Chapter 378 - 377: The Letter (500+ Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 378: Chapter 377: The Letter (500+ Monthly Tickets)

Their eyes met, and Du Yunluo’s long eyelashes trembled. She mumbled "Princely Heir" and closed her eyes, seemingly about to fall asleep again.

But in the next instant, she opened her eyes wide, trying to sit up: "When did you come back? Why didn’t you call for me?"

Mu Lianxiao put down his fan, reached out to support her body, and let Du Yunluo lean against him.

Smoothing out her messy bangs, Mu Lianxiao smiled warmly, "I’ve just been back for a little while."

Du Yunluo pressed her lips together and smiled with her eyes bent into crescents.

Although she had many things to say to Mu Lianxiao, she suddenly didn’t know where to start.

She could only use her smile to express her feelings.

Mu Lianxiao pinched her chin and frowned slightly, "Why have you lost so much weight?"

"I..." Du Yunluo opened her mouth, just as soon as she said a word, her entire abdomen churned. She rolled her throat, covered her lips with both hands, and turned to the side to dry heave over the edge of the Arhat Bed.

Mu Lianxiao was startled and soothed her back while calling for Jin Rui.

Jin Rui was standing at the door and rushed in upon hearing the sound.

Du Yunluo heaved for a while before stopping.

Jin Rui poured a cup of tea, and Du Yunluo rinsed her mouth with Mu Lianxiao’s help.

"Do you vomit every day?" Mu Lianxiao asked gently, holding her waist.

Du Yunluo looked up at him. Those black, ink-like eyes were full of worry and heartache. She whispered, "Aunt said that it’s like this when you first conceive.

Everyone has different symptoms; some are worse, some are better. I’m doing well, and there are worse cases.

When my elder sister was pregnant with Sister Yi, she kept vomiting.

Supposedly, it’ll be fine in about a month."

Mu Lianxiao knew Du Yunluo was comforting him.

Clearly being such a spoiled temperament, she worried about him because he couldn’t stay by her side day and night and had to turn around to comfort him.

Mu Lianxiao’s heart softened greatly, and he let Du Yunluo lie on his lap, speaking to her with half-lowered eyelids: "What do you eat every day?"

Du Yunluo settled into a comfortable position, her bright eyes staring directly at Mu Lianxiao, who was so close. Her hands played with Mu Lianxiao’s palms.

"I eat a variety of things. Recently, I don’t crave sweets anymore, so I had the cook make some savory snacks.

In the alley next to us, there’s an aunt who grinds her tofu to sell. I tried it once, it’s smooth and fragrant without any beaniness, and her soy milk is also delicious. I’ve been drinking it every morning.

Yesterday afternoon, Aunt sent over a fish, and we roasted it..."

Du Yunluo detailed everything, as Mu Lianxiao was beside her, her mind gradually settled down.

Once her thoughts shifted, she didn’t feel as uncomfortable in her stomach anymore.

Jin Rui stood by the curtain listening, her nose souring as she took a deep breath to hold back her tears.

She served Du Yunluo closely, so she knew her master’s condition the best.

Despite Du Yunluo’s lighthearted words, it wasn’t easy at all.

The kitchen changed things up not to avoid monotony but because Du Yunluo’s appetite changed rapidly.

As Hong Jinbao’s family said, pregnant women are troublesome, not because they like to cause trouble, but because the little one in their belly causes it.

If not, how could Du Yunluo have lost so much weight in such a short time?

This damn morning sickness, it’ll be better once it’s over early.

Mu Lianxiao listened carefully and shared some interesting stories from Shanyu Pass with Du Yunluo.

The Western clock struck, and Du Yunluo asked Jin Rui to set the table.

The table was laid with various dishes of different flavors.

Perhaps because Du Yunluo was in a good mood, this meal was quite satisfying. It was also the most she had eaten in days.

After the meal, they strolled in the backyard for digestion, then leaned on the bed talking.

The oil lamp was still lit, and Mu Lianxiao’s hand slipped into Du Yunluo’s inner clothes, the warm palm against her belly, gently rubbing back and forth.

Du Yunluo chuckled softly, "It’s not round yet."

Mu Lianxiao pecked her lips, "No rush."

"This year’s twelfth lunar month, I guess I can’t return to the Capital." Du Yunluo calculated for Mu Lianxiao, "Next year in February, I’ll give birth. Aunt says it’s best not to travel back and forth, and after the baby and confinement, it will likely be March."

Mu Lianxiao responded, already aware of the situation.

Du Yunluo’s pregnancy is important, making it impossible to return to the Capital for the new year. Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou would likely understand.

Once the baby is born next year, infants can’t endure the jostling on the journey. If it’s a short trip, that’s one thing, but returning to the Capital requires waiting at least half a year to a year.

"If I dared let you travel back to the Capital pregnant, Grandmother and Mother would make me kneel in the ancestral hall," Mu Lianxiao joked with Du Yunluo, "The legitimate eldest grandson of the legitimate eldest branch mustn’t be handled carelessly."

Du Yunluo wrapped her arms around Mu Lianxiao’s neck, laughing.

For now, she didn’t want to return. Being visibly pregnant or carrying a child back to the Capital would undoubtedly provide the second branch an opportunity to act.

Though it could force them to reveal their true colors, Du Yunluo didn’t want to use herself or the child as pawns against the second branch.

Mu Lianxiao stayed in Xuancheng for two days before hurriedly returning to Shanyu Pass.

Du Yunluo ate and drank well for two days. After Mu Lianxiao left, although she still had morning sickness, it was not as severe as before, allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

Jin Rui drew many patterns.

Carp swimming, tigers lively, and Sudhana, all commonly used by children.

Hong Jinbao’s family praised them repeatedly, and Du Yunluo selected a piece to embroider to pass the time.

In the blink of an eye, August arrived.

Guishu Alley was named for its numerous osmanthus trees, and with the arrival of the autumn wind, the air was filled with the scent of osmanthus.

Yang Family came to visit her, retrieving a letter from her sleeve.

Du Yunluo took a look. It was written by Mrs. Zhen.

The letter was filled with Mrs. Zhen’s longing for her. Knowing Du Yunluo was pregnant, Mrs. Zhen was overjoyed and wrote down some things to consider during pregnancy, with every word demonstrating care.

It also mentioned Shao Yuanzhou and Du Yunru.

Shao Yuanzhou had achieved success in the imperial examination, and luckily, he found a vacancy and was appointed as the county magistrate of Linggu, a subordinate area of Lindong.

A seventh-rank official position isn’t high, but being right under Du Huarang’s watchful eyes, as long as he performs well, there’s no need to worry about the performance appraisal.

Shao Yuanzhou departed at the end of July, and the Shao Family sent Du Yunru along with Sister Yi to assume his post.

Mrs. Zhen was immensely emotional about this.

Two daughters married into the Capital, but now they’ve both moved to Lindong, which she was extremely reluctant to accept.

But then she thought, being close by, the sisters could look out for each other.

Du Yunluo reread the letter twice.

Traveling to Linggu meant passing through Xuancheng, so Du Yunru could visit her, and Du Yunluo looked forward to it.

However, Shao Yuanzhou arriving in Lindong indicated that Du Huarang wouldn’t hold onto the Lindong Prefect position for long, at most three years before being reassigned.

Calculating that, it was similar to when Du Huarang was reassigned to Jiangnan in the previous life.