Chapter 700: Out of Control?

The news spread throughout the He Residence.

"Tsk, tsk, to think a young lady could do such a thing, it’s truly unexpected!"

"Indeed, to scheme her way to the master’s side just to fancy one of his attendants?"

"Exactly! Who knows what she was thinking!"

"Let’s drop it. We’ll see how Madam handles it!"

A few servant boys murmured among themselves for a while before dispersing.

The news quickly reached the inner court.

Ni Manxue was drinking her tonic when she heard about it.

She immediately sensed that there was more to the situation than met the eye!

Indeed, upon asking Xia Tingfeng, she learned the full story.

However, she did not react with the expected anger; instead, she was silent for a moment.

Xia Tingfeng grew anxious.

"Could it be that I have done something wrong?"

As he spoke, he was about to apologize, but Ni Manxue stopped him.

"Marquis!"

Her expression was grave, tinged with guilt.

After sending the servants away, Ni Manxue caressed her belly, speaking earnestly,

"Marquis, I was immature in the past and coveted your favor, which led me to..."

"Now that I am pregnant, I cannot attend to you. According to the rules, I should arrange for a Chamber Maid and concubines to serve you..."

Xia Tingfeng looked shocked and incredulous.

"Manxue, what are you talking about!"

"You are carrying my child, enduring hardship for me, and you want me to seek other women?"

"Manxue!"

Xia Tingfeng became agitated, even a little angry.

Ni Manxue rose quickly.

"Marquis, don’t be upset! It’s just that..."

Ni Manxue struggled.

Her heart ached terribly at the prospect.

But she forced herself to continue, "These are the rules!"

"I cannot monopolize your love!"

"For a prominent household, it’s normal to have three chambers and five concubines. My lord, I truly don’t mind!"

Ni Manxue uttered these words, almost gritting her teeth.

Xia Tingfeng felt a devastating blow to his heart, but with Manxue pregnant, he dared not lash out and frighten her.

He could only suppress his emotions, his eyes turning red.

"Manxue!"

"I don’t acknowledge any damned rules or customs! I only acknowledge you!"

"I was born of a concubine; my own mother was a concubine!"

"I know how much she suffered! I also know how difficult my own life was!"

"Therefore, I swore that in this life, I would marry only one woman, possess only one woman!"

"Anyone else, even a fairy descended from heaven, I wouldn’t spare a second glance! Manxue, do you understand?"

Ni Manxue was utterly stunned.

Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions: happiness, guilt, and apprehension.

"Marquis..."

She was somewhat flustered, an unease stirring within her.

"But, my lord, for so long, I haven’t been able to serve you..."

Xia Tingfeng pressed her down onto the kang bed, his gaze fixed on her eyes, and said dominantly,

"Since you know you can’t serve me, why do you still try to provoke my anger?"

"More than twenty years of my life have passed; what’s another year or two? I didn’t marry you just to warm my bed!"

It’s because I cherish you!

Xia Tingfeng had fought on battlefields, faced life and death, and served by the Emperor’s side.

Over the years, he was no longer the insecure yet arrogant youth he once was.

He was now a dignified Great General!

On the battlefield, he could lead soldiers into battle; in the barracks, he could command thousands of troops and horses.

His every gesture was imposing and spirited.

Yet, in front of the woman he loved, he became a little... out of control?

Ni Manxue lowered her head, a maelstrom of confusion, self-reproach, happiness, and panic swirling within her; for a moment, she didn’t know what to do.

In her flurry, she quickly blurted out,

"Marquis, I realize my mistake!"

Xia Tingfeng saw she seemed startled and felt a pang of distress and annoyance.

"Manxue..."

Ni Manxue, regaining her composure, kept her head lowered.

"Marquis, I won’t mention it again. Please don’t be angry!"

For some reason, an inexplicable joy blossomed in her heart!

"It’s just that..."

"Just what?" Xia Tingfeng asked hurriedly.

"In the future, I might acquire a reputation as a jealous wife!"

In the prestigious Hou Mansion, the lady of the house is pregnant, yet the Marquis has no concubines. If word gets out, wouldn’t people think that way?

Xia Tingfeng smiled faintly.

"Don’t worry!"

"We’re not living our lives for them. Let them say what they will!"

"Mm!"

Ni Manxue nodded.

They sat down on the kang bed again.

Xia Tingfeng drank the tea his wife personally poured for him, feeling very content.

He then gently stroked her belly again.

"Son, come out quickly! Don’t cause your mother trouble, or watch out, your father will spank you!"

Ni Manxue teased him,

"How do you know it’s a son? What if it’s a daughter?!"

When Xia Tingfeng heard the word "daughter," his heart melted, and even his eyes softened.

"If it’s a daughter, I couldn’t bear to spank her. I’d have to pamper her!"

He would cherish her, placing her at the very core of his heart, giving her the absolute best of everything he possessed!

"Although she wouldn’t be a Princess, our family is no less, and it will become even better!"

"When she grows up, she must marry within the Capital City, ideally no more than five streets away. Her husband must be skilled in both literature and martial arts to protect her!"

"If he dares to bully her, I’ll twist his head off!"

True to his ’ruffian’ origins, Xia Tingfeng revealed his true colors when agitated.

His words actually startled Ni Manxue.

"Marquis, you mustn’t speak so recklessly! It’s not good for the child to hear!"

Only then did Xia Tingfeng snap back to reality.

He gently rubbed his wife’s belly to console her, but he didn’t retract his words!

...

「Meanwhile, in the palace.」

After the second day of the New Year, Xia Ruqing found herself with more leisure time.

Little Bun would turn three after the New Year, and Zhao Junyao had recently been busy finding tutors to begin his education.

The little fellow seemed to understand he was about to start school.

Every day, he would cling to Yellow Bean and the others, clearly reluctant to part.

Just then, in the corridor, Little Bun was patting Yellow Bean’s head, saying,

"Yellow Bean, you must be good!"

"I’m going to study, and Father Emperor has even found me a teacher!"

"Father Emperor says that if you don’t study hard, you’ll become a dunce, and I don’t want to be a dunce!"

Yellow Bean lay obediently on the ground, occasionally licking Little Bun’s cheek in response.

"You must also take good care of Da Bai and Little White. Especially Little White—she’s too mischievous!"

Yellow Bean licked Little Bun’s face again and whimpered softly.

It was as if to say, "I understand!"

Seeing it act this way, Little Bun felt reassured.

He patted the back of its head and stood up.

Trotting on his short little legs, he ran to Xia Ruqing.

Xia Ruqing was painting.

Ever since being heavily critiqued by Zhao Junyao, she had become fascinated with painting.

Zi Yue advised her not to overexert herself, but she retorted,

"There’s nothing else to do anyway!"

"I’m not aiming for a master’s level; as long as my paintings aren’t laughed at, that’s fine!"

With a good teacher, reaching the level she hoped for wouldn’t be difficult.

Xia Ruqing was also intelligent, so she progressed quite quickly.

In just a few days, she could replicate a drawing with seventy to eighty percent accuracy.

At any rate, Zi Yue and the others thought her paintings looked quite similar to the originals.

"My lady is truly incredible! You’ve made such rapid progress in just a few days!"