Chapter 261: Oh no! We've caused a death!

【Congratulations, you're pregnant】

To be honest, after the doctor said that, Du Shanü wasn't even doubting the doctor's medical skill......

She suspected she simply hadn't woken up.

The next instant, Du Shanü fell with a plop onto the neatly stacked haystack.

The barefoot old doctor from the countryside had never seen such a scene; seeing several fierce-looking people not far off resume their vigil, he almost burst into tears, only able to tremble with his skinny hand as he checked Du Shanü's breath.

Not checking would have been fine, but once he did, he himself almost fainted.

The barefoot old doctor shouted hoarsely:

「It's over, it's over...... 」

「No breath! No breath! Dead! Dead! 」

The tiger-eyed cavalrymen instantly drew their side sabers, the sound of blades approaching steadily.

Du Shanü feared the old man would be frightened to death, yet she had no choice but to awaken from her brief loss of breath:

「...... Wait, wait, wait, let's talk this out nicely, don't resort to violence. 」

Those three cavalrymen were newly recruited troops who originally wouldn't really lay hands on civilians; thus, as soon as Du Shanü spoke, they immediately obeyed orders and sheathed their blades.

The barefoot old doctor was so startled by this sudden shock that his soul nearly fled, patting his chest as he was about to burst into tears.

Du Shanü also patted her chest, her whole self panicking beyond measure:

「Doctor, doctor, please explain clearly—what do you mean I'm pregnant? 」

No wonder my stomach hurt earlier!

Besides menstruation, there's also the possibility of pregnancy!

But now Yongzhou is in constant internal turmoil, An Nan eyes it hungrily, and Chen Er, who had previously traveled through Chong'an, also said that war and strife were everywhere across the land.

She still has more than one tough battle ahead of her!

Pregnancy really isn't the right timing!

The barefoot old doctor's chest rose and fall as he struggled to regain his breath; upon realizing, he almost fainted again.

「You you you, what's wrong with you! 」

「Who pats someone else's chest instead of their own, and pats mine? ！」

Is that reasonable!?

Could that be reasonable?

Du Shanü only then realized she had been patting not her own chest, but in her frantic state of mind she couldn't care less whose chest she was patting.

That news was no small matter, so Du Shanü could only pull the doctor aside and ask repeatedly:

「What did you just say? Is the pregnancy thing really true? Really? Really? 」

Du Shanü asked three times in a row, but couldn't get a response from the dazed doctor; instead, she summoned Chen Er, who had been cautiously observing the situation, to the front.

He saw Du Shanü's agitated emotions, and immediately rose from beside the Deposed Crown Prince's brazier, whispering a word of comfort:

「...... Madam of the household, the doctor said it clearly—you're pregnant. 」

「Actually, actually this isn't strange at all—people get pregnant, and besides, you and your husband have such a good relationship...... 」

For two people, saying they enjoy nightly bliss is not an exaggeration; having a child wouldn't be that strange, would it?

I'm afraid that, given their affection and physique, it would be strange if they remained childless for a long time.

Chen Er's comforting words entered Du Shanü's ears, and she finally stopped shaking the old doctor's hand.

But Du Shanü still couldn't stop the trembling in her heart, which is indeed true:

「...... I just, just, can't believe it. 」

「Yu Baobao once said that when his mother was pregnant with him, she expended a lot of effort....... 」

Furthermore, Chinu had mentioned to her the talk of ghosts and gods.

At the time she didn't take it to heart much, but she had also suspected that someone like her, who borrows life to come here, might find it extremely hard to conceive compared to 'locals'.

And now......

And now, how could it be so easy for her?

Du Shanü's astonishment is genuine, but she couldn't say these things to the people before her, so she swallowed her words again and said:

「...... Never mind, it's fine. I still want to ask the doctor to examine me again—just be sure not to get it wrong. 」

The barefoot old doctor, after being tossed about, already felt his life was bitter; hearing this, he felt his life was even more bitter:

「I've traveled the five lakes and four seas my whole life, having examined tens of thousands of women—how could I make a mistake! 」

「Besides, I can not only diagnose your pregnancy, but also tell you you don't cherish your body, constantly jostling these days and frequently engaging in intercourse—what I say is correct...... uh! 」

Du Shanü believed it.

Du Shanü truly believed it this time.

But her dignity seemed to have finally been completely lost.

No matter where she goes, as long as a doctor examines her, they always diagnose her 【lasciviousness】!!

