Pregnant

After traveling for more than half a month, Yan Wanning was not in good condition. No matter how carefully she was looked after, she had still lost weight, and her little face, which had never had much flesh on it, had grown even thinner.

Si Yunqi was frantic. Only after he dragged a physician over did he learn that she was pregnant.

At first, they had thought she was simply unaccustomed to such a long journey, so they had not summoned a physician, instead taking even greater care of her. Later, Yan Wanning threw up everything she ate. The slightest whiff of anything fishy made her vomit until heaven and earth seemed to go dark. She could only stomach a little bland food, yet she was also terribly drowsy, unable to keep her eyes open all day.

With Yan Wanning unwell, Si Yunqi was so anxious that he radiated a chill. Everyone attending them treaded carefully, terrified of making him angry.

Si Yunqi then had a physician come to feel her pulse. When the physician arrived with his medicine chest on his back, Si Yunqi was coaxing Yan Wanning to eat. She forced down a mouthful, only to throw it all back up.

Under Si Yunqi's oppressive presence, the physician stepped forward in a cold sweat to feel her pulse. He checked it several times in succession without saying a word, and everyone broke out in a cold sweat with worry.

"Physician, is there something wrong with me?" Yan Wanning asked nervously, leaning against Si Yunqi's chest.

"Don't say such things," Si Yunxi reassured her. He shot the physician a cold look. "How is the princess consort?"

The physician wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and his face suddenly lit up. "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations!"

Si Yunqi did not know how Yan Wanning was and had no wish to listen to such nonsense. He was about to lose his temper when the physician said, "The princess consort is with child. She is already more than a month along."

Yan Wanning was stunned, and Si Yunqi had yet to grasp the news himself. Then Xiao He's voice rang out in the carriage. "Congratulations, Your Highnesses."

A little at a loss, Si Yunqi reached out to touch the lower belly of the woman in his arms. His joy was mixed with worry, for he thought of how Yan Wanning had braved wind and slept under the open sky for the past half month, and feared something might have gone wrong.

More than a month pregnant?

That meant she had conceived at the Prince of Anbei's residence.

"Is anything amiss with the princess consort?"

"Rest assured, Your Highness. Both the princess consort and the child in her womb are well. However, as she is less than three months along, she should take some medicine to stabilize the pregnancy."

"Go and prepare the medicine."

"Yes."

The physician bowed and withdrew with his medicine chest on his back. Xiao He followed him out, so excited that she wanted nothing more than to throw back her head and laugh at the sky.

They were now close to Yucheng, the nearest city to the Capital, and planned to stay there for two or three days once they arrived. It was difficult to decoct medicine on the road, so they could only wait until they reached Yucheng.

After the others withdrew, Yan Wanning was delighted and apprehensive. Her little hand gently stroked her belly. Here... there was actually a baby.

"Husband, we're going to have a baby." Yan Wanning leaned against Si Yunqi's broad chest, her eyes sparkling as though they were glowing.

Although it was sudden, once the news sank in, she was happy. She loved her husband and was willing to bear him children.

Si Yunxi looked at his little wife, whose face was wreathed in smiles in his arms, and his heart melted into a puddle. He kissed her forehead and said gently, "The physician said you mustn't get too excited."

Si Yunqi sighed inwardly and said slowly, "You're still so young. I didn't want you to become pregnant this early."

At that, Yan Wanning's smile faded and tears threatened to spill. The hand resting on her belly trembled slightly as she said softly, "But I am pregnant now. What are we going to do?"

"Now that you are, you'll give birth to the baby." Si Yunqi used her little handkerchief to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes, then picked up the still-warm bowl of meat congee on the table and fed her. "Will you have just a little more?"

Yan Wanning shook her head in refusal. She wouldn't eat, wouldn't eat.

"Be good, A Ning. If you don't eat properly, what will we do if the baby gets hungry?" Seeing her resolve waver, Si Yunqi continued coaxing her. "Could you really bear to let the baby go hungry?"

Yan Wanning scrunched up her little face in indecision, then held up a finger. "Just a little bit, then."

"Such a good girl, A Ning."

Ever since learning that Yan Wanning was pregnant, Si Yunqi had cared for her as carefully as if she were a porcelain doll. She was not allowed to do this or that, and whenever she went out, he followed at her side. Her food and drink were all carefully prepared before being brought to her.

That day, they had only just reached Yucheng when they found an inn with pleasant surroundings and settled in, planning to stay for two or three days before heading straight to the Capital.

After being cooped up for days, Yan Wanning had long since grown terribly frustrated. She had thrown a tantrum early that morning, and nothing Si Yunqi said could coax her out of it, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

"Husband, will you take me out?" Yan Wanning gazed at Si Yunqi with dewy eyes, looking so aggrieved she seemed about to cry.

Si Yunxi sighed and said gently, "Then stop throwing a tantrum, my lady, and take your medicine and eat your meals properly. This husband will take you out to enjoy the streets tonight, all right?"

"I won't throw a tantrum. I'll be good and take my medicine and eat. You have to keep your word, Husband."

When Yan Wanning saw him nod, she smiled and had Xiao He give her the medicine. Pinching her little nose, she gulped it down in one go. It was so bitter that her brows knitted together.

Seeing this, Si Yunqi fed her the candied fruit in his hand.

Night fell, and the bustling city of Yucheng entered the lively hours of its night market. People came and went along the streets, and vendors could be seen setting up stalls everywhere. Today also happened to be Yucheng's annual Lantern Festival, so there were even more people out strolling and doing business than usual.

Almost everyone walking the streets carried a lantern, each with a different design, delicate and beautiful.

Most of those out and about, however, were young men and women. The Lantern Festival was much like another matchmaking gathering.

On this day, men and women strolled the streets together. If they took a fancy to each other, they could offer each other the lanterns in their hands to express their feelings.