Chapter 23: The General’s Pampered Wife 23

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The General’s Pampered Wife 23

Her handmaiden saw this and said worriedly, "My Lady, are you ill? I hope you haven’t caught a chill or eaten something bad."

Ji Xiaosong felt a little anxious herself, unsure of the reason for this.

’Song, you’re pregnant. And with quadruplets, all from one time.’

It was Rongrong’s sudden reminder that made Ji Xiaosong finally realize.

’I must have still been half-asleep when I woke up this morning.’

"Have someone summon the household doctor," Ji Xiaosong ordered. She then sat on the edge of the bed, one hand unconsciously stroking her lower abdomen, her expression a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

A short while later, the household doctor hurried over.

He first bowed to Ji Xiaosong, then began to take her pulse.

The household doctor’s brow furrowed. With a hesitant look on his face, he checked her pulse several times but still couldn’t be certain.

’But... wasn’t General Xiao considered practically barren? How could Lady Xiao actually be pregnant?’

’If it weren’t common knowledge that Lady Xiao never sets foot outside the mansion, he would have let his imagination run wild.’

The household doctor wiped the sweat from his brow and said cautiously, "My Lady, forgive my poor Medical Skill, but this pulse resembles a joyful pulse, yet it is not entirely clear. To be safe, it would be best for you to request an Imperial Physician from the palace to come for a diagnosis. They are far more experienced and will surely be able to give you a definitive result."

After listening, Ji Xiaosong nodded slightly. "Then I shall trouble you to first prescribe some tonics to regulate my body. In the meantime, I will arrange for someone to summon an Imperial Physician."

The household doctor agreed and hurried off to write a prescription.

This matter was indeed of utmost importance. Although she was already absolutely certain, others were not.

Ji Xiaosong said to her handmaiden, "Go quickly and fetch the General. Tell him there might be a change in my condition and that I need an Imperial Physician to come to the mansion for a diagnosis."

The handmaiden quickly replied, "Yes, My Lady. I’ll go at once."

A short while later, the handmaiden returned, hurrying in with Xiao Shen.

The moment Xiao Shen entered, he asked urgently, "Wife, are you feeling unwell?"

"Husband, the household doctor was uncertain after taking my pulse. I thought it best to ask an Imperial Physician to come have a look so I can be at ease."

"Alright, Wife, don’t worry. I’ll arrange for an Imperial Physician to come to the mansion right away."

Xiao Shen didn’t have time to ask what the household doctor’s diagnosis was. Worried about Ji Xiaosong’s health, he immediately ordered his men to prepare lavish gifts and personally headed to the Imperial Hospital.

At the Imperial Hospital, the Chief Imperial Physician, Liu Zheng, was organizing medical cases when he heard that General Xiao was seeking an audience. He was quite surprised.

Upon seeing Liu Zheng, Xiao Shen cupped his hands politely and said, "Doctor Liu, my wife is unwell, and our household doctor’s diagnosis was inconclusive. I must trouble you to make a trip to my mansion to examine her."

Liu Zheng knew full well how high-ranking and powerful General Xiao was, and seeing his anxious expression, he quickly replied, "General Xiao, you are too kind. This humble official will certainly do his best."

Xiao Shen nodded. "Then I am in your debt, Doctor Liu."

He then hurried back to the General Mansion with Liu Zheng, his expression grave the entire way.

Back at the General Mansion, Liu Zheng didn’t dare to delay and immediately took Ji Xiaosong’s pulse.

His expression was focused, his fingers resting lightly on Ji Xiaosong’s wrist. His brow would occasionally furrow, then smooth out. Watching him, Xiao Shen didn’t dare to breathe, his eyes fixed on Liu Zheng’s face without blinking. His hands were unconsciously clenched into tight fists, and beads of sweat had begun to form on his forehead.

He leaned forward slightly, as if that would allow him to hear the diagnosis sooner.

Liu Zheng switched to Ji Xiaosong’s other wrist to take her pulse, and Xiao Shen’s heart leaped into his throat again. He began to pace back and forth in the room, his steps somewhat frantic.

A moment later, a hint of pleasant surprise appeared on Liu Zheng’s face, but he cautiously checked the pulse again.

