The Amnesiac, Sickly Beauty Is Pregnant With My Dragon Cub - Chapter 61.1

Lingzhi (Ganoderma) appeared out of nowhere with a specialized medical kit in hand. Clad in fluttering white robes, she carried herself with the air of an otherworldly master.

Huang Liu urged her, “Oh, hurry up! You’re walking so slowly; the dragon baby will be born by the time we get there.”

Lingzhi moved with light, mincing steps. Hearing the rush, she grumbled, “What’s your hurry? It’s still early. What if the Dragon King and the Madam are still sleeping? If I barge in and offend the Dragon Majesty, and he eats me in a fit of rage, I’ll drag you down to the grave with me!”

Huang Liu flared up at this.

“You wicked fungus! I was just thinking of saying a few good words for you so you could become the King’s Imperial Physician.

Who knew you’d be so ungrateful? I am the King’s favorite; how dare you speak to me like that? You must be tired of living!”

Just as the two were about to roll up their sleeves and fight, An Zhi stepped between them, coaxing them down.

“Enough, enough. What’s there to argue about? Though that evil dragon is often lazy and gluttonous, she is good at heart. Besides, you have no meat on your bones—why would she eat you? Go take care of my Master; the rewards will be plenty.”

Yu Xuanji had finished dressing and was about to stand when Cang Lan knelt on the floor to put on her shoes.

While fitting the left shoe, Cang Lan cradled the sole of Xuanji’s foot, leaned down slightly, and placed a soft kiss on her fair, tender instep.

Cang Lan looked up, their eyes meeting. Xuanji’s toes curled instinctively. It was a moment of profound warmth, yet Xuanji felt an underlying uncertainty, unsure of how to respond.

Cang Lan’s lips curved into a smile, her pale gold eyes fixed intensely on Xuanji. “My Lady, I had Ting Lan brew some stomach-warming porridge.

You felt nauseous and barely ate last night. Have some this morning to soothe your belly.”

Xuanji lowered her gaze, her mind drifting back to the dream from the previous night. When she looked at Cang Lan again, her nose suddenly tingled with a bittersweet ache.

As Cang Lan led Xuanji out of the bedroom, they encountered Huang Liu leading a white-haired woman in white robes carrying a wooden box.

Cang Lan immediately stepped in front of Xuanji, asking expressionlessly, “Who are you?”

Lingzhi smiled. “I am a thousand-year-old Ganoderma from Mount Dongling, named Yunzhi. I have devoted years to the study of medicine. Huang Liu found me yesterday, saying the King’s Madam is pregnant and asking me to help regulate her body.”

Huang Liu stood tall with pride. “That’s right, Great King. I personally invited Divine Physician Yunzhi. You told me to find Senior Phoenix yesterday, but I couldn’t find her anywhere in the Great Barrens. So, I brought Yunzhi; her skills are not inferior to the Phoenix.”

Hearing “pregnant,” Cang Lan’s entire face flushed crimson. She was too embarrassed to turn back and look at Xuanji, so she didn’t see Xuanji stifling a laugh behind her hand.

Xuanji’s soft laughter reached Cang Lan’s ears clearly. Cang Lan turned shyly, her gaze landing on Xuanji’s shimmering, mirthful eyes. “What are you laughing at, My Lady? Since you have a child, we must have a great physician. I only know how to fight and kill; I was afraid of being too rough with you.”

Seeing Xuanji remain silent, simply biting her lip and laughing until tears nearly formed, Cang Lan felt she couldn’t show her face. She wanted nothing more than to hide her face in Xuanji’s chest.

Finally, Xuanji spoke: “Lan, I’m not pregnant.”

The words fell like a thunderclap. The other three were stunned. Cang Lan stood frozen as if turned to stone. Huang Liu’s jaw practically hit the floor. Yunzhi dropped her medical kit with a clatter, thinking her “iron rice bowl” of a job had just flown away.

Composing herself, Yunzhi picked up her kit and forced a smile. “Madam, please let me check your pulse first.”

Xuanji smiled, taking Cang Lan’s hand and sitting on the throne in the main hall. Huang Liu hurriedly brought a stool for Yunzhi.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yunzhi noticed the stool was made of pure gold and encrusted with gems of various colors, sparkling brilliantly. She gritted her teeth, thinking: I must hold onto this immense wealth. Even if I die, I’ll die here in the Dragon Pond.

Yunzhi calmed her mind, opened her kit, placed a snow-white silk scarf over Xuanji’s wrist, and rested two fingers lightly on the pulse point, closing her eyes to concentrate.

