The next morning, Zhou Shuren got up before dawn. He hadn’t slept a wink all night, his heart filled with anxiety. Before falling asleep, he had thought of a possibility: once Zhulan was sound asleep, he would sit up and watch over her, even though he couldn’t see anything clearly in the darkness.

Several times, he wanted to touch Zhulan’s stomach, but each time, he timidly withdrew his hand. After staying up all night, his eyes were bloodshot, and his stubble seemed to have grown longer.

Zhou Shuren carefully dressed and called his steward to fetch a doctor. He needed accurate information; otherwise, he wouldn’t have the mind to go to the yamen.

Well, even if he got the news, he probably still wouldn’t have the mind to go to Yemen.

When Zhulan woke up, the doctor had just arrived. After changing her clothes, Zhulan said to Zhou Shuren, “You’re too nervous. Look at me, I’m fine, aren’t I? I don’t feel uncomfortable anywhere.”

Zhou Shuren’s gaze was fixed on Zhulan’s stomach. He clenched his fist and then loosened it before finally reaching out and taking Zhulan’s hand. “The doctor is waiting outside. Let him take a look.”

Zhou Shuren didn’t give Zhulan a chance to object and directly pulled her out. Zhulan hadn’t even washed her face yet. This man really couldn’t wait a moment longer. But seeing Zhou Shuren’s dark circles under his eyes, Zhulan felt sorry for him. Zhou Shuren must not have slept a wink last night.

Dr. Zhang’s medical skills were excellent; the Zhulan family had been consulting him for the past two years. Dr. Zhang took the pulse, surprised, then carefully examined it again. After confirming the diagnosis, he considered how to congratulate her. He had seen many pregnant women in their forties, only a few with optimistic outcomes. Thinking of the Zhou family’s circumstances, he carefully examined the pulse again, having already made up his mind that with attentive care, it should be possible. “Congratulations, sir, your wife is pregnant, already a month and a half along.”

Zhulan was stunned. Since autumn arrived, not much of the year remained. She had truly given up. These past few days, she had slowly come to terms with it; if she wasn’t pregnant, she wasn’t. Although there were regrets, she comforted herself that a life without regrets wasn’t complete. And now, she was being told she was pregnant?

Zhou Shuren was mentally prepared, but his mind was still blank. He was going to be a father. Could Zhulan’s body handle it? “Doctor, how is my wife’s health? She hasn’t been sleeping well lately.”

Doctor Zhang had seen all kinds of pregnant women’s reactions. He said, “Your wife has been taking care of her health for the past two years, and her health is good. Drowsiness is a common pregnancy symptom. Some pregnant women vomit, and some gain a large appetite. There are many different reactions during pregnancy, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

Zhou Shuren breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that Zhulan’s health would be compromised. He had even considered abortion, but he was worried that it would be bad for Zhulan’s health. He had been extremely anxious all night. “It’s good that everything is alright, it’s good that everything is alright.”

Doctor Zhang looked at Zhou Shuren. “I’ll write down all the things pregnant women should avoid in a while, so you can rest assured.”

Knowing that Zhulan and the baby were alright, Zhou Shuren finally smiled. “I’m going to be a father.”

Doctor Zhang looked at Zhou Shuren strangely. He knew that Zhou Shuren already had six children. Why was Zhou Shuren saying that he was going to be a father? She should be saying she’s going to be a father again, but then she realized she’d probably be overjoyed; this is a child born late in life.

Zhulan snapped back to reality. She really was pregnant. Was she going to be a mother? This was her and Zhou Shuren’s child; it meant something different.

Zhulan smiled foolishly and squeezed Zhou Shuren’s hand tightly. “I’m going to be a mother.”

Zhou Shuren: “Yes, I’m going to be a father.”

Liu Ya looked up at the sky speechlessly. She really hadn’t thought the old master cared much about the masters of the house. She hadn’t expected that the old master would like this unborn little master so much, showing none of his usual serious and shrewd demeanor. He was even more excited than she was, the new father herself!

Zhou Shuren regained his composure, coughed, and gestured for Liu Ya to take the doctor away to write down the precautions.

Zhulan hurriedly stopped Doctor Zhang, “My body is fine, but what about the baby? Do I need to take any medication to prevent miscarriage?”

She was getting on in years. If this were a modern body, she wouldn’t have anything to worry about, but not now. Even though she had carefully taken care of herself for almost four years, she was still worried.

Doctor Zhang understood the anxiety of Zhou Daren and his wife. They were all at this age. “Madam’s body isn’t strong enough right now. The baby is fine. I’ll come every month, no, every two weeks, to check his pulse.”

Zhou Daren’s eyes were a little frightening, but thankfully, he changed his mind quickly.

Zhulan trusted Doctor Zhang’s medical skills. He was the one who cared for Li Shi, and he also treated her mother, Sun Shi’s, health. “Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Zhang.”

Doctor Zhang replied, “Not at all, not at all.”

For the past two years, the Zhou family had only employed him, bringing many patients to his clinic. This was all thanks to the Zhou family’s trust, which made him famous in Lizhou City.

Zhou Shuren was so happy that he not only gave Doctor Zhang a generous reward but also, for the first time, generously gave his servants two months’ wages.

Well, Zhou Shuren’s action meant that before breakfast, everyone in the courtyard knew about Zhulan’s pregnancy.

In the main courtyard, after Zhulan and the others had left, she hugged Zhou Shuren, “I’m going to be a mother! Hehe, I’m going to be a mother!”

Looking at Zhulan’s happy face, Zhou Shuren was relieved that heaven had helped her. Otherwise, if Zhulan harbored regrets, those regrets would grow stronger as she grew older, and she might even become depressed!

(End of Chapter)

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