The playboy county magistrate

Pei Qingyuan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her eyes obediently.

After washing up, the three of them moved to the front hall for their meal.

The meal was a perfect balance of meat and vegetables, with nothing cold or greasy, and everything was in line with the dietary restrictions for pregnant women.

Zhang kept serving food to Pei Qingyuan, carefully instructing her:

"Eat more. You're not eating for yourself anymore; the baby in your belly needs to grow too. If you eat a lot, the baby won't be too big, and childbirth will be easier. A strong body means a healthy baby."

"I know," Pei Qingyuan replied obediently, taking small bites of food.

Li Xuanzhi sat to the side, rarely touching his chopsticks, his mind mostly on her.

Seeing that she preferred soft and sticky pastries, I pushed all the delicate soft rice cakes on the plate in front of her. Seeing that she didn't eat much soup, I personally ladled out some warm chicken soup, blew on it to cool it down a bit, and handed it to her.

Seeing this, Zhang didn't react like other elderly women who unreasonably assumed their son had been seduced by their daughter-in-law and felt resentful. Instead, she quietly smiled and shook her head, not saying anything, simply watching the young couple's sweet interactions, her heart filled with joy.

Half an hour after the meal, Li Xuanzhi helped Pei Qingyuan to take a leisurely stroll in the back garden to help her digest her food and rest.

Pei Qingyuan walked slowly, one hand gently supporting her waist, the other hand steadily held by Li Xuanzhi. She would stop and rest every few steps.

"Aren't you tired from walking?" Li Xuanzhi kept a close eye on her expression, and when he saw her frown slightly, he immediately stopped. "If you're tired, we can go back to the warm pavilion and sit down."

"Not tired." Pei Qingyuan smiled faintly, looked up at the garden full of spring colors, and said softly:

"I just feel like time is passing by both so slowly and so quickly."

Li Xuanzhi was slightly taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"I'm slowly waiting each day, always wanting to see my child soon." She looked down at her lower abdomen, her eyes gentle and tender. "It's gone by so quickly, several months have passed in the blink of an eye. I always feel like these peaceful days aren't enough."

Li Xuanzhi gently grasped her hand and turned to gaze tenderly at her.

"It's better for time to slow down. Take it slow, I'll wait with you inch by inch, day by day. May every year and every day be just like this, peaceful and tranquil."

As is customary, today is the day the imperial physicians visit the residence for follow-up consultations.

Just as the hour of Wei (1-3 PM) arrived, Physician Chen, who was in charge of attending to pregnant women from aristocratic families at the Imperial Hospital, arrived on time with his medicine chest.

Because of Pei Qingyuan's special status and the auspicious signs of her pregnancy, coupled with the frequent inquiries from His Majesty and the Empress, Imperial Physician Chen dared not be negligent in the slightest. He personally attended every follow-up visit on time, providing meticulous and thorough care.

Pei Qingyuan was sitting idly on a soft couch by the window, holding a book in her hand. The warm sunlight fell on her eyebrows and eyes, making her complexion look radiant and fair, and her overall appearance excellent.

Li Xuanzhi sat beside her, casually turning the pages of her book. His gaze seemed to be on the paper, but most of his attention was focused on her, constantly observing her expression and state.

Only when the imperial physician entered did the two slowly raise their eyes.

"My lord, my lady." Physician Chen bowed respectfully.

"No need for formalities, please sit down." Li Xuanzhi raised his hand slightly, his tone gentle. "I've troubled the imperial physician to make a special trip today to check on my wife's pregnancy."

Pei Qingyuan sat up slightly, extended her wrist, and said softly, "Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician."

Physician Chen quickly stepped forward, took out the pulse pillow, and gently placed it in place. His movements were gentle, as he was afraid of disturbing the pregnant woman.

He held his breath and focused intently, his fingertips gently taking Pei Qingyuan's pulse on her wrist. After a moment, he switched to his other hand, carefully examining the pulse repeatedly, not daring to overlook anything.

The warm pavilion was quiet for a moment, with only the soft rustling of autumn wind brushing against the leaves outside the window.

Upon receiving the news, Zhang rushed over and stood to the side, barely daring to breathe.

Her gaze was fixed on the imperial physician, and only after he withdrew his hand did she hurriedly ask him a question.

"Imperial Physician, how is the pregnancy progressing? Is my daughter-in-law's health stable? Is the baby healthy?"

Physician Chen's brows relaxed, and he cupped his hands in a smile, saying:

"Congratulations, Madam! Congratulations, Your Excellency! Your pregnancy is extremely stable, your pulse is smooth, full, and strong. Your blood and energy are abundant, and the fetal energy is firmly rooted. This is a very stable pregnancy pulse. The baby in your womb is growing very well, perfectly in line with the gestational age, without the slightest deviation."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.

A wide smile instantly spread across Zhang's face, and she nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, okay, as long as things are peaceful, as long as things are peaceful!"

Pei Qingyuan felt a warmth in her heart, and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her lips. She raised her hand and gently placed it on her swollen belly, her eyes filled with relief.

Li Xuanzhi's tense brows relaxed completely, a gentle warmth spreading in his eyes, and he asked softly:

"As her pregnancy progresses, she's been feeling frequently tired and weak lately. She also experiences occasional lower back pain. Is this a serious issue? Does she need any additional supplements or treatment?"

Upon hearing this, Physician Chen smiled and shook his head, patiently explaining in detail.

"Madam is in excellent health, and with her daily rest and proper, nourishing diet, her blood and energy are abundant enough to support the baby's growth. There is no need for additional medication or supplements; excessive supplementation would be a burden. Continuing to maintain the current condition is the best way to ensure a safe pregnancy."

Li Xuanzhi nodded slightly, keeping it in mind. "Thank you for the imperial physician's guidance."

"However, the midwives and wet nurses can be prepared now."

Although Pei Qingyuan's pregnancy is very stable, the possibility of premature labor cannot be ruled out.

Madam Zhang readily agreed, personally saw the imperial physician off, and then sat with the young couple for a while longer, offering them a few words of advice on resting.

Thinking that they should have some time alone and not disturb the young couple's time together, I got up and left quietly.

"You two sit and talk slowly. I'll go to the kitchen to check the ingredients for dinner. The checkup today showed the pregnancy is stable, so we should add a couple of nourishing dishes to celebrate."

Pei Qingyuan smiled and replied, "Thank you for your hard work, Mother."

Li Xuanzhi moved the low stool and sat quietly in front of her. His gaze was fixed on her abdomen, staring at it without blinking.

He looked at her for a long time, then spoke softly, his voice low and gentle, carrying a hint of unknowing expectation.

"This little guy is well-behaved and quiet every day, never causing you any trouble."

Upon hearing this, Pei Qingyuan smiled slightly, her fingertips gently resting on her lower abdomen, lightly caressing the delicate fabric.

"Perhaps it's because I inherited your temperament; I'm calm, reserved, and don't like to make a fuss."

"If you follow me, I will protect you for the rest of my life, and you will live a peaceful and worry-free life."

Li Xuanzhi took her hand in his, his palm warm and dry, gently enveloping her slightly cool fingertips.

Just then, Pei Qingyuan suddenly paused slightly, her eyebrows twitching slightly.

Suddenly, a heavy sensation came from the soft, protruding part of my lower abdomen, as if a small lump had pushed against my abdominal wall.

Pei Qingyuan's breath hitched slightly, and an incredulous light flashed in her eyes. She instinctively tightened her grip on Li Xuanzhi's hand. Her voice trembled slightly, caught off guard: "Husband..."