Chapter 9 Extra 2: A Few Things About Pregnancy (Part 5)
Just as I was savoring the moment, the sound of footsteps behind me suddenly grew closer.
Bai Hua noticed this and instinctively panicked, her hands and feet moving frantically.
Even though Xiao You had just tidied up the bed, she still bent down and pretended to be busy tugging at the corners of the sheets and mattress.
Ning Jue moved closer, standing behind her, his waist and abdomen directly facing her upturned buttocks.
Bai Hua's eyelashes curled slightly, annoyed that he stood in the wrong place. There were clearly so many empty spaces next to her, yet he insisted on coming closer to her.
She moved aside on her own initiative; if she couldn't afford to offend them, she could at least avoid them.
Ning Jue then spoke up: "Does Xiao You also know about that matter?"
Bai Hua hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Well, Xiao You serves me every day. It would be too tiring to keep it a secret."
Ning Jue: "So I'm ranked so low. Your sister-in-law is your family, Xiao You is your confidante, and what about me?"
He retorted with dissatisfaction, then reached behind him and pulled her up by the waist, forcing her to straighten up and face him.
The two were of different heights, and Bai Hua was forced to look up at him, feeling overwhelmed by his disdain. For a moment, she felt a strong sense of intrusion from him.
Are you angry?
"answer the questions."
Bai Hua reached out and hugged Ning Jue back.
Her thin clothes were already loosely tied, especially the collar, and when she reached out to hug him, the cleavage of her chest suddenly appeared deep.
Ning Jue's eyes were deep.
Bai Hua began, “Of course you’re the most important person in my heart, how could you rank us like that… My sister-in-law knew first because she was the one who found me the wet nurse. Besides, an elder sister-in-law is like a mother, and she took extra good care of me after I became pregnant. As for Xiao You, she saw my wet undergarment and asked me about it, and I couldn’t find any other excuse, so I just told her directly. We’ve been together as master and servant for so many years, we’re shameless with each other, how can my husband and Xiao You be the same…”
This means that even though they are married, she still feels shy and uncomfortable sometimes when she is with him.
Ning Jue felt this was a sign of distrust. As husband and wife, they were inseparable and intimate, so why couldn't she be completely open with him?
Seeing that Ning Jue's expression had not softened, Bai Hua coaxed him to lie down on the bed first.
The candles inside the bedroom were extinguished, and the moonlight, bypassing the treetops and then filtering through the gauze window, poured in one after another, casting a faint glow on the ground.
The two were quiet for a while. After the initial excitement and the escalating argument, their emotions fluctuated significantly.
Bai Hua's gaze fell on the dark void. She hesitated, wondering whether she should continue talking to him now, or perhaps rest first and talk about it tomorrow?
The quiet atmosphere easily lulled her to sleep, and after a moment's hesitation, Bai Hua's eyelids began to grow heavy without her noticing.
In addition, Ning Jue had just helped her, so she felt comfortable all over and had no discomfort at all. She lay there for a while, and soon she was sleepy enough to fall asleep easily and peacefully, without any further consciousness.
Ning Jue, on the other hand, showed no signs of sleepiness.
He knew that Bai Hua was trying to coax him. Her silence might have been because she didn't know how to start the conversation, or she might have been preparing her words.
But it's okay, he's patient.
But... perhaps because neither of them spoke, time seemed to drag on endlessly, as if a very long time had passed.
But that's not necessarily true. The feeling might be wrong; in reality, not much time has passed. He should be more patient.
Reassuring himself in this way, Ning Jue remained calm and did not abruptly remind Bai Hua.
Wait, wait...
Until Ning Jue suddenly noticed that Bai Hua's breathing was gradually becoming steady and calm, and then he suddenly realized what was going on.
She didn't agonize over her words at all, nor did she rack her brains trying to figure out how to coax him. Instead, she carelessly lay down and fell asleep...
Ning Jue's face fell, but Bai Hua obviously couldn't see it.
"Well done." Ning Jue laughed in exasperation, unable to swallow his anger.
He leaned closer and stared at her. The moonlight filtering through the bed curtains was already very dim, and he could barely make out the outline of her face and the delicate texture of her skin.
