Chapter 251 - Being Pregnant

According to the rules on the boat, the boatman must rescue anyone drowning in the water, regardless of the social status of the victim.

Now the boatman only claimed that he found a person floating on the water who looked like a noble person without mentioning saving the drowning person. Obviously, he must have confirmed that the person was dead.

Encountering a floating corpse before they started enjoying the boat ride was definitely not an agreeable thing, but it was not the boatman’s fault. After all, the person in the lake was nicely dressed indeed. No wonder he didn’t dare to pretend that he didn’t see the corpse. The victim was wearing a craped coat inlaid with the gold wire and decorated with the linked-pearl pattern, and a curving-front silk robe with the pattern of sihe ruyi cloud. She also wore a brocade belt around her waist. The thumb-size pearls on the belt glistened in the sun so brightly that they were really dazzling. Under the robe, a piece of the bright yellow skirt was exposed, the hem of which was decorated with some yellow bells. The bells should be made of pure gold.

“Go back to the cabinet. Don’t stay here,” After getting the approval from Jian Xubai, the boatmen stirred the corpse towards the bank with the bamboo pole. In the middle of that, the corpse’s face was occasionally flipped upward. As a result, the swollen and fierce appearance made Song Yixiao and the other two persons who insisted on following outside feel nauseous. With their faces turning pale, they all subconsciously hid behind Jian Xubai.

Jian Xubai had no idea whether to cry or to laugh. “I’ve told you that it wouldn’t look nice and you just wouldn’t listen. Now you are feeling sick?”

However, it was too late for them to avoid the scene. Nie Wuying went back to the cabinet and said regrettably before she sat down, “I should have listened to Xubai. I took a glance only and I’m sure that I won’t dare to sleep alone when I go back tonight!”

After all, Pei Yourui was a bit older, so she was somewhat braver anyway. At the moment, she didn’t show any fear. Instead, she said thoughtfully, “Judging from the appearance of the corpse, she looked as if being soaked in the water for a few days instead of being newly dead. Yet, these days I haven’t heard that any lady had an accident in the lake. Moreover, based on how the person was dressed, she was clearly a noble lady. Even though she fell into the lake, how could she not be saved? Even if she was not saved, in no way could she be left in the lake unattended and instead, she was found by some irrelevant people like us. There must be something fishy behind this!”

“Was there any dirty story behind it?” Song Yixiao guessed and wanted to continue when she suddenly grimaced and hurriedly covered her mouth with her sleeve. Without explaining to them, she quickly rose and rushed towards the side to vomit!

Jian Xubai on the deck was startled to see her vomiting and then trotted over to support her with his hands. “What’s wrong?”

He did have some medical knowledge. While asking, he grabbed his wife’s wrist and felt her pulse. After a while, Jian Xubai was confused first, then stunned and eventually pleasantly surprised. “Shanyao, your period hasn’t come this month, right?”

Although Song Yixiao was vomiting heavily and her face turned ghastly pale, she couldn’t help blushing instantly and then pushed him out of embarrassment, shouting at him with a hoarse voice, “What are you talking about in public?”

“I think you are having a slippery pulse!” Jian Xubai eventually realized that out of complacency, he forgot to keep his voice down when he asked the question. Now, almost all the people nearby had heard him. No wonder his wife felt embarrassed. However, he didn’t care about it now. While holding Song Yixiao in his arms and stroking her back, he whispered to her, “Maybe we are having a baby!”

“A baby?” Song Yixiao was struck dumb. After she counted her menstrual cycle, her heart raced too. Holding back her anticipation and delight, she said seriously, “Due to this bummer, we can’t continue the boat ride. Let’s ask Aunt Yun to take my pulse after we go back! You’ve learned a bit of medical knowledge only. We can’t know for sure!”

Instead of minding that his wife doubted his medical skill, with a beaming smile, Jian Xubai ordered a servant to bring him some water and then served her to gargle. Then he told the maid to make a bowl of dew for Song Yixiao to soothe her stomach. Simply while he escorted her back to the cabinet, he gave at least four or five orders, leaving the servants fully occupied. His fondness of his wife was more than obvious!

Pei Yourui and Nie Wuying were worried about Song Yixiao just now. Despite their fear for the floating corpse, they still followed outside. Seeing Jian Xubai walk over, they also returned to the cabinet and yet failed to hear what he said accidentally. However, now Duke of Yan was apparently exceedingly attentive and the couple had an uncoverable glint of pleasure in their eyes. How could they not tell what happened?

Nie Wuying was young and simple-minded so she was only a bit confused. Pei Yourui had been well fostered by Grand Secretariat Pei He since she was a child, so she also had read some medical books. She couldn’t feel the pulse for others but she still had some basic knowledge. At the moment, she thought about it and then figured it out, “Yixiao suddenly rushed outside to throw out just now. Is she feeling sick due to pregnancy?”

“I think she is pregnant indeed, but it is still early. Shanyao can’t feel assured until Aunt Yun checks on her,” Jian Xubai replied delightedly. “So, I’m sorry we can’t continue the boat ride anymore. When we reach the bank, I must accompany Shanyao back to the side yard, or I’ll be worried!”

“Who is in the mood for the boat ride now?” Pei Yourui laughed in spite of herself, saying. “Of course we will go back with you. You’ve learned some medical skills anyway. A slippery pulse is not difficult to feel. What’s to be uncertain about? I think it is pretty close. Allow me to congratulate you first!”

She was always a steady woman and never spoke at random. Since she said so, she must be confident.

