Lu Xiao had just returned from the military camp, still shivering from the cold. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw An'an sitting by the heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove), holding a medical book in her hand, with a medicine grinder at her feet, seemingly studying some prescription. Yue Ge'er and Zhou Ge'er were playing with building blocks on the thick carpet, while Han Jie'er nestled beside her mother, quietly flipping through a picture book of flowers and birds.

"Daddy!" Yue Ge'er, with his sharp eyes, spotted Lu Xiao and immediately dropped his building blocks and rushed over. Zhou Ge'er and Han Jie'er followed closely behind, like three cheerful little birds.

Lu Xiao's cold and hard expression melted instantly. He bent down and scooped up his two sons, one in each arm, and then picked up his daughter with his other arm. He rubbed his cold face against the little ones' warm cheeks, making them giggle.

An'an put down her book, smiling as she watched the four of them frolicking around. She got up to get some warm ginger tea: "Have a sip of this hot tea to warm you up. How did the patrol go today? Did your old knee injury get frostbite?"

Lu Xiao sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with the children in his arms, took a large sip of ginger tea, and felt the warmth spread from his throat to his stomach. Looking at An'an's concerned eyes, he felt comforted, but said, "It's nothing. This little bit of chill is nothing." His gaze swept over the medicine grinder and medical books at An'an's feet. "What medicine are you preparing now?"

"I'll prepare some warming and invigorating ointment for you." An'an naturally squatted down, rolled up Lu Xiao's trouser leg, revealing his knee, which was injured from years of fighting. She carefully massaged several acupoints with her hands. "It's getting cold, and your injury is most vulnerable to cold. The newly prepared ointment has added snow lotus and deer antler, so it's more potent. I'll apply it for you before bed."

Lu Xiao felt the perfect pressure from her cool fingertips on the acupoints on his knee, bringing a comfortable soreness afterward. Looking at her lowered, focused eyes, his heart softened. He waved his hand, signaling the wet nurses to take the three reluctant little ones away.

Only the two of them remained in the room. Lu Xiao put down his teacup, stretched out his long arm, and scooped up An An, who was squatting on the ground, placing her on his lap. An An gasped in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Madam,” Lu Xiao lowered his head, his nose brushing against her forehead, his voice deep and magnetic, “You’re always either busy with the three little ones or worrying about my old injuries and the wounded in the military camp… When will you ever worry about your husband like me?” His tone was filled with a familiar, intense jealousy and dissatisfaction.

An'an was held in his arms, listening to the steady heartbeat in his chest, feeling the warmth emanating from his body and the faint scent of sweat mixed with herbs, a blush rising on her face. She looked up, a mischievous smile in her eyes, and lightly tapped his high nose with her fingertip: "General Lu, you're such a jealous person, even jealous of the children? Even jealous of old wounds?"

“Eat! Of course I’ll eat!” Lu Xiao said matter-of-factly, lowering his head to quickly peck her lips. “You’re mine! You have to put me first in every way!” He tightened his arms, pulling her closer to him, his hot breath brushing against her ear. “The ointment…we’ll apply it later…let me ‘drive away the cold’ first…” The last word, husky with ambiguity, disappeared into the lingering kiss.

Outside the window, the wind and snow intensified, while inside, warmth filled the air, leaving only the sounds of breathless breathing and soft moans that made hearts race. Even the harsh winter of the northern frontier transformed into tender affection under the warm eaves of the General's Mansion. Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in the deep palace of Xiling, a blizzard surrounding a new favorite, pregnancy, and a colossal conspiracy was just beginning.