After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 28
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Chapter 28: The Little Doctor
Huo Xi didn’t immediately respond to him, and Huo Pingxiao didn’t rush him either.
“Hello, Second Uncle~”
Seeing Huo Changjue standing beside Huo Pingxiao, Huo Xi greeted him politely and obediently.
As the first child born in their generation, Huo Xi was naturally very dear to his uncle, Huo Changjue.
Huo Changjue bent over to look at the little child, his expression becoming much gentler as he asked, “Xi’er, what have you been learning with Grandfather recently?”
Huo Xi honestly replied, “In the past few days, I’ve been studying the ‘Book of Rites’ from the classics.”
Upon hearing this, Huo Changjue’s expression changed slightly, expressing disbelief, “How old are you to be studying the classics already?”
Huo Changjue didn’t quite understand how Huo Lang taught Huo Xi, but felt that a child of his age should barely know all the characters.
After all, when he was as old as Huo Xi, he could only recite the ‘Three Character Classic’.
Huo Changjue suddenly understood why his father took it upon himself to teach Huo Xi personally. It seemed his little nephew was indeed exceptionally talented.
“Xi’er, you must continue to work hard so that you can go to the Imperial College.”
Huo Xi nodded his little head.
After Huo Changjue warmly advised him, he remembered his own days studying at the Imperial College.
The students of the Imperial College usually studied at the Guangwen Hall outside Zhuque (Vermillion Bird) Street, and there was also an Imperial College in Luoyang, the eastern capital.
Huo Lezhi almost went to study in Luoyang.
Huo Lang’s official rank was of the first grade, ranking above the third grade, and the children of officials above the third grade studied at the Imperial College. Every year, the Guangwen Hall in Chang’an would only enroll seventy-two students for this program, making the competition extremely fierce.
Huo Lezhi’s talents were slightly inferior to others, and the current Imperial College head, Chen Duo, was known for his integrity and uprightness. Even if nobles and high-ranking officials tried to use their influence, he would still adhere strictly to the rules and select only the best, not giving anyone a chance for backdoor admission.
Of course, those studying at the Guangwen Hall included the princes and princesses of the Great Liang Kingdom, and the other students were either from prominent or noble families. Simply getting into this institution meant paving their way in the official career for the next decade or so.
However, these children from powerful families who wished to serve in the government still had to be named in the triennial imperial examinations.
After Huo Changjue left, only the father and son remained on Eshi Road.
Huo Pingxiao looked down and saw that the little bun, who had just been smiling brightly at his second uncle, immediately put on a stern face after Huo Changjue left.
The boy’s small eyebrows were furrowed, and his tiny fists clenched tightly, looking adorably fierce.
It seemed that his son could change his expression quickly.
Huo Pingxiao glanced at him indifferently and asked lazily, “Didn’t you come to find me?”
Sometimes, when the man looked at Huo Xi, this little boy, he still found it amazing. This little bun was the child Ruan An bore for him, half resembling him and half like his mother.
Huo Xi shook his little head and then quickly nodded, puffing up with anger as he called out, “Dad, I’m going to Grandpa’s place first.”
Hearing the word “Dad,” Huo Pingxiao’s dark eyes flickered.
Huo Xi, feeling that he had finally completed the task his mother had given him, trotted away with his little short legs, leaving Huo Pingxiao behind.
Watching Huo Xi’s staggering small figure leave, Huo Pingxiao smirked, dragging out his words as he talked to himself, “Go ahead, good son.”
“Madam, the Marquis has drunk the tea you sent.”
Later that night, Ruan An wanted to talk to Huo Pingxiao about last night’s events. She glanced at his study and saw him sitting silently behind the lacquered wooden desk, casually flipping through a military book with his long fingers.
Thinking that military affairs were important, she decided to wait until he was free.
Bai Wei and Fu Ling were just preparing hot water in the bathhouse. Ruan An thought that after her bath, Huo Pingxiao should be done with his work. He had promised to teach her calligraphy last night, and she wanted to finalize this matter with him soon.
Before long, Ruan An emerged from the bathtub, with Bai Wei and Fu Ling wiping her body, and Ze Lan standing behind her, wringing her wet hair with a towel.
The girl was daydreaming, her bright apricot eyes staring at the steamy walls of the bathhouse, where the light was a bit dim. Ruan An suddenly felt that something was off in the atmosphere.
A cold, familiar breath brushed over her hair, and through the thin fabric of the towel, the grip on her scalp tightened.
Clearly, it was a man’s hand.
Ruan An lowered her eyelashes in embarrassment, whispering, “My Lord…”
Seeing her speak, Huo Pingxiao simply stopped wiping her hair.
Just as Ruan An was about to turn around to see what was happening, the slightly damp towel had already fallen to the ground, brushing over her reddened delicate heels.
