Lin Luoluo slept straight through until dinner time, only waking when Chun Tao came to call her for the evening meal.
Tonight’s dinner was especially lavish, split between two tables.
Before this, because Lin Luoluo’s fate had been unknown, everyone had been constantly tense and worried. But now that she had safely arrived, the pressure finally lifted, and everyone relaxed, eating and drinking to their hearts’ content.
After clinking cups of fruit wine with everyone, Lin Luoluo cleared her throat.
“Ahem… since everyone’s in such a good mood today, I have something to say.”
She first turned to Uncle Zhong and Aunt Zhong.
“Uncle Zhong, Aunt Zhong—these are your indenture contracts.”
Then she handed another paper over.
“Chun Tao, this one is yours.”
“Miss?”
Chun Tao froze.
Waaah… Miss isn’t abandoning me, is she? What do I do? If I leave Miss, I’ll be a homeless orphan again!
Clutching the contract, Chun Tao looked at Lin Luoluo with teary, aggrieved eyes.
“Miss, what do you mean by this?” Uncle Zhong and Aunt Zhong were equally confused.
Before Lin Luoluo could explain, Chun Tao suddenly dropped to her knees with a loud thump, hugging Lin Luoluo tightly as tears streamed down her face.
“Wahhh… Miss, are you abandoning Chun Tao?” she cried miserably. “I’ll eat less! I’ll work harder! If I leave Miss, Chun Tao will become a homeless orphan again. Please don’t throw me away!”
“You silly girl, what nonsense are you thinking about?” Lin Luoluo said helplessly, poking her forehead. “I’m just returning your contract to you. I never said I was kicking you out.”
She paused.
“Though if you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”
“Ah!”
Chun Tao immediately froze.
“You scared me to death! I thought Miss didn’t want Chun Tao anymore!”
Patting her chest dramatically, she got back up like nothing had happened and sat back down, happily stuffing food into her mouth again.
Lin Luoluo shook her head.
As expected, in a foodie’s world, eating came first.
“Uncle Zhong, here’s what I mean,” Lin Luoluo explained. “Since we’ve already left the capital, we’re no longer some grand young masters and misses of the General’s Manor. I wanted to return your contracts.”
“But…” Uncle Zhong wanted to say something, only to be interrupted.
“You’ve treated us siblings like family. Even when the General’s Manor fell on hard times, none of you abandoned us. You took care of us so well.”
Her voice softened.
“I trust that none of you would ever betray me.”
“Besides…” she looked at Huzi, “you should think about Huzi’s future. If he has a commoner’s registration, he could take the imperial examinations someday.”
“Miss, Huzi doesn’t want to study,” Huzi said while happily chewing his food. “I only like researching delicious food.”
“You still have to get married and have children someday,” Lin Luoluo shot back. “Think about your future kids!”
“W-Well…” Huzi scratched his head shyly. “Miss, Huzi is still young! Marriage is still far away!”
“Hahaha—look at our Huzi blushing!” Lin Luoluo teased.
Then she turned back to Uncle Zhong.
“Just keep them.”
“Now that we’re far away from the capital, nobody needs to be so restrained anymore. Relax a little.”
After saying that, Lin Luoluo raised her fruit wine again and continued eating and drinking with everyone.
“Big Sister, have a chicken drumstick!” Lin Zirui said excitedly. “It’s super tasty!”
Since he thought chicken drumsticks were the best part, he immediately picked one for her.
“Big Sister, eat this braised pork!” Lin Wanwan quickly followed up, unwilling to lose. “It smells amazing!”
Meanwhile, little Lin Ziyu was happily being spoon-fed steamed egg custard by Aunt Zhong.
With Lin Luoluo’s permission to relax, everyone gradually loosened up.
Especially the boys’ table.
It instantly turned into full battle mode.
“That sweet-and-sour rib is mine! Second Brother, stop stealing!” Lin Da shouted, completely letting loose.
“Tsk tsk, Boss, your reflexes are too slow. You need more practice.”
Lin Er triumphantly snatched the rib with lightning speed, shoved it into his mouth, and smirked smugly.
