Chapter 89 Body Anxiety
After their playful banter, Su Luoxue leaned against Yuwen Che's chest, playing with the sleeves of his dragon robe. The hall fell silent, with only the soft crackling of the candlelight remaining.
After a while, she suddenly looked up, her fingers gripping his sleeve tightening slightly. A hint of fear and dependence flickered in her clear eyes as she whispered, "A-Che... will giving birth be very, very painful?"
Her voice was soft, with a slight, uncertain tremor, like a feather brushing against Yuwen Che's heart.
Yuwen Che's heart tightened, and he instinctively tightened his grip on her arm. How could he not know the dangers and pain of childbirth? Zhang Mama's hesitant words, the imperial physician's cautious reply, and the cold words on the medical records all reminded him of this.
But when he looked down into the worried eyes of the woman in his arms, he forcibly suppressed all the heavy realities of life. He couldn't let her fall into fear prematurely.
He raised his hand and gently smoothed her slightly furrowed brow with his fingertips, his tone more firm and gentle than ever before: "It will hurt a little." He was not lying to her, but spoke with utmost composure, "But I will always protect you, right by your side."
He held her slightly cool hand, enveloping it in his palm, conveying a reassuring warmth: "I will arrange the best imperial physicians and the most experienced midwives from the Imperial Hospital, and prepare the best medicines from the palace. I assure you, nothing will happen to you."
Su Luoxue looked up at him and saw in his deep eyes an unreserved appreciation and a determination that could shake everything. The timidity in her heart seemed to have been dispelled considerably by his firm words.
She buried her face in his firm chest, her voice muffled as she asked, "Then... will you really be with me then? What if it's against the rules..."
Yuwen Che answered without hesitation, "The rules were set by me. You are suffering for me, how can I not be there?" He lowered his head, kissed the top of her head, and made a solemn promise, "Even if the sky falls, I will be by your side holding your hand."
Su Luoxue nodded gently in his arms, her tense body gradually relaxing. With him there, she didn't seem so afraid anymore.
As Yuwen Che sensed her dependence, the corner of his heart that had been frozen by worry quietly melted away, replaced by a heavier sense of responsibility and a firm belief that he must protect her.
After a while, it was time for Su Luoxue to go to sleep. Fuling carefully helped Su Luoxue get up and walk into the inner room. He picked up the undergarment that was only half finished, his fingertips tracing the fine stitches. Thinking of her smile and soft kisses, the corners of his lips unconsciously turned up, and his heart was filled with a sweet and simple sense of happiness.
Inside the room, Fuling and Granny Zhang were gently helping Su Luoxue change into her loose nightgown.
As her clothes came off, Su Luoxue lowered her head and her gaze fell on her protruding belly, causing her to freeze instantly.
Several faint red lines had appeared on her once smooth and fair skin, winding and somewhat glaring to her.
"What...what is this?" Her voice was tinged with panic as she instinctively covered herself with her hand.
With her extensive experience, Granny Zhang understood immediately. She quickly pulled her nightgown over Su Luoxue's head to cover her up, and said in a reassuring tone, "Your Highness, don't be alarmed! This is normal. Many women develop this during pregnancy because the baby grows quickly and stretches the skin. It's nothing to worry about."
Su Luoxue was not completely comforted. She grabbed Zhang Mama's hand and asked anxiously, her eyes full of worry: "Then... Mama, tell me, after giving birth, will these... these unsightly lines disappear? Or will they stay forever?"
Her voice carried a barely perceptible sob, reflecting both her helplessness at the changes in her body and the inherent concern a woman has for her appearance.
Zhang Mama patted her hand, trying to sound relaxed and confident: "Your Highness, don't worry, these red marks will naturally fade after you give birth smoothly. This old servant has seen many, and with proper care and the use of moisturizing ointments, most of them will fade significantly. Even if some light marks remain, they won't be noticeable."
Fuling chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty, your skin is so good, you'll definitely recover faster than others."
Outside, Yuwen Che vaguely heard Su Luoxue's panicked voice and Zhang Mama's comforting voice coming from the inner room. He frowned slightly, put down the clothes in his hand, and got up to walk towards the inner room.
He immediately noticed that Su Luoxue was staring blankly as Fuling and Granny Zhang tied her sash, her face scrunched up and her eyes seemed to be a little red.
His heart tightened, and he strode over, waving away Fuling and Granny Zhang who were about to bow. He bent down and took Su Luoxue's hand, his voice filled with undisguised worry: "Xue'er, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" He turned to give orders, "Fuling, go and summon..."
"No!" Su Luoxue hurriedly grabbed his sleeve to stop him, "I'm fine, really fine... it's just... it's just..."
She stammered, her eyes darting away, finding it incredibly difficult to speak. Should she tell him that she was worried about how her body would change after having a child, and whether he would be disgusted by it?
Seeing her like this, Yuwen Che knew, though he didn't know the specific reason, that she must have something on her mind that she couldn't talk about. He didn't press her further, but softened his voice and gently patted her back to comfort her: "Alright, alright, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't. It's okay, I won't ask anymore, alright?"
The more considerate he was, the more bitter and uncomfortable Su Luoxue felt. She was terrified that in the future, when he saw the unsightly stretch marks on her stomach, he would no longer think she was good.
Yuwen Che carefully helped her back to the bedchamber and let her sit on the edge of the bed. He then disregarded his imperial dignity and knelt directly in front of her, looking up at her lowered face, and gently asked again, "Xue'er, tell me, are you scared again? Scared about childbirth?"
Su Luoxue shook her head in grievance, tears welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
Seeing her struggling to hold back her tears, Yuwen Che felt a pang of heartache. Just as he was about to speak again, Su Luoxue suddenly lunged forward without warning, burying herself in his arms and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
Yuwen Che possessed profound internal strength and an extremely stable lower body, managing to steady himself and avoid falling backward. He quickly reached out and embraced her, carefully avoiding her protruding belly, his voice filled with intense anxiety: "Xue'er? What's wrong? Tell me, what happened?"
The person in his arms trembled slightly, and a muffled, choked voice reached his ears: "A-Che... will you... stop liking me in the future...?"
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