Chapter 401

**Chapter 406: Anticipation (Part 1)**

The elder madam said, “They’re dodging the truth with me, and I’m happy to play along. After all, it’s almost mid-March. I’ll stop visiting Eleven Miss—so she doesn’t have to get up and greet me. This is her first pregnancy, and we shouldn’t risk upsetting the baby.” She added, “As for Yizhen and Dan County, let’s keep quiet for now. We’ll speak once things are confirmed.”

“You’ve considered everything, madam,” Madam Du said with a smile, helping the elder madam into bed to rest.

******

Amber nodded with a gentle smile and said tactfully, “Madam, the physician said your pulse is firm and steady, and your health is excellent. You may just be tired these days. He prescribed two rounds of medicine to balance your system and will check your pulse again in mid-March. By then, we should have good news!”

Eleven Miss was stunned. “Why wait until mid-March?”

Amber smiled. “The physician said the pulse will be clearer by then.”

“And now?” Eleven Miss pressed anxiously.

“Right now, though faint, there’s a fifty-sixty percent chance it’s a pregnancy.”

Eleven Miss felt both joy and worry at the news.

She was overjoyed—having lived two lives, she was finally going to become a mother. She resolved to pour love into this child so they would never feel lonely. Yet she also worried—her body was still delicate, and the intense early symptoms made her uncertain if she could carry the pregnancy to term.

Her mind was in turmoil.

She hoped for a son, who would be spared the suffering of polygamy. But then she thought, even if it were a daughter—*one woman’s poison is another’s honey*. Different societies bred different norms, and different upbringings shaped different people. Having known equality, freedom, and respect in marriage, she would struggle to watch her daughter kowtow in another household. She might resent it, but a daughter raised in feudal society might not see it as an issue, perhaps even thinking her mother was overreacting. Then again, if her daughter could command respect like Regional Commander Li’s wife, that wouldn’t be so bad—though the woman bore a harsh reputation, at least she kept her husband by her side. The only downside was the suffering of the next generation—Commander Li’s daughter was already sixteen, yet no suitable marriage prospect had been found, as families worried the mother’s strong will might be passed down…

Her mind raced wildly, so absorbed that she didn’t notice Lord Xu sitting beside her.

“What’s wrong?” He gently took her hand, studying her dazed expression.

Eleven Miss jolted back to the present. Realizing that Amber and the others were unmarried girls, their earlier cautious behavior must’ve been coached by someone—and since Lord Xu had summoned the physician, who else could it be?

Her cheeks flushed with shy embarrassment.

So, he knew.

Lord Xu gazed at Eleven Miss, her face glowing softly in the lamplight, and his chest swelled with warmth at the thought of this tiny woman carrying his child. Unable to resist, he pulled her into his arms and reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’m here.”

Eleven Miss noticed the servants had quietly slipped away. Feeling exhausted, she yielded and curled up against him.

“Physician Liu said the baby may have just settled in, so you need plenty of rest,” Lord Xu murmured, his chin resting atop her head. “Take it easy these days. Let Mother take over household duties—or if needed, Second Sister-in-law can assist. Once you’re feeling better, we’ll reassess.”

Most women experienced discomfort in early pregnancy, often lasting through the third month.

Eleven Miss had only heard of it before—now, experiencing it firsthand, she finally grasped what “discomfort” really meant.

If she could rest, that would be ideal.

At that thought, she suddenly sat up.

“My lord, have you told Mother yet?” Since it wasn’t entirely confirmed, she worried. “What if it’s a false alarm? Wouldn’t that just get her hopes up for nothing?” She hesitated, then added, “Perhaps we should wait a few more days.”

“I know,” Lord Xu said, pulling her close again, drunk on her warmth and fragrance. He kissed her cheek. “But your condition can’t wait. I only hinted vaguely to Mother—with her sharp mind, she’s likely guessed most of it already.”

Eleven Miss felt disheartened. “Aren’t imperial physicians supposed to be the best? How can they be unsure about this? I’ve heard they can diagnose by pulse through a silk thread!”

Lord Xu burst into laughter.

This was the first time he’d heard Eleven Miss complain—and under such circumstances.

“If it’s true, wonderful,” he murmured playfully in her ear. “If not, no need to fret… We’ll just… try more often… until it happens…”

Lady Eleven was flustered.

"You...you're still saying such things..." She didn't dare move recklessly—she had heard that some women had miscarriages just from bending over!

Just then, Amber's voice came from behind the curtain, "My lord, madam, Madam Du is here to see you!"

At this late hour, she must have come to relay elder madam's words.

Lady Eleven quickly sat up from Lord Xu's embrace, smoothed her hair, cleared her throat, and instructed the maid to invite Madam Du in.

Madam Du smiled and curtsied, saying, "Elder madam heard that the fourth lady is unwell and wishes you to rest at home. Daily greetings are temporarily excused until you feel better."

Lady Eleven was somewhat surprised. Recalling Lord Xu's earlier words, she glanced at him before thanking Madam Du and having Amber escort her out.

