Chapter 12 Extra 2: A Few Things About Pregnancy (Part 8)
Bai Hua originally planned to relax and sleep soundly after applying the essential oil, but Ning Jue insisted on interfering and even flirted with her.
After the essential oils were finally applied to their bodies, the two looked at each other, their breathing becoming heavier, their eyes dark and unfocused. Who among them still felt sleepy?
Bai Hua, drenched in sweat, pushed Ning Jue's shoulder away, preventing him from getting closer. She felt uneasy and fearful, thinking about how unforgettable the fierce storm of the previous night was, and that her body probably couldn't handle it if it happened again.
However, Ning Jue was eloquent and adept at persuasion, while Bai Hua had learned her lesson and spoke first this time.
"Don't use medical books or ancient texts as an excuse anymore. Even if intercourse during pregnancy is harmless, you should still exercise restraint. It's not allowed tonight."
Ning Jue looked at her, his deep eyes narrowing slightly, and smiled, "I didn't say I was going to do anything."
Bai Hua slapped his hand away and lay down on her own.
At this moment, her abdomen was still covered in essential oil, and she had to wait until it was completely dry before she could put her clothes back on, so she could only wait with her clothes open for the time being.
Ning Jue leaned closer and lay down next to her, his hot breath burning Bai Hua's ear. He asked, "You've rested for a day, is it still sore down there? Should we apply some ointment to help with bruising? I have a bottle in my sword room; Hua'er used it before, and it worked very well."
Bai Hua blushed, her eyes darting around, and she gave a reproachful snort: "No need. If you don't touch me again, I can recover in two or three days. Besides, I don't like the smell of your ointment. It's very pungent, like burnt pine resin, with a murky and astringent smell."
"It doesn't taste good..." Ning Jue heard this for the first time and found it somewhat intriguing.
This was a question he had never considered.
He practiced swordsmanship from a young age and frequently sparred with martial arts masters, inevitably sustaining injuries. As a child, his master and mistress would treat him, and as he grew older, he would treat minor wounds himself with simple ointments. His requirements were simple: to stop the bleeding. Therefore, he never considered the quality of the ointment or its taste. Later, he learned some formulas for making ointments from his master's wife, but he only sought effectiveness, never caring about the texture or smell of the ointment.
Bai Hua brought this up, which made him aware of this for the first time.
He didn't think Bai Hua was being delicate; he was only thinking about how to improve and refine the ointment so that its flavor was delicate and refreshing.
Ning Jue asked, "If I re-examine the formula, make a new plaster, and change the smell so that Hua'er no longer finds it astringent and pungent, would Hua'er agree to try it?"
Who wants to use this kind of thing all the time?
Ordinary wound medicine is applied to the wound itself, but the medicine he prescribed for her was specifically for that area...
Bai Hua's face flushed, and she huffed, giving Ning Jue a cold look: "Let's talk about it later. Besides, do you think you can just research it like that?"
Ning Jue's smile remained unchanged: "It's not difficult. If you are willing to study it, you will be able to master it."
After saying that, he reached out and gently touched Bai Hua's lower abdomen. The essential oil he had applied there had been almost completely absorbed. Worried that she would catch a cold from being exposed for too long, Ning Jue helped pull the blanket up and tuck the corners of the blanket in.
"Go to sleep if you're tired. Don't worry, I won't bother you tonight," Ning Jue said softly, kissing Bai Hua's forehead.
Having suffered losses before, Bai Hua was already wary of Ning Jue. Hearing his gentle assurances, she felt they were not very credible.
She repeated her instructions: "Let's make this clear beforehand, you can't do anything to provoke me, whether directly or indirectly, you can't touch me at all, I want to have a peaceful sleep."
Ning Jue lowered his eyes, looking quite hurt: "Does Hua'er distrust me so much?"
Bai Hua wasn't fooled and retorted, "Have you forgotten everything you've done?"
Ning Jue smiled but remained silent, his expression subtly ambiguous.
Bai Hua gave him a reproachful look, knowing he had nothing more to say.
Several times before, he had told her to sleep well, but Bai Hua chose to trust him. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she felt oppressed. He would either linger between her legs without making any advances, or, when he was thirsty in the deep of night, he would pull her apart and draw his essence from her body.
