In the capital city in December, everything was covered in silver, and the wind was biting. Inside the warm pavilion of the Shen family's main courtyard, the charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the chill outside. Shen Wenqing (the eldest brother) had just returned from court, still carrying the chill of the night, and was sitting on a small kang (heated brick bed) by the window, reading several letters sent from Jiangnan by express horse by candlelight. He Mingzhu sat opposite him on an embroidered stool, her hands sewing a pair of tiger-head cotton shoes for her son, Shen Rui.

When Shen Wenqing unfolded Shen Yuewei's handwritten letter and saw the sentence, "I am more than two months pregnant with your child. Father and Mother are very happy. Second Brother's business is growing bigger and bigger. Everything is fine at home. Don't worry," his fingers holding the letter tightened suddenly, and his usually composed face instantly broke into an uncontrollable smile of surprise.

"Mingzhu! Mingzhu!" He excitedly raised his head, his voice trembling slightly. "Yuewei is pregnant! We have a nephew!"

He Mingzhu paused in her needlework, looking up in surprise: "Really?" She quickly put down her needlework and leaned closer to read the handwriting on the letter through her husband's hand. Her face immediately lit up with genuine joy: "That's wonderful! This is truly a joyous occasion! How is Yuewei? The Prince must be overjoyed!" She thought of Prince Jing in Jiangnan, who doted on his younger sister, and how he must be overjoyed at this moment.

"Good! The letter says everything is fine!" Shen Wenqing read those lines over and over, as if trying to draw more warmth from them to dispel the chill of the capital. He put down the letter and looked intently at his wife. In the candlelight, He Mingzhu's gentle profile shone softly, radiating the serene beauty of a wife and mother. A strong surge of warmth, mixed with a certain flutter of emotion, instantly welled up in Shen Wenqing's heart.

He put down the letter, stood up, and walked to He Mingzhu. Without a word, he extended his large, warm hand and gently stroked his wife's cheek. He Mingzhu was slightly taken aback by the unusual, deep tenderness and warmth in his eyes, and a blush rose on her cheeks: "Husband?"

Shen Wenqing leaned down, his calloused fingertips gently caressing the corner of her lips. His gaze was deep, and his voice was low and magnetic as he spoke in her ear: "Yuewei and the Prince... have more good news. Mingzhu, looking at them, your husband... also wants to have another child as lovely as Ruige'er, or... a daughter as gentle and considerate as you." His warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe.

He Mingzhu's heart skipped a beat, then began pounding like a drum. Married for many years, her husband had always been calm and reserved, rarely expressing his emotions so openly. Looking at the undisguised expectation and longing in his eyes, she shyly lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and softly responded, "Mmm..."

This faint, almost inaudible response was like a spark igniting dry tinder. Shen Wenqing's Adam's apple bobbed, and without further hesitation, he lowered his head and kissed his wife's soft lips. Unlike his usual gentleness, this kiss carried pent-up emotions and a burning desire ignited by his sister's good news, tenderly yet domineeringly capturing her breath.

The candlelight crackled softly, casting their intertwined silhouettes against the wall, a tender and lingering image. Shen Wenqing's arms were tightly wrapped around his wife's slender yet supple waist, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones. Under his forceful yet gentle advances, He Mingzhu gradually softened, responding with a raw yet passionate warmth. The air in the warm room seemed to thicken and sweeten.

After a long while, Shen Wenqing finally loosened his grip on his wife, whose breathing was slightly disordered. His forehead was pressed against hers, and a flame that had not yet been extinguished burned deep in his phoenix eyes. His voice was hoarse but firm: "Mingzhu, let's... hurry up, okay?" It was not an order, but a plea and promise filled with emotion.

He Mingzhu leaned against his strong chest, listening to his equally rapid heartbeat, her face flushed, and nodded gently.

Shen Wenqing was passionate and fierce, and He Mingzhu could only see the two different faces of Shen Wenqing during the day when they were in bed, which made her love him very much.

He Mingzhu was like a small boat tossed about by the surging tide of passion beneath him.

Broken moans and sobbing whimpers escaped her lips uncontrollably, carrying a chilling allure.

"Gently... gently... Wenqing..." she pleaded intermittently, her fingernails scratching red marks on his taut back.

Shen Wenqing was breathing heavily, sweat rolling down his sharply defined jawline, scalding her and making her flinch. He leaned down and fiercely captured her slightly parted lips, swallowing her sobs completely, like an insatiable beast wanting to devour her whole and melt her into his very bones.

The bed curtains swayed violently, and the canopy bed creaked under the weight. The air was thick with the scent of musk, the salty tang of sweat, and the cloying sweetness of pent-up desire. Moonlight filtered through the gauze curtains, casting a hazy outline of their figures.

Outside the window, the cold wind howls, but inside, spring is in full bloom.