Shen Yunshu felt not only the heat burning in her hands but also a flush spreading across her face.
Xie Heng’s body blazed with a fierce fire.
Yet at this moment, he suddenly remembered something even more critical.
“Wife, do you still remember? On the second day after our wedding, when I took Youran to the kitchen to find something to eat, we were blocked by Qingjian and the others behind the fake rock. Luckily, you found us first back then…”
“Hm, why bring this up all of a sudden?”
“I accidentally hugged you that day, but later when you held my hand and left, I had a dream about you that very night…”
“What did you dream of?” Shen Yunshu instinctively asked, but she quickly realized he had mentioned before that he often had such dreams—and the person in those dreams was always her.
It was too late to take back her words as he immediately answered with a grin: “In that dream, you and I shared a moment of intimacy in the cave behind the fake rock…”
So the next day, his pants were still dry when he hurried off to the temple.
“That cave in the dream was just like it is now…”
The one saying these shameless words felt no embarrassment, but the one hearing them was already too shy to lift her head. She didn’t want to listen to him continue, but he refused to stop talking.
Fortunately, he had handed his life over to her personally, so Shen Yunshu clenched her grip tightly, restraining him: “Hurry up and say it.”
He let out a muffled grunt, his breathing suddenly heavier than before.
“Wife, easy,” Xie Heng groaned in pain, wincing at her tight grip, “I’ll still need you tonight…”
She wasn’t gripping hard enough to injure him, of course, but by nighttime, other parts of him would be “broken.”
Xie Heng always took pride in his strong waist. In the past when they were intimate, he worried about crushing her, so he let her be on top, which tested his waist strength even more.
He was light and strong in the waist and abdomen; tonight was no different, but halfway through, his waist suddenly grew sore and numb, and he couldn’t exert any strength.
Only then did he remember the doctor’s warning. He had thought he was light enough to ignore it, but he hadn’t even lasted once.
The sudden pause made her open her misty eyes: “What’s wrong?”
Xie Heng didn’t want her to know his waist was failing, so he forced calm and lifted her body: “Wife, come, let’s change places…”
While lifting her, he bent his knees and slipped down: “Sit on my face…”
Shen Yunshu: “…”
The remaining snow melted, the chill in the wind gradually softened, and new buds quietly sprouted on the branches. Blossoms were about to bloom; in the blink of an eye, spring had arrived and it was already March.
Since the last time Xie Heng came to see her, Shen Yunshu had not seen him again.
She focused on her studies to prepare for the official examination and successfully passed in March, about to move to the government office inside the Forbidden City.
Xiao Ci often came to the mansion. After Shen Yunshu understood his feelings, she deliberately avoided him, but before she moved, he found a chance to see her once.
Shen Yunshu politely refused: “Lord Xiao, you are very kind, but I’m sorry, I do not like you.”
“Was it His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?” he asked. “The thief who suddenly broke into the mansion last time—was that him?”
Sure enough, as the Chief of the Dali Temple, Xiao Ci easily guessed despite Shen Yunshu thinking she had concealed it well.
“He only came that once. Please keep it confidential, Lord Xiao.”
“Lady Shen, I want to know,” Xiao Ci said in confusion, “besides his identity, what else does this Crown Prince have that I don’t?”
“Though he’s not as good as you, Lord Xiao, fate has its order. I met him first…”
Seeing her resolve, Xiao Ci no longer pressed and bowed: “If that’s the case, I won’t trouble you again.”
Shen Yunshu bowed slightly in return: “Take care, Lord Xiao.”
After Xiao Ci left, a ghostly figure appeared behind her, voice full of resentment: “Hmph, I’m not as good as Lord Xiao…”
Shen Yunshu was startled and turned to pinch that ghost’s ear: “In broad daylight, how dare you come?”
And by sheer coincidence, had just run into Xiao Ci?
Xie Heng, bent over by the ear, toppled onto her shoulder: “This time I don’t have to sneak around, of course I dare come during the day.”
He explained: “My Imperial Grandfather no longer restricts me. Now I can come and go from the palace freely.”
“So you just came straight here? Aren’t you afraid your grandfather would be displeased?”
“He’s already allowed me out, so naturally he expects I’d come find you.”
Shen Yunshu suddenly put on a stern face: “You must never come looking for me at the Shen residence again.”
Xie Heng was stunned and straightened up: “Why?”
A panicked look appeared on his face: “Wife, have you changed your heart?”
“?” Shen Yunshu chuckled lightly and stopped teasing him. “I passed the official exam and will be moving to the Forbidden City. You…”
Afterward, Xie Heng felt happy for her but worried about their future, his upper face frowning in sorrow while his lower face smiled widely—a very entertaining expression.
“We can meet inside the palace now.”
“I’m not talking about that. I mean after you pass the exam, we…”
“There’s loss before gain. Without letting go, you cannot gain anything,” Shen Yunshu said, understanding his worries, standing on tiptoe to kiss him. “If I can use passing the official exam to regain His Majesty’s trust in the Shen family, then we will have a chance to be together again…”
He was easily coaxed; two kisses and the corners of his mouth stretched to his ears: “Alright, I’ll listen to you once more.”
“Good boy…”
The Pei residence.
After diagnosing the person in bed, the doctor told Shen Youran with an expectant look: “Nothing serious. It’s just kidney deficiency causing the delayed menses. Some tonic medicine will help…”
Shen Youran withdrew her hand in surprise: “Doctor, can women have kidney deficiency too?”