Ning Jue raised his hand and stroked her cheek. After a brief pause, his long, slender fingers slowly moved behind her ear, his calloused fingertips rubbing against that sensitive area, then lingering there repeatedly as if in revenge. Bai Hua was disturbed from her sleep, her brow furrowing slightly, and her breathing became erratic.
Ning Jue took in her reaction, and his anger flared even more intensely.
The firewood I've been saving for months has now piled up into a small mountain, and it's time to burn it all!
Are we just going to let her go to sleep like that?
no.
But we can leave her alone for now; whatever he wants to do now, he can accomplish on his own.
Composing himself, Ning Jue shifted his body downwards, being extremely careful not to touch Bai Hua's protruding belly. He remained cautious throughout, his breathing becoming heavier.
He precisely grabbed Bai Hua's ankles, applied force, and lifted her knees up, then spread them apart.
He stared ahead for a moment, then narrowed his eyes, reached out and pulled the edge of the blanket over his head, and lay down.
...
It was late at night, but the candles in the Bai residence were still burning.
Bai Shu'an received another letter from the Rong family. It was from his aunt who wanted to make amends. In the letter, she said that blood ties between close relatives are truly connected, and there is no hatred that cannot be overcome. She hoped that they could visit each other again during festivals.
After reading the letter, Bai Shu'an remained expressionless and casually handed it to his wife, Zhu Xijun.
Zhu Xijun took it and read it carefully from beginning to end.
After reading it, she said quietly, "This letter is not as sincere as the one written by my cousin from the Rong family."
Bai Shu'an nodded in agreement, then asked his wife, "Has Madam and Hua'er discussed Chi Fang's desire to come to the capital to take care of her?"
Zhu Xijun replied, "It has already been mentioned. Hua'er said that when she was staying at the Rong Mansion, this eldest cousin of the Rong family took good care of her. But Hua'er seems to be worried that the Rong family cousin is not a servant. Is it inappropriate for her to come all the way to the capital to serve her?"
Bai Shu'an pondered for a moment and then made a decision: "Go and ask Hua'er for a definite answer. If she agrees, then let our cousin from the Rong family come to the capital. As for whether it's suitable or not, it's just a matter of whether we care about other people's opinions. As long as we treat people well, that's more important than anything else."
Zhu Xijun agreed: "Alright, I'll go to Duyuan tomorrow. Will you still reply to Madam Rong's letter, my husband?"
She should have addressed her as aunt, but now the Bai and Rong families have essentially stopped communicating.
Previously, Rong Linyan had a falling out with the two families because he was jealous and forcibly abducted Hua'er. This has caused Bai Shu'an to hold a grudge ever since. Zhu Xijun and her husband have grown closer, so naturally they have become more distant in how they address each other.
Bai Shu'an shook his head and said, "No need, just reply to my cousin's letter. My cousin is reliable and will take good care of us after she comes to the capital, so I trust her. In this way, we can at least give the Rong family some response. Otherwise, if we keep ignoring them, I'm worried they'll come knocking on our door and cause trouble. That would be a real headache."
What bad luck to have such a relative.
Zhu Xijun said indignantly, "If I were Madam Rong, I wouldn't have the face to visit her again after my son did such a despicable thing. I would have stayed as far away as possible."
Bai Shu'an looked at his wife and chuckled twice, replying, "My wife is naturally thin-skinned, so it's normal that she can't understand their ability to be as thick-skinned as a city wall."
Hearing her husband's joking words, Zhu Xijun couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He's usually so serious, so it's quite jarring to see him suddenly become humorous.
Bai Shu'an, as if remembering something, changed the subject and asked, "I heard you mention a few days ago that Hua'er wasn't feeling well, and you went to visit her a few times. Is Hua'er feeling better now?"
Zhu Xijun naturally helped Bai Hua keep it a secret. Some private matters don't need to be told to even the closest people.
"It's alright, these are all normal reactions during pregnancy. You'll get through this phase. All women go through this."
Bai Shu'an naturally trusted his wife's words without question and said with relief, "That's good. Once I'm done with the Lin Garden expansion project, I'll go to Du Garden to take a look myself."
