Xiao Jin Yu nearly choked on his own breath.
Even after marrying her, he still couldn't figure out which direction this little head of hers was turning...
He desperately wanted to tell her that it didn't matter if she gave birth to a son - even if she gave him a rabbit, as long as it came from her, he would treasure it like a pearl in his palm, cherish it like the flesh of his heart.
But such words were impossible for him to voice aloud...
"I like..."
"You're lying..." Chu Chu pursed her lips and continued massaging him, "You don't like Du Li at all."
Xiao Jin Yu couldn't help rolling his eyes, "Why should I like him..."
"Then... what kind do you like?"
Xiao Jin Yu whispered softly, "The ones you give birth to..."
Chu Chu's eyes instantly sparkled, "Wang Ye, you want me to bear your children?"
Xiao Jin Yu's face grew warm, the originally pale complexion quickly flushing red.
Clearly she was the one eager to become a mother... but to be fair, perhaps Xiao Jin Yu wanted a child even more than she did.
Only Xiao Jin Yu himself knew how much he loved children. He had even considered adopting a child when his health improved, but his condition only worsened year by year. Taking care of himself was becoming increasingly difficult, making this wish more and more unrealistic - so unrealistic that he had almost completely given up hope...
"I want to..."
He truly wanted to, had wanted to for a long time...
Chu Chu was so excited she nearly jumped up, hugging Xiao Jin Yu and exclaiming, "I'll bear them for you! I'll bear them for you! As many as you want! However many you want!"
With such commotion, probably everyone in the surrounding tents could hear clearly. Xiao Jin Yu's face burned crimson, his stomach pain forgotten in his embarrassment, "Alright, alright... no rush..."
"Of course we must rush! Wang Ye, tell me, do you prefer sons or daughters? I'll write to grandmother right away, have her pray for me at the Guanyin Temple in Chu Shui Town. Whatever you pray for, you'll receive - it's very effective!"
Xiao Jin Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he caressed her excited, flushed cheeks, "Don't rush, don't rush... I like them all, no need to trouble the Guanyin Temple..."
"Then I'll bear one of each for you!"
"Alright..."
"No... two isn't enough. The Royal Mansion is too big. I want to bear five - more children, more blessings!"
Xiao Jin Yu watched her dizzy with joy, his stomach pain easing as he gently embraced her, "Bear as many as you wish, I can afford to raise them all..."
"Really?"
"Mmm..."
"Then I'll keep bearing them for you! For my whole life!"
Xiao Jin Yu gently touched her smiling, crescent-shaped eyes, watching how ecstatic she became just from his nod, feeling an inexplicable ache in his heart, "Chu Chu..."
"Wang Ye, you're so wonderful! So wonderful!"
"You're the wonderful one..."
The next morning, without any coercion from Chu Chu, Xiao Jin Yu voluntarily ate a full bowl of millet porridge and drank his medicine while it was still hot.
It wasn't that his appetite had suddenly improved, but after last night's cloud and rain, Chu Chu had held his bony frame with a pained expression and said maybe they should just have one child...
When Jing Yi drifted into the room, Xiao Jin Yu was still slowly chewing a piece of apple under Chu Chu's delighted gaze.
Seeing Jing Yi, Chu Chu finally remembered - last night, something seemed to have happened to this person... But looking at him now, refreshed and energetic, with rosy complexion and smiling eyes, he didn't look like someone who had encountered any trouble at all!"Brother Jing!"
Jing Yi grinned as he placed an official report booklet before Xiao Jin Yu, plopping down beside the table and casually plucking a piece of apple from a plate to pop into his mouth. Chewing, he said, "Little Yue and I wrote it together. Guaranteed no mistakes."
The moment Xiao Jin Yu opened it, his brows furrowed. The handwriting on the paper was neither Jing Yi's nor Leng Yue's—strokes alternating between heavy and light, crooked and messy, not even as neat as Ashina Suwu's writing. "Did you two write this?"
"Genuine as can be."
Watching Jing Yi's beaming smile, Xiao Jin Yu raised an eyebrow. "Where did you write it?"
"In bed."
Xiao Jin Yu's expression darkened slightly. "Where's Little Yue?"
"Resting in bed."
"..."
Xiao Jin Yu frowned at the handwriting in the report booklet. Halfway through, he looked up at Jing Yi. "Did you not wash your hands last night?"
Jing Yi froze. "I did."
"When?"
"After you left, when we were bathing."
Xiao Jin Yu's face grew darker. "Earlier than that."
"How much earlier?"
"After handling those dung beetles."
Jing Yi narrowed his fox-like eyes, recalling unhurriedly. "After handling them... you called me out, and by the time I returned, they'd already packed up... Then, then I slipped out with Little Yue... Seems like I didn't."
"But you ate something?"
"Roasted lamb—had to check if it was cooked..." Jing Yi's expression suddenly shifted. "Wait! I grabbed it with my hands, then licked my fingers..."
Xiao Jin Yu watched Jing Yi's green-tinged face and nodded calmly. "That explains it..." He then turned to Chu Chu, who was gazing at Jing Yi with sympathy. "Chu Chu, fetch a box of rouge."
Chu Chu hurriedly dug out a box of rouge, handing it over with curiosity. "Wang Ye, can rouge induce vomiting?"
"No need to induce it. He'll vomit on his own soon enough..." Xiao Jin Yu took the rouge and pushed it toward Jing Yi. "Here's the rouge. Find honey and raw starch yourself... Having vanished for a whole night, the physicians might want to check your injuries."
Jing Yi leaped up from the stool. "Go again?!"
"Just investigate one thing. Once it's clear, you can go wherever you want."
Jing Yi wore a pitiful expression. "Wang Ye, I nearly lost my life last night..."
"But you didn't quite, did you?... Go find out who fed those dung beetles."
"Didn't I tell you? It was an old physician from the Medical Tent who raised them..."
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