On a winter night in the northern frontier, the cold wind howls like wolves. Yet, inside the general's mansion, the warm pavilion is as cozy as late spring, with underfloor heating and charcoal braziers radiating a gentle warmth.
On the spacious, warm kang, Xuan-ge'er (Lu Mingxuan) and Xi-er (Lu Mingxi) lay side by side in the thick brocade quilt, wearing new cotton-padded rompers made by An'an, embroidered with fat carp and little tigers, looking like two soft cotton balls.
Xuan-ge'er, full of energy, waved his little fists and tried to reach the fluffy tiger-head hat on his little sister's head. Xi-er, on the other hand, calmly sucked on her little fingers, occasionally glancing at her brother with a hint of "disdain" in her eyes.
Lu Qi, dressed only in a single garment, sat cross-legged on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding a cloth bell in his hand, clumsily trying to amuse both children at the same time: "Xi'er, look! Daddy! Dong dong dong! Xuan-ge'er! Over here!"
Shen Zhaoli, dressed in a fox fur coat, sat next to Lu Qi, looking both annoyed and amused: "Lu Qi! Slow down! Don't shake Xi'er dizzy! Hey! Watch out for Xuan-ge'er's foot!" She quickly caught Xuan-ge'er's chubby little leg, which Lu Qi had accidentally bumped and which was trying to turn over.
Seeing this, Lu Qi awkwardly stopped and shoved the bell into Shen Zhao's hand: "You come here, you come here! These two little devils are harder to deal with than fighting a war!"
Shen Zhao smiled and took the bell, gently shaking it and humming a tender lullaby. Xi'er blinked her big eyes at her mother, gradually calming down. Xuan Ge'er also seemed to be attracted by the melody, ceasing his frantic movements and staring curiously at the swaying bell.
Just then, An'an came in carrying two bowls of warm milk pudding: "Come on, little ones, it's time for a snack."
Lu Qi immediately perked up, snatched a bowl, and said, "I'll feed Xi'er!" He carefully scooped up a small spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to his daughter's lips. Xi'er smacked her lips and ate with relish. Shen Zhao then took the other bowl and fed it to her son, who was watching her expectantly.
The warm room was filled with the aroma of food and the babbling of children. Lu Qi looked at his wife's gentle and serene profile, then at his well-behaved daughter in his arms and his lively son on the kang (heated brick bed), and his heart was filled with immense satisfaction. He leaned over and quickly kissed Shen Zhao's cheek: "Zhao Zhao, it's so good to have you and the children."
Shen Zhao blushed and glared at him reproachfully: "You're so frivolous!"
However, the heartwarming moment didn't last long. Lu Xiao, having finished his military duties, burst through the door, still shivering from the cold. He had barely taken off his cloak when he saw his wife, An'an, gently wiping Xi'er's mouth after she finished eating. His eyes darkened, and he strode over, pulling An'an into his arms without a word. His chin rubbed against the top of her head, his voice thick with jealousy and displeasure: "My wife...how many times have you wiped Xi'er's face today? You haven't even wiped my face..."
An'an was caught off guard by his hug, feeling both annoyed and amused. She struggled to push him away, saying, "Lu Xiao! Let go! The children are watching! How old are you? Competing for attention with the kids?"
Lu Qi and Shen Zhao couldn't help but chuckle at their eldest brother's cool demeanor.
"Daddy! Hug me!" "Daddy! Me too!" Yue Ge'er and Zhou Ge'er rushed in like two little cannonballs, followed by Han Jie'er with her short legs.
The three little ones had just been brought by their wet nurse and, seeing their parents, immediately rushed excitedly towards Lu Xiao and An An.
Before Lu Xiao could even enjoy his wife's "comforting" words, he was grabbed by the legs and arms by the three little bundles of joy. His tall frame was instantly overwhelmed by the children, and he could only helplessly bend down, pick up two sons with one in each arm, and let Han'er ride on his shoulders. The cool look on his face was completely replaced by a wry smile.
"Look! This is how you compete for favor!" An'an smiled as she straightened her clothes, which Lu Xiao had messed up. Looking at her husband, who was being fussed over by the children, her eyes were full of happy smiles.
The warm pavilion was instantly filled with the excited screams of children, the laughter of adults, and Lu Xiao's deliberately fierce "scolding" voice, completely shutting out the harsh winter night in the north.
Outside the window, the howling wind and snow contrasted sharply with the warm, playful atmosphere inside, creating two seemingly disparate worlds. Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in the deep palace of Xiling, within the tightly closed doors of the Lanyue Pavilion, Lianxing gazed at her captivating face reflected in the bronze mirror, a confident smile playing on her lips.
The fleeting wavering in the eyes of the Imperial Guard Commander Zhao Zheng was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, quietly creating even more dangerous ripples in the dark, stagnant waters of the deep palace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com