Zhu Xijun: "Okay, I'll take Xiaoyi and Mu'er with me for a trip. Xiaoyi has been telling me a few times that she misses her aunt."
Bai Shu'an responded, and when he looked up, he noticed that his wife looked tired and had some dark circles under her eyes. He quickly said with concern, "Mu'er has been clinging to you a lot lately, you've been working hard, Madam."
"What does this have to do with Mu'er?" Zhu Xijun said softly, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she gave a slightly awkward reproachful look. "Why is my husband trying to distance himself from this?"
Zhu Xijun is gentle and rarely speaks harshly to him.
Bai Shuan was taken aback at first, feeling that something was wrong, and then he remembered that he had gone home after drinking with his colleagues last night.
He has a very low alcohol tolerance and tends to black out when he gets even slightly drunk. He couldn't quite remember what happened after he got home, so he subconsciously thought that he must have gone straight to bed after getting home.
Isn't that right?
Bai Shu'an suddenly seemed a little unsure: "Last night we..."
Zhu Xijun coughed lightly to interrupt him: "Husband, just forget about it. We didn't do anything last night."
That statement is even more inappropriate.
Even if Bai Shu'an was slow to react, he should have realized what was going on. He quickly apologized and said, "Was I drunk and bothering you last night? It's all my fault. I promise I won't go out for social drinking this month. Please forgive me, my dear wife."
Zhu Xijun snorted and said, "You have a good plan. You won't drink this month... Tell me what day it is today?"
Bai Shu'an then belatedly realized what was happening and truthfully replied, "Twenty-seven."
Zhu Xijun: "The 27th, so there are only three days left in this month. Is the promise my husband gave me only for three days?"
“Then…” Bai Shu’an thought for a moment, leaned closer, gently put his arm around his wife’s waist, and coaxed her tenderly, “Let me make a different promise. I promise that this month I will not get drunk and bother you, my lady, disturbing your peaceful sleep and making you so tired and sleepy.”
Zhu Xijun glared at her with her almond-shaped eyes and said with dissatisfaction, "Then this guarantee is only valid for three days and doesn't count. You're being sneaky."
Bai Shu'an sighed and said, "Madam, three days is long enough. For me, it's easy to refrain from drinking, but it's difficult to avoid getting close to you..."
"..."
Even if Zhu Xijun had a temper, she couldn't lash out.
Upon hearing this, she immediately lowered her head in embarrassment, feeling awkward and unable to cope with his direct verbal assault.
"It's getting late, let's rest."
She feigned composure and said this, then immediately turned to the side on the bed, trying to avoid the intense gaze behind her.
"Okay, let's rest."
Bai Shu'an responded with a smile, and soon extinguished the candles and went to bed.
The crescent moon hangs high outside the window; the night is still long.
...
In the garden, the same solitary moon shines, and the garden is filled with a cold and quiet tranquility.
Inside the main dormitory, Bai Hua had a rare nightmare.
Previously in Jiling, when she was staying at the Rong Mansion, she occasionally suffered from nightmares. However, after returning to Jingqi, with Ning Jue by her side every day, her mind was at peace, and the nightmares gradually disappeared, and her sleep became much more stable.
However, today, for some reason, even though she was sleeping in her familiar room on her familiar bed, and her emotions were not particularly turbulent, she slept very restlessly and even broke out in a sweat.
I was caught in a nightmare, but I didn't dream anything specific.
It was just a very blurry scene with water in it, and she seemed to have been soaking in the water for a long time.
Once she regained a little self-awareness, she wondered if she had dreamt of taking a bath. How strange.
She was completely soaked, with her lower body submerged in the water.
Taking a bath should have been relaxing, and she was about to unwind when the atmosphere suddenly changed. Unexpectedly, waves rose on the water's surface, creating swirling eddies.
Those vortexes were strange; they could even change shape and move on their own.
Bai Hua reached out to stop it in surprise, but it could instantly vanish into nothingness, as if it had become a spirit.
She gritted her teeth and simply sat on the vortex, intending to use her weight to crush it.
However, her strength was not enough to shake it. The vortex became more and more rampant. Not only did she fail to subdue and suppress it, but she was almost swallowed up by the swirling vortex.
