Qingxue is Pregnant!

Lin Qingxue's cultivation recovery speed was astonishing. With the Zhang family's unlimited resource investment and her own innate talent, in just one month, she had firmly stabilized at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, and was even showing signs of advancing toward the Mid Stage.

To outsiders, she was the unapproachable, cold and frosty Young Madam.

But before Zhang Chen, she was as docile as a kitten that had retracted its claws. Even when Zhang Chen made somewhat excessive requests, she would always blush, bite her lip, and silently comply.

"Feels amazing."

Zhang Chen took the opportunity to grasp her soft hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. "But I've worked you hard, wife."

Lin Qingxue's cheeks flushed slightly. She gently pulled her hand back and shot him a reproachful glare. "You're impossible. Father and Mother will probably tease us again for waking up late."

"Who would dare tease? We were handling important business."

Zhang Chen chuckled, rolled out of bed, and said, "Come on, let's go to the main courtyard to have breakfast with Father and Mother. I heard the kitchen specially stewed Silver Thread Spirit Fish caught from the deep sea today. The flavor is extremely fresh."

The two briefly washed up, changed into casual clothes, and walked hand in hand toward the main courtyard.

The main courtyard was unusually lively today. Zhang Yunshan had been in excellent spirits lately. Although the family business was still somewhat hindered by the Demonic Path, the dividends from the Spiritual Vein upgrade had already begun to show. Several vassal families had sent this year's tribute, a full thirty percent thicker than previous years.

At the dining table, the atmosphere was harmonious.

"Here, Qingxue, this is freshly stewed spirit fish soup, the most nourishing." Liu Yueru smiled warmly, personally ladling a bowl of milky white fish soup and placing it before her daughter-in-law. "Your body has just recovered; now is the time for replenishment."

The fish soup was indeed top-grade—creamy white in color, exuding rich Spiritual Energy, with a few red goji berries floating on top. It was enough to stir anyone's appetite.

Lin Qingxue smiled and thanked her, picked up her spoon, scooped up a mouthful, and brought it to her lips.

But the moment that delicious fish soup slid down her throat—

An indescribable, churning sensation erupted without warning from her stomach, rushing straight to her head.

"Ugh—"

Lin Qingxue's face instantly turned deathly pale. The spoon in her hand clattered loudly into the bowl, splashing a few drops of soup. She clapped her hand over her mouth, turned aside, and let out a violent retch.

This sudden turn of events startled the three people at the table.

"What's wrong? What happened?!"

Zhang Chen reacted the fastest. He grabbed Lin Qingxue's shoulder with one hand and quickly placed the other on her back, channeling a gentle stream of Spiritual Energy to soothe her. His face was full of anxiety. "Is the fish not fresh? Or did something go wrong with your cultivation?"

Liu Yueru also panicked, quickly setting down her chopsticks and leaning in. "Qingxue, don't scare Mother. Where do you feel unwell?"

Zhang Yunshan's face darkened. He slammed the table and shouted toward the door, "Someone! Go fetch Zhang Xuanhu immediately! Hurry! This is an emergency!"

Zhang Xuanhu was the Zhang family's most senior Second-Order Alchemist, also serving as the family physician. On ordinary days, even an elder's injury might not be enough to summon him, but with the Family Head giving the order, the servants ran faster than rabbits.

Lin Qingxue retched for a long time, until tears streamed from her eyes, before the nausea finally subsided a little.

She leaned weakly in Zhang Chen's arms and shook her head. "I... I don't know what happened. I just suddenly smelled the fishy odor, and my stomach started churning violently..."

"Fishy odor?"

Liu Yueru was stunned. The Silver Thread Spirit Fish had been prepared perfectly—where was there any fishy smell?

As a woman with experience, a thought suddenly flashed through Liu Yueru's mind. Her gaze instantly fell on her daughter-in-law's flat belly, and a look of incredulous joy burst forth in her eyes.

"Could it be..."

Before she could finish speaking, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door.

Zhang Xuanhu, his hair and beard completely white, rushed in carrying his medicine box, panting heavily. "Family Head, what's happened? Who's injured?"

"Stop the nonsense! Check the Young Madam immediately!" Zhang Yunshan pointed at Lin Qingxue, frantic as an ant on a hot pan.

Zhang Xuanhu dared not delay. He quickly steadied his breathing, walked over to Lin Qingxue, extended three bony fingers, gently placed them on her pale wrist, half-closed his eyes, and carefully sensed.

The room fell instantly silent. Even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

Zhang Chen held his breath, staring intently at the old physician's face, his palms slick with sweat. Although he had the system, he wasn't omniscient—when it came to medical matters, he was completely in the dark.

Time ticked by, minute by minute.

Zhang Xuanhu's originally furrowed brow slowly relaxed, then shifted into a strange surprise, and finally transformed into a face full of joy.

But he didn't speak immediately. Instead, he switched hands and confirmed once more.

"Old Zhang, what the hell is going on? Just say it already!" Zhang Yunshan was an impatient man and couldn't hold back any longer.

Zhang Xuanhu withdrew his hand, stood up, and bowed deeply to Zhang Yunshan and Zhang Chen. His wrinkled old face split into a grin like a blooming chrysanthemum.