The first to react was the Princess Consort sitting beside Ren Yaoqi.
When Ren Yaoqi covered her mouth and began retching, the Princess Consort immediately set down her wine cup and supported her. Just as she was about to ask if she was ill, she suddenly thought of something and froze, then stared intently at Ren Yaoqi’s abdomen, her face lighting up with disbelief and joy.
“Qi’er, are you…” The Princess Consort gazed at Ren Yaoqi with hopeful eyes, only realizing halfway through her sentence that the entire hall had fallen silent. The Old Princess Consort and Su Shi at the same table were also staring at Ren Yaoqi, their expressions complex.
Ren Yaoqi retched a few times but didn’t vomit. Seeing everyone’s eyes fixed on her, she smiled apologetically.
The Princess Consort firmly grasped Ren Yaoqi’s hand, her expression and tone still calm as she said, “Since you’re not feeling well, go back and rest first.”
Ren Yaoqi noticed that the Princess Consort’s hand holding hers was trembling slightly, so she gently squeezed it in return.
Ren Yaoqi was not foolish. She had already been somewhat suspicious about her recent condition but hadn’t had the chance to confirm it. Now, seeing the Princess Consort so nervous and joyful, she couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope herself.
The Old Princess Consort set down her chopsticks with a sharp “clack,” breaking the eerie silence in the hall. “If you’re with child, you should stay quietly in your room. What are you doing here causing a stir? Who ever heard of someone attending another’s wedding banquet with a big belly?”
Hearing this, the Princess Consort’s eyes turned cold.
Ren Yaoqi quickly interjected, “It hasn’t been confirmed yet…”
The Princess Consort gently cut her off, “You’re young and inexperienced, so it’s natural for you to be unsure. It’s alright—everyone has a first time. You learn as you go.”
As soon as the Princess Consort finished speaking, the middle-aged woman who had just toasted her earlier laughed and said, “The Princess Consort is right. When I was pregnant with my eldest, I thought I had just gained weight from eating too much. By the time I had my second, I knew what to expect.”
The others chimed in with lighthearted remarks, saying that first pregnancies were always like this.
Listening to the perfunctory responses from those around her, the Old Princess Consort’s expression darkened. Did she no longer even have the right to admonish a junior?
Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile wryly at everyone’s reactions. With everyone chattering away as if it were already confirmed that she was pregnant, she herself hadn’t even verified it yet.
Ren Yaoqi recalled that her menstrual cycle had indeed been absent last month, but she often suffered from poor blood circulation, and her periods were occasionally irregular, so that alone wasn’t enough to draw a conclusion. What if it was just a physical ailment and not a pregnancy? How could she ever show her face in public again if that were the case?
The Princess Consort seemed to guess her thoughts and patted her hand reassuringly. “Go back first. I’ll send someone to take your pulse. Even if I’m mistaken, it’s my fault—they’re just jumping on the bandwagon. It has nothing to do with you.”
The people present couldn’t help but laugh.
Under the Princess Consort’s insistence, Ren Yaoqi had no choice but to rise and leave the banquet.
The Princess Consort didn’t forget to whisper to her, “I’ll be there soon. Don’t be afraid, and don’t feel burdened.”
Ren Yaoqi felt a warmth in her heart, nodded, and withdrew.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out of the banquet hall, she spotted a familiar figure approaching from a distance and paused. When the person drew closer, she couldn’t help but smile at the newcomer and asked, “What brings you here?”Xiao Jingxi had rushed over from somewhere, his eyes bright and sparkling with joy.
As soon as he approached, he took Ren Yaoqi's hand: "You..."
Ren Yaoqi noticed that Second Young Master Xiao's palm was actually damp. She smiled and stopped him: "It's not certain yet, let's talk after we go back."
Without another word, Second Young Master Xiao bent down and scooped Ren Yaoqi up in his arms.
Ren Yaoqi's feet left the ground, startling her. She quickly wrapped her arms around Xiao Jingxi's neck to steady herself: "What are you doing? Put me down!" She glanced around; fortunately, aside from the maids she had brought, there were no outsiders. Still, she felt quite embarrassed and awkward.
Xiao Jingxi held her tighter and whispered, "I'll carry you back."
Ren Yaoqi pinched him: "No! Put me down now! What will people think if they see us?"
Xiao Jingxi continued walking with her in his arms, stubbornly saying, "Let them see. Who would dare gossip?"
Ren Yaoqi said angrily, "Xiao Jingxi! Are you putting me down or not?"
Xiao Jingxi immediately stopped in his tracks. Ren Yaoqi only called him by his full name when she was truly furious. Xiao Jingxi hesitated for a moment before gently setting Ren Yaoqi down, but his hand remained firmly on her waist.
"Then I'll help you walk..." Xiao Jingxi said, looking at Ren Yaoqi with pleading eyes.
Meeting his gaze, Ren Yaoqi could only sigh helplessly and look up at the sky, walking ahead without paying him any mind. Xiao Jingxi hurriedly followed step by step, his hand still resting on the small of her back.
Fortunately, it was already getting dark, and everyone was gathered at the banquet area, so along the way, aside from encountering a few maids from the palace, they didn't run into anyone else.
