Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Time passed quickly and it was already dark outside. 

Yu Chan was waiting outside when she spotted the maid coming from the kitchen. She quickly waved her hand, signalling the maid to head back.

As soon as the little maid left, a soft sound that resembled crying drifted from the inner room.

Yu Chan felt her cheeks heat up. Her mistress had been married for quite a while, but this was the first time she’d heard such a loud commotion. 

‘But it’s dark now; aren’t the masters hungry? Or maybe they just need a break?’

Yu Chan was starving. Still, she didn’t dare to sneak a bite, so she clutched her stomach tightly.

About fifteen minutes later, the noise from the inner room finally faded away.

Yu Chan let out a sigh of relief.

Inside, Shen Qingqing was taking her time to catch her breath.

When her lovely toes finally stopped curling, Shen Qingqing felt like a weary traveller washed ashore by a massive wave—exhausted, thirsty, and too drained to do much except breathe.

Li Zhi nestled in her arms, listening as her breathing gradually steadied. He couldn’t help but taste her again, still craving more.

Shen Qingqing gasped and pulled him closer.

Li Zhi then slowly rose until their eyes met.

Shen Qingqing immediately shut her eyes.

Li Zhi kissed the tip of her nose and murmured, “So beautiful.”

With a red face, Shen Qingqing covered his mouth. She didn’t want to hear any more compliments like that.

Li Zhi noticed his wife wasn’t in the mood to chat, so he just turned over and wrapped his arms around Shen Qingqing. They settled into a comfortable silence, enjoying each other’s presence.

Shen Qingqing rested her head on his arm, and he gently held her small hand, playing with it. As she gazed at Li Zhi’s sun-kissed chin, she couldn’t control her curiosity, and she finally asked, “So, you’ve really always been faithful, huh?”

Li Zhi gave a little hum, shifted his head back to look at her, and asked, “Why do you want to know?” 

Shen Qingqing bit her lip and mumbled against his chest, “You seem pretty good at teasing people.”

Li Zhi chuckled, recalling all the playful moments they shared. He leaned in close to her ear and said, “Imagine a kid who’s never had cherries. If someone hands him two, do you think he’d eat them?”

‘Cherries…’ Shen Qingqing felt her cheeks heat up. Annoyed by his teasing, she playfully bit his shoulder.

Li Zhi just felt a tickle from her bite. Just as he was about to get a little flirty, they both heard her stomach growl. 

The sound made Shen Qingqing freeze, and Li Zhi struggled to hold back his laughter. 

He gently patted her and said, “Let’s grab something to eat first, and we can pick this up later.”

Feeling embarrassed and a bit defeated, Shen Qingqing didn’t have much to say. She turned over and buried herself in the blanket.

Li Zhi smiled, slipped on his outer robe, and called for Yu Chan to get some water ready.

The masters were finally about to make their entrance, and Yu Chan eagerly called the maids to get things moving.

Hot water was prepped in no time, and this time, Li Zhi took Shen Qingqing to the bathroom.

Yu Chan wisely decided to stay out.

The sound of running water mixed with the woman’s playful voice continued for almost thirty minutes and it made Yu Chan forget all about her hunger.

****

Three days later, Li Zhi was able to satisfy his wife, who was craving for lamb meat. 

He arranged everything on a night under the stars on the grassland. Since he thought it would be even better with a few more people around the bonfire, he invited Emperor Qingde, Noble Concubine Chun, and the Second Princess. Deep down, Li Zhi really wanted to spend time with his sister and niece.

That night, a bonfire blazed on the grassland.

The guards kept watch from a distance, leaving just Li Zhi and the others by the fire. To keep things relaxed and fun, Emperor Qingde chose to wear casual clothes, saying he was just there as a family.

“Does that mean I don’t need to call you emperor father? I can call you daddy instead, right?” the Second Princess asked playfully while sitting next to Shen Qingqing.

Emperor Qingde chuckled, and replied,  “Exactly, no emperor father tonight, just daddy.”

