For Both of Us
For Both of Us
Regardless she had seen the serpentine smile of one of the leaders before he took off, right after they searched her property thoroughly.
Nianzu only hoped Luo Wanting and Shi Ailin were far away.
…
Shi Yen received a message from Shi Ailin, and her sister had told her that they escaped from the clutches of the dark forces—for now—just in time. Shi Yen still didn't know who their main leader was, and it was beginning to agitate her just as severely as how she wanted to discover who had attempted to kill her parents. If Shi Ma tried all those years ago, during their opportunity for escape, it meant that it wasn't Shi Ma that threatened them, but someone else entirely. That rattled her even more.
She took a deep breath, her hand trembling.
Yuan Shun snuck up from behind her, his familiar warmth enveloping her backside as she looked over the terrace of their home, and her fear faded. His chin rested on her shoulder, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"When it's time, do you want to know the sex of the baby, or would you like a surprise?" She asked with a sincere smile.
Yuan Shun squeezed her tighter, but he made sure not to press on her belly. "It's up to you," he said. "I want what you want. If you want a surprise, we can design and order everything to be gender-neutral. But, I believe you want everything to be gender-neutral regardless of your choice."
"Of course," she said. "Why assign rooms and clothes to pink or blue. My favourite colours have always been black, red, and gold. We can give him or her toys and programs to foster their development. When they're older, we can introduce him or her to instruments, art, reading, martial arts if they choose."
Yuan Shun laughed against her neck. "You trained at martial arts young?"
"Only Ailin," Shi Yen said. "I was more into reading and dressing up. It wasn't until later that I picked up martial arts when I watched my parents spar together, and it made me breathless."
"How was it like?" he asked, voice soft.
It took her a moment to answer. "Passionate," she said, remember it so vividly. "It looked like they were dancing. It was intimate. It almost felt like it was forbidden to watch even though they were just sparring, but they were so immersed in winning, but most importantly, in each other. I've never seen anything like it," her thoughts wandered. They were lovely. She thought of herself plain, but her parents were beautiful, and perhaps that made her beautiful too because she was a product of their love.
And now she was pregnant.
Shi Yen blushed. Her husband did it. Before Yuan Shun, she didn't care for heirs or child-rearing, but that had changed since she realized that a child made by them would be raised to be strong and passionate. They would shower them with love and displays of their affection, so they grow to understand that love is not something to be shy of or afraid of.
Shi Yen turned, and she circled his neck with her arms. "My parents were affectionate around us, but they weren't in public," Shi Yen continued.
Yuan Shun's lips curved. "Mine weren't, public and not," he said. "I don't think they were even in love." Shi Yen frowned, but he took her fingers, kissing her knuckles softly. "But I love you very much. So we will disgust our child with affection."
Shi Yen felt a burst of warmth. She stepped forward, placing a palm over his chest. He felt his heartbeat, a hard and erratic thumping. She tiptoed and kissed him softly. "We can't tell anyone yet," she told him. "Not even your sister or mine. No one."
Yuan Shun nodded. It only had been a month, and they found out two days ago when Shi Yen realized she was late. She only felt a few symptoms, nothing different. But since they were humping like rabbits without using protection, it seemed worth the testing. It both thrilled and scared them. Yuan Shun lifted her off her feet when Dr. Su Xiang confirmed it in a private doctor's office with blissful happiness, but then a shocking realization shuddered through him.
Things were not easy now, and they were at the top with targets on their backs. Not to mention that anything could happen early in the pregnancy, and they wanted to wait. They also wanted to be discreet. Any news of the Empress' pregnancy meant vulnerability, a weakness. No one could know except them and the doctor that would look after her.
"I had said this before. I will protect you with my life," Yuan Shun assured her. "We won't let anyone suspect. Not until the baby is born, safe and sound, swaddled in your arms. I will do the hard work while your belly grows, and together we will figure it out after."
Shi Yen instinctively touched her belly though she wasn't showing yet. "I must act normal otherwise, they will suspect."
He sighed and nodded. He knew that she wouldn't give up her role so easily. "You'll play your part, but leave me to step up. I am the Emperor. It's my duty."
She smiled. "I think I would like to see you more in action," she traced his jaw with her finger. "But I don't want you to sacrifice your life just for my sake valiantly. Live," she told him seriously, taking his hand to her stomach. "For both of us."
Yuan Shun looked at her earnestly. "I wouldn't leave you two so easily or soon," he promised her.
She embraced him, nestling her head on his muscled chest. "We have Wu Genji and Yuan Ning to depend on, too."
"Do you trust them?" he asked.
Shi Yen thought about it. "I'm not sure," she replied. "I can't trust people I don't know so easily. If I did, I would never have made it this far. But I trust that they'll make good choices. They know what will happen if they don't." Shi Yen spoke candidly about them. Just because Yuan Ning was bound to them by blood, didn't mean they would place their immediate trust on him. He was still a rogue, a traitor, and he had to make up for it. And there was Wu Genji, secretive, cautious and composed Wu Genji, who reminded Shi Yen of who she used to be. But it didn't change the fact that Wu Genji and Yuan Ning were her best in terms of combat, while the other princes are strategists and support.
The wind picked up, and Yuan Shun wrapped an arm around her waist, ushering her back in the house for some warm tea.