Wei Rao had practiced martial arts for many years and had a good physical foundation, so from the onset of labor to her daughter’s birth, she labored for just over three hours, which was considered quite fast.

But giving birth quickly didn’t mean it wasn’t painful. By the end, Wei Rao couldn’t distinguish whether what flowed down her face was sweat or tears.

Lu Zhuo was blocked outside, unable to see anything, only able to hear her muffled groans filled with tears. That proud and stubborn Wei Rao, who was unwilling to show weakness to others, could no longer hide the pain she endured at this moment.

Lu Zhuo only hated that he couldn’t take her place.

Even this thought was meaningless – no matter what he did or thought, he couldn’t reduce her suffering.

When the sound of a child’s vigorous crying suddenly came from inside, Lu Zhuo’s tightly clenched fists finally relaxed. From gripping so hard for so long, the back of his hands had turned a pale purple color.

The child was crying loudly, but Lu Zhuo still wasn’t allowed to enter. The nannies couldn’t stop Lu Zhuo, but Wei Rao had instructed them beforehand that she didn’t want Lu Zhuo to see her in a disheveled state.

Lu Zhuo paced back and forth under the corridor eaves. Bitao and Liu Ya came out carrying water basins, both maids’ faces pale, tears of heartache hanging at the corners of their eyes. Lu Zhuo’s gaze swept over the contents of the basins – that shocking red made his brow throb, and he nearly couldn’t stand steady.

Only at this moment did Lu Zhuo truly understand how difficult childbirth was for women.

Other women weren’t his concern to worry about – Lu Zhuo only cared about his wife.

Shortly after, Nanny Ma came out holding the child, letting Lu Zhuo see.

“How is the Princess?” Lu Zhuo asked first.

Nanny Ma smiled and said, “The Princess is doing well. The bleeding has stopped, she’s already seen the child, and after tidying up a bit more, Your Lordship can go in.”

Lu Zhuo felt slightly relieved and only then awkwardly took the swaddling clothes.

Inside the bundle was a newborn baby girl, so small that her head seemed no bigger than Lu Zhuo’s fist. Her little face was red and purple, so fragile that Lu Zhuo unconsciously lightened his breathing. Her features couldn’t yet be distinguished, but that head of birth hair was dark and thick like Wei Rao’s, fine and soft.

At this moment, Lu Zhuo thought of the Wuda father and daughter who had left just yesterday.

He thought that his love for his daughter would surpass that Wuda man’s love for his daughter.

In the inner room, Bitao and Liu Ya carefully helped Wei Rao change into clean, comfortable undergarments.

The bedding and pillows had all been changed, Wei Rao’s face had been wiped clean, and her long hair was arranged in a cloud-like bun. Except for her pale and haggard complexion, Wei Rao still looked beautiful like a fairy, an injured fairy who aroused pity.

Bitao held up a mirror, and after Wei Rao confirmed her appearance, she smiled slightly.

Liu Ya said from the side, “The Princess is purely overthinking. His Lordship is worried outside and just wants to see the Princess quickly. How could he mind such things?”

Wei Rao said softly, “Whether he minds or not, I don’t want him to see me looking ugly.”

When she had seen Lu Zhuo half-dead before, she had even mocked him about this during their banter. Wei Rao didn’t want to give Lu Zhuo the same opportunity.

Fresh and clean, Wei Rao finally gave permission for Lu Zhuo to enter.

Their daughter had fallen asleep again. Lu Zhuo, holding the swaddling bundle, stepped inside and first caught the lingering faint scent of blood, then saw Wei Rao lying on the birthing bed. Her face was pale as paper, her phoenix eyes clear and bright, smiling gently as she looked toward the father and daughter pair, with a kind of haggard tenderness.

After being in pain for so long, she could still smile.

Lu Zhuo had prepared so many comforting words while waiting outside, but when he saw Wei Rao, he couldn’t say a single one.

He held their daughter and silently sat beside Wei Rao.

Wei Rao looked at the daughter in the swaddling clothes. After ten months of pregnancy, being careful about this and that, she had finally given birth to this little ancestor.

The daughter slept peacefully, a tiny bundle. Though still so ugly, Wei Rao couldn’t take her eyes off her.

