The scorching sun of the northern frontier baked the yellow sand, the air seemed to solidify, carrying the smells of rust and sweat. The wounded soldiers' camp was overflowing, groans, the smell of herbs, and the stench of strong disinfectant mixed together. An'an wore a faded military doctor's uniform, her hair simply tied up, a few stray strands of hair stuck to her smooth forehead with sweat.

She was squatting beside a seriously wounded soldier who had just been brought in, deftly cutting open strips of blood-soaked cloth, her brow furrowed as she focused intently on treating the gruesome wound. Sweat streamed down her temples, but she didn't bother to wipe it away.

"Dr. Xiao! There's someone with a high fever and convulsions in tent number three. Physician Li requests your immediate attention!" a soldier shouted, panting as he rushed in.

"Understood! Coming right away!" An'an didn't even look up, her hands moving even faster, suturing, applying medicine, and bandaging in one smooth motion. She stood up, but suddenly everything went black before her eyes, a strong wave of dizziness washing over her, her stomach churning. She instinctively grabbed the wooden frame holding the equipment next to her, barely managing to steady herself, her face instantly turning deathly pale.

"Dr. Xiao? Are you alright?" the apprentice doctor assisting him asked worriedly.

"N-nothing...it's nothing." An An suppressed the nausea, took a deep breath, and felt her heart beating unusually fast, her limbs feeling weak. She shook her head, trying to dispel the discomfort. "Let's go to tent number three." She took a step, but her steps were unsteady.

Just then, the nausea became unbearable, and she abruptly bent over, covering her mouth and gagging violently: "Ugh...cough cough cough..."

"Dr. Xiao!" The apprentice was startled and quickly stepped forward to support her swaying body.

This scene was witnessed by Lu Xiao, who had rushed to the wounded soldiers' camp looking for An'an, at the tent entrance. He had only intended to check if she was finished and take her back to rest early. But when he saw his An'an, her face as pale as paper, bent over in pain, retching, and almost unable to stand, Lu Xiao's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an icy hand, and instantly stopped beating!

"An'an—!"

A distorted roar echoed through the camp, filled with unprecedented fear and panic. Lu Xiao abruptly pushed aside those blocking his way and rushed to An An's side in a few steps. He shoved aside the medical apprentice supporting An An and tightly embraced her trembling body, his grip so strong it felt like he was about to crush her.

His face was even worse than An'an's, turning ashen, his lips trembling slightly, and his deep eyes churning with a terrifying panic as he stared intently at her pale face.

"An'an! An'an, what's wrong? Speak!" His voice was hoarse, trembling without him even realizing it. His cold fingers touched her sweat-drenched forehead. "Where does it hurt? Where are you injured? Are you poisoned? Or are you just exhausted?" A barrage of questions came like a machine gun, each word filled with immense unease and fear. He looked around, his eyes fierce as if he wanted to devour someone: "Who?! Who hurt her?! She was fine just now!" His posture suggested he was about to overturn the entire wounded soldiers' camp.

An'an was struggling to breathe from his grip, and his intense reaction made her heart ache. The discomfort in her stomach was somewhat alleviated by her deep worry. She leaned weakly against his rapidly heaving chest, clearly feeling his frantic heartbeat, like a drum that had lost control.

"Lu Xiao... relax... relax..." she said with difficulty, her voice weak, "I... I'm fine... I'm just a little... nauseous..." Before she could finish speaking, another wave of nausea rose up.

"You call this nothing?!" Lu Xiao's voice suddenly rose, filled with a terrifying ferocity. His eyes instantly reddened, not with anger, but with tears forced out by immense fear. "Your face is so pale! You've vomited like this! And you're still saying nothing?!" He abruptly looked up and roared at the military doctors and soldiers around him, who were stunned by his presence. His voice was torn apart by extreme fear and anger: "What are you all standing there for! Go find Old Wang! Tell him to come here right now! By running! If An'an... if..." He didn't dare to say the last terrible word. He just gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched like iron. When he looked down at An'an in his arms, his eyes were filled with helplessness and panic, as if his whole world was about to collapse.

Soon, the experienced, white-haired military doctor, Wang, was practically dragged over. Lu Xiao carefully helped An'an to a clean low couch next to him, as if she were a rare treasure. He stood there like a demon, staring intently at the fingers of the old doctor on An'an's wrist, so nervous that he held his breath.

The tent was completely silent, except for Lu Xiao's heavy, suppressed breathing, which was unusually clear. Time seemed to stand still. Lu Xiao watched as Old Wang frowned slightly. He dared not ask, afraid of hearing any bad news. He just stared intently at every change in Old Wang's expression with his bloodshot eyes. His hand, hanging by his side, was clenched into a fist, the knuckles cracking, and the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

Finally, Dr. Wang withdrew his hand, a strange, knowing smile on his face, as he slowly stroked his beard.

"Old Wang! How is she?!" Lu Xiao almost shouted, his voice hoarse and strained, filled with an urgent sense of impending collapse.

Old Wang glanced at him, then at An'an, who was leaning weakly in Lu Xiao's arm, her cheeks slightly flushed, before slowly speaking, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible mockery: "Reporting to the General, the Madam, she..."

Lu Xiao's heart was in his throat, almost jumping out of his chest.

"...It's not an acute illness, nor is it caused by poisoning or overexertion." Old Wang paused, looking at Lu Xiao's face, which had turned deathly pale, and the despair that was almost overflowing in his eyes, before slowly uttering the most crucial sentence, "Judging from the pulse...Madam is pregnant. Congratulations, General, Madam is pregnant."

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