The atmosphere in the other courtyard was completely different.
Lu Xiao returned home after finishing his military business. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw An'an squatting under the eaves, her sleeves rolled up, revealing her two fair arms, "fighting" with three little ones splashing around in a large wooden tub. Han'er giggled and splashed water on her mother's face, while Yue'er and Zhou'er excitedly slapped the water, splashing everywhere. An'an's clothes were soaked in the front.
Lu Xiao frowned slightly, strode over, and without saying a word, scooped Yue Ge'er and Zhou Ge'er out of the basin like chicks, tucking them under his arm.
Ignoring the two boys' loud, dissatisfied cries, "Ah...ah...flying...flying!" their legs kicked wildly in the air.
Lu Xiao bent down and picked up Han Jie'er, who was giggling, so that An An could free up a little bit of her hands.
"Madam!" he said, his voice filled with displeasure. "The water's cold! Get the maids here! Your clothes are soaked!" As he spoke, he gestured to the maid beside him to take over.
An'an wiped the water droplets from her face, looked at Lu Xiao's anxious expression as if she would collapse immediately if she touched cold water, and smiled helplessly: "Where is it cold? It's lukewarm water! Besides, I'm their mother, what's wrong with giving them a bath?"
"What's wrong?" Lu Xiao handed the three wet, still-throwing little ones to the nanny, then pulled An'an up, wrapping her wet front in his large cloak. His tone was both sour and domineering, "You're their mother, and even more so, my wife! Bathing them, what if your hands get tired? What if they get cold? It breaks my heart!" He looked down at An'an's cheeks, slightly flushed from the steam, and the few strands of wet hair clinging to her neck. His eyes darkened, and he leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice with a hint of grievance, "You spent more time with them today than with your husband!"
An'an's ears itched from his warm breath. Hearing this usually powerful and influential general being jealous of his own child again, she felt both amused and tender. She gently pushed him away, scolding, "You're jealous of the child too! Aren't you ashamed?"
"Don't be ashamed!" Lu Xiao said matter-of-factly, tightening his grip on her arm. "The three rules apply outside! At home, I want my wife to spend more time with me!" He lowered his head and quickly stole a kiss on An An's slightly red lips, his eyes burning. "Tonight... you're not allowed to put them to sleep anymore... put me to sleep..."
An'an blushed deeply at his words and glared at him. "Aren't you ashamed? There are so many people here, including the children." An'an looked at the nanny and maids who were holding the children, their heads bowed and smiling without saying a word, and her face turned even redder.
At this moment, Lu Xiao was like a persistent plaster, saying things that would make anyone blush if An An didn't agree.
An'an was completely helpless against his pestering; she couldn't fight him off, nor could she win an argument with him. A blush instantly spread across her face, and she could only whisper, "...I know, you jealous bastard."
"Spend more time with you, my jealous general."
As dusk fell, warm lights illuminated the general's mansion. The baby's cries were gradually replaced by gentle lullabies, and the whispered murmurs between husband and wife flowed through the night.
The biting winds of the northern frontier are kept outside the courtyard walls; here, only the most ordinary yet precious human warmth exists. Meanwhile, in the distant Western Palace, another war without gunpowder is quietly unfolding under the even more eerie night.
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