Shen Qianyu often said his temperament was dull and clumsy and his tongue not nimble, but Song Wan felt he was the most skilled speaker of sweet words in this world.

Though there were no explicit words of “hurt” or “love,” those words could always easily move her heart and stir her feelings.

“Wan’er?”

“I’m here.”

“That famous painting… shall we study and appreciate it together?”

“…”

Song Wan fell silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh softly.

“If you don’t answer me, I’ll take it as your agreement.”

Shen Qianyu scooped her up horizontally, and together they tumbled into the sun-warmed, fragrant soft bedding.

Inside the room hearts melted and bones softened, hair tangled in disarray, while outside torrential rain poured down and thunder roared.

When it reached the depth of night, Song Wan suddenly awoke from Shen Qianyu’s embrace.

The man slept very restlessly, bending his legs from time to time as if uneasy. While struggling, he would also furrow his brows tightly as if in great pain.

Song Wan listened to the sound of thunder and rain outside, her heart aching with tenderness.

She put on a loose robe and got out of bed, calling for whoever was on night duty to stir-fry coarse salt with medicine added, then carefully tied it to his leg.

“Wan’er…”

The scorching sensation burned him instantly awake. Shen Qianyu sat up and said: “Did I disturb you?”

“No, I was awakened by the thunder.”

Song Wan continued taking out the scalding hot pouch in her hand and placed it through his clothing on the wound at Shen Qianyu’s lower back.

After the Battle of Su River, new wounds had been added to his body, which seemed to trigger all his past ailments.

Knowing he had damaged his foundation, Song Wan was unwilling to show her worry and trouble his mind.

“Sleep a bit more.”

Shen Qianyu shook his head: “I’ll keep you company.”

The bed gave off the medicinal fragrance of pain-relieving substances. On rainy nights like this, Shen Qianyu always felt unbearable aching and itching throughout his body, making him extremely uncomfortable.

“Then husband, hold Wan’er while sleeping.”

Removing the loose robe, Song Wan returned to his embrace.

The man’s chest was frighteningly hot, yet his injured leg gave off an icy chill. Song Wan moved even closer and slowly closed her eyes.

Outside the thunder and rain still rumbled, but the two people inside seemed not to hear it at all, sleeping peacefully.

Early the next morning, the coarse salt pouch on his body had long since cooled completely. Shen Qianyu gently kicked it out from under the blanket and held the person in his arms with his thoughts wandering.

When Song Wan was by his side, he never knew satisfaction, especially at times like this.

Perhaps because his gaze was too intense, Song Wan opened her sleepy eyes to see Shen Qianyu’s pair of eyes shining brightly, full of desire.

“I’m tired.”

Pushing him away with a laugh, Shen Qianyu said: “The rear palace is lonely and cold. Should we add a little princess?”

“I want a little daughter as adorable as Wan’er.”

“It would be best if her features and temperament were both like Wan’er’s. That way I could make up for the regret of not watching Wan’er grow up.”

Song Wan laughed at these words and said: “Then what if another prince is born instead? One with features and temperament all like yours? I don’t want to see a young husband like a mischievous monkey all over again.”

After she finished speaking, the enthusiasm in Shen Qianyu’s eyes suddenly turned to resentment.

Shen Shiyan truly resembled him terribly, especially in being particularly fond of crying.

Pillowing his hand under his head, Shen Qianyu pressed his lips together and shook his head darkly.

If they really had another Shen Shiyan, he would probably go mad.

The couple were conversing on the bed when chattering sounds came from outside the hall. Though they couldn’t hear clearly who was saying what, both Shen Qianyu and Song Wan knew it must be Shen Shiyan making a fuss again.

“Husband, go coax Yan’er.”

“I don’t want to go.”

Burying his head against Song Wan’s neck, Shen Qianyu grumbled pitifully: “I don’t want to leave Wan’er.”

“Then I’ll go.”

“Don’t.”

