The couple looked in the direction he pointed and saw Zhang Ning standing at a distance with a smiling face. Seeing them looking over, he hurriedly came forward to pay his respects.

“Zhang Ning, how did you get here so quickly?” Ye Yaming asked in pleasant surprise.

“I set out as soon as I received the message. I arrived at the city gate last night, and knowing you would be leaving the city today, I didn’t bother entering the city. I stayed at an inn outside the city for the night,” Zhang Ning explained with a smile.

Seeing Zhang Ning’s presence, Lu Guanyi felt much more at ease.

Just as he was about to speak, Ye Yaming said, “By the way, Zhang Ning, we have something important to tell you. Please come to the carriage for a moment.” As she spoke, she gave Lu Guanyi a meaningful look.

Her pregnancy wasn’t confirmed yet. She didn’t want to cause a big misunderstanding that would leave Lu Guanyi worrying about nothing at the border.

Zhang Ning was from the Huichun Hall in Lin’an and had no connections with people in the Capital. His character and medical skills were well-known to everyone and trustworthy. Now, being able to confirm the pregnancy before Lu Guanyi left for the border was the best possible outcome.

Lu Guanyi immediately understood and led Zhang Ning to the carriage.

The carriage was narrow, and it would be inappropriate for men and women to be in close quarters. But with him, the husband, present, no one could spread gossip.

Xu Zan, Bai Rui, and others naturally stayed by Ye Yaming’s side. Hearing Ye Yaming’s words, they quickly ordered the servants to step back and had Yi Wu, Chen Xiu, and others stand guard around them.

Lu Guanyi had brought a team of fifty soldiers back to the Capital. Seeing Ye Yaming’s servants behaving this way, everyone immediately went on alert.

Once in the carriage, Ye Yaming didn’t speak much but directly extended her arm to Zhang Ning, indicating for him to check her pulse.

Zhang Ning was momentarily surprised, glanced at Lu Guanyi, and understood in his heart.

He didn’t say much either, extended his fingers, and felt Ye Yaming’s pulse.

Soon he withdrew his hand and cupped his hands toward the couple: “Congratulations, congratulations, the lady is with child.”

He was a clever person. Seeing Ye Yaming and Lu Guanyi’s manner earlier, he knew they didn’t want to publicize the matter. Therefore, he kept his voice extremely low.

Lu Guanyi had been holding his breath, and now that it was confirmed, his face lit up with joy as he turned to look at Ye Yaming: “You are pregnant!”

Ye Yaming asked, “How far along am I?”

“A month and a half.”

“Can you estimate when the delivery will be?”

Zhang Ning knew Lu Guanyi was about to leave for the border. He quickly calculated and said, “Probably between mid-August and early September, but it could also be a bit earlier.”

Lu Guanyi held Ye Yaming’s hand: “I will return by early August.”

Lu Zhongyong was the commander, and Ye Yaming was carrying his first grandson. As long as there was no conflict at the border, it shouldn’t be a problem for Lu Guanyi to request leave to return and accompany his wife during childbirth.

“Good.”

Lu Guanyi then said to Zhang Ning, “After returning to Lin’an, please help Ming’er find a reliable midwife to stay by her side daily. Also, please take extra care of her.”

As he spoke, he stood up and bowed to Zhang Ning.

Zhang Ning quickly avoided the bow and said, “Don’t worry, not only are you my friend, but also because you’re going to guard the border and protect our country, as a citizen of Great Jin, I will take good care of your wife.”

“Thank you,” Lu Guanyi bowed again.

He said to Ye Yaming, “Alright, you should depart now. Travel slowly on the road, don’t rush.”

The entire journey had been planned. If they delayed any longer now, both lunch and evening rest would be delayed.

Lu Guanyi was a military man. Despite his reluctance, he decisively parted.

