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As soon as the idea of separating mother and child was mentioned, Mei Shuang was completely against it.
Lin Tian'er said, "What I understand from the Empress Dowager is that there is no room for negotiation. The Emperor may indulge you, but the Empress Dowager is not so easy to deal with. You should come to terms with it sooner rather than later..."
After finally lulling the child to sleep, Mei Shuang wearily got up and walked into the courtyard.
The moonlight was like water. Looking at the figure standing with hands behind his back in the courtyard, Mei Shuang hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching. From about ten feet away, she softly called out, "Your Majesty..."
Xiao Luo turned around at the sound, his dark eyes assessing the slightly plump Mei Shuang. His voice was hoarse, "Is the child asleep?"
"Yes..." Mei Shuang stepped forward, hesitated for a moment, then reached out to touch Xiao Luo's arm, lifting his wide sleeve. Sure enough, she could see faint marks from nails that had been pressed into his skin. She looked up and asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Xiao Luo was momentarily taken aback and then smiled silently, "In battle, injuries are inevitable, but none of these scars compare to those..."
Mei Shuang paused her hand, originally thinking Xiao Luo would say "It doesn't hurt," but she didn't expect him to be so... reserved!
Feeling slightly embarrassed, she sighed, "It's not what I wanted; it's just that they are too unruly."
"They?"
Looking at the delicate-skinned woman before him, Xiao Luo naturally knew who "they" referred to. The thought of their tender sons made his heart soften inexplicably.
Fortunately, this beautiful woman was always in front of him; the pain of longing when they couldn't meet was finally coming to an end today. Seeing a hint of embarrassment in her clear black-and-white eyes made his heart flutter. He had to admit that this woman always stirred his most primal impulses.
He speculated about Mei Shuang's thoughts; she must have been troubled by the Empress Dowager's determination. Otherwise, why would she take the initiative to approach him?
"Your Majesty," Mei Shuang gently leaned into Xiao Luo's embrace.
A faint, delicate fragrance wafted into Xiao Luo's nostrils as he felt the softness of the body beside him. He raised his hand to embrace Mei Shuang, gently stroking her long hair. He was contemplating what he would do if Mei Shuang asked him to stay outside the palace when she softly inquired, "Your Majesty, did you have any children before?"
"Uh... no... why do you ask?" Xiao Luo was taken aback, not understanding why Mei Shuang suddenly posed such a strange question.
"Then does that mean Eldest Son and Second Child are your legitimate heirs?"
"Uh... yes..."
"Oh," Mei Shuang paused for a moment before continuing, "Will Your Majesty have many more children in the future?"
It was clear she had the mindset of a young girl, perhaps worried about being neglected in the future along with their children.
Xiao Luo paused slightly as he stroked Mei Shuang's hand, smiling gently. He then replied softly, "Perhaps, but no matter what, I will always prioritize our children..."
Mei Shuang rested her head against Xiao Luo's chest, quietly listening to his strong heartbeat. She remained still for a moment, and after a barely audible sigh, she said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life; why didn't you have children before?"
After a moment of silence, Xiao Luo spoke with a somewhat distant tone, "Like you, I have never wished to force anyone; but I am even less willing to force myself. If it were a woman I did not love, I would rather not have my own bloodline..."
Clearly, he felt the woman in his arms stir.
Such words stirred a gentle emotion within Mei Shuang's heart. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, and suddenly she found herself unable to ask anything further...
"With these two children, I am already very content. In the past, I have taken too many lives and feared that heaven would punish me. But I never expected to have such fortune... I must thank you..."
This tenderness made one unconsciously intoxicated by it.
Suddenly feeling lips touch hers softly like a spring breeze, followed by a passionate whirlwind that was both forceful and filled with intense desire, Mei Shuang felt herself melt away...
In a haze of passion, she had long forgotten her original intention of seeking Xiao Luo.
Lost in affection, they embraced deeply, with Xiao Luo being cautious and Mei Shuang doing her best to cooperate.
In that moment of intimacy, she heard Xiao Luo's low, hoarse voice, tinged with teasing, whispering in her ear, "If you can bear me a few more children, I won't need anyone else's..."
In an instant, Mei Shuang's eyes unexpectedly filled with tears...
After a night of deep affection, Xiao Luo opened his eyes to find that it was already bright outside.
For some reason, he felt a bit dazed upon waking up today. Could it be due to last night's indulgence? He rubbed his forehead and turned his head; the pillow beside him was empty.
Ah, usually he would wake up first. Today she seemed to be diligent, probably eager to go feed the children.
He lazily got up and, while tidying his clothes, his gaze wandered around the room. Everything seemed quiet and normal, yet something felt off.
Suddenly, he hurried out of the room and rushed towards the West Hall.
The cradle was empty; the two children who should either be sleeping or crying were nowhere to be found.
The maid Jing returned from grocery shopping and was startled to see the dark-faced Xiao Luo as she entered the courtyard. In shock, she quickly knelt down. "Your Majesty, what are you doing here?"
