Chapter 48: Pregnancy

On a midsummer night, it was pleasant enough to simply sit and enjoy the breeze.

But once you started moving, you’d soon be drenched in sweat.

Especially…

Liu Fuying lay in Pei Zhouwu’s embrace, her body only loosely covered by the wedding robe. Every inch of exposed skin glistened with sweat, her hair thoroughly soaked as if she had just emerged from water.

Pei Zhouwu was in a similar state.

“Husband, does it hurt?”

She rested her head on Pei Zhouwu’s chest, gazing at the wound there.

The medicines from the Grand Tutor’s residence were expensive and hard to come by. A single day’s use was more effective than ten days of ordinary medicine. The wound had already begun to scab over faintly, but after their intense activity, it had flushed red again. Though it wasn’t bleeding, it looked as vivid as if someone had bitten it.

She hadn’t expected that such an act could be so exhausting.

Afterward, her entire body felt weak and limp, as if she couldn’t even lift her eyelids.

Tiring as it was, the pleasure had been real.

At first, Pei Zhouwu had held back, but later, he could no longer restrain himself.

She felt as though her body had fallen apart.

“Can you still get up?” Pei Zhouwu asked her.

Even though he had been the one exerting most of the effort, his energy remained high, unlike Liu Fuying, who felt she could fall asleep the moment she closed her eyes.

“I can’t. I can’t move at all.”

Her weary murmur softened Pei Zhouwu’s heart, and he lovingly stroked her hair.

“Did it hurt badly just now?” he asked again.

Liu Fuying didn’t even have the strength to nod, nor did she want to utter another word. She only replied softly with a “Mm.”

“Then rest a little longer. I’ll take you back.”

If she wanted to rest properly, she’d need to be in bed.

“Alright,” Liu Fuying answered in a faint voice before slowly closing her eyes.

The scattered fireflies from earlier flew back, their flickering lights weaving together like a silent symphony, playing out a thick, romantic melody with the wind.

The night breeze gradually grew cooler, and Pei Zhouwu gently lifted Liu Fuying into a sitting position.

Sweating profusely and then catching a chill could easily lead to a cold, especially since they still had to cross the water. Once they returned, he would need to boil water for a warm bath to soothe their bodies.

“Sit still. Don’t move.”

Pei Zhouwu supported her with one hand while using the other to help her dress.

She was truly exhausted, her body sinking uncontrollably as she nestled into his embrace.

“A Ying…”

“Call me Madam.”

“Alright, Madam, be good. Sit up straight so I can dress you properly. It’s time for us to go back.”

Liu Fuying mumbled as she sat up, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him. Seeing his lips reddened from being bitten earlier, she recalled the intensity of their marital act and felt a sudden itch in her heart.

Pei Zhouwu sensed her intentions before she could act.

So he covered her eyes and leaned down to plant a gentle kiss, a soothing gesture.

“Be good. Let’s go back first.”

He feared that if they lingered, they would become entangled once more. She was already exhausted, and another round might be too much for her to bear—or worse, he might accidentally hurt her.

Once they were dressed, Pei Zhouwu carried her on his back and retraced their path back.

Returning to the bamboo cottage bedroom, Pei Zhouwu immediately removed her damp clothes and changed her into clean ones.

“Don’t go.”

Pei Zhouwu was about to go boil water when Liu Fuying pulled him back.

“Let’s rest now. I’m really tired.”

“You sleep first. I’ll be back soon.”

“No, I want you to hold me while I sleep.” She threw herself back into Pei Zhouwu’s arms.

Pei Zhouwu sighed and bent down, then picked her up and carried her toward the bed. After setting her down, he pulled over a thin quilt to cover her, felt her forehead, and touched her cheek. Only when he found nothing unusual did he feel at ease.

“Sleep peacefully. I won’t leave. I’ll stay with you and hold you tonight, tomorrow night, and every night after, alright?”

Liu Fuying responded with a smile.

It was a pity he wasn’t her real husband.

In all her years, aside from her mother and Jin Li by her side, she had never met anyone as good as Pei Zhouwu—especially among men.

Pei Zhouwu’s goodness made her heart ache with tenderness.

She raised her hand to touch his face, her fingertips lightly tracing the bridge of his nose before resting on his red lips. She sighed, “Two liang of peach blossoms brewed into wine, ten thousand cups cannot match your gentleness.”

These lines seemed tailor-written for Pei Zhouwu.

Pei Zhouwu’s eyes softened with tenderness. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his tone overflowing with affection.

“Close your eyes and sleep.”

