In the early days after their arrival, Pei You'an received envoys from the northern deserts on behalf of the imperial court, bestowing rewards or asserting authority to pacify tribes like Zamu and others in the northern deserts.
Apart from these envoys, there were also local garrison commanders and officials from the Regional Military Commissions of various cities who came to pay their respects. The days were inevitably filled with busyness, and before they knew it, two months had passed. The northern frontier had once again become a world of ice and snow.
Jiafu counted on her fingers, once again calculating her cycle.
A few days ago, her monthly courses had arrived.
This was already the third time since they had stopped deliberately avoiding intimacy during those days.
She felt a slight disappointment.
She longed to bear another child for Pei You'an.
This wish had lingered in her heart ever since Ci'er turned two or three years old.
In the following years, she had gradually let go of the thought, and it had faded from her mind. But now that the idea had resurfaced, it burned like an old house set ablaze. She thought of nothing else all day, wishing she could conceive again immediately.
Though in her eyes, Pei You'an remained as peerlessly handsome as when they first met, and when she looked in the mirror, she never felt particularly old. But he was already past forty, and though she was much younger, she was no longer young either. To fulfill her wish, it seemed thorough preparation was still necessary.
Now that she had more free time, she prepared delicious meals daily, brewing various tonics. She ate them herself and, regardless of whether they suited his taste, insisted Pei You'an have them every night when he returned to their room—though, of course, these tonics weren’t consumed indiscriminately.
Before leaving the capital, she had secretly consulted a physician well-versed in women’s health. The physician said her constitution was excellent, neither too cold nor too warm, and she didn’t need medication. However, at her age, mild tonics could help make conception easier. He recommended foods like black beans, ginger, and lotus seeds, explaining that black beans aided fertility while ginger and lotus seeds gently nourished the body. As for Pei You'an, he too needed tonics—specifically those that warmed and strengthened the liver and kidneys. The physician provided her with a long list of such remedies.
The physician’s words had been delicately phrased. The saying went that women in their thirties were like tigers, and in their forties, like wolves, while men past forty often found their vigor waning. Hence, the prevalence of dubious aphrodisiacs, which had claimed countless lives.
In short, the physician’s advice was that, as long as moderation was observed, men of Pei You'an’s age would benefit from these foods if consumed regularly—particularly in that aspect.
Though thus far, Jiafu had been entirely satisfied with their intimate life and never felt Pei You'an was struggling to keep up, now that she wanted another child after sixteen years, she believed in leaving no stone unturned. The more preparations, the better.
Tonight, she began to hope once more.
Her cycle had always been precise, varying by no more than a day each month. Based on the physician’s guidance and her years of experience with Pei You'an, she knew that starting tonight, the next few nights would offer the best chance of conception if they were intimate.
In the past, during this time of the month, they had tacitly avoided such activities.
But now, things were different.The sky had just darkened, and the charcoal fire in the room was already burning warmly. Jiafu took an early bath and emerged to recline on the chaise longue, letting Tanxiang dry her long hair. Then she applied her favorite imperial-crafted jasmine-scented ointment to her skin, rubbing it in meticulously from head to toe, ensuring every inch of her body smelled sweet and fragrant. Afterward, she carefully selected a pale lilac silk skirt from her wardrobe, pairing it with a sheer gauze outer robe as delicate as a cicada’s wing. She powdered her face lightly, dabbed her lips with a subtle rouge, and styled her hair into a loose "fallen horse" bun, letting her dark tresses cascade like clouds toward her face. A single white camellia was pinned diagonally at her temple, enhancing her delicate beauty—her face as lovely as a flower, exuding a carefully cultivated allure amidst her languid grace.
It had been a long time since she had dressed up like this. Once she finished her makeup and attire, she admired herself in the mirror and was thoroughly pleased with her stunning appearance.
Pei You'an would surely be delighted, Jiafu mused.
