Chapter 78 The doubts surrounding the first birthday celebration finally dissipated, and the joy surpassed even the acquisition of an official position.

Wen Shiqin opened his eyes just as dawn was breaking, admiring her sleeping face beside him.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, her breathing was even and clear, as if she were on a jade branch under the moon, sleeping on snow and clouds.

His heart was filled with the precious memories of what he had lost and then regained, and he dared not touch it.

Her lower abdomen was always slightly cold, so Wen Shiqin covered it with his palm, warming it for her through the fine silk and satin.

As he warmed her, the tenderness and longing clung to his bones, becoming irrepressible. He silently slipped into the quilt, gently lifted her robe, and leaned down to place a soft kiss on her flat stomach.

Wen Shiqin carefully protected her lower abdomen, his heart tightening as he recalled the hardships she had endured during childbirth. He had heard that childbirth was a life-or-death ordeal for women; how could that bastard be so heartless as to let her suffer like that?

One kiss wasn't enough to comfort him, so he gently kissed her again, his lips wet with tears, landing on her skin with a mixture of sorrow and tenderness.

His fingertips gently caressed her waist, the touch as delicate as cream and as warm as jade, filling him with tender affection.

I dare not think too deeply about how much suffering and torment she endured during her ten months of pregnancy, when her belly was as heavy as a stone, or when she was in labor and in excruciating pain.

Su Jinxiu was half asleep when she suddenly felt a persistent itch in her abdomen, like tiny insects crawling or water droplets falling continuously.

She let out an impatient groan, not fully awake yet. Her fingertips instinctively groped around and touched a warm mass bulging under the quilt. When she groggily opened her eyes and lifted the quilt covering her, Su Jinxiu almost fainted when she saw the figure burrowing into the quilt and burying its head in her abdomen.

She grabbed his ear and yanked him out of bed, her voice hoarse and sweet, yet full of anger: "Wen Shiqin, what's wrong with you so early in the morning?"

Wen Shiqin seized the opportunity, his strong arms encircling her slender waist, holding her tightly in his embrace, their bodies pressing against each other as if trying to merge into one.

Su Jinxiu's breath quickened slightly as the pressure subsided. The genuine feeling of regaining what she had lost overwhelmed her. Unconsciously, she raised her hand to stroke his back, only to suddenly feel a warm, damp touch on her neck, mixed with his suppressed sobs, like the mournful cry of a lone goose, concealing an unspeakable sorrow.

She frowned in confusion, but softened her tone, speaking gently as if coaxing a child, "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

Wen Shiqin buried his face in the crook of her neck, gently shook his head, his shoulders still trembling slightly.

Su Jinxiu then recalled the ambiguous words spoken last night. She lowered her eyes to look at the person on her neck and asked softly, "Is there still something you haven't said in your heart?"

He wanted to ask her if she was willing to divorce Yi Ruxu for his sake? He wanted to ask her if she could give him another chance to protect her for the rest of his life.

But before he could finish speaking, a soft knock came from the door from the steward, who spoke with a mixture of respect and anxiety: "My lord, it is already dawn. Today you must go to the palace to receive your title and imperial decree. The auspicious time is just around the corner, and we cannot afford to be late!"

Being summoned to the palace to receive an imperial decree was a matter of paramount importance concerning the glory of one's clan. However, in Wen Shiqin's eyes at this moment, even immense wealth and generations of merit could not compare to the warmth and softness in his arms. He remained unmoved, still holding her tightly and refusing to let go.

Su Jinxiu leaned against his shoulder and gently pushed him, whispering in his ear, "Go, receiving the imperial decree is an important matter, don't be late."

He remained motionless, instead burying his head even deeper, his nose brushing against the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling her scent.

A moment later, the knocking sounded again at the door. The steward's voice was flustered: "My lord, the ceremonies in the palace are always punctual. Being late would be considered a breach of etiquette and might displease the Emperor!"

Wen Shiqin reluctantly lifted his head from her neck, his eyes reddening, and solemnly said, "When I return with the imperial decree, I will tell you everything from the bottom of my heart."

Su Jinxiu nodded gently: "Okay, I'll wait for you."

He leaned down and planted a lingering kiss on her lips, lingering for a long time before finally letting go. As he stood up, he repeatedly told her, "Be a good girl and wait for me to come back. Don't wander off. I'll come looking for you when I return."

