After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 39
The scenes in the nightmare were too real and painful.
After waking up from the nightmare, Ruan An still couldn’t detach her thoughts from those heavy memories.
Confused, she propped herself up against the man’s hard chest with her small hand, struggling to sit up. Large tears continued to uncontrollably stream down her face.
When Ruan An sobbed and choked, she accidentally inhaled a salty tear, causing a slight sting in her nostrils.
Huo Pingxiao slightly rose up, his dark eyes reflecting the frail image of the girl.
He could see Ruan An’s red-rimmed eyes from crying, but she couldn’t see his expression at that moment.
Ruan An felt as if she had returned to reality, and the surroundings seemed safe, but she still couldn’t control her tears.
As she half sat up, Ruan An, with her pale little feet bare, knelt weakly on the man’s sturdy legs, covering her face with her hands in agony. Her slender shoulders trembled.
“Ah Xun.”
Huo Pingxiao called her name again, but the reply he received was still her near-hysterical crying.
“Whimper…”
Huo Pingxiao’s eyes suddenly darkened. After getting up, he commanded the maid to light the candles in the inner chamber.
“Crackle.”
Accompanied by the sound of the wick igniting, Ruan An finally stopped crying.
As she regained her senses, the delicate skin on the nape of her neck suddenly felt warmth. It was the man’s broad hand covering it, his palm rough and calloused, yet warmth gradually seeped into her skin.
Huo Pingxiao, with one hand cradling her disheveled head, forcefully kissed the girl who was rubbing her eyes.
His control over her was strong, and Ruan An, unguarded, could only let the man sweep her mouth with his thick tongue, entwining with her evasive little tongue.
She shared a deep, lingering kiss with him, but due to her confusion, she couldn’t immerse herself or focus.
Ruan An instinctively pushed against him, accidentally touching the amber wolf amulet around his neck. The cold, hard texture felt like a forbidden touch.
Her eyes filled with tears trembled, and just as she was about to withdraw her hand, Huo Pingxiao suddenly grasped it from mid-air.
After placing her soft hand beside his waist, Huo Pingxiao’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and then, leaning in again, his kiss became much more tender and lingering.
“Ah Xun.”
Huo Pingxiao looked at her, his voice becoming husky and deep, yet strangely sensual: “You can’t cry like this in front of me.”
After speaking, as if longing for more, he cupped one side of her face with his hand. His rough thumb gently caressed her cheek, pausing at her lower lip.
Ruan An looked down at his hand, feeling helpless.
Huo Pingxiao lightly pinched her chin, leaned down to kiss her again, his sense of aggression gradually fading. This time, he gently captured her lips.
Ruan An’s eyelashes fluttered, her heart beating rapidly like a drum, showing no sign of calming.
The man’s rough jawline gently brushed against her tear-streaked cheek. She felt the slight stubble, slightly coarse.
Huo Pingxiao hadn’t shaved the previous day, so a day’s growth was evident.
With his husky voice, his entire aura became increasingly masculine and rugged.
Ruan An thought, tomorrow she would have to help him shave.
She lowered her eyelashes, her mind calming down, and shyly replied to him: “I had a nightmare…”
Huo Pingxiao didn’t respond, just hugged her again to lie down, and Ruan An’s heart also fell with the movement.
Her cheek resting against his firm chest, their hearts aligned, the wolf token pressing against the top of her head, Ruan An smelled the warm and intense scent of amber.
“Are you still crying?”
His voice was deep and magnetic, suddenly asking again.
Ruan An shook her head, softly responding: “No, not anymore…”
Huo Pingxiao, now close to her ear, half-jokingly threatened her: “In front of me, you’re only allowed to cry under one condition.”
“Snap snap”
Huo Pingxiao looked at her intensely while clenching his fist and thumping the bed twice.
Ruan An, somewhat confused, heard the mischief in his tone, and suddenly, Huo Pingxiao bit her ear, his hot breath brushing over, and in a low voice, he added: “That is, in this situation…”
“Being made to cry by me.”
Upon hearing this, Ruan An felt her cheeks buzz, her face immediately turning red with his straightforward words.
Embarrassed and annoyed, she lightly punched his solid shoulder, muttering: “Don’t always say such nonsense…”
“What did you actually dream about?”
Ruan An’s eyes flickered, and after a moment, she pursed her lips and replied: “I dreamt that Xi’er was hurt…”
Huo Pingxiao looked at her squarely, noticing her evasive expression, and then seriously said: “Ah Xun, I don’t want to be ignorant of the reason why my wife cries.”
Ruan An, not good at lying, dared not look directly at Huo Pingxiao. She sighed in relief and replied again: “That’s the reason.”
“Alright then.”