After repeating this several times, his face finally broke into a joyous expression. He stood up, cupped his hands toward Xiao Shen and Ji Xiaosong, and said, "Congratulations, General Xiao! Felicitations, Lady Xiao! This is indeed a joyful pulse, and it is strong and vigorous. In this humble official’s judgment, the fetus is extremely healthy."

Xiao Shen froze for a moment, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. He stared at Liu Zheng with wide eyes, looking as if he were trying to see right through him to confirm he wasn’t joking.

His lips trembled slightly, and after a long moment, he managed to force out a few words: "Doctor Liu, are... are you telling the truth?"

Then, he slowly turned his head to look at Ji Xiaosong, his eyes filled with a complex mix of utter disbelief and elation.

He reached out, wanting to take Ji Xiaosong’s hands, but he stopped mid-air, as if afraid that this was all just a beautiful, fleeting dream.

"I... I’m really going to have a child?"

Xiao Shen’s voice trembled slightly. "I once thought..."

He paused, swallowing the bitter words that were to follow.

At that moment, he was like a man who had wandered in darkness for a long time and suddenly saw the dawn, so overcome with emotion that he was at a loss for what to do.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but his slightly trembling body betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

After a good while, Xiao Shen finally came to his senses. A brilliant smile bloomed on his face, a smile full of hope and anticipation for the future.

He walked over to Ji Xiaosong and gently pulled her into his embrace, his voice both tender and firm. "Song, thank you."

Standing to the side, Liu Zheng found that his eyes had grown moist at some point.

He had been the one to treat Xiao Shen’s previous poisoning. At the time, despite his best efforts, he had only been able to leave Xiao Shen with a final, slim thread of hope.

He never expected that, several years later, this lady from the Ji family would actually fulfill that nearly impossible hope.

The Xiao family had guarded Chen Country for generations, but now, Xiao Shen was the last of the Xiao Family’s line.

Ji Xiaosong’s pregnancy meant that the guardianship of Chen Country could continue.

Liu Zheng dabbed at the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, then fell to his knees with a THUD. He said emotionally, "Lady Xiao, your pregnancy is a blessing for the Xiao family, and an even greater blessing for Chen Country! This old subject thanks you for giving Chen Country the hope of being protected once more."

Seeing this, the others also knelt and offered their thanks.

Ji Xiaosong gently pushed Xiao Shen away and quickly stood to help Liu Zheng up. "Doctor Liu, please rise. This is a blessing from the heavens. I will naturally be careful to protect this child and do my part for the Xiao family and for Chen Country."

Rongrong floated on the bed canopy, watching the heartfelt emotions of everyone in the room and tutted:

’Song, it’s a good thing you’re not far along, so Liu Zheng can’t tell there are four babies in your belly. If they knew there were four, they’d be scared to death.’

"It’s alright, they’ll find out eventually. By then, my pregnancy will be stable."

’Don’t worry, Song. Any child conceived by you can’t possibly be miscarried.’

"Then I am relieved."

Liu Zheng and the others were too emotional, so Ji Xiaosong stopped conversing with Rongrong using her Divine Sense.

After calming everyone down for a while, Ji Xiaosong, carefully supported by Xiao Shen, sat back down on the edge of the bed.

Xiao Shen now wore a tense expression, his eyes never leaving Ji Xiaosong for a second, constantly muttering, "Wife, you must be extra careful. Don’t tire yourself out."

Then he turned to Liu Zheng and said, "Doctor Liu, please draw up a recuperation plan for my wife’s pregnancy as soon as possible. If you need any rare medicinal herbs, you have only to ask."

Liu Zheng nodded repeatedly in agreement and hurriedly withdrew to prepare it.

In less than two days, the news of Ji Xiaosong’s pregnancy had spread through the entire Capital City like wildfire.

To pray for the well-being of the child in Ji Xiaosong’s womb, Xiao Shen, together with the Ji family, set up a congee stall at the city gates, distributing porridge daily.

Not only that, but they also sent winter supplies and other goods to the various Charitable Orphanages within the Capital City.

Ji Xiaosong remained in the mansion and never went out, yet a constant, endless stream of people arrived to deliver gifts.

If Xiao Shen hadn’t strictly forbidden outsiders from coming to disturb them, the threshold of the General Mansion would have been worn down by all the visitors.

After three long months finally passed, Consort Song from the palace hosted a spring banquet and specifically requested Ji Xiaosong’s attendance.