Early spring in the north still carried a chill, but inside the general's mansion, the main courtyard was warm and cozy. A charcoal fire burned brightly, keeping out the outside wind. An'an leaned against the canopy bed covered with a thick brocade quilt, a soft fox fur coat covering her. Though her face still bore the pallor of postpartum recovery, it radiated a contented warmth. Three swaddled babies lay side-by-side in a specially made, large cradle beside her. The two boys slept soundly, their little fists clenched tightly, while the youngest daughter opened her large, dark eyes, curiously observing the world.

Lu Xiao was clumsily holding his baby daughter, who had just finished eating, his posture stiff as if he were holding a fiery bomb that could explode at any moment. His tall and strong body appeared unusually cautious at this moment, his brows furrowed, as if he was afraid of accidentally dropping this incredibly soft little baby.

"Oh dear, my little darling, don't be so awkward... Yes, just lean against Daddy's arm like this..." He lowered his voice, as if discussing it with his daughter, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. General Lu, who was usually so commanding on the battlefield and made the enemy tremble with fear, was now so nervous and at a loss for what to do with the little pink dumpling in his arms who was not even as long as his forearm.

An'an looked at him and couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes crinkling: "Look how nervous you are. She's not a porcelain doll. Hold her loosely and support her head and neck."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiao quickly adjusted his posture, his movements still stiff, but the tenderness in his eyes was almost overflowing. He lowered his head and gently rubbed his nose against his daughter's delicate little face, his voice low and doting: "Daddy was just afraid we'd fall." He looked up at An'an, his eyes full of heartache and gratitude, "Thank you for your hard work, An'an."

"These three little devils have really worn you out." He glanced at his other two sons in the cradle, his tone a complaint, but his eyes were full of happy smiles.

“It’s all worth it, no matter how hard it is.” An’an looked at the three children gently, then at Lu Xiao. “But you haven’t had a full night’s sleep these days. You’ve been piling up military duties, haven’t you? Let the wet nurse take care of them more.”

“No!” Lu Xiao immediately refused decisively, holding his daughter and sitting down on the edge of the bed next to An’an. “I need to watch over her myself to feel at ease. What military affairs are more important than you and the children? Mother is here during the day, and I’ll stay by her side at night.” He reached out and tucked the blanket around An’an. “Just focus on getting better and recovering. What do you want to eat? I’ll have the kitchen make it.”

The two were talking in hushed tones when Luo Qingrou came in carrying a steaming bowl of nourishing soup. Seeing her son clumsily holding the baby, she was both amused and exasperated: "Oh, my silly son, holding this baby is harder than going into battle! Give it to me, don't drop my precious granddaughter!" She carefully took her granddaughter from Lu Xiao's arms, her movements practiced and gentle.

Lu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, but was still a little unconvinced: "I was just learning..."

"You're so clumsy even when you're learning!" Luo Qingrou scolded him, then turned to An'an and smiled, "An'an, quickly drink this soup. It's freshly made ginseng chicken soup, the most nourishing. Mother will watch you drink it."

An'an smiled and took the bowl: "Thank you, Mom." She sipped the soup, a warm current spreading from her stomach throughout her body.

Just then, a lively sound came from outside, mixed with hearty laughter and hurried footsteps. The curtain was lifted, and Prince Jing, Xiao Chengjing, and Princess Shen Yuewei, looking travel-worn but still energetic, entered, led by the steward. Both of them wore the weariness of a long journey, but even more so, they were filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy.

"An'an! My son!" Shen Yuewei saw her daughter on the bed and her three grandsons in the cradle at a glance, and her eyes instantly reddened. She took a few steps forward, held An'an's hand tightly, and looked him up and down. "You've suffered so much! Are you alright?" Her voice was choked with sobs, full of heartache.

Xiao Chengjing followed closely behind. This dignified and imposing Prince Jing, looking at his daughter's pale yet smiling face, and then at the three tiny swaddled babies, his majestic brows softened instantly, his eyes filled with an overwhelming heartache and excitement. His lips moved, but in the end, he could only call out in a deep voice, "An'an..." His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Father! Mother!" An'an was overjoyed to see her parents. "Why did you come all this way? It's been such a long journey!"

"My daughter gave birth to three grandchildren! What a joyous occasion! I had to come no matter how far!" Shen Yuewei wiped away her tears, then couldn't help but peek into the cradle at the baby. "Let grandma see! Oh my, look at this little one... he looks just like An'an when he was little..."

Xiao Chengjing walked to the cradle, his gaze fixed on the three sleeping little faces. A rare, almost silly smile appeared on his usually stern face. He reached out a finger, wanting to touch one of the little boys' hands, but fearing to wake him, he left it hanging in mid-air, his eyes filled with pure, immense joy.

"Good...good! Good!" He said "good" three times in a row, his voice loud and clear, filled with immense satisfaction and pride. He turned to Lu Xiao and patted his son-in-law's shoulder forcefully, "Xiao'er! Well done! An'an, you've worked hard! You're both excellent!" His excitement was palpable.

Shen Yuewei smiled and looked at Lu Xiao: "Xiao'er, you've worked hard taking care of An'an these past few days."

Lu Xiao quickly bowed and said, "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, you flatter me. It's all what I should do. Please have a seat." He then invited the servants to serve tea and refreshments.

Xiao Chengjing and Shen Yuewei sat down by the bed and inquired in detail about An'an's childbirth and recovery. Upon learning that she had gone into labor prematurely in the military camp, Xiao Chengjing felt a wave of fear and heartache, his brows furrowing.

In the stillness of the night, only Xiao Chengjing and Shen Yuewei remained in the inner room with An'an and the child.

Xiao Chengjing sat by the cradle, looking at his three sleeping grandchildren, then at his slightly tired daughter on the bed, his heartache lingering in his eyes. He sighed and said softly, "Wei'er, look at An'an's complexion... The northern border is bitterly cold, and she just gave birth to three children. This postpartum period... I'm afraid it will be difficult for her."

Shen Yuewei walked to his side, gently took his hand, and said softly, "Jing'er, I know you love your daughter. But look at An'an's eyes. With Xiao'er protecting her and her mother-in-law taking good care of her, she is content. And the children are all healthy. Isn't that better than anything else?"

The sound of "Jing'er" instantly softened Xiao Chengjing's tense nerves. He took Shen Yuewei's hand in his own, buried his face in the soft crook of her neck, and said in a muffled voice, with a hint of barely perceptible dependence and vulnerability, "I know... it's just that seeing her suffer... it breaks my heart. Back when you gave birth to An'an..."

“It’s all in the past.” Shen Yuewei gently patted his back, as if comforting a restless child. “Now we have three lively little grandchildren, isn’t that wonderful? Once An’an is feeling better and the children are a bit older, we’ll bring them back to Beijing for a while, or we can go to a warm place in Jiangnan so An’an can recuperate properly and the children can see the outside world. What do you say?”

Xiao Chengjing raised his head and looked into his wife's gentle eyes. The gloom in his heart gradually dissipated, leaving only warmth.

He leaned close to her ear, his voice deep and magnetic, carrying a hint of intimacy: "Okay... whatever Wei'er says. But now... you need to comfort your husband's troubled heart..." He put his arm around his wife's waist and planted a long kiss on her lips.