By the end of the You hour (7-9 PM), he returned from the front hall to the rear chambers. Jiafu greeted him with a radiant smile, brushing the snowflakes from his shoulders.
When Pei You'an entered and caught sight of her, he seemed momentarily taken aback, his gaze lingering on her.
Jiafu’s heart swelled with joy. She urged him to bathe, helped him change afterward, and then had the evening meal brought in. She seated him down and stood behind him, kneading his shoulders while eagerly encouraging him to eat.
The bowl contained a lumpy mixture of meat and rice, drenched in broth. Before even tasting it, Pei You'an caught a whiff of mutton’s pungency mingled with a faint medicinal aroma. He smiled wryly. "What is this now?"
For the past half-month, it had been one thing after another—deer kidney soup, pork kidney, wolfberry and lamb kidney congee…
At first, it was tolerable, but now, just the smell alone was enough to turn his stomach.
"This is Guiyuan Soup. Made with Chinese yam, cistanche, a bit of dodder seed, walnut kernels, japonica rice, lean lamb, and lamb spine—simmered all afternoon. Finally, I added some scallion whites, ginger, Sichuan pepper, cooking wine, pepper powder… oh, and star anise. The imperial physician said it’s good for a man’s health."
"I already tasted it for you—it’s delicious. Eat up quickly."
Jiafu widened her eyes, lying without batting an eyelid.
She had indeed taken a sip earlier, but the taste… was peculiar.
In any case, she had no intention of taking a second bite.
Pei You'an privately reflected that he suffered from none of the unspeakable ailments middle-aged men often faced—no deficiency of kidney essence, no ringing in the ears, no blurred vision, no weakness in the waist or knees. He had absolutely no desire to consume this concoction. But under her expectant gaze, and recalling her crestfallen expression months ago when she discovered her menstrual cycle had resumed, he couldn’t bear to disappoint her again. Steeling himself, he took bite after bite, eventually skipping chewing altogether and gulping it down in one go. He patted his tight chest and exhaled deeply in relief.
He truly missed the sweet treats she used to make for him…
Compared to these so-called "tonics" that reeked enough to induce nausea, he much preferred when she fed him desserts.
Seeing that he had finished every last drop, Jiafu was overjoyed—though also a little heartbroken for him. She rubbed his chest and kneaded his shoulders a while longer, waiting until she was sure the meal had settled before murmuring softly, "Husband, it’s late. Let’s retire for the night."
Pei You'an let her pull him up and lead him to the bed.He lowered his head, silently watching as she happily removed his garments one by one, then allowed himself to be pushed onto the bed. Lying there, he watched her shed the thin gauze robe she wore, followed by layer after layer of clothing, until she finally slipped under the covers. Her fragrant, soft body nestled entirely into his embrace, her red lips brushing against his ear as she cooed playfully, "Big Cousin..."
Given their experiences over the past few months, to ensure he could indulge freely in the nights ahead starting from this evening, Jiafu had forbidden him from sharing her bed from the end of her last cycle until tonight.
Pei You'an had gone nearly half a month without touching her.
He turned his face, gazing at her for a moment before flipping over and pinning her beneath him.
The bed curtains fell.
As the canopy rippled like water, midway through, Jiafu, lost in passion, sensed his waning strength—his movements growing increasingly strained until he stopped altogether. Puzzled, she opened her eyes—
Truthfully, from the very start tonight, Jiafu had found him odd, as if something was off, his energy lacking.
Logically, this shouldn’t be the case—
She looked ravishing tonight, enough to stir even her own heart, and it had been half a month since he’d last touched her...
Confused, she opened her eyes only to see him swiftly roll off her, throw aside the bed curtains, and lean over the edge, vomiting violently.
Jiafu was startled, her arousal vanishing instantly as she scrambled up to help him, lifting the curtains and kneeling beside him to pat his back gently.
Pei You'an not only expelled the bowl of restorative soup he’d consumed earlier but also his entire dinner.
