Chapter 1889: Chapter 942: Joyous Pulse (First Update)
Everyone present had a sudden change in expression. Gu Jiao now held a prominent status in the family; even Little Yiyi was willing to let her little feet be massaged by her. Any slight commotion caused by her could stir up a storm in the entire residence.
Xiao Hen was the first to react. He quickly stood up, came to her side, gently stroked her back, bent down and asked her, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?”
Gu Jiao suppressed the discomfort in her stomach and said, “Suddenly feeling a bit nauseous.”
Princess Xinyang’s eyes suddenly brightened with a sly glow.
Xiao Ji’s gaze also gradually showed a slight change.
One had given birth himself, the other had a woman give birth for him. In short, both had experienced this before and were much sharper to this kind of reaction than the newly initiated Xiao Hen.
Princess Xinyang said to Xiao Ji, “You step aside for a moment.”
This was a private matter to discuss. Xiao Ji wasn’t like General Qian, who was as dense as a log; he understood the situation clearly.
He asked, “Step aside, or should we summon the imperial physician?”
Princess Xinyang was taken aback and looked at him with surprise, as if to say, “Since when has your brain been this sharp?”
“Tsk.” Xiao Ji caught her gaze and shook his head self-deprecatingly.
In one day, first, he was “cleaned up” by Chang Jing, then had his intelligence questioned by Princess Xinyang. Life was truly as tragic as blood.
He sighed deeply and left.
Princess Xinyang looked at Gu Jiao seriously and said, “Did you have your period this month?”
“Huh?” Gu Jiao was taken aback.
“No.” Xiao Hen answered for her.
Exercising his rights as a husband daily, he certainly remembered that she hadn’t had her period since their wedding.
He had never been a father. In this regard, his reaction was somewhat delayed, but he was good at reading emotions. The moment his mother asked, he immediately realized the situation.
“Mother, could it be that you’re…”
Princess Xinyang neither confirmed nor denied: “If you haven’t had your period, didn’t you suspect anything? Especially you, Jiaojiao, you’re a doctor!”
Gu Jiao said, “I haven’t been regular with my periods for the past half year.”
Whether due to puberty or the toll of warfare and overstretching herself, her periods were irregular this year, sometimes missing for two consecutive months, sometimes coming twice in a month.
Xiao Hen did initially remember her cycle, but once it became irregular, he was at a loss.
Princess Xinyang was surprised: “To think you could conceive despite that… It must be thanks to my conception medicine!”
“Ahem!”
Xiao Hen successfully choked.
He couldn’t bring himself to tell his mother that they took measures only after using the conception medicine.
He thought to himself, “It was only once…”
It was their first time, inexperienced, and not entirely pleasant.
Did they really hit the mark that one time, and were all their subsequent precautions for nothing?
It truly was—
Something beyond words.
Wait, it’s just dry retching; it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s pregnant.
Maybe his mother’s excitement was for nothing.
Xiao Hen poured Gu Jiao a cup of warm water and had the plate of braised pork knuckles removed.
Princess Xinyang had a mild taste. In the years Xiao Hen wasn’t around, she became a vegetarian. After conceiving Little Yiyi, she started eating meat again for nutrition. Even now, while nursing, she still eats fish soup and other meats.
But overall, it wasn’t greasy.
Dishes like pork knuckles and braised pork catered more to the children’s tastes.
Worried the two might not be accustomed, she had a maid bring some pickles and pickled vegetables.
The imperial physicians arrived quickly; they were waiting outside the courtyard before the meal was even finished.
“I’m full,” Gu Jiao said.
“So am I,” Xiao Hen said.
Yujin was not around today, so Princess Xinyang called other maids to clean the house. She herself took the two children and planned to meet the imperial physicians in the adjacent room.
However, as soon as the three stepped over the threshold, they were stunned by the scene before them.
A sea of heads was before them.
Had the entire Imperial Medical Bureau been emptied?
Not even a single night watch had been left for the emperor, had it?
Xiao Ji turned around and faced the imperial physicians, head held high, “One at a time!”
That night, Gu Jiao did nothing but sit on a chair and let the imperial physicians feel her pulse.
In the end, all the conclusions were unanimous: a joyous pulse.
“Thank you, gentlemen.” Princess Xinyang handed each imperial physician a generous red envelope; the complaints they had about being forcibly brought here by Marquis Xuanping evaporated.
