Chapter 13 Extra 2: A Few Things About Pregnancy (Part 9)
Ning Jue returned early in the evening and had dinner with Bai Hua.
Today, the chef prepared a lot of Sichuan and Hunan-style dishes as instructed. The table was full of spicy and fragrant flavors, which was very tempting. Bai Hua has had a good appetite recently and prefers spicy food. She can eat half a portion of chopped pepper fish head or a whole plate of mustard melon by herself.
Seeing this, Ning Jue jokingly guessed that Bai Hua's baby was most likely a daughter.
Bai Hua didn't seem to have formally asked him whether he preferred a boy or a girl, so she casually asked, "Does my husband want a daughter more?"
Ning Jue replied, "Actually, it's all good. If it's a daughter, and she's as beautiful as Hua'er, she'll be absolutely adorable with her delicate features."
This means that both are good, but having a daughter is better.
Bai Hua smiled and replied, "Junman gave birth to a girl. Originally, I was thinking that if I had given birth to a boy, I would marry General Meng. Anyway, the two children are only two years apart, so it doesn't matter."
Ning Jue, unaware of this matter, raised an eyebrow and said, "It's fine to marry someone's daughter if you have a son, but if they have a son and I have a daughter, I'm not willing to go through with this marriage."
Bai Hua blinked and asked, "Why is that?"
Ning Jue looked over: "Xiangcheng is far away, is Hua'er really willing to go?"
Bai Hua fell silent. Thinking about it more deeply, she was indeed reluctant to part with him.
Ning Jue added, "If we have a daughter, it would be best if she married someone from the capital, not far from us, so you would have less to worry about."
Bai Hua smiled and said, "I think so too."
As she spoke, Bai Hua held her spoon and continued eating the spicy fish soup in her bowl. While eating, she thought of something: "Sister-in-law has already asked my cousin to meet the several suitors she has chosen, but none of them seem to be particularly to her liking. I was thinking of arranging for Young Master Kong to come to our house for a meal in the next few days, and taking the opportunity to play matchmaker for him and my cousin. What do you think, husband?"
Ning Jue replied, "There's no problem with making the connection, but Kong Pingsheng hasn't been in the capital for the past few days, so we'll have to wait about ten days."
Bai Hua asked, "It's alright, a few more days won't make a difference. It was my husband who first suggested that my cousin and Young Master Kong be introduced. Did my husband mention this to Young Master Kong?"
Ning Jue shook her head: "I only inquired indirectly and confirmed that Kong Pingsheng has never been engaged in marriage in Yuncheng and does not currently have a girl he likes. Only after knowing this did I make the suggestion to you."
Bai Hua felt even more at ease, her eyes approving of his prudent approach: "Then let's wait for Young Master Kong to return, and trouble you, my husband, to find an excuse to invite him."
Ning Jue agreed: "It's nothing."
...
After dinner, the two of them went for a stroll in the back garden to digest their food. No one else followed them; they walked side by side.
The sky was not yet completely dark, and the evening breeze was gentle and warm, feeling exceptionally comfortable on my face.
As they ascended the stone steps, Ning Jue carefully supported Bai Hua, patiently acting as her portable crutch.
The two walked slowly together to a higher point and stood on a flat area at the end of the stone steps. This angle was perfect for them to gaze at the golden and pinkish-purple afterglow in the distance.
The scenery was beautiful, which made everyone feel good.
Ning Jue placed his hand on Bai Hua's waist and suddenly said, "We should think about a name for the child."
Bai Hua nodded: "That's right. Does my husband have any thoughts?"
Ning Jue teased her, "Hua'er has read so many stories, her knowledge is naturally much higher than mine, so of course Hua'er should be the one to choose the name."
Bai Hua glared at him, letting him mock her: "I haven't thought about it carefully either. Why don't you come up with a boy's name and I'll come up with a girl's name? That way, we'll both feel involved, and who knows, our names might be used first."
