Time is always the most ruthless.
When you wish it would pass quickly, it slips away bit by bit, slowly consuming you.
When you want it to slow down, even more, it vanishes in an instant, so fast it doesn’t even give you a moment to breathe.
Yelyu Lie’s prayers seemed unheard by the heavens.
The fetus in the womb of the Little Princess couldn’t sense it either.
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and Yun Chunnuan’s belly had grown so large she could not bear it.
The rapid growth of the fetus seemed to drain all the nutrients from her body completely.
Other than lying flat on the bed each day, gasping for breath with all her strength, she didn’t even have the energy to turn over.
The spies of the Yecheng Bureau searched everywhere for famous physicians to no avail.
No news came from Nanqi either.
Yelyu Lie could no longer sit idly by, arranged everything at the manor, and called Lian Qiao to the house.
No one in the manor knew about Yun Chunnuan’s pregnancy, including Qiao’er.
The maids of the main courtyard, including Aunt Ye, had long been sent to other courtyards by him.
Calling Lian Qiao was a last resort; if possible, Yelyu Lie wouldn’t let anyone know.
But he needed to be away for a while, and Nuannuan needed someone to attend to her closely.
Other than Lian Qiao, he couldn’t think of a better person.
Only she knew of the Spiritual Spring Water’s existence; otherwise, over the past month or so, the fetus would have grown to the state of five or six months, and any leak of such news would have made the young bride be considered a monster.
When Lian Qiao saw the little pregnant woman lying on the bed, she could hardly believe her eyes.
"Where is little Yun Yun?"
Her first reaction was not recognizing her.
When the thin little girl on the bed, who looked nothing like before, smiled at her, revealing two clear dimples...
Only then did Lian Qiao react.
This person... this haggard person... is the Little Princess!
She covered her trembling lips with her hand, standing at the bedside, her feet feeling as if filled with lead.
Unable to move, unable to say a word.
Tears welled up from her deep eye sockets, bursting forth as she angrily reprimanded, "Yelyu Lie! Is this how you take care of her?! Where are the vows you once made? The promises you gave at the time of the wedding? How dare you... how could you bear to?!"
Not seeing the abdomen, Lian Qiao only assumed the Little Princess was mistreated.
Faced with these reproaches, Yelyu Lie couldn’t utter a single word in reply.
No one knew things would develop to this extent, no one knew why the fetus in her womb would grow at such a suffocating speed.
He choked, yet had no words in response.
"A Qiao."
The Little Princess on the bed finally spoke, but her voice was hoarse, long devoid of its former gentle sweetness.
Lian Qiao hurried forward, grasping her emaciated hand.
Tears spilled down her delicate cheeks, splattering onto their closely clasped hands.
"Little Yun Yun, you... how could..."
"Don’t blame him, it was my insistence." Her other hand slowly lifted, touching her protruding belly through the blanket.
Even such a simple gesture was strenuous for her.
Only then did Lian Qiao notice her swollen abdomen, "You—what in the world is going on?!"
"I’m pregnant, Qiao, you’re going to be a godmother."
When the two had talked privately before, Lian Qiao used to clamor to be a godmother, even arguing with Ba Yaoyao over who would be the big one and who the little one.
Lian Qiao couldn’t believe it, "But, it’s been such a short time since you married! How could it be..."
She couldn’t see the even more terrifying belly underneath the blanket, but just through the blanket, she sensed a pervasive chill.
Lian Qiao suddenly recalled those rapidly grown vegetables after using the "potion"!
Instantly, the hand stroking her belly trembled violently, "Is it that potion?"
Yun Chunnuan glanced at the man standing at the bedside.
In fact, neither was sure whether it was the Blood Beads or the Spiritual Spring Water.
These past days, Yun Chunnuan hadn’t dared to drink a single drop of the Spiritual Spring, fearing it would cause the fetus in her belly to grow even faster.
She could no longer bear it; if the pace quickened, she feared the child wouldn’t come into the world before passing away.
But facing Lian Qiao, many things couldn’t be explained, so she could only nod slowly.
"Lian Qiao, I will be away for some time, so I’m entrusting Nuannuan to your care..."
"Where are you going? She’s already like this, how can you leave!"
Lian Qiao owed the Little Princess too much, even if it meant being a slave to take care of her, she wouldn’t have a single complaint.
But as her husband, how could he leave at this moment?
Yelyu Lie smiled bitterly and helplessly.
Before he could explain, Lian Qiao’s hand was gently squeezed by the thin hand, "Husband is going to find someone who might save my life, otherwise, I fear this child I might not see..."
"You’re not allowed to speak nonsense!!!" Lian Qiao angrily interrupted her, "Yun Chunnuan, I’m telling you, this child is yours, your own, no one will help you care for it!
I am an unmarried girl, why should I take care of your child?
If you want me to take care of it, I will abuse it every day, feed it husks and thin porridge, abuse it, beat it, if it doesn’t work it won’t eat!
Did you hear me? If you... if something happens..."
Lian Qiao spoke, her voice choked and unable to continue.
Yun Chunnuan, however, was amused by her, "Such a cruel godmother, then please be gentle when you beat them."
"You—"
She was crying, yet she was laughing.
Lian Qiao wiped her tears, her chest heaving violently in anger, "At this time, you still have the mood to joke? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"
"Husband has taken great care of me."
On her haggard face, only those clear eyes remained bright and luminescent.
She wasn’t speaking well of her husband; he truly did all he could.
Including helping with the lavatory...
This was the hardest thing for her to accept since she became pregnant.
Sometimes uncontrollably...
He showed no disdain, no complaints, carrying her to the little bed, tirelessly cleaning the bedding, washing her body, changing her clothes.
Every time, it was the most painful for Yun Chunnuan.
The physical torment she could endure, but the humiliation to her mind and dignity made her repeatedly question if she really made the wrong choice.
If that day, upon first discovering, she had listened to the Imperial Physician, all this suffering wouldn’t have existed.
But that regret would vanish every time she felt the baby inside her.
She shouldn’t regret it.
If that day she had disregarded everything and made the choice, she would have been even more tormented and regretful in the future.
After understanding this, she no longer regretted her decision.
However, she had a worry in her heart, an ordeal she didn’t dare discuss even with her husband.
If at the time of birth, she couldn’t endure, and let go of her life.
What would happen to her husband and her baby?