Dugu Jingyao is reborn as Li Chu's beloved

Chapter 532 The Extreme Pull Between Li Xi and Ting Lan

On Li Chu's way back to Chang'an, Li Xi finally recovered from his illness. However, he couldn't return to Chang'an immediately because Ting Lan suddenly fainted while caring for him. This frightened Li Xi, and he quickly invited the divine doctor Gongsun and the imperial physician to treat Ting Lan.

After a careful pulse check, Divine Doctor Gongsun and the Imperial Physician discovered that Tinglan was already over a month pregnant! Furthermore, she had spent days caring for Li Xi without sleep, and her body was extremely tired, which had led to her fainting.

Upon hearing this, Li Xi couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. He had always considered Tinglan a substitute for Guo Fengmin and hadn't felt much affection for her. However, Tinglan ignored the orders of her old patron, Lord Lu, and devoted herself wholeheartedly to him, even becoming pregnant with his child.

Li Xi couldn't help but ask, "How is her health now? Has the child been affected?"

Doctor Gongsun replied, "Although the girl's pregnancy is a little unstable, as long as she drinks some pregnancy-stabilizing medicine and rests well for a while, there will be no big problem." The imperial physician beside him also nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, Li Xi felt a little relieved. However, he also realized that he had been here for long enough. If he didn't go back, Li Chu might come back soon.

So, Li Xi asked again: "How long will she need to recuperate?"

Divine Doctor Gongsun said, "To ensure the fetus is stable, you need to rest for at least ten days to half a month."

Li Xi received a letter from Gu Shiyi two days ago saying, "The spies reported that Li Chu has completed his mission and is on his way back. He will arrive in ten days or half a month."

Li Xi couldn't help but ponder: "If he stays here with Tinglan, he might not be able to return to Chang'an to report on his work before Li Chu. But if he rushes back, Tinglan will be unfamiliar with this place. How can she rest assured and take care of her pregnancy?"

Li Xi couldn't help but ask, "Would it matter if I returned to Chang'an earlier?"

Divine Doctor Gongsun frowned and said, "It's best not to. After all, it takes two or three days to travel from here to Chang'an. The fatigue of traveling will only make the fetus more unstable."

Li Xi thought it would be better to settle for the second best. He would stay here with Tinglan for three days. When she got better, he would arrange for someone to take care of her and then rush back to Chang'an.

Li Xi said, "Okay, I understand. Then I'd like to ask Divine Doctor Gongsun to prescribe some medicine to help maintain the pregnancy."

Doctor Gongsun said, "Your Highness, there is no need to be so polite. I will ask someone to get the medicine right away." After saying that, he and the imperial physician left the room together.

Not long after, Tinglan woke up, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Li Xi beside her. Of course, she was not moved at all, after all, she had also paid, not to mention that Tinglan knew that Li Xi was here to guard her only because of the child in her belly.

However, she still pretended to be surprised and asked, "Your Highness, why are you here?"

Hearing this, Li Xi pretended to be affectionate and held Tinglan's hand and said, "Lan'er, are you awake? Are you feeling unwell?"

Tinglan said: "No, I just felt a little dizzy. What happened to me?"

Li Xi smiled and said, "You fainted just now and scared me. I called in Divine Doctor Gongsun to check your pulse and found out that you are already over a month pregnant."

Tinglan pretended to be surprised and asked, "Really? Am I really pregnant?"

Li Xi said firmly: "Of course, why would I lie to you." Tinglan smiled and stroked her belly.

Li Xi thought for a moment and said, "However, because you have been very tired recently and your pregnancy is unstable, the doctor recommends that you rest here for a while and return to Chang'an after your pregnancy stabilizes."

Upon hearing this, Tinglan asked, "Am I the only one here?"

Li Xi sat down beside the bed, hugged Tinglan in his arms and said, "My dear, Lan'er, I have already been delayed for a long time due to my illness. If I go back any later, Li Chu and the others will be back soon."

Tinglan suddenly pushed Li Xi away and pretended to be angry, "Okay, okay, your highness's future is the most important thing. Then your highness, take care and I won't see you off."

Seeing Tinglan suddenly push him away, Li Xi was not very angry, and even thought Tinglan was a little cute, so he said: "Silly Lan'er, I didn't say I won't accompany you. It's just that I see that you are stable here, and I calculated the time to rush back to Chang'an before Li Chu and the others come back."

