Shen Yunshu had not intended to let Fang Yuan know so early that she and Xie Heng were not yet officially divorced. But after that commotion stirred up by her colleagues, the matter had inevitably become public knowledge.
The colleague who had previously mocked and sneered at her now apologized with a forced smile, yet was still demoted by the Minister of Internal Affairs to the lowest rank of the Purple Mist Sash.
Shen Yunshu knew very well that if her husband were not the imperial grandson, Fang Yuan would never have been punished so severely. The Minister’s handling of this matter was, in fact, a veiled way of currying favor with her.
Previously, Shen Yunshu had wanted to keep her relationship with Xie Heng under wraps to avoid “abusing her power,” but now it had ended up exactly like this.
However, Shen Yunshu rarely looked back or wasted time regretting. After all, when the Minister of Internal Affairs confronted her, she had no better solution than to tell the truth.
Since then, Shen Yunshu had moved back into the palace, and Xie Heng finally began living the life he had longed for.
Knowing how hard it had been for Shen Youran during her pregnancy, he had assumed his wife would be the same, and so had prepared to take meticulous care of her early on.
Unexpectedly, Shen Yunshu’s condition was completely different from Shen Youran’s. She was only uncomfortable for about seven or eight days before her body returned to normal. She never experienced morning sickness or any nausea, her complexion remained rosy, and she moved about with vigor.
Xie Heng never even had the chance to show his concern.
But during the later stages of her pregnancy, Shen Yunshu began to swell with edema. Her clothes and shoes felt tight, she frequently woke up at night, and her sleep was restless. Yet the next day she still spiritedly attended to affairs at the Imperial Household Department.
Xie Heng felt sorry for her and urged her to rest for a while, but Shen Yunshu refused. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll serve as a court lady. Every day I can continue, I will. How could I possibly rest?”
“Grandfather said to me before that since I’m not yet involved in politics, it wouldn’t affect your role as a court lady. But I was thinking, if I never get involved in politics, wouldn’t that mean you could spend your whole life doing what you love?”
“Don’t think like that,” Shen Yunshu cut him off, raising her hand to stop his words. “I don’t need you to sacrifice anything for me, and I don’t want you to be bound by childish affections. The Emperor cares for you and cultivates you, so you must do your best to learn and repay him. Don’t disappoint the old man’s expectations of you, understand?”
Xie Heng vaguely understood the meaning behind her words and nodded.
When Shen Yunshu gave birth, her younger sister was also brought into the palace by Xie Heng to keep her company.
Although Shen Youran suffered some morning sickness in early pregnancy and consequently ate less, her unborn child was not too large, so the delivery went relatively smoothly.
But Shen Yunshu, having no morning sickness and a good appetite throughout, had a heavier baby. Moreover, the child’s position was somewhat abnormal. With the help of a midwife, Shen Youran, and two imperial physicians waiting outside, it took a full two hours before the child was delivered.
Xie Heng had bitten his hands to the point of bleeding outside. When he finally heard the newborn’s cry, he stumbled inside, knelt beside the bed, and gently touched Shen Yunshu’s pale, sweat-soaked face, weeping with joy, “My wife, you’ve suffered so much…”
The midwife handed the baby to them, saying, “Congratulations to Your Highness and Madam. It’s a very healthy little boy…”
Shen Youran also leaned in to look, “He really is much plumper than when Yuan Yuan was born.” Yuan Yuan was the pet name Shen Youran had given her daughter. The fortune teller had said her daughter lacked the water element in her Five Elements chart, so they specially chose a character with water for her name.
Xie Heng carefully took the child who had caused his wife so much trouble over two hours, both delighted and a little exasperated, “Such a little devil…”
When the little devil turned one, Xie Heng was no longer just studying in the Wen Yuan Pavilion. At the time, the border was being disturbed by a neighboring country’s invasion. To train him, the Emperor ordered Xie Heng to join the army at the frontier. On the battlefield, Xie Heng led the cavalry in breaking through enemy encirclement, beginning to display his talent for leading troops in charge.
That same winter month, Longzhou experienced a rebellion by bandits. The Emperor dispatched Xie Heng and Pei Huaijin to suppress the unrest. Their month-long campaign not only quelled the chaos but also earned Xie Heng many heroic acquaintances and his own prestige.
