Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
An Xiaoning did not talk or eat much during the meal and put her chopsticks down rather early.
She said that she was full when Madam Lin told her to eat more.
However, no one dared to leave without Tuoba Gucheng’s go-ahead, including Jin Yiheng, who put on his best behavior and remained seated quietly while waiting for the dinner to end.
The hour-long meal felt like a grueling million years for both of them.
Fortunately, there had to be an end to it, regardless of how long it may last. Just as An Xiaoning was about to leave, Lin Shishi suggested that they go out for a walk to aid their digestion.
It was impossible for her to turn it down.
An Xiaoning instructed Jin Yiheng not to wander off on his own before proceeding to take a walk around the Lin family mansion together with Lin Shishi.
“We were worried sick when we first heard about your mishap. Pei Yi had proposed a negotiation, claiming that he would let you off on the condition that we release all the terrorists currently imprisoned. However, we sacrificed a lot of our civil servants in order to nab those prisoners, and releasing them would only increase the number of citizens in danger of their attacks. During the congress, both mine and Minxing’s father voted for the negotiation to pass. However, there was nothing Gucheng could do because the rest of the parliament had voted against it.”
An Xiaoning reassured her, “I don’t blame him at all. As the nation’s leader, it’s only right that he considers the nation’s interests first.”
Lin Shishi nodded and said, “It’s good that you understand, Sister.”
“How far along are you?”
“More than four months now. I initially wanted to undergo a scan to find out the baby’s gender but Gucheng didn’t allow me to. He said that he’d love the child regardless of its gender and doesn’t want me to feel pressured,” said Lin Shishi.
“Seems like he really dotes on you.”
“He’s always been that way. Although I feel like I can’t figure him out sometimes, he’s nonetheless really good to me and never lets me suffer. Besides… he hasn’t gotten intimate with me ever since I got pregnant, for fear that he would injure the fetus,” said Lin Shishi. After all, she was still young and had no sense of how much she should divulge to others.
An Xiaoning was greatly taken aback by her revelation. However, she knew that men would only refrain from getting intimate with their wives when they don’t actually have feelings for them. Men who truly love their spouses would jump at every chance to do so, even when she’s on her period.
Before An Xiaoning could even answer, Lin Shishi continued while smiling, “He’d stick to his principles even when I sometimes request for him to get intimate with me. Sister, I’ve already had a good impression of him before we got married. Frankly speaking, I’ve already fallen in love with him and I’d like to bear a few more children for him.”
“You’ve yet to deliver and you’re already thinking of conceiving again?”
“Yes, I’d like to have a few more children of our own.”
An Xiaoning was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions upon seeing how blissful and elated Lin Shishi seemed to be. Would Shishi resent me if she finds out one day that her husband doesn’t love her at all and only doted on her out of responsibility?
She probably would, wouldn’t she?
Who wouldn’t resent their rival in love?
As much as An Xiaoning did not want to come in between them, she also wanted nothing to do with Tuoba Gucheng.
She just didn’t have a choice.
After having walked a distance, An Xiaoning chanced upon a shocking sight that stopped her in her tracks and caused her palms to turn sweaty.
Tuoba Gucheng was carrying Jin Yiheng in his arms and walking toward them.
The point was, Jin Yiheng was already six years old and would require a great deal of effort to carry. No ordinary person would want to carry him for no reason, wouldn’t they?
Lin Shishi was also surprised, for it was her first time seeing her husband carry a child in his arms.
An Xiaoning frantically rushed forward to carry Jin Yiheng and said, “Your Majesty, put him down. He’s very heavy.”
“He’s not too bad.” Tuoba Gucheng then put Jin Yiheng down slowly and allowed An Xiaoning to take him away.
“Mommy, I want to go home and play with the other children.”
On her cue, Jin Yiheng had finally blurted the words that An Xiaoning had instructed him to earlier.
“Your Majesty, Shishi, we’ll get going.”
“Alright, be careful along the way.”
An Xiaoning nodded and finally got a huge sense of relief. She held Jin Yiheng’s hand and swiftly made her way out of the place.
“Hubby, seems like you’re very fond of Sister’s son.”
“I am. Don’t you find him very adorable?” he said with a chuckle.
“No matter how adorable he may be, he’s still someone else’s child. Our baby is going to be very adorable too. I was just telling Sister earlier that I’m planning to bear more children in the future. How does four sound?” Lin Shishi asked, holding onto his arm.
“That’s too many.”
“How about three? Are three too many?” Lin Shishi asked, cocking her head to the side to face him.
He kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead and answered perfunctorily, “That’s fine.”
“Three it shall be, then. It’s best if we end up having two sons and one daughter, just like Mother-in-law did. That’ll be perfect.”
“…”
Once they got inside the car, An Xiaoning and Jin Yiheng looked at each other. While helping him buckle up, An Xiaoning asked, “Did that Uncle ask you about anything just now?”
“Yes.”
“What did he ask about?” An Xiaoning probed anxiously.
“Uncle’s questions were so strange. He asked me if you and I have stayed together recently.”
“How… did you answer him?”
“I told him truthfully that you didn’t stay with me…”
“That’s good. What else did he ask you?” she asked, feeling slightly relieved.
“He asked about why I wasn’t staying with you and I said it was because you slept with Daddy.”
An Xiaoning was robbed of her speech as she turned pale immediately. “Did you really say that?” she questioned, her voice quivering a little.
“Yes.” Noticing that she seemed infuriated, Jin Yiheng lowered his voice gradually and said, “He even asked when was it that you slept with Daddy and I told him that you did last night.”
An Xiaoning flew into a rage. How could he betray his parents like that!?!
“Mommy, you’re angry…”
“Did I teach you to reveal such private matters to others?”
“Mommy, I’m sorry,” Jin Yiheng apologized, staring at her with a look of grievance in his eyes.
“Will apologizing turn back time?” she snapped, giving him the side eye.
“No.”
She absolutely regretted sleeping over at Wei Ni Estate last night. What she regretted most was not heeding Tuoba Gucheng’s warning. I wonder what he’s going to do to me.
But it’s all too late now.
Displeasure was written all over An Xiaoning’s face when they arrived back in Wei Ni Estate, for her fury had yet to fade.
Jin Qingyan walked toward her and asked, “What’s wrong? Why do you look so cross?”
An Xiaoning glanced at her son before explaining, “We visited the Lin family and the people from the Autumn Palace happened to be there too. I then went out for a walk with Lin Shishi, after which I saw Tuoba Gucheng carrying Yiheng in his arms. On the way home, I asked Yiheng if Tuoba Gucheng had asked him about anything. Get Yiheng to explain the rest, I’m going home now.”
…
“Ah! Daddy, I won’t dare to do it again!”
“Daddy’s going to murder me! Help!”
“Ah! Daddy!!!”
“It hurts, Daddy, please have mercy on me!”
“Ow…”
After the interrogation, Jin Qingyan dragged Jin Yiheng into the master’s bedroom on the second floor and began caning him. Despite having caned him brutally, he still refused to stop, causing the latter to bawl loudly with tears.
