At noon that day, Zhou Yi led Nangong Muyan into the dining hall, where they were greeted with the usual chorus of "Young Master" from everyone present.
Zhou Yi swept his gaze across the crowd, maintaining a neutral expression, and raised his voice so everyone could hear: "I forgot to introduce you all yesterday - this lady beside me is my bride-to-be."
That was all that needed to be said. Everyone present was intelligent enough to understand. The young master, who was usually friendly and approachable, was now speaking to them with such a serious expression because he had clearly heard about their gossip regarding his "mistress."
The crowd nervously glanced at Zhou Yi and Nangong Muyan's expressions, forcing awkward smiles and offering stiff compliments.
"Haha... Young Master and Young Mistress are truly a perfect match!"
"Yes, yes, a talented gentleman and a beautiful lady, meant to be together!"
"Haha... And their relationship is so loving - they're like celestial lovers, making everyone envious!"
Nangong Muyan couldn't be bothered with these irrelevant people. She tugged at Zhou Yi's hand, "Let's go eat."
Zhou Yi nodded and led her upstairs.
In the days that followed, now that they had confessed their feelings to each other, their relationship became exactly as Nangong Muyan had previously boasted - deeply in love and inseparable.
They would kiss and embrace at every opportunity, going everywhere together, sleeping and waking together. Nangong Muyan's eyes curved with joy every day, completely content and wishing she could spend her entire life with Zhou Yi in Mulberry Leaf Town.
On the seventh day of the fifth month, after breakfast, Nangong Muyan looked at Zhou Yi eagerly.
"Zhou Yi, I want to eat mulberries. Could you pick some for me?"
Zhou Yi couldn't resist her soft, sweet tone and immediately nodded: "Alright, wait for me inside."
As soon as he left, a triumphant smile flashed in Nangong Muyan's eyes. She went out and found Li Jiu.
Li Jiu had been quite happy lately, spending his days leisurely without much work to do, receiving tips for delivering meals to the young master and mistress. Except for not having a sweetheart of his own, he was living like an immortal.
But too much idleness wasn't good. That's how it was for Li Jiu - this comfortable life was like warm water, nearly softening his bones. Back at the Prime Minister's Mansion, Sheng Jing used to urge him to practice martial arts daily, which annoyed him greatly at the time. Now with no one pushing him, he actually took the initiative, finding an empty space to practice his skills after meals.
When Nangong Muyan arrived, Li Jiu had just finished a set of martial arts moves.
"My Lady," Li Jiu wiped his sweat as he walked over, "What can I do for you?"
"Check my pulse."
Nangong Muyan sat down on a nearby stone bench and rolled up her sleeve, exposing her wrist.
Li Jiu thought she might be feeling unwell and hurriedly came over to check her pulse. Finding it perfectly normal, he asked in confusion: "My Lady, you and the baby are both fine. Is there something troubling you?"
"Well... it's like this..."
Nangong Muyan gathered her thoughts before explaining her purpose: "Zhou Yi and I were intimate on the seventh day of the second month, after which I conceived. Today is the seventh of the fifth month, exactly three months. I've heard that during the third to sixth months of pregnancy, couples can be intimate, so I came to ask you about this..."
Li Jiu was dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning.
What kind of charm did the young master possess that made the young lady so impatient? And how could a young lady ask such an intimate question so calmly?
Fortunately, he was the only one present. If Nangong Ya were here, he would probably faint from shock again.
"Is my pregnancy stable enough now? Can I be intimate with him?" Nangong Muyan stared at Li Jiu and asked frankly.
Her directness made Li Jiu blush deeply.
Li Jiu had never met such a bold woman in his life, but duty-bound as a physician, he had to answer professionally: "My Lady, it is possible, but since you're carrying twins, you need to be more careful than others. It's better to err on the side of caution."
This ambiguous answer was unsatisfying. Nangong Muyan raised an eyebrow, determined to get a clear answer: "So is it possible or not?"
"Yes, yes," Li Jiu nodded repeatedly, then added, "Just need to be careful about certain things."
"What things?" Nangong Muyan pressed.
"Uh... careful about, well, um..." Li Jiu was nearly paralyzed with embarrassment. Why did he, a guard, have to handle such matters?
"I'll add three more months of bonus pay for you when we return." Nangong Muyan knew exactly how to handle people.
Li Jiu immediately overcame his shyness and advised seriously: "My Lady, during intimacy, the movements shouldn't be too vigorous, and if you feel any discomfort, you must stop immediately. Also, be mindful of positions - don't let the young master put pressure on your belly."
