Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Lu Yu supported Lin Shuyun’s waist, showering her creamy nape with delicate kisses.

Lin Shuyun leaned against Lu Yu’s chest, her cheeks flushed.

Her hot breath warmed the back of his ear as she murmured in a seductive, kitten-like voice, “We can’t…”

Lu Yu held her tightly, his low chuckle mingling with ragged breaths.

Nuzzling into the crook of her neck, he replied hoarsely, “It’s alright. We won’t have any more children.”

A flicker of confusion crossed Lin Shuyun’s flushed eyes, and abruptly, an involuntary whimper escaped from deep within her throat.

His raspy voice sounded again.

“Ever since I found out you were pregnant with Lin Er, I asked An Ran to prepare a sterilization medicine for me.”

“Wanwan, you can’t abandon me.”

An indescribable feeling welled up in Lin Shuyun’s chest. Her reddened eyes welled up with tears, and she parted her lips to speak.

But Lu Yu’s movements drew another soft, helpless sound from her throat.

Gently cupping her face, he tilted her head up until her gaze met his—deep and intense, like an abyss.

His warm lips pressed against hers once more, swallowing the words she never got to voice.

The carriage wheels jolted over the rugged road, and inside, passion peaked.

Clutching Lu Yu’s firm arms, she lifted her head and found herself facing the arrow wound scar on his chest. Instantly, her eyes filled with tears.

Lu Yu chuckled softly, kissing the corner of her lips. His strong arms wrapped around her slender waist, turning her so her back was against him, shifting her line of sight.

Lin Shuyun grew nervous. The man’s heavy breaths warmed her shoulder blades, and his broad palm held her waist firmly as his voice, husky and low, chuckled, “Wanwan, don’t overthink it. Focus.”

Her thoughts scattered like leaves as she turned to look at Lu Yu. Her peach-blossom eyes were glazed with misty tears.

Parting her lips, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pleaded softly, “Yu… my dear Yu, hold me…”

Outside, in the late spring rain carrying the scent of damp earth, the violently rocking carriage came to a stop at the back gate of the Marquis of Xuanping’s residence.

---

Meanwhile,

In the First Prince’s study,

The dim candlelight flickered across the First Prince’s grim face as he clenched a teacup tightly.

“My dear elder brother, you’re not still waiting for our exalted father to write the decree naming you as crown prince, are you?”

“Brother, haven’t you realized? At tonight’s victory banquet, every potential concubine Father chose for Third Brother is the daughter or granddaughter of a prominent minister. He practically offered the throne to our dear Third Brother right then.”

The Second Prince, dressed in black stealth attire, swirled the wine in his cup, a cunning smile playing on his lips.

As his frustration mounted, the First Prince suddenly stood up, sweeping the desk’s writing implements off the desk with a crash.

The bang made the Second Prince leap onto his chair. Watching the fury in the First Prince’s eyes, he smirked slyly. “Big brother, think it over carefully.”

As the Second Prince jumped down and prepared to leave, the First Prince’s grim face snapped up. “I agree to the alliance. But what is your goal?”

The Second Prince turned back with a smile, downing the wine in his cup. “Me?”

“Your mother is Consort Shu, from a long-standing noble family. I’m just the son of a minor consort. I won’t compete with you. I only ask that once you ascend the throne, you protect me, your younger brother.”

The Second Prince wore an innocent expression, his words dripping with sincerity.

Satisfied, the First Prince nodded and sat back at his desk, crossing his arms arrogantly. “Tell me your plan.”

The Second Prince lowered his voice. “We need to stir up trouble. Since Father favors Lu Yu as his successor…”

“Then… we must act before Father names an heir…”

Smiling, the Second Prince snapped his fan shut and drew it lightly across his throat.

The First Prince shuddered. “You plan to assassinate the Emperor?!”

The Second Prince gave a mysterious smile, shaking his head. Just as the First Prince breathed a sigh of relief, he nodded.

“I also have leverage against Lu Yu…”

The lamps in the First Prince’s study burned late into the night. When the Second Prince finally slipped out, a shadow of gloom crossed his eyes.

Looking back at the extravagant mansion, he chuckled softly. “Foolish brother, you probably don’t know the saying: when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits.”

----

The next day,

When Lin Shuyun opened her eyes, they were sore, and her throat was painfully hoarse. The aches in her body made her linger in bed. As she turned over, she brushed against a warm figure.

She lifted her head and met Lu Yu’s deep gaze. His fingers gently stroked her hair, and an uncontainable smile softened his cool expression.

Lin Shuyun’s cheeks flushed instantly. She quickly turned away, burying her face in the silk quilt, but the man pulled her firmly into his embrace.

