Chapter 58: Xiqiu (Part 4)

The sight of the entire family sitting together at the table for a meal filled Si Jin with deep emotion.

Though she had no memory of Xiao Rong, she felt as if there had been times when he sat beside her, sharing meals with her family.

“Xiao Jin, eat more. You’ve had a tough journey,” Cheng Yi said, reaching out with her chopsticks to place a piece of meat in Si Jin’s bowl.

Although all the dishes on the table today were to her liking, she looked down at the meat in her bowl and found she had no appetite at all.

Was it because she had slept for too long and had just woken up, making her appetite poor?

“Thank you, Mother.” Si Jin slowly picked up her chopsticks, tapping them near the piece of meat as if still hesitating whether to eat it.

“Chongyun, now that you’ve come to Xiqiu, what about matters in the capital?”

“Father-in-law, I handled affairs in the capital before deciding to come,” Xiao Rong paused, his gaze briefly sweeping over Cheng Yi before continuing, “That matter has also been concluded. I received a letter from the capital on the way here, which I can show you and Older Brother after the meal.”

Si Chengyuan nodded.

Xiao Rong lowered his eyes and also reached out with his chopsticks to serve Si Jin, placing a shrimp in her bowl.

Si Jin frowned slightly—this time it wasn’t hesitation but clear resistance.

She used her chopsticks to pick up the shrimp and return it to Xiao Rong, whispering, “I don’t want to eat this.”

Xiao Rong froze.

He knew her preferences well—she liked shrimp.

Pursing his lips, he served her another piece of meat, the same as what Cheng Yi had given her earlier.

“I said I don’t want to eat.”

Si Jin kept her voice low, but the movement of using her chopsticks to remove the meat was still somewhat forceful.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Jin?” Si Chengyuan leaned forward to ask.

Having been rejected twice in a row, and so bluntly, Xiao Rong’s expression darkened, though the slight droop at the corners of his eyes made him seem a bit aggrieved.

Si Jin forced a smile. “It’s nothing, Father. Chongyun and I are just joking around.”

Xiao Rong muttered under his breath, loud enough only for her to hear, “We’re not joking at all.”

She had clearly rejected him.

Si Jin felt somewhat helpless. Her tone had been a bit harsh earlier, but it was due to an inexplicable discomfort in her stomach—the sight of any food made her nauseous, and being served repeatedly had made her speak more sharply.

She reached out with her left hand, somewhat awkwardly finding Xiao Rong’s fingers under the table, and gave them a placating squeeze.

Xiao Rong’s expression shifted slightly, then he turned his hand to clasp hers entirely.

And just like that, he was appeased.

Xiao Rong was mollified, but Si Jin still had no appetite.

There was no way to return the piece of meat her mother had given her. After poking at it back and forth for a while, she decided to give it to Xiao Rong instead.

At that moment, Cheng Yi said, “Xiao Jin, what’s going on today? I see you haven’t eaten much.”

Si Ming asked, “Does it not suit your taste? Should I have the kitchen prepare a couple more dishes?”

Si Jin quickly shook her head. “No need, Older Brother, Mother. I just… don’t have much appetite.”

Si Chengyuan analyzed, “Is it because you just woke up? If we’d known, we should have waited a bit longer before having the meal. Your parents aren’t in a hurry.”

Cheng Yi studied Si Jin suspiciously but said nothing.

Si Jin was already feeling embarrassed. She had never been like this before—her body seemed to be acting on its own. Even though the dishes in front of her were all her favorites, the mere smell of them made her stomach churn.

She shook her head. “I’m really fine. I’ll feel better after a while.”

At that moment, several maids entered through the doorway, each carrying a bowl of soup on a tray.

Si Ming murmured upon seeing this: “If Xiao Jin has no appetite, then this specially prepared tonic soup won’t be of any use today either…”

Before his words faded, Si Jin suddenly caught the scent of the tonic soup from beneath the lid as a maid approached.

