It was late at night when they returned to Xinqiao Hutong, without disturbing many people. Only Lin Hairu, Madam Chen, and the two sisters-in-law were notified. Even if Madam Chen had heard some rumors, she wouldn’t speak carelessly, as her two sons still relied on Grand Secretary Luo for advancement. Daimao and Zhenzhu, whom Yi Ning hadn’t seen for a long time, hugged her and cried. However, when they saw Bao’er, they exclaimed in surprise and gathered around the little one. The sudden appearance of a young master in the house was certainly novel. Zhenzhu smiled and said to Yi Ning, “If Third Madam had told us earlier, we would have prepared a tiger-shaped pillow and sewn some toys for the young master.”
Everything in the room was just as Yi Ning had left it, untouched. There were no traces of a child’s presence yet. The wet nurse placed Bao’er on the kang bed. Unfamiliar with his surroundings, he crawled around, surrounded by maids and servants watching him. Unable to see his mother, he made confused noises.
Yi Ning, however, looked around at everything. Slowly, an indescribable feeling crept into her heart. The unfinished needlework she had left in a small basket before her departure was still there, with the needle stuck in the embroidery hoop. The winter plum branch she had cut that morning was still quietly placed in a celadon vase on the windowsill, in the same position. She remembered this because she had found the vase blocking her embroidery and had moved it to the windowsill. The tea she had half-finished was still in the cup, half full.
Nothing had moved, not even slightly.
A cold chill unique to winter nights slowly crept into her bones.
Before going to fetch her, Luo Shen Yuan hadn’t revealed any information, but when Lin Hairu heard of her return, she immediately called for maids to bring shoes, socks, and clothes, coming in the middle of the night. Upon seeing Yi Ning, she excitedly held her hand for a long time. Yi Ning temporarily put other matters aside and was startled when Lin Hairu suddenly began to cry, quickly comforting her.
Lin Hairu said brokenly, “We thought the bed we made for you would never be used!”
Luo Yi Ning replied, “How could it not be used? It will be. Did you think something had happened to me?”
Lin Hairu laughed and cried at the same time, “I shouldn’t say such things… But it’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back!”
Luo Shen Yuan went to arrange matters in the household. When he returned, he saw the two women still talking. Not having seen each other for a year, the women seemed to have endless topics to discuss. He leaned against the side, drinking tea. After waiting for a while and seeing they still hadn’t finished, he put on a large cloak and went to the study to read documents.
This time, he read documents for a long while, until the candlelight dimmed. He then asked his servant, “What time is it?”
“My lord, it’s the hour of Hai,” the servant replied.
Only then did Luo Shen Yuan let out a breath and put away his books to return. Even after a short absence, he felt anxious, despite knowing she had already returned.
His footsteps were hurried, with his attendants barely able to keep up. From afar, he could see the candlelight and hear laughter and chatter, bringing life back to the place. He leaned against the doorframe, and only when he saw Luo Yi Ning again did the anxiety in his heart gradually subside. Luo Shen Yuan slowly relaxed his hand.
Yi Ning had lulled the little one to sleep, his soft face now resting against her arm, flushed red in the firelight. She found it amusing and gently pinched the child’s tiny fingers, which she found adorable. She even gave them a light nibble, causing the little one to feel ticklish and kick his small feet under the blanket.
Luo Shen Yuan was still not accustomed to the child’s presence. Seeing her with the child did not evoke any particular joy in him.
“It’s too late, let’s rest,” Luo Shen Yuan said, taking the child from her arms. The little one struggled in his father’s embrace, perhaps dreaming of something. But moments later, he was in the wet nurse’s arms.
Luo Yi Ning was shocked, knowing that if Bao’er didn’t sleep with her, he would surely cry in the middle of the night. She felt tired of caring for him too, but there was no choice; others couldn’t comfort him.
“He won’t cry. Didn’t he sleep through the night yesterday?” Luo Shen Yuan remained unmoved.
Luo Yi Ning said softly, “You were lucky last night…” But the Grand Secretary reunited with his wife after separation, was in high spirits and full of energy.
