ATNCF: Chapter 132 Parenting (Part Four)

 The room was empty, with only Li Zhi sitting by the couch. Seeing him enter, she rose with a smile and approached him. “Sanlang, you’re back.”

Pei Ji was a bit surprised. His eyes scanned the room as he asked, “Why are you alone in here at this time? Where is everyone else? Where is Yuan Lang?”

“I sent them off for now. Yuan Lang has been fed and is back with the wet nurse, sleeping.” as she spoke, she helped him remove his outer robe and led him to the couch, pointing to the streaming bowls of noodle soup on the table. “I made these myself, fresh from the pot. I know you’ve already eaten with the generals, so I just prepared a little. Eat while it’s hot.”

Pei Ji, guided by her, sat down. Hearing her words, he looked even more surprised. “What made you decide to cook for me today?”

Without thinking, he picked up the spoon and chopsticks and began to eat.

Li Zhi smiled, watching him savor the food, and then picked up her bowl to eat.

Once they finished, she wiped her mouth with a cloth and said, "Did you forget what day it is today?"

Pei Ji looked puzzled, still confused.

"You, forgetting your own birthday," Li Zhi said with a laugh, leaning closer to him. She took out a warmed bottle of Jian Nan Shao Chun from the clay stove and poured him a cup. "Today is your birthday, Sanlang. I wish you long life and happiness."

It was his birthday.

Pei Ji finally realized, his eyes filled with gentle warmth. "You know, I never celebrate my birthday. You've gone to such trouble."

He drank the warm wine in one gulp and turned to pour a cup for her, but remembered she was still nursing and poured her warm water instead.

Many poor commoners didn't even know their own birthdays, let alone celebrate them. Even among the wealthy, only a few observed this tradition. The only one who celebrated annually was the emperor.

When he ascended the throne, the country was just beginning to settle, and he promoted simplicity, abolishing the Qianqiu Festival that celebrated the emperor's birthday. Over the past two years, he hadn't thought about it, so naturally, he didn't remember it.

Li Zhi looked up at him, her eyes full of undisguised love. "I understand. You prefer simplicity and abolished the Qianqiu Festival. But celebrating your birthday with a homemade pot of wine and a bowl of mutton noodle soup is just my way of showing care. It’s not excessive, is it?"

She had remembered his birthday since their betrothal ceremony. However, two years ago, she was still with her eldest sister, waiting to be married, and last year she was newly pregnant and had moved to Luoyang, missing the chance to celebrate. This year was her first opportunity.

Pei Ji felt nothing but joy, far from considering it excessive. He quickly pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek with a smile. "Not at all. I only regret not remembering to celebrate your birthday."

Li Zhi, sensing his genuine guilt, shook her head. "It's alright. I know the Pei family doesn’t have this tradition. Even Mother only celebrates significant milestones. You’re usually more attentive than I am, so let me be the thoughtful one this time."

Saying this, she took his hand, and they went outside for a walk to aid digestion.

During their stroll, Pei Ji felt as if he were walking on clouds, and by the time they returned to the house after half an hour, his joy had reached its peak.

The room was still empty, but on the neatly cleaned table were two sets of clean, comfortable clothing, clearly prepared for them.

Pei Ji, as usual, removed his belt and accessories and went into the adjacent bathroom.

But just as he was about to close the door, he turned and saw Li Zhi had followed him in.

Her outer garments were gone, leaving her in a long, white bandeau dress. Her hair was tied up high, exposing her smooth shoulders. She held the clean clothes in her hands, smiling at him.

“What are you doing?” Pei Ji's eyes roamed over her, his Adam’s apple subtly moving up and down.

“Today is Your Majesty’s birthday, so naturally, I am here to serve you a bath.” She set the clothes aside, approached him, and with her smooth arms extended through the mist, slowly began to undress him.

As her fingertips brushed over his firm chest beneath the fabric, he tensed up.

He lowered his gaze to look at Li Zhi, now only inches away, and couldn’t help but grasp her hand, bringing it close to his lips for a kiss.

But her hand slipped away with ease. She stepped back a few paces and, with a smile, knelt by the bath, her almond-shaped eyes partially obscured by the rising steam.

