Chapter 7 Extra 2: A Few Things About Pregnancy (Part 3)
After the renovation and cleaning of Duyuan was completed, Bai Hua and Ning Jue made thorough preparations and moved back in with Xiao You.
When the two left a year and a half ago, they were just husband and wife; now that they have returned home, they are a family of three.
Time really flies.
In fact, there have been some changes both inside and outside the Duyuan Garden.
For example, at the main entrance, there used to be a fierce-looking stone lion standing on each side. However, when Bai Hua entered Duyuan again, she found that the expressions of the two stone lions had changed. They were no longer baring their fur in a fierce manner, but instead, they were all grinning and showing a row of teeth, which made people smile.
Bai Hua asked Ning Jue curiously, "Is this what you ordered us to do?"
Ning Jue replied truthfully: "I overheard your sister-in-law mentioning that pregnant ladies shouldn't be exposed to fierce-looking objects. The other day when I entered the garden, I saw two stone lions at the entrance that looked like they were baring their teeth at me. It was an unpleasant sight, so I think it's not good to keep them there. What if they really frighten the lady?"
Bai Hua smiled, unable to suppress a laugh, and said, "You believe that? Do you think I've been scared since I was a child? It's a pity that our family's stone lions are being wasted. They were carved from top-quality white marble, and my brother specially hired a famous craftsman. By the way, what did you do with them? Did you lose them?"
"How could that be?" Ning Jue took Bai Hua's hand and continued, "Last month, Chen Fu and Miss Jiuqiu got married and had a grand wedding. Zang Fan came back to the capital to attend the wedding and stopped by Duyuan Garden. He saw that I didn't want these stone lions, so he asked me for them. If I didn't give them to Zang Fan, I originally planned to give them to a colleague I used to work with under the Great General. But since they're all gifts anyway, it doesn't matter who they're given to."
Speaking of this, Bai Hua casually asked, "I heard that Chen Fu took a long leave of absence and is preparing to take Jiu Qiu on a trip to various places."
Ning Jue nodded: "Yes, Chen Fu had previously made meritorious contributions in suppressing the riots of disaster victims. He did not take a day off for two months. General Wang was very kind to him and ordered Duan Yi to grant him a long leave so that he could enjoy his marriage."
Bai Hua: "The Great General is adept at managing his ministers. It's all good this way. Jiu Qiu and the others will finally have a chance to have some fun."
Chen Fu and Jiu Qiu, lovers, finally got married and are now settled in Beijing.
Unfortunately, Bai Hua was unable to attend the wedding ceremony in person due to her pregnancy, so she could only convey her congratulations through Ning Jue.
Duan Yi, as the head of Chen Fu's family, no longer opposed him. After Duan Yi returned to the center of the court in Jingqi, Chen Fu continued to serve by his side. After a year and a half of steady progress, the two had established themselves in the officialdom.
Jiuqiu successfully changed her registered residence. Apart from these few trusted insiders, no one else knew that Jiuqiu was once the most famous courtesan in Yecheng's brothels. She officially broke with the past and strode forward into a bright future.
Thinking of this, Bai Hua couldn't help but feel emotional. Happiness and fulfillment are not the privilege of a few; everyone plays the leading role in their own unique destiny.
Ning Jue glanced at Bai Hua and asked with a smile, "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you really that reluctant to part with her?"
Bai Hua snapped out of her daze, pouted, and replied, "Zang Fan got off easy. Oh well, let him have it. He can take it back to Ji Ling and put it up at the entrance of the escort agency to keep things in order."
Ning Jue smiled and said, "Hua'er thinks the same way I do."
The two entered the corridor.
In the warm spring sunshine, gnarled green branches climb along the corridor, casting scattered shadows of emerald leaves on the walls and stone path.
Ning Jue and Bai Hua's shadows were also there, side by side, one with broad shoulders and the other slender as a willow, looking very intimate and well-matched.
A gust of wind rustled the leaves, and Bai Hua suddenly remembered something and asked curiously, "Speaking of Zang Fan... why hasn't he gotten married yet? Don't his elders urge him to get married?"
Ning Jue was somewhat surprised that Bai Hua would ask about Zang Fan.
He did indeed know something about Zang Fan's relationship status. Zang Fan had always been very open with him, and Ning Jue was equally open with Bai Hua.
Ning Jue said, "Of course we'll urge him. Zang Fan doesn't even want to go home anymore; he's just tired of his parents nagging him."