Ning Jue frankly said, "Hua'er, do you trust me? To be honest, I only attended a school for a few days. I am not as learned and knowledgeable as you. I am more skilled in martial arts than in literature, so when it comes to naming, I am worried that I might not be able to choose a good name."
Bai Hua looked at him with certainty and trust, saying, "It's alright, you want your husband to choose a name. Whatever you want is fine, it represents the father's hopes and is of great significance. Besides, a name only needs to be easy to pronounce, there's no need to be pedantic and choose some obscure characters that sound sophisticated. Don't you think about how much trouble it would be for the child to learn?"
Her words gave Ning Jue confidence.
Ning Jue nodded in agreement: "Okay, then I'll take one."
Bai Hua: "Speaking of stories, my husband has been so busy lately that he hasn't had a chance to tell me the stories I've been wanting to hear."
It turns out that Bai Hua hasn't given up on inquiring about gossip.
Ning Jue chuckled and shook his head, finally agreeing to satisfy Bai Hua's curiosity: "Alright, alright, I'll tell you one tonight as your bedtime story, how about it?"
Bai Hua blushed slightly, a little embarrassed: "What bedtime story... I'm not a child, I just wanted to find out some inside information and see what you're up to."
“There’s not much difference.” Ning Jue looked at her, his gaze deep and unfathomable. “Anyway, you have to coax them.”
...
After returning to their bedroom and taking a bath, Ning Jue carefully carried Bai Hua to the bed.
He didn't go up after her, but stood on the ground, looking down at Bai Hua and said, "Wait for me to come down, I have something to show you."
Bai Hua tilted her head and asked, "What is it?"
Ning Jue reached out and ruffled her hair: "I'll show it to you, and then you'll understand."
They're even keeping us in suspense.
Bai Hua watched him leave the house.
Soon, Ning Jue returned, smiling as he approached Bai Hua again. He held something in his hand—a small porcelain bottle. It was unclear what was inside; was it medicine?
As Bai Hua was pondering this, Ning Jue stood in front of her. He opened the porcelain bottle, reached out with his other hand, and waved it to bring the scent to Bai Hua's nose so she could smell it.
Ning Jue asked, "How is it? Is it still pungent this time?"
Upon hearing his question, Bai Hua instantly realized what was inside the porcelain bottle.
She truly hadn't expected that Ning Jue, who was busy every day, shuttling between the Duan residence and the Grand General's residence, would still have time to study ointments for relieving swelling and improve their fragrance.
Bai Hua felt valued because he took her casual remarks to heart, but at the same time, she thought that Ning Jue's attention seemed to be misplaced.
Why would anyone bother to use this medicine frequently, let alone bother to study it?
Bai Hua saw Ning Jue still staring at her, her face slightly flushed. She leaned forward to sniff again and asked, "The smell has improved a lot. What did you add this time?"
Ning Jue replied, "It's just that common spices like cloves and angelica, if used in the right proportions, can easily make the flavor refreshing."
After saying that, Ning Jue pushed the stopper back into the bottle opening, then pulled Bai Hua's wrist and placed the porcelain bottle in her palm.
Bai Hua felt a burning sensation in her palm, as if she had been given a hot potato. She didn't want to take it, but Ning Jue had already pressed her fingers together.
Ning Jue instructed, "Keep it safe, it will be easy to find it when you need it later."
Bai Hua: "..."
She couldn't even respond to that question. Did this medicine... really have to be used?
Ning Jue didn't say anything more, took off his inner robe and got onto the bed.
He doesn't usually wear clothes to sleep; he typically only wears his pants, leaving his upper body, chest, shoulders, and arms mostly exposed.
Even though she had seen it many times, Bai Hua still couldn't remain calm and composed.
His strong, lean abdominal muscles were right in front of her, the lines as if carved by an axe, each line distinct and clear. Bai Hua was embarrassed and looked away.
Ning Jue took in her shy reaction, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, arousing his teasing thoughts.