Could it be that every consultation fee is just her face!!

But she truly isn't that kind of person!!!

Before she met Chinu, her days were also extremely plain and bland.......

Du Shanü swallowed a mouthful of bitter tears, pulled out her money pouch from her bosom, struggled to fish out a large silver ingot, but after thinking, put it back and simply handed the whole money pouch to the barefoot doctor:

「...... Misunderstanding, misunderstanding—I merely was overjoyed, which is why I offended you, sir; please accept this pouch of silver as the consultation fee and as compensation for my subordinates who summoned you. 」

If Du Shanü hadn't said the word 'please', it would have been better; but once she did, the barefoot old doctor immediately recalled those few people who had rushed into the village, dragged him here by force, and he burst into another bout of bitter tears.

Fortunately, this bunch of people weren't completely unreasonable; they still knew to pay the consultation fee......

The barefoot old doctor took the money pouch, obviously breathed a sigh of relief, thought a moment, and then said:

The lady's health is fine; although there are some signs of a slippery pulse, if we take some fetal‑protecting medicine and look after herself properly afterwards, there shouldn't be any major problem.

As for the other patient......

The old doctor pointed to the not‑far‑away Zhu Huan, still dazed, and said:

His leg wound has been left too long; it's already festering and crawling with maggots. If it isn't properly treated, even with good medicine, I'm afraid he may lose the whole leg in the future......

But I'm just a barefoot doctor, wandering the countryside; ordinary folks don't usually have access to good medicine, so my medicine box doesn't have......

Du Shanü had still been immersed in the news of her pregnancy, but hearing this her face darkened a little.

She rose, tested the temperature of the Deposed Crown Prince Huan's forehead, glanced at the dark sky outside the ruined temple, and asked:

Earlier you said you saw troops marching; did you go investigate who they were?

Naturally, this question wasn't directed at anyone else.

A young cavalry guard who had been on duty at the ruined temple's gate immediately clasped his fists and replied:

Your Highness, after you rested, I went to scout and found that the troop likely set out from Heng City to attack Chun City.

From Heng City, marching to attack Chun City?

This is different from what Du Shanü had thought—that the An Nan army would attack the Zhoufu!

What exactly is the grudge between Heng City and Chun City?

I don't understand, I don't get it.

But, the times create heroes.

Now the situation is such that people all over may develop various ulterior motives; it seems like a common occurrence.

Du Shanü shook her head, locked this matter away in her mind, remained silent for a few breaths, and then spoke again:

Let's go; this place is no good for lingering, let's return to Dun Cheng and talk later.

Returning to Dun Cheng overnight was Du Shanü's decision after careful consideration.

She also knew she was still carrying a person, while outside it was drizzling, the surroundings were chaotic with war, and danger lurked everywhere.

But, for now she is still gathering strength; if she cannot return home before everything becomes even more chaotic, she fears she may never get home again and could die stranded outside.

The people of this land, their dying obsession, is to return to their roots—fallen leaves return to the roots, even in death they must go home......

Du Shanü was no exception.

Perhaps because they knew the situation was pressing, no one dared to be lax this time; they marched on in the rain while staying vigilant, carefully detouring around the Zhoufu.

This journey was extremely arduous; the hardship is beyond words.

But fortunately, perhaps because there really is a bit of heavenly will in the dark, or perhaps the unborn child is also connected to the mother's heart.

On this trip, not only did they encounter no further mishaps, but Du Shanü's abdominal pain truly did not worsen.

Several people left Dun Cheng on the 24th and returned to Dun Cheng on the evening of the 26th.

Chen Weifang had been waiting anxiously at the Xian Xie since early morning.

Du Shanü is naturally strong-willed; she could still tough it out on the road.

But now, upon seeing her own Afang from afar, all thoughts of kingdoms, war, and the An Nan army were cast aside.

Du Shanü felt her mind was like a paste; even before Chen Weifang could speak, the tangled thoughts of these days surged up in her heart.

She tumbled off the horse, grabbed Afang's pant leg, and burst into loud sobs:

Afang—Afang—

So tragic, so tragic—me and Chinu—finally we've caused a death—

Chen Weifang: '?'

A bewildered Chen Weifang: '???'

What, what happened? Someone died?

Who died, crying so pitifully!?

Shasha finally knows!!! Afang also (almost) knows (*^▽^*)

Afang is from Jiaozhou; ancient Jiaozhou is in Shandong, so using inverted sentences is totally normal hahaha