The maids all withdrew, and he pulled her to bed. The curtains were drawn, leaving only two candles burning in the room.
Luo Yi Ning’s body was taut like a string, smooth against the water-red bedding embroidered with gold-threaded peonies. Her slender waist and full hips were breathtakingly beautiful. He covered her from below, pressing her down with heavy breathing. Their entanglement had left him aching as well. The wet, swampy area was still difficult to enter.
His sideburns were damp, presumably from sweat.
Luo Yi Ning looked at Luo Shen Yuan’s expression, his jaw, neck, and slightly protruding Adam’s apple. The sweat-dampened skin in the candlelight accentuated the man’s sensuality.
Luo Yi Ning’s body was slightly raised by him. Her legs trembled slightly, feeling numb and weak. The aftereffects of last night had not fully subsided.
His waist sank slightly, and Luo Yi Ning grasped his back. After letting her adjust briefly, he proceeded inward, disregarding her pleas of “too fast” or “too deep.”
Yi Ning felt her legs aching, but the man hadn’t finished even once. Thankfully, she had given birth before; otherwise, his size would have been too much for her even after three years. Now she felt sore and swollen. Yi Ning had already been pushed to the peak of pleasure once, and now she thought it was over when he sped up. Unexpectedly, he lifted her and changed positions…
He lowered his head to kiss her cheek, his breath still ragged. “Are you alright?”
“Third Brother…” Yi Ning paused before asking, “I just want to know, will it be like last night every night from now on?”
“What did you expect?” His voice was low, not understanding why she asked. “You’re my lawfully wedded wife. Now, of course… Who else did you think I’d be with?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Yi Ning tried to explain, but as she moved, they both tensed. Yi Ning felt sore and swollen. Thinking about the endless days ahead, she had to negotiate. “Could we rest sometimes? Perhaps every other day? Or once every two days?”
Luo Shen Yuan frowned and asked, “Are you too tired?”
“Of course. Once every day or two is fine. You’re strong and fit, but I don’t have your stamina!”
Men, once they’ve had a taste, especially with someone they’re fond of, want it every day. He was even more energetic than most. “Tell me when you’re tired…” He continued kissing her, his lips on her skin causing trembles, ignited by his breath. They intertwined, sparking a wildfire. The pace quickened, and the room grew hot.
At this moment, footsteps approached, accompanied by incessant crying. There was an urgent knock at the door: “Madam, Madam, the young master won’t stop crying…”
Yi Ning’s little lucky star arrived with wailing cries and muffled calls for “Mama.”
Luo Shen Yuan froze, his face covered in sweat. The knocking outside continued, and Luo Yi Ning saw his loosened inner garments and firm chest. She blushed, “I told you… he would cry!”
Wet nurse Qiu Niang.
She had been the young master Bao’er’s wet nurse for six months now. In the past six months, despite her wanderings and even experiencing the turmoil of war in Xuanfu, she had never felt as nervous as she did at this moment. As she carried the young master into the inner chamber, she saw Master Luo leaning against the carved bed, his expression very displeased as he slowly fastened his clothes. His hands were beautiful, befitting one who held the power of life and death.
The madam had already reached out her arms, urging, “Quickly, give him to me.”
Qiu Niang was certain she saw Master Luo look at his wife with clear dissatisfaction. Even she felt a shiver run through her.
Bao’er was finally in his mother’s arms, nuzzling against her chest. Luo Yi Ning dismissed Qiu Niang.
Qiu Niang was grateful and quickly retreated.
Luo Yi Ning slowly opened her clothes, and Bao’er, after nudging around with his little nose, finally found what he was looking for, pawing like a puppy. He began to suckle quietly, no longer crying. Yi Ning wondered if the taste was different, otherwise why would he be so picky? What could be so different?
She looked up to see Luo Shen Yuan standing by the bed.
Luo Shen Yuan might have wanted to throw the little one out, his eyes cold with displeasure, or perhaps unfulfilled desire.