She was so anxious that her back was sweating, and her clothes were sticky and uncomfortable.
Bai Hua couldn't bear it any longer; her consciousness was becoming clearer, and she could no longer fall asleep.
Almost instinctively, she raised her foot and launched a flying kick straight at Ning Jue's shoulder.
Ning Jue was completely focused and didn't notice that Bai Hua had woken up. Caught off guard, he took the kick from her.
The kick landed squarely on his chest, with perfect accuracy. He cried out in pain and nearly lost his balance, falling off the couch.
“Hua’er…”
"What are you doing?"
Ning Jue still dared to boast shamelessly: "You offended me but didn't think of making amends. You just slept soundly while I was left alone. I had no choice but to ask for some reward myself."
Sweetness...
He actually said that was a benefit?
Bai Hua glared fiercely, unaware that her eyes were brimming with spring water, making her glare not intimidating at all, but rather exceptionally vivid and alluring.
Ning Jue looked at her with a calm and composed expression, and couldn't help but think that even when she was angry, she was beautiful, truly beautiful.
"You're so annoying! I was fast asleep and you still bothered me... I haven't forgotten about what I did to you. If you think my explanation wasn't good, I'll just try to coax you again tomorrow. It's not like I'm ignoring you. Why do you have to take advantage of me like this!"
"Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability?"
Bai Hua nodded vigorously, struggling to close her knees, her little face filled with grievance as she angrily accused him of his crime: "You took advantage of me while I was asleep..."
The words suddenly stopped.
Unlike Ning Jue, she wasn't thick-skinned, so there were some things she was too embarrassed to say aloud.
Ning Jue smiled, picked up the conversation, and asked her in a raised tone, "How about I take advantage of you while you're asleep?"
"..."
Bai Hua couldn't reply, but her face turned red from his gaze.
Seeing her like this only fueled Ning Jue's desire. He stopped sitting, propped himself up on his arm, and pressed down on Bai Hua, completely enveloping her beneath him.
He didn't want to waste any more words and asked directly, "Hua'er, you just said that I bullied you. Fine, I admit it, but that's far from enough... We haven't been together for several months, and I really want to get close to you. Shall we try it today?"
Bai Hua was at a loss upon hearing this. It had been too long since she had tried it, and coupled with her heavy body, she was filled with fear of facing the unknown.
She instinctively shook her head in refusal: "No, I'm pregnant, we have to be careful... I'm scared."
Ning Jue would never let Bai Hua take any risks. He had already asked her about everything and knew exactly what she could and couldn't do.
There are also some common-sense things about pregnancy that he probably knows more about than Bai Hua does right now.
He patiently explained to Bai Hua, "Don't be afraid, Hua'er. You're in your second trimester now, which is the safest stage. It's absolutely safe for us to have sex. And how could I bear to hurt you? I'll be extra careful and considerate of your feelings. Don't you trust me, Hua'er?"
Bai Hua hesitated, stammering, "I...I'm not mentally prepared yet, my husband, please forgive me today..."
Ning Jue looked at her bright and charming eyes, feeling a burning sensation in his lower abdomen, to the point that it seemed to ignite on its own without needing to be lit.
He wanted to, and was in a hurry, but Bai Hua was afraid and unwilling to do it, so how could he bear to force her?
Suppressing his anger, Ning Jue had no choice but to give up.
Bai Hua pursed her lips, looking at Ning Jue's dejected demeanor, and knew that she had dampened his spirits, so she felt somewhat guilty.
Also, he had just buried his head in his mouth and sucked on her so excessively that she was now itchy all over, as if many tiny ants were crawling all over her at the same time.
This feeling is unpleasant; to be honest, she's actually starting to feel a little bit of desire for it now.
Bai Hua reached out and tugged at Ning Jue's sleeve, whispering to him, "Next time, I won't refuse."
"Whatever I say then?"
"Okay, whatever you want."
Ning Jue forced a smile at her, then raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Let's see how you do."
She's quite arrogant.
The two reached an agreement that Ning Jue would no longer provoke Bai Hua, and Bai Hua could finally continue to catch up on her sleep in peace.
