“Why is my lord shedding tears?”
He suddenly felt a lump in his throat, his gaze turning sorrowful as he looked at her.
“The child was born safely, and Wanwan is fine too. My lord should be happy.”
The more she pretended to be strong, the more guilt and pain Wei Chenheng felt in his heart. His uncontrolled emotions made him shed silent tears.
When he spoke again, his voice carried a hint of hoarseness, “Wanwan, childbirth for women is like passing through the gates of hell—even if they survive, they lose half their life force. Just now, outside, I kept thinking about what I would do if something happened to you.”
“My lord has witnessed life and death on the battlefield many times. Why are you so fragile now?”
He lowered his head, cradling her cold little hands to his lips, kissing them over and over, tears slowly dripping onto her palms.
“Precisely because I’ve witnessed life and death that I know how terrifying death is. I don’t even dare to imagine what I would do without you—”
“My lord, I won’t leave you.”
Her clear eyes remained locked with his, piercing through his profound gaze and those silent tears to see his genuine, fervent, and unreserved love for her.
Wei Chenheng fell silent for a moment before gradually regaining control of his emotions. “How are you feeling now?”
“Hungry. I want to eat something.”
Wei Chenheng quickly said, “I’ll have them prepare some food.”
“Wait, my lord.”She held his hand, her voice somewhat weak.”
“What is it?” He turned to look at her.
“You should name the child.”
Wei Chenheng was taken aback, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. After a pause, he said, “Alright.”
“And… remember to send a letter home to Mother.” She reminded him.
He reached out and held her tightly, burying his face in her pale neck, hiding his reddened eyes.
She heard a soft but clear response: “Alright.”
The midwife had already settled the two children with the wet nurses and returned to the room. Seeing the couple’s affectionate display, she awkwardly interrupted, “General, the lady should rest now.”
Reminded by the midwife, Wei Chenheng came back to his senses and asked, “Do you need my help?”
The midwife was startled for a moment, then quickly smiled. “It’s not suitable for men to be here. I’ll handle everything. Please step outside for now.”
He nodded. “Thank you for your trouble.”
Turning back, he leaned down and kissed Ning Wanwan’s forehead. “I’ll be waiting outside. Call for me if you need anything.”
Ning Wanwan reminded him, “Go see the children.”
His stern face frowned slightly, and he said expressionlessly, “Alright. I’ll go see them.”
Wei Chenheng reluctantly left the room. Cui’er approached him and said, “General, the children have been settled. They’re being cared for by two wet nurses in the side tent.”
He nodded, and Cui’er withdrew after speaking.
Wei Chenheng walked steadily toward the side tent. As he lifted the curtain, he heard the infants’ cries. Frowning, he found the noise bothersome.
Seeing Wei Chenheng enter, the wet nurse quickly bowed. “General.”
“No need for formalities.”
He walked over and, by the light of the stove, saw two wrinkled babies wailing loudly.
“Would the General like to hold the young master?”
Wei Chenheng paused for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll try.”
One of the wet nurses gently placed the younger twin into Wei Chenheng’s hands. He clumsily cradled his own child, frozen in place.
The wet nurse chuckled, “General, this is how you should hold a baby.”
Wei Chenheng earnestly mimicked the baby-soothing techniques, and the previously wailing infant suddenly drifted asleep with squinted eyes, astonishing everyone.
After settling the younger son to sleep on the bed, Wei Chenheng equally embraced the elder twin. Once both were successfully lulled to sleep, he returned to his own tent.
By then, Ning Wanwan had already fallen asleep.
Wei Chenheng gazed at her sleeping face, his icy expression gradually softening with a trace of tenderness.
…
Ning Wanwan enjoyed a comfortable postpartum confinement, barely lifting a finger as Wei Chenheng attended to her every need like a devoted servant, bustling about tirelessly.
This spectacle amazed the soldiers in the military camp – the cold-faced general who showed no mercy on the battlefield actually possessed such a tender side, reserving all his gentleness exclusively for his wife.
Even his own children received no affectionate words from him.
Wei Chenheng resolved to settle the score with the two little ones for causing his wife suffering during childbirth once they grew older.
Fortunately, infants grow rapidly. The initially dark, purplish, monkey-like appearance that had repulsed him at birth transformed within a month into plump, rosy-cheeked cuteness.
Noticing the children’s faint resemblance to Ning Wanwan in their brows and eyes, Wei Chenheng finally found them tolerable.
Regarding names, Ning Wanwan delegated the task to Wei Chenheng, who immediately consulted her under the pretext that “the children belong to both of us – we should decide together.”
The couple eventually settled on Wei Hongning for the elder and Wei Shuning for the younger, incorporating both parents’ surnames.
By the time the children were six months old, Ning Wanwan had largely recovered her health.
She directly swallowed Vitality Pills, Scar Removal Pills, Hydration Pills, and Firmness Pills.
Rabbits naturally prefer carrots.
After childbirth, Wei Chenheng hardly dared touch her, strictly following the physician’s advice to wait until she fully recovered.
Yet even long after her recovery, the blockhead remained oblivious to her hints.
She’d heard that married couples eventually become like siblings over time.
Could it be that Wei Chenheng had lost interest in her body?
Unacceptable – she needed to test him.
That morning, Wei Chenheng returned from martial practice drenched in sweat to find a wooden tub prepared with hot water in their tent, Ning Wanwan smiling at him.
He looked puzzled, “Wanwan, what is this?”
“I’ll assist my husband with his bath.” Ning Wanwan’s voice dripped with sweetness, “Since my husband has been so attentive to me, I wish to repay your kindness in some small way.”
Wei Chenheng’s eyes flickered at her words, his lips curling into a faint smile, “Very well.”
He was curious to see how she intended to serve him.
Ning Wanwan felt nervous – nearly nine months had passed since their last intimate encounter. Approaching him, she raised her delicate hands to remove his garments.
The man complied willingly.
She couldn’t help swallowing hard.
So delectable.
Her burning gaze roamed over him without concealment.
The man’s handsome face maintained an ascetic composure, appearing completely unruffled.
“Apologies, it’s a physiological reaction.”