Chapter 1212 - 876: Whose Child Is It?

Chapter 1212: Chapter 876: Whose Child Is It?

A light and floating sentence, as if a heavy punch had been struck down, left the Empire’s two strategic generals forgetting how to react, their entire bodies stiffened, even forgetting how to breathe.

Jia Lan looked at the dazed expressions of Xiao Jin and Lu Xiao, and couldn’t help but feel a subtle pride in his heart. Tangtang had told him about her pregnancy first, which showed he still held a high place in her heart!

Thinking back to his reaction upon hearing the news, he estimated it was not much better than theirs.

Recalling that moment, it truly was unforgettable — like being struck by lightning, he forgot how to control his body, yet in that brief moment, it felt like a long, endless dream. Even after waking up, he was still in a severe daze.

"Tangtang is pregnant? Is... is this true?" Xiao Jin’s golden eyes contracted violently, the first to react, pushing Jia Lan aside and rushing up, only to stand stiffly in front of Shen Tang, his hands awkward, not knowing how to embrace her.

Shen Tang rested her hand on her stomach, smiled gently, and nodded, "Yes, I came back this time to tell you this good news in person, wanting to give you a surprise."

"This is absolutely wonderful news! Haha, our family is going to have a little one! From now on, I’ll take the kid out to play every day, proudly showing off to the brothers in the camp." Xiao Jin giggled, gently holding Shen Tang’s waist, leaning down to smell her neck, indeed noticing a slight change in her scent.

"Right, how long has it been? Whose child is it?" Xiao Jin curiously looked at her stomach.

Shen Tang was wearing a somewhat loose long dress, thus it was not noticeable that she was pregnant, indicating it was still early on.

Seeing that there were still many people at the city gate, Shen Tang did not want this news to spread widely just yet, she quickly pinched his arm and whispered, "Keep your voice down! Don’t crowd around the city gate, the passing caravans need to move, let’s talk back at the palace."

Lu Xiao, slightly slower to react, forcibly suppressed the surging emotions within, approached with concern and said, "Yes, there are too many people outside, and the weather is getting colder. The Female Master should rest first to avoid catching a cold."

Now it was autumn, the weather getting cooler, with evening temperatures resembling an early winter breeze, fallen leaves scattered along the roads from the rain last night, the roads still somewhat slick.

Jia Lan nodded, "Tangtang is pregnant, she must treasure her body and ensure nothing goes wrong."

Only then did Xiao Jin come back from his euphoria, a sense of guilt rising in his heart. He transformed into his beast form, lying on the ground and wagging his tail cheerfully, "Don’t tire yourself, I’ll carry you back."

Jia Lan helped Shen Tang onto the black panther’s back.

Shen Tang chuckled helplessly, "I’m not that delicate, you know. Your concern is making me a bit uncomfortable."

Aside from eating more and sleeping a lot, she felt no real discomfort. Her Beast Husbands, however, were more anxious than she was, afraid something might go wrong.

Lu Xiao dispersed the idle passersby, following closely with his followers. Always thoughtful and stable, today his emotions were indescribably complicated.

Over the years, Lu Xiao served before the monarch, aware that Shen Tang most favored Shen Li and Xiao Jin.

Shen Li’s special identity meant he was not often by her side, and among those closest to her was Xiao Jin, who copulated with her the most often.

In the Beast World, females often choose their most favored males as the fathers of their first children, so this child... likely wasn’t his.

Jia Lan turned his head to notice the absent-minded Lu Xiao, feeling a slight twinge of bitterness, but not exactly jealousy. After all, they were still young, and though he missed this chance, he could compete for the next offspring.

Lu Xiao’s despondent look made Jia Lan suspect he believed Tangtang was carrying the panther’s cub, yet he didn’t speak up, as the idea amused him a bit and Lu Xiao hadn’t inquired.

Shen Tang’s stomach was grumbling with hunger on the way. Having grown used to the delicacies of the sea, she now craved land food — fried chicken, braised flavors, a little barbecue, and a mandarin duck hotpot. Just thinking about it made her mouth water.

