Chapter 74: Pregnancy

Chapter 74: Pregnancy

Late morning, the air was filled with a stifling heat, and even the cicadas in the alley were motionless.

The sound of the horse's hooves was particularly distinct.

Xia Fu was assisted off the carriage by a matronly attendant. Hearing the sound of fast galloping from the alley, she looked that way and saw a man in a snow-white robe riding towards her. Xia Fu didn’t really like seeing people dressed in white—they either appeared frivolous or lacked the presence to carry off the color—but the stern look in the man’s eyes and his imposing presence made her think that only he could pull off such attire.

As the horse drew near, she realized it was Cheng Mingyu. Xia Fu was slightly startled and awkwardly averted her gaze.

Hang, the steward, and the housekeeper had just finished greeting the Yunnan King's consort. Seeing Cheng Mingyu, they were even more astonished and hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects.

“Paying respects to Cheng Mingyu, the head of the Censorate. It’s truly our fault to have troubled you.”

Cheng Mingyu nodded slightly and dismounted, with several guards behind him. The elderly retired imperial physician looked exhausted, sweating from the bumpy ride, and took a couple of deep breaths after getting off his horse.

Cheng Mingyu set down the reins and took his place next to Xia Fu.

"You're here too?" he said, sounding unsurprised.

Xia Fu’s gaze only reached his chest and she did not look up, giving a slight bow as her greeting before heading inside.

Cheng Mingyu followed, keeping two steps behind her.

Hang and Ming Saozi led the way, passing through the main hall and following the slanted corridor towards the study. As they reached the end of the corridor, Xia Fu suddenly heard a cough behind her. That night when Cheng Yian had hurriedly left, Xia Fu had already guessed that something had happened to Cheng Mingyu. Hearing this cough, hoarse and accompanied by phlegm, it indicated some lingering cold in his lungs, a damp and stagnant qi. The cough did not come from the throat but from deep within the lungs, likely a chronic condition.

Xia Fu’s steps faltered for a moment, but she ultimately did not turn back, quickening her pace towards the study.

Cheng Mingyu's eyes lingered on her slender and gentle figure for a moment before he followed.

Nanny Li had been waiting under the corridor and, seeing the two approaching together, was secretly surprised. She quickly knelt down, knocked her head on the ground, and bowed.

"Paying respects to the princess consort. Paying respects to the family head."

The group made their way into the east wing room.

Cheng Yian had fainted temporarily in the corridor, and the servants didn’t dare move her. They considered calling for the imperial physician, but Lu Xusheng's study contained many military secrets, so it was not suitable to allow outsiders in. They had no choice but to place Cheng Yian in the east wing room.

Cheng Yian lay on the daybed, her face pale with a sickly tint, and she had not yet woken up.

Sitting beside her was Qiu Qing, who had just brought the retired imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Office. The retired imperial physician from the Cheng residence was obviously familiar with him. He approached him.

"How is the pulse, Doctor Li?"

Doctor Li was immediately surprised when he saw the retired imperial physician and was about to say something, but upon seeing Cheng Mingyu behind him, he quickly stopped and stepped aside.

"It's mostly certain, but you should double-check."

The retired imperial physician could tell from Doctor Li's relaxed expression that it wasn’t anything serious and felt reassured. He then sat down to take the pulse.

Ru Lan knelt beside Cheng Yian, supporting her wrist and covering it with a thin cloth for the retired imperial physician's diagnosis.

Xia Fu and Cheng Mingyu, not wanting to just stand there, sat down on the northern chairs. A square table stood between them, and their gazes simultaneously fell on their daughter.

Nanny Li personally served them tea, but they were too preoccupied to drink.

The retired imperial physician examined the pulse, a smile appearing on his face. He stood up and bowed to Cheng Mingyu.

"Family head, Your Highness, the third young lady has a pulse indicating pregnancy, congratulations."

Xia Fu clutched her chest and sighed in relief, "That's good to know..."

Cheng Mingyu's expression also visibly relaxed. "Her body is weak. Please prescribe some medicinal formulas to stabilize the pregnancy."

The retired imperial physician nodded, and the two physicians deliberated and wrote a prescription. When they finished, Xia Fu suddenly spoke, "May I take a look?"

As she was proficient in pharmacology, she knew that the same prescription could have vastly different effects depending on the herbs used.

The retired imperial physician immediately offered her the prescription to see. Xia Fu glanced over it and made annotations on some of the medicinal names, such as specifying the origin and type.

The retired imperial physician, seeing that Xia Fu was an expert, smiled and said, "Thanks, Your Highness."

They then left to purchase and prepare the medicine.

The room now contained Nanny Li and the other maids who usually attended to Cheng Yian. These maids, who had always served Cheng Yian, were in tears.

"The miss has always longed for a child, and today her wish has finally come true..."

