Huo Tingshan took in the shifting expressions on the faces of the two brothers, his gaze lingering particularly on Huo Mingji.
Huo Mingji's heart gave a jolt, and he hastily cupped his hands in congratulations. "Congratulations, Father, congratulations, Mother."
Once he finished speaking, Huo Zhizhang, as if waking from a dream, followed suit with his own congratulations.
Huo Tingshan acknowledged them, then spoke calmly, "I will be leading a southern campaign soon. Zhizhang will accompany me. While I am away, Mingji, you are to handle the affairs of the household. My return date is uncertain. Attend to your mother well and do everything in your power to ensure the safety of her and the child."
Huo Mingji cupped his hands once more. "I shall obey Father's command."
"At noon today, you three siblings may dine in the main hall on your own." Huo Tingshan glanced at the documents on the desk. "For the next couple of days, handle the affairs and report only if there is something urgent."
After these brief instructions, Huo Tingshan left the study.
The two sons respectfully saw him off.
Once Huo Tingshan's figure had completely disappeared, Huo Zhizhang looked at his elder brother, who still wore the same faint smile from moments before.
"Elder Brother, you..." Huo Zhizhang had much to say but felt it somewhat inappropriate.
Father was thirty-seven this year, in the prime of his life, and could easily continue for another twenty-odd years. Twenty years was enough for a newborn boy to reach adulthood. Given Father's respect and affection for Mother, wouldn't the position of the eldest son in the future become...
While worried, Huo Zhizhang was also acutely aware of the immense benefits Mother had brought to their brothers, to the Governor's estate, and indeed to the entire Youzhou region.
Just the matter of grain alone was a monumental achievement. Father's ability to rapidly assemble an army for the northern expedition back then owed much to Mother's financial support.
Mother was the benefactor of their Youzhou.
It is said that descendants receive the shelter of their ancestors' blessings; isn't the same true between mother and child? With such a mother, even if her son's talents were somewhat average, he would still receive recommendations from the advisors.
Huo Zhizhang felt himself split in two, one half standing on his elder brother's side, the other walking towards his mother's.
"Zhizhang, some words are best left unsaid," Huo Mingji stopped his brother. "Father has his own judgments. I trust Father's decisions and will support and obey them unconditionally."
The already conflicted Huo Zhizhang closed his mouth, speechless.
When Huo Tingshan returned to the main courtyard, Pei Ying was still asleep. He sat quietly by the bedside, his thoughts drifting to the future.
Pei Ying had slept for a long stretch earlier, so this nap after taking the medicine didn't last long. She woke up just before the noon meal. In the past, whenever she awoke, he would already be gone. It was a rare occurrence for him to still be in the room, let alone by the bedside.
"Huo Tingshan?" Pei Ying was surprised.
The man gathered his thoughts and returned to the present. "Would my lady like the meal served now, or shall we wait a little longer?"
"Later." Having just woken up, Pei Ying had little appetite.
Huo Tingshan examined her complexion; his furrowed brow relaxed somewhat. "Your color looks better than before."
Pei Ying felt he was stating the obvious. "...I've taken the medicine, of course it's better."
"I heard from Feng Wencheng that the early stage is the most precarious, so we must not be careless," Huo Tingshan said, still concerned.
Pei Ying was taken aback. "Did Physician Feng truly say that?"
Huo Tingshan nodded in affirmation.
"There's no need for such worry. It's a trivial matter; it will pass after this period," Pei Ying said with a sigh.
Considering that even the high fever from before had subsided, she had thought ancient medical skills were quite competent. She hadn't expected to hear Physician Feng claim a mere chill was the most dangerous.
Physician Feng's medical prowess had collapsed in her estimation.
Hearing her dismissive tone, Huo Tingshan's gaze darkened. "My lady, we must heed the physician's advice."
She had given birth to their daughter before, so she did have experience with childbirth, but that experience was from sixteen years ago. How could sixteen years ago and now be the same?
Yet, mentioning it directly would hint at her age. Huo Tingshan pressed his fingers to his temples. "I have some free time these next few days and will stay in the courtyard with you."
