Five years later, in Qingzhou City, Xiao Du dressed in a brand new dark green gold-sprinkled straight robe, adjusted the jade crown on his head, and suddenly asked Xiao Chun, who was helping him arrange his hem: “Do you think your master is handsome?”
Xiao Chun stumbled and nearly fell upon hearing this. Not knowing which nerve of his master had misfired today to suddenly ask such a question, he still pretended to be very serious and smiled flatteringly: “Handsome!”
Xiao Du raised an eyebrow and asked again: “Do you think your master was more handsome before, or more handsome now?”
Xiao Chun gulped, feeling that this question was dangerous no matter how he answered. But his flattery skills weren’t practiced for nothing, so he immediately smiled and replied: “Master is handsome at all times.”
Xiao Du snorted lightly, but was quite satisfied with this answer, so he mercifully let Xiao Chun off. He looked at himself in the bronze mirror – still with strong arms and a trim waist – and grumbled indignantly in his heart: “I clearly haven’t become ugly or old, so why would my wife rather look at that dirty, smelly little furball than at me?”
No wonder he was so self-pitying. Ever since Yuanxi finally gave birth to their son Xiao Mu a few months ago, Xiao Du had gradually changed from initial wild joy to disappointment. It was because Yuanxi, having finally gotten this child, truly loved him to her very core. She held little Xiao Mu all day without wanting to let go, doing everything personally and barely letting others interfere.
Thus, Xiao Du, the husband, was completely neglected. He had thought that after enduring ten months of pregnancy, he could finally have some intimate moments with Yuanxi. Who knew that once the son was born, he couldn’t leave his mother each night. Yuanxi was also unwilling to find a wet nurse to feed the child. So Xiao Du could only watch resentfully each night as his own son ate and drank his fill before falling asleep in Yuanxi’s arms, while he himself tossed and turned, feeling very lonely and empty.
Thinking of his miserable situation these past months, Xiao Du ground his teeth with hatred, vowing that tonight he would definitely throw that stinking brat to Nanny Li’s room. He couldn’t let him monopolize his own wife anymore – those little hands, that body, that embrace clearly should belong to him.
With this firm belief, he pushed open the bedroom door. But before he could speak, Yuanxi had already rushed to him saying: “You came at just the right time. Mu’er wet himself again, and I just changed his diaper. You coax him for a while – I’ll take this to Nanny Li to wash and find some clean clothes.” Then she ran out like a gust of wind.
So Xiao Du was pitifully left alone in the room with the little imp on the bed who was happily sucking his fingers and rolling his eyes around. He sat reluctantly by the bedside, looking at the round little meatball in the swaddling clothes: a chubby little face with a rosy glow, lotus root-like little hands waving randomly in the air, staring at him curiously with wide eyes. Xiao Du snorted lightly and said disdainfully: “So ugly, not like your father at all.”
The little baby seemed to understand these words. After gurgling for a while, he actually spat out a big mouthful of saliva. The sticky saliva flowed down from the corner of his mouth, about to drip onto his neck. Xiao Du hurriedly and clumsily found a handkerchief to wipe it clean, then angrily poked his chubby face: “Born ugly and dirty, nowhere near as dashing as your father. Tell me, why does your mother only want to look at you and won’t even glance at me anymore?”
Xiao Mu’s dark pupils rolled around, seemingly very dissatisfied with the finger poking his face. He opened his little mouth and cried “wah wah wah.” Xiao Du was startled and quickly reached out to cover his mouth while clumsily coaxing: “Don’t cry, don’t cry, or your mother will think I’m bullying you again.” But once a baby starts crying, how can it be stopped? Seeing his mouth about to be covered again, he cried even more hysterically, shaking the heavens.
Yuanxi heard the crying from afar and hurried back, running all the way. Pushing open the door, she saw her precious son crying with his face completely red, tears and snot making his little face into a mess, while Xiao Du was running around the bed in circles, at a loss whether to coax or fear. She quickly rushed over to pick up little Xiao Mu and complained to Xiao Du: “Look at you – what kind of father are you? You made your son cry in just this short time!”
Xiao Du immediately felt very wronged. He hadn’t done anything – just spoke a couple of truths. But after this commotion, all the confidence he had built up outside the room was gone. He opened his mouth, but seeing that Yuanxi had no intention of paying attention to him, he could only hang his head and walk out dejectedly. Turning back at the door, he saw that his son, who had been wailing just moments before, was now beaming with joy, smugly nuzzling and kissing in his mother’s arms. He couldn’t help thinking angrily: “At such a young age, already so scheming. Let’s see how your father deals with you.”
