Buti and Liang Mingyu were startled.
Sophia, however, exclaimed with joy, "Sister, are you... are you pregnant??"
Christina's beautiful eyes reddened slightly, full of anticipation, "Let's go ask Sister Qin Wan and Sister Pan first..."
When Liang Xiao returned home, it was already the evening of the next day.
Upon learning that Christina was also pregnant, Liang Xiao was ecstatic.
Christina, who had been a little nervous, simply blushed and let Liang Xiao pull her and Jian Qinwan to sit down.
"Mi'er will be able to hold... hold her nephew soon!"
Luo Qingxue, Yue Lian, and Zhuo Xun, while envious, felt a touch of disappointment.
Zhuo Xun had not yet consummated her marriage with Liang Xiao, while Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian touched their own bellies, regretting their own lack of success.
At this moment, they all wished they could have a crystallization of their love with Liang Xiao!
"It's too cold here, so be sure to keep warm. We'll wait a few more days to see if the other two are also pregnant, and then we can inform Tianshan and ask for Mother-in-law's opinion!" Liang Xiao said with a beaming smile, his voice trembling slightly.
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian blushed and sat down next to Zhuo Xun.
Liang Xiao said earnestly, "You are all my wives and good sisters. These children are all our common children, and they will be treated equally in the future. My children, no matter which one, are my pride, and there will never be any distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, or any difference in status!"
Everyone obediently agreed. The three who were not pregnant couldn't help but start stroking the bellies of the two pregnant women with envious gazes.
Only then did Liang Xiao feel relieved.
He had always been worried that these wives would develop a rift because of the children.
"Great demon, I..." Zhuo Xun began to muster tears again.
Liang Xiao pinched Zhuo Xun's little face and comforted her, "You will have one in the future, too. You are still young, let's wait a while."
Zhuo Xun then wiped away her tears and giggled, "You know I'm faking crying, and you still spoil me so much!"
Just then, Yue Lian and Luo Qingxue simultaneously covered their mouths and turned away to vomit.
Liang Xiao's pupils contracted sharply at the sight!
Pan Feng and Jian Qinwan took their pulses one after another, both surprised and delighted.
"They're pregnant..."
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian covered their mouths, their faces as if they were about to bleed.
Now Zhuo Xun truly started crying, "Great demon~"
"Just wait a little longer." Liang Xiao, who was in a state of ecstasy, then blushed.
This girl's maturity was not yet as developed as Zhen Mi's, and she looked even younger than Yue Lian. He really couldn't bear it, for fear of causing her any harm or psychological shadow...
"I don't care! I want a child too. I've asked my sisters. For you, I... I'm not afraid of anything..." Zhuo Xun began to act spoiled with tears.
The four pregnant women couldn't help but cover their mouths and giggle, while only Liang Xiao looked ashamed.
Zhuo Xun then wiped away her tears and pouted, "I know you dote on me. So, are the sisters going back to the capital, or to Tianshan?"
Liang Xiao was stunned and nodded, "Both are possible. Mother-in-law is the most revered physician of the current era. We'll hear her opinion first. However, she can't move around carelessly at the moment, nor is it suitable to travel by carriage, with all the bumps."
"Then, when the sisters go back, can I stay to accompany you? I don't want you to be alone!" Zhuo Xun began to act spoiled again.
"Then, Mi'er can also stay and play the zither for Brother Xiao. Mi'er has learned very well from Sister Qin Wan!" Zhen Mi said earnestly.
"We'll see then." Liang Xiao smiled with relief and patted Zhuo Xun's little head.
Zhuo Xun then quieted down and went to tease the four older sisters.
That night, Zhuo Xun snuggled in Liang Xiao's arms, constantly burrowing deeper into the covers, a look of happiness on her face.
Liang Xiao dared not bully her, but now, she was the only one who could sleep with him.
The next day, Liang Xiao first went to Anxi County to inspect the Qingtian Guard.
