The playboy county magistrate

"I dried some mugwort and angelica root, and after the room was properly arranged, I spread them all under the bedding to remove dampness and dryness. At that time, they will calm the mind and relieve anxiety, so the child can sleep soundly at night."

Li Xuanzhi helped Pei Qingyuan slowly follow Zhang Shi into the house.

The room was simply and elegantly furnished, with a small bed covered with a plain-colored soft mattress and light, breathable curtains.

There are no luxurious or elaborate ornaments, and no ostentatious or expensive decorations.

Pei Qingyuan raised her hand and gently stroked the soft mattress, when she suddenly felt two fetal movements in her abdomen.

"You see, he likes it here too."

Pei Qingyuan's eyebrows curved, and her smile was gentle.

Li Xuanzhi leaned down, gently placing his palm on her lower abdomen, and whispered:

"When you are born, your father, mother, and grandmother will all be with you, guarding this little courtyard, and watching you grow up."

Thinking about the incomplete baby supplies, Madam Zhang suggested with a smile that they return to the main courtyard's warm pavilion to take stock of all the fine items purchased. She wanted to take advantage of the leisure time to select and organize everything neatly, to avoid any hassle or chaos later.

The three of them returned to the warm pavilion together, where the servants had already neatly arranged the baby items they had recently purchased on the large pear wood table.

In an instant, plain-colored soft handkerchiefs, embroidered swaddling clothes, rattles, and other small toys were laid out, filling the table with a full array of items.

The servants in the mansion knew that the mistress was pregnant and therefore very precious, and that the young master was the hope of the whole family. So whenever they bought something, they would first check the fabric, feel, and workmanship. Anything with the slightest roughness or flaw would be returned. They dared not be careless in the slightest.

Zhang pulled Pei Qingyuan to sit down on the edge of the couch, then leaned over the table, her eyes filled with a gentle smile, carefully examining and comparing each item.

"These are fabrics woven by the best embroidery workshops in the capital. They feel soft and gentle on the skin, and won't irritate it. They are perfect for wearing on the outside."

She picked up a light blue cotton robe, its stitches fine and even, its workmanship exquisite.

"Besides the thick and thin coats, linens and nightgowns that I made myself according to the season, all kinds of clothes for spring, summer and autumn sold outside are also readily available, so there is no need to buy them at the last minute."

A warm feeling welled up in Pei Qingyuan's heart, and she said softly:

"My mother was too meticulous; she even calculated the changing seasons with perfect accuracy."

"Raising children is a delicate matter, and you can't be lazy in the slightest."

Zhang smiled as she neatly folded the clothes, then picked up a pair of small, delicate, soft-soled cloth shoes. The shoes were plain and unadorned, with soft soles.

"Your pregnancy was peaceful and stable before, without any physical strain. This allowed us to prepare slowly and carefully select each item."

Li Xuanzhi stood beside the two, not interfering with rummaging through the items. He simply gazed quietly at the table full of delicate, childlike clothes and ornaments, a gentle tenderness welling up in his eyes.

He wielded power and handled countless rare treasures, gold, jade, and antiques. Yet, never before had he been so moved that he was speechless with emotion.

"Children's skin is delicate, so soft and breathable fabrics are best. Fancy patterns are cumbersome and heavy, and not suitable for wearing next to the skin."

"That's exactly what I meant." Zhang nodded repeatedly, looking at her son with eyes full of approval.

"Children are most blessed when they are clean and tidy. Too much luxury and extravagance will only suppress their good fortune."

Pei Qingyuan reached out and picked up a soft handkerchief embroidered with green bamboo. Her fingertips gently caressed it, her eyes tender.

"If it's a boy, this simple and elegant style is just right. It represents uprightness, gentleness, and humility. If it's a girl, a light and simple style would also be perfect."

Upon hearing this, Zhang's smile deepened, and she picked up a pair of small silver bracelets. The bracelets were smooth and round, without any sharp edges or carvings, only engraved with the two small characters for "peace and safety," simple yet elegant.

"This is a small bracelet that I specially had made. It's not heavy or cumbersome, so it won't constrict a child's wrists or ankles, and it's comfortable to wear."

She showed it off carefully, saying, "Once the baby is a month old and his hands and feet have grown a bit, we'll put it on him."

Pei Qingyuan looked at the small and cute bracelet and imagined that soon, a tiny child would be wearing a silver bracelet on his wrist, sleeping peacefully and playing innocently. Her heart melted.

As she finished tidying up, Zhang picked up a small rattle drum. When she shook it, the sound was crisp and melodious.

She gently shook her belly twice, and a clear, thumping sound slowly rang out. The little one inside her seemed to be attracted by the sound and suddenly moved a few times in succession. It was as if it was listening curiously and interacting with the baby in a daze.

Pei Qingyuan couldn't help but chuckle softly, "It seems he really likes this voice."

Zhang carefully put away the last small item and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Now everything is completely complete. From now on, I just need to rest and wait for the baby to be born."

The afternoon was peaceful and uneventful.

Pei Qingyuan was resting on a soft couch by the window when, after a short while, she suddenly felt a heavy weight in her lower abdomen. Unlike the usual slight soreness, a sharp, persistent pain suddenly struck her.

The maidservant beside her noticed her unusual expression immediately and quickly stepped forward to ask in a low voice:

"Madam, are you feeling unwell?"

Pei Qingyuan nodded slightly, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly.

"My stomach... feels a bit heavy and painful, I think I'm about to give birth."

Upon hearing this, the maid's heart tightened, but she dared not panic or lose her composure. She immediately responded and withdrew, then methodically relayed the message and reported the situation without the slightest delay.

The Li family had prepared midwives well in advance, and the mansion was fully equipped with all the necessary production supplies.

The warm bedding and nourishing herbal soups were all prepared in advance, just for this moment.

Shortly after receiving the news, Zhang rushed over.

Her usually calm and kind eyes now held a hint of urgency. As soon as she entered the room, she walked quickly to the bedside, gently placed her hand on Pei Qingyuan's shoulder, and comforted her in a soft voice.

"Qingyuan, don't be afraid, Mother is here, don't be afraid."

She bent down to examine her daughter-in-law's expression closely and saw that she was sweating profusely and her lips were pale. She quickly comforted her in a soft voice.

"The baby is in the right position, and you're in good health, so everything will go smoothly and you'll be able to see your baby soon."

Pei Qingyuan looked up at her mother-in-law, suppressing the waves of pain in her abdomen, and softly replied:

"I know, Mother, I am not afraid."

She had already made all the necessary preparations, endured the hardships of ten months of pregnancy, and was no longer afraid of the pain of this final hurdle; all that remained in her heart was the anticipation for her child.

The sound of steady, hurried footsteps came from outside, and Li Xuanzhi strode in.

He never expected that his wife would start her business so soon, after he had been busy in his study for less than fifteen minutes.

At this moment, his brows were filled with barely concealed anxiety, and his usually calm and composed eyes were completely focused on the figure of the person on the bed, leaving no room for anything else.

"How are you? Does it hurt a lot?" He quickly walked to the bedside, bent down and tightly grasped her slightly cool hand. His palm pressed firmly, steadily transmitting warmth and strength, his voice unusually tense and hoarse.

Pei Qingyuan looked up at him, the pain intensifying in waves, fine beads of cold sweat sliding down her forehead and dampening the stray hairs at her temples. Yet she still forced a faint smile and softly comforted him.

"It's alright, it's just the beginning, I can bear it."