The churning in her stomach completely spiraled out of control. She instinctively turned her head, clutching Xiao Rong’s lapel and leaning into his embrace as she began retching dryly.

From last night until now, she hadn’t eaten anything, so there was nothing to vomit up—only a burning pain remained in her stomach and throat.

“Xiao Jin!”

“What’s happening?”

“Xiao Jin, are you alright?”

Xiao Rong neither dodged nor avoided her, allowing Si Jin to cling to him, though he dared not touch her for fear of making her more uncomfortable.

Only after Si Jin had dry-heaved several times did he use his own sleeve to wipe her mouth, showing no trace of disgust.

“How are you feeling now? Any better?”

Si Chengyuan was terrified, his face pale: “This—this—quick, send for a doctor! Go fetch a doctor!”

“Father, I’ll go right away.”

Si Ming rose and left.

Cheng Yi remained somewhat calmer amid the concern.

She tugged at her husband’s sleeve, pulling him back to sit in his chair.

As her worry gradually faded, a look of anticipation and delight appeared on her face: “Xiao Jin, when did these symptoms start? Are you… perhaps with child?”

Her words instantly silenced the dining table.

Everyone’s expressions shifted differently.

Si Chengyuan blinked in astonishment, his gaze flickering between the young couple for a moment.

They had been married for two years now. He still remembered during their first year in the capital, he and Cheng Yi had often privately wondered why Si Jin showed no signs of pregnancy. Back then, Cheng Yi had said they were still young and newly married, so they shouldn’t interfere.

Now the timing seemed perfect. The couple clearly had a harmonious relationship—if she truly was pregnant, this child would be coming at just the right time.

But Si Jin and Xiao Rong’s expressions turned rather unpleasant.

Si Jin’s stomach still felt uncomfortable, her mind in turmoil. Her lips had lost their color, and the hand clutching Xiao Rong’s lapel was enveloped in his. She didn’t know whether to speak or first suppress the nausea that seemed about to rise again.

Xiao Rong also remained silent, his eyes shadowed, his lips pressed into a tight line.

Just then, Si Ming returned. The moment he entered the room, he noticed the strange atmosphere around the table.

“What’s wrong?” He glanced around before quickly adding, “I’ve called for the doctor. Let him examine Xiao Jin’s pulse first.”

The possibility of Si Jin being pregnant was soon excitedly relayed by Si Chengyuan.

Nearby, at the sitting couch where the doctor was checking Si Jin’s pulse, the three members of the Si family were buzzing with excitement.

Xiao Rong stood apart from them in stark contrast. After a moment’s hesitation, he strode forward to stand beside Si Jin.

“It’s not true,” Si Jin said as soon as he approached.

“I know.”

Xiao Rong lowered his gaze.

They had already discussed this matter before.

The contraceptive medicine for men had been Xiao Rong’s stubborn insistence—he had specifically asked Doctor Liu to procure it.

Such medicine was rarely used in the market and indeed came with side effects.

Back then, he had half-feigned, half-truthfully claimed that long-term use might lead to permanent infertility.

For him, who had decided to take the medicine from the beginning, this seemed like a perfect, permanent solution.

But now…

He hadn’t told Si Jin that he had long stopped taking the medicine and was trying to return to his pre-medication state.

Si Jin, unaware that he was seeking ways to restore his fertility, naturally believed she couldn’t possibly be pregnant.

Meanwhile, Doctor Liu had informed him during their journey that since the recovery process had just begun, it shouldn’t take effect so quickly and required further observation.

As expected, after examining her pulse, the physician bowed and announced to everyone: “The young lady appears to be suffering from travel acclimatization since arriving in Xiqiu, causing gastrointestinal discomfort and poor appetite.”

Si Jin and Xiao Rong showed little reaction, while the other three were immediately stunned.

“Travel acclimatization?”

“Gastrointestinal discomfort?”

“Doctor, could you have misdiagnosed?”

After this episode, the table full of dishes remained largely untouched as everyone had lost their appetite.

Some were too dazed to react, some felt slightly disappointed, while others worried about Si Jin’s acclimatization issues.