Inside the military camp, dust flew everywhere, and war cries occasionally erupted.
The tall and mighty three thousand Qingtian Guards, along with over five hundred reserves who were being recruited, exuded an imposing aura. They wielded Mo Dao and steel long swords, practicing crossbow shooting and freely shedding sweat.
"Marquis, the Qingtian Guard has mastered various formations and tactics. They can execute the Yue Zhen formation as if it were an extension of their own arms!" Nie Yuan reported excitedly.
Yue Qingtian patted his chest and said, "Marquis! I can mount my horse and fight alongside the cavalry. Mr. Liang and Mr. Liu can command the troops!"
The two gentlemen Yue Qingtian mentioned were Liang Qing's retainers, Liang Zhan, and Liang Xiao's quartermaster, Liu Fan.
Liang Xiao nodded in agreement.
It was indeed a waste of talent for a fierce general like Yue Qingtian to be a mere commander. Charging into battle on horseback was where he could best utilize his abilities. Command should be left to professionals.
Even Liang Xiao himself was considering the timing for him to enter the fray.
The battlefield was perilous, and there were many people. The Falling Sun Bow was not suitable for carrying in large-scale close combat. Liang Xiao also needed to consider close-quarters combat and the use of powerful crossbows.
As Liang Xiao was reviewing his troops, Liu Fan rushed over with an urgent report, "Marquis, a secret dispatch from the capital has arrived. The items you requested have been delivered. They have been tested, and they are indeed powerful..."
Liang Xiao's eyes lit up, "Let's go see!"
The news of Jian Qinwan's pregnancy was sent by fast horse through the night to the Three Sages of Daqian in Tianshan and Xiao Qing in the capital.
The Three Sages of Daqian were visibly flustered. Mu Xueqin, along with a group of Tianshan physicians and a hundred Tianshan martial artists, rushed to Yanzhou to personally care for her daughter.
In the capital, at the Western Palace Villa, Xiao Qing, dressed in red, missed her lover.
She touched her own belly and said dejectedly, "Granny Ning, I don't seem to have morning sickness. Is it possible...?"
Ning Xuejun comforted her, "Your Highness is still young, there's no need to worry!"
"Brother Xiao spent the most time with me when he was in the capital, yet I haven't conceived. Sister Qin Wan is already pregnant." Xiao Qing couldn't help but sigh.
Ning Xuejun quickly continued to comfort her.
Two days later, Xiao Qing received news of Luo Qingxue and the others' pregnancies. After a moment of joy, she touched her belly again, becoming even more dejected.
"Yue Lian, who is the same age as me, is already pregnant. Am I... am I not fertile like my ancestors...?"
Ning Xuejun, who had originally been worried about continuing the royal bloodline, now began to comfort Xiao Qing, telling her not to rush.
"That's not true. Your Highness is only seventeen. Early pregnancy is not necessarily a good thing. The驸马 (consort) is so good, he would never neglect you just because you don't have children. I'm afraid he also doesn't want you to get pregnant too early, as it might harm your health."
Only then did Xiao Qing's face light up with a smile. She nodded and pouted, "This bad guy, when he comes back, I... I'm going to drain him dry..."
In the barbarian military camp, the Left Xian King received news from Shuofang and Yunzhou.
"Marshal, in Shuofang and Yunzhou, the Daqian nation has not deliberately dispatched elite troops to attack our scouts!"
The generals' hearts tensed, becoming even more convinced that Liang Xiao must have intended to launch a surprise attack.
"It is also possible that the White Robed Soldiers are a special kind of unit, and Shuofang and Yunzhou do not have elite troops of the same caliber as the White Robed Soldiers, so they couldn't outrun our scouts!" the strategist reminded them.
The Left Xian King pondered for a moment, then sneered, "Whether Liang Xiao is a coward or intends to ambush us, we will proceed with our plan. At worst, we can just go and support Yunzhou directly!"
Time had already reached November.
Near Yunzhou, the Tian Jiang finally began to freeze over.