Chapter 72: Daily Life + Raising a Child (Part Two)
More than a month after their wedding night, Yun Sheng's pulse began to show some signs of trouble.
Xiao Xu was overjoyed and so excited that he couldn't sleep all night.
The next morning, Yun Sheng woke up to find him lying on the bed, unusually, even though it was already bright outside. His eyes were clear and staring straight at her, with only a few dark circles under his eyes indicating that he hadn't slept all night.
Yun Sheng was both amused and exasperated, but also felt a growing sense of worry.
"What if it's not? The doctor also said that the time is too short and there's no certainty."
“I know,” Xiao Xu said in a deep voice.
"If not, then try again."
These words made Yun Sheng's cheeks flush.
The so-called effort was what she whispered in the bridal chamber that day: "Are you still taking that medicine this month?"
"Well, the month isn't over yet, so it's not time to take the medication again."
He thought Yun Sheng was worried that the medicine was too strong.
Yun Sheng shook her head: "What I meant was, could you please stop taking that medicine next month?"
The air fell silent for a moment, and Xiao Xu almost thought he had misheard.
"Sheng Sheng, what did you say?"
Yun Sheng did not flinch, looking directly into Xiao Xu's eyes, and said seriously, "I said, let's have a child."
That night, Xiao Xu was unusually excited. Although the effects of the medicine had not yet worn off, he tried his best, tossing and turning with Yun Sheng for almost the entire night. Only when dawn was breaking did he kiss her forehead contentedly, hold her soft body, and fall asleep with her.
In the days that followed, he became even more vigorous in that area, which he was already not very restrained with.
Sometimes Yun Sheng was so tired that she couldn't muster any strength, but Xiao Xu would use both soft and hard tactics, using the excuse of wanting a child, to pester her to try again and again.
Counting the days, only forty-odd days had passed since she mentioned this matter, and the medicine's effects had only worn off for a little over a month.
She herself felt nothing, but her period was late, so Xiao Xu urgently asked the village doctor to come and take her pulse.
The pulse may resemble a pregnancy pulse, but this does not necessarily mean that the person is pregnant.
Yun Sheng thought to herself, what if they went to see a doctor again next month and were told that it was not a pregnancy pulse? Wouldn't that mean that both of them would be disappointed?
On the other hand, she also thought that if she were really pregnant, wouldn't the timeline mean that she got pregnant after their first sexual intercourse following the effects of the medicine?
What about all those subsequent efforts?
Yun Sheng's gaze silently followed Xiao Xu's face down to his neck and then to his slightly open collar.
The morning light illuminated his full chest, which rose and fell slightly with his breathing, revealing glimpses of his firm abdominal muscles that weren't hidden beneath his robes.
Just then, Xiao Xu pinched her chin and lifted her head: "Stop looking. We won't do it for the next few days. We have to follow the doctor's orders and wait until things stabilize."
"...Is that what you mean?"
"Isn't that right? Then what are you looking at?"
"I think..."
He was strong and healthy, with seemingly inexhaustible strength, and his penis was always full of fluids.
Yun Sheng let out a soft breath, thinking that she might actually hit the mark on the first try.
Another month passed, and Yun Sheng's body gradually showed some signs of pregnancy. The doctor came to take her pulse again, and this time the happy news was finally confirmed.
Yun Sheng thought she would see Xiao Xu's rare excitement and ecstasy at that moment, but instead she saw him freeze in place.
Xiao Xu rarely saw him like this.
No, it should be said that this was the first time I saw him standing there motionless, with a blank expression and a stiff body.
Xiao Xu remained in a daze for a long time until Yun Sheng stepped forward and waved her hand in front of his eyes.
"Husband, what's wrong?"
He was clearly talking to her about how things would be different if they were a daughter or a son before he went to bed yesterday.
Now that it's confirmed, he's stunned.
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Xu suddenly came back to his senses.
This time, Yun Sheng finally saw his excited and ecstatic expression.