Supported by Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi returned to Zhaoning Hall, only to find that Nanny Gong was already waiting inside. She couldn't help but glance at Xiao Jingxi.
Xiao Jingxi whispered, "I sent someone to invite Nanny Gong. She's very accurate at reading pulses."
Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to speak, someone outside came in to report: "Young Master, Physician Zhang has been invited."
Ren Yaoqi looked at Xiao Jingxi.
Xiao Jingxi had Physician Zhang brought into the hall and explained to Ren Yaoqi, "If it's a matter of physical discomfort, Physician Zhang can examine you."
Ren Yaoqi was left speechless.
When Nanny Gong saw the two enter, she trembled as she stood up to bow. Xiao Jingxi personally helped her up: "Please, Nanny, take it easy. I must trouble you to read her pulse."
Nanny Gong smiled and patted Xiao Jingxi's hand, revealing a gap-toothed grin: "Don't worry, don't worry. Nanny is here."
Xiao Jingxi helped Ren Yaoqi sit on the kang. Nanny Gong's cool fingers pressed against Ren Yaoqi's wrist. While Nanny Gong was taking her pulse, the entire inner hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The maids and servants held their breath, watching intently, as if trying to discern the outcome from every subtle expression on Nanny Gong's face. Physician Zhang, who had been invited over, also sat silently to the side, not daring to make a sound.
Xiao Jingxi sat beside Ren Yaoqi, tightly holding her other hand. While everyone else's gaze remained fixed on Nanny Gong, he kept his eyes on Ren Yaoqi.
After taking her pulse once, Nanny Gong asked Ren Yaoqi to switch hands. Xiao Jingxi then released Ren Yaoqi's hand.After taking the pulse twice in succession, Nanny Gong finally opened her eyes and smiled at the room full of people staring at her anxiously: "Young Madam... it's a joyous pulse."
As soon as Nanny Gong's words fell, several maids and elderly servants exclaimed with delight.
Sangshen joyfully said: "This servant will go inform the Princess Consort of this good news."
Xiao Jingxi tightly grasped Ren Yaoqi's hand, gazing at her with a smile, his eyes never leaving hers. Ren Yaoqi also looked at Xiao Jingxi. Neither spoke, but in that moment, their eyes held only each other, the surrounding clamor fading into the background.
At that moment, Ren Yaoqi felt an indescribable, bittersweet softness welling up in her heart.
It wasn't until someone outside announced that the Princess Consort had arrived that Ren Yaoqi averted her gaze and stood up.
The Princess Consort hurried in. It was the first time Ren Yaoqi had ever seen the usually composed and elegant Princess Consort display such an expression of joy and eagerness.
"Is it a joyous pulse?" The Princess Consort grasped Ren Yaoqi's hand, her eyes fixed intently on her. Having heard the laughter and cheers from the maids and servants in the courtyard outside, she already had some certainty in her heart.
Ren Yaoqi blushed slightly and nodded: "Nanny Gong has already taken my pulse."
Nanny Gong, who had just finished taking the pulse and was now enjoying some pastries nearby, said: "The masters can rest assured. The pulse is very steady. Although it's less than two months, Young Madam's health has been well-regulated."
The Princess Consort was so overjoyed she could hardly speak, merely holding Ren Yaoqi's hand and repeating: "Good, good..." As she spoke, her eyes even reddened.
Xiao Jingxi said helplessly: "Mother, what are you doing?"
The Princess Consort laughed while taking out a handkerchief to cover her eyes: "It's nothing, I'm just happy."
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi exchanged a glance, each taking one of the Princess Consort's arms and guiding her to sit on the kang.
Once the Princess Consort's emotions had settled, she inquired in detail about Ren Yaoqi's pulse from Nanny Gong, then instructed Nanny Gong to personally brief Ren Yaoqi's maids on the precautions to take.
"For now, you should go out less. There's no need to visit me or the Old Princess Consort every day. The child is not yet three months old and requires careful attention. After three months, you can move about appropriately." The Princess Consort instructed Ren Yaoqi.
In Yanbei, there was indeed such a custom: during the early stages of pregnancy, one was expected to rest well and nurture the fetus, especially with the first child, requiring particular caution. Only after three months, when the fetus was stable, could one venture outside.
Listening to the Princess Consort's instructions, Ren Yaoqi nodded obediently: "I understand, Mother. I will be careful."
The Princess Consort was very happy that day, staying in Zhaoning Hall for a long time before leaving. After departing, she remembered something she hadn't fully explained and sent Nanny Xin over to relay the message.
Because Ren Yaoqi had previously shown signs of pregnancy in front of everyone, by the next day, not only the people of Yanbei Prince's Mansion but almost the entire population of Yunyang City knew that the young madam who had newly entered the Prince's Mansion last year was with child. Regarding this good news, the people of Yanbei were delighted and expressed their joy by constantly mentioning it to others.
Thus, within the next few days, this news quickly spread throughout the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanbei.Ren Yaoqi had not even had the chance to personally share this news with her own parents and family before everyone already knew.
Thus, when Madam Li and Ren Yaohua arrived together at the Yanbei Prince's Mansion the following morning, Ren Yaoqi had not yet grasped what was happening.
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