The baby-making system is unreliable

That spring, a sudden cold snap occurred in March, with the north wind carrying the remaining snow back into the city.

Inside the princess's residence, a roaring charcoal fire burned in a jade incense burner, the pine resin mixed with agarwood rising gently, warming the room as if it were early summer.

Behind the brocade couch, a beautifully carved wooden screen with brocade patterns stood quietly, its surface adorned with intertwined lotus blossoms.

Behind the screen, Yun Xinrou leaned against the embroidered quilt, her eyes hazy and still tinged with the weariness of waking up.

She wore a plain nightgown, her hair cascading down like an ink waterfall, which made her face appear even paler, like a pear blossom about to bloom in the chill of spring.

Beside her, a pair of little babies were wriggling and babbling. One was clutching the hem of her clothes, and the other was kicking its little feet. Their pink cheeks were flushed with warmth, like two ripe peaches.

They were unaware of the harsh realities of the world; they only knew that nestled beside Yun Xinrou was the most secure place in their world.

It was Yun Xinrou's younger brother and child. Both children were born weak, but thanks to careful care over the past few months, they have become much more plump.

After discussing it, the couple named their son Lin Nanyu, meaning gentle and refined, and extraordinary. His nickname was Shisan (Thirteen), because he was born on the thirteenth day of the month.

As for the younger brother's name, it was decided by Yun Xinrou. After thinking about it for several days, she named the child Wu Anran. Yun Xinrou insisted that he take his mother's surname, and His Majesty could not persuade her otherwise, so the child was temporarily raised in the princess's residence.

Fine wine can dispel sorrow, and he can lie drunk beneath the flowers, finding peace on his pillow. May he live a life free from the ravages of life, with a heart as secure as a pillow, and even amidst troubles, may he find peace and tranquility, lying drunk among the flowers.

Now that things have come to this, Yun Xinrou only wishes that he can grow up safely and choose his own future. She doesn't want her little brother to touch the throne.

The curtain rustled softly, and Lin Xiashen entered, walking around the screen to stand before the group. He wore a black cloak, his shoulders still damp with the chill of the outside air, and fine frost clung to his brows and eyelashes.

He stood before the fireplace for a moment, letting the warmth gently soothe his clothes and skin, before carefully removing his outer robe and slowly approaching.

He walked very lightly, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility of this small space, and also afraid of waking the two infants who were still hovering between dream and wakefulness.

But when he approached the bed and his gaze fell on Yun Xinrou's face, a barely perceptible pain flashed across his usually calm eyes.

She had lost weight, her eyes were slightly sunken, and her lips were so pale they were almost the same color as the quilt. This was once a princess, pampered and cheerful, but now the years and fate had worn away at her, leaving her with a resilient edge.

"Awake? Did I wake you up?" Lin Xiashen asked in a low voice, his voice as deep as the breeze rustling through the treetops, a hint of annoyance in his heart.

Yun Xinrou slowly opened her eyes, her gaze initially unfocused before settling on his face. A slight smile played on her lips: "You're back... It must be cold outside, right? It's gotten colder these past few days."

"It's cold, it's definitely much colder." He nodded, sat on the edge of the tatami, reached out and gently stroked the stray hairs on her forehead, and said with a light laugh, "But I'm dressed warmly, so I'm not worried. I'm just afraid that the air conditioning will make you and the rest of you feel cold; it's easy to get sick when the seasons change."

Yun Xinrou sighed softly, her gaze falling on the two children. She looked at them with a hint of helplessness: "They kept you awake all night, but I slept soundly and didn't even know when you got home."

"It's alright." Lin Xiashen gently smoothed the hem of Thirteen's clothes. The little guy moved his legs and stretched out his fingers cutely, and whispered, "You should sleep more. This body needs to be well taken care of; it can't withstand being worn out."

The fire crackled and popped, sending sparks flying like stars falling into the dust. That fleeting light illuminated the weariness and worry in Lin Xia's eyes.

He was well aware that her frail body was no longer weakened by childbirth, but rather by mental illness.

The splendor of the princess's mansion could not conceal the loneliness in her eyes, nor could fine clothes and delicacies fill the emptiness in her heart. She was once a favored daughter of heaven, but now she was confined to this small courtyard, guarding two children and a past that was difficult to explain.

Lin Xiashen stretched out his hands and took her slightly cool hands into his palms, the warmth of his palms slowly transferring: "Today I saw the imperial physician, and he said... the spring chill is about to end, and your cold symptoms may gradually subside."