She looked up in panic, her wrist gently grasped by the warm hand of the man. Huo Pingxiao held her hand and lifted it above her head.
Ruan An was like a rabbit caught by its long ears, still unclear about what Huo Pingxiao intended, but he pushed her waist and pressed her against the outside of the bathtub.
The girl’s body almost stuck to the wooden board surrounding the hot water, her face full of confusion.
The clear water in the tub swayed slightly, still emitting a faint warmth.
Ruan An’s small hand grasped the edge of the tub, and after the recent soaking, the back of the young lady’s hand was also dyed with a light cherry blossom pink.
Huo Pingxiao took the opportunity to lean close to her slender back, just about to lean over and lightly peck her earlobe.
Ruan An felt a tickle near her ear and wanted to dodge, so she turned her small face to one side.
Huo Pingxiao simply followed the direction she dodged, turning the young lady over with a flick.
The little wife’s wooden clogs, due to the movement just now, lost one, and the fluffy carpet on the ground also had her wet little footprints. She softly whimpered, her skin emitting a sweet and fragrant aroma.
But she was avoiding him, unwilling to let him get close.
She had refused him several times before.
The current situation suddenly reminded Huo Pingxiao of the words Huo Changjue had said just now.
He remembered Li Yifang, as well as Ruan An and his past.
Ruan An’s aversion to his approach, could it be that she was still thinking about her former lover?
Thinking of this, the man sneered softly, his cold and sharp eyes and brows gradually tinged with a faint hostility.
He propped his arms, confining the delicate young lady in a narrow space, and asked in a still calm voice, “You are the bride I married in a grand ceremony, and we have also worshipped heaven, earth, and our ancestors. Now, can’t even a kiss be allowed?”
“No… it’s not that it’s not allowed…” Ruan An replied timidly.
Of course, she wasn’t repelling or resisting his approach; in front of him, she was still nervous.
When Bai Wei and Fu Ling returned to the room, they stopped short before rounding the screen, not daring to disturb rashly.
After all, Lord Hou was a military commander, naturally extraordinarily strong and robust, and his petite wife, in comparison, seemed especially frail and delicate.
Huo Pingxiao’s broad back muscles were taut, completely enveloping Ruan An’s figure.
He frowned and also clenched his fingers, lifting the beauty’s chin upwards.
His other hand patted her waist, and from the sight of his tall back alone, one could feel his strong sense of control.
Ruan An immediately tiptoed, slowly closing her eyelashes, obediently cooperating with his sudden approach and the capture of her lips.
The two maids exchanged glances, both feeling emotional that Lord Hou and his wife were indeed newlyweds.
“Splash—” water splashed everywhere.
Bai Wei and Fu Ling’s cheeks both turned red, and they quickly retreated.
After Ruan An was hazily carried back to the inner chamber by the man, she felt that Huo Pingxiao’s mood seemed to have improved somewhat.
After lying down with her clothes on, the man played with her soft little hand in his palm.
The girl was gentle and obedient, curled up small in the bed, not taking up much space.
Huo Pingxiao gradually got used to the presence of Ruan An in his life, but he didn’t know if she had gotten used to him.
His young wife was not the kind of girl who was ignorant or restless; she must also be trying to forget the man, Li Yifang.
Indeed, they had been married for only a short time; why was he in such a hurry?
Thinking this, Huo Pingxiao lowered his eyes to look at the girl beside him.
Seeing her lips slightly swollen from his kisses, he leaned over to gently touch them as if to compensate.
As he approached her face, the warm, clean, and sweet breath she exhaled softly brushed against his face.
Huo Pingxiao’s heart began to feel an unusual sensation. He half-closed his cold eyes and didn’t try to kiss her again.
This feeling had nothing to do with desire, and it was a sensation he had never experienced before.
The man even felt somewhat agitated by this confusing emotion.
“What are you going to do now?”
Ruan An spoke in a soft, complaining tone.
Just now in the room, Huo Pingxiao had changed from doing it once, as agreed, to doing it again, and then shamelessly for a third time.
She couldn’t let him bully her like this anymore.
“Do we want another child?”
Hearing this, Ruan An suddenly opened her eyes and said helplessly, “Don’t be like this…”
“I’m serious.”
Huo Pingxiao stared into her eyes and spoke softly again.
Ruan An’s small hand was held in his rough palm as she softly asked, “We already have Xi’er, do you still want another child so soon, my lord?”
“I’m not in a hurry, it’s up to you.”
The man’s deep voice made Ruan An breathe a sigh of relief.
She replied honestly, “I don’t want to get pregnant again for the next few years. I’m a medical woman and know how to prevent pregnancy. If my lord agrees… I’ll start using those methods from today.”
Huo Pingxiao’s voice was gentle as he replied, “Alright.”
