Chapter Text
Nausea
The reason why Xiao Shu took so long to realise that it was pregnancy and not simply something she ate was because for the entire week when she was throwing up, her husband was right there with her.
Meng Zhi despairs at the pair, joined at the hip as they lurched over the same poor bushes. Jingyan is still holding Xiao Shu’s hand. The one who wants to vomit is Nie Feng.
“Perhaps see a physician,” Nie Feng suggests.
“It was definitely the peasant,” Meng Zhi nods sagely. “The one the seventh prince refused to give anyone a bite of, saving it all for his precious marshall.”
“It was not the peasant,” JIngyan replies crossly. “Nie Feng-ge stole the thigh I was saving for Xiao Shu’s midnight snack and he looks fine.”
“Meng da-ge are you volunteering to oversee the morning drills?” Xiao Shu asks, pleasant as she can be while her entire mouth still tastes like rotten rat, looking put together despite the cold sweat beading her forehead. Next to her Jingyan is in far worse shape, and she croons sympathetically as she pauses him the waterskin.
“Oh look at that,” Nie Feng says. “The troops are calling for me.”
“I hear nothing,” Meng Zhi tilts his head, confused. “Nie Feng you must be hearing things.”
Nie Feng smiles, and Meng Zhi has seen that look on Xia Dong’s face a thousand times, just daring Meng Zhi to say another word. His mouth clicks shut and he follows Nie Feng, but not before he pats Jingyan on the back a few times in comfort. The motion jars Jingyan and earns him an irritated hiss from Xiao Shu. Meng Zhi snatches his hand back through force of habit - Xiao Shu used to bite as a child and he thinks that if he peers closely enough there may have been a few scars.
Jingyan merely vomits in lieu of a reply.
-
“I’M PREGNANT?” Xiao Shu shouts and she grips Jingyan’s hand tight enough for him to wince, if he weren’t in a daze already, watching her with a besotted expression of reverence. “Did you know?"
“You’re pregnant?” Princess Jinyang shrieks before turning back to her awestruck husband and twisting his ear as she bellows into it. “YOU LET HER GO TO WAR WHEN SHE’S PREGNANT?”
Lin Xie doesn’t seem to feel the pain, as a look of wonder spreads over his face. “You’re pregnant?”
Prince Qi beams at his brother and cousin. “You’re pregnant? I am so happy for the two of you!”
Xiao Shu shakes herself out of her own shock, turning impatiently back to the physician. “Wait, if I’m pregnant what’s wrong with Jingyan? Why is he vomiting as well? Is he pregnant too?”
“Well…” The imperial doctor in question scratches his head. “he certainly exhibits all the signs of pregnancy, and his pulse has the same rhythm as yours. Congratulations, Prince Jing.”
The crown prince of Da Liang faints.
-
Xiao Shu breezes through morning sickness without so much as making a face at food, let alone experiencing full blown nausea after her fourth month.
Jingyan on the other hand, is the very unfortunate husband that cannot even bear the scent of morning dew, fish, various medicinal herbs as well his most beloved hazelnut cookies.
“I would eat them for you if I could,” Xiao Shu offers graciously, practically radiant with the glow of an expectant mother. She effortlessly twirls the sword in her hand as she kicks her legs out restlessly. Yu Jin, who was attempting to sneak a bite from her stack of pastries comes dangerously close to losing his fingers.
“I know,” Jingyan says, adoringly.
“Lin Shu-jiejie is eating EVERYTHING.” Yu Jin complains, circling his arms over his head to emphasise on everything. “There’s no more food left in the house for us! We are going to starve!”
“Why is our Xiao Jin so noisy today?” Xiao Shu smiles sweetly, setting down her sword. “I might not be free to train you but I’m sure Xia dong-jiejie will be eager to help.”
Yu Jin makes a frightened sound and hides behind Jingrui, pushing him forward as an offering. “Jingrui has a question for Jingyan-gege!”
“Jingyan-gege,” Jingrui asks, his face serious. “Are you going to give birth at the same time as Lin Shu-jiejie? Will I have two cousins to play with?”
Jingyan is suddenly overcome with nausea and dashes for the latrine.
“See!” he hears Yu Jin hisses triumphantly at Jingrui. “I told you that men can get pregnant! When we get married, you’re going to carry the baby!”
Despite puking up his bland breakfast of congee, Jingyan smiles when he hears Xiao Shu’s delighted laughter.