"How could he press on my belly if he's lying down?"
Nangong Muyan didn't understand - after all, she would be the one on top of Zhou Yi.
Li Jiu was speechless, feeling he knew far too much.
Having gotten her answers, Nangong Muyan prepared to return to her room. After taking a few steps, she remembered something and turned back, looking at Li Jiu with a meaningful smile: "Li Jiu, you wouldn't tell my parents about any of this, would you?"
Li Jiu clearly saw the threat in Nangong Muyan's eyes and immediately raised three fingers in oath: "Rest assured, My Lady, only heaven, earth, you, and I will know about this. I'll keep it absolutely secret and won't breathe a word to anyone!"
"Good, you understand!" Nangong Muyan praised him and gracefully walked away.
Back in her room, Zhou Yi hadn't returned yet. Nangong Muyan went to the door and gazed toward the mulberry fields. After waiting for about half an hour, she finally saw his familiar figure.
"Zhou Yi!"
Nangong Muyan lifted her skirts to meet him, but Zhou Yi quickly called out: "Don't move!" and hurried to her side.
"Why are you running around? You're going to be a mother soon, don't you know to be careful?"
His concerned scolding made Nangong Muyan's lips curve into a smile as she confessed: "But when I see you, I just can't help wanting to run to you!"
This sudden declaration made Zhou Yi's ears turn bright red. His heart felt like it had been scratched by a cat's paw - he felt less than a man if he didn't do something.
He took Nangong Muyan's hand and led her back to their room. As soon as the door closed, he eagerly kissed those red lips that spoke such enticing words.
Nangong Muyan never rejected Zhou Yi's advances and immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, responding passionately.
When they finally separated, breathless, Zhou Yi put down the still-dripping bamboo basket and earnestly told her: "Don't run anymore in the future. Just call for me, and I'll always run to you."
The wooden block has finally opened up! Nangong Muyan thought, her heart soaking in honey-sweet happiness. She held him tighter, nuzzling his neck, deeply moved: "Zhou Yi, how can you be so good..."
Zhou Yi smiled, his heart melting completely.
He had always thought himself a decent person - from a wealthy family, filial to his parents, sincere to his friends, with no vices like gambling or visiting brothels. But he never thought he could be good enough to make the Prime Minister's daughter devotedly attach herself to him.
With Nangong Muyan's status and beauty, she could have her pick of princes, nobles, and distinguished family heirs. Zhou Yi, merely a merchant's son, didn't know what qualities he possessed that could have caught her eye.
His marriage to Nangong Muyan was marrying above his station.
"Zhou Yi, I want to possess you..."
The person in his arms whispered again, making Zhou Yi laugh: "You already possess me."
"It's not enough..."
Nangong Muyan said softly, and seeing Zhou Yi's confusion, decided not to elaborate. Instead, she looked at the bamboo basket on the table and changed the subject: "Zhou Yi, I want to eat mulberries."
"Alright, let's eat," Zhou Yi led her to sit at the table and began feeding her: "These should be the last mulberries of the season. After this period, there won't be any more until next year."
Nangong Muyan chewed the fruit, noting that it wasn't as sweet as before and had less juice.
"Then let's come back next year!"
"Alright!"
After making this promise, Nangong Muyan ate a few more berries before saying she was sleepy and going to bed.
At noon, after Zhou Yi woke her for lunch, she went back to bed to continue sleeping.
"Why are you so sleepy today?" Zhou Yi wondered, wasn't she usually only sleeping for one morning?
"Ah, I just want to sleep!"
Of course, Nangong Muyan wouldn't tell him about tonight's plans. She pulled the blanket over herself, intending to get enough sleep during the day to ensure she'd have energy later.
Zhou Yi tucked in the corners of her blanket and was about to leave the room when his sleeve was caught. Looking down, he saw Nangong Muyan smiling up at him with a suggestion: "Zhou Yi, why don't you take a nap too?"
"I won't sleep. If I sleep too much now, I won't be able to sleep tonight," Zhou Yi refused.
That was exactly what she wanted - for him to be unable to sleep tonight. A glimmer of mischief flashed in Nangong Muyan's eyes as she playfully tugged at Zhou Yi's hand, "But I want you to hold me while I sleep, Zhou Yi~"
"Why are you being so clingy today..."
"I'm only clingy with you, Zhou Yi."
"Alright, alright, I'll sleep..."