Inside, the doctor was still packing his box, while Cuizhu and Mushan waited by his side, along with Aniu and Xing'er, who had rushed over to express their concern.
Xiao Xu picked her up in one swift motion, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.
"Sheng Sheng, Sheng Sheng".
"I'm going to be a dad! We're having a baby!"
Yun Sheng was suddenly lifted into the air. She didn't even have time to feel shy. She could only hug his neck tightly and was spun around in the air twice while being held by him.
Upon seeing this, the doctor hurriedly stopped him, saying, "Young man, you must be careful."
The others panicked even more, fearing that Yun Sheng might fall and hurt herself.
Xiao Xu held her firmly in his arms; there was no way he would let her fall even slightly.
He looked down at her: "Are you dizzy?"
Yun Sheng shook her head, her panic subsiding, and chuckled softly, "You're so happy you're about to faint, aren't you?"
All told, Yun Sheng and Xiao Xu stayed in Xitou Village for exactly four months.
Although it has been less than half a year, it is not a short period of time.
Now that Yun Sheng is pregnant, Xiao Xu quickly decided to take her back to the capital.
Just as he had said when he arrived, if he ever wanted to quit his job, a whole bunch of people would be scrambling to take it.
In the end, he hardly had to worry about handing over anything. The officials who took over handled everything properly, fearing that Xiao Xu might change his mind and snatch away his good job.
Back in the capital, the news of Yun Sheng's pregnancy quickly spread to the rest of the two families.
In the first few days after returning, Yun Sheng was extremely busy.
On one hand, she instructed the servants to sort through the things she had brought back from Xitou Village over the past four months, such as her and Xiao Xu's wedding dress, the gifts Xiao Xu had given her, and even the embroidery frame used to embroider the wedding dress. She said they were all of sentimental value.
While busy dealing with her family members who came to visit her, Shen Yuewan came almost every day, and Xu Peilan also visited the Prince Zhao's residence one after another, even wanting to take Yun Sheng back to her parents' home for a few days.
Later, Xiao Xu took on all these miscellaneous tasks, and he politely declined to talk to his own mother and mother-in-law, not to mention his sisters like Yun Zhi and Liu Xian, who would keep Yun Sheng chatting for several hours.
Although Yun Sheng had some free time as a result, she found herself bored after a while.
Now she is showing some signs of pregnancy, with her lower abdomen slightly protruding. It is not very noticeable under her loose dresses on ordinary days, but when she leans against the chaise longue, her dresses fall down, and the curve of her lower abdomen can be seen.
Xiao Xu touched it very lightly, so lightly that one could hardly feel his fingers touching it.
He also asked, "Why isn't he making a sound at all?"
Yun Sheng chuckled: "It's only been a few months, it's not time to feel anything yet. Besides, you haven't even touched it, so you wouldn't feel anything even if there was movement."
“I’ve found it.” Xiao Xu paused slightly, then tentatively opened his fingers and reached out.
He seemed to feel a pulse beating, but he didn't know if it was his own, Yun Sheng's, or their child's.
"He must be a very beautiful baby, just like you."
Yun Sheng said, "Then he must be exceptionally intelligent, just like you."
In the evening, Yun Sheng, unable to stay idle, went to Jinxia Courtyard to talk to Liu Xian.
Liu Xian gave birth to her second child, and Lan Ge'er, who is now a bit older, is able to help take care of his younger sister.
Yun Sheng looked on with envy, and her anticipation for the child grew even stronger.
When they returned to the east courtyard, they saw Xiao Xu writing something at his desk under the east window.
Since returning to the capital, Xiao Xu has not taken on too many busy official duties. Even when he is busy, he no longer goes to the study. He usually finishes his work as quickly as possible by the east window and then returns to Yun Sheng's side to continue accompanying her. Sometimes Yun Sheng finds him annoying because he is so clingy, but she can't get rid of him.
