On a summer night in the northern frontier, the starry sky was exceptionally vast. Inside the General's Mansion, in the warm pavilion belonging to Lu Xiao and An'an, a scene of enchanting spring beauty unfolded.
The three energetic little rascals were finally coaxed and carried away by the wet nurses, and the world instantly became quiet. Lu Xiao had just finished bathing and was only wearing a loose, dark-colored nightgown, the collar slightly open, revealing his well-defined, muscular chest. He leaned against the soft couch by the window, watching An An remove the last of her hairpins in front of the mirror, her long, black hair cascading down.
"Finally, those three little devils are gone." Lu Xiao's voice was slightly husky and lazy. He reached out and pulled his wife, who had approached, into his arms, letting her sit on his lap. The familiar fragrance filled his nostrils, and he sighed contentedly, resting his chin on the top of her fragrant hair, his arms around her tightly.
An'an felt a little breathless from his tight grip, so she gently pushed against his hard chest and said reproachfully, "Loosen up, it hurts." But her tone was indulgent.
"It's good if it hurts, so you'll know who your man is." Lu Xiao didn't loosen his grip. Instead, he lowered his head, his calloused fingers pinching her delicate chin, forcing her to look up. His burning kiss landed without warning, carrying a long-lost, pure possessiveness, conquering and plundering her territory.
An'an was breathless from his kiss, her cheeks flushed, and she finally managed to turn her head away, her breath slightly ragged: "You... the children just fell asleep..."
“So now,” Lu Xiao’s kiss lingered on her sensitive earlobe, his deep voice carrying a magnetic allure, his breath hot against her neck, “it’s their parents’ turn.” His hands restlessly slipped inside the collar of her nightgown, caressing her smooth, soft skin.
An'an trembled slightly, grabbed his mischievous hand, her eyes darting around with a hint of cunning: "General Lu, you're so imposing in the training ground during the day, but at night you only know how to bully your own wife?"
Lu Xiao chuckled, his chest heaving: "This 'bullying,' isn't Madam enjoying it?" He gripped her waist with his other hand, pressing her closer to him, letting her clearly feel the changes in her body. "Besides, isn't my power outside all so that I can come back and better... 'serve' Madam?" He emphasized the last word with an ambiguous tone, his burning lips covering hers again, swallowing all of An'an's protests in a lingering kiss. The candlelight flickered, illuminating their intertwined figures on the couch, filling the room with tenderness.
The other courtyard presented a completely different scene. Moonlight, like silver, bathed the courtyard. Shen Zhao, her pregnant belly quite noticeable, stood beneath a blooming crabapple tree, her head tilted back, her little face scrunched up, pointing to the highest branch with the most vibrant blossoms: "Lu Qi! I want that one! I want the one that's blooming the best!"
Lu Qi, dressed casually, stood behind her with his arms crossed, raising his eyebrows slightly: "Shen Zhaozhao, you're carrying such a big belly, and you're still thinking about climbing trees and picking flowers? Hmm?" His tone was full of helplessness and doting.
"Who's going to climb the tree!" Shen Zhao turned around and glared at him, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, and she said righteously, "I'm telling you to go pick it! You're so tall, you can reach it by standing on your tiptoes!"
Looking at her pouty yet self-righteous expression, Lu Qi felt extremely fond of her, but deliberately put on a stern face: "You're quite adept at ordering your husband around. Are you sure you want me to pick flowers for you?"
"To take it off or not?" Shen Zhao put her hands on her hips and stuck out her belly. "Not to take it off? If you don't, I'll... I'll tell the two little babies in my belly that their daddy doesn't love their mommy anymore!"
This trick always worked. Lu Qi immediately raised his hands in surrender, a forced smile on his face: "Pick it! My lady has given the order, how could I dare disobey!" With a light tap of his toes, he leaped up with the agility of a hawk, his long arm reaching out to secure the most beautifully blooming crabapple branch in his hand. He landed and presented the branch to Shen Zhao, the petals still glistening with night dew.
Shen Zhao immediately beamed, took the flower branch, brought it to her nose and sniffed it, her eyes crinkling with delight: "That's more like it!"
Looking at her satisfied smile, Lu Qi's heart softened. He reached out and carefully pulled her into his arms, avoiding her pregnant belly. He rubbed his chin against the top of her head and said in a low, gentle voice, "My Zhaozhao, whatever you want, I'll pluck the stars and the moon for you. Just next time, if you want flowers, have a servant come. Don't come running out yourself; it's chilly at night."
Shen Zhao leaned against his strong, warm embrace, inhaling his cool, familiar scent, and playing with the crabapple blossom in her hand. All her spoiled and willful nature transformed into contented affection. She muttered softly, "I know... you're so nagging." The moonlight stretched their shadows long as they embraced, and the fragrance of the crabapple blossoms flowed quietly in the night breeze.
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