After looking her fill, Wei Rao suddenly noticed Lu Zhuo’s quietness. She raised her eyes and met Lu Zhuo’s complex expression, unclear whether it was joy or worry.

Wei Rao’s gaze shifted slightly as she asked him, “Why are you frowning? Don’t you like our daughter?”

The Lu family was a military household – perhaps they all wanted sons? Like Han Liao, who had birthed a pile of legitimate and illegitimate sons.

Lu Zhuo smiled helplessly. Where did her mind go?

“Our daughter is wonderful. I feel sorry for you,” Lu Zhuo said, grasping her hand with his free one.

Wei Rao could feel his sincerity. She had been in such pain for those three-plus hours – if Lu Zhuo showed no reaction at all, that would truly break her heart.

However, the most difficult stage had passed. Wei Rao looked at the child and smiled, “Feel sorry for me, then, but this is also what I willingly gave birth to. Even if you didn’t feel sorry for me, I wanted this child and would have given birth regardless.” How wonderful – she also had her own precious little cotton-padded jacket now. Wei Rao was already fantasizing about when her daughter grew a little bigger, she would make her all kinds of beautiful little dresses, dressing her daughter up like a fairy child. When her daughter grew even older, whatever she wanted to do, as long as she didn’t go astray, Wei Rao would support her.

Having just met her daughter, Wei Rao’s love for her was already surging like a tide.

Lu Zhuo looked at her bright eyes, filled with anticipation for their daughter, and no longer spoke those meaningless words.

One was his wife, one was his daughter. From now on, his life belonged to these two.

Wei Rao gave their daughter the pet name “A’Bao.”

She really couldn’t think of a better pet name than this – it could express both her and Lu Zhuo’s love for their daughter without being too ostentatious. As for their daughter’s formal name, Lu Zhuo had already written to the capital, asking Duke Ying and Duchess Ying to help choose one. A’Bao was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Lu family’s main branch – having her great-grandparents bestow the name would be more solemn.

A’Bao was well cared for by her wet nurse and Nanny Ma. Wei Rao peacefully completed her month of confinement, and by the ninth day of the second month, when A’Bao turned one month old, Wei Rao’s body had recovered quite well, her complexion rosy and radiant.

“How does the Princess look like someone who’s given birth?”

At the full-month celebration, Vice General Meng’s wife, Madam Wei, circled Wei Rao and said enviously. When she had given birth to her eldest son, she hadn’t recovered as quickly as Wei Rao. There was still a bit of flesh on her belly that never went away, though it didn’t show when wearing clothes; she could feel it when touching.

Other officials’ wives also praised her profusely.

Wei Rao smiled and explained that it was all thanks to Nanny Sun’s efforts.

Between her two nannies, Nanny Ma was skilled at caring for newborns, while Nanny Sun excelled at tending to women before and after childbirth. From the moment Wei Rao gave birth, Nanny Sun had been devoted to her care, not only quickly helping Wei Rao through the uncomfortable period of breast engorgement but also giving Wei Rao daily belly massages. Wei Rao’s rapid recovery was truly thanks to Nanny Sun.

Nanny Ma and the wet nurse also deserved credit for raising A’Bao to be plump and fair, with a pair of bright, dark eyes that looked exactly like Wei Rao’s – as if carved from the same mold. The little girl had grown well, inheriting all of Wei Rao’s good features, with only her eyebrows resembling Lu Zhuo’s. Wei Rao’s eyebrows were somewhat thick and required regular trimming, while Lu Zhuo’s long eyebrows were upright and elegant without a single stray hair. Wei Rao quite envied him.

After the ladies finished viewing the child, Nanny Ma carried A’Bao to the front courtyard.

Lu Zhuo was entertaining the Ganzhou officials who had come to offer congratulations. When the child arrived, Lu Zhuo took her, and his already gentle demeanor became even more tender as he smiled while holding his daughter.

Meng Kuo, being closest to him, leaned over to look and said in wonder, “The young miss is truly beautiful. At such a young age, she’s already so lovable – what will happen when she grows up?”

Lu Zhuo’s smile deepened.

Meng Kuo suddenly grinned and suggested, “General, my youngest son is only eight years old. If the General thinks well of that boy, why don’t we arrange a marriage between our children?”

