Blutbefleckter Tod

Kapitel 73

After the father and son left, Huo Nan glanced at Song Xiaohua's round belly with a grin and said, "Sister-in-law, how about I be the godfather of your child?"

"Answer one question to me first. If you are honest and don't lie, I might consider it."

He stroked his beard and winked mischievously: "Don't worry, he didn't go out and mess around behind your back."

He kicked him in the shin: "What happened to Dongqing on the 24th of last month, which is seventeen days ago?"

Huo Nan was startled: "Why are you suddenly asking about this? So much time has passed, I'm sure I don't remember anything."

Song Xiaohua, supporting her aching back, took two steps closer: "It's alright, I'll help you recall. During the time Dongqing and I were separated, he would write me a letter every other day. I received one on the 22nd of last month, but the next one arrived on the 25th. The letter explained that he was too busy with official duties to write, and I didn't suspect anything at the time. Later, Dongqing went up the mountain, saying he was feigning illness to avoid the turmoil in the court. Although I found it strange, I still didn't think much of it. However, when I reread those letters that night, I noticed that the handwriting in the letter from the 25th was slightly different. Dongqing's handwriting is vigorous and powerful, penetrating the paper. But that letter seemed a little weak, as if he lacked strength when writing it."

He paused, looking at Huo Nan, whose eyes were darting around and who was furiously scratching his beard: "Just now, I asked Ling'er. Around the 24th, he was with his aunt and hadn't seen his father at all. Dongqing loves her son so much; if it weren't for an absolute necessity, she would never go for several days without visiting him, even though they were in the same place. Tell me, why is that?"

“I… I happened to be busy at that time and didn’t go to the Lu residence or see Dongqing, so… I don’t know anything about it.”

"Don't know? Then how do you explain what you said when you snatched the wine jar from Dongqing's hand? Didn't you always despise him for giving up drinking because he was afraid of his wife? Didn't you always want to have a good drink with him again? Why are you suddenly so afraid of him touching alcohol? And what do you mean by 'reckless again'? Did he ever risk his life before?"

Huo Nan seemed to have warmed up standing in the cold wind, so she pulled her collar down a little lower, revealing her healthy chestnut skin and gorgeous collarbone. Song Xiaohua glanced at her and laughed like a wolf in sheep's clothing: "You'd better tell the truth, otherwise, I don't mind showing you how a pregnant woman can flirt with people."

Startled, he stepped back: "You...you mustn't do it again..."

A wicked grin drew closer: "What do you mean by 'again'? Hmm? Tell me, what does 'again' mean?!"

"Sister-in-law, please forgive me. It was Dongqing who told me not to say it."

"Of course I know it was him who told you not to say it! Besides, he also instructed everyone in the manor not to reveal a single word to the people around me, right? So, even when Tingxian and Xiaoyan went back, they couldn't find out anything."

Song Xiaohua stopped laughing and, unusually, became serious: "I understand. This must be related to matters in the imperial court. I don't understand, and I don't want to understand. I also understand that Dongqing didn't tell me because he didn't want me to worry. The reason I'm asking you now is just to confirm whether he's alright?"

Huo Nan finally stopped fussing over his beard. After a moment's thought, he also became serious: "Since you've put it this way, sister-in-law, it seems there's no need to hide it anymore. What I can say, I'll tell you everything; what I can't say, I won't utter a single word of. Dong Qing is a thoughtful person and has always been used to bearing everything alone. But I think, even if you can't necessarily help with some things, it's always good for him to have someone to discuss things with. And the key is..." Suddenly, he revealed that mischievous grin: "I originally thought you were really as silly and simple-minded as you seem, but today I've discovered that's not the case at all!"

Song Xiaohua moved closer without making a sound, then suddenly grabbed his beard and pulled hard: "Are you praising me or insulting me?"

He screamed and bent over, exclaiming, "Praise!"

"What did you praise me for?"

"Not only is he not stupid or foolish, he's incredibly intelligent!"

"Hmm, good boy. Your pecs are quite impressive, and your abs are one-pack or six-pack?"

"…………"

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As the year drew to a close and the academy was on holiday, Lu Ling settled down at the villa. Huo Nan and Xue Yuhan, having nothing else to do, unceremoniously became third wheels, bringing Song Xiaohua's sweet romantic getaway to an end.

After talking with Huo Nan, Song Xiaohua pretended not to know anything and continued her carefree and happy pregnancy journey. She just kept a closer eye on Lu Ziqi's daily diet and clothing, and even specially made him a new pair of shoes.

Lu Ziqi tried on the shoes with great emotion, then silently wept as he pricked his foot with a needle left inside...

He sighed, realizing that beneath his seemingly gentle and considerate exterior, his wife truly possessed a clever and mischievous heart!

Ever since reading Song Xiaohua's diary-style letters, Lu Ling had developed a strong interest in this narrative style. After arriving at the villa, he officially began keeping a diary.

From this, it's easy to see the kind of environment in which this young seedling thrived—

On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, the weather was sunny.

Dad was combing Mom's hair when he accidentally pulled out a lot of her hair, and Mom cried in pain. Dad tried to comfort her for a long time, but it didn't work. Later, Dad kissed Mom on the lips, and Mom stopped crying. I asked why, and Mom said that no matter where it hurt, Dad's kiss made it stop hurting.

Later, I saw that Tingxian's hand was bleeding from being pricked by a needle. I thought it must hurt a lot, so I asked my father to kiss her lips.

As a result, my father slapped me on the head. I couldn't understand it and felt a little wronged.

On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, it was cloudy.

Uncle Huo and Auntie got into a fight again, and in the middle of it they both fell to the ground, Uncle Huo on top and Auntie on the bottom. Uncle Huo was probably too heavy, and Auntie got tired of pressing down on him, so she told him to get up faster, her voice very loud.

