Chapter 161: Festive Preparations

Chapter 161: Festive Preparations

The news of the great victory at the border quickly spread throughout the capital. The government specifically posted the victory announcement beside the major city gates, boosting the spirits of the people.

On the eve of the New Year, the festive atmosphere in the capital reached an unprecedented height.

"From now until the Lantern Festival, all products at Qiu's Six Staples will be 20% off, but limited to one item per day. Snacks like popcorn and first-grade roast duck are buy two, get one free."

"Print the discount details on flyers, hire some people to distribute them in crowded places, and make sure as many people as possible know about it," Qiu Huanian instructed Guan Liu, the manager of Qiu's Six Staples in the capital, while leaning back on a soft chair.

Guan Liu stood in the warm chamber, his head bowed, not daring to look up at the Qishu County Princess, and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

He had first met the princess at the beginning of this year when she was still a Township Lady, and her husband was just a provincial scholar. They had just arrived in the capital and rented a small courtyard in the eastern part of the city, blending into the vast city unnoticed.

Who would have thought that in just a year, the Township Lady had become a County Princess, and Du, the provincial scholar, had become the Number One Scholar. Now, everyone in the capital had heard of their names, saying they were the reincarnations of the celestial stars of fortune and literature!

"...As for the reason, a New Year's sale? That's too cliché. Let's say it's to celebrate the border victory and welcome the triumphant return of the royal army with captives. Don't rush to print the flyers; wait for me to ask Yunse to write a poem."

Guan Liu realized he had been daydreaming and instinctively looked up, only to freeze in place the next second.

The temperature in the warm chamber was high. The Qishu County Princess wore a loose, white jade-colored robe with a loosely draped apricot-yellow shawl over it. Her jet-black hair was pinned up with a jade hairpin, with a few strands hanging down beside her creamy skin.

She propped her beautiful chin with one hand, her lively eyes showing a hint of laziness, while her belly formed a round curve under her clothes, and her slender hand rested casually on it.

How could such a divine beauty, fit for a temple, end up in this land of luxury and comfort?

Guan Liu's mind buzzed loudly, his eyes instantly fixed, breathing heavily and his face flushed red beside the roaring stove, with countless alluring thoughts swirling in his mind.

At that moment, footsteps sounded behind him.

"The lord is back!"

"Lord, the County Princess is inside talking to the shop manager."

By the time Guan Liu snapped out of it, Du Yunse had already entered the warm chamber. His piercing gaze swept coldly over the man standing below, not lingering for a moment, and he walked directly towards Qiu Huanian.

"Why did you call the manager of Qiu's Six Staples here?"

"It's almost New Year, just giving some instructions. I plan to run a promotion. Could you write a poem for me, Number One Scholar?"

"Of course, whatever you say, Brother Hua."

"Then I won't pay you?"

...

Guan Liu was drenched in sweat from that glance, his head bowed so low it nearly touched his chest. He completely forgot how he excused himself and left the mansion.

Only after stepping out of the Du residence and being hit by the cold, biting wind did Guan Liu finally come to his senses, wishing he could slap himself. Such an unparalleled beauty as the County Princess was only worthy of the Number One Scholar. How could he dare to harbor such thoughts? He must have earned Du Yunse's resentment just now!

In the main chamber of the inner courtyard, after Guan Liu left, Du Yunse immediately had everyone leave. He bent down, scooped up Qiu Huanian, and carried her to the canopy bed.

"Yunse... Du Yunse!" Qiu Huanian exclaimed in a low voice, kicking him a few times, only to have her soft shoes removed by Du Yunse.

The bedding on the canopy bed was warm, and Qiu Huanian sank into it, her loose clothes already disheveled.

Du Yunse leaned down, grabbing Qiu Huanian's slender wrists, firmly pinning her beneath him.

"..." Qiu Huanian was forced to look up at him, smiling helplessly, "Husband, you're not thinking of daytime mischief, are you?"

Du Yunse did not speak. He kissed Qiu Huanian's rosy lips passionately for a long time before finally letting go, breathing heavily. He lowered his dark lashes, trying not to look at his lover, who was also breathing heavily in small gasps.

"Is Brother Hua still feeling discomfort in his chest?"

"..."

Du Yunse had only intended to casually change the subject to distract himself, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized they were like adding fuel to the fire, making the situation more intense.

Qiu Huanian covered his chest with both hands, and after a long pause, he answered with slight embarrassment, "It's just a bit... tender and swollen."

Under normal circumstances, apart from having a slightly smaller frame, a man like Qiu Huanian would appear no different from other men. However, during pregnancy and the subsequent breastfeeding period, to breastfeed the baby, the chest undergoes reversible secondary growth, which only returns to normal after the breastfeeding period ends.

After six months of pregnancy, Qiu Huanian's chest began to develop gradually according to physiological laws. Although it did not reach the size of an ordinary woman, the tenderness and sense of shame still tormented him greatly.

"Then..." Du Yunse felt that even eight hundred court cases combined were not as challenging as the scene before him.

Qiu Huanian's eyes drifted to the side, his face flushed, and he hinted, "Uncle Mumian said that gentle massage can help relieve the soreness."

He heard Du Yunse's breathing instantly grow heavier, so he simply closed his eyes and whispered softly, "My hands are sore, husband, could you help me?"

"...Alright." The latter half of Du Yunse's voice was swallowed and disappeared.

The rustling sound of clothing echoed, and the gauze curtain in front of the canopy bed swayed, hiding the intimate scene.