Those scenes are still vivid in my mind; it will be difficult to rebuild trust in her heart now.
Ning Jue raised his hand and rubbed the tip of his nose, whether he was trying to suppress a laugh or feeling guilty was unclear.
He placed his arm around her waist through the blanket and whispered in her ear, "Okay, it's all my fault, but I won't touch you tonight, and I mean it."
Bai Hua was feeling sleepy. She avoided looking at him and spoke in a low, muffled voice: "I'll trust you one more time."
Ning Jue gently nibbled on her earlobe and replied, "A promise is a promise."
...
After a peaceful night, Bai Hua's routine finally returned to normal.
Ning Jue was there early in the morning. He had just returned from sword practice, and his forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat. As he approached her, the heat emanating from his body shot forward. Bai Hua, who was sitting lazily on the bed without having washed or groomed herself, saw his sweaty appearance, raised her sleeve, and gently wiped his sweat.
Bai Hua: "I really envy your energy every day. Since I got pregnant, my body has become heavier, and I feel tired and sleepy every day. Even if I sleep well for a while, I will feel sleepy again soon. Xiao You makes me tea to keep me awake, but it doesn't work."
Ning Jue raised an eyebrow and teased her, saying, "If Hua'er allows me to unleash this boundless energy on you and keep working on you, I might become blinded by lust and neglect Qingying from then on."
He was holding the Azure Shadow Sword with his arms crossed, yet he could say these words without changing his expression.
When it comes to shamelessness, she's no match for him!
Bai Hua reached out to push him away; he was covered in sweat and smelled really bad.
Ning Jue remained steadfast and unmoved, sitting on the edge of the bed, resisting her pressure without yielding an inch.
"I was planning to talk to you for a while before going to the Prince's Mansion, but Hua'er is trying to send me away now?" Ning Jue asked, rubbing Bai Hua's cheek. His tone finally became more serious. "It's normal for pregnant women to be sleepy. It's a phase. Hua'er used to say that I was the one bothering you. Now you realize that it's not entirely my fault, right?"
Bai Hua then stopped, reluctantly allowing him to stay close to her for a little longer.
She asked him to pour her some water, and after drinking a cup, her throat felt moist before she replied, "It's not entirely your fault, but you're mostly to blame. Is it the same to fall asleep normally or to stay up until the early hours of the morning?"
Ning Jue retorted: "Enjoying delicious food every day is not the same as having to go hungry for three months to have a full meal."
Bai Hua said softly, "I didn't say I had to wait another three months next time. I can wait until I've recovered."
Ning Jue asked, "When will you be fully recovered? Tonight..."
Bai Hua refused without hesitation: "Of course not."
Ning Jue sighed, raised a finger to touch the tip of her nose, and said in a low voice, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Bai Hua found a comfortable position to rest her head on Ning Jue's lap and asked softly, "What business did you have at the Prince's Mansion today? You've been away from home quite often lately."
Ning Jue stroked her flowing, beautiful hair down her back and replied truthfully, "The Grand General and Prince Rui have long been at odds, and their mutual restraint over the years has nothing more than a power struggle between two factions. Your Highness has been kind to me before, and I have done my best to help you clear obstacles for you within my capabilities. Recently, there have been some open and covert clashes between the two sides, but once things calm down, I will not leave home."
Bai Hua nodded and asked, "I'm due to give birth in a few months. You shouldn't be so busy then, right?"
Ning Jue said solemnly, "Your childbirth is of paramount importance. Everything else must take a back seat. Don't worry, Hua'er, you are of utmost importance. I will definitely be in the capital when the time comes."
As he spoke, fearing she might feel uneasy, Ning Jue placed his palm on her shoulder, letting her truly feel his presence.
Bai Hua patted his hand and said trustingly, "Okay, you have to stay with me."
After saying this, Ning Jue was about to leave.
Bai Hua suddenly remembered something and stopped him, saying, "By the way, I have something I want to ask you, but let's make it clear beforehand that you're not allowed to be unhappy."
Ning Jue asked curiously, "What's so serious that I'm upset?"
Bai Hua cut to the chase: "I wanted to ask about Rong Linyan. My cousin told me that the Rong family doesn't know where he is or how he's doing. So I wanted to ask you, have you retaliated against him since then? Is his continued avoidance of showing up related to us?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Jue remained silent for a while.