“Your Majesty, if you delay any longer, the water will get cold.”

Pei Ji said nothing as he stepped in, feeling as though he were walking on clouds, and lowered himself into the water. He turned to stare at her.

Li Zhi remained kneeling, seeing his daze. “Does Your Majesty still wish for me to serve?”

Pei Ji slowly regained his composure, forced himself to look away, and replied in a deep voice, “Yes,” then closed his eyes, leaning back with an air of imperial authority. “Come closer. How can you serve me from so far away? Do you think I will eat you?”

Li Zhi, hearing this, moved closer “cautiously” and whispered in his ear, “I was wrong, please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Her soft voice at his ear made Pei Ji’s hand tighten under the water, though he maintained his stern expression.

Li Zhi observed his subtle changes, scooped a handful of water, and poured it over his shoulders and chest.

Droplets rolled down, leaving a light sheen on his skin.

Her slender fingers began to gently knead his shoulders, with just enough pressure to relieve his day’s fatigue while quietly awakening other desires within him.

But he still kept his eyes closed and said coldly, “What, are you a piece of wood? Can you only massage shoulders?”

Li Zhi, looking aggrieved, whispered, “Forgive me, Your Majesty,” and her hands moved down his arms and chest, pressing lightly.

Her touches were more like delicate caresses, causing him to lose control after just a few strokes.

He suddenly opened his eyes, grabbing her wrist in feigned anger. “What are you doing? A mere maidservant with such thoughts?”

“I’m only following the rules to serve Your Majesty’s bath. How could I dare have any other intentions?”

“Oh? Is this how the court ladies taught you the rules? It must be their fault. I should have them punished immediately,” he said, turning his head to face her flushed cheeks close to his shoulder.

“Your Majesty! It’s not their fault, it’s my own stupidity for not learning the rules well. If there must be punishment, let it fall on me alone!” Li Zhi’s other hand gripped the edge of the tub, her face raised in a pleading expression.

Pei Ji sneered. “Punish you? If you alone bear the blame for so many, your weak body couldn’t withstand it. Wouldn’t you then cry and beg for my mercy?”

Li Zhi bit her lip, her eyes downcast. “I wouldn’t dare. Today, I submit to Your Majesty’s will. Please, have mercy...”

Pei Ji had been waiting for this. Hearing her words, he rose suddenly from the water, looking down at her. The splashing water soaked her thin bandeau dress, making it cling to her form.

“You said it. Today, I will do as I please.”

Li Zhi nodded gently.

He grasped her wrist and pulled her close, causing her to stumble into his arms and fall into the bath.

The spacious tub suddenly felt cramped with an extra person, and steam rose as hot water splashed over the edge from time to time, filling the room with humidity.

...

That day, the two of them exhausted themselves until they could finally collapse onto the bed.

Li Zhi was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, wishing she could just sleep, while Pei Ji still seemed somewhat exhilarated.

"I'm very happy today. Celebrating birthdays seems like a good thing. Your birthday is still half a year away, but I'll think about how to celebrate it when the time comes."

Li Zhi struggled to lift her eyelids but couldn't resist the drowsiness. She hummed a couple of times in protest.

Pei Ji found this type of celebration enjoyable, but it was exhausting for her. Although she also felt comfortable, the exhaustion afterward was undeniable. She didn't want to tire herself out like this on her own birthday.

But Pei Ji, more excited than usual, took her hums as agreement and continued to chatter.

Li Zhi couldn't bear it any longer and almost cried out in frustration.

Only then did Pei Ji realize he was getting carried away. He hugged her and stopped talking, gently patting her back until they fell asleep together.

...

In the following days, Li Zhi appeared much lazier than before.

During the day, she received visits from some of the Pei family members and officers' wives from Taiyuan. They only chatted briefly before Li Zhi would retire to rest in her courtyard, often accompanied by Lan Ying.

Fortunately, apart from a few close associates who had some inkling, most people assumed Li Zhi's fatigue was due to recently giving birth and the ten-day journey.

