He Jin's eyes flickered slightly, and he shifted his body uneasily.
At that time, Su Hele inadvertently offended Minister Cao because of the ghost - writing incident. Concubine Li was furious and wanted to call off the engagement.
It was he who promised that if Su Hele couldn't conceive within three months after marriage, he would take a concubine. Only then was their marriage able to continue.
"Of course I remember. But we've only been married for a little over a month. Why is Concubine in such a hurry?"
He Jin didn't care much. He was strong and healthy... There was no need to worry about having children. Maybe she would be pregnant in a few days.
Seeing his attitude, Concubine Li gave him a helpless look, looking utterly disappointed.
She tapped her round fan on the mahogany table before saying,
"My Lord Marquis only has you and He Xun as sons. It's fair to say that the family is short of offspring. If you have a child first, that child will be the Marquis's eldest grandson. Since it has the word 'eldest', the Marquis will surely take it into account when choosing the heir."
As Concubine Li spoke, He Jin's eyes grew brighter and brighter. This was something he hadn't considered.
"Concubine is truly thoughtful. Your son understands."
He Jin was in a great mood. The gloomy look on his face just now was replaced by pride.
He had heard that He Xun often slept in his study. In contrast, his relationship with A Le was a hundred times better. Wasn't it easy for her to get pregnant first?
"As long as you understand. But since Miss Su is currently ill, you should sleep in the guest - room for a few days to avoid catching her illness."
"But..."
"She has to take medicine these days. It won't hurt to wait. Only when she has nursed her body back to health can the child be healthier."
Concubine Li looked confident as an experienced person.
Seeing this, He Jin didn't insist anymore. After promising her, he got up and left.
It was not until He Jin's figure disappeared from sight that a smug smile slowly crept onto Concubine Li's lips.
"Nanny Wang, tell Doctor Liu that Miss Su is weak - bodied. The medicine should be administered slowly for a slow recuperation."
It would be best if she could be nursed back to health after two or three months of recuperation.
...
When Su Nansheng came out of the washroom, He Xun was standing in front of the window with his hands behind his back.
Hearing the noise, He Xun turned his head and sized her up before saying, "Come on. I'll take you boating."
Su Nansheng looked at the night outside. Now?
"Isn't it a bit late to go to Qujiang now?" Su Nansheng asked tentatively.
Which decent family would go boating on a lake at night?
But He Xun just gave a soft laugh and said, "This is the best time."
After saying that, he took the lead and walked out of the room, motioning for Su Nansheng to follow.
It was not until Su Nansheng stepped onto the small boat moored by the lake in the Willow Grove that she realized it was really a boating trip.
He Xun rowed the oars, and the boat slowly moved forward. It was completely quiet all around.
The lake in the Willow Grove was connected to the waterside pavilion in the backyard, but He Xun didn't go to the more spacious waterside pavilion. He just rowed the boat to the center of the lake and stopped.
Su Nansheng sat in the boat. There were blooming lotuses all around, and the sounds of insects and frogs filled her ears.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Su Nansheng played with the lotus leaves beside her, looking uninterested.
Taking her to enjoy the lotuses at this hour. It was so dark. What could she see?
On other days, Su Nansheng might have flattered him against her will, but today she was tired and didn't even have the mood to force a smile.
He Xun loosened the oars and lay down straight in the boat.
"To watch the stars."
Hearing this, Su Nansheng was stunned for a moment and then looked up.
The starry sky on the inky black sky was bright, like grains of broken gold, shining dazzlingly.
The wind blew through the lotus leaves, making a rustling sound. The fragrance of the lotuses wafted in the air, elegant and lingering.
The tense nerves that Su Nansheng had been holding for a whole day suddenly relaxed.
She let out a long breath and looked at He Xun. He was lying there with his hands under his head, looking relaxed and comfortable.
Su Nansheng hesitated, then tentatively lay down against the side of the boat, imitating He Xun by putting her hands under her head and looking up at the starry sky.
Unlike the dazzling sight at first glance, the starry sky was now cold and clear, making people feel at ease.
"Are you still afraid?"
He Xun's voice sounded particularly deep in the quiet night.
Su Nansheng knew that he was asking about the thing that she killed the bandit leader in the afternoon.
She blinked her eyes and let her thoughts wander.
After killing the bandit leader, she had helped take care of the injured yamen runners and helped count the seized property. She hadn't had time to think about this.
"If I had gone to sleep just now, I wouldn't have remembered this."
So that's why Su Nansheng didn't want to move just now. If she covered her head and slept, she might forget about this tomorrow.
But now that he brought it up again, Su Nansheng felt as if the blood was splashed on her face again.
The blood was boiling hot, but her heart was ice - cold.
Would the bandit leader she killed come to her in her dreams to claim her life?
"You can't fall asleep. Even if you do, you'll surely have nightmares."
He Xun didn't move his body, but his tone was firm.
"How do you know?"
"Because I had nightmares at night for a long time after I saw a corpse for the first time."
He Xun's voice was distant, as if he had fallen into some kind of memory.
Su Nansheng couldn't help but turn her head and said, "It's really novel that the General Who Guards the North, who has killed countless people, would have nightmares."
He Xun's side face was illuminated by the starlight, making his features even more distinct and his nose bridge more prominent.
"Humph. I was born as the General Who Guards the North, with a sword in my hand since birth. Novel, isn't it?"
He Xun's tone was a bit solemn, but there was also a hint of teasing in it.
Su Nansheng couldn't help but smile. He was quite good at bickering.
"So how long did you have nightmares, and how did you get better?"
Hearing this, He Xun turned his head. Su Nansheng was staring at the starry sky. The gentle breeze blew her black hair, which fluttered around her ears.
There was a tricolor lotus blooming beside her head, dancing in the night wind, charming and gorgeous, but not as charming as her cheeks.
The fresh fragrance of roses wafted from her body, coming and going, making people can't help but want to get closer to smell it.
He Xun half - turned his body and propped his head up on one hand. There was a hint of gritting his teeth in his tone.
"I had nightmares for nearly a month. Later, I was cured by a heartless little girl."
"Cured by a little girl?"
This time Su Nansheng was really surprised. She couldn't help but turn her head too and bumped into He Xun's burning eyes.
His phoenix eyes were shining, even brighter than the starlight. It seemed that there was her reflection in them.
Su Nansheng lay there quietly, her eyes wet, like a clear pool of water.
He Xun's breath caught in his throat. He felt an itchy dryness in his throat. Suddenly, a kind of longing welled up in his heart, and his body couldn't help but move closer gradually.
His hot breath sprayed on Su Nansheng's ear. She came back to her senses and instinctively tilted her head back.
But He Xun reached out and clasped the back of her neck, preventing her from moving. He slowly lowered his head.
"My Lady~ My Lady~"
Along with the dull sound of her heartbeat, Bi Tao's shouting came floating on the wind.
Su Nansheng gave a start, then suddenly pressed against He Xun's chest, dodging his pursuing lips, and whispered, "Bi Tao is looking for me."
He Xun's half - closed eyes suddenly widened, and a cold light flashed across them.
...
Bi Tao was standing on the shore, holding a light cloak in her hands, looking puzzled.
Wasn't it said that her Lady had come to this Willow Grove? Why couldn't she see anyone after shouting for so long?
Moreover, it was so late. What was her Lady doing here?