The Darker the Night, The Brighter the Stars

Fu Yanqing sat on a chair beside Zhao Yan's bed. He had returned immediately after making the necessary orders.

He was currently massaging Zhao Yan's hand in a careful manner when a palace eunuch announced, "Her Majesty, the Empress, and Princess Tian Su has arrived!"

Fu Yanqing did not even spare the newcomers a glance. His whole attention was on Zhao Yan who was still fast asleep.

"Big brother!" Fu Tian Su called out. "Empress Mother and I came after hearing what happened."

The Empress Dowager approached the bed and looked over at Zhao Yan's face. "How is the condition of both mother and child?"

Fu Tian Su had been shocked when she heard this. What child? She only knew that her big brother was getting married but no one said anything about a child. She curiously looked at her big brother's bride-to-be.

She gasped upon seeing the fair face. This couldn't be true, right? This girl looks as young as she is and there was also a baby bump on her stomach!

Her big brother was going to marry this girl? Does he like young girls? But her big brother has always avoided women like the plague and even to her and Empress Mother, he was very lukewarm.

Unexpectedly, her big brother also knows how to be worried and was even willing to hold a woman's hand. How can this be?

She was surprised when she found out from reading the letter that her big brother was going to get married and she hadn't thought much about it aside from feeling happy.

Of course, it was because she wanted her big brother to be happy and have a family of his own and to have a wife that would care for him.

Her big brother had always been distant and cold. He trusted very few people and was always the target of everyone's assassination attempt.

He was always so strong that it was almost lonely. So naturally, Fu Tian Su was very happy when the news of her brother's marriage reached her. With this, he won't be alone anymore, right?

Fu Tian Su observed her future sister-in-law. She had to really blink a few times and look very hard to realize that she wasn't hallucinating.

Even while sleeping, her sister-in-law was still beautiful with her fair and smooth face. The dress she wore was a simple green color with a few embroidered cherry blossoms. Although she dressed up so simply, it didn't deter others from seeing her beauty.

It was really surprising how one woman can be so fairy-like even when they were asleep and dead to the world.

The sight of this beautiful sister-in-law and her handsome big brother together really made people have faces that were full of envy. Both were good-looking with amazing facial features. Their beauty unique to themselves and made both of them stand out. Their future children would no doubt look good as well.

She could already imagine having a very smart and very good-looking nephew that took after her big brother and a cute little niece who was like fair jade and was cute as a rabbit. No doubt taking after her sister-in-law who was a fairy that descended from heaven.

Fu Tian Su stopped and was rather startled by her own thoughts. She didn't expect to be preoccupied with her big brother's and her sister-in-law's appearance.

They were just so perfect that she was unable to stop herself from fantasizing.

"They are fine, Imperial Mother. Yanyan needs to rest so we are both unable to greet and pay respects to Imperial Mother and Su'er." Fu Yanqing explained briefly but never once did his eyes averted from the woman on the bed.

"It's fine, big brother. Please take good care of my sister-in-law and my nephew! If you need anything, Tian Su is here to help!" Fu Tian Su suggested with a determined expression. She really couldn't wait to hold her handsome nephew in her hands. Why does it have to take nine months before a woman can give birth? It was far too long!

"This child..." The Empress Dowager sighed as she looked at the energetic little girl who was even more excited than her to see her son's child.

"Mother understands and will not trouble you for it. Yan'er's health is important but don't ever neglect yourself as well." The Empress reminded. This was the first time she had seen her son quite bothered and worried over another person.

He had not stopped holding the other person's hand ever since they stepped inside.

"This son understands Imperial Mother's concerns." Fu Yanqing replied shortly without much emotion. He really couldn't give his attention to anyone else at the moment other than his little woman. He wouldn't be assured until she wakes up herself and tells him that she was fine.

As if the gods have answered his prayers, Zhao Yan moved and was stirring awake.

Her watery eyes fluttered gently along with her lashes.

Fu Tian Su who also saw this, inched closer to get a clear view of the awakened face of her big brother's bride-to-be.

Zhao Yan blinked slowly. "Mm.." She recalled that she had fainted so she took the time to blink her sleepiness away, her eyes roaming around to make out where she was.

The face of a beautiful girl no older than fifteen came to sight. The girl's curious black eyes stared at her. Her long black hair that flowed like a waterfall was decorated with expensive ornaments.

She also wore an equally expensive dress with bright colors that it almost hurt the eyes. She wore a lot of pieces of jewelry that cost thousands of taels of silver.

She was very pretty and quite adorable with an innocent charm around her, almost like a child that had not seen the world just yet.

Yet despite this, she looked very loveable, making one feel a certain fondness for her at first sight.

Zhao Yan slowly smiled.

"Are you a fairy?"

▪▪▪