boyutpedia Chapter 194 Early Signs of Pregnancy
Chapter 194 Early Signs of Pregnancy
The royal palace of the Nanzhao Kingdom, bathed in the gentle caress of the spring sun, was brimming with vitality and warmth. In the imperial garden, flowers bloomed in profusion, their vibrant colors vying for attention. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the petals to sway softly and releasing a captivating fragrance.
Jia Xiaoyan wore a light pink silk dress, the hem embroidered with delicate peach blossom patterns, which swayed gently with her steps, like a blooming peach blossom dancing in the wind. She strolled along the garden path, with Gu Liuli, also dressed in elegant attire, beside her. The two chatted and laughed, admiring the spring scenery in full bloom.
"Xiaoyan, look at those peonies, they're blooming so beautifully." Gu Liuli pointed to a patch of blooming peonies not far away, her eyes full of admiration.
Jia Xiaoyan followed her finger and smiled, "It is indeed very beautiful. The royal garden of Nanzhao Kingdom is always so enchanting in spring." However, despite her words, her voice sounded tired and her smile seemed a little forced.
Gu Liuli keenly noticed Jia Xiaoyan's unusual behavior and asked with concern, "Xiaoyan, are you feeling unwell? You don't seem to be in good spirits today."
Jia Xiaoyan gently shook her head, trying to hide her feelings: "I probably didn't sleep well last night, it's nothing." But a hint of worry flashed in her eyes.
The two continued their stroll in the garden, but Jia Xiaoyan gradually felt a strong wave of drowsiness wash over her. Her steps became heavy, and her eyelids began to droop. "Liuli, I'm a little tired. Let's find a place to sit for a while," Jia Xiaoyan said, her voice heavy with weariness.
Gu Liuli quickly helped her to sit down on a stone bench. Looking at Jia Xiaoyan's pale face, her worry grew stronger: "Xiaoyan, don't push yourself. If you're really not feeling well, we should ask a royal physician to take a look."
Just as Jia Xiaoyan was about to refuse, a wave of nausea washed over her. She quickly covered her mouth, her face turning deathly pale. Gu Liuli, seeing this, was shocked: "Xiaoyan, what's wrong with you?"
Fortunately, the nausea passed quickly. Jia Xiaoyan leaned weakly against the stone bench and, after a while, said, "I don't know what's wrong. I've been feeling like this lately, feeling nauseous all the time."
Gu Liuli's heart skipped a beat. She recalled the symptoms she had when she was pregnant. Could it be that Xiaoyan...? She didn't dare to guess rashly, but simply held Jia Xiaoyan's hand tightly: "Xiaoyan, no matter what, let's ask the imperial physician to take a look first, so we can feel more at ease."
Jia Xiaoyan nodded. At this moment, she herself was also a little flustered. Faced with this sudden change in her body, her heart was filled with unease and doubt.
Upon returning to her palace, Gu Liuli immediately sent for the imperial physician. Soon after, the physician arrived in haste. He carefully took Jia Xiaoyan's pulse, his expression gradually becoming subtle.
"Imperial Physician, what's wrong with me?" Jia Xiaoyan asked anxiously.
The imperial physician bowed slightly, a smile on his face: "Congratulations to the Empress of Xijing Kingdom. Her pulse is slippery and rapid. In my opinion, the Empress is very likely pregnant. However, to be on the safe side, we need to observe her for a few more days and conduct further diagnosis."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xiaoyan was first taken aback, then a look of surprise appeared on her face, but it was quickly replaced by worry: "Really? Imperial Physician, are you sure?" Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of expectation and unease.
"Your Majesty, the pulse indicates a possible pregnancy, but confirmation will take time. You should simply relax and focus on recuperating," the imperial physician patiently explained.
After the imperial physician left, Jia Xiaoyan sat by the bed, lost in thought. She gently stroked her belly, her heart filled with both anticipation for the new life and a touch of unease. She thought of her husband, Jiang Liushen, and the impending arrival of their child, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.
At this moment, Gu Liuli stepped forward and took her hand: "Xiaoyan, congratulations! If you really are pregnant, that would be wonderful." Her eyes were full of genuine joy.
Jia Xiaoyan looked at Gu Liuli, her eyes slightly red: "Liuli, I...I'm a little scared. I don't know if I can be a good mother."
Gu Liuli gently hugged her: "Xiaoyan, don't worry, you can definitely do it. I will always be by your side to help you through this special time. And Jiang Liushen will be very happy too; he will definitely take good care of you and the baby."
Jia Xiaoyan leaned on Gu Liuli's shoulder, her heart gradually calming down. She knew she wasn't alone; with a good friend like Gu Liuli and a husband who loved her deeply, she was confident she could bravely welcome the arrival of her new life.