Pei Ying glanced at him sideways. "Next, you're not going to say you won't be sleeping in the study tonight."
"Naturally, I will return to the main courtyard," Huo Tingshan replied as if it were the most obvious thing. In her current condition with child, how could she be left alone at night?
In that moment, Pei Ying felt she understood. So, his odd behavior today was all about wanting to return to the main courtyard tonight. He had certainly taken a roundabout way of saying it.
"Huo Tingshan, the matter of you deceiving me before is not yet settled," Pei Ying frowned, her delicate brows knitting.
He remained calm. "Then keep it on account for now, my lady. You may even add interest. Collect it later. At this stage, everything else is negotiable, except for me sleeping in the study."
Pei Ying was stunned by his matter-of-fact tone.
How dare he speak like this?
She stared at him for a long moment, seeing his resolve unchanged, then silently averted her eyes.
Huo Tingshan said he was free, and Pei Ying thought it might be true, because for the entire day, the man was indeed quite idle. He didn't go to the study or the military camp. He stayed in the room playing chess with her or accompanied her on walks in the courtyard.
If she didn't understand the reason for his peculiar behavior, Pei Ying might have thought she was gravely ill.
Daylight slipped away, night fell, and soon it was time to retire.
"Creak." The door to the room opened.
Pei Ying, who had just finished bathing and emerged from the side chamber, watched as Huo Tingshan strode in from outside and was speechless for a few breaths.
He really dared to come back and sleep here!
Pei Ying pursed her lips in displeasure, realizing she truly couldn't do much about it. This Governor's estate was his residence. He could sleep wherever he pleased. Could she really drive him out?
Huo Tingshan's gaze swept the room, not seeing any maidservants. "What's past is past, but now my lady must not bathe alone in the side chamber."
Pei Ying looked at him, that sense of oddness surfacing again.
What did he mean, 'what's past is past'? The only difference between past and present was this chill. Besides, he was already back in the main courtyard, why continue being so roundabout? Unless he wanted to turn the tables, pretending to tear off the roof when he actually just wanted to open a window.
Seeing Pei Ying remain silent, Huo Tingshan called her name again.
Her inner displeasure manifested in her actions. Pei Ying ignored him and walked straight inside. Once on the bed, she wrapped herself in the quilt, turning her back to Huo Tingshan and sleeping on the inner side.
The man stood quietly for a moment. He lowered the lamp shade, extinguished the candle, allowing the darkness to seep into the room.
He got into bed and settled down.
The breathing beside him gradually evened out, becoming a reassuring presence like the faint incense perfuming the room. Huo Tingshan stared at the plain silk canopy above for a long while, then turned over, drawing the person beside him into his arms.
His long arm encircled her slender waist, his hand, calloused and large, finally coming to rest gently on the beautiful lady's abdomen.
It was still flat for now.
Breathing in her faint, sweet fragrance, Huo Tingshan slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
He usually slept soundly until dawn, but tonight he rarely dreamed. The dream was ominous, stained with a spreading crimson.
"Clang——!"
Outside, the night watchman struck his gong. The third watch had arrived.
The man on the bed snapped his eyes open, his breathing more rapid than usual, taking a long time to calm.
For the remainder of the night, Huo Tingshan lay awake.
...
Pei Ying had taken medicine the previous day and slept soundly, so by the second day she felt refreshed and clear-headed, believing the discomfort from yesterday was eighty percent gone.
Breakfast was never taken in the main hall, and lunch was settled by her and Huo Tingshan in their room. Feeling fully recovered, Pei Ying suggested having hot pot for dinner in the main hall with the younger generation.
Huo Tingshan had no objections.
After the meal, Pei Ying couldn't stand having him stare at her any longer and directly shooed him off to his study. After her afternoon nap, she took Xin Jin for a stroll in the back garden, during which Xin Jin mentioned a few things.
"Madam, from now on, please let this servant attend to your baths," Xin Jin said.
Pei Ying wasn't accustomed to having others present during her bath. Hearing Xin Jin say this, she knew there must be a reason. "Did Huo Tingshan reprimand you?"
Xin Jin: "The General is merely concerned for you."
