"Zhaozhao, just one more sip, just one more sip!" Lu Qi held a steaming bowl of angelica and jujube chicken soup, and like coaxing a child, he scooped up a spoonful, blew on it again and again, and brought it to Shen Zhao's lips, his eyes full of expectation and unyielding insistence.

Shen Zhao leaned against the thick, soft pillows. Her face was still a little pale, but her complexion had improved considerably. She wrinkled her delicate nose and turned her head away in disgust: "No more... I've already had three bowls... It's so cloying... I don't want to drink anymore..."

"You have to drink it even if it's greasy!" Lu Qi brought the spoon closer, his face stern. "My sister-in-law said this soup is good for your blood and qi, and it's good for your wound healing! Look how pale you are, you need to replenish your energy. Be good, open your mouth."

Shen Zhao looked at him helplessly, seeing the undisguised concern and clumsy assertiveness in his eyes. Her heart softened, and she could only resign herself to opening her mouth and letting him feed her the soup. The warm soup slid down her throat, carrying the unique bitterness of the herbs and the sweet fragrance of red dates.

"That's a good boy." Lu Qi smiled with satisfaction, then scooped up another spoonful. "Once you're better, I'll get you whatever you want to eat, but not now."

Just then, the wet nurse came in carrying two tiny babies wrapped in embroidered swaddling clothes. The infants had just finished eating, their cheeks rosy, and they were fast asleep. Shen Zhao's eyes immediately lit up, and he struggled to sit up: "Quick! Bring them here so I can see them!"

"Don't move!" Lu Qi immediately put down the bowl and nervously pressed down on her shoulders. "Your wound hasn't healed yet! Don't move around!" He turned to the wet nurse and said, "Put her in the small cradle by the bed and let Madam watch over her. Don't let her hold her."

The wet nurse obediently pushed the two small cradles to the bedside. Shen Zhao gazed longingly at her children so close to her, reaching out her fingers to touch their soft, tender little faces: "Just want to touch them..."

"Not even touching!" Lu Qi grabbed her hand swiftly, his tone resolute. "You'll only aggravate your wound if you move! You can look if you want, but you're not allowed to touch it! Once you're fully healed, you can hug me however you want!"

"Lu Qi, Lu Xiaoqi! You...you're so domineering!" Shen Zhao puffed out her cheeks in anger, glaring at the overly nervous man in front of her.

"That's being domineering!" Lu Qi said matter-of-factly, leaning down to quickly kiss her puffed-up cheek, then immediately straightening up and staring at her hands like a thief. "It's for your own good! Be good!"

Seeing his paranoid expression, and recalling his tireless care over the past few days, not letting her lift a finger to help the children, afraid she might get even a little tired, Shen Zhao's annoyance vanished instantly, leaving only a sweet and helpless feeling. She gave him a reproachful look, but ultimately leaned back obediently on the pillow, her gaze lingering tenderly on her two sleeping babies, a happy smile playing on her lips.

The night was deep. Inside the warm pavilion that belonged to Lu Xiao and An An, the candles had been extinguished, leaving only the hazy moonlight filtering through the gauze curtains.

Lu Xiao lay on his side, his strong arms holding An An tightly in his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her fragrant hair, like a large, satiated, and clingy dog. His fingers idly twirled the strands of An An's hair scattered on the pillow, his voice filled with a deep, neglected resentment:

“My lady…these past few days, you only have eyes for Yue-ge’er, Zhou-ge’er, and Han-jie’er, or Zhao-zhao and her two little brats…Am I ranked to the very top of your heart?” Warm breath brushed against An’an’s sensitive earlobe.