...

Since they hadn't had dinner yet, the two didn't play around for too long. Qiu Huanian, with a red face, allowed Du Yunse to help him change into a clean set of new clothes and then nestled in his arms, coaxing and refusing to get up.

"What's wrong with you today? Why are you in such a hurry?" After satisfying Du Yunse, Qiu Huanian finally had the chance to ask his question.

Du Yunse encircled his young husband in his arms, biting his ear and saying, "Brother Hua, you should be more cautious when speaking with others in the future."

Qiu Huanian was stunned for a long time before he understood his meaning.

He was utterly helpless, "I was just giving Guan Liu some instructions about the New Year sales event. Du, the Number One Scholar, with your level of jealousy, would you feel at ease only if you locked me at home every day and didn't let me see anyone?"

Du Yunse did not answer, continuing to aggressively kiss and nibble his delicate neck.

"Don't..." Qiu Huanian was tickled and laughed as he pushed him away, "I can't do it now, and if you get too excited, it will be you who ends up frustrated."

Du Yunse buried his head, suppressing a low voice and emphasized again, "In any case, you need to be more careful."

Du Yunse was clearly holding back his anger, yet he was always mindful of his wording, even making domineering words sound open to discussion, carefully fearing that Qiu Huanian became unhappy.

Qiu Huanian chuckled and stretched out his arms to embrace him.

"I understand. In the future, when meeting unfamiliar people at home, how about meeting behind a screen?"

Du Yunse grunted softly, and after a long while, he finally lifted his head from Qiu Huanian's chest, "Brother Hua, I don't mean to limit you on purpose, it's just that..."

"Jealous?"

"...Yes." Du Yunse helped Qiu Huanian support his belly, and admitted in a low voice, "Every time I notice those kinds of looks directed at you, I can't help but feel the urge to—"

Can't help but want to remove them.

Qiu Huanian was unaware that his husband had been increasingly influenced by the political arena, becoming more cynical. He tried to recall but couldn't remember what kind of look Guan Liu had given him at the time.

However, if it could make Du Yunse so unhappy, it must not have been an innocent or friendly gaze. He really should be more careful in the future.

Although Qiu Huanian was open and straightforward in his actions, he still disliked being stared at and harassed with lewd thoughts.

Seeing that Qiu Huanian had agreed, Du Yunse breathed a sigh of relief, his large, warm hands caressing his delicate lover inch by inch from top to bottom.

Now, Qiu Huanian was like a ripe apple, exuding an alluring scent.

Soon, in just two or three more months, it would be time for the baby to arrive...

...

As the end of the year approached, it was once again time to prepare the annual New Year gifts.

The New Year is the most important day of the year, throughout history. Families with any ties, even if separated by thousands of miles, would send New Year gifts to keep in touch.

This year, Qiu Huanian had no energy to prepare for this. Fortunately, Jiu Jiu had already gained experience preparing New Year gifts last year, so this year she followed the same routine effortlessly.

Apart from a few more families in the capital to visit, the biggest difference this year was that the gifts for Wu Shen and Bao Yi could be held off until they arrived in the capital.

"This morning, someone from Xiangping Prefecture came, following the Zhu family's merchant convoy," Jiu Jiu informed Qiu Huanian.

"They brought New Year gifts from their own family, as well as from the Shu and Huang families, and also gifts from Yuan Ling and Brother Yun Cheng, all arriving together."

These families were close to Qiu Huanian's family. When sending New Year gifts, Zhu Jingcheng must have sent people to gather and brought the gifts from several families to the capital together.

"Show me their letters. What did they send?"

"Several families sent clothes and toys for children. Brother Xin Bai sent many books. Ru Tang and Fu Xia collaborated on a 'Hundred Children' painting. Auntie sent a few recipes for meals after childbirth. Brother Yuan Ling also sent several jars of our estate's preserved and candied plums."

Upon hearing about the preserved fruits, Qiu Huanian immediately wanted some and quickly asked someone to bring a few plates to share with the different courtyards.

While enjoying the sweet and sour preserved fruits, he finished reading his friends' notes, his face already full of smiles.

"Xin Bai said that Little Raccoon has already started to toddle and can call 'Daddy.' When the two little ones in my belly come out, they can be good friends around the same age."

Qiu Huanian couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart, eager to see what Little Raccoon looked like now, especially since he resembled Su Xinbai so much.

Both he and Du Yunse were good-looking, so their two children should also be very beautiful and adorable.

When the time comes, three exquisitely carved, jade-like snowballs lined up would surely melt anyone's heart.

The court's abolition of the maritime ban and the expansion of maritime trade were moving forward steadily. Du Yunse had already let Zhu Jingcheng in on it, and Qiu Huanian believed that Zhu Jingcheng would not miss such a grand opportunity.

The planned new port in Haijin Town was not far from the capital. In the future, their two families would surely reunite in the capital, and the little ones could play together.

...

Another ten or so days passed. On the night of December 20th, Qiu Huanian, as usual, carefully washed up and lay on his side in bed, facing Du Yunse as they slept.

In the middle of the night, he had a dreamless sleep but suddenly woke up in alarm. Du Yunse, who had been holding his hand, opened his eyes the next second.

Du Yunse reached out to feel a layer of damp sweat and was startled, "Brother Hua, what's wrong?"

"Du Yunse, I—I—" Qiu Huanian's face was paler than the moonlight, his tone unusually panicked, "My stomach hurts."