"vomit--"
Shen Zhao lay on the edge of the bed, her slender shoulders heaving violently as she vomited violently into the gilded bowl that the maid hurriedly brought her. Her face was deathly pale, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead. She had also vomited up the half-cup of water she had managed to drink earlier, leaving only a mouthful of sour and bitter taste.
Lu Qi had just returned from outside, still damp with the chill of dew, and hadn't even had time to change his boots. Upon hearing the sound, his expression changed, and he rushed to the bedside in a few strides. With one hand, he steadily supported Shen Zhao's swaying body, and with the other, he took the warm, damp handkerchief handed to him by a maid. His movements were gentle yet firm, carefully wiping the disheveled look from her forehead and lips.
"Alright, alright, you feel better now that you've thrown up..." His deep voice carried a strange, soothing power. His broad hands patted her back, feeling the rise and fall of her slender spine. "This little darling, why are you making such a fuss?" He frowned, his tone full of heartache and helplessness. His gaze on Shen Zhao's flat stomach was as if he were looking at a wicked little enemy.
Shen Zhao leaned weakly against his strong arm, too exhausted to even lift a finger, only able to let out soft sobs and gasps. Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes wet with tears, making her look exceptionally pitiful.
"Lu Qi..." Her voice was barely audible, filled with deep grievance, "It's so painful... I never want to have another child..."
"Alright, alright, no more children, just this one!" Lu Qi immediately went along with her words, carefully wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "When this little rascal comes out, I will definitely teach him a lesson and let him know how much his mother has suffered!"
His "fierce" declaration, coupled with his cautious movements, created a stark contrast. Although Shen Zhao was still feeling unwell, a sweet feeling welled up inside her, and she found it amusing. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, but then she frowned as her stomach churned.
Just then, a maid respectfully announced from outside the door: "General, Madam, the eldest young mistress has arrived."
The curtain was lifted, and An'an walked in with a smile, carrying an exquisite food box. She was dressed in a neat blue dress with a thin padded jacket over it, her brows displaying the composure unique to a doctor and a touch of the warmth of an elder sister-in-law. Seeing Shen Zhao's appearance, she understood and quickly stepped forward.
"Sister-in-law..." Shen Zhao called out weakly, with a hint of dependence as if she had seen a savior.
"Don't get up." An'an placed the food box on the small table next to her, washed her hands in the copper basin next to her, and then sat down on the edge of the couch. She naturally took Shen Zhao's wrist and gently placed three fingers on her cun guan chi.
Lu Qi immediately held his breath, nervously watching An An's calm and focused profile.
After a moment, An'an released her hand, a gentle smile appearing on her face: "Your pulse is smooth and strong, the pregnancy is very stable. It's just that morning sickness varies from person to person, it's normal for Zhaozhao to have a stronger reaction. When I was pregnant with those three little devils, I vomited even more than this, I felt dizzy and like I wanted to throw up my internal organs." Her tone was relaxed, with the teasing of someone who had been through it all, instantly easing the tense atmosphere in the room.
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhao blinked her big eyes, as if she had found an ally, and asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, what did you eat to feel better back then?"
An'an smiled as she opened the food box she had brought. A unique aroma, a blend of the crisp, slightly spicy scent of dried tangerine peel and the sweet and sour taste of plums, instantly filled the air, strangely suppressing the lingering nausea in Shen Zhao's throat. Inside the box were several small, exquisite candied fruits: dark brown dried tangerine peel plums coated in sugar frosting, translucent slices of honey-soaked ginger, and a small dish of sour-looking dried green apricots.
"Try this," An'an picked up a dried tangerine peel plum and held it to Shen Zhao's lips. "Dried tangerine peel relieves nausea and vomiting, while plums promote saliva production and stimulate appetite. I used to rely on this to suppress my nausea. And this ginger slice, it warms the stomach and stops vomiting, so when you feel unwell, just put a slice in your mouth. Dried apricots are the most sour, so if you really have no appetite, eating a small piece can refresh you."
With a mixture of disbelief and skepticism, Shen Zhao took a small bite of the dried tangerine peel and plum from An'an's hand. The complex flavors unfolded in her mouth—first the slightly bitter and spicy aroma of the dried tangerine peel, followed by the rich sweet and sour taste of the plum, and finally the smooth sweetness of the sugar frosting. Surprisingly, the nausea she felt was temporarily suppressed by the strong flavor, and some saliva even appeared in her mouth.
"Hmm...it seems...a bit better?" Shen Zhao's eyes brightened, and he took another bite, his cheeks bulging like a little squirrel searching for food.
Seeing this, Lu Qi breathed a sigh of relief and looked at An An with gratitude in his eyes: "Thank you, sister-in-law!"
An'an waved her hand and laughed, "We're family, no need to be so polite." She watched as Shen Zhao's face relaxed a bit as she ate, then remembered something, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and she took Shen Zhao's wrist again, "Zhao Zhao just said she doesn't want to have any more children? Then I'll take a closer look and see if God will give you this chance to 'slack off'."
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