"It's just a bath, what is there to be concerned about? He's becoming more and more peculiar," Pei Ying muttered.
Xin Jin, walking half a step behind Pei Ying, continued, "Madam, six maidservants arrived at the main courtyard this afternoon, all transferred by the General from the outer residences."
Pei Ying was astonished, "Maidservants? And six at once?"
Xin Jin nodded in confirmation and added, "The General also ordered a small side storage room to be cleared out, saying it will be used to store medicinal herbs from now on."
Pei Ying's delicate brows furrowed tightly. The strange feeling in her heart resurfaced and could no longer be ignored. This man had been acting extremely odd since yesterday; something must have happened that she was unaware of.
But recalling the events of the past two days, turning it over and over in her mind, Pei Ying couldn't think of anything special. The beautiful woman murmured to herself, "It seems I need to have a proper talk with him after dinner."
Dinner was to be in the main hall. Pei Ying had been strolling in the garden and, when the time was about right, changed course for the main hall.
Just as she stepped into the side corridor, Pei Ying heard voices in the main hall—the three younger ones paying their respects to Huo Tingshan.
It seemed they had all arrived.
Pei Ying was about to go over when she heard Huo Tingshan speak at that moment, "Now that your mother is with child..."
Just that one sentence, to Pei Ying's ears, was like a thunderclap striking down, freezing her in place on the spot. Huo Tingshan said other things afterward, but Pei Ying couldn't hear any of it clearly, only a constant roaring in her ears.
With child?
How did she not know she was with child? What nonsense was this man spouting to the children!
Seeing Pei Ying stagger a step, Xin Jin hurriedly supported her. "Madam, what's wrong?"
In her alarm, Xin Jin's voice was louder than usual. Soon, a tall figure emerged from the entrance of the side corridor, followed by three other figures.
"Where is Madam feeling unwell?" Huo Tingshan took hold of Pei Ying's arm and said to Xin Jin, "Go quickly and summon Physician Feng."
"No need!" Pei Ying immediately refused. Summon Physician Feng? Was he afraid the joke wasn't big enough?
Only now did she finally understand the source of his peculiar behavior these past two days.
So that was it. This man had mistakenly assumed she was pregnant from who knows where, hence his completely different demeanor from usual.
Pei Ying's gaze swept over the three younger ones behind Huo Tingshan. The two sons had probably been informed earlier, as their looks held only concern now.
And Meng Ling'er...
Pei Ying saw her daughter was completely bewildered, standing there dazed, as if her soul had left her body.
A sharp pain pierced Pei Ying's heart. She immediately said, "I'm not with child. Your father made a mistake. Don't listen to him, sweetheart."
Silence fell around them.
Meng Ling'er blinked slowly.
Huo Tingshan was uncharacteristically stunned for a moment.
Ignoring him, Pei Ying addressed the three younger ones directly, "I caught a slight chill yesterday. Your father misunderstood. There really is no pregnancy, don't believe him. At our age, what need do we have for another child? Having the three of you is more than enough."
Huo Mingji looked at Pei Ying for a few moments, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.
So it was a misunderstanding?
Huo Zhizhang was dumbfounded. He quickly glanced at his father's expression and saw what seemed to be a trace of confusion and awkwardness on his face.
It was a rare expression, one Huo Zhizhang had never seen before. He was burning with curiosity but didn't dare look too long.
Out of the corner of her eye, Pei Ying saw Huo Tingshan about to speak. Not caring that the younger ones were present, she said directly to him, "I'll talk to you later when we return. It's time for the meal. Let's eat first."
The atmosphere during this dinner was exceptionally quiet. Huo Zhizhang, who usually talked the most, remained as silent as a mouse throughout.
Pei Ying, wanting to lighten the mood, proactively brought up a topic and said a few words. But perhaps because the younger ones saw their father at the head of the table looking grim, they didn't dare to be as cheerful as usual. Thus, the conversation remained stiff and formal, saying as little as possible.
Pei Ying sighed inwardly. What a mess.
As soon as dinner ended, Huo Mingji was the first to take his leave, with Huo Zhizhang following closely behind.