"Where is the young lady?" Seeing the maid's astonishment, Xiao Luo began to understand what was happening; the veins on his hands behind his back were bulging.
"Uh? Isn't tomorrow the children's full moon celebration? The carriage came before dawn. I heard the young lady say she wanted to take the children back to the palace..."
Listen, everything is planned, Xiao Luo's eyes shifted as he looked at the sky; it had been over three hours.
Lin Tian'er also arrived cheerfully as usual. Upon hearing that Mei Shuang had left without notice with the child, she was so shocked that she almost fell to the ground.
What on earth is this woman trying to do?
"Your Majesty, look, there's a letter here..." Although Lin Tian'er was panicked, she was clever enough to fear that Mei Shuang's escape would implicate her. She hurriedly searched the room and managed to find a letter under the pillow.
After reading the letter, Lin Tian'er was speechless, while Xiao Luo remained expressionless...
??
The carriage swayed as it moved forward, and the two children inside were uncomfortable from the bumps and began to cry loudly. Mei Shuang thought about how Xiao Luo would react upon waking and was also deeply afraid of being pursued. Her mind was in chaos, and she was flustered.
As they traveled, even the coachman grew weary of the children's cries.
"I say, how can you be so inconsiderate as a mother? They're so young, and you dare take them on a long journey. Really..."
Listening to the coachman's complaints, Mei Shuang was drenched in sweat and couldn't argue back. The desperate cries of her two sons were truly unbearable.
But there was no choice at this point; starting anything is difficult. She gritted her teeth, noticed that it was already past noon, and instructed the coachman to stop.
The coachman was eager to stop and leave. After helping Mei Shuang gather her things and set them down, he drove away.
The courtyard before her was unremarkable, hidden along a path beside the road. Even those passing by on the main road would not pay special attention to it, surrounded by an orchard.
Hearing the carriage stop, a young woman quickly walked out. She had a dignified appearance and gentle eyes. Seeing Mei Shuang looking exhausted, she didn't bother with pleasantries and hurriedly picked up the cradle carefully and went inside.
Mei Shuang looked behind her and, seeing no one following, let out a sigh of relief. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and entered the house.
The room was tidy yet warm. The woman took care of the children with skill and grace. Having just given birth, she had plenty of milk, quickly feeding both babies until they were full and peacefully asleep.
Exhausted from the day's troubles, Mei Shuang drank two bowls of water before feeling her strength return. Leaning against the bed, she no longer wanted to move.
Watching her two sons drift into dreamland, she lazily remarked, "I never expected that taking care of two little ones would be ten times more tiring than a day’s work."
The woman chuckled warmly, "Without giving birth, how would one know the hardships of motherhood? Why do you put yourself through this? Why not wait a little longer before coming here? Tsk tsk, you are truly fortunate to have two children at once. Those chubby little ones are so adorable; the more you look at them, the more you like them."
Mei Shuang remained silent as she regarded the woman.
Ever since she learned she was going to have children, she had decided to take this step. She had already made arrangements with this person; after all, she was just looking for a temporary nanny.
The woman was perceptive as well. Mei Shuang had prepaid her twenty taels of silver six months ago to help care for the children but had never mentioned her own family matters. There must be some complications involved.
But what did that have to do with her? Twenty taels of silver bought her a year’s worth of milk; she wouldn’t earn even a few taels after working hard for a year.
Mei Shuang wanted to sleep for a while but dreamt that Xiao Luo came after her, demanding the return of his son. She was cornered and suddenly woke up from the nightmare.
To her surprise, the following days were exceptionally calm.
Summer soon arrived, and everywhere she looked was a riot of blooming flowers.
Occasionally, when she had some free time, Mei Shuang would gaze out at the flowers in bloom, momentarily lost in thought.
Sometimes when Sister Lian returned from grocery shopping, she would casually ask if anything was happening outside.
"Oh, it's so lively outside these days. I heard the Emperor is going to Dazhao Temple to pray for the people. The streets are filled with crowds every day. How many people in their lifetime have seen the Emperor?"
Lian Sister said enviously, "If only I could see the Emperor, it would be worth it for my whole life..."
The next day, as Mei Shuang just woke up, she heard Lian Sister calling her from outside, "Sister, hurry up! I heard the Emperor's procession is about to arrive. Let's go and see it together..."
Hearing Lian Sister's excited voice, Mei Shuang suddenly felt a rush of excitement and got up involuntarily.
From afar, she could hear the bustling crowd outside.
After Lian Sister went out to take a look, she came back with an idea.
She pulled Mei Shuang up onto the roof of their house. Worried it wasn't high enough, she even moved a stone to stand on. "Sister, it's too late to go out now. Besides, there are too many people to see clearly. Standing here... Look quickly! Is that the Emperor sitting in that yellow carriage?"
Lian Sister's face turned red with excitement.
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