He climbed onto the bed, sitting beside her. He said coolly, “You can’t let him sleep with you.”
Luo Yi Ning helplessly pinched Bao’er’s soft little hand, “The wet nurse really can’t comfort him…”
Luo Shen Yuan waved his hand, “What’s so difficult about it? I was raised by a wet nurse too when I was young. If it’s not working, we should wean him. It’s not good for a child to be too attached to his mother. The sooner he becomes independent, the better.”
He’s only six months old, he can’t even walk! How can he be independent?
At this moment, someone came to deliver an urgent message. Luo Shen Yuan pondered for a moment before going out.
Standing at the bottom of the steps, the night wind carried a biting chill. The messenger’s voice was low: “Grand Secretary… Lu Jiaxue has returned. He has entered the capital with his troops and has already gone to the palace to report.”
So he did come back after all! That vice general must not have killed him. And he went straight to the palace to report, likely returning with military achievements.
“…Just keep an eye on him,” Luo Shen Yuan instructed after some thought, then returned to the inner chamber.
Luo Yi Ning had finally lulled Bao’er back to sleep and was patting his back to burp him when she asked, “What happened? Why would someone come to report in the middle of the night?”
Luo Shen Yuan looked directly at her face: “Lu Jiaxue has returned.”
Yi Ning’s hand paused mid-pat.
“He’s not dead. I suspect he’s returned with military achievements, and the Emperor received him in the middle of the night,” Luo Shen Yuan continued.
A lifetime of honor and military glory, he indeed hadn’t died. Yi Ning’s feelings were complex. She knew that Luo Shen Yuan and Lu Jiaxue were at odds, and Luo Shen Yuan had indeed schemed against Lu Jiaxue, not just because of her, but for many other reasons. But could Luo Shen Yuan defeat Lu Jiaxue? In her previous life, until her death, the two had never concluded.
Luo Shen Yuan, meanwhile, watched Luo Yi Ning’s expression closely, being skilled at this. From her expression, he could be certain of at least one thing: she didn’t dislike Lu Jiaxue. If she showed any more emotion, he might not be able to control himself.
“What do you plan to do?” Luo Yi Ning asked.
“I won’t tell you about this. Just like before, as long as you don’t go to see him, it’s fine.” He lowered his head to kiss her forehead, his lips cold.
The next day when she woke up, Luo Shen Yuan had already risen and was preparing to go to the inner court. He was different now, with less free time. His demeanor and prestige were impressive. Yi Ning watched him don the official robes of the second rank and felt a bit unfamiliar. She was now the wife of a Grand Secretary, how could she not be accustomed to this yet?
After seeing him off at the door, Yi Ning returned to dress herself.
Bao’er was taken by the wet nurse to play in the courtyard. Luo Yi Ning remembered that today was the day for Luo Yi Lie to visit her maiden home, and it had been over a year since they last met. As she combed her hair with a comb dipped in osmanthus water, she asked Zhenzhu, “I heard that Luo Yi Lie married a merchant from Suzhou as his second wife. What exactly happened?”
From what she knew of the Luo family, Luo Yi Lie couldn’t become a second wife, let alone marry a mere merchant. No matter how wealthy, merchants were still considered the lowest class among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. She felt that with Luo Chengzhang’s temperament, even if he married Luo Yi Ning to a poor scholar and supported them yearly, he would never marry his daughter to a merchant.
Zhenzhu lowered her voice and whispered in her ear, “You don’t know, it’s quite an interesting story! This happened six months ago and caused quite a stir.”
“At the time of your incident, the Lu family only said they had married the Seventh Miss, but no one knew. However, what happened six months later caused a huge uproar. The Sixth Miss found it difficult to find a husband in the capital. Families with decent backgrounds didn’t want her, saying she would bring discord to the family and tarnish their reputation. The Second Master was both angry and anxious. If it weren’t for the Fourth Young Master meditating, the Second Master might have punished the Sixth Miss according to family law.”
“What exactly happened?” Yi Ning put down her comb.