“Hey, brat!”
Just as Lin Da turned to grab something else, he froze in shock.
In the short time he’d been arguing, half the dishes had already disappeared.
These little wolves moved frighteningly fast.
Lin Luoluo had just taken a bite of meat when a sudden wave of nausea hit her.
Before she could stop herself, she clapped a hand over her mouth and rushed outside.
The moment she reached the doorway—
“Bleurgh—!”
She vomited violently, followed by dry heaving.
“Miss! Are you alright?”
Chun Tao immediately dropped her chopsticks and rushed over, gently patting her back.
“I’m fine…” Lin Luoluo waved weakly. “Just feeling nauseous. Maybe I caught a chill.”
Aunt Zhong walked over carrying Lin Ziyu. After seeing her symptoms, she hesitated for a moment before asking:
“Miss… when was your last monthly cycle?”
Lin Luoluo’s mind exploded with a loud boom.
Her eyes widened.
Now that she thought about it…
Ever since transmigrating into this body, Aunt Flo had never shown up.
“Ever since marrying into Prince Yu’s Manor…” Lin Luoluo said slowly, already having a suspicion. “I don’t think it’s come at all.”
Aunt Zhong exchanged a look with Uncle Zhong and immediately called into the house.
“Old man, come out for a moment!”
“Coming!”
Uncle Zhong hurried outside.
“Miss, what happened?”
Aunt Zhong leaned close and whispered into his ear.
“She might be pregnant, but I’m not sure. Go fetch a doctor.”
“Oh!”
Without another word, Uncle Zhong hurried off in panic.
Half an hour later, he returned with an elderly man sporting white hair and a long beard.
“Divine Doctor Zhou, this way please.”
He respectfully led the old man inside.
After all, the owner of Jishitang had personally called him a divine doctor and said all the other physicians were too busy, which was why this esteemed doctor had been invited.
Uncle Zhong naturally treated him with utmost respect.
The moment Divine Doctor Zhou entered the hall, he saw a sweet-looking young woman seated in the place of honor, chatting with a maid and a woman holding a child.
But…
Something about her face felt strangely familiar.
He stared at Lin Luoluo for quite a while, deep in thought.
Then suddenly—
Realization dawned.
“So it’s you who needs medical attention?” he said as he sat beside her. “Stretch out your hand.”
Lin Luoluo frowned slightly.
The old man had stared at her for far too long after entering, but in the end, she said nothing and obediently held out her wrist.
Divine Doctor Zhou placed his fingers against her pulse and quietly examined it with his eyes closed.
After a long moment, he opened them and slowly stroked his beard.
Then, completely unhurried, he said:
“Congratulations, young lady.”
“You’re pregnant.”
Hearing the confirmation, Lin Luoluo’s heart became a tangled mess of emotions.
Happiness.
Anticipation.
But also worry.
“Sir…” she asked nervously, “how far along is the baby? Can I still travel?”
Guilt flooded her.
How careless had she been?
She hadn’t even noticed the child’s existence and had rushed nonstop for days.
Thankfully, this little one had been resilient enough to endure it.
Otherwise…
She would’ve regretted it forever.
“Judging by the pulse, the child is almost three months old,” Divine Doctor Zhou answered with a smile, though inwardly he was full of questions.
Prince Yu’s supposedly deceased little Princess Consort…
Why is she here?
And pregnant?
It seemed that during the two months he had been away, something very interesting had happened.
“Three months? Impossible—I clearly drank…”
Lin Luoluo blurted out in shock, only to suddenly stop.
She had thought of something.
Or rather—
Someone.
The daily contraceptive soup.
So…
It had never worked?
Divine Doctor Zhou suddenly smiled.
“If this young lady plans to travel, why not bring this old man along? I can ensure both you and the child remain safe.”
He stroked his beard cheerfully.
“I travel everywhere anyway. Just feed me and that’s enough. I’ve been wondering where to go next.”
After thinking it over for a while, Lin Luoluo finally agreed.
Whatever his purpose was…
As long as he meant them no harm, it was fine.