"Don't cry, it's not a serious wound. What's a battle without getting hurt? As long as you don't find me ugly."
Xiao Shan quickly comforted her, reaching out to wipe away her tears. Being cherished felt good, but her crying made his heart ache.
"You're not ugly, not at all."
She only saw his bravery, his triumphant return, how swiftly he had defeated the Turks, invincible.
But he was flesh and blood too; he could be wounded, he could die.
"A general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers."
Why was he so eager for success, crushing the Turks in just two months? Wasn't it all for her? He was risking his life for her!
"A Shan, how can you be so good? I, I don't know how to repay you. I'd gladly be your ox or horse. What do you want me to do to repay you!"
"Stop crying, damn it. You'll drive me mad. What do you mean ox or horse? You're my woman! I can't wait to dote on you."
This little thing, was she being distant with him again!
"Didn't I say I was your guardian spirit? Isn't it only right that I do these things for you? You should accept it with peace of mind. Don't say such things. You're carrying a child, be good, stop crying."
His method of comfort was different too, his large hand repeatedly stroking her belly.
Just then, her belly moved again. Ling Yao let out a sob and stopped crying, while Xiao Shan jumped up in fright.
"What was that just now?" He stared at her round, white, bun-like belly, his gaze sharp and cautious as if observing enemy positions.
"Yu Shan, Yu Shan—" Ling Yao called out.
Seeing Xiao Shan still standing on the bed in his underclothes, she quickly pulled him down and covered him with the quilt.
Yu Shan entered quickly, head lowered, bowing in greeting.
She had been guarding outside and had heard some of the commotion within. She had initially worried that her master might lose control and harm the mistress. Who knew her master was more timid than anyone, and had done nothing at all? She wanted to remind them that moderate exercise was permissible and even beneficial for childbirth.
However, without being summoned, she dared not enter.
What had happened to make them call her in so suddenly?
"Princess, are you feeling unwell?"
"Yu Shan, my belly moved just now, it twitched. Come quickly and feel it."
Yu Shan hurried forward. From the corner of her eye, she saw her master lying beside her, watching intently. The mistress was wearing only a bodice beneath a cotton blanket, covering her lower body and exposing her beautiful, round belly, emitting a refreshing fragrance.
She dared not let her eyes wander. She felt the belly, but there was no movement. She then took her pulse. After a few breaths, surprise flickered in her eyes.
"Is there a problem?" Xiao Shan asked, his voice deep, noticing her unusual expression.
Had her unstable emotions earlier affected the fetus?
"No, Master. There are no problems. The young master is very well. Furthermore, I suspected some time ago that Mistress was carrying twins, but one pulse was not very clear, and I dared not be certain. Now I can confirm it. It is indeed twins, one pulse strong and one weak. It should be a boy and a girl."
A boy and a girl? Twins?
Xiao Shan was so shocked he almost threw off the quilt. "How can this be? With her body so weak, how can she endure twins?"
He had worried himself sick over one child, and now there were twins? He knew he shouldn't have wanted children!
It seemed one truly couldn't have weaknesses. If not for his unreliable ears, which made him careless and suffer a major loss...
It was too late to say anything now.
"How can I not endure it? My mother gave birth, so I naturally can too."
Ling Yao, however, was overjoyed. Giving him two at once meant she had both a son and a daughter.
"Yu Shan, did the fetus move just now? It moved twice tonight."
"It should have. Fetal movement indicates that the little ones are healthy. Master, please do not worry. Mistress's body is currently quite good. As long as she rests well, there should be no problems."
Ling Yao looked at Xiao Shan. "Did you hear that? My body has been fine for a long time."
Fine? With her thin arms and legs, and a big belly, he was terrified just looking at her.
Yet she was happy, as if she had won the lottery. How silly. Giving birth was very painful.
So many women died in childbirth... Alas, the more he thought about it, the more he feared.
"Xiao Shan! What's wrong with you? Why the long face? Don't you like my children?!"
Well, she had just felt sorry for him and offered to be his ox or horse, but compared to the children, he was sidelined again.
Women's minds changed so quickly.
"How could I not? I'm worried about you. It's so tiring. Two babies will weigh so many pounds. Can your little waist handle it?"
"What babies, babies? They aren't kittens or puppies. It sounds so unpleasant."
She reprimanded him in a soft voice, and Xiao Shan repeatedly admitted his fault.
Yu Shan retreated far away after taking the pulse, her gaze fixed on her nose, her nose on her feet.
"I, I shall take my leave."
Xiao Shan finally remembered she was still there and casually said, "You may go."
"Uh, forgive my intrusion, but, when Master and Mistress are intimate, uh, please be gentle. When the months are advanced, it is best, uh, to stop."
With that, Yu Shan scurried out.
Silence fell in the room for a moment.
"Does that mean it's okay now?" Ling Yao looked at Xiao Shan.
She saw his dark eyes were deep, looking in the direction of the dressing table, lost in thought.
"A Shan?"
"It's too late. You shouldn't exert yourself. Go to sleep."
Xiao Shan pulled her into his embrace, the quilt covering them both tightly. His hands beneath the quilt were sweaty, possessively holding her close, stroking her gently.
The touch beneath his hand was smooth and slippery, like satin. He couldn't sleep, so he closed his eyes and feigned sleep.
Ling Yao's clear eyes, however, stared directly at him. Her soft, smooth little hand reached out to caress his face.
His face darkened a few shades, a stark contrast to her tender, youthful hand.
"So dark."
A broad forehead, a wide face, a high-bridged nose, lips as if carved by a knife. If he were fair-skinned, he would be handsome and heroic.
"But I like it!"
Xiao Shan's Adam's apple bobbed. She leaned closer and licked him with her small tongue.
A low, pained sound came from Xiao Shan's throat. He opened his eyes and saw her nestled against his arm like a docile cat, her eyes already closed, her long eyelashes fluttering.
She had stirred up his desire and now she was hiding again?
But it was truly too late. She needed to rest. He was back in the capital now; there would be plenty of time.
"No rush. Tomorrow... I'm not leaving. Rest well." He kissed her delicate neck, speaking indistinctly, "You little vixen who could kill me..."
"Don't touch here, A Shan, it hurts." She grabbed his hand, holding it down, preventing him from moving.
Yes, it was too tender, too swollen.
"Alright, I'll just rest it here, not move..."
Ling Yao relaxed her body, her arms tightly embracing his sturdy waist, and fell asleep peacefully.
He wasn't leaving.
He had returned to support her.