Xiao Jin immediately went out of the city to hunt some fresh game, while Lu Xiao prepared all her favorite foods. Of course, given Shen Tang’s pregnancy, he avoided overly spicy or greasy foods, opting for lighter dishes.

After eating her fill, Shen Tang felt a wave of sleepiness wash over her, too tired to discuss the pregnancy with her Beast Husbands, and promptly fell into a deep sleep.

Xiao Jin, Lu Xiao, and Jia Lan stayed by her bedside without leaving her for a moment.

Having never taken care of a pregnant female, they were all on edge, but seeing her tranquil sleeping face, they finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Lu Xiao, sitting by the bed, touched Shen Tang’s slightly plumper cheek, noting her complexion wasn’t as good as before, feeling a pang of heartache.

He didn’t disturb her slumber, instead turning to Jia Lan standing nearby, "How long has it been?"

Jia Lan shook his head, "I’m not too sure, three days ago at midnight, she said her stomach hurt, and after checking, we discovered she was pregnant. It’s still early, so we can’t specify an exact date, but given the lack of a significant bump, I’d say it’s been less than half a month."

Jia Lan glared at him while speaking, his tone inexplicable, "Some people being by her side every day, didn’t notice anything unusual about her."

"Sorry, it was my oversight," Lu Xiao assumed Jia Lan was blaming him for not fulfilling his duty, not thinking more deeply about it.

Xiao Jin said anxiously, "We don’t even know whose cub Tangtang is carrying, better to prepare the clothes, milk powder, and crib early, to avoid being caught off guard later."

The differences among species’ beast cubs at birth can be considerable. Even cat cubs and leopard cubs from both being mammalian Beastmen differ in size by two or three times.

Beast cubs grow quickly in their early childhood, so they must prepare things in advance.

Although they could have an Imperial Physician check tomorrow once Shen Tang awakes, tonight would still be a sleepless night with a desire to know as soon as possible.

Jia Lan caught Xiao Jin’s expectant gaze, then glanced at the silent Lu Xiao, smirking mischievously and pouring a cold bucket of water, "Giving birth to a cat cub? An egg? Either way... it won’t be a little leopard."

Xiao Jin glared fiercely at him, "How can you be sure?"

Lu Xiao’s heart skipped a beat, nearly losing control over his emotions, stood up reflexively, blurting out, "How is that possible..."

Xue Yinzhou had been away all these years, so she couldn’t have conceived a snake egg, naturally implying it was a bird egg.

Jia Lan looked at the different expressions of the two, shrugging puzzledly, "Believe it if you want, but that’s what Tangtang told me personally. You can ask her directly when she wakes up tomorrow."

Xiao Jin felt an instant sense of blockage in his heart, still unwilling to give up, "It’s still early to tell, what if it’s a little leopard?"

This estrus season, his mating timing was earlier than Lu Xiao’s, so if she were to conceive, wouldn’t he have the greater probability?

Though saying this, his voice noticeably fell. He knew Shen Tang had the System, unlikely to be wrong in such matters, and Jia Lan wouldn’t lie about such a topic.

But the dashed hopes filled him with frustration, ears and tail drooping, he let out a low whimper and ran out.

Lu Xiao, worried about him doing something rash, quickly transformed into his beast form and followed, returning shortly after, "He went out hunting, also to clear his mind."

Jia Lan, "Ah, my mood isn’t much better than that leopard’s, but still, congratulations to you, you’re soon to be a Beast Father! It’s truly enviable."

"To be graced by the Female Master, what virtue or capability do I have to receive such a precious gift..." Lu Xiao walked to the bedside, bowing his head to plant a gentle, cherished kiss on Shen Tang’s forehead.

Those deep blue eyes rarely betrayed emotion, yet now reflected profound feelings and mist.

He truly hadn’t expected, nor dared to hope, that she was pregnant with his child.

Living over thirty years, Lu Xiao was, for the first time, at a loss, his deepest emotions erupting like a tsunami, unsure of how to handle it.

"Tangtang is affectionate and caring, be sure to accompany her well. She undoubtedly relies on you most now," Jia Lan smiled lightly, turning smartly to leave.