Receiving the permission, the Second Princess sweetly called out “Daddy.”

After that, she turned to him again, asking, “Daddy, what should my aunt call you?”

Upon hearing that, Shen Qingqing was at a loss.

Technically, she should call Emperor Qingde “brother-in-law”, but he was older than her dad.

She couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Li Zhi.

Meanwhile, Li Zhi was busy applying sauce to the roasted lamb, fully immersed in his role as a chef. The flickering firelight highlighted his striking features, and he seemed to hear the words of the Second Princess.

Just as Shen Qingqing began to worry that Emperor Qingde might ask her to call him “brother-in-law”, Noble Concubine Chun suddenly pointed to the eastern sky and shouted, “Look, a shooting star!” 

Both Shen Qingqing and the Second Princess looked up at the same moment, catching sight of a bright streak of light descending on the horizon.

Noble Concubine Chun urged her daughter. “Quick, make a wish! Wishing on a shooting star is the best!”

The Second Princess quickly shut her eyes, taking the moment seriously.

Seeing Noble Concubine Chun also making a wish stirred something in Shen Qingqing’s heart, and she quietly closed her eyes as well.

Once Li Zhi finished applying sauce to the meat, he glanced up and noticed his little wife lost in her wish-making. 

The gentle evening breeze played with her hair, and the golden-red flames danced across her lovely face. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, and her almond-shaped gaze sparkled, shining brighter than any star in the night sky.

Shen Qingqing sensed someone watching her and turned to find Li Zhi looking back.

He flashed her a warm smile.

Beneath the night sky, he stood tall in a purple robe, with the bonfire flickering in front of him, resembling a fire god at that moment.

Just that one glance filled Shen Qingqing’s heart with sweetness, a delightful feeling she had only just begun to experience in the past few days.

Feeling shy, she looked away quickly, but to her surprise, she caught Noble Concubine Chun staring at her. It seemed like she had been watching for a while.

Realizing that Noble Concubine Chun might have seen the exchanged glances between her and Li Zhi, Shen Qingqing felt her cheeks heat up and lowered her head in embarrassment.

Seeing her shyness, Noble Concubine Chun couldn’t help but smile.

The Second Princess had a soft spot for Shen Qingqing. During their meal of roast lamb, the little one sat right next to her aunt. 

Li Zhi was busy cutting the meat and serving everyone, and when he reached Nobel Concubine Chun, she leaned in and whispered, “Brother, you should treat Qingqing well. She’s a great girl.”

Li Zhi nodded, and replied, “I know.”

He made an effort to win over his young wife, by letting himself get bitten by mosquitoes without a word. Even when he was drunk and knew Shen Qingqing was taking care of him, he pretended not to notice and claimed he didn’t like being served by maids. But he was honest with Shen Qingqing; he just wanted a wife, not a harem of beautiful concubines.

He thought that having too many women aroused too many complications, and a bunch of half-siblings meant more conflicts. He was already worn out from the outside world and didn’t want to come home to a battleground of jealousy and rivalry among his wives and children.

Unless Shen Qingqing couldn’t have kids, he had no need for another woman.

Once the meat was served, Li Zhi took his share and settled down next to his young wife.

“The meat that my uncle grilled is so amazing,” the Second Princess said, licking her fingers with a satisfied grin.

Li Zhi chuckled, and replied, “Then go ahead and eat more.”

The Second Princess nodded enthusiastically.

Li Zhi then turned to Shen Qingqing, tilting his head and saying seriously, “You’ve put on some weight lately, so maybe you should cut back a bit.”

Shen Qingqing: “...”

Second Princess: “...”

Both of them were taken aback. 

Seeing their faces, Li Zhi then playfully tossed a big bone onto Shen Qingqing’s plate, grinning. “Just kidding! You’re so slim; you should really put on some weight.”

Realizing it was a joke, the Second Princess burst into laughter.