She smiled slightly, but her eyes dimmed: "Is the spring chill about to end? But I always feel that the chill is not in the sky, but in people's hearts."

Lin Xia remained silent. He knew what she meant: that tragedy, that funeral, that name that could never be mentioned again... all of them were like cold needles, deeply buried in her heart, causing a dull ache every spring chill.

He didn't argue, but gently pulled her and the child into his arms and whispered, "No matter how cold it is, I'll always be here."

The fire in the stove continued to burn, its warmth gradually deepening. Outside the window, the chill of spring lingered, but inside, something warmer than the fire seemed to be quietly growing.

“Okay, I’ll invite my sister along. Nuonuo has been coughing a bit lately, we’ll go together once he’s better.” Lin Xiashen replied, her eyes full of tenderness and consideration.

He paused, his gaze drifting to the window, recalling his little nephew's innocent and adorable face, a feeling of concern welling up in his heart.

Nono has been snuggling in her mother's arms lately, her little face flushed red from the fever. She occasionally wakes up coughing at night, which breaks the heart of the whole family.

Lin Xiashen said softly, "Once he's feeling better, we must let him get more sunshine to help him recover. The children are growing, they can't always stay cooped up indoors."

Yun Xinrou nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Nuonuo is the most well-behaved. Once he's better, Nan and Anran will be able to play with him, and the children will be very happy."

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, as if she could already see several children running among the flowers under the warm spring sun a few years from now, laughing and carefree.

Lin Xiashen gently held his wife's hand and said softly, "Once the snow melts, we'll take them to the peach blossom grove on the outskirts of the city, or to the grassy area by the lake. His Majesty will agree; he loves the children too."

He paused, then added, "My sister has been working hard lately, taking care of Nuonuo has taken a toll on her health. She should get some rest too."

Yun Xinrou smiled and nodded, her heart filled with tenderness and hope. She gently stroked Wu Anran in her swaddling clothes and whispered, "Anran, when spring comes, your sister will take you to see the flowers, the butterflies, and the grass. You must grow up quickly and be healthy."

The light in the room illuminated her gentle profile, and at that moment, Yun Xinrou seemed to find peace in her heart.

However, this peace did not last long. Just ten days later, the wet nurse of the princess's residence had an accident.

For some reason, the wet nurse's milk seemed to have an unusual smell. The originally sweet aroma was mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible fishy or astringent smell, which permeated the baby's milk fragrance.

“Something’s not right, this milk is not right!” Li Li, the intelligent 'kitten', seemed to sense something, and suddenly her fur bristled, and her amber eyes contracted sharply.

It nimbly leaped onto the table, stretched out its front paws, and without hesitation overturned the porcelain bowl filled with milk. Milk spilled all over the floor, and its pungent smell became even more pronounced in the air, as if the warmth in the room had been frozen.

The kitten whimpered softly, its nose twitching as it stared warily at the stain, its fur standing on end as if facing a formidable enemy.

Yun Xinrou, who was gently coaxing the infant Xiao Nanyu, suddenly changed her expression upon seeing this. She strode forward, bent down and sniffed the spilled milk on the ground, a strange chill running from her feet to the top of her head.

She was always meticulous, but now she was furious. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and her voice was as cold as if it came from an ice cellar: "Investigate! Investigate this matter thoroughly! From the wet nurse's food and daily life to every person and every object she came into contact with, leave no stone unturned! I want to see who dares to touch my child's milk and food!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, echoing in the quiet room. Instantly, the entire princess's residence was filled with unease and fear.

The guards, nannies, and physicians acted swiftly, keeping the wet nurse under close watch and conducting a thorough search of all food, medicine, and utensils in the mansion related to her.

Li Li curled up on Yun Xinrou's lap, its amber eyes scanning the surroundings warily, a low growl emanating from its throat, as if warning its master.

Lin Xiashen rushed over upon hearing the news. He was relieved to see his wife looking pale and angry, while Wu Anran in his arms was still fast asleep.

After a moment's thought, he said in a deep voice, "Xinrou, don't rush. Keep the child calm. There must be something fishy about this. I have ordered the gates of the mansion to be sealed off. We must keep the outside loose but keep the inside tight and find out who is behind this."

Yun Xinrou held the child tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force, her eyes filled with both lingering fear and overwhelming rage.

The peace of this mansion was shattered by such a vicious method. If it weren't for Li Li's keen awareness, the consequences would have been unimaginable. She said, word by word, "Whoever dares to harm my child, I will make them pay the price!"

