Yan Qing’s gaze also turned tender, as though she had caught his mood like a warmth spreading between them.

“I’d be a little happier with a girl — but a boy would be wonderful too.”

“Mm.” Shi Ting smiled. “Boy or girl — this is our first child. And there will be more brothers and sisters to follow.”

“Have you thought of a name?”

Shi Ting was immediately stumped.

The two of them had previously agreed not to have children until the situation had settled, and this child’s arrival was both an accident and a surprise.

As for a name — he hadn’t given it any real thought.

“I’ve thought of a nickname,” Yan Qing said, the corner of her mouth curving up. “Qiao Qiao.”

“Qiao Qiao?”

“Whether it’s a boy or a girl, this name works either way.”

“Does the name have a story behind it?”

Yan Qing’s eyes curved with a smile. “Husband is so clever — why not take a guess?”

Shi Ting’s palm moved gently in a slow circle, and with barely a moment’s thought, the answer came to him clearly.

“Because the first time you and I met, it was on the White Jade Bridge at the Yan Family home.”

Yan Qing had known a question this simple wouldn’t trip him up. That White Jade Bridge was the site of their very first glance at each other. Though they hadn’t known one another then, that one look had made each of them remember the other.

That was where fate had begun — the bridge where two souls had first met.

“Then Qiao Qiao it is.” Shi Ting smiled. “The formal name — I’ll think of that.”

“I’m afraid someone else will get there before you.”

“Get there before me?”

Yan Qing blinked mischievously. “Want to bet? The Commander will definitely think of one before you do.”

Shi Ting couldn’t quite decide whether to laugh or be exasperated. “Would he really be so enthusiastic about it?”

“This is his grandchild, after all — of course a grandfather would be very enthusiastic. And besides, I’ve heard that your name was also chosen by your grandfather.”

Shi Ting said, “All three of us brothers had our names chosen by Grandfather. He named me Ting — the thunder of absolute authority. Shi Guang’s character guang means vast and boundless. And Shi Qian’s character qian means the span of heaven and earth.”

Mentioning Shi Guang and Shi Qian, both of them fell into a moment of quiet reflection, as though the past were flickering before their eyes.

“Qing Qing.” Shi Ting couldn’t help pulling her closer. “I’m sorry for making you frightened and worried.”

“Do you really need to say something like that between the two of us?” Yan Qing nestled against his broad, warm chest. “I trust you. You trust me. Whatever we do, we both know the other will never let us down.”

“I just didn’t expect this child to arrive so suddenly.” Shi Ting’s voice carried deep guilt. “Mother told me — Shi Guang tried to make you drink that medicine twice.”

What Luo Huaimeng had described was far less harrowing than the truth, but even Shi Ting’s brief imagining of it sent a chill through him.

He understood Shi Guang — he knew that Shi Guang’s pride would never let him truly harm Yan Qing. That was simply in his nature.

But he would strike at their child without hesitation. Because for Shi Guang, this child was a presence that could not be allowed to exist in this world.

Yan Qing gently smoothed the furrow between his brows. “You’re not a god — you can’t foresee everything. And it’s not just you — even I, a doctor myself, never thought of it. Besides, this child is ours. Even before he was born, he was already strong. When he grows up, he’ll certainly be just as outstanding as his father.”

“And his mother.” Shi Ting’s eyes were full of warmth. “His mother is so remarkable — rare and extraordinary in this world.”

“Are we just flattering each other now?”

“What does ‘flattering each other’ mean?”

Yan Qing laughed. “Think of it as a local expression from my hometown.”

“Your hometown really is a remarkable place.”

Shi Ting said this, then placed his hand once more against her abdomen, his expression a little conflicted. “Qing Qing — do you think I should be stricter with him, or more gentle and affectionate?”

“Aren’t you thinking about this a little too far ahead?” Yan Qing laughed. “He’s not even three months along yet.”

“It’s something we’ll inevitably have to face, so why not reach an agreement now?”

“Oh dear. I don’t know whether having a father who always plans ahead is a blessing or a curse.” Yan Qing heaved a deliberate sigh.

Shi Ting said with great seriousness, “If it’s a girl, I’ll be more gentle and affectionate — girls are delicate and precious, and must be cherished. If it’s a boy, I’ll be stricter — otherwise he’ll end up crying all the time, with no manly spirit at all.”

Shi Ting felt this was a very wise decision, and then began to muse aloud: “If it’s a girl, I’ll teach her the four arts — zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. If it’s a boy, I’ll teach him horseback riding and shooting. As for the four arts…” he studied the woman nestled against him and let a faintly disdainful look cross his face. “His mother isn’t skilled in them, so we’d better hire a proper teacher.”

Yan Qing promptly sank her teeth into his chest. That drew a muffled sound from him, though his face broke into a smile.

“What use are the four arts? They’re nothing more than something the ladies and misses of society use to show off to each other.”

“Yes, yes, yes — completely useless, all of it.” Shi Ting yielded immediately. “Whatever you say, that’s what goes.”

Two young people who had just become parents couldn’t help but dream together, their hearts full of hope and anticipation for this small new life and all that lay ahead.

The wind blew softly against the latticed windows, as though carrying the footsteps of spring.

After a moment of quiet, Yan Qing asked softly, “Ting — when do you set out?”

She felt his body tighten suddenly beneath her, and the arm around her waist pulled her a fraction closer without thinking.

After a moment, his voice came back to her, a little rough at the edges, brushing warm and dry against her face.

“Qing Qing, I’m sorry.”

“Silly.” Yan Qing’s hand rested gently against his face, which had grown a little thinner. Her eyes were full of deep reluctance and tender aching. “You are the Young Marshal of Bei Di. The safety of Bei Di rests on your shoulders — and with it, the lives of countless ordinary people. I and our child both understand. You lead the soldiers at the front. I keep watch over your home behind you. We are husband and wife — we support each other, we carry each other’s burdens, we face hardship together, and we enjoy peace together.”

Shi Ting looked at her quietly, his eyes awash with tenderness.

“So go — go without worry. I will take good care of myself and our child, and I will take good care of Mother too. I will leave you without a single thing to be concerned about at home.”

Shi Ting couldn’t help but take her hand in both of his and press it gently to his lips, kissing it over and over.

He didn’t need to say anything more. To have a wife like this — what more could a husband ask for?

“This battle may take a very long time.” Shi Ting pulled her close into his arms. “Driving the Xi Nan Army out of Bei Di is not the final goal — we need to strike hard enough that Xi Nan will not dare launch another easy invasion for years to come.”