Yun Sheng glanced at him as she entered the room and then looked away; she never disturbed him while he was working.
Just as she was about to go inside, she heard Xiao Xu calling her from the other end of the line: "Sheng Sheng".
Yun Sheng walked over and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Xu did not answer for the time being, and even continued what he was doing.
Yun Sheng then noticed what he was writing: "You're...writing a letter?"
"Um."
Xiao Xu had just finished writing and put down his pen.
He looked up at Yun Sheng and said as if it were a matter of course, "Song Lan sent a letter a couple of days ago, and my family has been preparing to reply to him these past few days."
Hearing news about Xiao Ling from Xiao Xu's mouth made Yun Sheng pause for a moment.
He had never mentioned Xiao Ling since Xiao Ling left.
"Is there anything you want to say to him? I'll write it all in the letter."
"...?" Yun Sheng frowned slightly and looked at Xiao Xu suspiciously, wondering what he was up to by suggesting that she write a letter to Xiao Ling.
She didn't answer him, but reached out and took the letter that Xiao Xu had written to Xiao Ling.
Upon seeing this, Yun Sheng couldn't help but chuckle.
A whole page of letter paper, filled with writing.
However, the first line only briefly expressed concern for his younger brother who was far away in Shuofeng Pass. The entire next page was about him becoming a father and repeatedly reminded Xiao Ling that he would be the uncle from now on.
At this moment, Xiao Xu asked again, seemingly casually, "Sheng Sheng, is there anything you want to say? I'll write it down for you."
Is there any room left to write on that letter paper?
Yun Sheng chuckled and put the letter back to him: "There's nothing to say. I'm tired, I'm going to rest now. You can continue writing."
She turned around but didn't see Xiao Xu's smug expression, but she heard his light tone: "I've finished writing. I'll stay with you. Sheng Sheng, wait for me."
Yun Sheng became pregnant in early summer, and the child was born in the spring of the new year.
She had hoped her child would be born in the bright sunshine, but the contractions lasted for a long time that day, and it wasn't until evening, when the sky was ablaze with the glow of sunset, that she was taken to the delivery room and began giving birth.
Xiao Xu wanted to go in with her, but Yun Sheng refused no matter what.
He could only wait at the door, listening to the sounds inside, pacing back and forth helplessly.
"Stop wandering around, my eyes are getting blurry," Xiao Qingchuan said, finally losing his patience.
Xiao Xu ignored him.
"Brother, your wife's pregnancy has been going smoothly, and the midwife said it looks like the delivery will be easy too, so don't be too nervous," Xiao Min reassured her.
Xiao Xu remained unresponsive.
Until the stars climbed to the top of the branches, the sky was completely shrouded in heavy blackness.
A baby's cry came from the delivery room.
Xiao Xu immediately broke down the door and entered.
In that instant, his mind went blank, and he could not even hear the child crying.
"Husband, bring the child here so I can see him/her."
Yun Sheng's delivery went very smoothly; the baby was born in just over half an hour.
But she was still weak, barely breathing, with only her gentle, watery eyes gazing at him.
Xiao Xu numbly took the child from the midwife and carried the child step by step toward Yun Sheng.
"It's a daughter, she's so beautiful." Yun Sheng lowered her eyes, her heart filled with tenderness.
"Hmm," Xiao Xu replied, his voice tense.
Yun Sheng looked up and was about to ask, "Chang Yu, what's wrong..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Xu's face turned pale and his expression became unfocused.
He lowered his arm toward Yun Sheng's bedside.
The moment the child was settled in place, everything went black before his eyes.
A muffled thud—
"Oh no! Oh no!"
"His Highness has fainted!"
"Summon the doctor! Summon the doctor!"
"His Highness has fainted!"
The baby cried loudly, and a flurry of panic erupted inside and outside the delivery room.
Yun Sheng tilted her head slightly and placed a kiss on Xiao Xu's cheek.
"He was so happy he fainted."
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