Dou Zhao wished she could kick Song Mo out of bed.
“How could you casually talk about such things with others?” She sat up abruptly, forgetting she was naked, and glared at Song Mo with her almond-shaped eyes. “Now everyone knows about our private affairs!” As she spoke, tears of frustration began to fall.
“No, no!” Song Mo clumsily tried to wipe her tears with his undershirt, though his eyes couldn’t help but wander over her body. He found the scene more beautiful than any fine moment or scenery and became a bit distracted. “Only the Empress knows. She’s not one to gossip. She watched me grow up, like an aunt. She asked me because she was worried we young newlyweds might not know better and harm the child. It’s not what you’re imagining.”
Dou Zhao blushed and quickly wrapped a robe around herself.
That made things even more troublesome!
She was the birth mother of Prince Liao!
After her stepson was shot dead and her husband died, she still managed to live each day with vigor. How hard-hearted must she be!
Inexplicably, Dou Zhao began to cry. All the past lives hidden in her heart and the negative emotions with nowhere to vent burst forth like floodwaters through a broken dam, surging out with her tears.
In Song Mo’s heart, Dou Zhao was intelligent, quick-witted, and resilient. So when she cried, Song Mo was not only shocked but felt a piercing pain in his heart.
He hurriedly embraced Dou Zhao, apologizing repeatedly: “It’s my fault, it’s my fault! From now on, no matter who asks, I won’t talk about your affairs! Please don’t cry. It’s all my mistake this time. I’ll be more careful in the future!” His hands couldn’t help but caress her soft, smooth skin where they touched her. Feeling the coolness of her skin, he came to his senses and quickly wrapped her in a blanket, continuing to comfort her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry! It’s all my fault! I apologize!”
Perhaps because she knew Song Mo cared for her and would be pained by her sorrow, Dou Zhao cried even harder.
Song Mo could only keep comforting Dou Zhao until he performed a small magic trick, which finally made her laugh through her tears.
He breathed a sigh of relief and pinched her reddened nose, feigning a stern tone: “No more of this in the future. If you have something to say, say it properly!”
Dou Zhao nodded shyly, her usual spiritedness replaced by a girlish coyness.
Song Mo suddenly understood.
Dou Zhao was acting coquettishly with him!
He couldn’t help but smile, not finding it annoying at all. Instead, he felt a sense of satisfaction and joy at being needed.
Song Mo got up to call for hot water to help Dou Zhao clean up.
Dou Zhao held onto the blanket tightly: “I’ll do it myself.”
“Let me,” Song Mo said tenderly, pressing her back into the blanket. “You’re in a delicate condition and just exhausted yourself. Lie down.”
Dou Zhao still clutched the blanket tightly, saying softly: “Has… has my body changed?”
“Not at all!” Song Mo hadn’t noticed anything. “Didn’t the matron say the pregnancy wouldn’t show until five months?”
Other pregnant women would sleep separately from their husbands, only reuniting after the child was two months old. But she and Song Mo spent day and night together, so the changes of pregnancy couldn’t be hidden from him. Still, she didn’t want to be so exposed before Song Mo.
“Really?” Dou Zhao had felt her body becoming heavier lately. “I’d better do it myself.”
Song Mo remembered how she had just been drenched in sweat and then sat arguing with him for so long. Worried she might catch a chill, he didn’t argue further and instead handed her warm towels from the side.
Dou Zhao wiped herself down under the blanket while Song Mo wrapped her in his cloak. Ganlu and the others came in to change the bedding.
Her fair, slender calves peeked out from under the sapphire blue cloak, looking even more smooth and delicate.
Song Mo’s heart stirred at the sight.
After Ganlu and the others withdrew with blushing faces, he tucked Dou Zhao into the bed warmed by hot water bottles, taking the opportunity to slip in beside her.
“Let’s do it again,” he whispered against her cheek, his hand already caressing her breasts, which had grown noticeably fuller with pregnancy.
Half of Dou Zhao’s body went limp.
She felt both angry and annoyed. Angry at herself for being so weak-willed, her heart is completely devoted to Song Mo. Not only did she dote on him, but his touch also aroused her. She was annoyed that Song Mo showed no restraint, only knowing how to tease her without considering her pregnant condition.
Song Mo believed that with the guidance from Palace Matron Yan Xi, he couldn’t possibly make any mistakes. On such a cold night, cuddling together felt warm and cozy even if they just talked.
“I’ll be gentler this time,” he said, pressing against Dou Zhao like a ball of fire, making it difficult for her to breathe.
“Don’t…” she gasped, trying to push Song Mo away, but he had already trailed kisses down to her belly.
Dou Zhao was surprised, then understood.
Song Mo was greeting their child in his way.
In both her past and present lives, all she longed for was a warm family.
Just like what Song Mo was doing now – loving her, cherishing the child she carried.
Dou Zhao’s heart instantly melted.
But Song Mo straightened up and slowly but firmly entered her body.
Although they had just made love and her body still bore his imprint, the swollen fullness filling her made her let out a muffled groan as she grasped the blanket… Her body felt as if it had been set aflame…
In her hazy state, she couldn’t help but think that she’d need to find an excuse to stay home on the Lantern Festival.
In his current state, even if she tried to conceal their intimacy, the spring-like glow in her eyes and brows would give them away. With the Empress’s perceptiveness, she’d likely see through them at a glance.
Instinctively, she didn’t want the Empress to know.
But Song Mo turned her face towards him and said, “Don’t be distracted!” as if it were an insult to them.
Dou Zhao’s expression immediately softened.
Usually, he would thrust into her forcefully until he reached her depths, making her beg for mercy. But now, mindful of the child, he didn’t dare to be too rough.
Dou Zhao’s earlier worries vanished like smoke.
With Song Mo here, what did she have to worry about?