Those kinds of things, you can't escape them forever, but you can postpone them as long as you can.
Just thinking about Ning Jue's bloodshot eyes when he pounced on her, as if he wanted to devour his prey, makes her tremble with fear.
When a dry land finds a spring, the water gushes out with a powerful, bubbling motion.
Ning Jue is in the same boat. Because she's pregnant, and has been suffering from drought for so long, how could this shallow stream of water possibly quench his thirst so easily...
It's almost foreseeable that I'll suffer a lot then.
Bai Hua sighed inwardly, thinking to herself, "Should I ask the cook to prepare two days' worth of nourishing soup for her in advance?"
Replenish your strength and prepare for the fierce battle.
These words were originally so innocent and inspiring, but this battle was special. There was no gunpowder smoke, and it was not on the battlefield. It was inside... a fragrant and warm tent.
...
Less than ten days after the letter was sent, Rong Chifang arrived in the capital and moved into Duyuan Garden.
When Xiao You first heard that Miss Rong was coming to stay for a while, she immediately frowned. But after inquiring further, she found out that it was the eldest daughter of the Rong family who was coming. Xiao You then had no objections and happily helped tidy up the room.
When Bai Hua was sent to Xianyang Mountain by Rong Linyan, Xiao You was left alone in the Rong Mansion. She had a very difficult time during that period, especially since the maid of the second young lady, Rong Chifei, often bullied her. If it weren't for the eldest young lady standing up for her, she would have had a much worse time.
Therefore, Xiao You was very happy to welcome Miss Rong's arrival.
Bai Hua was surprised at how quickly the journey had gone by. Even sending a letter back would take quite a while, so how could the person have arrived so suddenly?
My cousin came, and my sister-in-law, Zhu Xijun, went outside to pick her up. The two chatted on the way, and Zhu Xijun knew some of the inside information.
She sighed and explained to Bai Hua, "It's true that my cousin Rong didn't set off after receiving the letter. It was Madam Rong who acted on her own initiative, insisting on sending her daughter to the capital to pay respects and make connections despite not receiving a reply. My cousin Rong had no choice; she couldn't disobey her parents' orders, so she had to bite the bullet and set off, prepared to be turned away. Unexpectedly, she ran into a familiar messenger at the post station. Seeing that the letter was destined for Jiling Sword Hall, she accepted it in advance and saw our invitation. That's why her journey was easier for the rest of the time."
Bai Hua shook her head and said, "Aunt, don't you think about what would happen if the Bai family were really ruthless and turned my cousin away?"
Zhu Xijun said meaningfully, "She doesn't care. Anyway, there's a chance whether she stays or not. Since it's a gamble with no losses, she can gamble however she wants."
Bai Hua suddenly felt a little sorry for her cousin's helplessness.
"Actually, it wasn't entirely a gamble. She asked my eldest cousin to come instead of my second cousin because my eldest cousin had treated me well before, and she noticed that I would remember that favor. If my second cousin had come, I probably wouldn't have even opened the door."
"She's clearly trying to use her cousin to benefit from the Bai family's influence. What do you think we should do?"
Bai Hua pondered for a moment and replied, "I'm willing to let my cousin benefit from my success, but I'll leave the others out. One shouldn't be greedy. If one member of the Rong family benefits, my brother and I will have lived up to our mother's expectations."
Zhu Xijun's eyes lit up, and she suddenly had an idea. She said, "If you ask me, that family is too selfish. Why don't you just stay in the capital and not go back to Jiling, cousin Rong? I'll keep an eye out for talented young men in the capital and try to introduce them to a good match. What do you think, Hua'er?"
"this……"
Bai Hua had never considered arranging a marriage for her cousin. On the one hand, she wasn't good at it, and on the other hand, she had been away from the capital for several years, and the friends she had made before had gradually become distant, so she really didn't have any connections or resources.
However, my sister-in-law has made many friends in Beijing, and even more family members, so it might not be difficult for her to help my cousin find a husband.
This is certainly a good thing; staying in the capital is better than staying in Jiling.
Bai Hua nodded and said, "Then please keep an eye out for my cousin, sister-in-law. I'd also like her to marry into the capital and come visit often."