Bai Hua wanted to laugh with a hint of schadenfreude, and could roughly imagine Zang Fan's headache: "How high are Zang Fan's standards? Aunt Zang must have asked quite a few people to introduce him to potential partners, right? Hasn't he found one he likes?"
Ning Jue: "As far as I know, Zang Fan may have someone on his mind. When he first led a caravan on his own, he encountered a group of highway robbers. They somehow got wind of the fact that the Zang family's escort agency had changed its young master and thought it would be easier to take them down. As a result, they suffered heavy losses due to underestimating their enemy. Zang Fan captured the leader of the gang and only found out that she was a girl when he pulled down her mask."
Bai Hua's eyes widened in surprise: "There was such a thing? And then...?"
Ning Jue shook his head: "I only know that Zang Fan was soft-hearted and released the person. As for what other interactions they had afterward, I have no idea."
Will Zang Fan still have a soft heart?
He, who usually acts so arrogantly, actually has moments of tenderness and compassion for women.
Bai Hua would never forget that Zang Fan had once disliked her intensely, showing no sympathy whatsoever for her fabricated story of being forced into selling a widower in the village by her brother and sister-in-law.
It seems that some things really aren't about the issue itself, but rather about the person.
The female thief could evoke pity in Zang Fan.
And her tears, by some chance, worked on Ning Jue.
There's an old saying that goes something like this: just as brine sets tofu, one thing can subdue another.
...
During the second trimester, Bai Hua's other symptoms were fine, but she started to experience mild breast tenderness and discomfort, with both breasts feeling full and overflowing.
Bai Hua was too embarrassed to tell Ning Jue, so she asked Xiao You to find her sister-in-law and inquire about the reason.
When Zhu Xijun was pregnant, she inevitably experienced breast tenderness, but this usually occurs in the late stages of pregnancy or during breastfeeding. Bai Hua is not yet due, so it's unlikely that she would experience breast tenderness so early.
Lacking prior experience, it's not convenient to consult a traditional Chinese medicine doctor about this matter.
After thinking it over, Zhu Xijun found an experienced wet nurse to go to Duyuan to have Bai Hua examined.
The wet nurse lifted her clothes to examine her thoroughly, and then personally probed inside a couple of times. Bai Hua nervously gasped for breath, her face flushed with extreme unease.
Withdrawing her hand, the wet nurse lowered her voice and said, "Madam, did you apply any ointment that makes your breasts fuller? That stuff was brought in by Fujian merchants, and some noblewomen in the capital use it secretly, often experiencing these side effects."
Bai Hua shook her head and said truthfully, "I have never used those kinds of random things."
Having just finished speaking with absolute certainty, Bai Hua's thoughts drifted away, and suddenly something came to mind.
Before she went up Xianyang Mountain, she was taken to Shiyi Township by Fu Wei's wife for a few days of training. Fu Wei's wife made her take a milk bath every day, putting boiled goat milk and many so-called folk remedies in it, saying that it was to nourish her skin.
At the time, she was terrified and confused. Now, thinking back, she realizes that those folk remedies might have included ointments sold by Fujian merchants.
Therefore, it is highly likely that she came into contact with... without knowing it.
Bai Hua's expression changed slightly. The wet nurse noticed this and, understanding the situation, continued speaking tactfully.
"Actually, using ointment won't cause any serious harm to the mother or the baby in the womb. The only problem is that the symptoms of engorgement will come earlier and be more pronounced. Since you said you haven't used it, then it's probably just due to your unique constitution. You're currently in the early stages of your symptoms and it's not too uncomfortable yet. But when you reach the later stages of pregnancy or during breastfeeding, you'll need to be prepared to clear the blockages frequently, otherwise, there's a risk of blockages and inflammation."
Bai Hua was speechless for a long time before stammering, "How...how do we clear this?"
Zhu Xijun couldn't help but cough softly, as if she was the first to understand something.
Because she had experienced it, she understood it more easily.
Bai Hua tilted her head and glanced at her sister-in-law, not understanding why she suddenly lowered her head, and the tips of her ears seemed to be a little red.
The wet nurse spoke up, patiently instructing her: "Actually, this matter is quite easy. With a vigorous young man in the family, isn't it a piece of cake to try and smooth things over? I heard that the wife has only been married for a little over a year, and the couple is in a period of great affection where neither can live without the other, so it's even easier."
Bai Hua finally understood and her cheeks flushed bright red.