Liu Fuying closed her eyes, but the smile at the corner of her lips simply wouldn’t fade.

She drifted off to sleep with that smile, unsure of the exact moment she fell asleep. Her slumber was unusually deep, and she had no idea when Pei Zhouwu lay down beside her and held her as she slept.

The next day.

When Pei Zhouwu rose, Liu Fuying was still asleep.

Stepping outside, he saw that the guards who had collapsed unconscious on the ground near the tents outside the front courtyard the previous night had yet to awaken.

After ensuring everything was in order, he returned to the Courtyard and headed to the kitchen in the front room.

Sitting at the table, he retrieved the papers he had brought back with him.

They were densely covered with writing—all prepared by him before noon the previous day, intended to be sent out today.

Soon, the servant from the Pei family delivering meals would arrive.

Those assigned here were carefully selected, clever, and trusted servants of the household. They also possessed some martial skills to prevent any tampering with the food along the way.

He held the papers, carefully and earnestly reviewing them several more times.

As he read the letter, a heaviness gradually settled over his expression.

It was clear the contents of the letter were profoundly serious.

Finally, movement stirred from the tent area. Amidst the commotion, someone unlocked and pushed open the gate, rushing inside.

Pei Zhouwu put away the letter and went out to meet them, preventing them from barging into the bedroom at the back.

“You… you…”

Upon seeing Pei Zhouwu, the guard was momentarily unsure whether to be shocked or relieved, likely assuming Pei Zhouwu had already escaped.

Yet here he was, still shackled and safely inside.

Pei Zhouwu’s eyes turned cold, making them hesitate to approach.

“Pei… Pei Zhouwu, last night… did you notice anything unusual?”

Pei Zhouwu raised a brow slightly, fully aware yet speaking with sarcasm, “Isn’t it laughable for the jailer to ask the prisoner if anything was unusual?”

The man was left speechless, his face paling.

A subordinate leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Boss, could it be that we were poisoned from eating that mutton that had been sitting for days and drinking wine last night?”

“Shut up.”

Drinking and reveling during duty would be another offense.

Fortunately, Pei Zhouwu was still here—otherwise, they would all face the death penalty.

Similarly, their negligence leading to everyone collapsing was also a serious crime.

Thus, regarding last night’s incident—whether they had eaten something wrong and been poisoned or if it was due to something else—they would keep it tightly concealed, not daring to leak even a hint. As long as Pei Zhouwu hadn’t escaped, they could turn a blind eye and let it pass.

Once the men left, Pei Zhouwu returned to the bedroom.

Inside, Liu Fuying was already up and sitting by the bed.

After closing the door behind her, Pei Zhouwu walked toward her and gently touched her forehead, still worried she might have caught a chill from the previous night.

“It’s not warm here, but… here it is.”

Liu Fuying grasped her hand and guided it downward, pressing it against her own chest.

“Don’t be mischievous,” Pei Zhouwu chuckled, trying to pull her hand back, but found her grip surprisingly firm.

“I’m not being mischievous. I dreamed all night about what we did in Glowworm Land last night. I was drenched in sweat, and my chest felt so hot it burned.”

Her tone was a mix of coquettishness and complaint, her eyes pleading for him to help resolve her discomfort.

“Then what do you want me to do?” Pei Zhouwu played along.

Liu Fuying pressed his hand even tighter against her, her tone teasing and seductive as she added, “I want you to blow on it for me.”

“…” Pei Zhouwu opened his mouth but held back his words.

Blow on it?

Blow where?

“A Ying, don’t be mischievous. I can’t always hold back.”

Especially after tasting that ultimate pleasure, he could no longer stop himself as easily as before.

“Why hold back?”

Hearing her question, Pei Zhouwu furrowed his brows and asked in return, “Aren’t you afraid of getting pregnant?”

Afraid of getting pregnant? Getting pregnant would be wonderful!

From the very beginning, her goal had been to conceive. Only with a child would she truly achieve her wish.

But then again…

If she became pregnant, she wouldn’t be able to roam the mountains outside the city as freely as before, nor could she hold her breath and swim through the long underwater passageways. If she harmed the pregnancy, all her efforts would be in vain.

As her body grew larger, she would struggle to walk or swim.

So, getting pregnant would mean…

It would mean the end with Pei Zhouwu!

“Are you scared now?”

Seeing her remain silent for a long while, Pei Zhouwu thought she had realized the consequences and wouldn’t act recklessly anymore. Their current situation wasn’t suitable for having a child, at least not in this place.

He had plans to advance his schedule. In a few days, he would take her away from here, far away from Shangjing.

For her sake, some risks had to be taken.