Bai Hua coughed lightly, pulled the blanket over herself and lay down comfortably. She soon felt the other side of the pillow sink in, which was obvious as Ning Jue moved closer to her.
Bai Hua instinctively refused, saying, "Let's not..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ning Jue's index finger swiftly fell and precisely pressed against her lips, silencing her from what she was about to say.
Bai Hua was bewildered and could only blink at the other person.
Ning Jue continued, "It's a promise, I'll tell you a story tonight."
As he spoke, Ning Jue moved his fingertips and brushed them against Bai Hua's lips, slowly moving them from left to right and then from right to left, the pressure varying from light to heavy.
Bai Hua felt very itchy and uncomfortable from his teasing.
Her eyes were brimming with tears. She raised her hand to push his arm away, begging him to release her delicate lips, and tentatively asked, "Is it just a story?"
Ning Jue then turned the question back on her: "What does Hua'er think?"
Bai Hua quickly explained her wish, replying, "Of course, I just want to tell stories. It would be best if I naturally fell asleep while telling them. My husband promised to satisfy my curiosity."
Ning Jue didn't back down and nodded in agreement, saying, "Okay, I'll tell you the whole story. But the process of Yang Yun and Qiu Shu meeting and getting to know each other is quite complicated and full of twists and turns. Their love and hate are indeed no less dramatic than a storybook. Where would you like to start, Hua'er?"
Bai Hua thought for a moment and decided to say, "Hmm... let's start from the beginning. I think the first half will be more interesting."
Ning Jue: "I'll listen to you."
Ning Jue did not lie to her; he told her everything he knew without reservation.
The story begins with Qiu Shu's background. He was the descendant of a treacherous official. Facing the court's purge, he managed to escape the capital by chance. He then became a mountain king, gathering ambitious people from all over the country. He lay low for many years and slowly built up his power until he was able to dominate the mountain and fight back against the court's troops without fear.
But this period of good fortune was short-lived. The imperial court soon dispatched General Yang to suppress the bandits. General Yang's cunning tactics quickly inflicted heavy losses on Qiu Shu. Qiu Shu fought valiantly and fought General Yang to a draw, managing to hold onto his mountain stronghold. However, a grudge was formed. With so many brothers injured, Qiu Shu harbored a desire for revenge. He disguised himself, entered the city, hijacked the carriage carrying Yang Yun, the daughter of the Yang family, on her spring outing, and forcibly abducted her to the mountain to exact his revenge.
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua's eyes widened: "This Qiu Shu, instead of seeking revenge on General Yang, went and captured his daughter. He's no hero at all."
Ning Jue smiled and said, "I heard that General Yang was able to gain the upper hand at the beginning because he used a trick to kidnap the women and children on the mountain. Qiu Shu was just giving him a taste of his own medicine. There is no moral reasoning between them. In war, there is deception. The winner takes all and the loser is always the one who is remembered. People only ever see the result."
At this point in the story, Ning Jue's hands and feet began to wander.
He lifted Bai Hua's clothes and skirt, slipping inside through the gap. His fingertips brushed against the delicate skin of her waist, causing her to tremble uncontrollably as she curled her fingers.
"you……"
"My dear Hua'er, let me touch you. It won't affect anything. I'll continue telling you the story, okay?"
I should have realized that his close physical contact with her was suspicious!
Bai Hua glared at him, wanting to stop him, but it was too late.
She took a deep breath, her brows furrowing involuntarily, and the sound she made was faint, quickly drowned out by Ning Jue's incessant chatter.
Ning Jue, appreciating Bai Hua's dazed expression, continued, "After Qiu Shu abducted Yang Yun, his initial intention was revenge, so he treated her badly, making her sleep in the granary, eat leftovers, and pay off her father's debts. However, one of Qiu Shu's subordinates, seeing Miss Yang's charming appearance, harbored lustful thoughts and wanted to vent his anger by forcibly taking her. Qiu Shu disdained to humiliate Yang Yun in this way, rescued her in time, and severely punished his unruly subordinate. From then on, the relationship between the two began to ease slightly. Seeing the young lady from the capital looking disheveled and humiliated, Qiu Shu felt a strange sense of guilt towards her, while Yang Yun, because of the near-offense, felt a complex and contradictory gratitude towards him."