Hearing this, Tinglan looked at Li Xi with pleading eyes and said, "Then can I go back with you? I don't want to stay here alone."

Li Xi hesitated and said, "This... I also want to take Lan'er back with me, but the journey is exhausting, and I'm afraid you and the child won't be able to bear it."

Tinglan was in a bad mood and turned away, ignoring Li Xi. This reminded Li Xi of Guo Fengmin's temper when she was angry with him. He softened his heart and said, "Then I'll ask the Divine Doctor and the Imperial Physician. If possible, I'll take you back with me."

Tinglan immediately turned around and looked at Li Xi and said, "Your Highness did not lie to me?"

Seeing Tinglan's expression change faster than turning the pages of a book, Li Xi realized that he had probably fallen into this girl's "trap." But there was nothing he could do. Once a word is spoken, it cannot be taken back. He could only nod and say, "I won't lie to you."

It was just in time for dinner, and after the two of them had finished their meal, the imperial physician brought them the medicine to keep the pregnancy going.

Li Xi asked, "Doctor Zhang, if Tinglan takes the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine on time, when will her pregnancy be stable? When can she return to Chang'an?"

Doctor Zhang put the medicine down and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, just as Divine Doctor Gongsun said, it will take at least ten days to half a month for the fetus to stabilize."

Tinglan shook Li Xi's sleeve when she heard this. Li Xi glanced at her and asked, "Will it be a problem if we set off for Chang'an in three or five days?"

Doctor Zhang said, "Your Highness, for the sake of safety, it would be best not to let Madam Lan travel by boat."

Li Xi looked at Ting Lan as if to say, "Look, the imperial physician has said so, there's nothing I can do." He then said to Imperial Physician Zhang, "Thank you, Imperial Physician Zhang. I understand."

Tinglan didn't show any emotion in front of others, but as soon as Doctor Zhang left, she began to cry silently. Although he was not a lustful man, the face in front of him that looked 70% like Guo Fengmin made him a little overwhelmed.

Li Xi stepped forward to comfort Tinglan and said, "Don't cry, Lan'er. How about this? Don't you have a maid named Xiu'er? How about bringing her over to accompany you when the time comes?"

Tinglan continued to sob after hearing this, "But we are two weak women, and I am just a concubine. In this unfamiliar place, who would truly treat us well?"

Li Xi thought about it again and realized that this was the truth, so he said, "How about I leave Li Yuan to you?"

Tinglan was still unwilling to say, "He's not His Highness, and not everyone will necessarily give him face. Besides, the princess hasn't reacted to my absence for such a long time. If the princess knew that I came here with you secretly and that I'm pregnant now, would she let me go? This place is so far from Chang'an, and distant water cannot quench nearby thirst. If I die here, won't you feel sad?"

Li Xi also thought it made sense. After all, he knew a little about what kind of person Gu Shiyi was. So he said, "How about this? When I return, I will write to my father. Because you took care of me day and night, the pregnancy was unstable. To appease me, I ask my father to release you from slavery. I will also leave my token to you. Seeing the token is like seeing me. I will also leave Li Yuan and Xiu'er to accompany you."

Tinglan was a little shaken when she heard this. After all, being able to escape from slavery was something that could only be encountered by chance. Now that the Li family had no hope of having an heir, she only had this one chance, so she had to seize it.

As for the orders from Li Chu and Dugu Jingyao, she has been trying her best to delay. If she really has to let Li Xi return to Chang'an first, she will have no choice. I believe Dugu Jingyao can understand.

However, Tinglan still had doubts and asked, "Can I really escape from slavery?"

Li Xi said firmly: "This king will definitely help you escape from slavery."

Tinglan calculated the days. Li Xi received the letter two days ago. If the letter was sent from Jinling by carrier pigeon, it would take at least two days. Now, four days have passed since Li Chu and others set out to return to Chang'an. If the return journey goes smoothly, it will take about ten days. If she can delay it for five days, plus Li Xi's return journey will take three days, then her mission will be completed.

So she pleaded, "Well, Your Highness, can you stay here with me for five days before leaving? Just five days..."

Li Xi also calculated in his mind: "If it's five days, then he should still be able to catch up with Li Chu. If not, then he can find a way to stop them and make them come back later."

Li Xi said, "Okay, then I will stay here with Lan'er and our child for a few days."

Tinglan finally burst into laughter and put her arm around Li Xi's waist, saying, "Your Highness is so kind."