The following year, Xie Heng was titled Duke Rui and began participating in court affairs. To avoid any suspicion, Shen Yunshu resigned from her position as a court lady and secretly helped Xie Heng establish a literary academy in the capital, inviting renowned scholars from all over and treating them generously, aiding Xie Heng in cultivating his subordinates.
Under the Emperor’s guidance, Xie Heng transformed drastically within just a few years. At twenty-two, the sharpness and immaturity he had when he first entered the palace had completely faded, replaced by a calm and mature demeanor. He had his own insights into current affairs. In his spare time, besides accompanying her and their son, he would read and discuss literature and history with her to enrich their knowledge.
Of course, life was not always so smooth. As Xie Heng gained more favor from the Emperor, the dangers surrounding them also increased.
After being ennobled, Xie Heng no longer lived in the palace. The Emperor granted him a new mansion.
With the covert assistance of Pei Huaijin and Pei Qi’s grandfather, Xie Heng recruited five hundred skilled warriors and stationed them in the neighborhoods near the mansion, prepared for emergencies.
Even so, he still went through…
Though he avoided both overt and covert attacks, at the annual banquet archery ceremony, his horse was swapped for a well-fed but temperamental Hu steed. While hunting, the horse suddenly collapsed. Luckily, Xie Heng reacted swiftly, leaping off just before the horse fell and rolled on the ground several times, breaking two ribs.
In a moment of anger, he cursed the horse as “beast,” which was almost tantamount to insulting the Emperor’s horse. This displeased the Emperor. Despite Xie Heng’s bareheaded kowtows and explanations, the Emperor remained stern.
During his house arrest, someone in court accused Xie Heng of harboring disloyalty.
The Emperor ordered the Ministry of Justice to thoroughly investigate. One of Xie Heng’s close attendants at the mansion had betrayed him and taken…
The case was assigned to Xiao Ci, newly promoted to Deputy Minister of Justice.
When Xie Heng learned that Xiao Ci was in charge, he joked with Shen Yunshu, “What can we do? The one investigating me is my old rival…”
Xie Heng and Xiao Ci had little contact. The only time they met face-to-face was when Xiao Ci had bullied Shen Yunshu in a cave, right before Xie Heng’s eyes.
Looking back now, young and reckless as he had been, he shouldn’t have humiliated Xiao Ci like that. Now that fate had brought him into Xiao Ci’s hands, he could only sigh at the turn of karma.
Shen Yunshu, however, felt reassured. “I believe in Xiao Ci’s character. He’s fair and just and won’t take personal revenge on you…” Moreover, Xiao Ci and Pei Huaijin had been longtime friends. Shen Yunshu was confident Xie Heng would get through this ordeal safely.
Besides, Xie Heng had no disloyal intentions toward the Emperor, so he had nothing to fear from Xiao Ci’s investigation.
Therefore, neither of them was anxious and took advantage of the confinement to rest properly.
“I’ve spent these past years feeling like a duck pushed onto a chopping block, never a moment’s peace. I barely recognize myself anymore…”
“Yes, you’re like a different person from when I first married you.”
Xie Heng rolled over and, through their two-year-old son, looked at her, “Then which do you like better, the old me or the new me?”
Shen Yunshu pursed her lips and teased, “We’re both grown-ups now, why bother comparing?”
“Say it clearly…”
After a moment’s thought, she gave a smooth answer, “I like them both.”
Xie Heng felt the answer lacked sincerity and was about to frown in protest when she added, “I like your passionate boldness at sixteen, and I like your current reserved prudence. I like your impulsive spontaneity then, and your measured planning now. I like the sharpness you showed then, and the way you now know how to hide your edges without showing your brilliance…”
Before Xie Heng could even frown, her words had smoothed it away, and his heart quietly bloomed with joy.
They had been together for five or six years now. In that time, he had read countless books and fought several battles, gaining knowledge and experience. But when he was with her, he could be turned into a silly dog that only smiled with his mouth by a few words from her.
“Madam,” his hand slid past their son, tracing the hollow of her waist bit by bit, “It’s been a long time since we’ve done that.”
After breaking two ribs, the imperial physicians had advised Xie Heng to rest. Shen Yunshu used this as a reason to keep him from touching her. To prevent him from getting restless, she even took their two-year-old son from his wet nurse and placed him between them. It had been half a month now. Hearing her confession today, Xie Heng’s passion swelled painfully.
