Qushui City was raining.
Every year in September, as autumn arrives, Qushui City experiences a continuous rain that lasts nearly a month, usually extending into early October. Last year, Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an visited Qushui City in November, missing the rainy season. This time, however, they were not so fortunate.
The rain made the roads slippery, making it inconvenient for the carriage to travel. Since they were not in a hurry, they decided to stay and wait for the rainy season to pass. Thus, they had already been in Qushui City for half a month.
Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an chose to stay at the Tidal View Inn again, in the same room, and even the inn's staff remembered them. Their exceptional looks and their extended stay last year made a deep impression on the inn's staff.
The rainy weather made the air damp and cold, with dim light even during the day, so candles were lit in the guest room.
Jiang Ning stood by the window, watching the fine rain threads drift into the vast sea, and slowly placed her hand on her stomach.
Her menstrual cycle had been delayed by five days, something that had never happened before. Since arriving in this world, thanks to the spiritual spring water, Jiang Ning's health had been excellent, never falling ill, and her menstrual cycle had been remarkably regular.
But this time, it was delayed by five days. Jiang Ning knew what this meant.
She watched the rain for a while, feeling increasingly restless. Turning her head, she saw Liu Ming'an sitting on the small couch, fiddling with a chessboard, now holding a chess piece, pondering where to place it.
"Liu Ming'an!"
The voice, filled with anger, came from the window. Liu Ming'an flinched, the chess piece falling onto the board with a "click," and looked up in surprise. Jiang Ning had already rushed to his side, pushing him down and pinning him on the couch.
The chess pieces scattered noisily on the floor, but Liu Ming'an paid no attention, only focusing on the face so close to his.
"Ah Ning, do you... want to sleep with me?"
Seeing her posture, Liu Ming'an reasonably guessed, his eyes sparkling with obvious anticipation.
Since Jiang Ning had a premonition of pregnancy in Jinzhi City, they had not had intimate relations for half a month. Liu Ming'an would hold her every day, kissing and caressing her, even teasing her until her face turned red, but at the crucial moment, he would always be stopped. He had endured for half a month.
Now that Jiang Ning was the one initiating, Liu Ming'an's heart leaped with joy, his mouth curving into a wide smile. Before the person on top could respond, he continued on his own: "Alright! I agree!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, his hands had already quickly untied Jiang Ning's belt.
"What do you agree to? Do I need your permission to sleep with you?"
Jiang Ning mercilessly pulled out the two hands that had slipped into her clothes, pressing them firmly on the couch, not allowing Liu Ming'an to move further.
Liu Ming'an, pinned like a piece of meat on a chopping board, became even more excited.
His body couldn't move, but his mouth didn't stop: "You're right, Ah Ning. You're my wife, it's natural for you to sleep with me, no need for my permission. Come on, don't be shy, I'm ready, absolutely cooperative..."
Jiang Ning was about to be driven mad by this man. Her mood was already bad, and he kept babbling, full of lewd thoughts.
Thinking about how she had been seduced into losing track of time, resulting in an unwanted pregnancy at this age, Jiang Ning was furious. Seeing that never-ending mouth, she lowered her head and bit it fiercely.
"Ouch!" Liu Ming'an winced in pain: "Ah Ning, be gentle, I'm your husband..."
Seeing him in pain, Jiang Ning couldn't help but soften, gently licking the bitten lip.
Liu Ming'an's breathing immediately became heavy. He broke free from the hands holding him down, pulling her tightly into his embrace, and his hot lips and tongue pressed forward.
Jiang Ning obediently nestled in Liu Ming'an's arms, allowing him to kiss her. The kiss seemed to have a soothing power, gradually calming the unease and irritation in her heart.
After the kiss, Liu Ming'an lifted her horizontally and walked towards the bed, but she tightened her arms around his neck and whispered, "My period hasn't come this month."
Liu Ming'an stopped in his tracks, all his passion fading in an instant.
He looked down, seeing Jiang Ning's head resting on his shoulder, her eyes drooping, slightly biting her lip, her expression somewhat dazed.
"Ah Ning..." Liu Ming'an gently kissed her forehead, not knowing what to say, his heart filled with joy, confusion, worry, and melancholy.
Liu Ming'an placed Jiang Ning on the bed as if she were a priceless treasure, then got on himself and pulled her into his embrace, remaining silent for a long time.
