Compared to Pang Xiao, Xie Yue, Xu Weizhi and the others behind him were even more excited.

The prince had heirs!

The princess being able to give birth to sons was already cause for great celebration, but now it was double joy – such fortune that countless families would envy but never obtain!

“Your Highness, congratulations!”

Everyone came forward, offering congratulations with mixed voices.

Pang Xiao finally emerged from his daze, his face glowing as he exchanged pleasantries with everyone.

Learning the news that the princess and little princes were all safe, the loyal subordinates and advisors could finally rest easy and catch up on sleep. This night when Pang Xiao was on edge, they too had stayed awake.

When the horizon showed the pale light of dawn, the nannies had tidied everything up, and Pang Xiao, who had been anxiously waiting in the corridor, was respectfully invited into the side room.

The room had underfloor heating. Upon opening the door, a faint bloody smell mixed with heat rushed up – the air could hardly be called fresh. However, the bloody smell only reminded Pang Xiao of those basins of blood water the servants had carried out, and his heartache for Qin Yining nearly crushed his internal organs.

Ji Yun lifted the curtain from the inner room. Seeing Pang Xiao standing at the door without moving, she smiled and came forward, curtsying: “Your Highness.”

“How is Yining?”

“In response to Your Highness, the princess is extremely fatigued and has fallen asleep. Would Your Highness like to see the little princes? Bingtang, Qian Yun and the wet nurses are caring for them in the west side room.”

“I’ll see Yining first.”

Ji Yun smiled with pursed lips, stepping aside to lift the warm curtain for Pang Xiao.

The bloody smell inside was more intense. Pang Xiao frowned slightly and quickly entered. On the canopied bed, Qin Yining lay sleeping face-up with her long hair spread out, wearing a deep purple forehead band embroidered with grapevines. The soft bright red brocade covered her slender form entirely. Her complexion was very pale – against the red brocade, she had almost no color.

Pang Xiao’s brow furrowed into a “川” character. He sat sideways on the bed edge, his large hand hovering over Qin Yining’s now-flat abdomen for quite a while before gently settling down.

For ten months, Pang Xiao had grown accustomed to her gradually swelling belly, accustomed to lying against her and listening to the lively movements of the two children. The sudden return to normal left Pang Xiao somewhat unaccustomed.

Qin Yining had been a light sleeper for nearly a year – almost any movement from Pang Xiao would wake her. Today was the first time she remained completely unaware even with Pang Xiao sitting for so long and placing his hand on her abdomen.

Pang Xiao’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat. He carefully leaned in closer, and only after sensing her slow, steady breathing did he quietly sigh in relief.

He sat there in a daze, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest and abdomen as she breathed. Only after a long time did he carefully rise and gently kiss the corner of her lips.

The soft touch made Pang Xiao smile gently. His large hand hovered over her cheek, slowly tracing her facial features as he whispered like a breath: “Yining, sweet dreams.”

After seeing Qin Yining and confirming she was unharmed, Pang Xiao hurriedly went to see the children.

Bingtang, Qian Yun and two wet nurses were gathered around a large cradle looking in.

The cradle had been custom-made before their departure, with upper and lower levels to accommodate two infants.

Two tender white babies were wrapped in bright red swaddling clothes – one face turned left, one right, sleeping soundly.

The one sleeping on the upper level was slightly plump, wearing a rabbit hat. His cheeks were chubby, his eyelashes long, sleeping especially adorably.

The one sleeping on the lower level wore a tiger-head hat, with a faint small red mole between his brows. Just from his closed eyelids’ curve and the shadows cast by his long lashes, one could tell how beautiful this child would be when his eyes opened.

“Your Highness.”

Several people rose, unanimously lowering their voices to bow together.

Pang Xiao waved his hand and silently crouched beside the cradle, curiously observing the two children.

These two little lives were his sons?!

Such soft, small treasures were his and Qin Yining’s children. They would slowly grow up, eventually becoming as tall as him…

This was Pang Xiao’s first time being a father. Having never had patience to observe other families’ children before, his heart was now filled with mixed emotions. His heart had completely softened, and that unfamiliar affection and emotional bond was different from his feelings toward other family members – different again from the cherishing and love he felt for Qin Yining.

Was this the feeling of being a father?

Pang Xiao extended his slender finger, slowly and gently poking Zhao Ge’er’s tiger-head hat.

Zhao Ge’er remained completely unaware, still sleeping sweetly.

Pang Xiao stood up again, bending over to look at his younger son. This time bolder, he used his finger to gently touch Han Ge’er’s birth hair.

Han Ge’er also graciously continued sleeping.

Watching Pang Xiao like a curious child, now looking at this one, now at that one, curiously poking and touching, Bingtang, Ji Yun and Qian Yun couldn’t help but “puff” with laughter. Even the two wet nurses who weren’t very familiar with Pang Xiao smiled, gaining new understanding of this famously mighty War God Prince.

A father’s love for his children was the same for everyone.