Zhou Yi's heart melted at her sweet words. He took off his shoes and got into bed, pulling her into his embrace and gently patting her back. His voice was incredibly tender: "There, there, Muyan, sleep now." He closed his eyes as well.
The weather was neither hot nor cold this time of year, and after a good meal, it was hard not to feel drowsy in bed. Holding her in his arms, Zhou Yi couldn't resist the wave of sleepiness that washed over him, and he drifted off in the afternoon light.
Nangong Muyan had never been so eager for nightfall before. After dinner, she watched as the sky gradually darkened, her heart beating faster with each passing moment.
She finished washing up early and sat on the edge of the bed. When Zhou Yi entered the room, she eagerly pulled him toward the bed.
Zhou Yi wasn't sleepy at all, but thinking Nangong Muyan was tired again, he went along with her wishes and lay down.
When he tried to blow out the candle before getting into bed, she stopped him.
"Zhou Yi, let's keep the light on. I like having some light around."
Nangong Muyan's words carried a deeper meaning, but Zhou Yi didn't yet understand their implications.
It wasn't until he got into bed that he realized something was different.
"Muyan!" Zhou Yi grabbed her wandering hand, his voice tense: "Kisses and hugs are fine, but don't touch there!"
By then, Nangong Muyan's hand had already slipped inside his collar, pressing directly against his chest.
Hearing his words, she gave a soft laugh, then in the next moment, she rolled on top of him, her lips pressed intimately against his: "Zhou Yi, I want to... completely... possess... you!"
Zhou Yi's mind reeled as he suddenly understood all her unusual behavior today.
"Muyan, we can't!" Zhou Yi firmly held her hands, his tone resolute.
"Why not? Don't you want to? I know you do..."
Along with her seductive whisper, she bit his lip - it hurt a little, but in this moment, the pain was like throwing kindling onto a fire.
"Zhou Yi, I love you, and you say you love me. Since we're in love with each other, shouldn't we do everything that lovers do..."
"I want you so badly, Zhou Yi. I think about it day and night, constantly..."
"Zhou Yi, just give in to me..."
Her soft lips traced down his jaw inch by inch. Zhou Yi summoned his last bit of rationality to break free from this carefully laid trap of passion, his voice hoarse: "You're still carrying our child, we can't!"
The lips that had been exploring his throat stopped. Zhou Yi thought she had finally listened to reason and just as he breathed a sigh of relief, Nangong Muyan burst into giggles against his chest.
"So that's what you were worried about! You should have said so earlier!"
In the candlelight, Zhou Yi could only see her eyes sparkling, filled completely with his reflection.
A kiss landed near his ear, followed by a soft, wet tongue wrapping around his earlobe: "Zhou Yi, don't worry. I asked Li Jiu about it - as long as you don't put pressure on my belly, it's fine."
"Re-really?" Zhou Yi felt his mind buzzing, holding onto his last thread of restraint.
"Really. If it weren't for the baby, this would have happened much sooner."
Zhou Yi clearly heard that last thread of restraint snap in his mind.
Her warm body snuggled into his embrace. Following her instructions, he woodenly removed both their clothes until they were completely bare. Then her delicate hands pressed against his chest, and their passionate encounter began...
When the storm of passion finally subsided, the beauty collapsed powerlessly into the man's tight embrace. They held each other in silence, slowly savoring the afterglow of their shared ecstasy.
Zhou Yi was the first to regain his clarity, gently stroking the bare back of the woman on top of him, now covered in a light sheen of sweat.
"Muyan, are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
Zhou Yi was still worried - after all, this was his first time experiencing passion's pleasure, and he feared he might have lost control and hurt Nangong Muyan.
Nangong Muyan hummed contentedly, her jade-like arms wrapping around Zhou Yi's neck again as she lazily pecked at his chin, looking completely satisfied.
"Zhou Yi, it felt wonderful!"
The satisfied sigh that escaped her lovely lips was both indirect and instantly made Zhou Yi's breathing irregular again.
Yet the temptress wasn't done with her seduction, as she smacked her lips and nibbled at his collarbone: "I'm just a little tired, but I'm so happy. I've finally completely possessed you."
The fire that had just settled in Zhou Yi's body roared back to life at these words, burning hotter and hotter until he felt he might melt entirely.
"Muyan..." the man's husky voice rose in the passion-filled bed chamber: "Shall we go once more?"
Nangong Muyan couldn't have wished for anything better, eagerly agreeing: "Yes!"