Chapter 53 Pregnancy and Morning Sickness Xie Zheng froze upon hearing this…
Pei Lang stayed by the bedside all night. When he got up to wash his face, he saw Lin Zhiyang lying on the bed, staring blankly at the bed curtains.
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
But Lin Zhi only glanced at him quietly: "Let's get a divorce, let me go."
Even after hearing this, Pei Lang's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard it. He brought over a cup of warm water and offered it to Lin Zhi's lips with a porcelain spoon, but she turned her head away.
"Pei Lang, I don't want to live in fear with you anymore."
"You know, all I ever wanted was a peaceful and quiet life. It was you, you who dragged me into your hatred!"
Lin Zhi suppressed her voice like an angry little beast, trying to get up but falling back down because she was too weak.
Pei Lang lowered his eyes, grasped her hand that was gripping his palm tightly, and slowly pulled her fingers in to open her palm. Sure enough, he saw several red and purple nail marks.
"I'm sorry for what happened to Lin Shaowan."
“But Ah Zhi, I cannot leave my mother’s revenge unavenged.”
“My mother’s death is like a venomous snake that keeps circling around my neck day and night. I often think that maybe one day, that snake will strangle me.”
"But things are different now. You're here, and as long as you're by my side, I can get a good night's sleep."
“What kept me alive before was avenging my mother, but now that reason is you.”
Lin Zhi turned her head away, her expression resolute, but a single tear involuntarily slid down her cheek.
She had always dreamed of someone so steadfastly telling her and choosing her. Now that Pei Lang had said those words himself, she should have been happy, but she was in a difficult situation.
She couldn't tell whether she wanted it or not.
Seeing the pain on her face, Pei Lang frowned slightly, feeling a pang of pity, and gently released her hand: "I understand, you should rest well first."
"I've been busy these days too. If you can't see me, just enjoy your meal."
Hearing Pei Lang's footsteps fading into the distance, Lin Zhi finally curled up and burst into tears in a muffled voice.
Listening to the sounds coming from inside the room, Pei Lang outside the door exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay, making even the servants hesitant to approach.
Chuntao and Xiaying knelt before him, trembling with fear.
“You two are old servants of the Pei family and are used to working for Lin Zhi, so you know her temperament and preferences.”
"Her health is not what it used to be, and she needs the most care and attention. If either of you causes her any danger or discomfort, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Chun Tao quickly kowtowed and replied, "We remember your words, sir, but... but how could a woman not notice when she is pregnant?"
"I'm afraid we can't keep this from Madam for long."
Chun Tao's voice trembled, almost on the verge of tears, but she was interrupted: "This is not something you should be thinking about. We should keep it a secret as long as possible."
"But you must report to me in detail until you have thought things through."
After Pei Lang left, the two maids frowned and looked at each other, their eyes full of embarrassment.
"Miss, the water has gotten cold. I'll change it for you and bring you some warm water."
Lin Zhi twisted her ankle at the palace gate, but it wasn't serious. She recovered after a few days of rest. However, she has been feeling unwell in her stomach and lower abdomen for the past few days.
Watching Chun Tao carefully serve her, Lin Zhi was both amused and exasperated, wanting to laugh but not actually doing so: "Alright, it's just a glass of water, it's not that serious."
The warm water made her feel much better as it went down her throat and into her stomach. Lin Zhi reached out and rubbed her stomach, but then suddenly stopped, her expression turning sour.
"Chuntao, why is my menstrual period so late this month?"
Almost half a month has passed, but the pain that Zhe Linzhi felt has not yet arrived.
Chun Tao's face stiffened, and her hands, which were turned away from Lin Zhi, began to tremble, but she quickly composed herself: "Perhaps... Miss's body is weak and cold, so it is understandable that it has been delayed for a few days."
"How about I make you some brown sugar these next few days to warm you up?"
Lin Zhi, however, propped herself up and sat down to look at the account books. With the end of the year approaching, this was the first time she had been in charge of the New Year's affairs, and she was afraid she would be very busy.
My aunt used to be in charge of all these things...
The thought of Lin Shaowan caused Lin Zhi to feel a dull ache in her heart again.
Although she was in the right, she was actually weak-willed in front of Pei Lang. She knew that her aunt was wrong and that she should seek revenge. Pei Lang was not wrong.
But she still can't accept it. Whenever she faces him, all those sweet memories, struggles, and profound experiences Pei Lang gave her come flooding back.
Too many things have separated them, and they can never go back to the past.
Moreover, the mere thought that Pei Lang had approached her with a specific purpose was more devastating to Lin Zhi than anything else.
She numbly avoided thinking about it, as if these things had never existed.
"Miss, the kitchen has prepared your favorite soup for dinner today. Would you like to have some?"
Chuntao walked softly to Lin Zhi's side and covered her with an exquisite shawl.
Lin Zhi put down the ledger in her hand, blinked her sore eyes, and looked somewhat hesitant.
Chun Tao understood immediately and quickly said that Pei Lang had instructed her not to return to the mansion for dinner today.
Lin Zhi didn't have much of an appetite at first, but she started to feel hungry when she sat down at the table. The soup in front of her was her favorite tender bamboo shoot and chicken soup, but as soon as Lin Zhi picked up the soup spoon and brought it to her lips, her nose was suddenly filled with an indescribable chicken smell and earthy odor.
Just as Chun Tao turned around to serve the dishes, she saw Lin Zhi rush to the side, hugging a basin and vomiting violently.
