Chapter 335: Pregnancy
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“When I was young and pregnant, I had the same symptoms.”
“The mere scent of meat would make my stomach churn, my chest felt suffocated. I craved pickled vegetables, especially with porridge—I could eat an entire bowl. Oh, it was miserable.”
“I tell you, it nearly turned me into skin and bones.”
The Old Madam of the Stabilizing Duke’s Manor spoke in a slow, deliberate manner.
Rong Che stared at her in horror, too shocked to even continue vomiting.
“Mother, please don’t scare me. How can a man become pregnant? It must be the cold weather. I must have gotten up at night to drink cold tea and upset my stomach.” He felt his scalp tingle. His mother must be joking.
“Right, Shi Yun?”
Shi Yun gently placed a hand over her stomach but remained silent.
“The Imperial Physician is still in the front courtyard. Why don’t we call him back to check?” Shi Yun hesitated. She had been feeling strange these past few days. Normally, she had no particular interest in food, but lately, her appetite had grown immensely.
Deng Zhi’s eyes sparkled. Could it be… the Madam…
Her monthly cycle had been delayed.
The Imperial Physician hurried back, his young apprentice carrying the medicine chest behind him.
Just moments ago, the Old Madam had been speaking languidly, but now she was brimming with urgency.
“Quick! Take my daughter-in-law’s pulse.”
“Oh my, Rong Shuang Shuang, why are you lying on the bed? Let Shi Yun lie down instead!” The Old Madam’s sharp gaze snapped to her.
Rong Shuang Shuang looked stunned. “Mother, I can’t even get up! I’ve been vomiting non-stop!”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Mother, I feel perfectly fine.” Shi Yun chuckled, waving her hand.
She sat at the table and extended her wrist. The Imperial Physician carefully took her pulse.
His brows gradually lifted in joy.
“Congratulations to the Stabilizing Duke, congratulations to the Madam, congratulations to General Rong, congratulations to Madam Xu—this is wonderful news!”
The physician was well aware that the Duke’s Manor had been in a precarious state. The old lord had one foot in the grave, and General Rong had only just gotten married.
“The Madam is with child!”
At those words, the Old Madam slid from her chair and fell to her knees. “The ancestors have blessed us! The Rong Family shall have an heir!”
The Stabilizing Duke’s Manor had always treated Shi Yun well. Out of gratitude, she had long agreed that the child would take the Rong surname.
The Duke’s Manor had initially planned for Rong Che to move into Shi Yun’s household, but she had willingly chosen to let the child carry his name. This touched the Old Duke and his wife so much that they couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night.
Shi Yun hurried forward to help the Old Madam up.
But the Old Madam raised a hand. “No, no, no! Help the Madam sit down properly!”
“You don’t need to help me—I could still do somersaults if I wanted to!” She beamed, her face alight with joy.
“By the way, my daughter-in-law is of a mature age. Will this pregnancy be risky?” The Old Madam asked anxiously.
Her eyes flickered with worry.
“If… If the pregnancy is dangerous, the Rong Family can adopt a child. That would be fine too.” She looked troubled. She yearned for a grandchild, but Shi Yun and Rong Che were deeply in love. Having a lifelong companion who truly cared for her son was already a blessing.
The Imperial Physician stroked his beard and laughed. “Old Madam, haven’t you asked about Madam Xu’s health during her pre-marriage peace checks multiple times?”
“Her health is excellent. Her pulse is strong and steady. There is no concern. No concern at all.”
Hearing this, the Old Madam finally let out a sigh of relief.
Upon hearing the word “pregnancy,” Rong Che scrambled to get up from the bed.
The moment his feet touched the ground, the medicinal scent from the physician’s box assaulted his nose, and he immediately bolted for the door, where he began retching violently.
“I-I’m going to be a father… Urgh…” he muttered between gags.
Shi Yun stomped her foot in distress. “Stop talking! Here, drink some water.”
“Sigh…”
“Imperial Physician, do you have any remedy for morning sickness?” Shi Yun asked.