As evening fell, Jiang Liushen finished his official duties and returned to his palace. The moment he entered, he noticed something amiss. Jia Xiaoyan sat on the edge of the bed, looking somewhat nervous, while Gu Liuli stood beside her with a broad smile.
"Xiaoyan, what's wrong?" Jiang Liushen walked quickly to Jia Xiaoyan's side and asked with concern.
Jia Xiaoyan looked up at Jiang Liushen, her lips moved, but she couldn't speak for a moment. Gu Liuli smiled and said, "Liushen, Xiaoyan seems to be pregnant. The imperial physician just came to see her and said that her pulse shows signs of pregnancy, but it still needs to be confirmed."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Liushen was first stunned, then his face lit up with ecstatic joy. He carefully pulled Jia Xiaoyan into his arms, his voice trembling slightly, "Xiaoyan, is it true? We're going to have a second child?"
Jia Xiaoyan nodded gently, tears welling in her eyes: "It's not certain yet. The imperial physician said we need to observe for a few more days."
Jiang Liushen held her tightly, as if afraid this was all a dream: "No matter what, this is good news. Xiaoyan, don't worry, I will take good care of you and the baby."
In the days that followed, Jiang Liushen took meticulous care of Jia Xiaoyan. He personally selected various nourishing ingredients for her and instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare nutritious meals for her every day. In his spare time, he would also accompany Jia Xiaoyan for walks in the garden, telling her all sorts of interesting stories to make her happy.
Gu Liuli also frequently visited Jia Xiaoyan, bringing her various books and clothes suitable for pregnant women. She also shared her own experiences and insights from her own pregnancy with Jia Xiaoyan without reservation, helping her avoid some pitfalls.
As time went on, Jia Xiaoyan's physical reactions became more and more obvious, and her symptoms of nausea and drowsiness became more and more severe. But her face was always filled with a happy smile, because she knew that she was nurturing a new life, a little life full of hope.
Finally, after a second examination by the imperial physician, it was confirmed that Jia Xiaoyan was indeed pregnant. This news spread throughout the entire palace, and everyone offered their blessings. A joyful atmosphere filled the palace, as if everyone was anticipating the arrival of this new life.
The news of Jia Xiaoyan's pregnancy spread like wildfire throughout the palace, even reaching the retired Emperor and Empress Dowager who lived deep within its walls. That day, sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, bathing Jia Xiaoyan's bedroom in a bright and warm glow.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager have sent gifts." The palace maid's voice broke the silence of the room.
Jia Xiaoyan and Jiang Liushen exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise and gratitude. A moment later, several eunuchs carefully carried in several exquisite gift boxes. The boxes were wrapped in bright red silk and tied with gold ribbons, giving them a particularly festive appearance.
"Quick, open it and take a look!" Jia Xiaoyan said impatiently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The eunuchs gently untied the ribbons and opened the gift boxes. Inside the first box was a set of exquisite baby clothes. These garments were made of the finest silk, soft, smooth, and of exceptional quality. Lifelike dragon and phoenix patterns were embroidered on them, the silk threads shimmering with iridescent light in the sunlight, symbolizing the child's future nobility and extraordinary destiny.
"What beautiful clothes! The Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager really put their hearts into this." Jia Xiaoyan gently picked up a small dress, examining it carefully with eyes full of delight.
Jiang Liushen nodded and said, "This dragon and phoenix embroidery is a royal craft, which shows how much the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager value this child."
The second gift box contained an exquisite pure gold longevity lock. The lock had a simple and elegant design, engraved with various auspicious patterns, such as cranes symbolizing longevity and bats representing good fortune. On the front of the lock were engraved the four large characters "长命百岁" (meaning "Long Life to a Hundred Years"), the characters strong and powerful, exuding a solemn air.
"This longevity lock is the royal family's most sincere blessing for our child, hoping that our child will have a peaceful, healthy, and long life." Jiang Liushen picked up the longevity lock and gently placed it in Jia Xiaoyan's hand.
Jia Xiaoyan stroked the longevity lock, tears welling up in her eyes: "With the blessings of the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager, I believe the child will grow up safely."
The third gift box contained an ancient childcare book. Its cover was made of precious leather and inlaid with several sparkling gems. Inside, the book detailed precautions and childcare methods for each stage of a child's development, all accumulated experience from generations of royalty.
“This book is priceless to us,” Jia Xiaoyan said excitedly. “With it, I will know how to take better care of my child.”
Looking at these precious gifts, Jia Xiaoyan was filled with gratitude. She knew that these gifts were not just material gifts, but also expressions of the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager's love and blessings for them.
"We must express our sincere gratitude to the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager," Jia Xiaoyan said earnestly, looking at Jiang Liushen.
Jiang Liushen nodded in agreement: "Once you are feeling better, we will go together to pay our respects to the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager and express our gratitude to them in person."