Chapter 46: After the New Year
For what might be the only pregnancy of his lifetime, Yan Jingshu was extremely cautious in his movements and daily activities after learning he was pregnant, especially since he had not yet passed the unstable first three months. Although the old physician assured him that his pregnancy was stable and there was no cause for concern, he remained vigilant.
He no longer handled every New Year’s preparation personally, instead delegating tasks to the servants while he focused on resting and nurturing the baby.
The unexpected joy of this child also eased the loneliness and longing he felt in Jiang Chenghan’s absence, greatly improving his mood. Following the old physician’s advice, he consumed nourishing meals daily to benefit the fetus, and as a result, his complexion visibly improved, and he gained a little weight.
By the time Jiang Chenghan finally returned on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, he was greeted by a Yan Jingshu who had clearly gained some weight during their nearly month-long separation.
Back when they had just married, Jiang Chenghan had thought Yan Jingshu was too thin and had tried to fatten him up. However, Yan Jingshu naturally had a light appetite and a metabolism that made it hard for him to gain weight. Even when Jiang Chenghan coaxed him into eating more, he never managed to put on much flesh.
Now, just when Jiang Chenghan had given up on the idea, Yan Jingshu had surprised him by gaining weight on his own while Jiang Chenghan was away.
Seeing Yan Jingshu’s rosy complexion and slightly rounded chin, Jiang Chenghan was overjoyed to know he had been well cared for in his absence. After such a long separation, he missed his little fulang dearly, so the moment he saw Yan Jingshu, he couldn’t help but pull him into his arms, holding him tightly for a long time, reluctant to let go.
Yan Jingshu had also missed Jiang Chenghan terribly. He wrapped his arms tightly around Jiang Chenghan’s waist, burying his face in Jiang Chenghan’s broad, firm chest, breathing in his familiar scent. Only then did his heart truly settle.
"...Was everything at home alright while I was away?" After holding each other for a while, slightly easing the pangs of longing, Jiang Chenghan finally released Yan Jingshu—though he didn’t let go completely, keeping hold of his hand as they sat together on the couch to talk.
"Everything was fine. Nothing happened, and the charity home is running smoothly. Don’t worry." Yan Jingshu spoke softly, then remembered to tell Jiang Chenghan about Huang Sanniang’s situation.
Jiang Chenghan was surprised but ultimately pleased by the news.
As they talked, Wenxiu brought in tea—but only one cup, for Jiang Chenghan.
Though puzzled, Jiang Chenghan offered the tea to Yan Jingshu first. However, Yan Jingshu shook his head, smiling at him. "You drink it. This tea is for you. I can’t have tea right now."
Jiang Chenghan immediately set the cup down, concerned. "Why not? Are you sick?"
Yan Jingshu’s cheeks flushed slightly as he rested his hands gently on his belly, his eyes curved with joy and contentment, though also a little shyness. "I’m not sick. It’s just that too much tea isn’t good for the baby, so I’ve temporarily stopped drinking it."
At first, Jiang Chenghan didn’t understand. Tea wasn’t good for the baby? What baby? Where did a baby come from? What did Yan Jingshu drinking tea have to do with a child?
But when he followed Yan Jingshu’s gaze to his stomach, then looked back at Yan Jingshu’s face, then down again at his belly—slowly, his eyes widened in disbelief. Then, overwhelmed by shock, he abruptly stood up, startling Yan Jingshu slightly.
"Y-You—you’re pregnant?!" Jiang Chenghan stammered, his usual composure gone, his hands hovering uncertainly as if afraid to touch Yan Jingshu.
Seeing his reaction, Yan Jingshu couldn’t help but laugh, nodding with a bright smile. "...It’s been nearly three months."
The confirmation left Jiang Chenghan frozen, his eyes still wide as he stared at Yan Jingshu’s belly, unable to process the news for a long moment.
He knew that shuang’er could bear children, but he also knew that pregnancy was rare for them—many married shuang’er never conceived in their lifetime, and fewer than one in ten who did manage to carry a child to term.
When he married Yan Jingshu, he had already prepared himself for the possibility of them never having children. In fact, he had even thought it might be for the best. Medical knowledge was limited in this era, and childbirth was dangerous. If Yan Jingshu could avoid that suffering, it would be a blessing.
Yet now, only a few months into their marriage, Yan Jingshu had suddenly—
Yan Jingshu assumed Jiang Chenghan was simply stunned with joy, so he tugged him back down to sit beside him, smiling. "The baby is still too small to show, so you can’t feel anything yet. But in another two months, it’ll be more noticeable. The physician said our child is very healthy, growing well..."
"...That’s good." Seeing Yan Jingshu’s unconcealed happiness, Jiang Chenghan understood how much this child meant to him. Now, all he could do was take care of Yan Jingshu and ensure a safe delivery.
He kept his worries to himself. Though Yan Jingshu said his belly was still flat and nothing could be felt yet, Jiang Chenghan still placed a hand gently over his lower abdomen, and Yan Jingshu let him keep it there for a while.
Jiang Chenghan’s recent patrol of the border with Kou Shijun had been arduous. They had encountered small bands of bandits and Bei Di scouts, but no major incidents occurred, and the entire party returned unharmed. For now, it seemed unlikely that any large-scale conflict would erupt, allowing the border residents of Ningcheng to celebrate the New Year in peace.