But Uncle Huo wouldn't get up, and he kept poking Auntie's face with his beard. Uncle Huo always liked to poke me like that, so I knew his beard hurt a lot. Auntie must have been in pain from the poke, so she hit Uncle Huo a few times, and then somehow, Uncle Huo fell to the ground, curled up, his face very red.

I asked Uncle Huo what was wrong, and he said his "little bird" was injured. I then asked what a "little bird" was, and he said it was something every boy had, but girls didn't.

I went to find my mother, and my father was there too. I said, "Father, let me see your 'little bird'." "Mother, let me see if you really don't have a 'little bird'."

Then, I got slapped on the head again. I couldn't understand it, and I felt wronged.

On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, the weather was sunny one moment and cloudy the next.

Uncle Huo was drinking with Wuque, and as they drank, he took off his outer clothes, leaving only his undergarments. Mother said to Aunt, "Look, look! His figure is very attractive, even more attractive than your brother-in-law's."

I asked, "What does 'tempting' mean?" My mother said, "It's something that makes you feel hungry or thirsty when you look at it."

Later, when I saw my father, I told him that my mother said Uncle Huo made her feel even more thirsty than you. My father's expression suddenly became very strange.

Then I saw a big, bright red apple in the fruit plate on the table. I wanted to eat it, so I told my father that the apple made me feel very hungry.

So, I got slapped on the head again, and I couldn't understand it again, and I felt wronged again.

………………

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Chapter Seventy-One: Giving Birth

In April, spring arrived, flowers bloomed, Lu Ziqi was promoted, and Song Xiaohua had a baby.

Originally, the due date was supposed to be in May, but the baby seemed determined to bring double happiness to the Lu family, resolutely jumping out of the womb more than forty days early, catching the whole family off guard and causing chaos even before birth.

On that day, Lu Ziqi, a high-ranking official of the third rank who had been promoted to "Privy Council Academician", had just finished thanking the emperor for his grace and receiving the imperial edict when his personal servant You Rong rushed into the main hall without regard for etiquette and told him that the second mistress was about to give birth.

Without a word, Lu Ziqi lifted his official robe and ran away. Lu Tuo, on the other hand, had his old chrysanthemum face bloom again within half a day. He called on the official who was delivering the imperial decree and ordered his servants to prepare quickly.

Because the delivery was much earlier than the due date, many things were not yet ready, and Nianyuan was already in complete chaos. Fortunately, the concubines were all experienced and worked together to direct the process, preventing any major mistakes and managing to keep things in order. Old Master Lu quickly sent for the imperial physicians and two experienced midwives, and with the help of the maids and nannies who had been on high alert, things finally returned to normal quickly.

As for Lu Ziqi, who was kept outside the delivery room, he had long lost his usual calm and composed demeanor. He was running around the yard like an ant on a hot plate, constantly grabbing those who were busy coming and going and asking them what was going on inside.

In the end, Song Wuque couldn't stand his behavior of not only failing to help but also causing trouble, so he simply bit his clothes and dragged him to the wall of the courtyard to keep a close watch on him.

From morning until noon, Song Xiaohua in the delivery room remained quiet. She even ate some snacks and drank a bowl of soup in between. Lu Ziqi, on the other hand, seemed relatively calm.

But after noon, groans mixed with sobs began to be heard, gradually increasing in volume and becoming almost continuous. Lu Ziqi became agitated as well.

When Huo Nan and Xue Yuhan arrived with Lu Ling, they saw the usually gentle and mild-mannered Second Master Lu fighting fiercely with a large black dog in a corner, just like a butcher in a market. His sleeves were rolled up, his hair was askew, his clothes were disheveled, and he was covered in sweat.

She would even shout at the top of her lungs, "Yaoyao, I'm here with you! I know you're afraid of pain, just bear with it a little longer, think about all the wonderful futures we've talked about, hang in there, our baby will be born soon!"

Compared to this rambling, unoriginal chatterbox, the one in the room was concise and full of energy: "Shut up!"

Lu Ziqi obediently shut up for a short while, but then the other person suddenly cried out again: "Dongqing, why do women have to give birth, why don't men? This is not fair! Damn God, I hate you!"

"...Okay, okay, after this one we won't have any more. Let's save our energy to hate God together!"

Lu Ling stared dumbfounded as his parents went crazy for a while, then walked to the window, stood on tiptoe and clung to the edge: "Baby, come out quickly, otherwise, our father and mother will become enemies with God. Do you know how powerful God is? Father and mother will suffer."

Huo Nan walked over with a laugh and patted his head: "Ling'er, don't worry, your mother is so fierce, even the Jade Emperor might not be her match."

The room was quiet for a moment, then the baby burst into tears again: "Dongqing, I don't want a big bearded man to be the baby's godfather, it will scare the baby!"

Before Lu Ziqi could react, Xue Yuhan interjected, "Second sister-in-law means he should shave off his beard?"

"right!"

Huo Nan immediately jumped up: "Dream on!"

"Holly, then I won't have children!"

"No problem, no problem! Yao Yao, I promise, the baby will see a beardless godfather as soon as he is born."

Huo Nan roared, "Impossible! Hu is here!"

Lu Ziqi roared even louder: "You swore an oath that if you failed to capture it before leaving the capital, you would be at my mercy. Now I want you to shave your beard!"

"The time isn't up yet!"

"Then I order you to set off immediately!"

"You abused your power for personal gain!"

"That's right!"

"I refuse to accept this!"

"turn down!"

"You've schemed against me again!"

"It's because you're useless; you've been attacking for so long without success!"

"That's because I haven't launched the final charge yet!"

"The opportunity has been lost; further words are pointless! The military order has been given; proceed according to military law!"