After the meal, the family urged Si Jin to return to her room and rest immediately, while the servants busied themselves brewing the medicine prescribed by the physician.

Walking along the path back to their room with Xiao Rong, Si Jin could clearly sense his low spirits.

She reached out to hold his hand as they walked slowly, taking a long time without reaching their quarters.

When they reached a secluded section of the path, Si Jin initiated the conversation: “Don’t overthink it. I’ve told you before – I respect your decision.”

Xiao Rong remained silent for a moment before replying in a muffled voice: “I wasn’t thinking about that.”

He didn’t specify what, but Si Jin didn’t believe him.

“I’ll find an opportunity to speak with my parents. Actually, I’m not particularly eager to have children either.”

“You don’t want them anymore?” Xiao Rong suddenly looked up, as if something he had long prepared for was now unnecessary.

Si Jin paused, rarely failing to read his expression.

But after a moment’s hesitation, she answered truthfully: “Well… I suppose I’d still like it a little. If we had a child, I imagine they’d probably resemble you in your childhood.”

Xiao Rong’s expression darkened as he tightened his grip on her hand. “Don’t look at them to imagine my childhood. That’s different. If you want to know about my childhood, you should recall it from your own memories, not learn about it from someone else.”

Si Jin found this both amusing and frustrating. Leaving aside that they couldn’t have children, even if they could, it would be their own child – how could that be considered “someone else”?

Thus the matter seemed to pass amid their banter.

Si Jin genuinely felt unwell. After returning to their room and being tended to by Xiao Rong, she weakly lay back down on the bed.

Xiao Rong had coaxed her to sleep while holding her, but after Si Jin fell asleep, he quickly rose and left the bed.

Doctor Liu had been waiting outside for some time. Xiao Rong summoned him to the side chamber.

“How much longer until recovery?”

Upon hearing this, Doctor Liu broke out in a sweat.

If he remembered correctly, he had just reported on this matter three days prior.

Wiping his brow, Doctor Liu replied: “Your Excellency, you’re in good health and still young. The duration of medication previously wasn’t long. With consistent medication and conditioning, recovery is certain. However, the recovery period varies by individual – this humble doctor dare not make rash assertions.”

Xiao Rong narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering before asking: “If we increase the dosage, could it accelerate recovery?”

Hearing this, Doctor Liu broke into even more sweat.

He remembered when Xiao Rong first decided to take the medication, he had adopted the same attitude, asking whether increasing the dosage could directly cause permanent infertility, frightening him into kneeling immediately.

Now he was urgently seeking recovery – truly acting on whims, quite tormenting to deal with.

Doctor Liu twitched the corner of his mouth, not daring to voice his thoughts, so he could only say tactfully, “Excessive dosage in a short period can also burden the body. I can only make slight adjustments for you, sir, changing from taking medicine twice a day to three times. This should help shorten the duration.”

Xiao Rong was clearly still not very satisfied upon hearing this, but he could only nod and wave his hand, saying, “Weren’t we short on medicinal supplies on the road before? Go replenish them now. We’ll start the adjustments today.”

“Yes, sir.”

On the other side, the three members of the Si family received news from Si Jin’s courtyard.

“Why is Xiao Jin feeling unwell, yet Chongyun is procuring so many medicinal supplies? Is he also unwell? Should we go check on him?”

“Wait, hold on. These medicines don’t seem quite right. They look like… tonics?”

At these words, the three exchanged glances.

Si Chengyuan moved his lips: “They’ve been married for two years, and Xiao Jin still hasn’t shown signs of pregnancy. So it turns out…”

Si Ming felt somewhat awkward: “It shouldn’t be, right? Chongyun looks strong and healthy, not like he has any issues…”

Cheng Yi: “Perhaps he’s just… a bit lacking in energy?”

The three fell silent.

“Don’t let anyone find out. We should still help him.”

“I’ll take care of it. Should I add it to his medicine?”

“Sounds good. I know some prescriptions that are guaranteed to work.”