The physician hesitated. “Morning sickness can only be temporarily relieved, not entirely cured. Besides, Madam, you’re not experiencing morning sickness, so there’s no need for a prescription.”
Shi Yun awkwardly glanced at the physician.
“Write one… for my husband.”
The physician dug at his ear. “For whom?”
“For my good-for-nothing son. He’s the one having morning sickness!” The Old Madam pointed at Rong Che, who was still vomiting outside.
The physician gawked at him in disbelief.
“M-Morning sickness? General Rong is experiencing morning sickness?!” The elderly physician was utterly dumbfounded.
Shi Yun covered her mouth, chuckling so hard that tears nearly spilled from her eyes.
“Unheard of! Absolutely unheard of!” The physician hastily wrote two prescriptions.
“Deng Zhi, have someone brew the medicine.”
Once the physician left, Rong Che collapsed back onto the bed.
His stomach groaned, yet he had no appetite. He was suffering.
The Old Madam slyly motioned for Shi Yun to step outside. In a hushed voice, she said, “Didn’t I tell you? The sickness can be transferred to the husband.”
“Otherwise, you would be the one suffering right now.”
“He’s a man. He won’t die from a little vomiting. Don’t pity him…”
“As women, we should care more for ourselves.” The Old Madam spoke like a seasoned veteran, coaxing Shi Yun into laughter.
“If he’s still feeling sick at night, make him sleep in the other room. Don’t let it disturb your rest. Remember that. Oh, and don’t tell him it was my idea…” The Old Madam swiftly slipped away.
“No need to see me off! I need to go home and prepare offerings at the ancestral shrine!”
As Shi Yun pushed open the door, she saw Rong Che standing inside, his eyes gloomy as he stared at her.
Shi Yun felt inexplicably guilty.
“You and my mother—if someone told me you were truly mother and daughter, I would believe it.” Rong Che looked at her, utterly aggrieved.
What kind of mother would tell her son to go vomit alone in the other room?
His heart was cold, absolutely cold.
“Don’t worry, I won’t send you to the other room.” Shi Yun’s eyes sparkled with laughter.
—
The next morning, the manor was filled with the sound of Rong Che’s dry heaving.
“Thank goodness, I’m about to leave for the Southern Kingdom. If I vomited like this in front of the entire court, I’d have no way to explain it!” What kind of man experienced morning sickness?
Shi Yun’s pregnancy was progressing smoothly.
She had a strong appetite, a healthy body, and even walked with vigor.
“Chao Chao, you’re going to be an elder sister!” In the morning, Rong Che announced the good news while holding a bowl of porridge.
“Even with a little brother or sister, your father and mother will always love you the most.” He made sure to comfort his little one.
Lu Chao Chao sipped her chicken soup calmly, her chubby face indifferent. “I already knew. Didn’t I tell you before?”
“Maybe I forgot while playing.” She gulped down another two mouthfuls of soup.
Rong Che and Shi Yun exchanged glances.
They had spent sleepless nights worrying about Chao Chao’s feelings.
Turns out, she had known all along?
With Shi Yun pregnant, their luggage increased by three additional carts.
“Had I known, I would have refused the Southern Kingdom’s request. Traveling like this will be a hardship…” The journey would take half a month, moving slowly to ensure Shi Yun’s safety.
The Stabilizing Duke glanced at his son and gestured toward Rong Shuang Shuang with his chin. “Shi Yun seems fine. But Rong Shuang Shuang? I fear she will suffer terribly.”
“If Shi Yun had been the one vomiting, I would have staked my life to stop this journey.”
The Old Duke and his wife nodded in agreement.
Finally, they set off for the Southern Kingdom.
Before dawn, troops assembled outside the city. Originally, Rong Che was to lead them, but…
Due to his “morning sickness,” Prince Jing Xi took command instead.
From within a carriage, Xie Yu Zhou poked his head out. “Zhao Yang, are you surprised to see me? I’m going to Southern Kingdom with you!”
Lu Chao Chao squinted. “I’m mostly surprised you’re still alive.”
Maybe his dad’s planning to leave him in the southern Kingdom lol