Pei Ji, on the other hand, seemed spirited for several days. Even when handling memorials from Luoyang or discussing matters with the officers, there would occasionally be a strange smile on his otherwise solemn face.

The officers were initially surprised and puzzled by this but ultimately attributed it to the rare occasion of His Majesty's return to Taiyuan, bringing them joy.

Moreover, the continuous reports from the north about the Yan army's progress were as expected, lifting everyone's spirits.

After a month of war, except for the initial few days when the Turkic people showed their ferocity by raiding border towns while the Yan army was occupied attacking major tribes, they dared not make any further moves.

Under Pei Ji's orders, the Hedong army had not slackened for a single day this year. They thoroughly understood the strength of each Turkic tribe. Although the Turks were wild and unpredictable in battle, they lacked the strategic acumen of the Han people. This time, Zhang Jian's attack was meticulously planned by Pei Ji and more than ten experienced generals. Starting with the weakest tribe among them and systematically defeating each one, they had turned the Turkic tribes that had only just begun to coalesce over the past decade into scattered sand.

Now, signs of disintegration among the tribes were beginning to appear, and it was likely that they would all be defeated in another two months.

That day, after Pei Ji handed over the handled memorials to his attendants to be sent to Luoyang, he returned home as usual, stepping into the sunset.

Inside, Li Zhi was holding little Yuan Lang, and Chun Yue was staring at them curiously. Upon seeing him, she waved and said, "Sanlang, come and see, it seems like Yuan Lang is teething!"

Chun Yue stood up, smiled, and greeted him before pouring tea for them and leaving the room.

Pei Ji walked over quickly, one hand on Li Zhi's shoulder and the other helping support their son, as they all looked at the baby's mouth together.

Little Yuan Lang, seeing both parents staring at him, couldn't help but widen his round eyes innocently as he met their gaze, but stubbornly refused to open his mouth.

Pei Ji looked around and took out a small clay figurine from a box, waving it in front of his son, teasing him by pulling it away whenever he reached out to touch it. After a few attempts, he successfully made his son laugh.

With a smile, Yuan Lang’s chubby cheeks puffed up, and his mouth opened, revealing a row of bare pink gums.

"Indeed, he's grown a tooth!" Li Zhi exclaimed, a mix of joy and annoyance on her face. "No wonder I felt like he bit me when I was feeding him earlier."

Pei Ji took his son in his hands and kissed his face. "Yuan Lang is growing up. He's already starting to teeth, and before long, he'll be able to talk."

Although only five months old, the child seemed to change every day, looking nothing like the wrinkled infant he was at birth.

"However, he mustn't bite his mother," Pei Ji said sternly, shaking his head. "His mother went through so much to give birth to him, he should treat her well."

Seeing him lecture their son with a serious expression while the little one looked confused and innocent, Li Zhi couldn't help but laugh. "He can't understand you now. Don't scare him."

Pei Ji regained his gentle demeanor. "No, I didn't scold him. How could I scare him? I was just showing my disapproval. Although he's young, he'll gradually understand."

Li Zhi nodded, thinking there was some truth to that, and then invited him to sit and have tea. "Today, I want to start teaching him to speak. I wonder how long it will take for him to learn. I hope that when we go to pay respects to Father, Yuan Lang can say 'grandfather.'"

They had agreed that after defeating the Turks and resolving the major threat, they would go together to visit Pei Ji's father.

Pei Ji said, "Given the current situation, we should be able to achieve a decisive victory in about two months. But it may take another month to completely eliminate them. During the critical days of the battle, I will personally go north to oversee the troops. We'll stay here until spring. By then, Yuan Lang will be about nine months old and might be able to speak. But even if he can't, it's okay. Our intentions are what matter."

As he spoke, he looked up at the familiar room.

It was the courtyard where he had lived in his childhood, and the furnishings still bore a resemblance to those times.

Back then, his father was stationed in Taiyuan, while he remained in Daming Palace, only coming to Taiyuan to reunite with his parents at the end of each year. The memories left here were the warmest.

Now, living in this courtyard with his wife and child, it felt like they were back in the joyous times of his childhood.

Surely, his father was quietly watching over them somewhere.

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