"Later, Yang Yun's father realized that his daughter's disappearance was related to the bandits. In his anger, he tried his best to wipe them out, but he became entangled in a stalemate. The court was unwilling to continue to send more troops, so it forced General Yang to withdraw his troops back to the city to reconsider the situation. However, this withdrawal forced Yang Yun to stay on the mountain and was forced to spend a month with Qiu Shu. During this time, the two were no longer incompatible, but rather like dry wood meeting a raging fire, and their feelings for each other quickly warmed up."
Ning Jue shifted his palm to the other side, looking at both sides simultaneously, and gently twisted the tip, causing Bai Hua's lips to part slightly as she exhaled deeply.
Seeing her reaction, Ning Jue not only did not soften his heart and stop, but instead became even more wicked and wanted to tease her.
His eyes were dark and deep. He quickly changed the subject, pulling away from the other people's stories, and leaned close to Bai Hua's ear, asking mischievously, "Hua'er, are you comfortable?"
Bai Hua felt weak all over, hating herself for not being able to punch him.
She didn't answer, and Ning Jue didn't press her for an answer.
He lowered his eyes and licked his lips. He had just spoken so much that his throat was inevitably dry. He swallowed and thought to himself that he hadn't thought of that beforehand. He should have put a pot of cool tea by the bedside so that he could drink it to soothe his throat whenever he wanted.
Perhaps a kiss would work?
Ning Jue quickly put his plan into action, pressing down on Bai Hua and forcefully kissing her lips, prying open her teeth and lingering intimately with her.
Bai Hua kept begging for mercy, but her lips were being bitten again, and her eyes immediately turned red with a pitiful look.
Seeing that she looked like she was about to cry, Ning Jue frowned and then restrained himself a little, controlling his strength.
He ran his fingertip across the corner of Bai Hua's eye and didn't notice any obvious dampness.
Ning Jue felt relieved and gave up. He propped himself up on his arms and moved away from her a little, coaxing her, "Don't cry, okay, okay, no more kissing. How about I continue telling Hua'er a story? We were just talking about... the tension between you two has eased a bit, hasn't it?"
Bai Hua bit her lip and ignored her.
She raised her arm and slapped Ning Jue hard across the chin. Perhaps she originally intended to slap him, but her arm wasn't long enough to reach his face; she could only barely brush past his chin. Therefore, this slap was clearly not enough to vent her anger.
Ning Jue was slightly taken aback, and then looked at Bai Hua with a quiet gaze.
Seeing her glaring at him with wide, angry eyes, he was not only fierce but also incredibly cute and lively. He couldn't help but laugh and calmly responded, even raising an eyebrow at her.
Seeing this, Bai Hua became even angrier, thinking he was provoking her. Just as she was about to retort, Ning Jue took advantage of her unpreparedness and made an aggressive move first.
He was utterly shameless. The hand that was still inside her skirt suddenly squeezed hard. Bai Hua was caught off guard and couldn't withstand it. She immediately felt her waist go weak and she had no strength left to fight him.
Bai Hua didn't realize that her fierce gaze had instantly turned watery.
Ning Jue, pushing his luck, had a clear purpose: to seduce someone.
His apologetic tone was anything but restrained: "I'm sorry, Hua'er, it's my fault for forgetting to prepare a pot of tea to moisten my throat before telling the story. I've been telling too much just now, and my mouth is really thirsty."
Bai Hua struggled slightly: "Get out of bed and go have some tea, there's some on the table..."
Ning Jue interrupted, smiling as he commented, "In my humble opinion, milk tea is richer and more fragrant than green tea, so I prefer the former. Hua'er, just give me as much as you like; I can drink it all, no matter how much."
