Military newspaper
Dou Yanxun always ate slowly and deliberately, and usually ate very little. Sometimes, while Lin Xu was eating heartily, he would only sip a few cups of wine and eat a few bites of side dishes. Today, perhaps because he was tired, he quickly finished a bowl of vegetarian noodles.
Lin Xu smiled slightly, and her smiling eyes caught his eye, causing him to momentarily freeze in surprise. Dou Yanxun asked, "What's wrong?"
Lin Xu shook her head. The plate in front of her contained nothing but a few pieces of tofu. Dou Yanxun, worried that she had a poor appetite, ladled out several spoonfuls of winter bamboo shoot and chicken soup for her. The soup was steaming hot, but Lin Xu only took a sip before sitting there, her face pale.
She had reached the stage where morning sickness was very pronounced, feeling acid reflux every morning upon waking, and now she couldn't eat anything at all. Even so, she didn't seem to care about herself, and was still looking at him with a silly smile.
Dou Yanxun's eyes deepened, and he sat closer to her, his tone softening as if he were coaxing a child: "If you can't eat meat, you can eat something sweet and sour to cleanse your palate?"
She has always had a sweet tooth.
Seeing that Lin Xu's eyes lit up even though he didn't nod, Dou Yanxun nodded slightly, said "I understand," and stood up. Before she could come to her senses, she saw him stride out of the hall, and she was completely confused.
Then Zhu Ling and Rong Wei, who had been waiting outside the hall, rushed in.
Rongwei looked surprised and whispered, "Madam, it looks like Second Master rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen!"
Even though Lin Xu already understood that Dou Yanxun harbored some resentment and looked at her with worry in his eyes, she still hadn't expected him to go to the kitchen. Although the social customs of this dynasty were open, cooking was still mostly the domain of women in the inner quarters. Moreover, he now held a high position; how could he so easily enter the kitchen?
For a moment, everyone in the villa was quite astonished.
Lin Xu was unaware that Dou Yanxun could cook, and was both amused and exasperated. After Zhu Ling and the others cleared away the dishes, Lin Xu, still worried, was about to go to the kitchen when Nongyu walked in from outside, smiling and saying, "Second Master specifically instructed that it be left to him; you can rest now!"
Inside the small kitchen in the detached courtyard, several cooks were preparing afternoon tea snacks when Dou Yanxun walked in, dressed in a light green, round-necked, wide robe. They were all startled and hurriedly greeted him.
Dou Yanxun remained silent, merely glancing around before rising, rolling up his sleeves, and heading towards the stove. The others were about to stop him when Dou Yanxun calmly said, "Go downstairs, all of you."
The women looked at each other, not daring to disturb the Second Master, and secretly peeked through the crack in the door for a moment after they left.
But then, the usually taciturn Second Master, who preferred cold and salty food, now the Imperial Censor, was seen bustling about in the kitchen. He was serious as he took out ingredients like white fungus, lotus root starch, and pear slices, washing them thoroughly with warm water before starting a fire and simmering them in a pot. Not only that, he also took pitted red dates, sugar, ginger, and other seasonings, and cooked them over a low flame. He was doing a remarkably skillful job.
Meanwhile, Lin Xu had no choice but to return to the main hall and rest her eyes on the soft couch. She had only closed her eyes for a short while, but she soon fell into a deep sleep. It was only when the person next to her gently woke her that Lin Xu opened her eyes.
On a small rosewood table beside her was a light blue brocade cloth, upon which sat a bowl of white fungus and pear soup. Beside it was a small, square-cut glutinous rice and yam cake, sprinkled with fine osmanthus petals. Finally, there was a dish of plum pastries, made from candied plums, their amber color quite tempting.
Lin Xu paused for a moment, then looked at Dou Yanxun, who was standing on the other side of the table with his eyes closed and arms crossed.
...He actually made all of these things himself?
Judging from his appearance, his face showed undeniable fatigue, and upon closer inspection, one could see obvious dark circles under his eyes. He must have been exhausted these past few days...
Perhaps sensing Lin Xu's movement, Dou Yanxun's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and then he slowly opened his eyes. He stretched his somewhat stiff body before looking at the pastries on the table, gesturing to her, "Try some."
Lin Xu carefully picked up a piece of yam cake. It was pure white, filled with red bean paste, and very soft and fragrant. "Delicious!" she nodded in satisfaction.
Seeing her like this, he seemed relieved and let out a sigh of relief.
"I never knew my husband had such a wonderful skill!"
He received the praise, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips. Watching her eat with such satisfaction, he felt happier than anything else. Yet, he said indifferently, "Not at all, it won't kill anyone."
Lin Xu's lips twitched, but she knew he was just joking. Zhu Ling ladled her a small bowl of pear soup. She gently blew on it to warm it, took a small bite, and sure enough, the pear flesh was soft and tender. She wondered how long he had stewed it to achieve such a flavor...
It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. Lin Xu picked up a few more candied plums and ate them, then looked at him solemnly and said, "Thank you, my husband. I love everything you've made."
Dou Yanxun's gaze followed her movements, and after a while, his expression became more certain. "It seems we're going to have a son."
Lin Xu was still puzzled, then looked at the plate of candied plums that had been emptied in an instant, and her cheeks suddenly turned bright red. Zhu Ling also lowered her head and chuckled.
Dou Yanxun sighed and leaned back against the cushion behind him. "...If it's a boy, he can come with me for morning exercises every day. He can't be like his father; his body needs to be strengthened from a young age."