A few days later, Xiao Du brought several food boxes to Yuanxi with a very mysterious smile, asking her to open them. Yuanxi curiously opened the food boxes, only to discover they contained her favorite pastries from when she was in the capital: lotus cakes, steamed cheese, jade bean cakes… packed full in the entire box, making her unable to help but excitedly rub her hands together, her cheeks flushing red.
In the years since she had followed Xiao Du to Qingzhou, she had adapted to most things, but she especially missed the delicious food from the capital. Qingzhou wasn’t as rich in resources as the capital and couldn’t make such delicate, soft pastries. But she always felt that missing food was somewhat pretentious, so she kept this regret in her heart. Who knew Xiao Du would see through her thoughts and specially have these pastries transported thousands of miles from the capital.
Thinking of this, her heart felt sweet and warm. She quickly picked up a piece to put in her mouth, feeling the long-missed fragrance fill her mouth completely, and closed her eyes in satisfaction. Seeing her eating with puffed cheeks, Xiao Du felt even happier than if he had eaten it himself. He boasted: “To keep these pastries fresh, the food boxes were wrapped with ice blocks on the outside, and several fast horses took turns day and night without stopping to transport them here.” Upon hearing this, Yuanxi felt somewhat distressed: “Going to such trouble for just a few boxes of pastries – be careful that people don’t think you’re too extravagant.” Xiao Du smiled nonchalantly: “As long as it makes you happy, what does it matter what others say?”
Seeing Yuanxi’s bright, beautiful smile, he continued: “You’ve worked so hard taking care of Mu’er these days. Let your husband massage you – it can also relieve your fatigue.”
Yuanxi had never known he could massage, so she lay on the couch with some curiosity, feeling his warm, strong palms begin to move around her neck and shoulders. The pressure was just right, making Yuanxi feel very comfortable and unable to help humming softly with pleasure. But those hands, as they massaged, began to go to places they shouldn’t. Xiao Du had ulterior motives as his fingers followed her smooth spine all the way down, caressing and lightly drawing circles, then slipping into her skirt hem, mischievously pinching and kneading. Yuanxi’s body was already somewhat sensitive after just giving birth, and being massaged like this made her feel a current of heat surge through her lower abdomen. Her face flushed red as she bit her teeth to hold back the moans about to escape her lips. Suddenly remembering her son was sleeping beside them, she quickly turned her head to see Xiao Mu chewing his thumb and staring at them with wide eyes. She hurriedly and frantically pulled out his hand: “No! The child is still watching!”
Xiao Du leaned down to blow in her ear with some grievance: “My lady… it’s been so long since we…” Yuanxi’s face grew even redder. She understood that this time she had indeed made him hold back too long and felt some pity in her heart, but still hesitated: “But Mu’er is still small – someone needs to watch him.”
Xiao Du had been waiting for exactly this response and quickly continued: “Tonight, send him to Nanny Li’s and find a wet nurse to feed him first. I can’t bear to see you work so hard feeding him every night anyway.”
Yuanxi quickly shook her head: “But I don’t want a wet nurse. I want to personally raise our child myself.”
Xiao Du pleaded with a bitter face: “Then just tonight – let him sleep at Nanny Li’s first. If he makes a fuss, we’ll bring him back to nurse.”
Yuanxi couldn’t resist his soft, pleading voice, feeling that she had indeed neglected her husband during this period. She sighed lightly with reluctance: “Alright, but only for tonight.”
Xiao Mu stared with a pair of innocent big eyes, finally understanding his fate at this moment. He quickly let go of his finger, opened his mouth wide, and began crying loudly. Yuanxi’s heart immediately softened, but Xiao Du picked up Xiao Mu in one move: “I’ll coax him.” Then he turned his back and showed his son a victor’s smile.
So that evening, Xiao Mu was sent to Nanny Li’s room. Nanny Li, being experienced, immediately understood the couple’s meaning and quickly smiled as she took Xiao Mu, promising to take good care of the little young master and telling them to rest assured.
Having achieved his long-planned wish, Xiao Du quickly ordered people to light Yuanxi’s favorite styrax incense in the room, replaced all the bedding with new ones, and even scattered rose petals – making thorough preparations. Yuanxi had just stepped into the room and hadn’t had time to marvel when Xiao Du impatiently pulled her toward the bed. Yuanxi found his eager manner somewhat amusing, but before she could tease him, her lips and tongue were already fiercely blocked and entangled by his. He frantically licked and demanded in her mouth until Yuanxi was kissed into a daze, going limp in his arms.