Su Jinxiu had no choice but to agree repeatedly after being rendered speechless by his words. Seeing that she had agreed, Wen Shiqin turned around, dressed himself with the help of his servants, and stepped out of the bedchamber.

Su Jinxiu originally planned to wait for Wen Shiqin's return at the Marquis's residence, but then she remembered that there was an important matter at Huayun Pavilion that needed to be settled today and could not be delayed. She immediately summoned her maid Xuexing and instructed her, "When your Marquis returns, tell him that I have gone to Huayun Pavilion."

After saying that, she took a carriage and headed straight for Huayun Pavilion.

Upon entering the pavilion, one sees Manshu holding a young child.

When Manshu saw her come in, he quickly stepped forward to greet her and explained with a smile, "There is no one at home to take care of this child today, and I would not feel at ease entrusting him to the neighbors, so I simply brought him here today. I hope you will not mind the trouble."

Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu smiled gently and said, "It's perfect to bring him here. Our pavilion is full of women, and the sisters will surely take turns helping you take care of him. This will save you some trouble, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?" After saying that, she reached out and gently took the child into her arms, patting his back tenderly.

"By the way, Sister Manshu, what's this baby's name?"

“Call him Little Stone,” Manshu said with a smile, “a humble name, just so he’ll be easy to raise.”

The nickname made the child seem even more endearing. Su Jinxiu hugged him and gently rocked him, teasingly asking, "Little Stone?"

"Oh dear, you're calling me 'Mother' all over the wrong person!"

Su Jinxiu looked up and saw that it was Lan Shexiang who had entered. She quickly stepped forward to greet her, carrying the little stone, and asked with concern, "Shexiang, what brings you here? Is the pregnancy stable?"

Lan Shexiang, supporting her lower back, said calmly, "I know some methods of self-care, there's no need to worry so much." She took a half step forward, leaned close to Su Jinxiu's ear, and whispered, "Do you have some free time right now to accompany me to the Sinong Temple?"

"The Ministry of Agriculture?" Su Jinxiu was slightly taken aback.

“Exactly.” Lan Shexiang nodded. “Ah Zhao was previously sent out to supervise, and recently sent a letter back saying that the Ministry of Agriculture has a secret document. He is worried that someone else will retrieve it, and he instructed me to retrieve it myself and keep it safe, in case thieves covet it and try to steal it secretly.”

Su Jinxiu's eyes flickered slightly, already understanding the implications, and she immediately nodded: "Okay, I'll go with you." She glanced at Lan Shexiang's lower abdomen, but ultimately didn't try to persuade her any further, only adding, "I'll protect you on the way, just be careful in everything."

The two dared not delay and immediately ordered a carriage to be prepared. They traveled lightly and simply to the Sinong Temple.

Hearing that Shi Qin had received the imperial decree and was just leaving court, the Imperial Street was filled with the sounds of carriages and horses, and officials of all ranks lined up one after another.

He was dressed in a newly bestowed robe with a python pattern and gold embroidery, exuding an air of authority. Just as he was about to board the carriage, his gaze was drawn to a figure in a green robe ahead.

A fourth-rank official of the Hanlin Academy, dressed in a dark blue official robe, which accentuated his proud and upright figure.

Enemies meeting are bound to be filled with hatred.

As Yi Ruxu was walking slowly forward, he suddenly felt a cold glint of light, like a jackal lurking in the shadows, coming from behind him, and a chill ran down his spine. Turning around, he saw the young marquis standing not far away, his eyes filled with malice.

His expression remained unchanged; he merely nodded slightly, bowed respectfully from afar, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve, his demeanor indifferent.

To Wen Shiqin, this was undoubtedly a blatant provocation. Just as he was about to lash out, someone bumped into him from behind, causing him to stumble. Cui Cheng patted his shoulder and laughed, "What are you staring at so intently? Do you have a grudge against someone?"

Wen Shiqin snorted coldly, suppressing his anger, and asked indirectly, "Where does Yi Ruxu currently live? Besides his wife, does he have any concubines?"

He was actually very anxious, and all he could think about was whether Yi Ruxu and Su Jinxiu were getting along well, and whether there was any loophole that he could find to break the deadlock.

