Chapter 400

**Chapter 405: News (Part 2)**

"**Lady Eleven!**" Lord Xu exclaimed in shock, disregarding the mess on the floor as he sat by the bedside and gently stroked her back to soothe her.

"**My lady!**" Amber gasped in alarm. Seeing that Lord Xu was already tending to Lady Eleven, she hurried off to pour a cup of warm water.

Lady Eleven emptied her stomach of breakfast, finally feeling a little better.

Lord Xu took the teacup from Amber and held it to Lady Eleven's lips. "**Here, rinse out your mouth.**"

A sharp-eyed maid promptly brought over a spittoon.

Lady Eleven's face flushed crimson.

How could this happen? It was as if she couldn't hold back for even a moment.

She whispered her thanks, took the teacup, rinsed her mouth, and saw Amber leading the maids to clean up her mess. Embarrassed, she called out, "**My lord,**" but the acrid stench of vomit churned her stomach violently. Barely managing to say, "**You should step away,**" she felt another wave of nausea and leaned over the bed, dry heaving.

"**Lady Eleven!**" Lord Xu went pale with alarm and immediately ordered Amber, "**Quick, bring a cup of hot tea!**"

His voice was stern and cold, making Amber shudder. She hastily obeyed and rushed back with the tea.

"**Lady Eleven,**" Lord Xu murmured softly, gathering the panting woman into his arms. He tasted the tea first before holding it to her lips. "**Here, take a sip of hot tea. It'll ease the discomfort.**"

Even the usually fragrant Tieguanyin tea seemed to have lost its usual appeal.

Limp in his arms, Lady Eleven couldn't bring herself to refuse and took a small sip before turning her face away.

"**That's my girl,**" Lord Xu coaxed gently. "**Just one more sip.**"

Reluctantly, she took two more sips.

The queasiness rose again.

She frowned and turned away once more.

Not wanting to push her, Lord Xu handed the teacup back to a worried Amber and gently stroked Lady Eleven's forehead. "**Just hang on a bit longer. The doctor's on his way.**"

Lady Eleven gave a slight nod, covering her mouth as a pained look crossed her face.

Lord Xu's face fell.

Lady Eleven was always so tough, preferring to downplay difficulties and avoid troubling others. For her to act like this now, she must be in unbearable distress...

The realization hit him, and his heart twinged.

"**Lady Eleven, Lady Eleven,**" he murmured, tenderly rubbing her back. "**What hurts?**" He kissed her cheek.

His gentle touch, warm embrace, and loving tone gradually eased the tension in her fine brows. Yet the lingering stench reminded her of the mess by the bed, and her frown returned.

None of this escaped Lord Xu, who had been closely watching her expression.

After a moment's thought, he asked softly, "**Is the smell in the room bothering you?**"

Lady Eleven bit her lip in embarrassment.

Lord Xu chuckled and pinched her nose. "**So fussy, like a pretzel.**" Then, wrapping her in the quilt, he carried her toward the eastern chamber. "**Let them clean up. We'll sit over here for a while.**"

Lady Eleven turned scarlet.

Amber watched a few young maidservants hurry off to the eastern annex. By the time they arrived, the heated platform table by the window in the eastern inner chamber had already been removed. A cobalt-blue cushion for the heated platform embroidered with five clusters of flowers was laid out, piled with large ink-wash patterned bolster pillows and covered with a crimson brocade coverlet bearing a phoenix-and-sun motif. Tea utensils were arranged on the small kang table to the east.

Lord Xu did not place Lady Eleven on the heated platform but instead carried her onto it himself.

Amber's face lit up at this sight, and she quickly knelt to help Lord Xu remove his shoes.

The eastern annex had always been Lady Eleven’s private study, where she occasionally came to read or go over accounts. Unlike her bedchamber or sitting room, which always had several maidservants standing by, the air here felt much fresher. Lady Eleven took a deep breath, feeling refreshed and clearer-headed, though she also grew a little embarrassed.

"My husband," she murmured, shifting uncomfortably, "I can manage on my own."

Lord Xu ignored her protest. "Close your eyes and rest. The physician will be here soon."

His words only made the fatigue in her body surge even more intensely. The warm, steady comfort of Lord Xu’s embrace made her feel particularly at peace. Lady Eleven couldn’t help but give a little yawn, though her mind still lingered on the Dowager. "I haven’t gone to pay my respects to Mother yet."

Seeing her struggle, Lord Xu kissed her cheek tenderly. "Go to sleep. I’ll speak to Mother for you."

Reassured, Lady Eleven nestled against him and soon drifted off.

Only then did Lord Xu calm his thoughts, his heart alternating between alarm and joy, wishing Physician Liu would hurry. He also reflected on how the weather had been fluctuating between cold and warm lately, and how they had slept back-to-back at night—perhaps she had caught a chill. He was filled with remorse. Lady Eleven was over a decade younger than him. Though she carried herself with grace in public, she was still so young at heart, and no one knew better than he how delicate she could be in private. Yet he had acted no wiser than her despite his years... And that night, it had been his fault too. She was shy by nature—she would flush crimson from just being embraced tightly, let alone when he had provoked her until she nearly cried...

At this thought, he pressed his cheek against hers.

She must have been utterly distraught with shame that night.

If he had known, he would have treated her more gently!

