SGEIRS -Chapter 290 I’m Pregnant

By late December, the New Year was approaching.

Although there hadn’t been any new additions to the household, the estate felt livelier than ever. Everyone worked with extra enthusiasm, perhaps hoping to receive red envelopes during the New Year—rewards from the master that felt like free money.

Gu Xiuwen, who studied at Lingshan Academy, had returned home. The other three brothers were also on break. The brothers made plans with sons of other official families in the capital to go admire plum blossoms in the plum garden.

In Qingyu Courtyard, Li Wan’er was secretly sulking over this.

Brother Xiuming had originally promised to go admire the blossoms with her. Who would have thought that once he saw his brothers going, he would immediately join them instead and tell her he would accompany her another time?

Her maid Hongling comforted her, saying, “Concubine, perhaps the other young masters invited the Heir, and he couldn’t refuse. It’s almost noon now, and he probably won’t come back for lunch. Why don’t you eat first?”

Li Wan’er nodded. “Have the meal set.”

At present, in the household, only Eldest Master Gu Jingsheng and Eldest Young Master Gu Xiuyuan had no concubines. The Heir, Gu Xiuming, had one. Second Master Gu Jingsong had once had a concubine—Fang Yiniang, the birth mother of Second Miss Gu Xuanling—but after her death, he never took another. He only kept two maidservants for his bed.

All the concubines in the household had the same status, but their treatment differed. Favored concubines enjoyed better food and clothing.

Li Wan’er was one of the favored ones. Although she couldn’t compare to the main wives, her meals were far better than those of unfavored concubines. For instance, this meal included steamed fish, stir-fried pork with fresh radish, and a bowl of soup.

The food looked good, yet Li Wan’er had no appetite.

She had just picked up a piece of fish when, before she could even put it into her mouth, the fishy smell made her feel nauseous. She retched dryly.

Hongling hurriedly asked, “Concubine, what’s wrong?”

Li Wan’er shook her head. “It’s nothing. I just feel a little nauseous. I’m clearly hungry, yet I have no appetite.”

Upon hearing this, an idea suddenly flashed through Hongling’s mind.

“Concubine… could you be pregnant?”

“Pregnant?”

Li Wan’er froze.

She had waited so long for a child but never conceived. She had even cooked tonic soups for Brother Xiuming to nourish him. Only then had he been willing to be intimate with her again. However, after learning it was a virility tonic, his pride as a man was hurt. He had gotten angry and forbidden her from making such soups again.

After that night, he no longer drank the tonic. Perhaps he had become impotent again—he no longer touched her and didn’t even sleep with her. Though he still treated her well during the day, she felt miserable inside.

She had been longing day and night for a child, yet he was so uncooperative.

Now… could it be that she got pregnant just because he was especially vigorous that one night?

Hongling added, “Concubine, you haven’t had your monthly period this month. It’s very likely you’re pregnant.”

Only then did Li Wan’er realize that her period, which usually came in mid-month, still hadn’t arrived.

She touched her lower abdomen. She felt nothing.

“Maybe not?” she said hesitantly.

Hongling replied, “Concubine, I’ve heard that morning sickness is common in pregnant women. And since you haven’t had your period, there’s a ninety percent chance you’re pregnant.”

Li Wan’er’s heart began pounding wildly.

A smile bloomed on her face—surprised, delighted, and full of disbelief.

Was she really pregnant?

Whether it was a boy or a girl, this would be the first child of the Third Branch. With this child, her status in the household would rise, and she would finally have something to rely on.

After a moment, she instructed, “Go fetch the household physician. Let him see if the fetus is stable.”

Hongling agreed and hurried away.

The other maids in the room immediately became more respectful. If Li Yiniang was pregnant, it would be the Marquis’s first grandchild. They had to serve her carefully. If anything went wrong, they would all suffer.

Before long, the physician arrived.

On the way, Hongling had already explained Li Wan’er’s situation to him. It sounded like pregnancy.

The physician focused on taking her pulse for quite some time without speaking. Li Wan’er grew anxious.

“Doctor, how is it? Am I pregnant? How is the child?”

The physician withdrew his hand, still not entirely certain.

“The month is still very early. It’s hard to tell by pulse alone. It would be better to check again after some time.”

Li Wan’er pressed, “Then… am I pregnant or not?”

The physician replied, “From your symptoms—nausea, loss of appetite, missed period—these are all signs of pregnancy. To avoid accidents, you should take good care of yourself. Don’t eat cold foods. And avoid intimate relations, lest the fetus be unstable and miscarry.”

Hearing this, Li Wan’er finally relaxed.

Since the physician had given such instructions, she was most likely pregnant—it was just too early to be certain.

After the physician left, Hongling said, “Concubine, you didn’t eat just now. If the food doesn’t suit your taste, shall I make something else in the small kitchen? You have a little master in your belly—you can’t go hungry.”

Li Wan’er was also afraid of starving the child.

But making new dishes would take time, so she said, “Reheat the radish with pork, the soup, and the rice. I won’t eat the fish—it makes me nauseous. You all can have it.”

Hongling withdrew.

In just one afternoon, everyone in Qingyu Courtyard knew that the Heir’s beloved concubine, Li Yiniang, was pregnant.

When Gu Xiuming returned, he noticed that all the servants in the courtyard were smiling. He felt puzzled and asked Hongling, “What’s going on? Why are you all so happy?”

Hongling didn’t answer directly. “Congratulations, Heir. Congratulations to you.”

Gu Xiuming was stunned.

Recently, he had been extremely unlucky. The girls he fancied all ignored him. He was even considering taking unconventional measures.

Now, hearing this, he asked in confusion, “What’s there to celebrate?”

Hongling smiled. “Heir, it’s better to let the Concubine tell you herself. If I say it first, she’ll be unhappy.”

This only made him more curious. He went inside to find Li Wan’er.

Seeing him return, Li Wan’er hurried over.

“Brother Xiuming, you’re back!” she said sweetly, brushing the snow off his shoulders.

He was very pleased by her gentleness. Smiling, he pulled her to sit beside him.

“After I came back, everyone seemed very happy. What happened?”

Li Wan’er smiled brightly. “Brother Xiuming, guess.”

Seeing her radiant smile, he tried to think.

After a long while, he couldn’t come up with anything.

“Wan’er, how am I supposed to guess? Give me a hint.”

She replied, “It’s related to us.”

He guessed several times, all wrong. Growing bored, he said, “I can’t guess. Why don’t you just tell me?”

Li Wan’er leaned into his arms, smiling sweetly. Her voice was full of joy.

“Brother Xiuming, I’m pregnant. We’re finally going to be parents.”