Bowing deeply to Mom, Gao Chen and I awaited her words, each passing moment laden with a tense silence.
"Rise, child..."
The uninterested tone made my heart clench, but I still looked up, meeting Mom's gaze.
Her sharp azure eyes bored into mine, sending shivers down my spine, and I almost began trembling as the pressure in the air around me grew stronger with each beat of my heart, but she turned her gaze to Gao Chen, who bowed again.
"Come, sit."
Nodding, Gao Chen smiled gently at me as she led me towards the two available seats, opposite of Mom.
Pulling out my chair first, Gao Chen made sure I was seated before taking her own seat, and we both turned to look at the beaming Mother Ai as she spoke, her voice warm and soothing as she said "It's been a long time Yi'er~! Have you been well dear~?"
For a split second I wanted to so no; no, I wasn't well.
I was raped.
I was left alone.
I was abused.
I grew to hate this thing called life.
And yet, that moment passed by before I could even truly consider it.
I now had things that I wanted to live for, and the top of that list was my unborn child.
So, I smiled slightly as I responded, my raspy whisper filling the room as I said "I've been well, mother..."
Sadly, even with all the 'speaking' that Gao Chen makes me do, unused vocal cords simply don't polish themselves that quickly, so I would speak in whispers only.
That fact made Mother frown, her eyes narrowed in worry as she stared intently at my face.
Giving her another small smile, I reached forwards and grabbed the teacup before me, lifting the fragrant liquid to my lips and taking a sip.
Letting the warm orange liquid ease my nerves, I tilted my head as Mother continued to stare at me, before the jolly woman shrugged, her smile returning as she said "Your sister said that you two had news for us, but refused to tell us~! Hmph, hiding secrets from your mother is bad Ling'er!"
Mother turned and pouted at her eldest daughter, who gave her a cheeky smile as she said "Well, I thought it best to let Chen'er and Yi'er explain it themselves, so..."
Scratching her cheek, Li Hui Ling glanced at Mom before staring at us, a wide grin on her lips as she said "Tell them what you told me!"
I paled slightly, wondering how they would react, whilst Gao Chen took a deep breath, steadying her emotions.
We had both thought that they already knew, but considering my sister's smirk, I imagine she tampered the letter slightly before it was sent.
Taking a sip from her tea, Gao Chen licked her suddenly dry lips as she reached over and grabbed my hand, her thumb brushing over the back of it.
"Well, Yi'er and I..."
Staring lovingly at me, Gao Chen let her eyes drift down to my stomach, where our child grew, and her smile softened.
"Yi'er is with child."
We both stared expectantly at Mom, who blinked twice, whilst Mother had been frozen stiff.
As for the three new concubines, they stared at me in awe and confusion as I nodded, my hand landing on my stomach as I too smiled.
If we had to have met them a week prior, I would have had a harder time with the meeting, but now...
I wanted the child.
I wanted Gao Chen to be mine.
I wanted to be hers.
With those three things in mind, I looked back up and awaited their response.
Mom recovered first, her azure eyes falling onto my stomach as she asked "How long?"
Exchanging a look with Gao Chen, I pursed my lips as I whispered "Two months? I don't know, time's been blurry since then..."
Gao Chen nodded, her brow scrunched as she tried to place a time on our relationship, before repeating what I said, but as a true answer.
Mother leaned forwards, her eyes filled with both excitement and worry as she said "You know a child is a big deal, right Yi'er? It's a wondrous thing, but if you're not prepared-"
Hesitantly interrupting her, I set out another piece of half truth half lie.
"We decided to leave it to the fates to decide... Besides, it's better to start early, no?"
Mother bit her lip as she looked towards Mom, who blinked again before she said "Is it what you want?"
Frowning, I stared at her in confusion, wondering where the question came from.
She was the one who suddenly informed me all those years ago that I was moving in with Gao Chen, who was to be my fiancee.
I had no say in it, so why should it matter now?
Either way, I nodded, staring down at my slightly pronounced stomach with a gentle smile.
"Yes, it is..."
Mom blinked a few more times before nodding, glancing over at Mother.
"W-Well then, I guess we should prepare to tell the Sect then huh? Who would have thought..."
Giving me a wry smile, Mother looked between Gao Chen and I before she shrugged, reaching for her own teacup.
"Tell us a little about life over in that Shimmering Palace of yours then~"
With that, Gao Chen and I began speaking of random little things, the questions coming from Mother, with the occasional question from Mom.
Like Li Hui Ling, Mom was surprised that I was still so weak, though she did hide it better then my sister.
The concubines remained silent throughout the conversation, their expressions thoughtful as they glanced at me, each likely thinking about securing their spots via a child.
As the night drew on, eventually Mother stood up and smiled at me, walking over to me as she said "Come on, let's talk about what to expect, alright~?"
Glancing at Gao Chen, who nodded, I got up and walked behind Mother as she led me away, whilst Gao Chen remained seated with Mom, who began to ask her own questions to the woman, though it was mainly about cultivation.
With that, the second part of my visit began...