Seeing his reaction, Bai Hua blinked and quickly understood: "Is it really related to you? Did you send people to kill him or..."
"Neither," Ning Jue shook his head in denial.
He wouldn't have brought up Rong Linyan's matter in front of Bai Hua if she hadn't asked, but now that she had, he wouldn't lie to her and would tell her everything he knew.
Ning Jue truthfully replied, "I did not send anyone to retaliate against him. He was ordered to kidnap you. The grievances have their source, and the debts have their debtors. I will only hold Ji Fukun accountable. Although I hate his scheming against you, in all honesty, if it weren't for him, we probably wouldn't have met. There are too many twists and turns involved. Although I dislike Rong Linyan, it's not to the point of making him pay with his life. As long as he doesn't bother us and we live peacefully for the rest of our lives, why should I pursue his life and make things difficult for the Bai family and you?"
Bai Hua, of course, believed Ning Jue. He was a man of his word; if he said no, then no.
But if it weren't for fear of Ning Jue's pursuit, why would my cousin have gone into hiding and avoided the world for years without even seeing his family?
What is he trying to escape from?
Bai Hua couldn't figure it out, and seeing that Ning Jue seemed to have something to say, she tentatively asked, "Does my husband know anything more? Could you tell me everything you know?"
Although he was reluctant to mention other men in front of her, Bai Huaruo would definitely keep this matter on her mind for a long time if she remained confused.
Thinking about this matter is the same as thinking about Rong Linyan.
Ning Jue, of course, refused.
He replied with a straight face and a flat voice, "Yes, I know where he is."
Bai Hua pressed, "Where?"
Ning Jue glanced at her, her expression somewhat displeased, but she continued, "In Shu, far from the capital and Jiling, Rong Linyan went into hiding and married into a wealthy family. Now he has no shortage of money, but no more ambition."
Bai Hua was surprised: "Marrying into the family... Cousin was so ambitious before, how could this happen?"
Ning Jue: "What spirit can a person with crippled legs have? Now he can't walk on the ground and can only travel by wheelchair. He has lost his swordsmanship and his career prospects are hopeless. A peaceful life is the best ending for him."
Bai Hua was shocked: "Both legs are crippled? How did this happen? After the Left Prime Minister died suddenly, he was purged by the new emperor. Didn't my cousin get away unscathed? Did some martial arts figures seek revenge and cripple him?"
Now that we've come this far, there's no need to hide anything.
Ning Jue secretly didn't want Bai Hua to know these things, but he really couldn't bring himself to deliberately hide them from her or even lie to her.
He should have that confidence.
"It was Ji Fukun who injured him. According to my informant, Ji Fukun insisted on sealing you in a coffin. Rong Linyan pleaded with him to no avail, and finally attacked Ji Fukun. However, he was no match for 'Mad Fist,' and was defeated in less than ten moves. Ji Fukun's attack was ruthless, striking his knees repeatedly, and he immediately lost his balance and fainted from the pain. My mole seized the opportunity to pull him out of the secret chamber and casually placed him in the woods, leaving his fate to chance. After that, Ji Fukun died, and Rong Linyan had no backing in the capital, so he went to Sichuan. He never showed himself in front of the Rong family, probably because he didn't want to extinguish the last bit of hope the Rong family had for climbing the social ladder."
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua remained silent for a long time, silently processing what she had heard.
She was overwhelmed with emotion. All along, she had thought that her cousin only wanted to scheme against and use her, but she never expected that he would save her at the critical moment, even though she had lost her leg.
Thus, the previous grudges and grievances became even more complicated. He owed her, and then repaid her, but the price of his physical disability was far too high.
Bai Hua sighed and said, "My cousin schemed against me, and now he's paid for it. I can't even begin to explain my resentment towards him. Oh well, the past is the past. Let's turn the page and not bring it up again. Besides, my aunt was my mother's only younger sister. Before my mother passed away, she missed my aunt very much. The kinship between the Bai and Rong families is real. I don't want the relationship between the two families to continue to sour, but I also don't want them to become too close. Let's just leave things as they are for now and keep things peaceful."