Alarmed, Jiafu threw on her robe, fetched him a cup of warm water, and urged him to drink. Seeing him slumped weakly, she grew anxious and wanted to summon a physician, but he stopped her.
"I’m fine."
"Fu'er, could you just... stop forcing me to eat those things?"
He spoke weakly.
"I don’t need those to perform," he added, as if afraid she’d be upset.
Jiafu froze, taking in his haunted expression before glancing downward—where he had long since softened. Torn between amusement and exasperation, she pulled the covers over him, tucked him in, and closed the curtains. After dressing, she called for servants to clean up, then brought in hot water and insisted they both wash up.
Back in bed, she curled into his arms again, gazing up at him with fragrant breath. "Big Cousin, it’s my fault for pushing you too hard. No more forcing you to eat those awful things! I won’t rush anymore—let nature take its course. You must be tired tonight. Sleep early. I’ll sleep too."
With that, she nuzzled his chin affectionately, nestled against him, and obediently closed her eyes, still as could be.
Pei You'an studied her face for a long moment before suddenly sitting up. He dressed, then pulled her from the blankets, carried her to the edge of the bed, and began dressing her as well.
"It’s snowing outside! Where are you taking me?"Jiafu was a bit puzzled and asked him several times, but he only smiled without answering. Finally, after helping her put on her shoes and socks and draping a fur-lined Zhaojun cloak over her shoulders, he took her hand and said with a smile, "The snow makes it perfect. You'll understand when we get there."
Following him out of the house, Jiafu sat backward on Snow Treader's back, her head and face covered as he wrapped her tightly in his fur cloak, her arms clinging to him. After a swift, cloud-like gallop, they left the city and seemed to be climbing uphill continuously until they finally stopped. Peeking out from his embrace, she found herself before a pair of opposing mountain ridges.
By the snow's reflection, she saw a newly built gate wall at the entrance.
This place felt vaguely familiar to Jiafu. She remembered visiting over a decade ago, also brought by Snow Treader. Unlike the mostly barren rocky mountains around Suyeh City, this valley had warmer, damper ground in winter, where snow couldn’t accumulate and grass sometimes grew. However, due to its steep terrain—with one side being a weathered cliff dozens of feet high—there were no proper paths, making it rarely visited. Back then, Snow Treader had been mischievous, somehow finding his way here one day, and afterward, he often came to graze on fresh grass.
Jiafu glanced at the gate wall, still confused.
Pei You'an lifted her off the horse and led her through the gate, bolting it behind them. He then guided her to bend down and carefully pass through a narrow crevice in the rocks before emerging into a sudden, breathtaking openness.
Hidden from the outside, the valley was like a circular well, with a crescent-shaped pool before them.
Snowflakes drifted down from the valley's opening, piling up along the banks, while steam rose from the water's surface—it was a hot spring!
Even more astonishing, a small wooden cabin stood quietly by the spring, seemingly newly built.
Overjoyed, Jiafu ran to the spring, crouched down, and dipped her hand into the water.
It was warm and incredibly soothing.
Pei You'an smiled. "I remember this place—there was no spring here over a decade ago. Two years ago, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau received a report from the Suyeh Regional Military Commission about a minor earthquake in August that caused no major damage. This spring must have emerged then. Thanks to Snow Treader—last month, when he was late returning, Yang Yun found this place and discovered its hidden beauty. I checked the depth and tested the water by letting animals drink it after cooling. Seeing it was safe, I thought it’d be nice to bring you here when it snowed. So, I built this place for you—finished just days ago. I remembered it earlier and brought you here as a way to..."
"Apologize to you."
He paused, speaking softly.
But Jiafu had already stopped listening. With a cheer, she pulled him into the cabin, lit a candle, and saw that though the space was small, it was fully furnished with a bed, table, and chairs. A fluffy white rug lay before the bed, and best of all, a stove stood in the corner with a pile of chopped firewood beside it.Pei You'an was still lighting the fire to warm the room when Jiafu had already taken off her clothes and stepped barefoot into the warm spring water. She submerged herself up to her neck, leaning against the built-in seating by the poolside, gazing up at the snowflakes drifting down from the night sky. All she could do was sigh in contentment.