It wasn't about drinking some herbal medicine to relieve the symptoms, nor was it about using any tools to complete the task. Instead, she was forced to use the most primitive and shameful method. Good heavens... Bai Hua couldn't imagine how decadent the scene would be. Embarrassed, she raised her hand to cover her face and let out a long, muffled sigh in her heart.
Zhu Xijun's expression had returned to normal. Seeing that Bai Hua was pursing her lips and unable to speak, she took charge: "Would it be feasible to ask the doctor to prescribe some medicine?"
The wet nurse shook her head: "It's not that I'm deliberately trying to be mysterious, but to be honest, I've visited many wealthy families in the capital, and there are quite a few in similar situations to yours. Taking medicine alone certainly won't work; we need to use external help. Besides, all medicines have some toxicity, and we need to be careful during pregnancy. Since there's a convenient way, we should naturally avoid taking medicine if possible."
Bai Hua finally spoke up, her cheeks still flushed, but her eyes were much calmer: "I understand, sister-in-law, you can see the wet nurse out."
Zhu Xijun agreed: "Okay."
After seeing the person off, Zhu Xijun returned to her dormitory.
She closed the door tightly, walked to the bedside, and lowered her voice to comfort Bai Hua, saying, "Hua'er, this is not a big deal. Now that we are husband and wife, there is no need to mention such shameful things."
It would have been better if she hadn't listened to her sister-in-law's comforting words; instead, Bai Hua felt even more uncomfortable after hearing them.
What happens between husband and wife in bed should only be known to the two of them, but now, thanks to the wet nurse's suggestion, the sister-in-law has overheard the whole thing.
Bai Hua, looking dejected, slumped onto the bed, grabbed a corner of the blanket to cover her face, and at that moment just wanted to bury her head in the sand like an ostrich.
Zhu Xijun knew that Bai Hua was shy and embarrassed, and after a moment's thought, she had an idea.
She sat on the edge of the couch, leaning closer to Bai Hua, and patted Bai Hua's shoulder through the blanket, saying, "Hua'er, don't be sad. How about this... I won't just listen to you for nothing. I'll tell you a little secret as a fair exchange, okay?"
Bai Hua replied sullenly, "What secrets could my sister-in-law possibly have..."
“Actually…” Zhu Xijun gritted her teeth and blurted out, “Actually, I’ve also experienced what you find shameful. You’re not one of those special cases, so there’s no need to feel guilty. Especially since I know, it doesn’t matter. We’re the same. Okay, now that you know what happened to me, do you feel better? Let’s both keep quiet about each other from now on, okay?”
Bai Hua finally pulled down the blanket and showed her head.
She blinked and looked at her sister-in-law, noticing a distinct ochre hue on her cheeks.
Her sister-in-law was so frank, how could she not appreciate it? So she replied, "Okay, we'll both keep our mouths shut."
Seeing that Bai Hua's mood had barely calmed down, Zhu Xijun changed the subject and said, "We haven't had any contact with the Ji Ling Rong family for a long time, but some time ago my husband received a letter from Ji Ling. It was Rong Chifang, the eldest daughter of the Rong family, who somehow learned that you were pregnant and took the initiative to send a letter saying that she was willing to come to the capital to take care of you for a while. She also said that it was not Madam Rong's idea, but that she herself wanted to come and do her part."
After saying this, Zhu Xijun commented, "Of the entire Rong family, only this eldest daughter is a sensible person. It's a pity. If the Rong family had been able to establish itself in the capital, the eldest daughter could have married into a good family there. Who could have imagined that the Left Prime Minister would suddenly die, leaving them without support? And Rong Ge, with his narrow-mindedness, wanted to harm you, completely offending our family. Now the Rong family has no power to rely on and no relatives to depend on. Their decline is their own fault. It's just a pity for this kind-hearted eldest daughter."
Bai Hua said, "When I was staying in Jiling, compared to Rong Chifei's meanness and difficulty in getting along, my older cousin always took good care of me. This kindness will not be erased by Rong Linyan's actions, and I will remember it in my heart."
Zhu Xijun agreed, saying, "Yes, out of consideration for kindness and righteousness, we shouldn't condemn their entire family."
Bai Hua spoke up, "Sister-in-law, allow me to discuss this with my husband before replying to Ji Ling."
Zhu Xijun nodded: "Okay, I'll do as you say."
...