Meng Ling'er wanted to speak with Pei Ying, but with both elder brothers leaving, she couldn't very well stay alone, so she had to depart as well.
After the younger generation left, Huo Tingshan directly addressed the servants waiting in the main hall, "You may all withdraw for now."
Pei Ying rose from her seat. "This isn't the place to talk. Come back to the main courtyard with me."
A flicker passed through Huo Tingshan's eyes, but he said nothing else.
The two walked back in silence. Once inside the main courtyard room, Pei Ying closed the door. "Huo Tingshan, where did you hear that I was pregnant? Did Physician Feng tell you?"
She quickly dismissed the last guess herself. "Impossible. He took my pulse at the time and never mentioned a pregnancy."
A competent physician wouldn't fail to detect a slippery pulse. If Physician Feng didn't say it, that left him guessing on his own.
"Yesterday, I sent a guard to ask Madam to come to the study. The guard said he heard Madam seemed to have vomited. When I returned, I also heard that maidservant say 'this matter is of no small importance'," Huo Tingshan said calmly.
Pei Ying recalled yesterday. He only mentioned Xin Jin's phrase 'this matter is of no small importance,' but she followed the thread of memory.
"It's nothing serious, it has happened before."
"How can it be nothing serious? Today is different from the past..."
Pei Ying: "...The vomiting was caused by catching a chill."
With him already convinced she was pregnant, this conversation did seem to fit the scenario.
"You must have gone to see Physician Feng afterward," Pei Ying said with a complicated expression. He had even gone so far as to convert the side storage room into a small medicine chamber; he must have consulted Physician Feng.
Huo Tingshan gave a light cough. "I did, but it seems the matter wasn't made clear at the time."
Thinking back now, Feng Wencheng had mentioned medicine for a chill, but he had thought...
"Why did you have to tell the children so quickly? Now look, you've lost face in front of them as a father," Pei Ying said, at a loss for words, recalling the expressions on the three younger ones' faces and feeling genuinely embarrassed for him.
Huo Tingshan raised his long eyebrows. "So what if I made a mistake? Who among them would dare laugh?"
Pei Ying: "..."
Once this man returned to his usual self, that domineering air came right back.
However, Pei Ying remembered something else. He had often expressed a desire to have a child with her. After this misunderstanding, he was probably quite disappointed. But there were still things she had to say. "Huo Tingshan, having one child of my own blood is enough for me. I don't want any others."
Pei Ying watched him, not missing a single change in his expression. She had expected a shadow of gloom to cross his face, but surprisingly, he nodded. "Since my lady is unwilling, then let it be so."
Pei Ying looked at him in surprise.
Huo Tingshan gave a soft laugh. "It is true that I very much wished to conceive a child with my lady, one bearing the blood of us both. I have fantasized about whether this child would resemble me more, or take after you, my lady. I also thought, if it were a son, I would personally teach him the arts of war and strategy, guide him in statecraft. If she were a daughter, I would ensure she could have ice mountains to escape the summer heat, go out attended by Kunlun slaves and Silla maids, granting her the greatest luxury this world has to offer."
He suddenly sighed. "But I later learned that childbirth is no easy matter. Feng Wencheng once said that if a woman suffers a difficult labor, there is nothing to be done. Though such cases are few, the possibility exists. Whenever I think of such a scenario, I become restless, unable to eat or sleep."
Pei Ying stood frozen in place.
This was the first time she had heard Huo Tingshan analyze his desire for an heir, and even more, the first time she heard his fears.
Huo Tingshan continued, "The more I learned about the perils of childbirth, the more my worries grew. An heir born of you and me is important, but it cannot compare to the slightest risk to you, my lady."
Pei Ying felt inexplicably uneasy. She lowered her gaze, no longer looking at him.
"I know that if such a thing were to happen, my lady might perish, or perhaps... continue living elsewhere. But in either case, I would be forever separated from you, never to see you again."
Pei Ying's pupils contracted. Instinctively, her eyes snapped up to meet his.
She met his profound gaze. Those dark eyes seemed to have transformed into an endless, drowning black sea, and also into a mirror, reflecting her own startled expression within.
He knew?
Just how much did he know?
He said, "My lady is not of this world."
