Meanwhile, just a few streets away, the atmosphere at Shen Mansion was quite different – lively and bustling.
Minister of Justice Shen Wenqing left his office without even changing out of his official robes and went straight to the main courtyard. His usually dignified and serious face was now beaming with barely suppressed joy, and even his steps were light and quick. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw his wife, He Mingzhu, sitting on the porch, smiling as she watched their two children playing in the yard.
Five-year-old Shen Rui, with his chubby cheeks and chubby face, was diligently pushing a little girl a few months younger than him on a swing. The little girl had her hair styled in cute double buns and wore an exquisite little jacket and skirt embroidered with lotus flowers in a pale yellow color. She was none other than Pei Qingyun, the beloved daughter of Princess Xiao Minghua and her husband, Pei Wenqing, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, who had been granted the title of Princess Zhaohua ("Qing" means pure and noble, and "Yun" means containing beautiful jade, implying gentleness and elegance).
"Sister Yun'er, higher!" Shen Rui pushed hard, panting.
Pei Qingyun wasn't afraid at all. She giggled, her little hands gripping the swing ropes tightly, her voice sweet and soft: "Brother Rui, higher! Like a little bird flying!"
Shen Wenqing watched this scene of childhood sweethearts, their innocent affection filling him with immense joy. He strode over to He Mingzhu's side, his voice booming with undisguised pride: "Mingzhu! The imperial physician came to check on her health today. What did he say? Is she pregnant again?" He was referring to He Mingzhu's recently revealed second pregnancy.
He Mingzhu glared at him, but her face was radiant with happiness as she gently stroked her lower abdomen. "Yes, the imperial physician said the pregnancy is stable, everything is fine." As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Wenqing couldn't help but burst into loud laughter. His laughter was so powerful that it startled the birds in the trees, causing them to flutter away.
"Great! That's wonderful!" Shen Wenqing rubbed his hands excitedly, paced back and forth in the corridor a couple of times, then suddenly stopped, straightened his back, put one hand on his hip, pointed at himself with the other, and said to his wife, his voice full of almost childlike boasting, "Mingzhu, look! Your husband's 'amazing' words weren't just for show, were they? I said I'd give Rui'er a younger brother or sister, and here it is! What do you call that? You call it 'words become law'! You call it... well, the Ministry of Justice's handling of cases is swift and efficient!" He actually attributed all the Ministry of Justice's achievements to himself.
He Mingzhu was amused by his unashamed boasting and covered her mouth to laugh. Just as she was about to speak, a clear, cheerful, teasing voice came from the doorway:
"Oh, Minister Shen, are you boasting about your 'great achievements' again? I can hear your 'swift and decisive' words even through the courtyard wall."
Princess Xiao Minghua walked in with her husband Pei Wenqing by the arm, all smiles. Pei Wenqing was dressed in a moon-white robe, his temperament gentle and refined, a warm smile playing on his lips, and his gaze toward Shen Wenqing carrying a hint of good-natured teasing.
Upon seeing them, Shen Wenqing was not embarrassed at all; on the contrary, he was even more pleased and stepped forward to greet them: "Your Highness, Prince Consort Pei, you've come at the perfect time! Listen to this efficiency of mine, isn't it worthy of praise?" He pointed to He Mingzhu's belly, "This speed, this accuracy, doesn't it deserve a 'remarkable'?"
Xiao Minghua sat down next to He Mingzhu, affectionately took her hand, and teased with a smile: "Yes, yes, Minister Shen is the most 'powerful'! This Ministry of Justice prison can hold notorious bandits, but Minister Shen's 'ability' is even more unstoppable!" She winked mischievously.
Pei Wenqing smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, "Congratulations, Brother Wenqing, on the addition of another son. I admire your 'swift and decisive' actions." He then changed the subject, his gaze falling tenderly on his daughter swinging on the swing, before glancing at Shen Rui, who was pushing the swing with all her might, and said with a knowing smile, "It seems Rui'er will soon have a companion. I wonder when Brother Wenqing's 'skill' will extend to our household? So that Yun'er can have a few more playmates."
Upon hearing this, two blushes rose on Xiao Minghua's face, and she glared at the prince consort playfully: "Wenqing!"
Shen Wenqing, however, seemed to have seized an opportunity to retaliate. He immediately burst into laughter, pointing at Pei Wenqing: "You, Pei Tanhua! So you were waiting for me here? What, are you envious? Jealous? You two should work harder! You have to write your essays for the Hanlin Academy, but you can't neglect this 'serious business'! Isn't that right, Prince Consort Pei?" He winked and returned Pei Wenqing's earlier teasing verbatim.
Pei Wenqing's handsome face flushed slightly at his words, but he maintained his elegant demeanor, though his ears turned a little red. He coughed lightly and smiled without saying a word. Xiao Minghua, on the other hand, laughed and pinched He Mingzhu's arm: "Sister Mingzhu, aren't you going to do something about your husband!"
He Mingzhu laughed heartily, watching her husband's rare display of "childishness," and then at her friend and his wife's embarrassed state after being outmaneuvered. She felt as if spring had arrived in the courtyard, and the days were peaceful and serene. She gently stroked her lower abdomen, her gaze tenderly fixed on her son and future daughter-in-law playing carefree in the yard, her heart filled with anticipation for the new life to come.
Laughter and chatter filled the corridor, while children's voices rang out clearly in the courtyard.
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