The hand on her waist was no longer the smooth, slender hand from his student days. This hand had held reins, drawn bows, and wielded blades. The webbing between fingers and palms had developed a thin callus, creating a slight roughness when it brushed against her smooth skin.
Shen Yunshu held back the unruly hand. “No, the doctors said you have to recuperate for at least a month.”
“It’s my ribs, not my waist. It doesn’t matter.” Xie Heng moved past their obstructing son, pressing against her from above, earnestly requesting, “Please, my love, indulge me. I’m truly parched…”
Shen Yunshu avoided his injured side and pressed against his chest, pretending not to understand, “If you’re thirsty, then go drink water. What do you want from me?”
“What’s so good about tasteless tea? What’s on you is the best thirst quencher…” He leaned down, lightly nibbling her lips and slowly moving lower.
Shen Yunshu caught him. “No, Che’er is still here…”
“Xie Heng’s sleeping like a little pig. Just be quieter. You won’t wake him.”
“That’s still no good…” Their son was already two. If he woke up halfway, how would she explain all this to him?
But despite her efforts to stop him, she couldn’t hold back this hungry man’s advances. Her sash was torn off, her clothes thrown open, and her undergarments ripped off and tossed on the pillow.
Xie Heng buried his head in her, not rushing to quench his thirst, savoring her warmth and fragrance first.
Since giving birth, she had become slightly fuller. Where he could barely cup her with one hand before, now one hand was no longer enough.
Xie Heng adored her body and wished he could drown in this gentle paradise.
Red marks like plum blossoms bloomed across her skin. Just as they were lost in each other, a sharp cry suddenly pierced the room. The couple snapped back to reality and hurried toward the source of the sound.
Their two-year-old little devil had woken without anyone noticing and was climbing onto Shen Yunshu, raising his tiny fists to hit Xie Heng. “Waa, don’t eat my mommy…”
Xie Heng quickly helped Shen Yunshu fix her clothes and sit up.
By then, the little devil had nestled into Shen Yunshu’s arms, his chubby arms wrapped tightly around his mother’s neck, glaring at his father, “You bad man who eats people, go away!”
Xie Heng laughed helplessly and tried to explain to the little one, “Daddy’s not trying to eat your mommy. Daddy and mommy are just—”
Before he could say “being affectionate,” Shen Yunshu shot him a warning look.
She gently patted the little one in her arms and explained in words a child might understand, “Daddy’s not eating mommy. Daddy’s just playing with mommy.”
Che’er looked half convinced. Pulling open her clothes, he pointed to the red marks on her skin and angrily said, “Daddy bit you all over!”
“No, he didn’t bite me. It doesn’t hurt. Daddy’s just… drawing pictures on mommy,” Shen Yunshu wracked her brain to soothe the child. “See? Do you like the pictures?”
Che’er studied her carefully and finally stopped crying. “But drawing is supposed to be done with hands, right? Why did Daddy use his mouth to draw?”
“Well…” Shen Yunshu hesitated and exchanged looks with Xie Heng.
Despite their extensive knowledge, they were stumped by their two-year-old’s question.
Xie Heng gave up on explaining and grabbed Che’er from Shen Yunshu’s arms, “What’s wrong with me drawing with my mouth? You pee on the bed to draw pictures, and I never said anything…”
Che’er struggled and made a fuss as Xie Heng carried him off the bed.
Che’er protested, “I want Mommy! I want Mommy!”
Xie Heng suddenly stopped and asked, “Don’t you like your Aunt Yuan’s daughter, Yuan Yuan? Want a little sister just as cute as Yuan Yuan?”
Che’er paused crying and looked up, “Why a little sister? I want a big sister…”
“You can’t have a big sister, but tonight you can go sleep with your wet nurse. Maybe someday you’ll get a little sister as cute as Yuan Yuan…”
Cheer’s eyes lit up, “Then I want one right now!”
Xie Heng continued carrying him out, “Alright, we’ll try to make one for you tonight.”
“How do you make one?” Che’er swung in his father’s arms, his little head full of questions. “Do you make it in the flowerpot?”
“Yes.”
“Can it be grape flavor?”
“Nope…”
“How about lychee flavor?”
“Also no.”
Xie Heng handed the little boy over to Ting Lan outside and told her to take him to the wet nurse.
As the room door closed, they still heard Che’er calling out, “Orange flavor, give me an orange-flavored little sister…”