In a low voice, Ji Xianxian complained, “The brothers are really too much. The third master has just come back and should spend more time with his wife and children.” If the third master were asked to accompany Yin Hui, he would need to learn how to crawl like a turtle.
Xu Qingwan, rarely in agreement with Ji Xianxian, smiled.
Yin Hui could only act shyly, lowering her eyes and remaining silent.
It wasn’t until they reached the east harem, and the brothers dispersed, that Wei Luo could finally return to his wife and children.
“Father, hug me!” Xiao Heng immediately entangled himself around his father.
Yin Hui gently said to her son, “You’re not sensible. Father has been traveling on a horse for a long time, so he’s tired.”
Xiao Heng asked skeptically, “Father, are you tired?”
Wei Luo shook his head.
Yin Hui glanced at him, her demeanor serious when disciplining her son. However, Wei Luo was there to disrupt the situation whenever she disciplined her son.
Slowly returning to Chengxin Hall, Yin Hui settled directly into the chair in the front yard’s hall and instructed An Shun’er, “I’ll take a rest, and you take good care of the third master.”
“Everything is ready. Do you want to take a bath now, or rest first?”
Wei Luo looked at Yin Hui, concerned, “Are you tired?”
Yin Hui responded, “My legs are a little sore, but it’s okay.”
Wei Luo directed Jinzhan and Yinzhan, saying, “Help Madam rest on the couch.” The two maids approached with smiles to assist Yin Hui.
Wei Luo observed as Yin Hui lay down on the couch in the second room before proceeding to take a bath. Xiao Heng, longing for his father, expressed his desire to accompany him.
While Wei Luo was drying himself, Xiao Heng watched from the sidelines, asking a few innocent questions. Wei Luo responded with a serious expression, cautioning his son not to go outside and talk nonsense. Xiao Heng nodded obediently.
After rubbing his skin and washing his hair, Wei Luo finally finished his bath, dried his hair, wore a set of clean clothes, and picked up Xiao Heng to leave.
Jinzhan and Yinzhan were still massaging Yin Hui’s legs. Upon seeing his return, they were uncertain whether to withdraw or not.
“Go out,” Luo Hao instructed.
With that said, the two girls left in a hurry.
Wei Luo carefully settled Xiao Heng on the couch before rising again. As he did, Yin Hui attempted to retract her legs to make space for both of them. However, Wei Luo gently grasped her ankle, settling beside her and resuming the massage.
Yin Hui, resting against a soft pillow, observed Wei Luo’s peculiar actions and couldn’t resist to tease him, “Why weren’t you this considerate when I was carrying Xiao Heng?”
Wei Luo cast a glance at her and countered, “Did you ever mention your discomfort back then?”
She was his wife, carrying his child, and he genuinely cared. However, every inquiry about her well-being was met with responses like “I am fine” or “It’s okay”. What more could he do?
Yin Hui fell silent. As Wei Luo pointed out, during her pregnancy with Xiao Heng, she never voiced her complaints to Wei Luo. She dared not burden him with her trivial issues. Morning sickness felt embarrassing, and she didn’t want him to hear about it. Leg cramps occurred occasionally in the later stages, but they would subside. There was no need for him to worry. As for the anxiety of her first delivery, she feared admitting it, lest he think her weak.
In essence, she had misjudged his stoic demeanor as a lack of emotion.
“I’ll give Mother a massage too,” interjected Xiao Heng, squeezing in beside his father and dignifiedly grabbing his mother’s leg.
Yin Hui chuckled at her son’s antics.
With the little one present, their conversation shifted to war updates and palace trivialities. It wasn’t until after lunch, when Xiao Heng retired with his wet nurse, that the couple strolled hand in hand into the inner room.
Yin Hui settled onto the bed, watching as Wei Luo drew the curtain, joining her side.
On that day in her previous life, Yin Hui almost passed out in his arms.
As they locked eyes for a moment, both minds wandered into territories they shouldn’t delve into, and they averted their gazes to her stomach.
Yin Hui chuckled first, seizing his sleeve as she asked, “Are you truly unhurt? I dreamt for several nights that you met with an accident. I was so terrified that I hid in bed and cried silently.”
Unable to express himself with sweet words, she told him sweet things. It wasn’t challenging to fabricate anyway.
Hearing this, Wei Luo frowned and retorted, “Didn’t I send a letter reporting my safety? Why are you still so anxious?”
Yin Hui bit her lip, replying, “I couldn’t control my thoughts.”
Wei Luo couldn’t fault her any longer, shifting his focus to her lips. The momentary loss of color when bitten and then the return to rosy hues reminded him of begonia petals just washed by rain or fresh cherries with lingering water droplets.
Wei Luo drew closer, wrapping his left arm around her shoulder and allowing her to lean into his arms. As she closed her eyes cooperatively, looking enchanting, Wei Luo gently lifted her chin.
Their kiss lingered briefly, and suddenly, Yin Hui covered his mouth, pushing him away.
Wei Luo breathed heavily, looking at her suspiciously.
Yin Hui tilted her head, pressing the back of her hand to her flushed face, “I can’t, I’m afraid it will distress the baby. The older it is, the more cautious I should be. I dare not take risks.”
Wei Luo leaned in again. His warm breath danced on the back of her ear and neck, akin to a wild animal sniffing before consuming its prey. “Is a kiss alright?”
Yin Hui pushed his face away once more, expressing a hint of resentment, “You don’t know how capable you are.”
In Wei Luo’s mind, vivid scenes rapidly unfolded, all featuring her.
He turned to Yin Hui and took her hand.
For a moment, he couldn’t restrain himself any longer.
The author has something to say:
Huihui: What are you doing?
The third master red-eyed: I will give you my life.