Once Pei You'an had the fire going, he stepped out of the wooden cabin but didn’t join her in the water. Instead, he crouched by the pool, watching Jiafu.
Jiafu opened her eyes, wiped her damp face, and beckoned to him, "Cousin, come down too."
Pei You'an smiled and shook his head, waving his hand. "I won’t join you. When you’re done, I’ll carry you inside."
Like a mermaid, Jiafu swam to his side, grabbed his sleeve, and gave a firm tug. With a splash and her laughter ringing out, Pei You'an was pulled into the pool.
They embraced in the water, soaking for a long time until Jiafu gradually felt her limbs grow weak and boneless. Only then did he carry her out and back into the small wooden cabin.
Pei You'an dried Jiafu's hair and body, laying her on the bed. His gaze and fingertips lingered on her delicate, tender skin, flushed from the hot spring’s embrace.
"Fu'er, are you tired?"
His lips brushed her ear as he asked in a low, husky voice thick with tenderness.
Jiafu's lashes fluttered lightly before she slowly opened her eyes. After a moment of gazing at him, she sat up, pushed him down onto the bed, and under his astonished yet indescribably exhilarated gaze, climbed atop him with a rosy, lotus-like face. Pressing her cherry lips to his ear, she whispered, "Cousin, whatever you want from me… I’ll obey…"
Snowflakes drifted silently outside. Amid the cheerful crackling of burning firewood, the winter night in the cabin was as warm as spring.
...
The same month they returned from the cabin, Jiafu’s monthly cycle ceased. By the next month, she began experiencing nausea and drowsiness—confirmation of her pregnancy.
Jiafu had finally gotten her wish. Though the pregnancy symptoms left her thinner, her spirits remained high. From then on, she focused on nurturing the baby, counting down the days until delivery with eager anticipation.
Pei You'an’s feelings, however, were somewhat different from Jiafu’s.
He was no longer young. In a few more years, his temples might well be streaked with silver.
Over the past decade, assisting the young emperor had consumed his every thought and effort. Never had he imagined he would one day have a child of his own.
Now, with his young wife pregnant again, watching her radiant joy without a trace of complaint, he was naturally moved and overjoyed. Yet beneath that joy lay a hidden unease.
Even now, years later, the memory of the suffering and risks she endured during her first childbirth still filled him with lingering dread.
As Jiafu’s belly grew day by day, Pei You'an grew increasingly tense. Beyond accompanying her on daily walks and personally overseeing her diet and routine, he summoned the imperial physician specializing in women’s health from the distant capital to Suyeh City over a month before her due date, ensuring the doctor was on hand for any emergencies during the birth.
In contrast to Pei You'an’s anxiety, Jiafu herself was far calmer.
Having endured the hardships of her first delivery, this time, she felt no fear at all.Having already endured the worst, what more did she have to fear? She ate when she should, slept when she should, and took walks when it was time to stroll. Amidst this routine of eating and resting, her heart was at ease and her body grew plump. By the autumn of the following year, one evening while Pei You'an accompanied her on a walk, her labor suddenly began. In just over two hours, she smoothly gave birth to a baby girl.
Seventeen years later, now in middle age, he unexpectedly became a father again, fortunate to be the parent of this beautiful little girl who had descended into the world.
Pei You'an carefully cradled the soft, tiny body of this infant, destined to be the object of boundless affection. As he held her in his arms, the surge of excitement and overwhelming joy in his heart was beyond words.
He named his daughter A Yuan.
"Yuan" signified beginnings, and also carried the meaning of goodness and auspiciousness.
He wished that this beloved daughter, born to him and Jiafu in their middle years, would embody the meaning of her name—a fresh start in life, blessed with goodness and fortune all her days.
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