Even if not for herself, Luo Huaimeng had to think of Shi Ting — and so the Commander’s decision was one she had to accept, whether she wished to or not.

The Commander believed this was a form of compensation for her. In truth, what she wanted more was simply to live out her remaining years in peace, savoring the simple joys of having grandchildren gathered around her.

“Since the Commander does not object, then let it be as the Commander wishes.” Luo Huaimeng said. “Besides, with Yan Qing here, many things have been in her hands all along — I’ve been the one enjoying the easier life.”

The Commander smiled and nodded. “How perfectly it all works out — Xing Zhi becomes the legitimate son, and his child naturally becomes the legitimate grandchild. From now on, the future of our Shi family will rest on the shoulders of you father and son.”

Hearing this, Shi Ting smiled and said, “Commander, how do you know it will definitely be a son? It could just as well be a daughter.”

The Commander laughed too. “Son or daughter — either way, this is the first grandchild of the Shi family. They will be the future eldest young miss or eldest young master. The two of you must raise this child well, shape them into a model for the Shi descendants, and have them lead their younger brothers and sisters in the years to come.”

“Commander,” Shi Ting reminded him gently, “you still have another son.”

The Commander only then remembered Si Yitai’s son. Since Si Yitai had fallen from favor, and given the Qian Lan affair, the Commander found himself faintly uncomfortable even looking at that child. Unconsciously, he had very nearly erased the boy’s existence from his mind entirely.

Luo Huaimeng spoke up as well: “The Shi family’s line of descendants is already thin. Jing’er is also a young master of the Shi family — he will one day have the responsibility of carrying the family’s burdens. I believe Shi Ting will look after him well and help him grow into one of the Commander’s most capable sons.”

“Why not bring Jing’er to live in your courtyard?” the Commander suggested. “Being raised by the First Lady — it would reflect better on his standing as well.”

Luo Huaimeng shook her head. “Commander, it’s not that I’m unwilling to raise him — but you know how my health is. I’m always down with something, a major illness every three days and a minor one every two. Even with servants and wet nurses to help, I worry I might pass something to the child. Besides, San Yitai is now entirely focused on raising her son — she keeps a low profile, living quietly and keeping to herself. I trust that San Yitai will take good care of Jing’er.”

Mentioning San Yitai drew a sigh from the Commander. “I have wronged her in the past.”

He recalled how, under Qian Lan’s influence, he had put San Yitai through so much hardship — even snatching such a young child from her arms, leaving her sleepless with worry day and night.

In truth, he was not a man without sentiment. After Qian Lan’s schemes were exposed, he had, in the quiet of night, found himself drifting back to the tender times he and San Yitai had once shared. But he was no longer young, and those days of romantic feeling now seemed fit only to be kept as memories.

“And what is Huaimeng’s thought on the matter?”

Luo Huaimeng said, “Let Jing’er remain on San Yitai’s side to be raised. As far as the outside world is concerned, just say he’s been placed under the care of the elder — that will carry more prestige than placing him with me.”

The Commander nodded with satisfaction. “Good. Do it your way.”

He looked quite pleased. “From now on, these matters are yours to decide — no need to consult me.”

“Yes, Commander.”

The Commander appeared about to say more, but was seized by a violent fit of coughing. His body swayed and nearly gave way. Luo Huaimeng and Shi Ting rushed to support him.

“Commander, please rest.” Luo Huaimeng said with worry. “Leave what remains to Shi Ting to handle.”

The Commander gave a sound of assent. He truly could not hold on any longer.

“I’ll send for a doctor.” Shi Ting caught the eye of the guard stationed outside the door and made a small gesture — the guard immediately went to fetch a doctor.

The Commander returned to his own courtyard. A doctor came and conducted a thorough examination, then prescribed medicine. After the lengthy ordeal of taking his remedies, the Commander at last drifted into a hazy, exhausted sleep.

Seeing the Commander asleep, Luo Huaimeng drew Shi Ting aside to the outer room to speak.

“Xing Zhi, tell me the truth — how serious are the Commander’s injuries?”

Shi Ting had no wish to hide anything from Luo Huaimeng, and so he told her plainly: “Mother, the Commander sustained grave injuries at the time. His internal organs were damaged. He barely survived, and only because the blood transfusion was administered quickly enough.”

Picturing that moment, Luo Huaimeng felt a surge of tightness and anguish in her chest.

“After we returned to Shun Cheng, we went in secret to the hospital once for a full examination. The doctor said that the Commander’s injuries this time struck at the root — there is a large accumulation of stagnant blood within his abdomen that cannot be cleared, and his heart and circulation have also sustained damage. He cannot maintain prolonged speaking or standing.”

“Then — is there any hope?”

“The Commander’s injuries struck his vital points. Given the current level of medical care, even if surgery were attempted, the chances of success would be extremely slim. Without surgery, he may still have more than half a year of life remaining. With surgery, there is a ninety-five percent chance he would not survive the procedure.”

“How did things come to this?” Luo Huaimeng felt as though she had been struck a heavy blow. While her heart ached for the Commander, her hatred for everything Shi Guang had done burned all the more fiercely.

“Mother, I ask that you take good care of the Commander.”

“Are you — ” Luo Huaimeng suddenly realized something, and her hand tightened sharply around Shi Ting’s. “Are you going off to fight again?”