“Men and women are the same. Excessive fatigue can cause kidney deficiency.”
Shen Youran lowered her gaze, sighing in disappointment. Pei Huaijin had been courting her for three months. Except for a few days during her period, she had to endure his nightly attentions, to the point she had grown tired of it.
In the first two months, her period came on time, so no need to call the doctor. But this month it was late, and she thought she was pregnant. She hurriedly sent Danruo to fetch the doctor, but instead of the news she wanted, the diagnosis revealed kidney deficiency.
All because of excessive fatigue.
During the day, she managed household affairs in the morning, and in the afternoon went to Wu Yi Alley to learn from Aunt Xiao. She returned before sunset and wasn’t really tired.
So the reason for her fatigue was obvious.
Therefore, when Pei Huaijin came over as usual that night, Shen Youran pushed him away: “Not tonight. The doctor said I have kidney deficiency, and I guess you’re not much better. Let’s rest a few days first.”
But Pei Huaijin wasn’t at all tired of this.
Probably because he knew their time together was limited, so he didn’t want to waste a single day.
“Did the doctor prescribe any medicine for you?”
“Yes, I asked him to prescribe some for you as well.”
“That’s good,” Pei Huaijin expertly peeled off her clothes. “From now on, let’s restrain ourselves. Twice a night, how about that?”
“Twice a night is restraint?”
“Three times every two nights is also fine…”
“I think three times a month is more reasonable.” Shen Youran had asked the doctor and calculated the timing. On the most fertile days, intimacy had a much higher chance of conception.
Pei Huaijin grasped her smooth shoulder and turned her toward him: “Are you tired of it?”
“A little.”
“I feel the same. Doing it every day has lost some novelty.”
“Right.” She finally understood the real meaning behind his words.
“We’ve tried on the bed.”
“Hm?” Something felt off.
“On the table too…”
“…” Wait, the direction of this conversation had clearly veered away from her original intent.
“On the windowsill… no, too hard.”
“What are you talking about?”
As Pei Huaijin spoke, his gaze scanned the room until he found a very suitable spot they had tried before.
He pulled Shen Youran off the bed and led her to the dressing table’s bronze mirror, turned her around, and embraced her from behind: “Wife, have you ever seen yourself in motion?”
That bronze mirror had reflected many different versions of Shen Youran—lazy mornings grooming, the refined look after dressing, and the natural beauty under the makeup. But it had never reflected her moving in intimacy.
He cupped her chin and made her look at the intertwined shadows in the mirror: “You look beautiful when you move…”
Haitang Courtyard.
Since finding out her son was ill, Lady Zhu had become deeply worried and fell seriously ill herself.
After recovering, her attitude toward Shen Youran changed, becoming more proactive and affectionate.
Hearing that her daughter-in-law no longer took contraceptive medicine and was actively trying for a child, Lady Zhu often sent nourishing meals for the couple, praying that heaven would grant them a child.
But three months had passed with no good news. The couple had emptied their strength, but pregnancy had not even been close.
Lady Zhu grew increasingly anxious: Could she really no longer rely on her son? Would she have to urge her husband to take a concubine?
The matter of a concubine was something Shen Youran had tentatively broached with Pei Yuanji before, jokingly asking if he was tired of only having her and whether he wanted to take two concubines to relieve his boredom.
He laughed, his whiskers trembling: “How old do you think I am? Taking concubines now would be a joke…”
“Why not? Some old men even take concubines to keep warm in bed.”
“That’s disrespectful to the women. I won’t follow that example.” Pei Yuanji thought she was joking and didn’t take it seriously. “Besides, I know you too well after all these years. You’re as sharp as a needle, and if I took concubines, you’d be furious.”
His words struck a chord with Shen Youran. The very thought of him taking concubines made her feel trapped and suffocated.
Seeing his disapproval, she was half relieved, half even more worried. Her husband was honest and upright; her son was young and promising. Why did heaven deny them descendants?
Could they adopt a child to raise?
That wouldn’t work either. Others would know something was wrong with her son’s body.
Besides, an adopted child wasn’t their own, and if they couldn’t form a bond or didn’t get along, it would be more trouble than it was worth.
Lady Zhu could think of no other solution but to rely on prayer and worship. Previously, Shen Youran had prayed alone, but now that their relationship had improved, Lady Zhu asked her to accompany her to the temple to pray for a child.
Shen Youran was still uncomfortable being alone with her mother-in-law but couldn’t refuse, so she went with her to the Buddhist temple.
After praying in the main hall, Lady Zhu took Shen Youran to the Guanyin Hall, where she earnestly prayed for a long time.
But praying wasn’t enough. Lady Zhu planned to place a Guanyin statue at home for worship, so she went to consult with a master about it.
Shen Youran didn’t follow but instead wandered the temple alone.
By chance, she met Liang Xu there.
“Young Master Liang, what a coincidence.” Shen Youran had met him twice before at this temple—once when he was with her, once when he was with others. So seeing him again, she naturally asked, “Are you here for worship today?”
He nodded and glanced in the direction Shen Youran had just come from.
She had just left the Guanyin Hall, and what people sought there was obvious.
“Lady Shen, are you here to pray for a child today?”
Shen Youran smiled awkwardly.