Cui Cheng clicked his tongue and said, "You don't know? Lord Yi is now a highly sought-after candidate for the Jade Terrace in the capital, with a great reputation. Precisely because he is so upright and has no other candidates in his household, he is pure and untainted by worldly affairs. Matchmakers come to his door in an endless stream, almost breaking down the gates of his mansion, lining up from the first street to the Imperial Street. How could he have any concubines?"

Upon hearing these words, Wen Shiqin assumed that Yi Ruxu was heartless and unwilling to give Su Jinxiu a proper title, leaving her in obscurity. His anger burned even more fiercely, almost to the point of bursting forth. However, upon further reflection, he felt that there were many suspicious points in the matter.

Could it be that he has preconceived notions and has misunderstood?

He was a seasoned veteran of the turbulent officialdom, adept at maneuvering and diplomacy, his skills in diplomacy and maneuvering were already unparalleled. On the battlefield, he was even more adept at deep thought, his strategies as cunning as a fox, always planning carefully before acting, never making a mistake.

When it came to Su Jinxiu, he lost all composure. He abandoned his usual calm and wisdom, and was filled with anxiety as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss, fearing that his priceless treasure would be coveted and taken away by others.

Who says I am without worries? My accumulated thoughts drive me mad with madness.

Unable to contain his suspicions, Wen Shiqin mounted his horse, cracked his whip, and galloped back to the manor. Upon entering the manor, he grabbed the maid Xuexing and demanded an explanation, only to be told that Su Jinxiu had gone to Huayun Pavilion early that morning.

Without a word, he turned around, spurred his horse again, and headed straight for Huayun Pavilion. As soon as he stepped into the pavilion, he saw the child he had seen at Xiangguo Temple that day, now nestled in Manshu's arms, babbling away.

When the people in the pavilion saw him dressed in the robes of a marquis, the gold embroidered python pattern making him look majestic and awe-inspiring, they all bowed and saluted. But he paid no attention to them, only raising his hand to press down, his eyes fixed on the child with piercing gaze.

This child has ordinary features and plain looks. If he were truly born of Jinxiu, with her stunning beauty, the child would surely have beautiful features and be charming and adorable.

He actually had such an absurd thought at this moment, making wild judgments about a child's appearance. Man Shu felt uneasy and couldn't help but ask softly, "My lord, is there something wrong with our child?"

"Your family?" Wen Shiqin suddenly came to his senses.

“That’s right,” Manshu said, hugging the child and leaning back slightly. “This is my son, his nickname is Little Stone.”

The child stared intently at him, showing no fear whatsoever. His little mouth opened and closed, his soft, sweet voice calling out "Mother!" He must have just begun to speak, his vocabulary limited, his heart overflowing with dependence on these two words, innocently knowing only to call out to someone.

Wen Shiqin felt a sudden jolt in his mind. All the doubts and speculations that had lingered in his mind vanished, and he suddenly understood.

He suddenly burst into laughter, the sound so loud that Little Stone cried out.

Wen Shiqin quickly bent down, picked up the child, and patiently coaxed him for a few moments. He then kissed the child's soft cheek before putting him back in Manshu's arms, repeatedly saying, "Good child, such a good child!"

Little Stone was so frightened by him that he stopped crying.

Wen Shiqin turned and left in a frenzy. The people in the pavilion looked at each other in dismay. They had just breathed a sigh of relief when they saw him suddenly turn back.

"Where did your sect leader go?"

Manshu quickly replied, "I went to the Ministry of Agriculture!"

Wen Shiqin's eyes lit up, then he looked at the little stone in Manshu's arms, his smile widening as he said loudly, "Such an endearing child deserves a generous first birthday gift!" He then instructed his attendants, "Prepare a generous gift quickly and send it to Huayun Pavilion later!"

Manshu stood there stunned for a long time before he reacted and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Qin's eyes lit up, and he immediately strode out of Huayun Pavilion, leaving only his laughter echoing in the corridor.

Author's Note: Laughing heartily, I stride out the door; how could I, a man of such stature, be a cuckold? [Vegetable Dog]

Note:

"Who says I am without worry? Accumulated thoughts drive me mad." (Quoted from an anonymous poem, "Orchids Bloom in the Spring Sun")