Lu Zhuo’s smile faded slightly. He held his daughter and stepped back two paces, saying gently, “The child is still young. When she grows up, she can choose her marriage partner.”

Meng Kuo laughed heartily at his protective manner.

Lu Zhuo frowned, somewhat worried that his daughter might be startled by the loud laughter. But when he looked down, his daughter had tilted her head toward Meng Kuo’s direction, not only showing no fear but seeming quite interested.

Lu Zhuo’s heart softened, and he felt very proud.

His A’Bao had been conceived in a military camp and had heard her parents discussing military strategy even before birth. Now, at only one month old, she was already bold and fearless. When she grew up, she would surely be extraordinary.

Speaking of which, it was quite amusing. When Lu Zhuo had heard that his grandmother wanted to select a virtuous wife for him, he had thought of marrying a dignified and virtuous woman who could honor her parents above and educate children below, putting her husband above all else. Now that he had a daughter, Lu Zhuo didn’t want to raise her to be that kind of virtuous lady at all. No man should be his daughter’s heaven – his daughter should live freely and unrestrained, just like Wei Rao.

Today, Lu Zhuo finally understood Shou’an Jun’s method of raising daughters.

Those who truly loved their daughters wouldn’t want them to become complete vassals to men.

As night fell, A’Bao was taken away by the wet nurse and Nanny Ma. Wei Rao went to bathe while Lu Zhuo sat on the kang in his undergarments, waiting for her.

Outside the window, the north wind howled, and the night was still so cold that water would freeze instantly, yet Lu Zhuo’s chest burned with fire.

Footsteps finally came from the side room.

Lu Zhuo’s long lashes fluttered slightly – the book pages he hadn’t touched in so long were finally turning to a new page.

Wei Rao had washed her hair during the day, so just now she had only bathed her body. Liu Ya and Bitao’s skills at shoulder massage and back rubbing had become increasingly proficient, making Wei Rao so comfortable she nearly fell asleep.

However, upon returning to the inner room and seeing Lu Zhuo pretending to read on the kang, Wei Rao knew that tonight Lu Zhuo couldn’t possibly restrain himself. This man had been holding back since she was diagnosed with pregnancy until now – he was nearly driven mad with suppression. During the day, he could pretend to be a gentleman, but at night, even if he could only kiss and embrace, he could still make a fuss for over an hour.

“His Lordship is in such elegant spirits,” Wei Rao climbed onto the kang, burrowing into the covers while softly mocking him.

Lu Zhuo smiled, put down his book, and also slipped into the bedding.

The husband and wife were like oil meeting fire – they sizzled and crackled as soon as they touched. Wei Rao clung tightly to Lu Zhuo’s shoulders. She hadn’t been afraid even on their wedding night, but now she felt a bit nervous.

Lu Zhuo could sense her distraction. He also knew that Wei Rao had just recovered her vitality and might not be able to handle too much at once.

“Don’t be afraid. Tonight I’ll listen to you completely,” Lu Zhuo kissed from her brow to the corner of her lips. He knew he was strong and domineering, but tonight, whenever Wei Rao told him to stop, he would comply.

Wei Rao first tested him and found that Lu Zhuo was indeed cooperative enough, so she decided to have fun with this and deliberately tease him.

Sweat rolled down Lu Zhuo’s handsome face. At certain moments, he truly wanted to properly discipline this little fox spirit, but in the end, he endured it all.

Just wait – when she was completely recovered, he would collect everything with interest.

“During the day, Vice General Meng wanted to arrange a childhood betrothal with us.”

After their intimacy, Lu Zhuo held Wei Rao as they talked.

Wei Rao laughed, “What did you say?”

Lu Zhuo replied, “I naturally didn’t agree. When A’Bao grows up, she’ll be like you-whatever kind of man she wants to marry, even our words might not count.”

Wei Rao said, “Maybe she’ll be like you, preferring to let her parents make decisions for her, only wanting to marry a virtuous and talented gentleman with a far-reaching reputation.”

The teasing tone in these words was too strong. Lu Zhuo thought for a moment, then said softly, “Then I’d rather she be like you. If she’s like me, she’ll have to stumble once before learning what love truly is.”

Wei Rao was startled.

Lu Zhuo then lifted her chin and kissed her gently.