Ning Jue commented, "He brought this upon himself, but he was also unlucky. He was so glorious when he competed in the arena, but unfortunately, he was chosen by the Yang family's daughter and became her tool to fight against her family. Rong Linyan married a wife who was just for show, and inexplicably became a father. In the end, he gained nothing but domestic turmoil. After the Yang family's daughter used a scheme to escape, he became a widower overnight. He abandoned you to climb the social ladder, and he must have regretted it a thousand times over when faced with that situation later."
Bai Hua didn't hold a grudge against her cousin for having let her down, but she was quite interested in Miss Yang's past.
I heard that she disregarded the difference in their social status, used a scheme to escape, and eloped with a bandit leader. Even the child she was carrying was the bandit leader's. The thrilling twists and turns of this story are truly intriguing.
Bai Hua's thoughts wandered, and she wanted to continue asking Ning Jue about the love affair between Yang Yun, the daughter of the Yang family, and Qiu Shu, the leader of the bandits.
That must be really interesting.
Just like listening to a storybook, the plot is full of twists and turns, captivating the reader at every turn.
Moreover, the love story between a noble lady from the capital and a bandit leader—such a fresh character setting appearing in a storybook—would surely make it a hot seller in the capital's bookstores.
Ning Jue looked at Bai Hua and slowly breathed a sigh of relief, quite satisfied with her current reaction.
He smiled and said, "I thought that after hearing what I had to say, you would relentlessly question me about your cousin."
Bai Hua tilted her head, puzzled, and asked, "Why should I ask?"
Ning Jue was jealous, but he didn't mind letting Bai Hua know.
He answered honestly: "Ask him about his recent situation, what kind of woman he married after marrying into the family, whether there is any possibility of recovery for his leg disability, basically about how you feel about his concern and guilt because he injured his leg for you."
Bai Hua thought for a moment and replied sincerely, "If he hadn't been so eager to curry favor with Ji Fukun, he wouldn't have been ordered to kidnap me, and none of what happened afterward would have occurred. So, his leg injury wasn't entirely because of me, but my suffering was mostly because of him. I don't want to continue to hold a grudge against him, but I won't take all the blame upon myself either. I don't owe him anything. Even if I did inquire about his leg injury, it would only be because he's my cousin, and we're not complete strangers. Nothing more."
Ning Jue was completely relieved this time, and couldn't help but praise her: "Hua'er has thought things through clearly, and that's exactly how things should be."
Bai Hua's eyes sparkled as she smiled at Ning Jue and said, "So I succeeded in pleasing you? You have no idea how careful I was, afraid that a single inappropriate reply would upset you."
Ning Jue snorted coldly, his expression turning serious again. He raised his hand and lightly poked Bai Hua's forehead, speaking in a deep voice, "You didn't flip it over, alright?"
Bai Hua smiled, her eyes crinkling, and leaned closer to take Ning Jue's arm, her smile both bright and flattering: "Cousin, that's the end of the topic. Now, my husband, would you have time to tell me the story of the Yang family's daughter and the bandit leader? I'm really curious."
Seeing her bright, eager eyes darting around, Ning Jue was at her wits' end: "Are you really taking this as a storybook?"
Bai Hua replied, "Judging from the synopsis... it seems even more exciting than typical storybooks."
Ning Jue shook his head helplessly. He was used to teasing her, and seeing that she was eager to try, he wouldn't let her get it easily.
"It seems inconvenient today. It's almost time, so I have to go to the General's Mansion. I'll discuss it with Hua'er in detail next time."
Bai Hua asked expectantly, "When will you be back?"
Ning Jue smiled and pondered for a moment before replying, "Not necessarily, either the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) or the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) is possible."
Bai Hua said sullenly, "We'll be gone for so long... are we going to have to leave a meal for ourselves there?"
Ning Jue replied succinctly, "It's hard to refuse such kindness, especially since it's not easy to offend the prince."
"I've never seen you so careless before," Bai Hua thought to herself.
Never mind, let's not bother him if we have important business to attend to.
Bai Hua stopped bothering him and watched Ning Jue leave.
She stared at his handsome back, and before he stepped out the door, she added, "Husband, remember to come back early after dinner. I'm waiting for you to tell me a story."
Ning Jue: "Understood."
"..."
Okay, okay.
She seemed so reluctant to leave, while the others strode away quickly!
He won't get into her bed when he gets back tonight!
Author's note: Here we go! [Sprinkling flowers]
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