Chapter 158 Pregnant

Ji Shu also felt that she was overthinking things. If she really was pregnant, the child absolutely could not be kept.

Once he discovers she is pregnant, even if she wants to leave, she certainly won't be able to.

At this moment, what terrified her even more was that she had never thought of leaving a child in this world.

She didn't think she could raise a child to adulthood, nor did she think she could shoulder that responsibility.

After that day, the entire Yanzhou seemed to be shrouded in a gray shadow, and even the servants in the mansion held their breath and lowered their eyes.

Everyone seemed to have a premonition that Yanzhou was about to face the biggest and most devastating battle in its history.

The next day, Chunzhi invited the doctor into the mansion.

Ji Shu lay on the bed while the doctor sat on a stool, intently taking her pulse. After a long while, he confirmed, "Madam's pulse is slippery, rapid, and smooth, like pearls rolling on a plate—it is indeed a pregnancy pulse!"

After saying this, he cupped his hands in congratulations and said, "Congratulations, Madam, Your Excellency will soon become a father."

Chunzhi's eyelids twitched, and she hurriedly glanced at the lady lying on the bed.

Ji Shu stared blankly at the intricate patterns on the bed curtains. Although she had already guessed it, the confirmation was still the result she least wanted to accept.

She turned her head and whispered to the doctor, "I hope you will not make a fuss. I told the family today that I had a poor appetite. If the old lady asks, just say that you have already prescribed medicine and that there is nothing serious."

The doctor didn't think much of it; many high-ranking families had a rule that pregnant women shouldn't announce their pregnancies before three months of pregnancy.

He nodded repeatedly in agreement.

After asking the doctor to leave, Ji Shu suddenly felt nauseous and began to dry heave over the bedside.

Chunzhi hurriedly brought over a spittoon, gently patting her back as she asked with concern, "Madam... are you feeling unwell in your chest?"

She remembered that the lady had said she would leave once the lord went to war, but now she never expected to be pregnant. What if something happened to her on the way?

The more I think about it, the more panicked I become.

Ji Shu vomited for a while before lying back down, feeling weak all over. Chunzhi took a handkerchief and carefully wiped her down.

After she caught her breath, she heard Ji Shu say softly, "Don't tell anyone. I never intended to keep this child. Go buy an abortion pill today and brew it for me to drink."

His tone was so calm, as if he had no idea how shocking his words were, but it startled Chunzhi so much that she fell to her knees with a thud: "Young lady!"

They even called out the old names, which shows how scared they were.

In this world, there has never been a woman who, after getting married and having children, said she didn't want them.

Those potent drugs were traditionally prepared by the matriarchs of high-ranking noble families to deal with maids and concubines.

It was used for abortion in brothels.

"What do you mean you don't want this child? How little you care about your own health! What will I do if something happens to me?"

"Moreover, I have heard that some people who used that stuff suffered from persistent lochia and died young after only a few months due to blood and qi deficiency."

"Young lady, please don't do anything foolish!"

Ji Shu turned her head to look at Chunzhi and saw the fear on her face. She knew that her decision not to have the child had caused Chunzhi great panic.

Yes, in this era, who wouldn't be overjoyed when the mistress of a noble family becomes pregnant?

That means her position is secure and she has a successor. Song Yunshu incurred the old lady's displeasure precisely because she couldn't give birth to a second child.

If we were to try to eliminate it secretly within this mansion, it wouldn't be a good time, and we wouldn't be well-prepared.

Seeing Ji Shu's resolute expression and unwavering demeanor, Chunzhi hurriedly added, "If you really don't want it, we can wait until we leave and make all the necessary preparations before discussing it further."

Ji Shu remained silent for a long while before finally nodding wearily.

She reached out and gently stroked her still flat stomach, chuckling softly a few times, her laughter filled with helplessness and desolation.

She said slowly, "This matter must never be known to anyone else, understand?"

Chunzhi thought that the lady was willing to keep the child, and nodded quickly with tears of joy.

She then whispered, "Then I'll instruct the kitchen to prepare more nourishing soups for you these days."

After he finished speaking, his gaze involuntarily fell on her lower abdomen.

As long as the young lady doesn't plan to abort now, there will always be ways to persuade her to keep the baby. The thought of seeing her little master in nine months fills her with immense joy.

Ji Shu didn't speak, as if she had already fallen asleep.

Chunzhi got up, closed the door tightly, and left.

Hearing the footsteps fade into the distance, Ji Shu opened her eyes. This child absolutely could not be kept; once kept, the entanglements would only increase.

With this in mind, a clear idea took shape in my mind.

In the days that followed, Pei Yanzhi became increasingly busy, and it is said that he had not even returned to his study in Wenxin Pavilion for a long time.

Ji Shu also heard that he had issued a proclamation to punish the rebels, thus justifying his actions to the world, stating that Ding Wei was not of the rightful line and that his imprisonment of the Crown Prince and Empress Dowager was a heinous crime.

And I, Pei Yanzhi, will punish you, you traitorous scoundrel.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Pei Yanzhi returned from the military camp, travel-worn and weary.

According to custom, this should be a day for family reunion and celebration.

However, the Song family incident had just occurred in the manor not long ago, and Pei Yanzhi was about to go on a military expedition soon, so the dangers of this trip were unpredictable.

Everyone couldn't help but feel gloomy, and Pei Xingjian and Pei Song looked particularly downcast.

On the contrary, Madam Pei remained calm. At her age, she had seen too many storms and waves. Her father, husband, and son had all been fighting for many years.

In the past, they fought against foreign enemies, but now they are fighting amongst themselves. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but shake her head.

Her gaze fell on Ji Shu, who was sitting at the lower end of the table. Thinking of the bond between her and the father and son, her eyes were filled with complex emotions.

She glanced at Pei Xingjian again and saw that he wasn't looking at Ji Shu, but was just silently drinking his wine, which made her feel a little relieved.

Perhaps, as Dalang said, once Xingjian gets married, they will move out, which might be a good thing.

If they were together all day long, no matter how calm Wei Heng appeared on the surface, how could she possibly tolerate her husband having another woman in his heart?

"Shu'er, it's Mid-Autumn Festival today. Did you tell Jingchen about it?"

Ji Shu looked up at the sound and replied with a smile, "Mother, the Marquis said he would come over to have dinner together after he finished his work."

"well."

"Although today is a festive day, the situation is unstable. Our lord will soon be going to war. A true man should conquer all and bring peace to the world. We just need to wait for them to return victorious in the backyard."

Ji Shu raised her wine cup, stood up, and said loudly, "Mother, your daughter-in-law wishes you a long and healthy life."

Madam Pei smiled and said, "Very well, I appreciate your kind words."

"Why did they all start drinking before even waiting for me?"

Just as Ji Shu brought the wine cup to her lips, Chunzhi had specifically reminded her on the way that pregnant women should avoid cold and alcohol, so she didn't plan to drink either.

Then she heard a deep, mellow male voice coming from the doorway. Ji Shu's heart skipped a beat; he had arrived.