After Pang Xiao had looked enough at the two children, fearing he might wake them if he played much longer, he gestured to Bingtang and tiptoed out of the room.

Understanding, Bingtang threw on her cloak and followed Pang Xiao out, lifting the curtain.

In the courtyard, cold air mixed with light snow that melted upon touching ground drilled into their collars. Bingtang shivered from the cold, tightening her collar further.

“Your Highness.”

Pang Xiao asked in a low voice: “Did everything go smoothly? How is Yining’s condition? How are the children?”

Bingtang smiled: “Overall it went relatively smoothly. Both little princes are very healthy. Though the eldest prince is slightly lighter, it doesn’t matter. It’s just that the princess’s body was previously weakened, and she ran out of strength midway. Fortunately we had the hundred-year-old ginseng bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress – this servant didn’t hesitate to use it. Later it was fine. The fetal position was slightly incorrect, but fortunately didn’t cause heavy bleeding.”

Hearing that both children were healthy, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but smile. But learning there had been such complications made his heart clench again.

“So Yining must have suffered greatly during the process.”

“Mm. If the princess’s body hadn’t been weakened before, this time wouldn’t have been so difficult. Fortunately heaven blessed us – the result was good.”

Pang Xiao nodded, pacing forward a few steps with his hands behind his back. After pondering for a moment, he called Bingtang over.

“Bingtang, you and I have known each other for some time.” Pang Xiao didn’t refer to himself as ‘this prince’ but spoke as an equal. “I know you are loyal to Yining. But for some matters, if I want to do something for Yining’s good and ask for your help, could you help me?”

Bingtang blinked, asking with surprise and confusion: “Your Highness, you…”

“Can you help me and keep it secret?” Pang Xiao stepped closer, looking at Bingtang sincerely. “I don’t want Yining to suffer this kind of pain again.”

Bingtang’s expression changed, asking in shocked whisper: “Your Highness, you mean…”

Pang Xiao was somewhat embarrassed. Bingtang was after all an unmarried girl. His next words were rather inappropriate. But Bingtang was simultaneously a skilled doctor, and this matter couldn’t be spread – Bingtang was the only one Pang Xiao could ask.

Pang Xiao said quietly: “Is there any method that could prevent Yining from suffering this kind of pain again in the future?”

“Your Highness wants to give the princess medicine?” Bingtang frowned.

“Not that meaning. I mean is there any medicine or other method for me to use.” Pang Xiao’s face grew somewhat hot, coughing embarrassedly before saying: “That is, without affecting our relationship, preventing Yining from conceiving again… that’s what I mean.”

Bingtang nodded, without the embarrassment Pang Xiao had expected. Though she was an unmarried woman, she was now simply a doctor.

“I understand Your Highness’s meaning. You want to not affect being together with the princess, but don’t want to use medicine on the princess.”

Seeing Bingtang speak frankly, Pang Xiao also became frank, nodding: “That’s the meaning. I could seek others to handle this matter, but my status is special, and now is a sensitive time. If this matter spreads, I’m afraid it would create bad rumors, unfavorable to Yining and the children. Moreover, my advisors probably hope I can have more children. Telling them in advance wouldn’t be appropriate either. And with Yining, I don’t want her to know about this.”

Bingtang pursed her lips, hesitating before saying: “Your Highness’s whole heart is for the princess – this servant knows. It’s just that though such methods exist, they usually cause some bodily harm. Even the best would cause future difficulties with offspring. Your Highness is still young – in the future you might inevitably want more children. If you don’t want the princess to risk danger again, you could also take several concubines…”

Before Bingtang finished speaking, Pang Xiao waved his hand to interrupt.

“I don’t want to make her sad.”

“But it’s common for men to have multiple wives and concubines. Even Grand Secretary Qin formerly had several concubines – the princess saw them before her marriage. Besides, if Your Highness doesn’t take concubines, family elders might blame the princess for jealousy.”

“Put yourself in her position – if someday it were normal for women to have multiple husbands and male attendants, even knowing the reasoning, seeing it would still hurt my heart. I don’t want to share my wife with others, and Yining wouldn’t like sharing her husband with others either.”

Pang Xiao smiled: “Since such a method exists, use it on me. Having Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er is already enough.”

“But the princess said Your Highness likes daughters. If you use that secret medicine, though it appears normal, in reality future offspring will truly be difficult.”

“No matter. I already have two sons. And not having daughters is better – I won’t need to divide my affection for others.”

Bingtang was speechless for a while.

Though she disagreed with Pang Xiao’s idea of cutting off his own lineage, she was deeply moved by his sincere devotion to Qin Yining.

“Your Highness, won’t you reconsider?”

Pang Xiao shook his head: “In this life I’ve killed countless people. Having a wife and children already makes me content – I can’t continue being greedy.”

Speaking to this point, Pang Xiao embarrassedly confirmed: “That secret medicine you mentioned – after I use it, Yining won’t notice anything abnormal, will she?”