Jiang Chenghan and the other officers who had accompanied Kou Shijun were granted New Year’s leave, enabling them to spend the holiday with their families, unlike those who had to remain on duty.
Now that Yan Jingshu was pregnant, Jiang Chenghan naturally took over all household matters upon his return.
However, Yan Jingshu had already arranged most things before Jiang Chenghan came back, and with plenty of servants at hand, there wasn’t much left for Jiang Chenghan to do. Most of his time was spent keeping Yan Jingshu company.
Though Ningcheng was a border town, the New Year was a grand occasion, and the city was lively, with performances like lion and dragon dances—different from those in the capital but equally entertaining. However, since Yan Jingshu’s pregnancy had not yet reached the three-month mark, Jiang Chenghan decided against taking him out to avoid any risks.
Yan Jingshu didn’t mind. In his past life, he had lived in Ningcheng for nearly three years and had already experienced everything there was to see and do. Besides, nothing was more important to him now than his child.
Jiang Chenghan stayed home for five days before returning to the Governor’s residence on the third day of the New Year. After that, his routine resumed as usual—going to and from work, returning at noon whenever possible to have lunch with Yan Jingshu, then accompanying him for a walk in the small garden. When Yan Jingshu grew drowsy, Jiang Chenghan would escort him back for a nap before leaving again.
As the New Year’s festivities faded, the first lunar month passed unnoticed.
Yan Jingshu’s pregnancy was happy news, and since Jiang Chenghan now had to stay home to care for him, he could no longer go hunting or drinking with Zhang Zhao and the others. Once Yan Jingshu’s pregnancy reached the three-month mark, Jiang Chenghan informed Kou Shijun, his friends, and colleagues, distributing celebratory eggs. Everyone was delighted for him.
The northern frontier was bitterly cold. While the capital would already see peach and plum blossoms in the second month, Ningcheng still bore the lingering harshness of winter. Only by the third month did the icy grip begin to loosen. Rivers thawed, and willow trees in the courtyard sprouted tender green buds, hinting at the approaching spring.
As the weather warmed, Yan Jingshu exchanged his heavy cotton robes for lighter layered clothing, though the charcoal braziers remained lit as a precaution.
Now five months pregnant, his belly had begun to show slightly, though it was still unnoticeable under his clothes. Only at night, through the thin fabric of his sleepwear, could a faint curve be seen.
Though the physician had said intimacy was safe after the first trimester, Jiang Chenghan, never overly driven by desire, couldn’t bear to exhaust Yan Jingshu, knowing how taxing pregnancy was.
Yet Yan Jingshu, perhaps due to the pregnancy, had grown unusually sensitive, often overwhelmed by surges of longing. He had always been open with Jiang Chenghan, so when he felt this need, he clung to him without restraint.
Jiang Chenghan, pressed close, immediately sensed his body’s response. Remembering the physician’s advice that expectant shuang’er might experience heightened desire—and that proper release could benefit both mother and child—he didn’t push Yan Jingshu away.
Still, mindful of Yan Jingshu’s condition, he restrained himself, careful and controlled in his movements. By the end, both were drenched—Yan Jingshu in pleasure, Jiang Chenghan in sweat from holding back.
Unaware of Jiang Chenghan’s struggle, Yan Jingshu, satisfied yet weary, quickly fell asleep. Jiang Chenghan gazed at his peaceful face, his own body still aching with unspent tension. But his heart was full. Leaning down, he kissed Yan Jingshu lightly before slipping out to take care of himself elsewhere.
____
Jiang Chenghan had once heard Yan Jingshu mention that, due to his mother Xie Shi’s dislike, he had rarely visited his maternal relatives as a child, seeing them no more than twice a year. As a result, he had never grown close to them—except for one person: his uncle, Xie Huan.
Though Xie Huan had left the capital to travel with his mentor shortly after Yan Jingshu’s birth and had not returned for years, he occasionally wrote to Yan Jingshu. Knowing Yan Jingshu loved books, he often sent him rare texts unavailable in the capital. It was also Xie Huan who had secured Yan Jingshu’s admission to Mushan Academy by writing a recommendation letter and helping him become the disciple of his senior, Wang Shijie.
Now, even if Xie Huan might not be related to Yan Jingshu by blood, and though he was technically Yan Jingshu’s martial uncle, Yan Jingshu still deeply respected him.
After learning he was not Xie Shi’s child, Yan Jingshu had wanted to tell Xie Huan the truth, ready to accept whatever consequences followed.
But Xie Huan traveled unpredictably across Da Qi, and since he was the one who initiated contact, Yan Jingshu had no way to reach him. He could only wait.
Fortunately, Yan Jingshu remembered that, in his past life, Xie Huan had visited Ningcheng around the third month of the year following his marriage to Jiang Chenghan. He decided not to send anyone to search for Xie Huan, figuring he could reveal the truth when his uncle arrived.
Though doing so might cost him this uncle, Yan Jingshu respected Xie Huan too much to deceive him.
Jiang Chenghan had known about this. So when he returned home one day to find a man in his forties sitting in the main hall—dressed in plain blue robes, with striking features, a faint red mole between his brows, and an aloof demeanor—he immediately guessed this must be Yan Jingshu’s uncle, Xie Huan.
Xie Huan’s striking beauty, no less remarkable than Yan Jingshu’s, made Jiang Chenghan’s gaze linger for a moment longer.
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