"Your Highness, what's wrong with the Second Princess? Her eyes are red, and she ran back here. She won't even come out to eat." Chunxing said to Shen Yuewei with concern as she changed Kang Kang's diaper.

Shen Yuewei was drinking the ginseng soup that Xiao Chengjing was feeding her when she heard this and paused. She looked at Xiao Chengjing, and the two exchanged a knowing glance.

"Perhaps... she saw Wensong and Chuntao talking in the garden?" Shen Yuewei sighed. The Chuntao she mentioned was the woman who had spoken with Shen Wensong in front of the Linshui Pavilion earlier. She was Shen Yuewei's personal maid from the capital, who had married Zhou, a scholar from Jiangnan, a friend of Shen Yuewei's, two years ago. Zhou was now an official in the Jiangnan court and had come to visit her today. Her child was already over a year old.

Xiao Chengjing put down the soup bowl and said calmly, "Wen Song grew up under the care of Chun Tao and the other maids, so their relationship is naturally different. After Chun Tao got married, Wen Song treated her like an older sister. Every time he returned to Jiangnan, he would bring her some trinkets from the capital and ask about her recent situation." He looked at his wife, "Second sister is probably misunderstanding."

"This child has such a fiery temper," Shen Yuewei said with a touch of heartache. "I'll go check on her."

Supported by Chunxing, Shen Yuewei arrived at Xiao Mingyu's room. Pushing open the door, she saw Xiao Mingyu lying on the bed, her shoulders twitching. Hearing the noise, she immediately covered her head with the blanket.

Shen Yuewei walked over, gently sat down on the edge of the bed, and said softly, "Mingyu? Why are you crying? Has someone wronged you?"

A muffled voice, choked with sobs, came from under the covers: "No... Sister Yuewei, I'm fine... I just... I got some sand in my eyes..."

Shen Yuewei gently pulled back a corner of the blanket, revealing Xiao Mingyu's red, swollen eyes and kitten-like face. She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears: "Silly girl, are you still hiding this from your sister? Did you... see Wensong and Chuntao?"

Xiao Mingyu froze, then sat up abruptly, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Shen Yuewei, her voice filled with accusation and grievance: "Sister Yuewei! He... he smiled at that woman! He's never smiled at me like that before! He even... he even tried to touch her hair! Does he... does he like her?"

Shen Yuewei watched the young girl's budding romance turn into a painful blow, feeling both amused and heartbroken. She put her arm around Xiao Mingyu's shoulder and softly explained, "Mingyu, you've misunderstood. That's Chun Tao, my former personal maid. She's married now and has children all over the place. When Wensong was little, Chun Tao and the other maids took good care of him; they were like siblings. Every time he came back, he would visit Chun Tao, bring her something, and ask how things were at home. It wasn't romantic love; it was just familial care."

Xiao Mingyu froze, her long eyelashes fluttering with tears in them: "Really...really? Just...siblings?"

“Absolutely true.” Shen Yuewei nodded firmly, tidying her disheveled hair. “Wen Song’s mind is all on military affairs, and he’s indeed a bit slow when it comes to matters of the heart. Don’t scare yourself.”

Xiao Mingyu's tear tracks were still wet. Hearing these words, the hurt and bitterness faded, replaced by a sense of shame and anger at being fooled, and... a glimmer of hope rekindled. She sniffed and muttered softly, "Then... then why was he so mean to me..."

Shen Yuewei smiled and shook her head: "Given his personality, he would naturally be respectful and courteous in front of the princess, not daring to overstep any boundaries. The more proactive you are, the more he will probably back down."

Xiao Mingyu seemed to be deep in thought, her face gradually brightening again. So it wasn't that he had someone he liked! He was just a stubborn, unyielding rock!

At this moment, Chunxing walked in quickly with a happy expression: "Your Highness! Your Highness! A letter has arrived from the Lu family at the border! It's an urgent message delivered by express courier!"

Shen Yuewei and Xiao Chengjing perked up. Xiao Chengjing took the letter, quickly opened it, glanced at it, and a rare, obvious smile appeared on his usually cold face.

"Qingrou gave birth?" Shen Yuewei asked anxiously.

"She's given birth." Xiao Chengjing handed her the letter, his voice tinged with laughter. "Mother and children are safe. And..." He paused, then looked at Xiao Mingyu, who was also curiously leaning closer, "It's twin boys."

"Two?!" Shen Yuewei exclaimed in surprise as she took the letter. "My goodness! Sister Qingrou is amazing! Twins! This is such a blessing!"

Xiao Mingyu also went over to take a look, temporarily putting Shen Wensong out of her mind, and exclaimed, "Wow! Two young generals! Young Master Lu and Sister Qingrou are so lucky!"

Shen Yuewei looked at the letter, grinning from ear to ear: "The letter also said that Madam Lu and Madam Luo were overjoyed, holding their two grandsons and unwilling to let go. Lu Zheng was so happy that he held a three-day feast in the camp!" She stroked Kang Kang, who was full and starting to blow bubbles in her arms, and laughed, "That's great, Kang Kang will have company from now on. When they grow up, let An'an take Kang Kang to play with the two Lu family boys, maybe they can even..." She didn't finish her sentence, but the mischievous smile in her eyes was already clear—that little devil An'an, paired with two little general brothers who grew up on the border, the scene was hilarious just thinking about it.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengjing merely raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying. His gaze fell upon his son's innocent face, but a subtle, almost imperceptible thought flickered in his deep eyes. That Lu Zheng guy, he suddenly had two sons… He looked down at the one in his arms, hmm, quality over quantity.