Even though nothing was certain, he started planning it seriously, as if it were already a reality. Lin Xu gave him a playful glare, but couldn't help but smile. She hadn't thought about whether the child in her womb was a boy or a girl. If it were a girl, that would be wonderful—soft, cuddly, and adorable. She could make so many beautiful clothes for her…
Dou Yanxun stared at her profile, and for a moment felt as if a gentle stream was flowing through his heart. He was utterly dumbfounded.
As long as she's by his side, what else is there for him to worry about? His only concerns are how to protect her and the baby in her womb. That's all. As for other things... he will naturally trust her.
He would believe whatever she said. She didn't even need to say anything. What more could he ask for...?
Lin Xu was still immersed in the beautiful imagination of embroidering clothes for her future daughter when she suddenly felt her body go empty. She was actually picked up by him as he walked towards her.
She let out a soft moan involuntarily, her hands gripping his collar tightly. Before she could even utter the word "husband," he carried her straight to the bed inside the palace...
In an instant, she shyly buried her face in his chest, her voice low as she refused, "Husband, my body..."
His voice was hoarse as he gently placed her in the center of the bed, while the surrounding curtains slowly fell, accompanied by a sweet fragrance.
"...There are other ways."
She couldn't quite understand, and in the current chaotic situation, she didn't want to understand what other method it was... She was pushed down onto the soft bed by him, his hot breath filling her ears. She closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling as she sank into a soft, warm web, powerless to struggle any longer.
.
After the two reconciled, they hadn't even enjoyed a few days of blissful intimacy when Dou Yanxun became extremely busy with political affairs. Lin Xu felt sorry for him but didn't want him to overwork, so she had Nongyu clean up the study and make up a clean and comfortable bed for him so that he could continue his official duties late at night.
Even so, although Dou Yanxun returned home late every day, he would always come to see her first and leave a gentle kiss on her brow. Sometimes, when she was fast asleep, she could feel him quietly slipping into the covers and lying behind her, his arms around her waist. He didn't want to disturb her, so he would only rest for a short while before changing his clothes and leaving.
This year, however, the drought has lasted for a long time, and not a single snowflake has fallen since the winter solstice. If He Miaoyi stays any longer, the He family will have to send someone to come in person, so she could only bid a reluctant farewell to Dou Zhen and promise to come back for a short stay soon.
Every few days, a physician from the Qi family would come to check Lin Xu's pulse. Now, after the treatment, her pulse was smooth and she was in good health.
That day, Lin Xu woke up from his afternoon nap feeling unusually refreshed. He had Rong Wei hold Xue Tuan'er and brought the birdcage out of the side room, hanging it under the eaves. The winter was bitterly cold, and Xiao Hong and Xiao Hui had grown into large, well-fed birds. Xiao Hui remained calm and composed, no matter how much Xiao Hong teased him, he simply closed his eyes and remained unperturbed. Xiao Hong, on the other hand, had found a new source of amusement, enjoying imitating Xue Tuan's breath and chirping.
The little ones were making a ruckus, and the maids, all dressed in thick brocade jackets, covered their mouths and laughed. Lin Xu was holding a cup of hot tea and sipping it when he saw someone hurrying towards him from the corridor not far away. It was the young servant who had been working for Steward Qi at the banquet hall in the mansion.
The young man looked anxious, which made her uneasy.
These days, she had been concerned about the battle situation of Princess Kunrou and Liang Zhengyuan's group. After asking for a long time, Steward Qi simply instructed the servant to come and report back as soon as he received any military reports from the front.
Now, is there finally news about Kunrou and the others?
"Wait a minute," said Granny Qin. "What has happened?"
The young servant swallowed hard, bowed respectfully to Lin Xu, and then reported loudly:
"Reporting to Second Madam, we have just received news from the front lines. This morning, the Beijing Garrison sent an urgent report—General Zhao led the Northern Garrison Army to a great victory over Yun Ji's nine tribes, encircling them from three directions and killing thirty-six enemy chieftains. Furthermore, he annihilated their main force on the north bank of the Shuo River! Princess Kunrou, as the deputy general, has made the greatest contribution. General Zhao has now sent a proclamation to the capital, requesting an imperial decree to return to the capital!"
Lin Xu put down his teacup, overjoyed. "Really? That's wonderful!"
The servant nodded, but then his expression hardened.
Lin Xu was still immersed in joy when she knew that Kunrou and the others would definitely win the battle and return victorious!
This trip lasted for more than half a year. Even though she frequently sent people to inquire about military affairs, and Dou Yanxun always informed her quickly upon receiving news, delays were inevitable. The last time was a month ago, when she heard that some veteran generals in the army were dissatisfied with Liao Yan, believing that the princess was nothing more than a pretty face. However, Liao Yan shot them in the shoulder with a single sword strike, and only then did Liao Yan truly win over these seasoned veterans…
When she heard the news then, she couldn't help but feel excited. Now that she heard they had finally returned in triumph, she was overjoyed and didn't know what to do!
But at this moment, the servant slowly spoke, his voice filled with difficulty:
"However, it's just a tabloid report from the front lines, which hasn't been confirmed yet, saying that..."
Seeing his hesitant manner, Lin Xu's heart sank. "What? Please speak freely."
"I have just heard that... Princess Kunrou, one of the deputy generals, volunteered to be the first to cover the rear on the night of the battle, but she did not return until the next morning. When the inventory was taken after the battle, she could not be found... Now General Zhao has issued three proclamations to block the mountain roads in the southwest, and has also dispatched a group of cavalry to search carefully, but... we still have not received any news."
Lin Xu suddenly stood up, and then heard the servant continue:
"And Liang Zhengyuan, one of the generals, your cousin, immediately returned to search for the princess after learning of her disappearance... and now he too has vanished without a trace..."
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