Binding Spring Love

After Shen Shixiao was born, he returned to his quiet nature. He never cried or fussed once he was full and had enough to drink, and he was very well-behaved.

"Mother, didn't Father say this should be a younger sister? How come it's a younger brother?"

"Does Yan'er dislike her younger brother?"

"I like it."

Shen Shiyan reached out his little hand and gently touched Shen Shixiao, then suddenly grinned, revealing a mouth missing a few small teeth, and laughed heartily.

"Whether it's my younger brother or my younger sister, Yan'er likes them both."

He had been pampered since birth, and he never hesitated to express his feelings. Reaching his still chubby little hand into his robes, Shen Shiyan pulled out a jade pendant.

"Lady Shang said the jade pendant could ward off fright, so I'm giving it to my younger brother."

Shen Shiyan carefully hung the jade pendant on the baby's cradle, holding Shen Shixiao's hand tightly for a long time.

After giving birth to Shen Shixiao, Song Wan often brought Shen Shiyan to Chang Le Palace so that the two brothers could spend time together. She hoped that the brothers could take care of each other like she and Song Fu did.

Because of the difficult childbirth that damaged her health, the imperial kitchen prepared medicinal meals for Song Wan to help her recover for quite some time after giving birth.

Song Wan didn't notice any improvement in her health, but she did become increasingly plump.

"Your Highness, Minister Liu has sent over some new clothes. Would you like to try them on and see if they fit?"

Song Wan stood up, looked at herself in the bronze mirror, blinked, and suddenly laughed.

"I used to think that being plump was better, and I didn't like looking frail all the time, but now that I'm plump, I don't feel comfortable looking at me."

She had been taking more supplements and exercising less during this period, and her skin had become fair and her face rosy. Song Wan herself felt that she was three times more beautiful than before.

For some reason, Shen Qianyu has not stayed overnight at Chang Le Palace for a long time. Sometimes, even after returning to Chang Le Palace to have a meal with her, he would leave in a hurry and stay overnight at Yangxin Hall.

They had been married for many years, and he had never acted so strangely before.

"Has His Majesty decided where he will stay today?"

"His Majesty said that she will not stay overnight at Chang Le Palace tonight, and that we servants should help Her Highness to retire for the night."

Upon hearing this, Song Wan frowned slightly but remained silent.

Seeing this, Hengwu whispered, "Your Majesty, do you think there might be some improper people who have gotten close to His Majesty?"

"Won't."

After being married for so long, she must have some trust in Shen Qianyu. After thinking for a moment, Song Wan said, "I'm afraid I worried him when I gave birth to Xiao'er."

There were no secrets between her and Shen Qianyu; even if the couple had any doubts or disagreements, they would ask each other directly.

Therefore, Song Wan did not take the matter of not staying overnight at Chang Le Palace to heart.

After Shen Qianyu left court, she asked him about the matter clearly.

"Is His Majesty not staying overnight at Chang Le Palace because he fears I might become pregnant again and harm my health?"

She asked directly, and Shen Qianyu nodded in agreement with red eyes.

Song Wan would never know how important she was to him.

Both times, Shen Qianyu waited outside that door during Song Wan's labor. He heard Song Wan groaning in pain inside the room and watched the midwives bring out basins of bloody water. How could he find peace?

He wasn't afraid of mountains of knives or seas of fire, but he was truly terrified of Song Wan becoming pregnant again.

"Wan'er, I don't want to see you pregnant again, nor do I want to have another child. I only wish that the two of us can stay together peacefully until we grow old."

"Don't you want another little princess who looks exactly like me?"

"I only want Wan'er."

Song Wan hugged Shen Qianyu and whispered, "What if I wanted a daughter?"

When Mingxiang brought the adorable and well-behaved Nian Nian into the palace, she was truly delighted, and even if not for herself, she wanted to fulfill Shen Qianyu's wish.

She couldn't bear to let him have any regrets about the little princess he had longed for for so long.

"Even if Wan'er wants it, it's not possible."

He had secretly instructed the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy to prescribe a remedy for him, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, he would not allow Song Wan to conceive any more children.

The process of childbirth is truly difficult for a woman, and he couldn't bear such a shock again, even if it was only once.

Shen Qianyu held Song Wan in his arms and whispered, "Wan'er, wait for me for two more months, and then... I will return to Chang Le Palace."

He was afraid that he lacked the willpower to make things worse.

Since it concerned Song Wan, he had to be extremely careful.

Although Shen Qianyu's words were vague, Song Wan instantly understood the unspoken meaning. She looked up at Shen Qianyu in surprise for a long time before finally smiling faintly.

As an emperor, his actions were truly... audacious.

If the world knew of his actions that overthrew the country, he would surely be recorded in history as a foolish ruler.

But as her husband, Song Wan felt only gratitude.

After being married to him for many years, she gradually lowered her guard and began to truly regard the man before her as an ordinary husband.

In her heart, this man was no longer the emperor, but her husband.

Song Wan hugged Shen Qianyu tightly around the waist. Even though she knew he still had spies in Nanqing, she no longer suspected him of doubting her aunt and Qianbai.

In front of others, he is the king of a country, but when he is with her, he is only her husband, and that is enough.

"I am waiting for my husband."

She can wait however long it takes.

The emperor and empress had never lived in separate palaces for many years since their marriage, but after the birth of their second son, the fact that Shen Qianyu had not stayed overnight at Chang Le Palace for a long time quickly became known to everyone in the court and the harem.

Everyone said that the Empress's exclusive favor had finally come to an end, and the harem would probably have to add a new concubine.

Within half a month, the rumors had spread like wildfire. When they reached Song Wan's ears, she simply smiled and didn't take them to heart.

But she wasn't in a hurry, which made everyone else in Chang Le Palace very anxious.

Hengwu was worried all day after hearing the news. She was anxious but dared not ask Song Wan, for fear of upsetting her mistress.

"Your Majesty, have you heard the rumors circulating outside?"

Song Wan looked up, not expecting that it was not the usually impatient Hengwu who brought up the matter first, but the usually silent Luanjian.

"These days, there are quite a few scheming palace maids who often try to get close to His Majesty. Her Majesty has been in charge of the harem for many years and has always been kind and benevolent. I'm afraid those restless maids think that Her Majesty doesn't have the power to be ruthless, and therefore want to climb over your shoulders."

"Yes, yes."

Upon hearing this, Hengwu could no longer hold back: "If Your Majesty gives the order, I will go and teach those with ulterior motives a lesson today, and let them see who is really in charge in this palace."

"It's alright, don't worry about it."

Song Wan smiled and said, "His Majesty has never changed his mind. You don't need to worry about this. After a while, His Majesty will return to Chang Le Palace after he has finished dealing with the affairs of the previous dynasty."

After she finished speaking, she gently patted Luanjian's hand.

With these words of comfort, Hengwu Luanjian finally felt relieved.

Before they could even relax for half an hour, Hengzhi hurriedly walked in from outside.

She dismissed the servants and approached Song Wan, saying, "Your Majesty, the eunuch from the Hall of Mental Cultivation just came to report that His Majesty left behind a beautiful palace maid while he was bathing..."