Unfortunately, neither Cheng Mingyu nor Xia Fu reacted much. Xia Fu, having experienced childbirth, knew the pain of it, while Cheng Mingyu, seeing his daughter as still a child, felt a pang of heartache now that she was going to be a mother.

Nanny Li gave a sheepish look to Ming Saozi, who was chosen by Cheng Mingyu and the family elders as Cheng Yian's companion. Understanding Cheng Mingyu's temperament well, Ming Saozi discreetly signaled them to leave the room.

The room was now occupied only by the sleeping Cheng Yian, and Cheng Mingyu and Xia Fu.

Xia Fu had thought that following their last encounter, they would not meet again. They had spoken plainly and thoroughly, leaving no possibility for misunderstanding. Running into him today made her feel quite awkward. Noticing that his face was turned in her direction, she became even more uneasy and moved to the side of Cheng Yian's bed.

It was hot, and An An was sweating profusely in her sleep, her previously pale cheeks now reddened. Her long, thick eyelashes rested on her cheeks, and her innocent, adorable sleeping face made her look like a child herself, yet she was about to become a mother.

Xia Fu, recalling her own helplessness when she first became a mother, couldn't help but feel an added sense of heartache for Cheng Yian.

Carefully, she wiped An An's sweat, cleaning her forehead and the back of her neck. The child, who had a natural dependence on her mother, seemed to smell the familiar scent of medicine and instinctively leaned a little closer to Xia Fu.

Xia Fu's heart melted.

Surprisingly, Cheng Yian only slept more soundly.

Glancing sideways at Cheng Mingyu, the man sat still without moving. Although he was her father, there was a need for propriety, and with Xia Fu present, oughtn't he to leave to avoid any impropriety?

Cheng Mingyu, however, appeared unwilling to leave.

He had always been the most rule-following...

Xia Fu sighed inwardly.

She had rushed out earlier and hadn't had time to drink any water. Worrying about Cheng Yian along the way had caused her to break out in a sweat, and now she felt parched and dry.

Eyeing the tea Nanny Li had prepared for her, Xia Fu hesitated for a moment but calmly rose and sat back in the armchair, picking up the teacup to take a few sips.

As she put down the teacup, her eyes happened to land on Cheng Mingyu's hand. Cheng Mingyu's right hand rested on the table, and the deep gash left by the snapped string was still clearly visible, the wound not yet fully healed.

Xia Fu's throat tightened, and this time her gaze met his clear, penetrating eyes.

"You seem to be unwell? Would you like me to feel your pulse?"

That day, his recitation of "West River Moon" and his words stirred up long-buried emotions. It prompted her to pour out her bitter feelings. But deep in her heart, she knew that the past was unrelated to him. She had never blamed anyone, but she had said harsh things just to silence him.

However, if he were to become ill because of this, it would be her fault.

Cheng Mingyu's dark eyes looked at her calmly as he promptly extended his hand.

It was a long, elegant hand—clearly one fit for a qin player.

The sleeve covered his wrist, and Xia Fu folded it back to place her fingers on his pulse.

Her fingertips, covered with a layer of warmth, caused a mild itch on his skin, and that itch traveled up his veins to his ears.

Cheng Mingyu, a man of considerable experience, showed no sign of it on his face.

However, Xia Fu spent a long time checking his pulse. Cheng Mingyu remembered that the retired imperial physician had quickly taken his hand back, so he couldn't help but ask her,

"Not finished yet?"

With a slight frown between her brows, Xia Fu said calmly, "Switch to the other hand."

Cheng Mingyu, a man of great authority, never let anyone control him, but facing Xia Fu, he had no other option. He turned around and extended the other hand.

That warmth was once again on his wrist, even more pronounced this time.

Xia Fu placed her hand on his wrist and soon gave him a suspicious look, but Cheng Mingyu remained expressionless.

Finally, after finishing the pulse diagnosis, Xia Fu released his hand and sat in silence for a moment before sighing,

"I'll prescribe a medicinal bath for you. You should try taking it when you have time."

Cheng Mingyu looked at her intently and asked, "What condition did you diagnose?"

Xia Fu, feeling guilty, averted her eyes from his intense gaze and said, "There's a chronic cold condition in your lungs that requires dispelling dampness and eliminating cold. Treating winter ailments in summer, especially during the Dog Days, is ideal. You should consider taking the medicinal bath. I'll prepare the medicine packets and hand them over to An An..."

And let Cheng Yian pass them to him.

Cheng Mingyu remained silent.

Xia Fu felt that she owed him an apology, so she turned and gave a slight bow, saying, "I apologize for what happened that day. Please don't take it to heart."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Mingyu felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow and couldn't help but cough a few more times, his tone slightly tense,

"What shouldn't I take to heart? Which words?"

Was it the rejection or the words from the heart?

Xia Fu, hearing the urgency in his tone, immediately regretted her words. Why had she provoked him again?

Just as she was about to get up and retreat to the right wing room, a soft, confused "Dad" and "Mom" came from the direction of the bed.

