Chapter 54

Chapter 54

If Murong Jie hadn't recognized Lu Yunqi's voice, that next punch would've hit him square in the gut.

Luckily, he managed to pull back in time, but Lu Yunqi still got the worst of it—his nose was stinging and throbbing, tears and snot pouring out all at once.

Lu Yunqi clutched his nose and wailed, "Ahhhh, my nose is bleeding! Murong Jie, are you trying to kill your own husband? Beat me to death so you can find someone new? No wonder they say a man's three greatest joys are getting promoted, getting rich, and getting rid of his wife! Wuwuwuwu, you really don't love me one bit!"

Murong Jie was at a loss. "You... why are you dressed up like that? I didn't mean it—I thought... I ran into some kind of monster."

"What?" Lu Yunqi sobbed even harder, eyes all red. "We finally meet again, and you call me a monster? Wuwuwuwu, now I'm even more upset!"

Murong Jie had zero clue how to comfort his wife—he'd never dealt with anything like this in his whole life!

He thought for a long moment, then hesitantly pulled him into his arms. "I'm... I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it. Can you... please stop crying?"

Truth was, in the ten-plus days they'd been apart, he'd missed Lu Yunqi like crazy, but he'd just chalked it up to... withdrawal symptoms from wanting him.

It wasn't until this very moment, seeing him, that he realized he might... actually be hooked.

Lu Yunqi pressed his forehead to Murong Jie's chest, taking a long while to pull himself together. Only then did it hit him—Murong Jie was actually comforting him?

Well, damn, that was a first. Murong Jie could actually comfort people?

He chuckled, pressed up against Murong Jie, and said, "C'mon, say a few more sweet things for me."

Murong Jie never comforted anyone, period—he'd already gone way above and beyond. He racked his brain for ages before finally forcing out: "They say... there are ghosts around here. I didn't mean to hit you. I seriously thought I'd seen one."

Lu Yunqi: ...

Okay, never mind, shut up!

He had to be out of his mind to want to hear Murong Jie comfort him. If a guy like that could comfort people, that'd be the real ghost sighting.

Just then, Murong Jie frowned and asked, "You... what did you stuff in your stomach? Why's it moving?"

Lu Yunqi was confused. "What's moving? Nothing's moving!"

Murong Jie stepped back, staring at his belly. "It's... ugh, why... are you faking being pregnant? What'd you shove in there?"

Only then did Lu Yunqi get it—the "moving" he meant was the baby kicking.

He couldn't help but laugh, patting his slightly rounded belly. "You mean this? This is your own flesh and blood! Four months along, so it's starting to show. See? I wasn't lying—I really am pregnant!"

Murong Jie: ...

Murong Jie said, defeated, "...Whatever makes you happy."

Lu Yunqi was dumbfounded. He grabbed his arm. "Hey! Murong Jie, I really am pregnant! I'm not messing with you!"

Murong Jie was about to brush it off with some half-hearted reply, just wanting to get him into bed, when a scout came running: "Your Highness, urgent military report!"

So Lu Yunqi had no choice but to say, "Wait for me in the tent. I'll be right back."

Who knew "soon" would turn into most of the day? Turns out the Hill King had sent someone to negotiate, but they were so arrogant Murong Jie just sent them packing.

But no sooner had they left than a small force came to stir up trouble, and Murong Jie led a squad to chase them off before coming back.

Murong Jie came back all dusty, and the second he walked in, he handed Lu Yunqi a roasted lamb leg wrapped in oil paper. "Hungry? Nothing good to eat in camp. Saw them roasting a sheep, so I grabbed you a leg."

Lu Yunqi didn't expect him to be so thoughtful. "I had some pastries—brought them from the capital. Want some?"

He brought them over. "Want to share?"

Murong Jie grunted and pulled out his dagger to slice the lamb. It was roasted nice and tender, and the sheep around here didn't have that gamey taste—it was really good.

Lu Yunqi ate a good amount and had some milk tea too—it tasted different from the bubble tea in his old world, this one was salty.

Only once they were both stuffed did Murong Jie hesitate and say, "I... haven't bathed in a few days. I'll go wash in the river behind camp. Wait here a bit—I'll be quick."

Lu Yunqi laughed to himself, thinking, this guy's definitely got something on his mind. But today he'd have to remind him—that thing of his could go big or small, and he couldn't let things get as out of hand as last time.

He'd been taking care of the pregnancy for over half a month, and it'd taken that long to get back to normal.

Still, it'd been a while since he and Murong Jie had been together, and he had to admit he missed him.

Some people were just pathetic—he'd been killed by this man nine times, and every time he saw him, his soul trembled, but desire just didn't listen to reason.

Maybe the longer you played the seduction game, the more you ended up seducing your own heart.

Murong Jie washed up fast—back in like ten minutes. Lu Yunqi figured the guy had just dunked himself in the river and hopped out. Good thing he'd given him those bath beans from the capital, so at least he came back smelling decent.

The second Murong Jie was back, he was all over him. He pulled Lu Yunqi straight into his arms and started kissing him, murmuring between kisses, "I... kinda missed you..."

After saying that, even the tips of Murong Jie's ears went red—clearly, even he couldn't believe those words came out of his mouth.

Lu Yunqi could barely believe it either. Inside the tent, a candle flickered like a little bean. He looked at those reddened ear tips in the glow, cupped his face, and said, "If you miss me, then don't wait. Let's talk on the bed?"

Murong Jie couldn't hold back anymore. He scooped Lu Yunqi up in his arms and stripped him bare like peeling a zongzi.

It wasn't until he wrapped his arms around Murong Jie's waist, ready to go all the way, that he finally noticed something off—Lu Yunqi's waist... was a whole size thicker than when he'd been home, and his lower belly was a bit swollen too.

Even worse, his belly was wriggling like a little worm, like something alive was in there.

Murong Jie's brow suddenly knitted tight, and his heart dropped. His desire screeched to a halt, and he froze completely.

Lu Yunqi was still all in, but then the guy stopped. He asked, a little awkward, "What's wrong? Lost the mood?"

Murong Jie shook his head. "No. Lu Yunqi, be honest with me—did you... catch some terrible disease?"

"Huh?" Lu Yunqi was totally lost. "What are you talking about?"

Murong Jie said, "Then why's your belly so big, and there's... something moving around in there!"

Lu Yunqi: ...