Cang Lan appeared stoic, but her heart was in a turmoil. Her hand, gripping the dragon throne so hard her knuckles were white, betrayed her true feelings.

After a moment, Yunzhi smiled. “Great King, the Madam is not pregnant. She is merely suffering from a lack of appetite and a weak spleen and stomach. I will prescribe some medicinal cuisine to stimulate her appetite; she will be fine after eating a little.”

Cang Lan suddenly felt all strength leave her body and began to tilt backward. Xuanji quickly caught her around the waist, pulling her close and calling her name anxiously: “Lan! Lan! What’s wrong?”

Cang Lan shook her head dejectedly, leaning into Xuanji’s embrace. “I thought you were pregnant… it was all just my wild imagination.”

Huang Liu dropped her head low. As soon as Cang Lan’s fierce gaze swept over her, she thudded onto her knees. “Great King, have mercy! It was just a guess! You and the Madam have been so deeply in love and inseparable these past days, I thought there would be results, so I just said it—”

Having experienced two massive emotional rollercoasters in a single day, Cang Lan hugged Xuanji tightly, resting her chin in the crook of Xuanji’s neck, and waved Huang Liu away. “Fine, get out.”

Yunzhi composed herself and said, “Then, Great King, I shall prepare the medicinal recipes. I will handle the cooking of these meals from now on.”

Huang Liu watched Yunzhi’s smug face in shock as Cang Lan replied, “Mhm, go prepare them.”

Outside the hall, Huang Liu looked at Yunzhi’s triumphant expression and began to regret bringing her. “Hey, what was that about? Are you planning to serve the King just like me?”

Yunzhi nodded. “Yes. I’ve lived in seclusion for years and wanted to build a new house recently. I’m short on cash and had to come out to work. Following the Dragon King isn’t a bad choice. By the way, how’s the salary?”

Huang Liu shook her head. Yunzhi asked eagerly, “None?”

Huang Liu counted on her fingers. “I don’t know. Gold and silver aren’t worth much here, and I don’t care for gems. The things the King rewards me with don’t interest me. I just like eating chicken. Later, the King just gave me a poultry farm—tens of thousands of chickens. I can’t even finish them all.”

Yunzhi looked at her with disdain. “How unaspiring. I still prefer halls filled with gold and jade.”

Huang Liu pointed to the night pearls and gems embedded in the walls. “Then you’ve come to the right place. In the Dragon Pond, these are the least valuable things. I often skip jade discs across the water like stones. Just pick up any rock and there’s jade inside. See for yourself; I’m going back to my farm. My precious chicks are waiting for me.”

The two parted ways. Back in the hall, Yu Xuanji sat on the throne, stroking the cool gold dragon head and looking at Cang Lan.

Cang Lan looked unwell, silent and downcast. Xuanji comforted her softly, “Lan, it’s my fault for letting you misunderstand.”

Cang Lan shook her head quickly. “No, it was just my wishful thinking. When I first heard Huang Liu say you were pregnant, I felt anxious and overwhelmed, not knowing whether to be happy or worried.”

Xuanji asked tentatively, “Are you unhappy then?”

Cang Lan shook her head again, then finally admitted, “I’m a bit scared. Everything feels so unknown. Actually—” She looked up, staring into Xuanji’s eyes, hesitating. “Actually, I’m more afraid of you. I’m afraid you wouldn’t like it, that you’d see it as a burden, or—”

She paused, then blurted out, “I don’t even know if such a child would be a blessing or a curse.”

Xuanji smiled, taking Cang Lan’s wrist and pressing her palm against her own lower abdomen. “Since it would be yours, how could it be a curse? Lan is an auspicious sign.”

The word “auspicious” made Cang Lan feel as though she were floating. She leaned over Xuanji, unceremoniously sitting on her lap and grabbing her waist.

An Zhi, carrying fresh vegetables and munching on a carrot, happened to pass the hall. She sensed something and glanced in, only for the carrot to fall out of her mouth with a thud.

The sound caught Cang Lan’s attention. Xuanji, pinned beneath her, followed Cang Lan’s gaze and saw the half-eaten carrot on the floor.

Xuanji scolded softly, “Next time you want to be intimate, close the door. This has happened so many times, yet you never learn.”

Cang Lan acted spoiled. “Oh, My Lady is blaming me again. I was just caught up in the moment and forgot. Besides, we’re just being affectionate; it’s not a crime. They’re just jealous. Don’t worry about it.”

