**The Prime Minister's Residence in the Capital**
Madam Luo (Luo Qingrou's mother) sat at her rosewood desk by the window. The afternoon sun shone through the exquisitely carved window lattice, casting dappled light and shadow on the letter in her hands. Her gaze lingered again and again on her daughter's familiar handwriting, her fingertips gently tracing the lines "occasionally feeling short of breath and dizzy" and "thinking of the taste of Mother's soup in the capital." Her dignified and elegant face was initially filled with deep worry, but when she saw the line "My husband is burning with worry and cannot sleep at night," the worry between her brows eased slightly, replaced by a relieved smile. However, upon seeing Lu Zheng's request for her to personally visit the border, that smile was quickly replaced by eagerness.
"This child... her tendency to only report good news and not bad news is just like her father's!" Madam Luo scolded softly, her eyes slightly reddening. She immediately called out, "Jinse! Quickly, go to the storeroom and find that box of bird's nest that the palace bestowed upon us last time, those few pieces of fine old ginseng, and the few warming medicinal herbs that Master treasured! Also, I remember the kitchen recently got a few jars of fine candied plums? Bring them all! Rou'er used to love eating these when she was at home, and now that she's pregnant, she probably craves them even more."
Jinse, the personal maid, quickly replied, "Yes, Madam! I'll go take care of it right away. Madam, what about Miss's side..."
"Ah Zheng is worried and wants me to go to the border to take care of Rou'er during her delivery." Madam Luo put down the letter, her tone resolute. "Go pack quickly, pick out the most essential items, the things that are hard to find on the road! Pack plenty of clothes and bedding too; the border is bitterly cold, Rou'er mustn't get cold." She got up and began pacing around the room, considering which capable and reliable servants and nannies to take. Remembering her daughter's mention in the letter that she wasn't used to the food, she became even more anxious. "Oh, and also, take my two cooks who are good at making medicinal cuisine and regulating the pregnant woman's stomach! It's fine to keep the luggage light, but the people must be capable!"
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**The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion**
Almost simultaneously with Madam Luo receiving her letter, the Duchess of Zhenguo (Lu Zheng's mother) also received a personal letter from her son, delivered by express courier. This Duchess, born into a military family, was always decisive and efficient. She skimmed the letter, and when she saw the undisguised anxiety and worry about the conditions at the border that her son couldn't hide between the lines, especially the sentence, "The borderlands are bitterly cold, and the food is coarse. Although Qingrou has tried her best to adapt, my heart is truly uneasy," her well-maintained face instantly lost its smile, and her eyebrows furrowed.
"Zheng'er, you child!" She slammed her hand on the table, making the teacups clatter. "I told you the border isn't a place to rest during pregnancy! Qingrou is pregnant and still working so hard in the medical tent, how can this be allowed!" She stood up abruptly and loudly ordered the steward standing beside her, "Lu Zhong! Immediately! Right now! Open the manor's storeroom! Bring out those top-quality white fox and silver rat pelts that were presented as tribute from the northern estate last year, as well as those thick fur cloaks! Medicinal herbs! Pick the best ones to replenish qi and blood, and dispel cold and dampness, the more the better! I remember there are still a few boxes of the frostbite ointment bestowed upon me by the palace? Bring them all! The wind at the border is like a knife, you can't let your hands get cracked!"
She paced around the hall with a flurry of activity, giving orders with composure: "Pick four more strong, quick, and experienced postpartum nannies for me! The most reliable and mature ones! Also, select twenty capable guards from the manor to escort me north! Prepare the most spacious and comfortable carriage, with thick, soft cushions!" She paused, then added, "Oh, and go to the Luo residence to ask when my future mother-in-law plans to depart. If the time is right, we can travel together and look out for each other on the road!"
Steward Lu Zhong was a little dizzy from the barrage of orders from his wife, but he reacted quickly and bowed to accept the order: "Yes, Madam! I will take care of it right away and make sure it is done within half a day!" The entire Zhenguo Duke's Mansion instantly started operating at high speed as if it had been wound up.
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