The wind and snow of the northern frontier are like knives, stinging the face. Yet, inside the warm pavilion of the general's mansion, the smoke was so enticing it made one's bones feel soft. Thick woolen blankets tightly covered the doors and windows, and the bronze animal-head brazier burned brightly, crackling and casting a red glow throughout the room. The air was filled with the warm, comforting scent of benzoin, mixed with a faint, sweet aroma of freshly picked grapes.
Shen Zhao leaned against a chaise longue covered with a thick tiger skin, wrapped in a brocade padded jacket that resembled clouds of rosy hues, which made her face appear even whiter and more like jade. Her brows were slightly furrowed, giving her an air of languid charm. Her lower abdomen was already noticeably rounded, like a soft, warm stove nestled within her. On a small table beside the chaise longue, a crystal-clear glass bowl held plump, purple grapes, still glistening with frost as if just drawn from an ice cellar.
Lu Qi, dressed in a casual black brocade robe without a jade belt, sat casually on the edge of the couch. He had just returned from the martial arts arena, still carrying a trace of the chill from outside, but the sharpness in his eyes softened the moment he stepped into this warm room. He picked up a cool grape, skillfully peeling off its thin skin with his fingertips to reveal the juicy, translucent flesh inside, and offered it to Chen Zhao's lips.
"Madam, would you like to try some? It's freshly arrived, delivered by fast horse from the south." His voice was deep, with a hint of coaxing.
Shen Zhao lazily lifted his eyelids, glanced at the fruit so close to his face, then listlessly turned his head away, letting out a soft hum through his nose: "Bingya. I don't want to eat."
Lu Qi raised an eyebrow, not only not withdrawing his hand, but instead bringing the cool grape even closer, almost touching her soft lips. "The imperial physician said that eating something cold can actually help suppress morning sickness. Sweetie, just try one?"
The icy touch was palpable even through the air, and Shen Zhao instinctively shrank her neck, her pink cheeks puffing out slightly, like an annoyed pufferfish. "I said I'm not eating!" she raised her voice, a hint of petulant anger in her voice, and reached out to push his wrist away. "Take it away! It's chilly, and it's annoying just looking at it!"
Lu Qi's wrist didn't budge; instead, he seized her soft, resisting hand and held it in his palm. Her small hand was warm and soft, enveloped by his calloused fingers. He chuckled softly, his voice slightly mischievous and husky: "My wife's temper changes faster than the weather in the north. Yesterday she was talking about wanting grapes from Jiangnan, and now that they've arrived, she's complaining?" He leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe. "Could it be... you just want to see your husband peel them for you?"
Shen Zhao felt a burning sensation from his breath, and her ears instantly turned crimson. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it tightly. She glared at him angrily with wide almond-shaped eyes: "Lu Qi! You...you scoundrel! Who wants you to peel my clothes!"
"Don't you care?" Lu Qi raised an eyebrow, deliberately and slowly bringing the peeled grape to his lips, as if about to take a bite. "Then may I eat it myself? This came all this way..."
"You dare!" Shen Zhao blurted out, only realizing her mistake as soon as the words left her mouth. Her face turned even redder, and she simply turned away from him, leaving Lu Qi with only a puffed-up, beautifully shaped profile and a slightly heaving chest.
Looking at her blushing, annoyed, and vibrant appearance, Lu Qi felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction and tenderness welling up inside him. He chuckled softly, the sound resonating in his chest, filled with pure joy. Stop teasing her, and gently press the glistening grape against her slightly pursed lips again, his voice low and soft, as if coaxing his most precious treasure: "Alright, alright, stop teasing me. My little darling, open your mouth. Let it cool down, calm your heart, okay?"
That tender, coaxing tone was like a feather tickling the tip of her heart. Shen Zhao's tense shoulders finally relaxed little by little. Her eyelashes trembled, and she finally parted her lips slightly, her pearly teeth gently biting into the slightly cool flesh of the fruit. The sweet juice burst in her mouth, indeed suppressing the inexplicable irritation in her heart. She ate it in small bites, her cheeks puffed out. The anger she had just felt had long been dispelled by the sweetness and the boundless indulgence of the person beside her, leaving only a barely perceptible, pampered sweetness in her eyes.
Lu Qi watched her eat like a little squirrel, his eyes softening with tenderness. He reached out and gently wiped away a drop of juice from the corner of her lips with his fingertips. This small, warm room was sheltered from the harsh winds and frosts of the northern frontier, leaving only the warmth of his palm and the sweet taste of her lips.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com