Outside, An Zhi grabbed her basket and bolted for the kitchen. Ting Lan was boiling porridge when An Zhi burst in like she’d seen a ghost. Ting Lan stopped her. “Did you see a ghost?”

An Zhi panted, “I did! Aren’t you a ghost?”

Ting Lan pointed at her flushed cheeks. “Fine, I’m a ghost. Why is your face so red?”

An Zhi threw the basket down. “Don’t ask! I was coming back from picking vegetables and passed the hall. I saw that evil dragon pinning the Master onto the throne! How scandalous! I don’t know what Master sees in her.”

Ting Lan lifted the pot lid and ladled out two bowls of millet porridge, sprinkling sugar on one. “What does she see? Power, wealth, looks… aside from being sharp-tongued and arrogant, there’s nothing wrong with her. Most importantly, she is Cang Lan.”

An Zhi washed the vegetables, clicking her tongue. “I’ve seen dramas about reincarnation. I always feel like the reincarnated person isn’t the same person as before. What do you think?”

Ting Lan knelt down. “You mean—”

An Zhi continued, “Don’t you think? When a person dies, the body disappears, and the soul reincarnates into a new body with a new consciousness. Even if they recover their memories, they aren’t the same person anymore.”

Ting Lan nodded. “That makes sense. But it depends on what the Master thinks. It doesn’t matter if it’s the same person; if the Master believes it is, then it is.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Tushan Bai entered the kitchen with Shen Xiu. Smelling the porridge, she smiled. “These smells great. Give me a bowl later.”

Ting Lan stood up. “Senior, are you here for the Master?”

Tushan Bai nodded and looked at Shen Xiu. “Xiuxiu’s body isn’t holding up well. I want to ask Xuanji to craft a new one for her.”

An Zhi smiled. “You’ve come to the right person. Master makes bodies for me all the time. My new one won’t melt in water anymore.”

Tushan Bai asked curiously, “What’s it made of?”

Ting Lan said helplessly, “That white jade bed that broke last time. I helped her carve a life-sized body. She insisted on a bigger chest and a curvier backside. We went through dozens of versions before she was satisfied.”

Tushan Bai studied An Zhi and nodded. “No wonder you look different lately. You’ve definitely become prettier.”

Shen Xiu agreed, “Yes, a new body really makes a difference.”

Tushan Bai settled Shen Xiu at the table. “Xiuxiu, rest here and eat. I’ll go find Cang Lan and the others. I wonder if they’re awake yet.”

An Zhi gave a “friendly” tip: “Master and the dragon are busy in the hall. It probably won’t end soon. Why not have some porridge first?”

Tushan Bai frowned. “Indulging in lust during the day? Unacceptable. I’m going to see for myself.”

Ting Lan handed the tray to Tushan Bai. “Then please deliver these two bowls of porridge to them.”

Tushan Bai laughed. “Don’t call me ‘Senior,’ it makes me feel old. Just call me Tu Shan.”

Shen Xiu sat at the table, sipping the hot porridge. “It’s delicious.”

An Zhi leaned in to gossip. “Xiuxiu, is Tushan Bai really a nine-tailed fox? She seems incredible.”

Shen Xiu nodded. “Yes, she’s from the Qingqiu Immortal Realm. She was the leader of the nine-tailed fox clan and has lived for four or five thousand years.”

An Zhi was shocked. “I thought she was just a regular fox immortal. A clan leader? That’s amazing.”

Ting Lan asked, “If she’s so powerful, why is she trapped in the Barrens? I heard this place was for the most wicked demons—full of treasure but a death trap for anyone who enters.”

Shen Xiu smiled. “She was tricked into coming here.”

An Zhi was stunned. “Someone that powerful got tricked? That’s tragic.”

Shen Xiu drank her porridge and said nothing. After a moment, An Zhi asked, “I heard Tu Shan say you need a new body. Are you a ghost like us?”

Shen Xiu paused, then smiled. “I’m different. I am a Demon Ghost (Yao Gui). You two are Ghost Immortals.”

An Zhi stared at Shen Xiu’s deathly pale face. “A Demon Ghost? I thought you were like us.”

Ting Lan asked, “How old are you?”

Shen Xiu thought for a bit. “About a thousand years? It’s been so long, I forget.”

An Zhi and Ting Lan shared a look of surprise. “You’ve been ‘alive’ that long?”

An Zhi corrected herself. “I mean, you’ve been ‘dead’ that long?”

Ting Lan nudged her. “Watch your words.”