The two hit it off immediately, and Zhu Xijun quickly put it into action.
...
With her cousin Rong Chifang by her side in Duyuan Garden, Bai Hua was no longer as bored as usual when Ning Jue was not around.
My cousin is gentle and kind, and we chat easily without having to think of topics. We just chat casually, which is quite nice.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bai Hua started asking random questions: "Cousin, what kind of husband do you want to marry?"
Upon hearing this, Rong Chifang was stunned, her face instantly turning red. She hadn't expected her cousin to blurt out such a surprising statement.
Marriage has always been arranged by parents and matchmakers; how could a young woman confined to her chambers discuss it so directly?
Rong Chifang lowered her head, embarrassed and speechless.
"I...I don't know."
This was something her sister-in-law asked her to find out. Bai Hua was just completing a task; there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
She became more and more enthusiastic as she asked, "After all, women all have to get married. Have you ever thought about what kind of person is worthy of your affection? Have you ever liked any men before?"
"No, of course not."
I don't know if it's because I really don't have it, or if I'm just too embarrassed to tell her.
Bai Hua didn't force her, so she let her off the hook and said to herself, "Since there isn't one, why don't you try to get to know her? There are often gatherings in the capital where men and women can meet and chat privately. If there are any banquets with a lot of people in the future, I'll take my cousin along, how about that?"
Rong Chifang shook her head and declined, saying, "Hua'er is currently unwell and cannot move around freely. After giving birth, I will take good care of you and then return to Jiling."
Bai Hua offered a timely suggestion: "Perhaps you don't have to go back. It would be a good thing if you found a good man in the capital, cousin."
Rong Chifang was surprised and speechless; she had never thought of anything so bold before.
The bustling and dazzling capital city is a perfect place for someone as bright and radiant as Hua'er.
As for her, perhaps she is better suited to a simple life in a small town.
...
Bai Hua also told Ning Jue everything about her plan to find a husband for her cousin in Beijing.
This time, she told him everything, afraid that he would find out about it from someone else and then blame her for not telling him anything and throwing a childish tantrum.
"Has Miss Rong been on several dates?" Ning Jue inquired.
Bai Hua shook her head, somewhat frustrated: "I feel like my sister-in-law and I acted on our own initiative; my cousin seemed completely unintentional."
Ning Jue suggested, "In my opinion, she still feels guilty towards you, so she doesn't dare to accept your kindness easily. Why don't you find an opportunity to have a good talk with her in the next few days, and put things out there? After that, it should be much easier for you to do whatever you want."
Bai Hua nodded and agreed, "Tomorrow, it's better to do this sooner rather than later."
Ning Jue turned around and stared intently at her. Bai Hua felt the intensity of his gaze and became somewhat uncomfortable facing him.
"What's wrong? Is there something dirty on my face?"
"No. I was just thinking that Hua'er has been busy with other people's affairs these past few days and has neglected me for a long time."
Bai Hua denied it: "No way..."
Ning Jue asked again, "No? Then what did you promise me before? Do you remember?"
Bai Hua's face flushed, knowing that his words had a hidden meaning.
Of course, she hadn't forgotten that the two of them had an agreement: once she was mentally prepared, they would try having intercourse during her pregnancy...
"I remember, I remember." Bai Hua's voice lowered shyly, becoming almost inaudible.
Ning Jue's offensive was strong: "Therefore, if I make this request again today, Hua'er must not refuse me."
As he spoke, he took another step forward.
Bai Hua subconsciously placed her hand on his shoulder, her voice trembling and lacking confidence as she asked, "I'm heavy... can I really try?"
"Trust me. Ignore those rumors and gossip. I've carefully consulted medical books. Actually, the claims are quite similar. The medical books also state that during pregnancy, intercourse causes the cervix to contract sensitively, allowing the baby to reach the highest point, experiencing a profound pleasure unlike anything seen on ordinary days. Therefore..."
Ning Jue paused, then leaned down and whispered in Bai Hua's ear.
He leaned closer and added in a hoarse voice, "So, I'll make sure Hua'er gets her satisfaction."
Author's Note: Here I am! [Keep it up!]
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