Cheng Yian had already sat up, her charming face filled with confusion.

Cheng Yian had been awakened by Cheng Mingyu's coughing. She opened her eyes and vaguely saw two familiar figures sitting opposite in the armchairs.

She thought she was mistaken, but after focusing for a while, she realized that her father and mother had indeed come to visit her simultaneously.

The previous "reunion" had been quite strained, so today could be considered a proper reunion.

The corners of her mouth involuntarily spread into a smile, which seemed somewhat foolish in the eyes of Xia Fu and Prince Mingyu.

Seeing her daughter wake up, Xia Fu naturally set aside Prince Mingyu's concerns and hurriedly moved closer, "An An..."

She tightly grasped her daughter's wrist, tears brimming in her eyes,

"Silly An An, you didn't even know you were pregnant and suddenly fainted. You gave mother a terrible scare."

She held Cheng Yian in her arms.

Cheng Yian's expression froze on her face, unable to react for a moment.

She was pregnant?

No wonder she had been feeling uncomfortable these past few days. With all the disturbances involving her parents and the Prince of Nan'an, her delayed menstruation by two days slipped her mind.

In her past and present life, all she had ever wanted was a child.

Tears, belatedly, rolled down her cheeks, and she looked at her father opposite her, murmuring, "Father, is it true?"

Feeling his daughter's joy, Prince Mingyu finally allowed himself a small smile, "It's absolutely true."

Receiving the affirmation, Cheng Yian couldn't help but hug her mother tighter, burying her face in her shoulder and crying, "Mother, I finally have a child..."

After nearly seven years, she was finally pregnant again.

Seeing her daughter crying so movingly, Xia Fu thought to herself. When she first became pregnant, she was more confused. Cheng Yian was different from her, overflowing with joy.

At her age, An An would typically be more immature in nature.

But since Cheng Yian had finally gotten what she wished for, Xia Fu was naturally happy for her.

"An An, Lu Xusheng is not in the capital, so mother will stay and care for you, alright?" She had never cared for An An before. The most painful times in her life were during pregnancy and childbirth, so she wanted to stay by her daughter's side during her most difficult time.

A daughter always relies on her mother, and Cheng Yian was happy to once again fall into her mother's arms,

"It's what I've always wanted."

Prince Mingyu, looking at the embracing mother and daughter, felt a lump in his throat.

After lying down for so long, Cheng Yian felt uncomfortable and was about to get up, but was pressed down by Xia Fu,

"In the first three months, the baby's condition is unstable. Try not to move around too much."

Cheng Yian hadn't rested in bed during her previous life, and coincidentally, she had miscarried in that life. Her mother had safely given birth to her, so she sought her mother's experience, "When you were pregnant with me, did you rest in bed for the first three months?"

Prince Mingyu's eyes clearly shifted toward her.

Cheng Yian immediately regretted it, realizing her happiness had let her guard down, forgetting her father was there and the old matters between her parents.

Hiding the bitter sorrow in her heart, Xia Fu smiled and said yes.

She had leaned on that window, watching the withered bamboo in the courtyard, spending three long months there.

Looking at Xia Fu's pale profile, Prince Mingyu felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

When she was pregnant with An An, he was not there for her.

That night, he held the scorched-tail *guqin* and stayed awake all night, believing he would face this inevitable separation with a calm heart. But the truth was that many things were already slipping out of his control. To avoid distractions, he immediately returned to the capital to take up his post.

Xia Fu remained at the Cheng family estate in Hongnong to rest during her pregnancy.

After all was said and done, they had missed too much, and he felt guilty about the mother and daughter.

Unfortunately, now that he wanted to make amends, the woman had already remarried.

Cheng Yian actually wanted to talk to her mother about some private matters related to pregnancy, but since Cheng Mingyu was present, she didn’t press the matter.

Xia Fu also wanted to ask Cheng Mingyu to leave but lacked the standing to do so.

As a junior member of the family, Cheng Yian couldn’t rush him.

Both parties fell silent.

The sun dipped westward, and footsteps echoed outside the corridor. After a while, the figures of two guards appeared outside the window.

Ming Saozi recognized from the guards' attire that they were from the Cheng family. She entered and informed Cheng Mingyu,

"Family head, a guard has urgent matters to report."

Cheng Mingyu asked, "Where does he come from?"

"Yunnan."

Cheng Mingyu was visibly startled. He had previously instructed the shadow guards to investigate Xia Fu’s background, ordering that no matter when or where, they must report directly to him. Thus, the shadow guard had tracked him down to the Lu residence.

Upon hearing the word "Yunnan," Xia Fu’s heart sank, and an ominous premonition rose within her.

Cheng Yian also keenly sensed the tense atmosphere. Her eyes slowly shifted, looking at her father, then her mother, feeling the air in the room inexplicably thinning.

Cheng Mingyu’s gaze inconspicuously swept over Xia Fu as he slowly said, "Let him in."