“Wanwan…”

Before Lu Yu could finish, Lin Shuyun protested softly, “Don’t… don’t say my name.”

“Last night, I asked you to stop, but you wouldn’t listen…”

It had been a long time since she had been so thoroughly exhausted. Clutching his arms, she murmured, “My back nearly gave out yesterday!”

Lu Yu chuckled. “My fault. Let me massage it for you.”

He lifted the thin quilt covering her, his calloused hands gently kneading her waist.

Lin Shuyun relaxed into his touch, lying face down on the pillow with soft sighs.

Suddenly, she remembered what Lu Yu had said in the carriage the day before. A complex emotion welled up inside her, and she asked quietly, “Why did you take the sterilization medicine?”

“Because I care for you deeply. Lin Er was an accident. We don’t need any more surprises.”

Lu Yu’s deep voice was calm.

Men in this world were often fickle, let alone someone like Lu Yu, now a prince—what if he becomes emperor someday?

He… he truly kept his promise to her.

Tears welled in Lin Shuyun’s eyes. She turned and buried herself in his arms without a word, silently absorbing the warmth of his chest.

Lu Yu gently lifted her face, gently kissed her lips as he reassured her, “The medicine wasn’t bitter and won’t harm you. Don’t worry, Wanwan. If it gives you peace of mind, then it’s the best medicine possible.”

Lin Shuyun nodded, her emotions making the kiss more intense.

She clumsily cupped Lu Yu's face, kissing him back, her fingers gently tracing the small mole beneath his eye.

Lu Yu chuckled, rolled over, and leaned down to capture her tender red lips.

Lin Shuyun's cheeks flushed gradually as she wrapped her arms around Lu Yu's waist, resting her head on his chest.

The carved wooden bed began to sway once more, the bed curtains slowly falling, and flustered whispers soon drifted from behind them.

Their nights of joy flew by. Just as Lu Yu had ended the emperor-approved three-day break, the three children came back crying to the Marquis of Xuanping’s estate.

Lin Wangshu wiped the sweat from his forehead, panting, with Ying Ying on his left arm and holding Erhei by the hand with his right. He complained, "Sis, my duty is done. I need to go home and rest."

"Mom and Dad said you shouldn’t return for now—they want some rest too."

Lin Shuyun’s cheeks flushed instantly.

During her time in Shuobei, her sister-in-law had also had a baby boy.

With her elder brother’s first son, Lin'er, plus her own two older children, two babies, and a black dog, these little rascals probably turned Prince Ding’s estate upside down.

Watching Lin Wangshu flee like he was running for his life, Lin Shuyun looked down at Ying Ying, who had red eyes. "Did you bully your uncle again?"

Ying Ying looked down shyly, playing with the edge of her dress. "Well... I just wanted to wash the teapot on his desk, but I accidentally broke it..."

Zhang'er whispered, "Lin'er took us to play in the mud, and Grandma nearly fainted..."

"Ah! Ah!"

Lin Er, in Lin Shuyun’s arms, waved his arms and giggled.

"Don’t misbehave next time. If you make Grandma angry again, you might not be allowed to visit Prince Ding’s residence anymore..."

Lin Shuyun booped Ying Ying’s nose. "You’re clearly the biggest little troublemaker in our family..."

"I... I’m not!" Ying Ying’s bright eyes sparkled with mischief as she protested weakly.

"Not what? Did you enjoy yourselves at your grandparents’ house?"

Lu Yu’s voice drifted in from outside the door.

Ying Ying turned toward the sound, her eyes instantly lighting up. Hiking up her little skirt, she ran over and threw herself into Lu Yu’s arms.

Lu Yu stretched out his hands and scooped up the little girl.

Ying Ying giggled, "Daddy, I missed you so much."

Since learning that Lu Yu was her biological father, Ying Ying had become even more clingy, always demanding to be held and following him around like a little sticky rice cake.

"Just now, when I returned, your uncle told me you broke several of his purple clay teapots?"

Lu Yu asked in a lowered voice.

Ying Ying quickly buried her face in Lu Yu’s neck. "No, no! Ying Ying just wanted to help Uncle clean them. I didn’t mean to break them."

Noticing her worry, Lu Yu patted her back gently and soothed, "Alright, today Daddy will send a few new teapots to your uncle as an apology. But from now on, you mustn’t do this again. Since you made a mistake, I’ll have you write several pages of characters as punishment."

Ying Ying lowered her head and murmured softly, "Okay."

"But..." Lu Yu’s tone shifted.

"In a couple of days, how about Mom taking you to the villa to play in the water?"

Lin Shuyun, who had been gently patting Lin Er to sleep, looked up at the sound, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.

But as the children immediately cheered with excitement, her gaze swept over them and then caught a thoughtful look in Lu Yu’s eyes.