“Alright, you two also go get some rest early,” she told Xiao Hen and Gu Jiao, “Be careful in the first three months, and don’t indulge too much.”
It really doesn’t seem feasible not to let those two do anything, we can only choose the next best option.
Xiao Hen coughed lightly: “Understood, Mother.”
He held Gu Jiao’s hand and returned to Orchid Courtyard.
Little Jingkong and Shangguan Qing went out and were not in the residence.
Orchid Courtyard was very quiet.
The two strolled on the green stone path fragrant with flowers. A servant approached them to pay respects, but Xiao Hen raised his hand slightly, and everyone understood, retreating silently.
Yu Yaya came from the corridor with freshly sun-dried clothes. Just as she was about to call out “Miss,” the nanny beside her tugged her sleeve.
The nanny shook her head at her.
“Oh.” Yu Yaya wasn’t foolish, she turned and went back to her room.
“Was it nausea just now?” Xiao Hen asked.
Since the meal, Gu Jiao hadn’t said a word.
Unable to gauge her thoughts, he could only try his best to open the conversation.
Gu Jiao replied with a hum: “It should be, I guess.”
She was still willing to speak, Xiao Hen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to see her calm expression, unsure if her heart was equally serene.
“Actually, having a child wouldn’t be bad,” he said softly, “If it’s a son, like Jingkong and Xiaobao; if it’s a daughter, like Little Yiyi—thinking like that, isn’t it quite adorable?”
Gu Jiao unexpectedly glanced at him: “You actually praise Jingkong for being cute.”
Xiao Hen was momentarily stunned: “Uh… did I praise the wrong person? Is he not cute?”
If he’s not cute, how did you get tricked by him back then? Also, you wouldn’t mind him sticking to you all day.
Gu Jiao said: “He’s cute, just rare to hear it from your mouth.”
From the first day they met, they clashed non-stop, strategizing against each other, using all eighteen martial arts techniques, as if she didn’t know.
They opened the window paper without hesitation.
Xiao Hen displayed a fitting smile.
The scenery of the Princess Residence was charming, with its style and layout ranking among the top three in the Capital City.
The cool breeze and floral fragrance brought peace and contentment.
The two continued walking for a while.
“Actually…” Gu Jiao opened her mouth.
Xiao Hen’s heart suddenly tightened, as if afraid to hear unwelcome news from her, so he quickly made a decision: “Actually, we are still young, and I have just started my career. I truly don’t have the energy to take care of a child—”
At this point, his breathing became tense.
It was too overwhelming.
Unable to articulate.
Gu Jiao stopped, their hands intertwined, he stopped as well.
Gu Jiao stared at him: “You don’t want the child?”
“That’s not what I mean—” Xiao Hen instinctively rebutted, how could he not want it? He’s—
Wait, she’s asking him?
His eyes flickered with a hint of nervousness as he looked at her: “Jiaojiao, why do you ask? Do you want it?”
Gu Jiao lowered her gaze, looking at her flat belly, she nodded.
Joy flashed in Xiao Hen’s eyes: “Jiaojiao…”
“Why do you look like that? Did you think I wouldn’t want it?”
Xiao Hen awkwardly smiled, not directly answering the question, instead saying: “Then why didn’t you say a word just now? I thought you were unhappy.”
“I just haven’t come to terms with it.” She seriously looked at her belly, “How did it happen that there’s a baby inside?”
She turned into a curious little baby herself.
Xiao Hen was charmed to the point where his heart melted. How could there be such a wonderful Jiaojiao in this world?
He gently touched her head and amusedly asked, “Why did you suddenly change your mind?”
Gu Jiao honestly replied: “It’s not sudden. Since that one time I met Tang Yueshan, my mindset seems to have changed a lot.”
Because Tang Ming was not a perfect son, he wasn’t even considered a good son. He had too many character and personality flaws, but Tang Yueshan’s love for him never diminished, and he never gave up on him.
The strength she lost as a child due to abandonment was found again in Tang Yueshan.
Xiao Hen didn’t expect that the one who changed her mindset would be Tang Yueshan.
He held her in his arms, gently stroking her head. He had so much to say, to thank her, to praise her, but upon reaching his lips, he realized there were no words that could aptly express it.
He simply held her tighter, letting her feel his emotions.
He wanted their child.
He anticipated the arrival of this little life.