Zhang Ning got off the carriage first. Lu Guanyi embraced Ye Yaming tightly one last time before releasing her, saying, “You don’t need to get off. I’ll watch your carriage leave before I go.”

“Alright.”

Lu Guanyi got off the carriage, called Yi Wu and Chen Xiu over to give them a few instructions, watched as Ye Yaming’s carriage slowly departed, and only then mounted his horse and headed north with his guards.

Yi Wu and Chen Xiu were the guards Lu Guanyi had given to Ye Yaming, and they were formidable in martial arts. Ever since Ye Yaming became engaged to Lu Guanyi, the two knew they would likely remain by Ye Yaming’s side forever, and they became even more devoted to her.

Now, knowing that Ye Yaming was pregnant, they arranged everything on the journey more meticulously than ever before.

Halfway through the journey, Ye Yaming said to Tang Song, “Song’er, ride ahead to Lin’an and tell the Old Master and the others that I will arrive later.”

When she initially sent someone to invite Zhang Ning, she had told Ye Chongming and the others that she would depart on the sixteenth day of the first month.

The Capital was not far from Lin’an; riding fast horses, one could arrive in just over a day, and by carriage, it would only take three days. During the wedding procession, because of Ye Chongxian and other elderly people, the journey had been slower, taking five days on the road.

But now that she was pregnant, Yi Wu, Chen Xiu, and Nanny Xia were all very nervous and insisted that the caravan move at a snail’s pace.

She estimated that from the Capital to Lin’an, it would take six or seven days. If they didn’t see her arrive home for a long time, her family would surely be extremely anxious, worried that something had happened to her on the road.

“Yes.” Tang Song accepted the order and rode ahead to Lin’an.

Sure enough, as expected, Ye Yaming’s group took a full seven days to reach Lin’an.

Li Fu had been waiting at the city gate every day for the past few days. Seeing their group, he breathed a sigh of relief and came forward to pay his respects: “Miss, if you had been one day later, the Old Master would have sent people to meet you.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Ye Yaming smiled.

Li Fu mounted his horse, and seeing Ye Yaming’s carriage moving slowly toward the city, he finally understood why they had been delayed so long on the road.

However, having been a servant for so many years, he knew what he could ask and what he couldn’t, so he didn’t inquire with Xu Zan and others about why they were traveling so slowly.

Li Fu sent someone to report back, and by the time Ye Yaming alighted from her carriage in front of the Ye residence, the Ye family had all come out to welcome her.

Old Lady Ye held Ye Yaming’s hand and examined her, repeatedly saying, “You’ve lost weight, lost weight.”

Ye Yaming smiled helplessly.

This period had been relatively leisurely, and Lu Guanyi always made sure she ate well; worried that she might be pregnant, she hadn’t dared to exercise as before for this past month. She felt she had gained weight.

Ye Chongming’s assessment was more objective: “It’s fine, about the same as before. After so many days of travel, she still looks energetic.” He waved his hand, “Let’s talk inside.”

Everyone entered through the main gate, and Madam Tao asked, “Ming’er, your eldest uncle caught a slight cold, so he had your eldest cousin go to the Capital. He set out on the sixteenth. Did you meet him on the way?”

“We did,” Ye Yaming said. “We met on the mountain road near Xinnan County. It wasn’t convenient to talk much, so we just exchanged a few words before parting.”

Her group had traveled slowly, while Ye Jiaxing had traveled quickly. Since they had both set out on the same day, the place where they met was not far from the Capital.

Madam Tao breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, “That’s good.”

“Did Eldest Uncle tell you? He said that from now on, my father would manage affairs in the Capital, and he would return to Lin’an to accompany Grandfather, Grandmother, and you,” Ye Yaming asked.

Hearing these words, Madam Tao’s face lit up with joy: “Yes, he did.”

She looked at Ye Hongsheng and Madam Yin, gratefully saying, “This matter is all thanks to Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, and also thanks to Father, Mother, and Ming’er for their consideration.”