"What's wrong with Gege lately? She seems to have lost her appetite." Xicha brought Lanqin's lunch out of the room and walked to the kitchen, saying to Niu Baoquan.
"Then I'll have to think of something. Princess always has a good appetite. Is it because of the hot weather?" When Old Niu heard that his master couldn't eat, his first thought was whether his cooking was not to his liking.
"Hmm. Master Niu, could you make something to cool you down and whet your appetite?" Xi Cha said, putting down her barely touched lunch.
Niu Baoquan looked around and saw that the beef with bell peppers was untouched, the stewed pork with dried green beans was untouched, and the chicken was untouched. He only ate some green vegetables and barley porridge.
Meanwhile, Madam Geng and Madam Song arrived and were sitting in the inner room talking with Lanqin.
"The weather is getting hot, why haven't the summer clothes been delivered yet?" Madam Geng said, gently waving a hexagonal palace-shaped fan.
She was referring to how, some time ago, the Fujin (princess) had specially ordered the household's tailors to distribute a newly allocated batch of Suzhou satin suitable for making summer clothes for everyone.
"Sister, don't you have enough clothes? I have a few bolts of cloth here that would fit you. Why don't you take them and make some clothes?" Lanqin has been very sleepy lately, and she often starts yawning before her afternoon nap.
“I don’t need any clothes, it’s just strange that the Fujin seems to be neglecting me more this year than in previous years,” Geng said.
“Now that she is raising the Fourth Prince, she naturally neglects us as much as possible, and she pays even less attention to things like making clothes.” Madam Song waved a round fan and, seeing that Lanqin seemed to be in poor spirits, said, “Sister needs to rest for the afternoon, let’s go back.”
"I don't know why, but I'm so sleepy lately, and I don't have much of an appetite." Lanqin couldn't help but yawn again.
Song and Geng exchanged a glance, and Song asked, "Sister, have you had your period this month?"
Lanqin said with a dazed look in her eyes, "I don't quite remember, I'll have to ask Nianxue."
At this moment, Si Hua was serving behind Lan Qin. When she saw Song Shi and Geng Shi looking at her, she hurriedly said, "Sister Nian Xue is in charge of all of Gege's affairs."
Madam Song said to Qingping, "Go and call Nianxue here."
Lanqin remained unconcerned and said, "Are you all suspecting that I might be pregnant?"
Seeing that she still seemed indifferent, Geng said resentfully, "You silly girl, you don't even know your period hasn't come? What if someone takes notice? They could trip you up without you even noticing, and you'll regret it then."
Madam Song nodded and said, "That woman has been keeping a close eye on you, and I'm afraid she already knows whether your period is late or not!"
After hearing what they said, Lanqin was temporarily unable to fall asleep.
Nianxue was summoned in by Qingping. Seeing her mistress staring at her, she asked, puzzled, "Princess, did you call me in because you need something?"
"It wasn't your princess who called you in, it was me," said Madam Song. "Go and see if Lan'er's period is late, and how late it has been."
Nian Xuefu paused for a moment, then quickly went into Lanqin's inner room and found a small notebook where she kept records of Lanqin's menstrual cycle.
When she came out, she hurriedly said to Lanqin, "Princess, this servant deserves to die. Your period is already half a month late this month." After saying that, she was about to kneel down.
Lanqin stopped her, saying, "What's the big deal? My periods have never been very regular. It's understandable that you might forget to remind me once in a while."
Madam Song hurriedly said, "Sister, you should quickly find Doctor Wu to take a look."
Geng nodded in agreement.
Nianxue hurriedly said, "Princess, this servant will go to the main courtyard to ask the Fujin (princess's wife) to call Doctor Wu for you."
Lanqin nodded, and Nianxue was about to turn around when Geng called her back.
"This man surnamed Wu, it seems he was recommended by the Fujin (principal wife)," Geng said.
"Hmm. What you said reminds me, but I'll just have him take my pulse and not take any of the medicine he prescribes. He wouldn't dare to try anything funny about that," said Madam Song.
Lanqin touched her belly, still somewhat unable to process what Song and Geng had said, as if she were really pregnant.
In her heart, she really couldn't accept that she was going to get pregnant and have a child at only fifteen.
Seeing that Lanqin remained silent, Nianxue turned and left. She ran frantically, her heart filled with both anxiety and joy. If the princess was pregnant at this moment, all the better. She had been worried that if Princess Yu gave birth, the princess might feel wronged, but now there was no time for that.
Meanwhile, the Fujin was preparing for her afternoon nap when someone came to announce that Nianxue had something to report.
After Chunliu brought Nianxue in and they exchanged greetings, Nianxue said, "Reporting to the Madam, my princess's period is half a month late. I would like to ask Doctor Wu to take her pulse and check on her."
The princess was wondering what was going on in the South Courtyard when she was suddenly told what Nianxue said, and she was so shocked that she couldn't speak for a long time.
She cleared her throat and said slowly, "Granny Li, you should go and invite Doctor Wu to go with you. Princess Niu has been in the manor for over a year now, and after enjoying the emperor's favor for so long, it's only natural that she's pregnant."
At this moment, only Granny Li knew how unhappy the Fujin (princess) would be upon hearing this news. But as the Fujin, she had to say these words.
After Nian Xuefu's ceremony, she left with Granny Li.
The Fujin stared blankly as their figures disappeared outside the door, momentarily at a loss for what to do. Yan Yu had given birth to twins, and now Niu Shi was likely pregnant again. As the Fujin, she only had an adopted son and had long since lost favor with the emperor.
"Xiahe, go pick out some fabric and send it to Yanyu. Tell her it's for the two children. Make some summer clothes for them," the Fujin said to Xiahe after thinking for a moment.
Meanwhile, Doctor Wu arrived at the South Courtyard with Granny Li and Nianxue.
Both Madam Song and Madam Geng were present and greeted Li Mama upon her arrival. Doctor Wu, following protocol, took Lanqin's pulse.
No one in the room dared to breathe loudly.
Doctor Wu frowned quietly, taking Lanqin's pulse repeatedly, as if afraid of making a mistake. Seeing that Doctor Wu remained silent, only switching hands to take her pulse, Lanqin asked, "I haven't had a good appetite lately, and I'm very sleepy. My period is also late. Could I be pregnant?"
Everyone in the room immediately pricked up their ears, waiting for Dr. Wu's answer.
When Dr. Wu saw Lanqin asking a question, he had no choice but to say, "Reporting to Princess Niu, it looks like a sign of pregnancy. I just took her pulse, and it does indeed look like a pregnancy pulse. However, it's too early in the pregnancy, so it might not be accurate yet. Princess, please rest for now. If your period still hasn't come in half a month, then come back to take your pulse again."
This answer seems uncertain.
Madam Song couldn't help but ask, "Doctor Wu, is Sister Niu pregnant or not?"
Doctor Wu put down his examination towel, stood up, and bowed, saying, "It seems so at the moment, but I cannot confirm it yet. I will examine you again in a few days. If your period does not come, the pregnancy pulse will become more and more obvious."
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