I didn't eat much all day in Japan, and all I vomited was sour water, which made it even harder to eat anything at all.
Chun Tao knew perfectly well why, but she couldn't say it. She could only feel sorry for Lin Zhi and secretly wipe away her tears as she touched her bony shoulder blades.
"It's nothing serious. Perhaps it's because I caught a cold a few days ago and haven't recovered yet, and my appetite isn't good either."
As Lin Zhi spoke, she tried to comfort Chun Tao and herself at the same time, but she still felt uneasy, as if she had overlooked something.
She woke up thirsty in the middle of the night, but her mouth felt tasteless. She pursed her lips and endured it for a long time before calling over Xia Ying, who was on night watch: "Is there any fruit in the manor that I can eat right away?"
Xia Ying rubbed her eyes briefly, then immediately stopped what she was doing and ran to the small kitchen to bring back a plate of tangerines. "Miss, would you like to try this?"
The slightly cool, sweet and sour juice made Lin Zhi feel refreshed as soon as it entered her mouth, but after only two slices, she couldn't help but frown: "Too sweet."
Xia Ying nervously bit her lip. Her mistress used to have a sweet tooth, but now she suddenly wanted something sour. She wondered if she would notice anything.
But it was a good thing that she wanted to eat something, so Lin Zhi ate half a plate of food one after another until Xia Ying forcefully took it away, at which point she reluctantly stopped.
The very next morning, Pei Lang stared at the food that Lin Zhi had barely touched the day before with a stern face: "How are you all serving Madam? You can't even watch her eat properly?"
"What use are you bunch of useless trash!"
He only entered the room today and saw that Lin Zhi was wrapped in a thick quilt but was still as thin as a sheet. If this continued, he was afraid that her body would collapse.
The servants knelt on the ground in a dark mass, but they were all helpless.
It wasn't until Pei Lang got angry and wanted to kick everyone out of the mansion that a cook stammered that he had elderly parents to support, young children to raise, and a newborn baby to care for.
Pei Lang suppressed his anger: "You said your child was just born? What did your wife eat when she was pregnant?"
The cook was taken aback. "My wife has very different tastes. Sometimes she likes the sour apricots from the east of the city, and sometimes she wants the crispy cheese cakes from the west of the city."
"One night, she insisted on eating a melon that is only available in summer. I couldn't find any, and my wife cried for most of the night before she could go to sleep."
Seeing the cook's expression—a mixture of happiness and distress—Pei Lang frowned slightly: "Is your wife's personality so peculiar?"
"No, no!" the cook quickly waved his hand.
"My wife is the most gentle and graceful. She used to be an embroiderer in a wealthy family. She is the most quiet and reserved person."
"It's just that being pregnant is bound to cause physical discomfort. If her husband doesn't cherish her, wouldn't she be even more distressed..."
The conversation abruptly ended. The cook seemed to realize something and quickly fell silent, not daring to look at Pei Lang's face. But it was too late. Pei Lang's face had already darkened. After a long silence, he gruffly chased all the servants out.
"Alright, you can't be entirely blamed for what happened today. Go down now."
After everyone had left, Pei Lang frowned deeply and asked, "Is it really this painful for a pregnant woman?"
"Of course!"
Fang Shiyun slapped his thigh and looked at Pei Lang with a pained expression: "What kind of outrageous things are you saying? A woman who is pregnant has just walked through the gates of hell."
"If you're lucky, the mother will live, but if you're unlucky, you might die after giving birth..."
Startled by Pei Lang's glare, Fang Shiyun awkwardly touched the tip of his nose, picked up the wine glass in front of him, and drank it all in one gulp: "But I say, when did the Grand Secretary stop caring about national affairs and start thinking about these trivial matters?"
Pei Lang sat upright, not looking at him, seemingly lost in thought, the crease between his brows remaining unfurrowed for a long time.
The door to the private room creaked open, and Pei Lang and Xie Zheng met eyes. The two rivals, meeting in love, naturally didn't get along.
"When did I tell you to tell him?"
Hearing Pei Lang's cool tone, Fang Shiyun, oblivious to the fact, hooked his arm around Xie Zheng's shoulder: "The Grand Secretary is truly heartless and cruel, valuing women over friends!"
With a pained expression, he patted Xie Zheng on the shoulder and gestured for him to sit down: "The three of us have always been inseparable, so why am I not used to Xie Zheng being absent today?"
"By the way, Zheng, I remember your cousin just had her one-month celebration, right? You have experience with pregnant women."
"Quickly tell our Grand Secretary how dangerous this is!"
Xie Zheng froze upon hearing this, gripping the tablecloth tightly in disbelief as he looked at Pei Lang: "Lin Zhi is pregnant?"
He showed concern for other people's wives, and Pei Lang glanced at him with a mocking look, remaining silent as if in tacit agreement.
Pei Lang, you're worse than an animal!
The sudden outburst of Xie Zheng terrified Fang Shiyun. Seeing Xie Zheng desperately grabbing Pei Lang's collar, Fang Shiyun quickly stepped forward to stop him, exclaiming, "Xie Zheng, are you crazy?!"
"Why are you so excited about someone else's wife being pregnant!"
Pei Lang watched helplessly as his former brother stared at him with bloodshot eyes, and couldn't help but sneer: "Yes, my wife, what's your hurry?"
"Could it be that Young Master Xie can't wait to celebrate the full moon celebration?"
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