"Well?" Lord Xu chuckled. "Didn't I say mother would guess part of it?"

Lady Eleven silently prayed not to disappoint the elderly lady.

Lord Xu then asked, "I heard you vomited earlier? That's not good. Should I have the kitchen prepare some noodles for you? You must eat something."

Lady Eleven nodded. "I don't want noodles, just an apple."

Lord Xu instructed Amber to peel an apple.

Lady Eleven could only manage a few bites before pushing it away.

Not wanting to force her, Lord Xu had a maid help her rinse her mouth and moved to carry her back to bed.

But Lady Eleven liked the warmth and fresh air here.

"Let's just rest here," she said with slight petulance.

Lord Xu naturally wouldn't refuse her over such a small matter.

After blowing out the lamp, he held her in the darkness and whispered, "I'll arrange funds from the outer courtyard to set up a small kitchen for you. Just ask for whatever you'd like. If something isn't available at home, tell me—or Steward Bai—and he'll have it fetched."

"Mmm."

After a while, he remembered something else. "Stay off your feet until the first few months pass. Be careful not to risk the pregnancy."

"Mmm," Lady Eleven murmured drowsily.

Much later, he thought of another thing. "Also, tell Mrs. Nanyong. We can't let Jiege climb all over you anymore. He could hurt you."

After a long silence without a response, Lord Xu lifted his head slightly and gazed at Lady Eleven in the moonlight filtering through the window.

Unbeknownst to him, she had already fallen asleep, her head tilted to the side.

Thinking of how she had barely eaten anything all day, Lord Xu kissed her temple tenderly before lying down to sleep.

In the following days, Lady Eleven couldn't keep anything down.

She grew even more certain she was pregnant.

Regardless, she forced herself to eat again after each time she was sick.

The discomfort was unbearable—eating was no longer a pleasure but a chore.

Lord Xu watched as she looked paler and more exhausted after each meal, growing increasingly worried. He had Physician Liu prescribe medicine, but Lady Eleven was convinced all medicine carried some toxicity and refused to take it. Helpless, Lord Xu could only hold her when she was unwell. Oddly enough, this seemed to soothe her, allowing her to sleep peacefully and eat some apples or cold cucumber salads. Eventually, he rarely left her side altogether, holding her protectively.

Thus, the news quietly spread.

"If Lady is with child," Qiu Hong said somewhat puzzled, "it would be a great joy. Why are the Marquis and Lady keeping silent about it?"

"Perhaps it's still too early," Lady Wen replied, embroidering a child's bib with a red background featuring chubby carp swimming beneath lotus leaves. "Since it’s unconfirmed, it's best to keep it quiet for now."

Qiu Hong nodded, handing Lady Wen a strand of emerald green thread.

"For the lotus veins," she pointed at the bib, "this one."

Lady Wen agreed and switched threads accordingly.

"Fortunately, Fourth Young Master is eight now. Whether Lady bears a son or daughter, it won’t affect him," Qiu Hong remarked, keeping an eye on Lady Wen’s embroidery while chatting. "This is also due to Lady’s good fortune. She truly is blessed."

"You’re getting bold, daring to gossip about Lady and the heir behind their backs," Lady Wen scolded, her tone unusually severe, sensing an impending storm. "If you speak like this again, I’ll have you thrown out of the household."

This was the first time Lady Wen had spoken so harshly. Qiu Hong paled in fright and immediately knelt. "Milady, I won’t dare again!"

Lady Wen didn’t let her off easily, reprimanding her sternly before allowing her to rise.

Lady Qin smiled faintly upon hearing of Eleven Miss’s condition.

"No wonder our morning and evening greetings were excused—she’s with child," she said cheerfully, her round face beaming. "This is a great joy for our household." She instructed Cui Er, "I must offer incense before the Bodhisattva." With that, she dismissed Cui Er, who had brought the news, and turned toward the parlor.

Qiao Lianfang gazed at Xiu Yuan, her eyes gradually reddening.

If only... her child were over a year old by now!

"...In my opinion, she must be pregnant!" Old Yang whispered to Yang Shi, who sat on the heated kang bed embroidering a baby jacket adorned with a hundred children at play. "Otherwise, why would the Marquis stay in Lady’s chambers without leaving?"

Yang Shi’s expression darkened, and her needle slipped, drawing a drop of blood from her fingertip.

"Ah!" Old Yang quickly pressed a handkerchief to the wound.

But Yang Shi paid no heed, urging, "Get some silver from the chest. Find a way to confirm this matter." She added, "This is joyous news. Logically, though Lady’s attendants wouldn’t spread it openly, they wouldn’t deny it either. If you inquire, you’ll get a straight answer."

Old Yang hurried off to do her bidding.

Clutching the bloodstained handkerchief, Yang Shi watched through the glass window as her mother’s figure receded, muttering, "The Marquis already has an heir. When the mistress is pregnant and arranges for a concubine to serve, and the concubine conceives, outsiders often call it ‘twice the blessings’..."

Her voice carried a hint of excitement.