When Yuanxi emerged from the dizziness, she had already been laid down on the bed. His large hand explored into her loosened clothing, expertly stimulating all her sensitive spots. Yuanxi felt a tingling sensation spread from where his palm touched, instantly burning her entire body with unbearable heat, unable to help letting out husky moaning sounds. This sound completely destroyed Xiao Du’s reason. He leaned down to gently bite from her smooth neck, just about to tear away the last barrier on her body when he suddenly heard hysterical crying from outside the door.
This sound startled both of them awake. Fortunately, Nanny Li only called from outside the door: “The little young master won’t stop crying – he probably wants to nurse. Should Madam come out and see?” Yuanxi quickly tried to get up, but was pressed down by Xiao Du whose eyes were burning with desire. Then something neither of them expected happened – hearing that crying, Yuanxi’s chest unconsciously became soaked with a large wet patch. She quickly covered her face in shame: “No! I need to go nurse him!”
Xiao Du stared dumbfounded at Yuanxi’s increasingly wet chest. Now there was no way to continue, so he could only reluctantly let Yuanxi bring Xiao Mu in to nurse. Seeing his iron-blue complexion, Nanny Li felt even more guilty. After Xiao Mu finished nursing and fell asleep satisfied in his mother’s arms, she quickly carried him back to her room.
Yuanxi fastened her undergarment and saw Xiao Du sitting awkwardly on the bed. She suddenly found the earlier situation very funny and couldn’t help covering her mouth and laughing loudly. This laughter made Xiao Du feel even more that his heartfelt intentions had been mocked, so he turned his head and angrily lay down on the bed. Yuanxi laughingly lay on top of him, gently poking his chest, then whispered softly in his ear: “Don’t be angry. I promise you, today we’ll try several different things.”
Hearing this made Xiao Du’s heart itch unbearably. He flipped over to press her under him, and in the blink of an eye had Yuanxi panting delicately again. Xiao Du’s eyes gathered dense darkness, just about to sink down when suddenly there came knocking at the door again. Xiao Du’s mood at this moment could almost be described as collapsed. He couldn’t help roaring loudly: “Who is it! Don’t want to live! Get lost!”
Outside seemed to quiet for a moment, then came a very aggrieved voice: “Big Brother, Sister-in-law, it’s me!”
Yuanxi and Xiao Du were both startled at the same time. For Xuan’er to come running at this time, could something big have happened? The two hurriedly and frantically straightened their clothes to open the door. As soon as they opened it, Xiao Zhixuan collapsed crying into Yuanxi’s arms: “Sister-in-law, that Xia fellow is bullying me. You must stand up for me.”
Yuanxi was somewhat dumbfounded. She quickly welcomed her in and ordered servants to bring tea, telling her to speak slowly. After Xiao Zhixuan finished her breathless complaint, Xiao Du’s expression had become extremely ugly: “You came all the way to Qingzhou for such trivial matters, and knocked on our door in the middle of the night?”
Xiao Zhixuan wiped away tears: “It’s only been five years since we married, and he already dares treat me like this. Besides, I also missed you both and came to see you. Big Brother, if you won’t take me in, Xuan’er truly has nowhere to rely on.”
Xiao Du couldn’t help rolling his eyes inwardly, thinking that his sister had probably given that Xia fellow quite a hard time over the years, being spoiled to remain so willful even after becoming a mother. Yuanxi quickly signaled Xiao Du not to provoke her further and held Xiao Zhixuan’s hand: “Xuan’er, you’ll sleep with me tonight. We’ll have a good chat about whatever’s on your mind.”
Xiao Zhixuan broke into a smile through her tears, hugging Yuanxi tightly: “Wonderful! Sister-in-law, I missed you so much. I have so many things I want to tell you.”
Seeing Xiao Du’s face already twisted with frustration, Yuanxi quickly added: “Have Nanny Li bring the child over. Mu’er has never been away from us – I’m afraid he’ll cry again.”
Xiao Du gritted his teeth: “You have a good heart-to-heart with Xuan’er. Tonight Mu’er will sleep with me.”
Thus, this night, Xiao Du pitifully went from holding his wife to holding his child. Looking at his son sleeping soundly in his arms, he sighed and complained resentfully: “Little brat, your mother doesn’t even want your father anymore because of you. You must treat her well in the future and be very filial to her, understand?” He seemed to think of something, and his tone softened as he continued: “Your mother had it quite hard, following your father to such a distant place and staying for five years. Fortunately, she was here all these years.” He looked down and smiled: “You little brat have had parents loving you from birth. Your mother wasn’t as fortunate as you when she was small. But fortunately, she met your father.”
Yes, how lucky – fortunately they were able to meet each other.