Huo Pingxiao gazed deeply at her, then slowly shifted his gaze away.
“Today, I received an invitation to the Eastern Palace banquet. The crown princess invited me to attend the Qianqiu (Millennium) Banquet, but as you know, I have no experience in attending royal banquets and am afraid of making mistakes.”
Ruan An still revealed only half of the truth.
In this life, she was about to meet Li Shuying in another identity, naturally feeling a bit nervous.
Moreover, she was not skilled in dressing up and didn’t know the elegant hobbies of noble ladies. Before attending the banquet, she had to learn the proper etiquette.
“What’s there to be afraid of?”
Huo Pingxiao’s eyes showed a bit of irreverence.
He gently flicked the skin at the side of her forehead with his curved finger, speaking firmly again: “Don’t be afraid, this year, I will also strive to get you a title.”
After the clothes-giving ceremony, Huo Xun successfully entered the Imperial College, becoming the youngest student in the Guangwen Pavilion.
Under the guidance of the Gao family, He Xinruo gradually took over some of the family affairs of the Xiangfu. Thanks to her mother’s efficient management of the He residence, He Xinruo learned quickly and even received several compliments from the Gao family.
In the management of the household affairs, He Xinruo finally found some balance in her heart. After all, the environment she was in was a large, deep house, and she also had the help and guidance of her mother-in-law.
The cousin from the Fang family seemed to be living a leisurely and comfortable life now. But if Huo Pingxiao starts thinking about taking concubines, the Northern Marquis Mansion would have a few more women and a few more courtyards.
At that time, the cousin from the Fang family would become insignificant. She probably doesn’t even know the art of maintaining balance, and if she encounters a formidable young mistress, she might even lose her right to manage the central kitchen.
Today was the day for Ruan An to return to the Xiangfu for his morning and evening routine. When Mrs. Gao saw her, to show the closeness of their relationship, she would not call her to her own courtyard, but would meet her in the main hall.
They couldn’t talk much, and Ruan An would usually have a cup of tea here.
When she saw the teacup getting empty, Mrs. Gao would use her fatigue as an excuse to let Ruan An return home.
He Xinruo, since taking over some of the central kitchen duties, found that a tea-making boy in the teahouse had quietly swallowed up the expensive rock tea allocated to them, and was selling it outside through servants who could leave the mansion.
Coincidentally, just as the boy had this idea, she caught him red-handed.
According to the rules of the mansion, if a servant is caught stealing, the lighter punishment is to be sent to work in the farm; for more severe cases, the Xiangfu could use private punishment on these slaves.
The boy, having been caught by He Xinruo, had to honestly work for her.
Huo Xi and Huo Lezhi were about to leave the mansion, sharing a carriage to the Guangwen Hall. The boy obediently followed his uncle, chatting and laughing on the way to school.
When they saw He Xinruo coming out of the teahouse, followed by a brown-clothed boy with an unusual expression, Huo Xi restrained his smiling face a bit.
Upon seeing He Xinruo, Huo Lezhi bowed to her with proper etiquette, saying warmly, “Third brother greets second sister-in-law.”
He Xinruo responded with a nod, not asking about Huo Lezhi’s studies or making small talk.
First, she had things to discuss with the boy; second, she didn’t think highly of Huo Lezhi’s illegitimate status; third, Mrs. Gao still had aversion towards Concubine Jiang, and she didn’t want to be misunderstood by Mrs. Gao.
Huo Xi also called out to her clearly, “Second Aunt?”
Seeing the boy’s innocent expression, He Xinruo’s eyes flickered for a moment. She quickly concealed her feelings, thinking she had done nothing wrong to Huo Xi.
The child was already lucky enough.
He was born beautiful and smart, and at such a young age, he was the heir of the Marquis Mansion. He and the Fang family already had a lot.
In the future, Huo Xi would be Huo Pingxiao’s only child. He would not have any siblings, nor would anyone share his mother’s love from the Fang family.
He Xinruo thought that what she was doing was not only not harmful to Huo Xi, but actually beneficial to him.
She had no reason to feel guilty in front of this child.
He Xinruo then thought that Huo Xi would eventually be a promising child, so she smiled gently at him, saying, “Xi’er, remember to study hard. When you finish your exams, Auntie will make a sugar fang for you.”
Huo Xi obediently nodded his little head, replying in a milky voice, “Thank you, second aunt.”
The book boy beside Huo Lezhi couldn’t stand it, feeling that the woman from the He family of the second branch was too power-seeking, only talking to the children of Marquis Huo, and being very cold to their young master.
Huo Lezhi, as usual, did not take these matters to heart. Seeing it was getting late and fearing being late for school, he held the little bun’s hand and bid farewell to He Xinruo.
