哈哈漫画

Invitations snowed down upon Li Xia, who attended a few before deciding to stay at home.

Because Li Xia was pregnant. To her surprise, it was Lu XuanNing who figured it out first. Counting the days, seeing that she was ten days late, he sent for Xiao Changyou to check her pulse.

When Xiao Changyou arrived, Li Xia thought something was wrong with Lu XuanNing.

Little did she expect that she was the one to have her pulse checked. Seeing Lu Xuanning extend his arm for Xiao Changyou to check his pulse, she asked, "What could be wrong with me?"

After a detailed pulse diagnosis, Xiao Changyou congratulated Lu XuanNing.

Though Lu XuanNing had his suspicions, confirmation brought him uncontainable joy.

"What's there to congratulate?" Li Xia remained in doubt.

"You're pregnant," Xiao Changyou solved Li Xia's puzzle.

"Are you sure?" Li Xia looked at her belly in disbelief. She hadn't felt a thing.

"About a month along. The pulse is a bit weak. If you don't believe, you can wait for a month and invite another doctor," replied Xiao Changyou, who would normally have stormed out at such doubt.

Lu XuanNing clasped Li Xia's hand and softly told her, "Xia Xia, we're going to have a baby."

Li Xia gazed at her belly, finding the reality of her pregnancy, the reality of their child, utterly incredible.

The two fresh parents looked dazed. Qiu Shui asked if they would like any precautions, dietary restrictions or otherwise.

When Xiao Changyou finished his instructions, and as Qiu Kui took notes, he tilted his gaze towards Qiu Ling. Qiu Ling was gleefully sharing the joy of the baby news with Qiu Chan. Sorrow filled Xiao Changyou's eyes as they met.

Only then did Lu XuanNing and Li Xia remember to thank Xiao Changyou, who was now glancing at Qiu Ling.

"Qiu Ling, could you please show Doctor Xiao out?" requested Li Xia. Qiu Ling followed the doctor, who was overjoyed as he left.

"Should we send someone to notify the Old Marquis and his wife?" Qiu Shui asked the couple.

"I'll tell my grandparents myself," decided Lu XuanNing, wanting to deliver the good news personally.

Upon hearing the good news, the Old Marquis and Old Madam Lu were both elated. They were to have a great-grandson. They immediately planned to visit, but were persuaded by Lu XuanNing to wait until the next day due to the late hour.

They accepted and had people rummage their storeroom to send the finest items to Li Xia and her unborn child at the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South.

The next morning, Old Marquis and Old Madam Lu arrived with numerous gifts. Upon seeing the array of boxes in the living room, Li Xia felt dizzy with surprise.

"Grandpa, Grandma, you didn't have to bring all this," she remarked, looking rather overwhelmed.

"Oh, it's nothing much," Old Madam Lu dismissed, "These are all for my great-grandson."

"Maybe it's a great-granddaughter," Old Marquis whispered, hoping for a daughter to balance the overpowering Yang energy in his lineage. But his words could still be heard by those in the room.

Old Madam Lu rolled her eyes, "Does the Old Lu Family have the fortune of having a great-granddaughter?"

On hearing this, Old Marquis Lu huffed proudly and left. For nine generations, the Old Lu Family had been without a daughter, producing only sons, until Lu XuanNing's generation, which finally had two kids.

Seeing Li Xia staring at the departing Marquis, Old Madam Lu was worried that she might be influenced by him, "He's just too excited. It would be good to have a granddaughter in the Old Lu Family."

Old Madam Lu as well hoped for the baby to be a girl - first have a daughter and then a plethora of grandkids. However, she was worried Li Xia would overthink.

"Grandma, I also like daughters," said Li Xia. She believed gender didn't matter, only abilities did. If one didn't possess the necessary abilities, even the most powerful ancestors would be of no use.

Seeing this made Old Madam Lu chuckle, knowing Li Xia was strong-minded.

Li Xia accompanied them for breakfast. Lu XuanNing had to go for work. After getting married, The Crown Prince assigned him some tasks.

After having breakfast, Lu XuanNing lingered around, unwilling to go, wanting to stay with Li Xia and their baby.

"Stop dawdling, get to work," Li Xia couldn't stand Lu XuanNing's clinginess and hastened him.

Leaving the Marquis Mansion reluctantly, Lu XuanNing regretted accepting the new assignment from The Crown Prince.

Old Madam Lu came to visit Li Xia and the unborn baby and to discuss the matter of making a royal visit by the end of the year. Considering Li Xia's status she was expected to meet the Empress.

Li Xia wasn't particularly worried. Despite being pregnant and refraining from overusing her abilities, she was still more than capable of handling a regular visit. She assured Old Madam Lu not to worry as her body was strong. Besides, she had Qiu Chan and Qiu Ling.

Old Madam Lu knew both Qiu Chan, a skilled fighter, and Qiu Ling, a sharp person. She called for maids experienced in going to the palace and said, "Take good care of Li Xia."

Both Qiu Chan and Qiu Ling were nervous. They listened diligently to the advice and pledged to take good care of Li Xia.

Lu XuanNing tried to look calm, but he wouldn't let go of Li Xia's hand. When they had to separate at the gates of the palace, Li Xia was the first to let go.

Li Xia walked towards the banquet hosted by the Empress. She encountered Mrs. Lu and Li Xin talking, they waved her over. The three of them found a corner to talk.

Li Xin had visited once before, protected by Lady Cao, so they did not need to worry about her. The main concern was Li Xia, especially since Old Madam Lu was laid up. Mrs. Lu was very concerned about Li Xia managing alone.

"Mother, I remember all the lessons you and Aunt Liu taught me. Grandma also sent her most reliable maids to accompany me. Don't worry," Li Xia said. She wanted to tell them about her pregnancy, but refrained. Maybe she could tell them some other time. For now, she didn't want to give them any more reasons to worry.

The feast began, with everyone being led to their designated places according to rank. Led by palace maids, Li Xia found his seat.

No sooner had Li Xia sat down than he heard a faint snigger from nearby. Even though it was a quiet sound, Li Xia’s keen ears picked it up.

Lifting his tea cup, he darted a glance in the direction of the snigger under the guise of taking a sip. It was Madam Zhou of the Zhou family, the house matriarch, also the birth mother of Zhou Luoer.

Madam Zhou was witnessing her nephew marrying a woman of his own, leading a good life, and then thinking of her own daughter. Because Jiang Qingyu needed to observe the mourning period, her daughter would have to wait three years before she could be married. By that time, Zhou Luoer would be a spinster, and if there were any changes to the marriage arrangements in the meantime, Zhou Luoer’s life would be ruined.