Shi Ting nodded. “The forces from Xi Nan have pressed in while we were stretched thin. Several towns along the border have already fallen. I cannot sit here and wait for things to get worse.”

Luo Huaimeng, though she worried and was loath to let him go, understood that this was the weight of family and nation — a responsibility Shi Ting had no choice but to carry.

If the Xi Nan Army were allowed to advance unchecked, Bei Di’s rivers and mountains would be shattered, and nothing of the peace they now knew would remain.

“Go spend some time with Yan Qing first,” she said. “These past days, she’s been worried sick about you — she hasn’t had a single night of sound sleep.”

Shi Ting gave a firm nod. “Then I’ll go.”

“Rest assured — I’ll look after the Commander here.”

Shi Ting left the Commander’s courtyard and moved with swift, purposeful strides.

From the moment he had returned until now, his heart had been entirely with her. But the circumstances had hemmed him in, leaving him with a thousand things he’d wished to say and no chance to say them.

Now, he wanted only to pull her close, and let all that longing dissolve into the warmth of her tenderness.

Yan Qing was tending to Er Dan when the door was suddenly pushed open. A figure came flying in before she had any time to react, and she was swept off her feet.

In three swift strides he had her at the bedside and set her down against the headboard.

“Hey.” Yan Qing didn’t know whether to laugh or be exasperated, and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. “What’s all this urgency about?”

Shi Ting said nothing — he simply lowered his head and kissed her.

He still carried the scent of smoke and gunpowder on him, but his lips were tender and achingly gentle.

Slowly, carefully, inch by inch, he kissed her — as though handling the most precious treasure in the world. His fear, his joy, his worry, his longing — every emotion passed from him to her through this kiss that was not quite fierce.

She held him tight around the neck and answered him with warmth.

A kiss full of deep, lingering feeling — conveying wordlessly to each other everything that had been kept in their hearts. All the worry of these long days was surrendered entirely.

When her breath grew unsteady, he finally released her gently, his gaze unable to leave her face even for a moment.

She had grown a little thinner. Her face was smaller, her eyes brighter than ever. Because of this kiss, her lips were faintly pressed together — achingly, incomparably beautiful.

He couldn’t help but lean close against the curve of her neck and breathed in deeply, then held her tightly and breathed her in again and again, as though he could never get enough.

“You’re like a walnut,” Yan Qing couldn’t help but laugh, and patted him lightly on the shoulder. “I’m not a bone — are you going to eat me?”

“I want to eat you, but I can’t.” Shi Ting pressed his cheek against hers with a childlike pout. “Mother just warned me — in your condition, I’m not allowed to touch you.”

Yan Qing felt her face flush warm at that. Luo Huaimeng was a woman who had been through these things herself, and she naturally knew which matters required care during pregnancy — so of course she had warned Shi Ting most thoroughly.

“Kissing is still all right, isn’t it?” Shi Ting said, and kissed her on the cheek a few more times.

Yan Qing was charmed into laughter by him, and couldn’t help reaching up to gently stroke his face. The days of rushing about had made him noticeably thinner — his cheekbones had become more prominent, and stubble had grown in all across his chin.

Her fingers brushed lightly over the bristles — a faint roughness that pricked a little. “How come you haven’t shaved today?”

“I didn’t sleep last night — there were things to take care of all through the night. And this much was only because I rushed to shave on the road to see you. If you’d seen me a few days ago, you probably wouldn’t have recognized me.”

Hearing this, Yan Qing felt a pang of tenderness. He had been racing and toiling all this while, and on top of that managing all the affairs of Shun Cheng — never mind shaving, he most likely hadn’t had time to eat or sleep properly either.

His opponent was Lei Li — a man even more renowned than Shi Ting, whose methods were more ruthless. When two such players clashed, the difference between victory and defeat could come down to a single instant.

Shi Ting lay down beside her on the bed, the two of them sharing the same pillow, his arms holding her close against him.

“Qing Qing.”

Hearing him speak softly beside her ear, that familiar voice, Yan Qing felt her heart grow soft and still.

“Hmm?”

He pressed closer to her. “Can I touch him for a moment?”

Yan Qing was first puzzled, then both amused and exasperated. “He’s not made of paper — there’s no need to be so careful.”

Hearing her say this, Shi Ting gently placed his palm against her lower abdomen. It felt the same as always — smooth and flat — but through the thin layer of fabric, he seemed to sense another heartbeat.

The feeling was wondrous, and subtle — like joy seeping into him little by little, filling his heart, his entire world.

When he had first heard the news of her pregnancy, he had felt an almost uncontrollable surge of overwhelming joy. But in that situation, he had been forced to hold it down and maintain his composure.

Now, the chaos had receded. In the quiet of this world that held only the two of them, breath mingling with breath, that overwhelming joy — which had earlier been kept in check — was now released without limit. And yet after it swelled and expanded, it transformed into something tender and full of anticipation.

Seeing him sitting there smiling foolishly to himself, Yan Qing smiled too, and couldn’t help pulling his hand away. “It’s still too early. You won’t be able to feel anything yet.”

“I can.” Shi Ting said, stubbornly placing his hand back. “Feel it carefully — you can feel the heartbeat.”

Yan Qing watched him with an amused smile, and didn’t expose him. Feeling a heartbeat at this stage was simply not possible.

“Qing Qing, do you think it’s a boy or a girl?”