“Although there is a way… but husband, you also need to exercise restraint… don’t be like today again…”
Before the young lady could finish her words, upon hearing the word “restraint,” Huo Pingxiao’s brows lightly furrowed. He pulled her into his arms and held her head with his large hand, bringing Ruan An’s cheek close to him.
The man leaned down towards her tender ear and spoke in a low voice, intimidating her by asking, “I only did it twice in a month, isn’t that called restraint?”
The warm breath brushed past, and because her ear was too itchy, Ruan An dared not make a sound.
She buried her small face in his chest, suppressing her laughter, and her slender shoulders trembled lightly.
Huo Pingxiao looked down, mistaking his little wife’s soft sobbing for fear caused by his threatening words.
He sighed and called helplessly, “Wife.”
Seeing Ruan An not responding, Huo Pingxiao continued on his own, “The Marquis’ mansion will soon be renovated, we will move there in two days.”
Ruan An was somewhat puzzled as to why he suddenly brought this up, continuing to nestle in his arms, feeling his familiar warmth.
“Little doctor.”
Huo Pingxiao called her again.
Seeing Ruan An still not responding, Huo Pingxiao patiently coaxed in a low, hoarse voice, “Stay well with me, and after we move to the mansion, I will open a medical clinic for you.”
The next day.
He Xinruo sat in front of the dressing table, her hands passing over a pair of beaded earrings inlaid with rubies and tourmaline. On the pear wood table, there was also a set of hair ornaments embellished with precious stones.
Yesterday, Madam Gao called her to the yard and gave her a talking-to, in a rather unfriendly tone.
He Xinruo, who currently did not dare to offend Ruan An, her sister-in-law, prepared some gifts and planned to visit Ruan An’s courtyard to make a false apology.
With the crown prince’s marriage ceremony approaching, she could invite Ruan An to attend the ceremony with her.
As it happened, once Li Shuying entered the Eastern Palace, it would not be convenient for her to openly interact with ladies from various noble families, and she even had to deliberately maintain a distance from them, so as not to make the Emperor feel that she was forming factions for the crown prince.
The position Li Shuying had painstakingly established over the years in the noble circles might have to change hands once she married into the Eastern Palace.
In fact, relying on the power of the Huo family and the Marquis of Dingbei, Fang family’s cousin could completely replace Li Shuying’s previous position,
But in the end, she appeared weak and had no close friends in Chang’an’s noble circles, wasting her current position due to lack of confidence.
At this moment, a maid brought a set of ink treasures made of pine smoke ink that He Xinruo had prepared for Huo Xi.
When the maid handed over the ink treasures to He Xinruo for her to review, she also mentioned, “I heard that the eldest daughter of the Li family has been looking for the whereabouts of the Ruan family’s medical doctor. It’s really strange, as if Ruan has vanished from the face of the earth.”
He Xinruo smiled wryly and did not say much more.
She had sent someone in advance to Ruan An’s courtyard to notify her, but when she arrived, she saw the distant cousin from Shu accepting the gifts with an indifferent expression.
He Xinruo secretly thought, wealth and status nurture people. After this cousin married in, her horizons should have broadened.
After sitting down for a moment, she brought up with Ruan An the matter of attending Li Shuying’s wedding ceremony.
Upon mentioning Li Shuying, Ruan An’s expression didn’t change, but a wave of disgust surged in her heart.
Of course, she hadn’t forgotten the past events of her previous life, and she had already experienced the splendor of the court. She had no interest in the wedding ceremony of that wicked woman and certainly wouldn’t attend it.
After Ruan An was reborn, Li Shuying hadn’t harmed her, and in this life, she hadn’t caused any harm to her and her child. She wouldn’t harbor thoughts of revenge before anything happened, just wanting to live her life well.
Besides, according to the trajectory of her previous life, Huo Pingxiao would be the future emperor, and as long as she and Huo Xi could follow him, they would be safe.
Thinking this, Ruan An replied indifferently, “Let sister-in-law go by herself; I won’t join in on that excitement.”
He Xinruo hadn’t expected Ruan An to refuse her invitation.
She had finally shown kindness to her once, and yet this cousin from the Fang family still didn’t appreciate it.
Thinking of this, He Xinruo asked sharply, “As the future empress of Li country and the mother of the nation, isn’t your attitude too cold, big sister-in-law? Are you being disrespectful to the royal family?”
Ruan An didn’t expect He Xinruo to place such a heavy accusation on her head.
Just as she was about to say something, a man’s cold voice came from outside the curtain—
“She indeed cannot attend the crown prince’s wedding ceremony.”
Hearing Huo Pingxiao’s voice filled with a fierce air, He Xinruo’s body stiffened instantly.
After a jolt, she completely panicked.
The maid lifted the curtain, and the man’s footsteps grew closer.
He Xinruo regretted deeply in her heart. How could she have forgotten to inquire in advance whether Huo Pingxiao had a day off at the mansion today?!
