202: Joy in the morning light

When the morning light washed over the carved window lattice, Shen Xingwan was woken by the burning warmth at her waist and abdomen.

Situ Jun's arm was still firmly wrapped around her, his palm resting comfortably on her lower abdomen. Even his breath carried a lingering warmth as it brushed against the side of her neck. Her eyelashes fluttered; memories of last night's intimacy suddenly rushed into her mind—his hot breath, his uncontrolled low moans, and the calloused fingertips resting on the small of her back... Her cheeks flared up, and even the tips of her ears felt steeped in heat.

She quietly curled her fingers, wanting to move away just half an inch, but the strength around her waist suddenly tightened, pulling her back into that warm embrace.

"Awake?"

Situ Jun's voice was raspy from just waking up. He lowered his head and kissed her lips with the slight bitterness of morning and an unmistakable sense of treasuring her.

"Are you hungry? I had the kitchen make the osmanthus cake you like."

Shen Xingwan was kissed until the corners of her eyes grew moist. As she nodded dizzily, her fingertips unconsciously brushed against her waist—the warmth from his intimacy last night seemed to remain there, making her fingertips feel numb with heat.

Situ Jun looked at her reddened ears, a smile rippling in his eyes, but he didn't say much. He only patiently straightened her disheveled clothes, his movements as gentle as if he were handling fragile colored glass.

Outside the window, a few more pomegranate flowers had bloomed at some point, their bright red dots adorning the branches. Reflecting the morning light, they looked just like her blushing cheeks at this moment.

"Husband, why did you wake up so early?"

Her voice still carried a hangover-like raspiness. She subconsciously snuggled into his embrace, but suddenly realized his palm had been resting on her waist all along, carrying a cautious heat.

Situ Jun tightened his grip, lowered his head to press a gentle kiss on her forehead, the tenderness in his eyes almost overflowing.

"Shen Xingwan, there's something I need to tell you."

Shen Xingwan blinked, looking at his rare display of nervousness. A hint of curiosity rose in her heart as she looked up at him.

"What is it?"

He took a deep breath, as if he had made a monumental decision, before slowly speaking, his voice carrying uncontrollable joy.

"We... are going to have a child."

The moment the words fell, Shen Xingwan's entire body froze.

Her eyes were blank at first, then slowly filled with unbelievable shock, finally turning into misty tears in her eyes.

She raised her hand to touch her lower abdomen, her fingertips trembling slightly. When she looked up at him, her voice was as light as a feather.

"Is... is it true?"

"It's true."

Situ Jun took her hand and pressed it against his heart, letting her feel that powerful heartbeat.

"It's true, Shen Xingwan. We have a child of our own."

The morning light outside happened to shine through the window lattice, falling on their joined hands, as warm as thick honey.

Shen Xingwan looked at the sincerity and ecstasy in his eyes, and tears suddenly fell, hitting the back of his hand with a startling heat.

This time, however, they were sweet.

She threw herself into his arms, tightly hugging his waist, sobbing so hard she couldn't speak, only hot tears wetting his robes.

Situ Jun gently patted her back, letting her tears dampen his clothes, but the smile at the corner of his mouth couldn't be hidden, and even his brows were filled with excitement.

Shen Xingwan cried for a long time, until her tears soaked a dark patch on Situ Jun's chest. Only then did she look up between sobs, her eyes as red as peach blossoms that had just bloomed in spring.

Her fingertips were still trembling as she tentatively placed them on her lower abdomen. Although she couldn't feel anything yet, it was as if she had already touched a warm little life. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up, yet they trembled from the sourness in her nose.

"Husband, I... I still can't believe it."

Her voice was soft and waxy, continuing with the raspiness of having cried.

"Could it... could it be a mistake? It's only... only been two days? In ordinary families, isn't it usually after a month that one finds out? How... how can you be so certain?"

Situ Jun took her hand and pressed it there, the warmth of his palm transferring through her thin skin. His tone was more solemn than ever before.

"It's not a mistake."

He couldn't explain the existence of the System, so he could only look at her with the most certain gaze.

"My Cultivation is high, and the Cultivation Technique I practice is special; I can feel it. Shen Xingwan, this is real."

When he said "I can feel it," his fingertips lightly brushed over her lower abdomen, as if he were greeting that yet-to-be-formed little life.

Shen Xingwan looked at the seriousness in his eyes, and the bit of unease in her heart suddenly dissipated, replaced by a dense joy that almost overwhelmed her.

She shrank into his embrace, burying her face in the crook of his neck, laughing muffledly, her laughter wrapped in fragmented sobs.

"That's wonderful... Husband, this is truly wonderful..."

Situ Jun lowered his head to kiss the crown of her head. The scent of incense from her hair lingered around his nose, mixed with the fresh dew of morning. His heart felt as if it were soaking in warm water, becoming completely soft.

