The princess regretted it.

Han Shuang was a little dumbfounded when she heard the princess ask who she belonged to. Not quite understanding what she meant, "Princess, how do you know? I belong to the master, uh, the prince's secret guard camp." Han Shuang looked a little nervous and replied apprehensively.

"My cousin Zhong told me this, but it's not important. I believe in your loyalty. I want to know if all the members of your secret guard camp are women?" Jin An's eyes turned and he continued to ask with interest.

"That's not the case. We have both female and male dark guard teams in our dark guard camp." Han Shuang was relieved to see that Jin An didn't look angry, and answered truthfully.

Jin An listened to Han Shuang's words. It seemed that the army was still in the hands of his great-aunt. He just didn't know if Zhong Chuzhou knew about it. It was a pity that he was not in the capital at the moment.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but wonder where he and her cousin had gone. She looked up at Han Shuang and said, "Han Shuang, do you know where Cousin Zhong went?"

Han Shuang shook her head. "I don't know. Mo Qing and Mo Yan are usually the only ones responsible for the prince's affairs."

Jin An didn't ask any more questions after hearing this. "Okay, go see if Aunt Zhao is ready. Come with me later."

Han Shuang responded and retreated. Jin An raised his hand and rubbed his forehead. He was overthinking it. It seemed that the female army was still in the hands of his great-aunt. Now that Zhong Chuzhou was away, he could only ask his great-aunt for help.

Jin'an, frosty with a light step, approached the courtyard where Concubine Chun lived. This courtyard once had a name, "Huiyuan," but it had been uninhabited for a long time, and the plaque bearing the name had been taken down. It still hasn't been replaced. Standing outside the courtyard gate, Jin'an glanced up at the vine-covered gate. He thought to himself: I'll have to ask my father to give it a name someday.

When Concubine Chun heard Jin'an coming, she quickly rose from her couch and joyfully went out to greet him. Seeing this, Gancao, who was standing by, hurried forward to support him. Concubine Chun had only taken two steps when she suddenly realized she was pregnant and needed to be extremely careful. She quickly slowed down, a hint of embarrassment on her face.

Just as Jin An entered, Concubine Chun, supported by Gan Cao, had already stepped out of the room. Seeing this, Jin An quickly quickened his pace, stepped forward, and said, "Why did Concubine Chun come out? You are a nubile now, so you don't need to worry about these complicated etiquettes. It's cold outside, please come in."

Concubine Chun had a gentle smile on her face. She bowed slightly with an elegant and calm posture. "Princess, etiquette must not be abandoned. It is my honor that you can come to see me. Besides, I am still in good health and not that delicate." As she spoke, she turned sideways, stretched out her hand and made a gesture of invitation, respectfully inviting Jin'an into the house.

As they stepped inside, a wave of warmth washed over them, a stark contrast to the chill outside. Han Shuang hurried forward and handed the gift box to Gan Cao, then turned to take Jin An's cloak and retreated behind him. Gan Cao placed the gift box Han Shuang had handed her on a nearby table, then returned with the prepared tea and snacks, placing them on the small table above the couch.

Jin'an, beaming, affectionately took Concubine Chun's hand. The two of them slowly moved to sit together on the soft, brocade-covered couch. Jin'an's eyes, drawn to Chun's belly like a magnet, lingered, their gaze filled with curiosity and concern. Concubine Chun was startled at first, then, unable to contain herself, burst out in laughter that echoed through the room like a silver bell.

When Jin An heard Concubine Chun's laughter, he suddenly came back to his senses. A trace of embarrassment appeared on his face. He subconsciously touched the tip of his nose, then smiled with a somewhat embarrassed look and said, "I'm just curious whether Concubine Chun is carrying a brother or a sister."

Concubine Chun's face was filled with a unique glow, the gentle and warm glow of motherhood. She lowered her head slightly, her gaze gently resting on her still-flat belly. Her slender fingers gently stroked it, as if she could already feel the baby's heartbeat. She smiled softly and said, "I'm hoping this baby will be a daughter. If it is a daughter, perhaps the days ahead will be less difficult. I'll still be able to protect her and let her grow up safely in this complex palace."

Jin An understood her implication. After all, within the imperial palace, a boy would inevitably face numerous open and covert struggles. From birth, princes were swept into the vortex of power, with various factions eyeing them covetously. A single misstep could lead to irretrievable ruin. While girls might have their own troubles, by comparison, they might enjoy a little more peace under their mother's wings.

"Noble Lady Chun, you don't need to worry so much. Even if you give birth to a prince, you must believe that your father will protect you and your child. You should also know how important this baby of yours is to my father, right? Look, even I have been sent by your father to look after you secretly." Jin An spoke sincerely and his expression was solemn, but there was a hint of light-hearted teasing in his tone, trying to ease Noble Lady Chun's nervousness.

Concubine Chun nodded slightly, a trace of shame appeared on her face, and she said softly: "Of course I believe in Your Majesty. But in this harem, the women's methods are mostly secretive and cruel. Your Majesty is an upright and wise monarch. Some of them are despicable methods, and Your Majesty really finds it difficult to guard against them. I am not afraid of open disputes, but I am afraid of those tricks that are used in secret. It is hard to guard against. If the child is hurt..." As she spoke, her hand unconsciously touched her lower abdomen again, her eyes full of worry.

"You can't dwell on these worries all the time; it's not good for you or the unborn child. Just be at peace. Father has arranged for reliable personnel to take care of you. They are all carefully selected and loyal. I, on my side, will also try to find someone with some skills and knowledge of pharmacology to help care for you. I know you understand pharmacology, but one more person is always an extra layer of security. We can't afford to be careless."

Look, you only have Gancao by your side now, and this manpower is definitely not enough. What kind of place is this harem? There are so many people and eyes, just like an intricate maze with invisible traps everywhere. Those who have ulterior motives are just waiting for an opportunity to strike. Therefore, we must guard against what we should guard against, and not miss a single detail. Leave these things to us to arrange. The most important thing for you now is to take good care of your pregnancy and don't worry about anything else. " Jin An said seriously.