Jiang Ning had once told him that they planned to consider having children in four or five years. This child came too unexpectedly, and Jiang Ning was completely unprepared, caught off guard.
"Ah Ning, should I go get a doctor to check?" After a long while, Liu Ming'an tentatively asked.
"It's only been ten days or so, a pulse check won't show anything," Jiang Ning mumbled, burying her face in Liu Ming'an's chest, finding comfort in his warmth.
"Then maybe..." Liu Ming'an wanted to say maybe she wasn't pregnant, maybe it was just a delayed period.
Jiang Ning knew what he was thinking. When her period was delayed by one or two days, she had also thought so, but now it was five days late, and there was no other possibility except pregnancy.
"Liu Ming'an, you have to trust my judgment, I'm definitely pregnant," Jiang Ning hugged Liu Ming'an tighter, her voice muffled, her mood obviously low.
Liu Ming'an didn't know how to comfort her, could only pat her back gently, while one kiss after another landed on her forehead.
After an unknown amount of time, the breathing of the person in his arms became steady. Liu Ming'an looked at Jiang Ning, who had fallen asleep, and also slowed his own breathing, afraid of disturbing her.
The wind from outside blew in, carrying a hint of autumn's chill. As Liu Ming'an gently pulled the quilt to cover their bodies, his gaze involuntarily lingered on Jiang Ning's flat stomach.
Previously, he had only focused on comforting Jiang Ning's emotions and hadn't had time to think much. Now that Jiang Ning was asleep in his arms, he finally realized, belatedly, that he was going to be a father!
There was a child there!
A child of his and Jiang Ning's!
This thought appeared in his mind, and Liu Ming'an's heart began to beat violently, his hands trembling as he held the quilt.
Liu Ming'an put the quilt aside, lifting his trembling hand slowly towards Jiang Ning's stomach.
The sleeping person's abdomen rose and fell rhythmically. Liu Ming'an's hand moved very slowly, the short distance of half an arm's length taking nearly half an hour, his fingertips barely touching Jiang Ning's clothes.
Earlier, when Jiang Ning had pinned him down, his belt had already been untied. Now, Liu Ming'an held his breath, his fingers moving slightly, carefully bypassing the outermost robe, slipping under the inner garment's hem, avoiding the bra, and finally, his palm pressed unhindered against the smooth skin.
Child...
Liu Ming'an thought of this word, his heartbeat accelerating. He remained motionless in this position, his gaze fixed on that spot, his face showing a smile he wasn't even aware of.
Jiang Ning woke up the moment Liu Ming'an's hand touched her, but she didn't make a sound, just watched as Liu Ming'an placed his hand on her stomach, his expression changing from stunned to delighted, eventually breaking into a silly grin.
Like a fool.
Jiang Ning thought, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
The rain outside continued, the raindrops hitting the windowsill with a "rustling" sound.
Jiang Ning lay in Liu Ming'an's arms, his warm hand on her stomach, the worries caused by the unexpected pregnancy gradually dissipating in the sound of the rain.
"Liu Ming'an."
A soft call suddenly sounded in the quiet room. Liu Ming'an's gaze shifted from Jiang Ning's stomach to her face, his eyes filled with endless affection.
Defeated by his gaze, Jiang Ning reached up to hook her arms around Liu Ming'an's neck, pulling him down. As their lips met, she heard herself say, "I'll try my best to learn to be a good mother..."
The rain in Qushui City stopped on the seventh day of October. After a long period of overcast skies, the heavens finally cleared, and sunlight bathed the ground, carrying the salty scent of the sea in the air.
The rain had stopped, but the accumulated water on the roads had yet to dry. Liu Ming'an refused to continue the journey, insisting that they wait until the muddy roads were completely dry.
"It's okay, we can go early and return early," Jiang Ning suggested, knowing that Liu Ming'an was concerned about the bumpy journey potentially harming her, given her recent pregnancy. However, she felt she wasn't that delicate and had experienced no adverse effects since becoming pregnant, eating and sleeping as usual.
"No way!" Liu Ming'an was resolute. "Or we could just head back to Jinzhi City and return after you give birth."
"No, we're not going back," Jiang Ning refused. They were already halfway there, and returning would only mean coming back again, which was a hassle.
"Then you should listen to me and wait until the roads are dry before setting off."
"Alright, alright."
Jiang Ning couldn't argue with him and had to agree.
The journey from Qushui City to Lingshan Town, without any rest, would take about half a month. But given Liu Ming'an's current level of concern, the trip was likely to take nearly a month.