How could Bai Hua's thin skin be a match for him?
Upon hearing this, her cheeks flushed even more. Unable to bear it any longer, she simply raised her hand and covered Ning Jue's annoying mouth.
Ning Jue smiled and cooperated by remaining silent.
He gently pulled Bai Hua's hand away, comforted her to lie down slowly, and then carefully gathered up her upper garments to prevent the remaining stains from getting on the hem, and also to make it easier for him to absorb them.
Bai Hua was a little scared and looked away, not daring to look at Ning Jue.
Ning Jue pressed his forehead against hers, gently coaxing her before burying his face in hers, "Let me soothe my throat, then I'll tell Hua'er a story. I promised you I'd tell you a story tonight to help you fall asleep."
Bai Hua had long since lost interest in thinking about others: "I don't want to listen anymore."
Ning Jue: "You've lost interest so quickly? Didn't Hua'er say it herself? Her story is more exciting than any novel."
After saying this, Ning Jue began to immerse himself in the task.
Bai Hua's eyes were half-closed; she had no strength to reply to him or resist him. At this moment, she was panting and occasionally moaning.
The sobbing echoed in her ears. Bai Hua wanted to simply cover her ears and ignore it, but Ning Jue held her down, and she couldn't move her shoulders at all.
She had no choice but to face it head-on, clearly hearing the swallowing sounds growing louder and louder. After a long, long time… Ning Jue finally finished drinking and was satisfied.
Bai Hua didn't have the strength to push him away; her eyes were unfocused, and she slowly calmed herself down.
Ning Jue helped her straighten her clothes, placing the skirt hem neatly in place. However, the halter top in his hand was already crumpled up. It was easy to take it off but difficult to put it on, and he was also at a loss.
Never mind, I'll pass on this one for now.
Ning Jue patted Bai Hua's shoulder and back from behind, his tone somewhat coaxing, and leaned closer to ask softly, "Hua'er, do you want to continue?"
Bai Hua said fiercely, "Haven't you had enough to eat yet?"
Ning Jue laughed out loud, realizing she had misunderstood, and quickly explained, "No, I was telling a story. Do you want to continue?"
Bai Hua pouted and said sarcastically, "You don't even know where you are in the story... You weren't in the mood to tell a story just now, you were clearly thinking about how to bully me."
Ning Jue's attitude was very good; he wouldn't fight back when hit, nor would he retaliate when insulted.
He quickly tried to appease her, saying, "How can it be considered bullying? I just wanted to get closer to Hua'er. So, Hua'er, do you blame me for being obsessed with you, or do you resent yourself for having such a fatal attraction to me?"
Bai Hua was taken aback, and blushed upon hearing his words.
She couldn't think of a retort for a moment, but didn't want to be outmaneuvered so easily, so she simply retorted fiercely: "You just said that Qiu Shu and Yang Yun spent a lot of time together and their feelings for each other grew stronger, and then what? Did they make peace with each other?"
Ning Jue chuckled, finding Bai Hua's current reaction quite adorable.
He replied earnestly, "Yes, they turned hostility into friendship, developed feelings for each other, and came together without any matchmaker."
A match made without a matchmaker...
Bai Hua was stunned for a moment, her expression one of surprise, truly amazed by Miss Yang's bold behavior.
But……
Following Ning Jue's words, Bai Hua continued to ponder, her tone speculative, and asked, "Was Miss Yang forced?"
Ning Jue did not hesitate: "Voluntary, and...voluntary."
Bai Hua didn't believe it: "You didn't see it with your own eyes. Even if Qiu Shu, the person involved, told you, how do you know he didn't embellish or beautify himself?"
Ning Jue argued logically: "If it wasn't proactive and voluntary, how could a proud woman like Yang Yun, after painstakingly planning and scheming, choose to escape and elope with Qiu Shu?"
That's absolutely true.
Listening to it all together, this predestined relationship really sounds more like a folktale...
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