TSWPF -Chapter 376 Breakdown

Li Qingling hadn’t slept all night. When dawn finally broke, she climbed out of bed with bloodshot eyes. The first thing she asked when she saw Xichun was: “Has my lord returned?”

Xichun shook her head gloomily. “Not yet.”

Hearing this, Li Qingling’s heart began to race. Could something really have happened to Liu Zhimou?

“What about Ling Yi? Has he come back?”

Xichun shook her head again. “No, he hasn’t.”

She was also worried that something might have happened to Liu Zhimou. If anything really went wrong, what would Madam do?

Seeing Li Qingling’s pale face, Xichun felt distressed as well. “Madam, my lord is blessed by fortune. He’ll definitely be fine.” She hoped he was safe—otherwise, Madam would be the first to collapse.

She helped Li Qingling over to a chair and gently asked if she wanted breakfast.

Although Li Qingling had no appetite, for the sake of the child in her belly, she forced herself to nod.

Seeing her agree, Xichun felt relieved and quickly asked Nianxia to bring the food.

She helped Li Qingling wash up.

Perhaps because she hadn’t rested well, the moment Li Qingling saw the breakfast she usually loved, her stomach churned. She rushed outside and began retching.

This frightened Xichun and Nianxia. They hurried after her, gently patting her back and anxiously asking if she was all right.

Li Qingling waved her hand weakly, signaling that she was fine.

Still worried, they helped her back to her room. Nianxia then ran to find Nanny Jin to ask whether Madam’s vomiting was serious.

Nanny Jin had caught a cold these past few days, and Li Qingling had told her to rest. When Nianxia found her, she was drinking medicine. After hearing the situation, Nanny Jin smiled.

“It’s fine. It’s normal morning sickness.”

Hearing this, Nianxia finally relaxed and, after asking a few more questions, left.

Back in the room, she said cheerfully, “Nanny Jin says it’s normal morning sickness. No need to worry.”

That’s good…

Xichun sighed in relief and softly asked what Li Qingling wanted to eat. She would have the kitchen prepare it.

After thinking for a moment, Li Qingling said, “I want sour plums.”

Just thinking about them made her swallow.

Xichun responded and quickly brought over a jar of preserved sour plums, placing it in front of her.

As soon as Li Qingling opened the lid and smelled the sour fragrance, her mouth watered. She eagerly took one and put it into her mouth.

This was the taste…

She ate five or six in a row before Xichun stopped her and made her close the jar reluctantly.

Taking the chance, Xichun pushed the breakfast toward her. “Eat a little. You can’t just have plums.”

Suppressing her nausea, Li Qingling slowly drank a bowl of millet porridge and ate one steamed bun.

Seeing how little she ate, Xichun frowned and urged her to eat more.

Li Qingling pushed the tray away and shook her head. “I can’t eat anymore.”

As soon as she said that, she rushed outside again and vomited violently while leaning against a pillar.

Everything she had just eaten came back up.

She squatted on the ground in misery. Who could tell her why morning sickness had to be so painful?

“Madam, are you okay?” Xichun hurried over, worried.

She glanced at Nianxia, signaling her to fetch a doctor.

Leaning weakly against Xichun, Li Qingling shook her head. “I’m fine.”

This was suffering every woman had to endure. She could bear it.

But how could she be fine? Her face was pale with a bluish tinge.

Xichun carefully helped her back inside. Li Qingling ate two more sour plums to suppress the acidity in her stomach.

She hadn’t expected morning sickness to be this unbearable.

She helplessly touched her belly, hoping the child wouldn’t torment her too much.

Before long, Nianxia returned with an old doctor.

After examining her, he stroked his beard. “This is normal.”

“Doctor, Madam vomits so badly. Is there any way to stop it?” Xichun asked.

“No,” he shook his head. “She must rest well and avoid overexertion.”

Li Qingling smiled and said she understood.

After the doctor left, Mr. Luo and the children hurried over, anxiously asking what had happened.

“I’m fine,” Li Qingling said. “Just morning sickness.”

Liu Zhirou stepped forward and held her hand. “Sister-in-law, big brother will be fine. Take good care of yourself.”

Li Qingling squeezed her hand and nodded. “Don’t worry. He’ll come back safely.”

Seeing the children, she knew she couldn’t panic. If she did, they would become even more frightened.

Until Liu Zhimou returned, she had to guard this home for him.

Mr. Luo sat beside her and said solemnly, “He probably ran into something urgent and couldn’t return in time. Don’t worry too much. Go rest. If there’s news, I’ll let you know.”

Li Qingling nodded and smiled faintly. With Xichun’s support, she went back to bed.

After staying awake all night, she was exhausted. Not long after lying down, she fell asleep.

When she had fallen asleep, Xichun quietly told Mr. Luo that Madam was resting.

Mr. Luo let out a soft sigh and reminded her to take good care of Li Qingling before leaving with the children.

Outside, the children’s tense shoulders slumped.

“Where did big brother go? Will he be okay?” they asked worriedly.

Mr. Luo told them not to overthink. Their brother would return safely.

He believed it firmly.

Seeing his calmness, the children felt slightly reassured and silently prayed for his safe return.

No one knew how long Li Qingling slept.

Suddenly, she jolted awake, sitting up and gasping for air, her forehead drenched in cold sweat.

She had had a nightmare.

She dreamed that Liu Zhimou was badly wounded, covered in blood. She stood before him, calling his name, but he didn’t respond.

As if… he were dead.

The thought made her tremble all over. She cried out for Xichun.

Xichun rushed in and immediately realized she’d had a nightmare.

She sat beside her, tightly holding her hand. “It’s okay. It’s just a dream.”

After a while, Li Qingling forced a weak smile. In a hoarse voice, she asked, “Has my lord returned?”

Xichun froze briefly, then slowly shook her head. Afraid Li Qingling would worry, she quickly added, “He’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

She wasn’t good at comforting people and could only repeat the same words.

Li Qingling frowned slightly. After a moment, she said, “I’m hungry. I want something to eat.”

“Alright, Madam. I’ll bring you some pastries first. Dinner will be ready in an hour.”

Li Qingling nodded.

After sitting for a while, she got up slowly.

When she reached for the teapot, she noticed her hands were trembling badly.

She gave a bitter smile and sighed softly.

No one knew how afraid she was of losing Liu Zhimou.

Without him, how would she live?

Life was long. Without his companionship, how lonely would she be?

He was her spiritual pillar.

“Madam, the pastries are here,” Xichun said softly. “And Diandian is here too.”

She gently nudged the little tiger forward.

Diandian scampered over, climbing up her skirt.

Li Qingling smiled and picked it up. “Have you eaten? Hmm?” She felt its round belly and knew it had been fed.

Diandian stretched its short legs, squinting happily and humming contentedly.

Li Qingling laughed softly and tapped its head. “You really know how to enjoy yourself.”

Seeing her smile, Xichun finally relaxed.

“Madam, eat a little.”

Li Qingling ate a few pastries and couldn’t eat more.

Seeing Diandian staring longingly, she smiled. “You’re still little. You can’t eat this.”

Diandian licked its lips and asked if it could just have a lick.

She placed a piece in her palm.

Unexpectedly, after licking it, Diandian took a big bite.

Startled, Li Qingling hurriedly made it spit it out. What if it choked? There was no veterinarian here.

Seeing her serious expression, Diandian obediently spat it out and licked her palm apologetically.

Li Qingling glared at it and pinched its ear. “Don’t do that again. You’ll choke.”

Diandian whimpered softly, promising it wouldn’t.