Since the rain had stopped, Jiang Ning, feeling bored at the Tidal View Inn, decided to take Liu Ming'an to Lan Xu's courtyard to see the lily of the valley plants that had been planted especially for her.
Ever since Jiang Ning brought Lan Xu to Jinzhi City, no one had set foot in this courtyard.
Before sending Lan Xu to Fuling Temple, Jiang Ning had informed her that their journey would pass through Qushui City and asked if there was anything from her old home that she wanted to take back to Jinzhi City, considering she had lived there for over a decade.
Lan Xu had waved it off casually, "What could there be? Ling'er, that was just a temporary stop. There's nothing worth missing. Now, Jinzhi City has my daughter, son-in-law, and the abbesses at Fuling Temple. That's my home now. You can just sell that courtyard. The deed is in the bottom drawer of the bedside cabinet."
The courtyard, left unvisited for over half a year, showed signs of neglect. The lock on the door had rusted a dull red, and weeds had grown on the steps on either side.
Jiang Ning looked at the closed gate, remembering the day she had locked it after carrying the drugged Lan Xu out of the house. The key had long since been lost.
"Jiang Ning, how do we get in?" Liu Ming'an asked, looking at the lock with concern.
Normally, Jiang Ning might have kicked the door open, but now that she was pregnant, she couldn't be so rough. Instead, she pointed to a nearby stone and instructed Liu Ming'an to smash the rusty lock with it.
The stone clanged against the lock, and Liu Ming'an glanced around nervously, feeling a strange sense of guilt despite breaking into his mother-in-law's property. Fortunately, after a few hits, the lock "clicked" and half fell off, dangling from the door. Liu Ming'an pushed the door open and followed Jiang Ning inside, closing the door behind them.
The courtyard was as Jiang Ning had expected, with grass growing between the cracks in the stone tiles. The plot where the lily of the valley had been planted was also a mess.
"There's nothing to see," Jiang Ning muttered, then stood in the courtyard for a moment before pulling Liu Ming'an away.
"Do you want to sell this courtyard?" Liu Ming'an asked.
"No, we don't need the money now. Let this courtyard stay here," Jiang Ning said, glancing back at the secluded place, which had been Lan Xu's home.
Liu Ming'an suggested, "We should have Qi Feng fix the lock later."
Jiang Ning nodded, ready to return to the inn with Liu Ming'an, when a distant bell rang.
"It's Universal Blessing Temple," Liu Ming'an said, looking in the direction of the sound, though the walls of the alley blocked most of the view, revealing only a corner of the temple.
Hearing "Universal Blessing Temple," Jiang Ning's eyes flickered, and some memories flashed before her: in the dimly lit Eternal Life Hall, Lan Xu kneeling before rows of eternal life tablets, murmuring, "May Ling'er be safe and sound every year..."
"I want to visit Universal Blessing Temple," Jiang Ning told Liu Ming'an.
"Alright, let's go."
Liu Ming'an assumed she wanted to revisit the place, but he didn't expect Jiang Ning to head straight to the Eternal Life Hall, leaving him in the pavilion outside to wait.
The Eternal Life Hall remained as quiet and dim as ever, with the scent of lamp oil slightly overpowering.
"Are you here to request an eternal life tablet?"
The same monk from last time stood at the entrance of the hall, seeing Jiang Ning enter, he clasped his hands together and said "Amitabha" before starting his business.
Jiang Ning ignored him and walked to the spot where Nangong Ling's tablet had been. As expected, since Lan Xu had left and no one was paying for the lamp oil, the tablet and the lamp had been removed.
"Can the removed tablets be found?" Jiang Ning asked the monk.
"Those within a year are still kept. May I ask whose tablet you are looking for?"
The monk had seen this many times. The monthly cost of a lamp oil for an eternal life tablet was not something everyone could afford continuously. If someone couldn't afford it, the tablet would be removed and stored in a small warehouse at the back of the hall for a year. If not renewed within that time, it would be chopped up for firewood.
Hearing that the tablet was still there, Jiang Ning felt relieved. She reached into her robe and pulled out a palm-sized token, dangling it in front of the monk with a golden thread: "Do you recognize this?"
The monk looked closely and saw a gold-inlaid jade token, square with phoenix feathers carved around the edges, and the words "Hening" engraved in the center.
"Princess Hening?" The monk looked at the person in disbelief.
