In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

Zhu Qingyu guessed that Gu Zhao was probably too excited because of their wedding today.

That's why he's so melancholic, and his emotions can fluctuate so drastically over a baseless claim about going back.

Zhu Qingyu gently hugged Gu Zhao back and comforted him:

"Okay, no matter where I go, I'll come back."

She had already agreed, but the ever-sentimental, demanding, and untrustworthy Lord Gu was still not satisfied and changed his mind in a moment:

"No, that won't do! What if you forget to come back? What if you get held up by something else? I have to go with you!"

Such a small matter is being discussed with such solemnity.

Zhu Qingyu found Lord Gu's childishness exceptionally endearing today, so she let go of him and just smiled at him.

"Alright, alright, you can come with me. We can't go this year, and the baby will be too young next year. How about the year after? We'll go back to Sichuan, and I'll go see how the Huiyi Clinic is doing. What about you? What are you going to do? Do you want to come with me? Are there any suitable jobs for you there?"

They were all people entrusted with imperial missions, and they had to make a three-year plan for even a long trip.

Gu Zhao was indeed seriously planning to make a name for himself, and replied:

"Of course! The barbarians in the three western regions are unruly and have been causing trouble. His Majesty has disliked them for a long time. Before, the national treasury was empty and military funds were insufficient, so His Majesty had to endure it temporarily and couldn't launch a large-scale military campaign. But once the salt law reform is implemented this year and the salt tax revenue is collected next year, how can His Majesty tolerate their insolence? He'll have to send troops to fight them. When I get this assignment, I can go with them. Hey, aren't you tired from sitting and talking like this? Aren't you sleepy? Lie down, lie down!"

On the wedding night of others, the beautiful scenery and sweet moments were filled with tender affection.

However, because Zhu Qingyu was pregnant, on their wedding night, Lord Zhu and Lord Gu could only chat and sleep under the covers, and could not do anything else.

Because Gu Zhao had been coming up with all sorts of tricks lately, Zhu Qingyu had decided to give him a proper lesson on the precautions to take during the first and last three days of pregnancy.

As a result, Gu Zhao lay down very properly, only gently touching her belly with his hand, and said wistfully:

"When I talk to the baby, can it hear me?"

New mothers and fathers often go through a silly phase, asking questions that are both funny and absurd.

Zhu Qingyu didn't laugh at him. Instead, she placed her hand on Gu Zhao's hand and spoke to him gently:

"It's only the size of a mung bean right now, and it can't hear you. It will take at least six months for it to hear you speak. But before that, let's wait another three months. If you put your hand here, you'll feel it move."

Gu Zhao asked again:

"When was it approximately born?"

Zhu Qingyu counted down the days:

"Around the start of winter, but it's hard to say, it could be earlier or later."

Gu Zhao had many questions about the impending arrival of this little life, but as they chatted, he noticed Zhu Qingyu yawning, so he quickly changed the subject, gently put his arm around her, and patted her back.

"Go to sleep, go to sleep, let's stop talking, you need to rest more now."

The weather in spring was neither too hot nor too cold, just the right time to sleep. Zhu Qingyu lay in Gu Zhao's arms and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Between one and a half and four months of pregnancy, morning sickness should be at its most intense.

Zhu Qingyu was quite lucky; the baby she was carrying was exceptionally well-behaved and caring towards its mother. From early spring to midsummer, apart from occasional nausea and drowsiness, she didn't experience any particular morning sickness.

Because her overall health was still quite good, Zhu Qingyu continued to go to the clinic for consultations and lectures every day as usual. In the evenings, Gu Zhao would pick her up and take her back to the governor's mansion. She could even find time to continue writing her book before going to bed.

After finishing the book, their usual bedtime routine was for Gu Zhao to touch her belly, hoping that the baby inside would interact with him.

By May, there was still no progress. Gu Zhao asked:

"It's been four and a half months, shouldn't it be moving by now? Why isn't it moving?"

That's true in theory, but everyone has their own individual differences, so it's not absolute. Zhu Qingyu comforted him:

"Perhaps it has a more stable temperament; some babies just move a little later."

Gu Zhao gave Zhu Qingyu a meaningful look:

"That's somewhat like you, as if you came from the heavens. Since its character is so stable, like the moon's constancy, why don't we name it Gu Heng?"

Zhu Qingyu really liked the name Gu Heng, which carries the connotation of strong vitality. Moreover, the name Gu Heng is unisex and can be used by both boys and girls, so she immediately agreed.

As his name suggests, Gu Heng was as steady as Mount Tai. From spring to summer, there was no movement not only in May, but also in the sweltering heat of June. Despite the fact that his pulse was perfectly normal, he remained still inside her, not even wanting to move.

Even Zhu Qingyu was starting to get anxious and began to take measures.

She's already showing her pregnancy, so she's reduced her visits to the clinic and classes, and increased the time she spends taking slow walks under the shade of trees in the morning and evening, talking to Gu Heng. She hopes that through exercise and verbal stimulation, she can arouse Gu Heng's curiosity and get him to get up and move around.

One day, while Zhu Qingyu was taking a walk in the garden behind the Governor's Mansion, a sudden downpour began. Her attendant, Granny Qin, quickly led her into a pavilion to take shelter from the rain.

Summer weather is unpredictable; a thunderclap suddenly crashed down.

The impact was terrifying. Zhu Qingyu was startled as she went up the steps and almost tripped. The servants next to her were scared half to death. Even the usually calm Qin Mama turned pale with fright.

A group of people exclaimed and rushed to help Zhu Qingyu, guiding her into the pavilion to sit down.

Outside the pavilion, a fierce storm raged, with thunder and lightning raging ever more relentlessly.

Despite the commotion in the world, little Gu Heng remained calm and composed, unmoved even as the world crumbled before him, continuing to sleep as usual.

Zhu Qingyu was at her wit's end with this little boy. Gently touching her belly, she looked down and coaxed him helplessly:

"Gu Heng, little Gu Heng, why don't you move a little so Mommy knows you're here?"

When Zhu Qingyu spoke to Gu Heng before, she followed local customs and referred to herself as "Mother".

But today, stuck in the pavilion by the torrential rain, I blurted out "Mom" without thinking.

As the word "Mom" came from the deepest part of her memory, it was as if some command had been triggered. Gu Heng in her belly suddenly turned over, stretched, and touched Zhu Qingyu's hand through her belly.

The intense sunlight shone down so brightly that Zhu Qingyu couldn't open her eyes for a moment.

Where does the sunlight come from during a thunderstorm?

Zhu Qingyu raised her head and opened her eyes, and suddenly a bustling world of cars and people was thrown in front of her.

The world was so familiar; the sun was blazing, and she sat on a chair at the bus stop in front of her house.

Across the busy street, a person carrying a supermarket bag stared at her with wide eyes, looking on incredulously.

Across the street is my mother.

The bag slipped from her hand, and the mother, disregarding the heavy traffic, ran towards Zhu Qingyu.