As expected, when they returned to the side yard a while later, Aunt Yun was invited here to take Song Yixiao’s pulse and then she said affirmatively, “She is pregnant, about a month and a half or two months. The baby’s condition is stable. As to the baby’s gender, it is hard to tell now.”

Aunt Yun was always aloof and reserved, who appeared emotionless to Jian Xubai and his wife, but now she was still smiling slightly, “Congratulations, Your Highnesses!”

The couple looked each other in the eye, whose eyes glinted excitedly. Pei Yourui and Nie Wuying who followed here were also happy for them when they heard about Song Yixiao’s pregnancy. After offering their congratulations, they saw Jian Xubai asking Aunt Yun about some matters needing attention for the baby. As they couldn’t be of help here, they both rose and said, “We will tell Mother about the good news!”

They went to the Grand Princess’s side yard and told her about the news. Jinguo Grand Princess grinned with joy from ear to ear. Without even changing her clothes, she hurried to visit Song Yixiao on her own and even took off the jade bracelet that she wore for years on spot for her as the reward. Besides, she also told Song Yixiao about her experience during pregnancy and urged Jian Xubai to take good care of Song Yixiao. Having nagged for quite a while, she finally left gladly.

Following the Grand Princess, the others who received the news afterward also came and send congratulations. Yet, most of them were stopped by Jian Xubai. After all, Song Yixiao and her baby were in good condition, but she was a pregnant woman and shouldn’t tire herself.

It was understandable so the visitors just left the presents and left after joking about Jian Xubai’s doting on his wife.

However, they still could not decline the visit of the maiden family though they had refused others’ visit.

Although Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao didn’t feel like meeting Wei Mengying, they couldn’t take her lightly on the surface. Wei Mengying sat on the embroidery chair before her daughter’s bed and fetched the tea served by Jinxun. Having taken a sip of the tea, she looked over Song Yixiao’s face and said with a smile, “Look at your rosy cheeks. The baby must be in good condition.”

Song Yixiao smiled slightly and replied, “I hope so too.”

“I heard that you were found pregnant when you were on a boat ride?” Wei Mengying didn’t care about her distant attitude. After all, she and her daughter had shed all pretense of cordiality in private. It was already a result of both parties’ taking the big picture into account that they could talk nicely now. Hence, she only said casually, “How come you were so careless? Since your period didn’t come on time, you should notice something unusual. How could you go out randomly?”

Song Yixiao replied with a casual air, “Late period has happened before. Besides, this is the first month that my period is late. By estimate, Xubai and I just consummated our marriage a few months ago, so I didn’t think about the possibility of pregnancy. Luckily, we came back shortly after we left the lake. I’m fine anyway.”

They just chatted casually for a while. Wei Mengying figured that her job was more or less done so she intended to leave then.

Before she left, she ordered Jinxun and the other maids to give them a moment and said to her daughter alone, “It is said that His Majesty insists on supporting the Crown Prince now. If Prince of Wei and Prince of Zhao can’t turn the table within a short time, they will definitely fail. If the Crown Prince wins in the end, I want Guanyun to be Gu Shao’s student too. Would you do me the favor?”

Song Yixiao stayed silent for a moment and then said, “Lord Gu is famous nationwide. Being his student, on both academic learning and official career, one will gain a lot of benefits. If Guanyun is qualified, of course, I also hope that he can make it.”

She and her mother, Wei Mengying did hate each other, but she truly loved her half-brother. On the premise of not going against her own will, she wouldn’t refuse to help her brother with his prospect.

“Deal then!” Wei Mengying nodded her head with satisfaction. “Guanyun is still quite gifted. You should have confidence in me about my way of teaching kids, right? After all, you also grew up under my care.”

Song Yixiao puckered her lips and said indifferently, “As a princess consort, you must be needed in the prince’s mansion after being away for so long. You’d better go back as soon as possible if you have nothing else to say!”

After sending her mother away, she was going to take a nap. Unexpectedly, Jinxun came in and reported, saying that Madam Lu had arrived. “Madam Lu happened to run into the Princess Consort when she entered the mansion. The Princess Consort stopped first and chatted with her for a moment before leaving.”

“Let her in then!” Song Yixiao was slightly surprised to hear the report. Madam Lu had spared no effort to associate with her before, but since Madam Huang passed away, she had obviously dropped the thought. It was good enough that she didn’t hate Song Yixiao. Now she was coming to congratulate Song Yixiao?

Nevertheless, on second thought, since Song Yixiao, a married daughter of the Song Family, was pregnant and this was her first pregnancy. If the maiden family didn’t do anything about it, they would be gossiped about then. The Song Family was sparsely populated. After all, Madam Pang whose fate was destined to be against Song Yixiao couldn’t come, making Madam Lu the only choice.

She composed herself and got prepared for putting Madam Lu off with fair words.

To her surprise, after coming inside and exchanging some pleasantries, Madam Lu took out a small and delicate box from her sleeve, saying, “Your father asks me to give this to you.”

Since Wei Mengying remarried, Song Yixiao had become insignificant to Song Yuan. Neither could she be cared for by her father. He didn’t even smile at her. Now Song Yuan gave her a present just because she was pregnant. Even though the box was not big and seemed unable to hold many things, she couldn’t help feeling astounded!

For the moment, rather than taking the box, she couldn’t help asking for confirmation in disbelief, “Is it really from my father?”

What she was actually asking was whether this gift was prepared by Madam Lu and yet pretended to be given by Song Yuan for the purpose of pleasing her.