Just as he stepped over the threshold, he felt the boy tugging at his sleeve.
Looking down, Huo Lezhi saw Huo Xi covering his stomach, speaking uncomfortably, “Uncle, I’m not feeling well, I don’t want to go to the Imperial College today.”
Huo Lezhi’s expression changed slightly, he said helplessly, “You were fine just now, why suddenly feel unwell?”
Huo Xi sighed deeply, with a hint of a baby voice, and said, “My stomach suddenly hurts so much. Uncle, please ask the Imperial College Doctor for a leave for me. I really can’t go to the Guangwen Pavilion today…”
Usually, when Huo Xi went to the Guangwen Pavilion, he was always cheerful and enthusiastic. He was not a child who disliked learning, so Huo Lezhi didn’t ask him much, only reminding the servant woman behind Huo Xi to take good care of him.
“Xi’er, your little uncle can ask for a leave from the doctor on your behalf, but remember, as a student, if you are absent more than twice a month, you could be advised to leave. You can’t ask for any more leaves this month.”
“Mm, Xi’er will remember.”
In another part of the Xiang residence’s main hall, after Ruan An took her seat, before Madam Gao could start a conversation, they heard hurried footsteps.
It turned out to be Huo Xi, crying and trying to burst in. His wet nurse, being older, couldn’t keep up with the fast-running boy. When she finally caught up and picked up Huo Xi, Madam Gao, puzzled, asked, “Weren’t you going to the Guangwen Pavilion with your third uncle? Why did you suddenly come back?”
Ruan An also looked anxiously at her son and asked with concern, “Xi’er, are you feeling unwell?”
Huo Xi’s thick eyelashes were still wet with tears, and he replied pitifully, “Mom, my stomach hurts so much.”
Ruan An’s heart tightened immediately. These days, she had been busy with the medicinal garden and hadn’t paid enough attention to her child.
Huo Xi’s academic burden was heavy, and children’s stomachs are prone to problems due to even small stresses. How could she have been so negligent?
“Wet nurse, put Xi’er down, I will check his pulse.”
Since the cousin from the Pei Country Duke’s mansion was skilled in medicine, Ruan An’s suggestion in front of Gao Shi and He Xinruo raised no suspicion.
However, Madam Gao objected, “You only know how to diagnose women’s issues. Xi’er is a child, you can’t use your unconventional methods on him.”
After saying this, she ordered the servants to call for the family’s usual doctor.
He Xinruo, seeing Huo Xi’s sudden stomach ache, simply thought that such a young child was frail and prone to illness, and didn’t think much of it.
He Xinruo and Ruan An were sitting on one side, separated only by a red-lacquered tall desk. When the family doctor arrived with his medicine box, everyone’s attention turned to Huo Xi and the doctor.
Unnoticed, Huo Xi’s quietly went behind the red-lacquered tall desk and carefully swapped the two cups of tea.
After he silently finished, the old doctor had also completed Huo Xi’s pulse diagnosis.
There was nothing unusual about Huo Xi’s pulse, confusing the old doctor.
But he dared not say directly that the young prince had no illness at all, especially in front of the ladies. To say that the child was just being capricious and making a fuss would offend them.
Considering this, the old doctor compromised, saying, “The young prince seems to have some indigestion and bloating in his stomach, causing the pain. He doesn’t need medicine, just eat some hawthorn and take more walks, and he should get better.”
Hawthorn?
Ruan An looked doubtfully at the old doctor, sensing something amiss. Glancing at her son’s embarrassed face, she suddenly understood something.
This child was too cunning; she couldn’t fathom what Huo Xi was up to. It seemed she needed to have a serious talk with him when Steward Su brought him back tomorrow.
With this thought, Ruan An felt relieved and picked up the tea cup beside her to calm her nerves with a sip.
He Xinruo, seeing Ruan An drink the tea, a hint of smug mockery flashed in her eyes.
The substance she had added to the tea wouldn’t take effect immediately but would slowly seep in. It would need at least ten doses to gradually affect the womb, achieving sterility after half a year.
As Ruan An drank most of the tea, He Xinruo also gracefully picked up her tea, blew on it to cool it, and took a few sips.
But as she drank, she noticed that Huo Xi, who had stopped complaining about stomach pain, seemed to be staring at her with his round, black eyes.
For some reason, He Xinruo felt uneasy under the gaze of a child.
After putting down her tea cup, she couldn’t help but look at the boy opposite her.
Huo Xi, seeing He Xinruo looking at him, gave her a bashful smile, his black pupils clear and innocent, brimming with childlike straightforwardness.
Only then did He Xinruo withdraw her gaze.
Huo Xi was just a four-year-old child. What did she have to fear from him?