Xue Shen escorted the woman back to Tingmei Pavilion. The maids serving inside, seeing the intimate posture of the two, tactfully covered their lips and retreated.
Once only the two of them were left in the room, Xue Shen picked her up and placed her on his lap, pulling her tightly into his arms. He buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath: "Let me hold you for a while."
Shen Youying had wanted to move, but upon hearing this, she quieted down, hugged him back, buried her face in his chest with longing, and whispered after a long while, "I've missed you so much these past few days."
If Xie Qinglan hadn't been there to keep her company and give her someone to talk to, she probably wouldn't have been able to sleep at night.
Xue Shen soothed her with a kiss on the forehead, his palm pressed against her swollen belly: "Is the baby bothering you?"
His slightly rough palms slid from her abdomen to her waist, and Xue Shen frowned again: "Why is your belly so big, but you've lost weight? Have you been sleeping poorly again?"
Shen Youying lowered her eyes and gently shook her head: "It's alright, it's just that my belly has been getting bigger and heavier these past few days, and I'm too lazy to move around, so I'm eating less than before. With Qinglan by my side, I'm sleeping quite well."
Xue Shen stepped back slightly and carefully examined her belly: "It is indeed too big. Usually, pregnant women at this stage of pregnancy don't have such big bellies, do they?"
He had also studied many medical books on childbirth and knew a little about it: "Have you had a doctor examine you? It might be difficult to give birth at this size."
"I've seen it." Shen Youying bit her lip and hesitated for a long time before saying, "The doctor said my belly is indeed quite big, and it's possible that I'm carrying twins."
"Twins?" Xue Shen looked surprised, but his expression quickly deepened: "Wouldn't the delivery be even more difficult?"
"The doctor said that twin births will be more difficult, but if the pregnant woman is in good health and an experienced midwife is available, it won't be that scary."
Shen Youying hadn't actually thought that much about it. It was only when Xie Qinglan mentioned that it was possible the doctor hadn't detected twins that she asked the doctor to take her pulse more carefully. After several confirmations, the doctor also said that it was indeed possible she was carrying twins.
She was somewhat flustered when she suddenly confirmed the news. This child was unexpected, and she wasn't fully prepared. Then she suddenly learned that there was more than one child; there were two. More than worrying about the delivery, she was worried about whether she could take care of two children.
Xue Shen touched her hair, his worry deepening: "When you give birth, I will invite Master Huodong back."
Shen Youying nodded and nestled into his arms, leaning against him. After a moment, she said, "If they are really twins, I'm always worried about how they will be raised. I've heard that you have to be more careful with two children, and the worst thing is to treat them unfairly."
Xue Shen was amused by her innocent worry: "They are all our children, Zhao Zhao, do you really want to favor one of them?"
Shen Youying gave him a reproachful look and muttered, "I'm just worried that I won't be able to keep up, and that if I look at one, I'll neglect the other."
Xue Shen pinched her cheek and said, "Zhao Zhao, just focus on your pregnancy. The baby will be taken care of by me and the wet nurse. If you can't manage, I'm here for you."
Shen Youying hummed in agreement, and a smile spread across her face as she imagined Xue Shen with two babies in the future.
After cuddling for a while, Shen Youying nudged his chest and said, "Why don't you go take a bath first? I've asked the kitchen to prepare some food, it'll be delivered in a bit."
"What, do you think I smell bad?" Xue Shen deliberately rubbed his stubble-covered chin against her soft, smooth cheek.
Shen Youying glanced at him, chuckled lightly, and dodged the glance, saying, "It's not that smelly."
Men who have come from the battlefield inevitably carry some traces of blood and sweat.
Fearing she might hurt herself while trying to avoid him, Xue Shen stopped teasing her, picked her up and carried her to the bathroom, whispering, "Zhao Zhao, could you scrub my back?"
The back rubbing was obviously not a real back rubbing. Shen Youying's chest heaved, and she blushed and softly hummed in agreement.
Xue Shen carried the person into the bath room, went around behind the screen to find a stool and put her down. Fearing that she would be uncomfortable if she sat for too long, he laid a thick cloth on her. After confirming several times that she was comfortable sitting there, Xue Shen asked someone to bring in hot water.
The bath tub in the bathhouse was specially made and very large, enough for two people to bathe together. The servants made seven or eight trips to bring water. After the hot water was ready, Xue Shen took off his outer robe and upper garment and used the reserved tub of water to wash himself.
Shen Youying sat behind the screen, the sound of water pattering in her ears.
The bathroom screen was thin, and under the light, one could vaguely see a strong and upright figure. Thinking about what might happen later, Shen Youying pursed her lips, her heart beating a little fast.
Although the two have been married for a long time and now have children, she still can't help but feel her heart race and her mind wander when she faces Xue Shen like this.
Shen Youying was lost in thought and didn't notice that the sound of water had stopped.
Xue Shen walked over shirtless. Seeing her lost in thought, he bent down, placed his hand on her shoulder, and whispered in her ear, "What are you thinking about, Zhao Zhao?"
He deliberately rubbed the back of Shen Youying's neck with his thumb, smiled faintly, and said, "Your face is all red."
Shen Youying snapped out of her daze, blushing slightly as she pursed her lips and remained silent, but her peripheral vision was filled with Xue Shen's strong and muscular chest. Xue Shen had just taken a shower, and water droplets slid down the firm and smooth lines of his chest, finally disappearing into his lower abdomen. Shen Youying's gaze lingered there for a brief moment before she turned away, her face flushed.
Xue Shen noticed her gaze and smiled as he loosened her sash: "I've tested the water temperature, it's just right."
Shen Youying lowered her eyes and did not reply, but she did not stop his actions.
Xue Shen left her only a small top and a pair of underpants before carrying her into the bathtub.
Warm water surged up and washed over her body. Shen Youying let out a comfortable sigh and leaned back slightly, trying not to get too close to Xue Shen.
Xue Shen noticed her attempt to cover up her actions, smiled, raised an eyebrow, and gently caressed her slender waist with his hand: "Shall I wipe Zhao Zhao first?"
Shen Youying blushed deeply, her eyes brimming with tears. She bit her lip, shook her head, and refused, saying, "I'll give it to you...that's fine—"
But Xue Shen didn't give her a chance to refuse, leaning in and taking her lips into his mouth.
Shen Youying only managed to utter a "woof" before she had no more chance to protest.
For various reasons, the two were like newlyweds after a short separation. Moreover, Xue Shen was exceptionally gentle and meticulous in taking care of Shen Youying's health, easily stirring up her emotions and turning her into a pool of spring water at his fingertips.
At first, Shen Youying thought that she shouldn't be too reckless during the day, but later she couldn't care less about anything else.
Even Xue Shen had a fresh bite mark on his arm.
Xue Shen deliberately took a breath, looked at his flustered and shy wife, and held out his arm with the teeth marks to her, asking seductively, "Zhao Zhao, how are you going to make it up to me?"
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