She sighed deeply again, her eyes filled with concern and tenderness for her daughter.

Upon hearing this, Huan'er frowned, her lips trembled slightly, and she reached out to gently stroke her back, trying to offer her some comfort.

Suddenly, light footsteps sounded outside, followed by a clear voice: "Mother, I'm back!" As the voice faded, the door was gently pushed open, and a rather pretty young woman walked in. This was Li Yue, the youngest daughter who lived with Sun Lan.

She was dressed in extremely simple coarse cloth clothes with several patches. She was thin, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat that slid down her cheeks. Even so, it could not hide her outstanding beauty. Her eyes and brows revealed a lively spirit that made people feel good at first sight.

As soon as Li Yue entered the room, she saw Huan'er sitting by the bed. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she didn't ask any questions. She simply walked familiarly to the stove to start a fire and cook, while asking in confusion, "We have guests! Mother, who is this young lady...?"

Sun Lan quickly and secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, forcing a slightly forced smile, but her eyes unconsciously darted away. She said softly and guiltily, "And this one, she..." Sun Lan's gaze wandered, not daring to meet Lin Yue's eyes. After a long pause, she continued, "She is my distant cousin, your cousin."

Huan'er quietly watched Sun Lan's evasive and guilty expression, lowered her eyes slightly, and sat there without saying a word.

Lin Yue stopped what she was doing, her brows furrowed slightly, her eyes full of doubt, and said directly, "How come I didn't know you had any distant relatives? Mother, you've never mentioned it to me before."

Sun Lan immediately became hesitant, her expression becoming increasingly unnatural. She stammered, "Uh, well, it's been a long time since we've been in touch, and your mother hasn't told you either. Anyway, Huan'er will be staying with us to rest during her pregnancy, so just treat her like family and get along well with her."

Upon hearing Sun Lan's words, Li Yue's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising involuntarily as she exclaimed, "What! She's pregnant!" She lunged forward, forcefully pulling Sun Lan close, her brows furrowed, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry. "Mother," she said urgently, "you let her come to our house to rest during her pregnancy! Why didn't you discuss it with me first? Don't you know our family's situation?"

Sun Lan was somewhat taken aback by her barrage of questions, but she still forced a response and said, "Yes, what's wrong?"

Li Yue stamped her feet anxiously, her eyes slightly red. She said anxiously, "Mother, with our family's conditions, how can we support her pregnancy? A woman's ten months of pregnancy is not something that happens overnight; it's a long process. Not to mention that supporting a pregnancy costs a lot of money, the simple meals we eat every day, the bland soup, how can we provide her with enough nutrition? If something goes wrong, we can't bear the responsibility."

Sun Lan quickly waved her hand, forcing a reassuring smile, and said, "Oh, daughter, don't worry, someone is sponsoring us. You don't need to worry about that, everything is arranged." After saying that, she took out a thick money bag from her bosom and waved it in front of Li Yue, gesturing for her to look.

Seeing this, Li Yue frowned even more, her eyes filled with deeper doubt. She snatched the money bag, examined it closely, and said in a questioning tone, "Mother, where did you get so much money? Ha! You went gambling again! I've told you so many times, don't gamble, don't gamble! Why did you do it again..." At this point, Li Yue's voice trembled with tears, her eyes filled with disappointment and heartache.

Sun Lan hurriedly waved her hands, shaking her head like a rattle-drum, and urgently protested, "No, no, no, I didn't gamble! This isn't gambling money!"

Li Yue stared intently at Sun Lan, her suspicion undiminished, and pressed, "Then where did you get this money?"

Sun Lan seemed to have been struck in a sensitive spot, and she froze. She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time. She just stood there, stammering, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, her eyes darting around in a panic, not daring to meet Li Yue's gaze.

At this moment, Huan'er took a deep breath, as if she had mustered all her courage, and slowly stood up, straightened her back, and walked towards Li Yue.

Approaching her, she bowed respectfully to Li Yue, then raised her head, her eyes revealing a hint of trepidation and sincerity, and mustered her courage to say, "Miss Li, now that things have come to this, I no longer want to hide it from you. I was originally a maidservant to Consort Su in the Ninth Prince's mansion. Some unexpected things happened before, and I... that's how I became pregnant."

Upon hearing this, Li Yue's eyes widened, her brows furrowed, and she froze on the spot, blurting out, "What did you say?"

Sun Lan wanted to speak for her, but Huan'er stopped her—

Huan'er continued, "When I found out I was pregnant out of wedlock, I felt like the sky was falling. I was scared and in pain, completely at a loss, not knowing what to do. At that time, Consort Su told me to take good care of myself and that after the child was born, I should give it to her to raise, and the child should call her 'Mother'. So she found Granny Sun for me and let me live here. That's how it happened!"