Unable to bear Song Wan getting a headache from Shen Shiyan’s crying and fussing, Shen Qianyu got up, swiftly changed into everyday clothes, walked outside the hall, and scooped the little fellow who was still making a commotion into his arms.

“Pay respects to Imperial Father. Long live Imperial Father.”

Just as he was scooped into his embrace, Shen Shiyan stopped crying and gave him a grinning salute.

“You’re quite crafty.”

Tossing the child to Heng Zhi, the Emperor and Empress got up to tidy themselves and dress.

Since yesterday’s rainstorm meant no court today, they could enjoy a leisurely day with wife and child.

After the three had breakfast, Shen Qianyu took Shen Shiyan to the Imperial Garden to fish. Father and son played until noon before returning to Changle Palace carrying a large, plump koi.

Song Wan watched Shen Shiyan clumsily holding the wooden bucket and laughed with delight.

“Mother Empress, Yan’er presents one fish, extremely fat and delicious.”

“How delicious?”

Song Wan crouched down with a smile, about to lean forward to look at the fish in the bucket, but before she could see it, she felt a fishy earthen smell rush straight at her face.

“…”

Slightly lowering her eyes to suppress that familiar feeling of nausea, Song Wan stood up and gave Shen Qianyu a half-smiling glare.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

After speaking, she smiled again.

She didn’t know if it was because Shen Qianyu had been wholeheartedly hoping for a little princess that he really summoned the little one today, or if it was…

Turning to look at Shen Shiyan who was still playing with the fish, Song Wan covered her lips, finding it amusing in her heart.

In the afternoon when Wan Xiao came looking for Shen Qianyu, Song Wan had Heng Zhi invite an imperial physician.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress. It is indeed a joyful pulse.”

Song Wan remained calm at these words, but Heng Zhi and Heng Wu were so happy their eyes reddened.

“Your Ladyship, should we inform His Majesty?”

“No need. When he returns, I’ll tell him myself.”

Just as everyone was rejoicing, someone outside reported that Madam Song was requesting an audience.

“Sister-in-law? Quickly show her in.”

When Ming Xiang entered Changle Palace, her face was full of joy. Song Wan was about to ask if there was some happy occasion at home when she heard Ming Xiang say: “Your Ladyship, guess who came with me today?”

Just as she finished speaking, Jinshu was led in by Luanjian.

The young lady had been married for several years. The greenness and childishness on her face had long since faded, and her cheeks were flushed with the tender joyful affection that only married women had.

“This servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Rise quickly.”

Heng Zhi stepped forward to help Jinshu up. Jinshu looked at Song Wan with a shy smile.

“Last time I saw Jinshu, she asked me if there was an opportunity, could I bring her into the palace to see Your Ladyship. I happened to want to enter the palace today to report happy news from the residence to Your Ladyship, so I had someone invite her to come with me.”

Song Wan said in surprise: “Is there something?”

Jinshu shook her head: “This servant just wanted to enter the palace to thank Your Ladyship, to thank Your Ladyship for looking after this servant all these years.”

Slightly loosening her grip on the food box in her hand, Song Wan finally saw her protruding belly.

“You’re actually expecting? How many months?”

“Five months.”

Jinshu’s face flushed completely red with shyness, her eyes full of the peace and vitality that only those living leisurely happy lives possessed.

“These past years my husband has received much promotion from Your Ladyship, already rising from Company Commander to Regional Commander. This servant knows it was all Your Ladyship’s secret protection, so I’ve always wanted to enter the palace to thank Your Ladyship and kowtow to Your Ladyship.”

After thinking, Jinshu smiled and stroked her belly: “Bringing him along.”

To leap ranks from Company Commander to Regional Commander within three years indeed required someone’s protection to achieve, but Song Wan knew this was not her doing. For a moment she felt regret for the person behind it.

After thinking for a moment, Song Wan said: “It’s because Li Chengzu handles matters properly that he gained his superior’s favor. It’s not that I deliberately looked after him.”