Chapter 615 - 227: Suburb of the Capital
Chapter 615: Chapter 227: Suburb of the Capital
Fortunately, after the old doctor took her pulse for about fifteen minutes, a smile appeared on his face.
"It’s undeniably a pregnancy pulse. However, since the pregnancy is still in its early stages—less than a month—it took some effort to be certain..."
Chen Wanqing did not hear the rest of his words. She was completely immersed in immense joy. She never knew that pregnancy could be such a joyful thing. Even when she previously had dreams hinting at a child, experienced early pregnancy symptoms, and secretly guessed she might be pregnant, she had never felt this level of surprise and delight.
But at this moment, an overwhelming surge of joy rushed over her like a rising tide. Submerged beneath the massive wave, Chen Wanqing felt as if she were drifting along the current, her soul soaring all the way up to the heavens.
Feeling a tight embrace, she looked up. Unsurprisingly, she saw Zhao Jing holding her closely. His entire body was trembling uncontrollably, and his deep dark eyes sparkled with brilliant starlight.
Meanwhile, her parents, Uncle Shiling, De’an, and even Yao’an all wore genuine smiles on their faces. One by one, they spoke in shock, delight, or sheer disbelief.
"I’m going to be a grandfather?" her father asked.
"I’m still so young, and I’m already going to be an uncle?" another chimed in.
"Whether it’s a nephew or a niece, I’ll love them all the same. Sister, take good care of yourself during the pregnancy. Once the baby is born, I’ll help you play with them!"
A surge of warmth filled Chen Wanqing’s chest. Flowing like water, it spread through every limb and bone, warming her entire body. Chen Wanqing had absolutely no memory of how they made their way back to the inn. All she knew was that by the time she came to her senses, she and Zhao Jing were the only ones left in the room. He was crouching in front of her, his arms wrapped around her as he pressed his ear against her belly.
Seeing this, Chen Wanqing could not help but laugh. "Didn’t you hear the doctor? The baby is still small, only a tiny little thing. No matter how closely you listen, you won’t hear anything."
Zhao Jing shook his head. "I just find it incredible."
He wondered, "Just that one time, the fish maw broke, and now we have a child? Is getting pregnant really this easy and simple?"
Zhao Jing still could not believe that he was going to be a father. Chen Wanqing did not interrupt him. She simply held his head, gently stroking his hair as she immersed herself in this rare moment of warmth and joy alongside him.
When they resumed their journey, Chen Wanqing was treated even better than before. She had no doubt that if they were not traveling, her parents and Uncle Shiling would be feeding her five meals a day. Yes, feeding her. If she had not fought for it, she would have even been stripped of the right to feed herself.
Not long after they hit the road again, it suddenly started snowing. Fortunately, it was only a light snow. The snowflakes drifted sparsely through the sky. By the time they arrived at the post house to stay the night, only a thin layer of white blanketed the ground.
But in the middle of the night, the snowfall suddenly intensified. The weight of the snow made the old roof of the post house go CREAK CREAK. Fearing that the building might collapse, the family had no choice but to get up in the middle of the night and take refuge in the main hall.
The post house manager, who was fast asleep, was dragged out of his warm bed by Xu Shiling and given a severe beating right to his face. The post house manager knelt down and kowtowed to beg for forgiveness. He confessed to embezzling the silver meant for repairing the building and promised to turn himself in at the nearby government office first thing in the morning. But what use was that? The group was destined to have a restless night.
The next morning.
The snow outside was deep enough to reach Yao’an’s knees. Let alone passing through with horse-drawn carriages, even if a person walked out there, they could easily fall into a hidden ditch if they were not careful. With no other options, they could only continue staying at the post house.
Chen Wanqing was less than a month into her pregnancy and in her most delicate stage. Huddling in the main hall indefinitely was out of the question. Finally, Uncle Shiling had the servants throw out everything expendable from the post house manager’s personal room. They then laid down the bedding they had brought with them, allowing Chen Wanqing and Xu Su Ying to move in.
Fortunately, the sun came out that afternoon, and the snow gradually began to melt. The following two days also brought good weather. The thick snow slowly vanished without a trace, revealing the yellowish-brown earth beneath. Only then did the group set out once more.
This time, their progress was much slower. If the melting snow was not absorbed by the soil in time, it would turn the roads muddy. By nightfall, this melted snow would freeze into ice again. The horses’ hooves would slip on it, making it extremely unsafe.
After two days of cautious travel, the ground was finally clear of thin ice and snow. Following a few more days of travel, they finally neared the Capital City. When they were just over thirty miles away from the Capital City, the entire family breathed a sigh of relief.
This final stretch of thirty miles could be finished in just one morning. With the light at the end of the tunnel right before their eyes, everyone was filled with joy.
That evening, the group stayed at another post house. After eating dinner and returning to her room to rest, Xu Su Ying saw the silvery moonlight shining upon the earth, making the courtyard as bright as day. She casually remarked, "The moon is truly round tonight."