The embarrassment that had arisen from a single word—"like"—was now completely forgotten. Instead, he focused on brushing light kisses against Lady Eleven’s temples, as if to make up for his recklessness that night. At the same time, he silently prayed it wasn’t a cold—even his earlier hopes for her pregnancy waned somewhat.

Then he instructed Amber: “The mistress is unwell and will see no one. Have Song Mama inform the Dowager as well.”

Amber was more than willing. She bowed in assent and hurried off to arrange it. After reporting back to Lord Xu, another thought struck her, and she rushed to Zhuxiang’s quarters.

Lady Eleven slept fitfully, unaware of when Physician Liu arrived or left. When she awoke, the room was already lit with lanterns, and Lord Xu was reclining against the large welcoming pillows by the eight-sided palace lamp on the kang table, reading a book.

Sensing movement, he looked down. “Awake?”

Perhaps it was the lamplight, but Lady Eleven thought his gaze seemed especially tender.

“Mmm.” She hadn’t expected to sleep so long and slowly sat up. “What time is it?”

Lord Xu pulled out his pocket watch. “The hour of Xu.”

“So late!” Lady Eleven was startled.

Lord Xu chuckled and stroked her hair, asking gently, “Are you hungry? Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

Lady Eleven had little appetite, but skipping meals would only make her feel worse.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “I’d like some millet porridge.”

Lord Xu called for a maidservant.

Feeling too lazy to get up, Lady Eleven leaned against the large welcoming pillow and asked, “What did the physician say?”

“That you might be overworked.” A flicker of something unreadable passed through Lord Xu’s eyes. “He said he’d come back in a few days to check your pulse again.”

“Did he prescribe anything?”

“He did.” Remembering that she could read prescriptions and had some knowledge of medicine, Lord Xu smiled. “I’ve sent the steward from the outer quarters to fetch the herbs. I’ll show you tomorrow.”

Lady Eleven nodded and asked if the guest list for the Double Third Festival banquet had been sent to Manager Zhao, what the Dowager had said about her absence at morning greetings, and how the children were faring.

Lord Xu made small talk with her. When a maid brought millet porridge, he stood and moved the heated-bed table before her.

Being fussed over like this by Lord Xu made Lady Eleven quite uneasy. She had requested the porridge but lost interest after only two bites.

"If you don't want to eat, then don't," Lord Xu said indifferently, motioning to the maid to take it away. "You've slept all day—you're bound to have no appetite. Eat when you feel like it."

Yet soon she felt hungry again. Remembering how she used to eat only fruit in the evenings to maintain her figure, she asked for an apple but managed only half.

Amber brought water to help her cleanse her face.

"No need," Lady Eleven smiled, preparing to get off the kang. "I'd rather go to the washing chamber."

Amber glanced at Lord Xu as if seeking help.

Lord Xu immediately said, "Let them help you wash here. You haven’t gone out today—no need for such trouble."

Still awkward, Lady Eleven found herself yielding as Lord Xu lifted the curtain and stepped out. Amber laid a white cloth across her shoulders, allowing her to lower her head and wash.

*As if I’ve come down with some grave illness!*

Lady Eleven grumbled inwardly. She suddenly went rigid, heart pounding wildly.

*Could I truly have a terminal illness?*

*Is that why Lord Xu wouldn’t show me the prescription? Why Amber and the others are being so cautious?*

Battling to suppress her chaotic thoughts, she observed carefully.

Amber seemed afraid she might move too abruptly, constantly watching her expression and assisting instantly at the slightest hint. When Lady Eleven sat still, their expressions relaxed slightly.

Not wanting to trouble them, she sat quietly and let them attend to her.

After washing, a maid entered and reported, "Madam, the eldest young mistress heard you were unwell and, together with the fourth and fifth young masters, made two orchid-scented sachets for you. They said they’ll come to pay respects once you’re feeling better."

"Bring them in," Lady Eleven said with a smile, languidly reclining against the bolster.

Amber draped a quilt over her while Lv Yun took the sachets from the maid and handed them over.

Lady Eleven brought one to her nose and inhaled. A sudden wave of nausea struck, and she leaned forward, vomiting the apple she had just eaten.

Amber, however, had already produced a cloisonné basin decorated with birds and flowers in sapphire blue, catching the vomit perfectly. Afterward, a maid brought warm water for rinsing, and Lv Yun offered sweetened preserved plums to soothe her mouth—everything proceeding smoothly.

Surrounded by smiling faces, Lady Eleven suddenly realized she had missed her courses… Her hand instinctively rested on her abdomen.

"Amber!" She looked at Amber helplessly, words failing her.

******

"So we’ll have to wait until March for confirmation?" Madam Du helped the Dowager remove her hairpins.

"But nothing else was diagnosed," the Dowager replied, her eyes brimming with joy. "I consulted Song Mama. It’s near certain—she’s with child."

"Congratulations, Dowager!" Madam Du beamed, curtsying.

The Dowager chuckled and took her hand. "Keep it quiet for now. Even Fourth Son doesn’t know yet!"

Madam Du looked surprised.

The Dowager laughed. "That’s just how he is. He won’t say a word unless he’s absolutely sure." After a pause, she added delightedly, "In matters like these, even the Imperial Physician might not know as much as we do!"

Madam Du broke into laughter.