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Lu Man signaled to Sweet Pea, immediately halting its cries, and it stared tearfully at Lu Man.
Lu Man continued, “I’ll cook fish balls for you tomorrow, just for you to eat, and no one else.”
Upon hearing this, Sweet Pea jumped into Qingqing’s arms.
Mama Duan exclaimed, “Goodness, this cat is so clever, no wonder the little master is so fond of it.”
Song Mo, being stubborn, added, “Sister-in-law, I like fish balls too.”
However, he couldn’t have any fish at the moment.
Lu Man smiled, “The chicken popcorn Sister made for you is even better than fish balls.”
After playing for a while, Xiao Xi brought a bowl of herbal soup, which Lu Man coaxed him into drinking.
When he was sleepy, he began looking for Tang, insisting he wanted milk.
Lu Man reassured him, “Tang is unwell and can’t come to attend to you.” Then, she had Mama Wang bring a bowl of grape yogurt, which intrigued Song Mo with its sweet and sour taste. He obediently finished it.
Seeing his desire for Tang, Lu Man pretended to be annoyed, “If you really want Tang, then have someone fetch her. Sweet Pea and I will go back to our room to rest.”
After some hesitation, Song Mo overcame the desire for Tang and reluctantly agreed.
Sweet Pea slept in a small basket on the footstool, while Lu Man, on the bed, told Song Mo the story of “The Magic Brush of Ma Liang.” After about fifteen minutes, the young boy’s soft snores could be heard. Even asleep, his warm, squid-like body remained closely nestled against Lu Man. Whether he had always slept like this with Tang, it was unknown.
Tang must have been involved in harming others, having cared for the child for years, and now being so well-behaved and attached, how could she bear it?
Unlike Jiang Zhankui and Jiang Jiu, who grew up reading people’s cues, even if they were close to Lu Man, they knew their limits. Song Mo, however, was a complete little mischief-maker, clinging to Lu Man all night, hardly letting her sleep.
Song Mo settled into life at the Donghui Courtyard, experiencing a mix of pain and joy. Besides Lu Man’s extreme care, he also received exceptional attention from Jiang Jiu. Almost every afternoon, the old Marquis would bring Jiang Zhanyan to the Donghui Courtyard to play, allowing Song Mo to feel a warmth and liveliness he had never experienced before. However, the four doses of bitter medicinal soup each day and the daily morning acupuncture session made him suffer greatly, leading to tears every day during the treatments.
On the twelfth day, Song Mo turned four years old. Lu Man specially prepared a table full of delicious dishes for him. She invited Jiang Zhanyan, the three siblings from the main household, and the old Marquis to join in the birthday celebration. She also gifted him a set of pajamas embroidered with a cat’s head, which he adored.
In the following days, Lu Man’s heart was far from calm. Despite her outward composure, she felt restless, akin to Sweet Pea itching with impatience.
Her monthly cycle was typically from the 12th to the 14th, and when it didn’t arrive on the 12th, she couldn’t resist checking her pulse. It was a slippery pulse, very slight, but she could still feel it. Although confident in her skills, she secretly hoped she was mistaken, yearning for a miracle.
It was impossible to say she didn’t like children, in her past life, she had lived until the age of thirty-two, overflowing with maternal love. Growing up solely with her mother in a quiet household, she longed for a gentle and caring husband, to have two children, creating a lively home to comfort her mother’s loneliness.
However, in this life, she would rather adopt a child than have children with Jiang Zhanwei.
That man was too complex, carrying too much baggage, desiring too much, and remaining inscrutable. She couldn’t predict his next move. Lu Man firmly believed that he lacked a tender heart and wouldn’t change his mind or character for a woman or child.
Likewise, she wouldn’t compromise her fundamental principles for a child. She refused to be dependent on a man in this era. She could accept that he didn’t truly love her, as genuine love was scarce in ancient times. Yet, she couldn’t tolerate deception and manipulation from a man.
Even if Jiang Zhanwei returned and temporarily spared her for certain reasons, they would remain a contractual couple, parting ways when their mutual needs were met.
Raising a child in such an environment would make it challenging for them to grow up healthy and happy.
Therefore, she vehemently hoped not to be pregnant at this moment. She wanted to provide her child with the best possible upbringing…
As the days passed anxiously, her cycle still did not arrive, and the slippery pulse grew stronger each day.
On the 16th day, as Mama Wang assisted Lu Man out of bed and prepared for her morning routine, she whispered, “Third Young Madam still hasn’t had her monthly cycle. She must be pregnant, right? Thank goodness. If she’s expecting a child, Third Young Master won’t consider divorcing her. Even if he does, Princess Changting won’t agree.”
Lu Man sighed, “He’s not that soft-hearted. He won’t change his decisions easily because of a child. He’s not that obedient, or he wouldn’t have gone to war without hesitation. It’s still early, I can’t guarantee it’s definitely a pregnancy. Please keep it quiet and make sure the maids also keep their lips sealed.”
Mama Wang was more optimistic than Lu Man. Having overheard Jiang Zhanwei’s confession to Lu Man, she believed that he was more reliable than Lu Fangrong. She thought that if her mistress had a child with him, she could capture his entire heart.
In her mind, Lu Fangrong was a reference point. As long as he was better than Lu Fangrong, she considered it a success.
She strongly insisted that Lu Man should not share a bed with Song Mo anymore. Children are restless, and she worried that he might kick Lu Man accidentally.
Lu Man agreed. Sharing a bed with Song Mo not only risked disturbances but also disrupted her sleep. Additionally, she needed to maintain distance with Sweet Pea, Qichang, and Sweetheart.
If she was indeed pregnant, regardless of her feelings about the timing, she was determined to ensure the child’s health.
That night, Song Mo caused a disturbance again, prompting Lu Man to leave Sweet Pea to keep him company and retire to her own room to sleep.
As time passed, reaching the 25th of the first month, her cycle still hadn’t arrived, and the slippery pulse had become more pronounced.
She was indeed pregnant!
Lu Man gently touched her flat abdomen, wondering how big the little one inside would be now, perhaps the size of a fingernail? While she hadn’t planned on becoming pregnant at this moment, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing this precious life. In three days, she would be forty-five days pregnant, and she planned to inform Princess Changting officially.