Shen Qingqing, however, wasn’t amused at all. Just when she was enjoying her meal, Li Zhi had to bring up weight. Wasn’t that just ruining her vibe?

After giving Li Zhi a fierce glare, Shen Qingqing led the Second Princess to eat on the other side of the campfire.

Once they finished their meal, both families headed back to their own places.

After a nice bath and rinsing her mouth, she went to the inner room and slipped into the gauze tent. 

Li Zhi, with a smile, pulled his serious-looking wife into his arms and asked, “Did you enjoy the meal?”

Shen Qingqing pouted, replying, “I didn’t want to eat too much, worried I’d gain weight and people wouldn’t like me.”

Li Zhi found her response adorable, and he leaned down to kiss her little mouth.

Shen Qingqing turned her head away to hide, but Li Zhi played around for a bit, and when she turned back, he moved in closer from behind.

It didn’t take much time to scatter their clothes all over the floor.

The two were in love, and the tent was filled with love. 

After everything was over, Li Zhi wrapped one arm around his wife’s waist, lifted her hand with the other, and gave it a gentle kiss. “So, what did you wish for?”

Shen Qingqing was feeling pretty drowsy and could barely keep her eyes open. She mumbled that it was nothing and just wanted to sleep.

Li Zhi playfully nudged her ear with his nose and said, “Even if you don’t tell me, I already know.”

Shen Qingqing tried to shake off her sleepiness and asked, “Oh really? What is it?”

Looking deep into her eyes, Li Zhi replied earnestly, “You wished for the Bodhisattva to bless us with a son soon.”

Shen Qingqing was taken aback. 

She retorted, “That was you who did it! I asked for good health for the family!”

Li Zhi chuckled. “Alright, I’ve already made my wish for a kid. If you ask for more, the Bodhisattva might think we’re being greedy.”

Shen Qingqing was surprised. ‘He really wished for that too?’

Feeling a bit dazed, she noticed the intensity in Li Zhi’s gaze as he leaned in closer. She just wanted to sleep and pushed him away. But he easily caught her wrists, lifting them up to meet his gaze. “I’m not getting any younger. I can’t afford to slack off on the baby front.”

Shen Qingqing wasn’t the same person as at the beginning of the marriage. She knew his tricks very well now. ‘What kids? Li Zhi is clearly just after some fun!’

But when he leaned in, his warm breath brushed against her neck making her heart flutter. Therefore, she gave up without uttering a single word. 

****

God would reward those who put in the effort. In July, the emperor was set to return to Beijing. 

While Shen Qingqing was enjoying the grassland lights one last time with Noble Concubine Chun, she suddenly felt lightheaded. 

Noble Concubine Chun quickly took her sister-in-law back to the palace. 

After summoning the imperial physician to check her pulse, they discovered that Shen Qingqing was over a month pregnant.

Shen Qingqing was in shock, and she stared at her belly in disbelief.

‘Wait, am I really pregnant?

Li Zhi’s wish actually came true?’

Noble Concubine Chun was thrilled. She immediately sent someone to inform her brother and then took Shen Qingqing’s hand, starting to share all the important details about the pregnancy.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, Li Zhi was enjoying a horse race with Emperor Qingde and the Crown Prince. When he found out his young wife was expecting, a smile broke out on his face.

Emperor Qingde, understanding his brother-in-law’s excitement, chuckled. “Alright, you’ve got nothing else to do here. Go check on her.”

Li Zhi bowed and replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

He quickly hopped on his horse and raced back to the palace, and it was clear to everyone just how happy he was.

Watching Li Zhi ride away, Emperor Qingde smiled, thinking about how his nearly thirty-year-old brother-in-law was finally going to have an heir. ‘Noble Concubine Chun must be over the moon!’

Behind Emperor Qingde, the Crown Prince watched Li Zhi leave with his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves.

‘If Li Zhi hadn’t snatched her away halfway, Shen Qingqing would have been mine, and the child in Shen Qingqing’s belly would have been mine too!’

End of chapter 44

Have a nice day!