“It’s possible they’re not after Nan Yu, but after An Ran. After all, he’s still your brother, the youngest son of the current emperor. His status is sensitive; a single move could have far-reaching consequences.” Lin Xia’s dark eyes flickered slightly, a hint of coldness flashing across his deep gaze.

He slowly picked up Wu Anran from her swaddling clothes, looked down at her innocent and childlike face, and began to have some plans in mind.

"If that's the case, it's probably Consort He who's behind this." Yun Xinrou's eyes turned cold, her voice lowered, filled with a hint of gritted teeth and hatred.

"She is known for her cunning and manipulative nature, and she is particularly adept at using others to do her dirty work. If this matter really involves her, it probably won't be easy to find out."

Lin Xiashen gently patted the child in her arms, her tone steady yet tinged with coldness: "Consort He's palace is deeply entrenched in power and connections. If she intends to conceal it, she will naturally arrange it flawlessly."

“Once this matter is linked to people in the palace, there will be plenty of scapegoats. In the end, it will mostly be just an ‘unintentional mistake’ by a wet nurse or servant, at most implicating a few insignificant servants, while the real mastermind will remain unscathed.”

Yun Xinrou clenched her hands in her sleeves, a hint of resentment and worry flashing in her eyes: "But if we give up now, there's no guarantee they won't strike again. Anran is still so young, what if... what if something unexpected happens..." She dared not continue, feeling a tightness in her heart.

"No, it won't happen." Lin Xiashen's gaze was firm as he gently placed Wu Anran back into the small bed, his voice deep yet powerful.

"Now that the danger is known, I will certainly strengthen the defenses of the manor. The wet nurse, food, and utensils will all be inspected by trusted personnel. In addition, I have ordered the secret guards to keep an eye on the palace and report immediately if anything unusual happens. As for Consort He..."

His eyes darkened slightly, his hands were clenched tightly, his back was straight, and as he turned to the side, the beads of Yun Xin's soft hair happened to dangle across his forehead.

"We will hold back for now and observe the situation, but we will not give her any opportunity to take advantage. If nothing happens to her, she will definitely make another move, and we will find the evidence sooner or later."

Yun Xinrou looked at him, her panic gradually subsiding. She nodded gently and hugged Anran tighter: "Okay, no matter what, the safety of the children is the most important thing. If anything happens, we, husband and wife, will stand side by side and protect them."

Outside the window, Li Li pricked up its ears alertly, its amber eyes gleaming strangely in the dim light, as if guarding the peace of the family inside.

Yun Xinrou nodded, her eyes a mixture of coldness and hope: "That's right, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. We will be the oriole, secretly laying our net, waiting for her to reveal a flaw."

"The safety of Anran and Nanyu must not be neglected in the slightest. I will thoroughly investigate the entire manor again, leaving no loopholes."

Lin Xiashen said softly, "This matter requires extra caution. Only let trusted confidants handle it, and do not alert the enemy. The secret guards have already planted spies, and every move inside and outside the palace is under control. If she thinks that everything is calm and can strike again, then let her walk into the trap."

Yun Xinrou's gaze was gentle yet sharp: "Once the evidence is conclusive, I will make her pay the price. Whoever harms my child will not have a good end."

……

At night, in Consort He's palace, the candlelight was dim, illuminating the faces of the mother and son. The atmosphere was tense, and a confrontation was about to unfold.

"Are you insane?! You actually dared to interfere in the Princess's residence?! What impact could a newborn child have on me? Mother is utterly confused!"

Yun Ziyuan angrily rebuked her, his voice low and strained, yet unable to conceal his resentment and disappointment. He was convinced that his mother had done wrong; her actions were not only wicked but also disgraceful to the royal family and utterly despicable.

That child was also his younger brother, a blood relative, his flesh and blood. Yun Ziyuan felt a pang of pity, but also disdained to use such means to seize power and profit.

He was more confident in his own abilities, firmly believing that with his talent and virtue, he was capable of fulfilling the important task of being a ruler of a country, and that there was no need to harm his innocent brother, even his half-brother.

Consort He's expression changed drastically, a flash of anger and anxiety at being disobeyed crossed her eyes. She stood up abruptly, her voice sharp: "Foolish child! Can't you see? Can't you see how much His Majesty dotes on Yun Xinrou?"

"Just because she has that bitch's blood in her veins, and now she's given birth to a son. Even though Ulina is long gone, her two children will always be stumbling blocks on your path to the top!"

That was her biggest worry, which is why she took the initiative to strike, all for the sake of her child. But she never expected that the child wouldn't appreciate it.