He suddenly remembered the "Dao Companion Procreation" notification from the System last night. So this was not just the continuation of a Bloodline, but the fruit of their mutual affection, with even the Heavenly Dao witnessing it for them.

The morning light grew brighter, stretching their embracing shadows long across the floor scattered with a few pomegranate petals.

Outside the window, that pomegranate tree swayed gently in the morning breeze. The tree full of fiery red flowers seemed to be leaping for joy for this sweet affection, burning even more intensely.

Shen Xingwan snuggled quietly in his arms for a while, then suddenly seemed to remember something and abruptly looked up, her face filled with a hint of nervousness and urgency.

"Husband! Then... then what do I need to do? Should I immediately tell Sister Embroiderer and Little Sister Xuan'er? Also, I... can I still serve you, Husband? What about my diet? What... what should I pay attention to?"

She asked her string of questions quickly and urgently, like a little bird that suddenly discovered an egg in its nest, becoming somewhat at a loss yet incredibly serious.

Her usual cool and calm demeanor was completely gone, leaving only the panic of a first-time mother and an instinctive protective urge for the flesh and blood in her womb.

Situ Jun looked at her rare state of panic, his heart both warm and pitying.

He raised his hand, gently wiping the tear stains from the corners of her eyes with his thumb, and said softly.

"Don't worry, Shen Xingwan, take it slow."

"For now," he paused, his gaze becoming deep, "let's not tell anyone yet."

Shen Xingwan was slightly startled, her eyes showing incomprehension.

Situ Jun tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his voice dropping even lower, carrying caution.

"The chaos in the Southern Border is imminent, and undercurrents are surging inside and outside East Lin City. Li Xuan's intentions are hard to fathom, and the Northern Border may not be stable either. If news of your pregnancy gets out, it might inevitably become a weakness for some to target me, or invite unnecessary trouble."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Until we completely clear the obstacles and ensure absolute safety, this secret can only be known to the two of us."

Shen Xingwan was not a sheltered girl who didn't understand the world; she instantly understood the stakes involved.

She nodded vigorously, her eyes regaining their usual clarity and firmness.

"I understand, Husband. I will be careful."

"As for serving me..."

Situ Jun looked at her still flat and firm lower abdomen, his tone carrying reassurance and indulgence.

"Ordinary care is fine, but leave those taxing and laborious tasks to the servants from now on. You only need to rest peacefully; that is the best 'service' for me."

He paused and added.

"I will set up a small Spirit Gathering Array in the room later. When you sleep at night, you can nourish yourself and the child with Spiritual Qi."

"Mhm!" Shen Xingwan noted it down seriously.

"As for your daily diet and routine, just keep everything as usual. There's no need for excessive supplements, as it might lead to indigestion."

Situ Jun continued.

"Embroiderer is meticulous, and the daily meals in the manor are already carefully prepared with enough nutrition. If there's anything you want to eat, or if your tastes change, let Little Lotus go to the kitchen and make it for you separately."

He explained everything in great detail, like an experienced midwife, but the treasuring and caution in his eyes exposed his concern and affection for Shen Xingwan.

Listening to him and looking at his focused and gentle profile, the bit of panic in Shen Xingwan's heart was gradually replaced by an incredibly stable warm current.

She took the initiative to hold his hand, their fingers interlocking.

"Don't worry, Husband, I will take good care of myself and... take good care of our child."

She lowered her head, her gaze falling on her lower abdomen, as soft as if it were soaked in water.

Situ Jun He gripped her hand even tighter with his other hand.， It was as if he wanted to use this power to convey all his promises.：

"I will also handle the matters of the Southern Border as quickly as possible and return safely to stay with you."

The morning light climbed higher, and the pomegranate petals on the windowsill were gilded with gold, so bright they were dazzling.

Situ Jun gently patted her back.

"Get up. Didn't you say you wanted to eat osmanthus cake? If we don't go now, I'm afraid those two little gluttons, Tang Tang and Xiao Rou, will snatch them all."

Shen Xingwan was amused by him and laughed through her tears, her face regaining its radiance.

She nodded and let him carefully arrange her slightly wrinkled sleeping robes and outer garment, his movements as gentle as if he were treating a fragile treasure.

When he helped her out of bed and her feet stepped on the cool floor, a strange sensation arose.

It was as if this land, this courtyard, and this manor had all become different.

Every step was taken upon an incredibly solid future.

The morning breeze blew in, carrying crisp air and the rich fragrance of osmanthus. It also brought the faint, crisp sounds of laughter and play from Tang Tang and Xiao Rou in the distant main hall, along with Embroiderer's gentle reminders.

Sunlight washed over the threshold, spreading a patch of warm gold at her feet, as if even time had become soft and long.