TSWPF -Chapter 379 Pain and Suffering

Li Qingling nodded and had someone help Liu Zhimou back onto the bed so he could rest properly.

Once there were no outsiders around, Liu Zhimou put on a pitiful expression and looked at Li Qingling, asking how long he would have to stay in bed.

Li Qingling tucked in his blanket and smiled. “That depends on how you recover.”

Before his injury fully healed, she would not allow him to get out of bed.

Hearing this, Liu Zhimou let out a quiet sigh. There was so much work at the yamen that he probably wouldn’t be able to lie in bed for long.

“Since that’s the case, you should rest properly. The sooner you recover, the sooner you can work again.”

Liu Zhimou looked up at her and nodded helplessly. No matter what, his wife came first—he couldn’t disobey her.

Under Li Qingling’s firm supervision, Liu Zhimou obediently stayed in bed to recuperate.

During this period, watching Li Qingling suffer from severe morning sickness every day broke his heart.

He asked the kitchen to think of ways to prepare food that pregnant women could eat without vomiting.

The kitchen staff racked their brains every day, preparing all kinds of dishes and bringing them to Li Qingling, hoping she could at least keep some food down instead of throwing everything up.

Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain. No matter what she ate, she vomited.

“Xiao Ling, how are you feeling?” Liu Zhimou gently patted her back, his face full of worry.

After vomiting until she was completely drained, Li Qingling waved at him, telling him not to worry—she was fine.

“Look how much weight you’ve lost. When will you gain it back?” Liu Zhimou pulled her into his arms and touched her thin cheeks. “This child is too troublesome, making you suffer so much.”

Seeing how hard it was on her, he became even more determined to have only one child.

Li Qingling pressed her lips together, afraid to speak—she worried she would vomit again.

The constant morning sickness was driving her crazy.

Avoiding his injured leg, Liu Zhimou helped her lie beside him and gently patted her back to make her feel better.

Li Qingling glanced at him, closed her eyes slightly, and soon fell asleep in his arms.

Since becoming pregnant, she not only suffered from nausea but also became increasingly sleepy. She would fall asleep the moment she lay down.

While she slept, she didn’t see the deep worry in Liu Zhimou’s eyes. Although the doctor said this was normal, he still couldn’t help feeling afraid.

Afraid something might happen to her.

He gently touched her belly and whispered to the child, “Don’t torment your mother anymore, okay?”

If he had known pregnancy would be this painful, he would never have let her get pregnant so early.

But regret was useless now. All he could do was treat her even better.

After looking at her for a long time, he carefully got out of bed, picked up the crutch she had asked someone to make for him, and slowly walked out.

He went to ask Nanny Jin if there was any way to ease Li Qingling’s suffering.

Nanny Jin sighed and said there wasn’t.

The magistrate had asked her many times already, yet still refused to give up.

Seeing how much he cared made Nanny Jin happy. When the master and mistress had a good relationship, the servants’ lives were better too.

“My lord, don’t worry too much. Maybe madam will feel better after some time.”

“Let’s hope so…”

Sure enough, after three months passed, when she entered her fourth month, Li Qingling’s morning sickness suddenly stopped.

That day, when she saw the breakfast Xichun brought in, she couldn’t help swallowing.

As soon as the food was placed down, she eagerly started eating.

Seeing her eat so happily, Liu Zhimou was surprised. Had her nausea really stopped? Would she vomit again?

“Brother Zhimou, why are you staring at me? Hurry up and eat.” She put a bun into his bowl. “This bun is pretty good. Try it.”

Then she grabbed another one and ate heartily.

Liu Zhimou smiled and slowly ate, his eyes never leaving her.

When he saw that she had eaten two bowls of millet porridge, three pieces of sponge cake, four rose cakes, five buns—and still wasn’t stopping—he was shocked.

He held her hand and asked softly, “Aren’t you full after eating so much?”

“Hmm?” She looked up, blinking in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you feel stuffed?” He gently touched her slightly rounded belly. “Don’t eat too much at once. Eat again when you’re hungry, okay?”

“Did I… eat that much?” She hadn’t even noticed.

After he told her how much she’d eaten, her eyes widened.

Then she suddenly grinned. “Brother Zhimou, I’m not nauseous anymore!”

Only then did she realize it.

Liu Zhimou smiled and nodded. Now he could properly nourish her.

She had lost so much weight from vomiting for a whole month.

He pinched her nose and told her to sit and wait. After he finished eating, he would accompany her for a walk.

Li Qingling glanced at the food, swallowed, and forced herself to look away. “Okay.”

Seeing her reaction, Liu Zhimou chuckled, finished quickly, and took her outside.

“Hey, slow down. Be careful of your injury!” She frowned and tugged at his hand.

Hearing her, he slowed down and interlaced his fingers with hers as they walked leisurely.

Near the lotus pond, Diandian came running toward them on its short legs.

During Liu Zhimou’s recovery, Li Qingling had stopped letting Diandian sleep with her and sent it back to the backyard.

It came to see her every day, but usually when she was asleep.

Now, seeing her strolling outside, it was overjoyed.

“Awoo, awoo!” Master, are you better?

Li Qingling bent down and patted its head. It had grown a lot in a month.

“Good boy, where have you been playing?”

After licking her fingers and drinking up her spiritual water, Diandian said it had been playing with Ningning and came to see her.

She praised it warmly, making it very happy.

Diandian proudly said its father had hunted a deer for her.

Hearing that, Li Qingling swallowed. “Your dad is amazing.”

“When I grow up, I’ll be even better than him!” Diandian howled proudly.

She laughed and said she believed in it.

Thinking of Ah Huang and Ah Bai, she decided to visit them.

Liu Zhimou agreed and walked with her to the backyard.

As soon as they arrived, Diandian called out loudly.

Ah Huang and Ah Bai ran out and carefully approached her.

Li Qingling rubbed their heads. “I’m fine. How about you?”

She praised Ah Huang for hunting the deer.

Ah Huang squeezed Diandian aside and proudly said it had done it specially for her.

“Thank you, Ah Huang.”

“You’re welcome.”

Diandian angrily ran to complain to its mother.

Ah Bai ignored it and followed Li Qingling closely.

Diandian felt wronged and went to Liu Zhimou instead.

These heartless parents!

After chatting for a long time, Li Qingling left near lunchtime.

Diandian tried to follow but was stopped by Ah Huang.

“You’re staying here. Tonight I’ll take you hunting.”

Diandian’s eyes lit up.

“Really?”

Ah Huang snorted. “I won’t lie.”

Ah Bai worried it was too young, but Diandian shook its head eagerly.

“I’m not small! I’ll hunt deer for Master!”

Ah Huang snorted. “Deer? You’d be lucky if it doesn’t hunt you. Catch chickens and rabbits first.”

Diandian looked at itself, then at its huge parents, and nodded reluctantly.

Fine. For now, it would start with rabbits and chickens.