After that day, Bai Hua never specifically mentioned the breast swelling to Ning Jue, not because she felt it was unnecessary, but because it was too embarrassing to talk about.
Until one time, when the two were playing and kissing in the room, Ning Jue's hand wandered into her clothes. Just as he was about to do something naughty, his fingertip suddenly touched a tiny wet spot.
He sensed something was wrong, withdrew his hand, and looked at it in front of his eyes. His brows immediately furrowed, and his eyes darkened slightly.
"What happened?"
Bai Hua pursed her lips, and a blush quickly rose to her neck, then spread rapidly to her cheeks and earlobes.
She glanced away hastily, intending to answer truthfully, "Yes..."
However, the words caught in his throat, and he hesitated, unable to speak.
Ning Jue couldn't wait any longer. He squinted at his fingers, trying to discern their color, and had a rough idea of what was going on.
To verify his hypothesis, he put his fingertip to his nose and sniffed it, then opened his mouth and sucked on his fingertip, his eyes instantly becoming even darker.
Bai Hua dared not look anymore.
"Take off your clothes so I can see," Ning Jue said worriedly, as he hadn't expected this to happen.
Bai Hua shook her head and mumbled, "No need to look, there's nothing unusual inside."
Ning Jue asked urgently, "How could it overflow if there's no problem?"
Bai Hua blushed even more. Embarrassed, her heart raced, and her chest reacted, her overflowing impulse becoming even stronger.
"Won't it spray?" She bit her lip, her eyes reddened, and her forehead was covered in sweat.
Seeing her looking so uncomfortable, Ning Jue made a quick decision and said, "I'll go outside and get a doctor now. You're not feeling well; something must be wrong."
After saying that, he got up to leave, but Bai Hua quickly got up as well, wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, and successfully stopped him.
Don't go!
Ning Jue dared not move, afraid of accidentally touching her slightly protruding belly.
He slowly turned around, took Bai Hua's hand, and wanted to scold her in a stern tone, but in the end he tried his best to be gentle: "Why are you running? What if you trip or hit your stomach?"
Bai Hua felt wronged and murmured softly, "I'm not that stupid... Why are you being so mean to me?"
This can be called fierce?
Ning Jue sighed inwardly, realizing he really couldn't do anything about her.
"Alright, let's talk this out. Why is Hua'er reluctant to see a doctor? If a problem is discovered early, there won't be any issues. Wouldn't it be better to find a doctor for peace of mind?"
"It's not about avoiding the problem..."
Bai Hua was about to speak, but she was too embarrassed to say it. In the end, she forced herself to blush bright red and couldn't bring herself to be frank.
Ning Jue's gaze fell upon him with an oppressive intensity, and he said in a deep and serious voice, "If you don't explain yourself, I will immediately push open the door and go find a doctor."
"Don't go." Bai Hua was so anxious that she wanted to cry when she saw that she couldn't stop her.
Since I can't bring myself to say it, I might as well just let him see it directly! That way, I won't have to explain!
Bai Hua gritted her teeth, mustered her courage, and took off her outer garment, revealing the brocade lotus-pink halter-neck bodice she always wore.
The thin shirt fell to the ground, the bed curtains swayed, and in an instant, the surrounding atmosphere became somewhat enchanting and unusual.
Ning Jue stared intently at her, his gaze unwavering.
No matter how many times I've seen her, the visual impact of her current appearance—cool, graceful, timid, and delicate—is still overwhelming.
His breathing became heavier, and his Adam's apple bobbed more noticeably.
"I don't know how to say it..." Bai Hua pursed her lips awkwardly.
Ning Jue noticed a damp spot on her clothes, which made the original color of the brocade even darker and more conspicuous.
He glanced at it a few more times; the stain seemed to have expanded further.
Bai Hua took a deep breath, feeling as if his gaze was an invisible feather, and wherever it swept over, an itch would quickly spread there.
Ignoring her shame, she gritted her teeth, adopting a "the sooner the better" mentality, closed her eyes, and said, "See for yourself."
Ning Jue didn't hesitate. He raised his hand and approached Bai Hua's nape, his fingers deftly and quickly untying the knot on the back of her neck.
The bib was immediately placed on Ning Jue's black boots, the contrasting light and dark colors creating a striking effect.
Ning Jue narrowed his eyes, his expression dark and brooding.
What the eye sees is so captivating that it makes one's gaze linger and one's heart flutter.
Author's Note: Here I am! [Thumbs up]
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