The news spread like wildfire throughout the palace. Inside Qiwu Palace, A Yuan and Xiao Chengkang, upon hearing the news, were shocked, their brows furrowing even more deeply.

"Two months pregnant?" A-Yuan tapped the table unconsciously with her fingertips. "The timing... was right in the middle to late stages of her confinement. Kunning Palace was heavily guarded then, how did she..." She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear. The timing of this child's appearance was far too sensitive and suspicious.

“Lianxing entered the palace, and the Empress became pregnant…” Xiao Chengkang’s eyes were deep, like a cold pool. “These two events happened one after another, which is no coincidence. During Lin’s confinement, it was difficult to contact the outside world, but she was able to find and train Lianxing and… conceive at the same time? There must be a huge network operating behind this that we do not yet know about.”

He walked to the window, looking at the gloomy, snow-threatening sky outside, his voice low: "The Shadow Guards must double their vigilance over Kunning Palace and Lanyue Pavilion. Lin is pregnant, and she will definitely use this as a pretext to make a big fuss; her actions will only escalate. Lianxing... is a dagger Lin planted beside the Emperor, and this dagger could turn against us at any moment. And her personal maid, Xiyu," he turned, his gaze sharp, "her fear doesn't seem feigned; perhaps it's time to 'make contact' with her."

A-Yuan nodded, her eyes devoid of any remaining hope: "We'll meet force with force, and water with earth. Since she's made her move, we'll respond accordingly. However," she looked at Xiao Chengkang with a hint of worry, "Father is currently immersed in the joy of having a son late in life and a new favorite, and his wariness of Lin Shi has probably greatly diminished. We need to be even more cautious in our actions."

In the late autumn of the northern frontier, the wind was still biting cold, but the warm pavilion in the inner courtyard of the general's mansion was as warm as spring, filled with the aroma of milk and the warmth of charcoal fire.

Shen Zhao leaned against the warm kang bed covered with a thick fox fur coat, watching Lu Qi clumsily change his daughter Xi'er's diaper. The little one kicked her legs, very uncooperative, and Lu Qi was so nervous that he was covered in sweat, his movements stiff as if he were taking something apart.

"Hey, Lu Qi! Lu Xiaoqi! Can you be a little gentler? Those are your daughter's tender legs, not a long spear!" Shen Zhao was getting anxious and couldn't help but call out to give instructions.

"I know, I know!" Lu Qi didn't even look up, carefully pinching the corner of the diaper as if it were a rare treasure. "Xi'er, be good, don't move, Daddy will be done soon..." He finally finished wrapping it up and breathed a sigh of relief when Xuan Ge'er next to him became unhappy and started wailing, as if he was protesting that his cheap father only cared about his sister and not him.

Lu Qi hurriedly went to coax his sons, picking one up in each arm. His tall frame spun around the warm kang (heated brick bed) like a top in a fluster. Shen Zhao looked at his disheveled yet earnest appearance and smiled, her eyes crinkling. Her previous weakness had vanished, replaced by a healthy, rosy glow and overflowing happiness.

"Madam, the eldest young mistress has arrived," a maid announced.

An'an walked in with a smile, carrying a bundle, followed by a nanny carrying two food boxes. "Zhaozhao, Qi-di," she greeted, placing the bundle on the kang (heated brick bed) and opening it. Inside were two sets of small jackets and trousers made of the softest cotton and fluffy silk floss, with fine stitches and embroidered with cute tiger head patterns. "These are winter clothes I made in advance for Xi'er and Xuan-ge'er. Try them on and see if they fit. Also," she looked at Lu Qi, "these are knee pads I made for you. You have an old knee injury, and in this freezing weather, you can't be careless."

Lu Qi accepted the thick, soft knee pads, feeling touched: "Thank you so much, sister-in-law, for always thinking of me."

An'an opened the food box again, inside were steaming hot mutton dumplings and several delicate side dishes: "They're freshly made, eat them while they're hot. Zhaozhao, eat more, this is to replenish your qi and blood."

Shen Zhao pulled An'an down to sit, and seeing the slight weariness in An'an's eyes, she said with heartache, "Sister-in-law, you have to take care of the three little ones, worry about us, and go to the military camp... It's too hard. Take a rest."

An'an smiled and patted her hand: "I'm not tired. Seeing that you are all doing well makes me happy." She looked at the two toddlers on the kang with gentle eyes, "When spring comes and the weather gets warmer, I'll take the children to play in my yard. Yue-ge'er and Zhou-ge'er love their little brothers and sisters."

Inside the warm room, the aroma of dumplings filled the air, mingled with the children's laughter and Lu Qi's clumsy attempts to soothe the baby, creating a scene of the most ordinary yet precious warmth. The cold wind howled outside, but it couldn't dispel the cozy feeling inside.