You Yuji’s fingertips gently touched under Si Que’s eyes. He continued to lazily snuggle against her, not opening his eyes, but instead pointing to his own face.
You Yuji frowned. After ten months of pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery, she didn’t immediately grasp this familiar hint. After a long moment, until Si Que looked at her with expectant eyes, she suddenly understood. She smiled, then leaned in to kiss his face.
He was asking for a kiss.
Her lips brushed against Si Que’s cheek, and before pulling away, You Yuji hesitated, then moved down to cover his lips.
She gently brushed her lips against his, then extended her tongue to lightly lick.
Si Que let out a playful “Oh,” in a teasing tone, “Sister knows how to kiss me on her own?”
You Yuji, her lips against his, softly said, “Don’t talk.”
You tell me not to talk, and I won’t? I’m still talking.
“Sister, kiss me again.” Si Que placed his hand on You Yuji’s waist, inching closer.
“Pull down the curtains,” You Yuji pushed his shoulder.
Si Que obediently lowered the bed curtains, then undid You Yuji’s clothes and buried himself in her. The milk that was supposed to be for the children ended up in Si Que’s mouth, having been prepared in advance for the wet nurse.
You Yuji did not follow local customs but adhered to her homeland’s traditions, celebrating the baby’s hundredth day instead of the full month. On the day of the twins’ full month, You Yuji finally stepped outside, feeling the cool breeze. Although it was chilly, it felt refreshing and liberating.
She smiled, feeling as if she was “alive” again.
“Meow.” Baisui, the cat, jumped down from the eaves and landed at You Yuji’s feet, repeatedly rubbing its head against her feet. It didn’t understand why You Yuji was ill and why it was no longer allowed to enter her room freely. Once, it had sneaked in and napped in her arms but was then thrown out by Si Que.
You Yuji crouched down, stroking its head and gently explaining, “Baisui, you’ve got two new little friends. They’re still small now, but when they grow a bit, you can play with them.”
Baisui didn’t understand, but hearing You Yuji’s voice again was enough to make it happy.
As soon as she could go out, You Yuji visited her mother. After using Doctor Hu’s prescription, her mother had been in a deep sleep but looked noticeably better, with a much steadier pulse.
You Yuji sat by the bed, gently holding her mother’s hand and softly whispered, “Mother, you have a grandson and a granddaughter now.”
A few days after You Yuji’s confinement period ended, Cuiyu and Lin Yingying brought gifts to celebrate.
“I heard you’re not hosting a full month banquet, but we still prepared gifts,” Lin Yingying said with a sweet smile, her dimples showing.
“Come, sit,” You Yuji invited them to sit by her side and called for the children when Cuiyu eagerly asked to see them.
The gifts for the children had been prepared since they knew You Yuji was pregnant. Cuiyu, who loved money, had prepared extravagant gifts, including a large gold rocking horse so heavy that Zhenxu and Baohe had difficulty carrying it.
Lin Yingying, besides getting protective charms from a temple, had made numerous clothes for the children herself, covering all seasons, including little shoes and socks.
“Sister, what are their names?” Lin Yingying asked sweetly.
“They don’t have names yet; we just call them Xingxing for now.”
“Oh,” Lin Yingying smiled, shaking a little bell at the babies, “Stars, stars. Two little stars!”
Chatting with them, You Yuji learned how intense the outside battle had become. Since twins were somewhat risky, You Yuji had spent the two months before giving birth in peace, not caring about worldly affairs, and then a month after giving birth. It was only three months, but she hadn’t expected Si Lang to lead his troops to the capital so quickly.
After playing with the babies for a while, Cuiyu kept signaling to Lin Yingying with her eyes. Lin Yingying frowned slightly, hesitating.
They were very curious about the children’s father but didn’t dare to ask. On their way over, they had debated whether to ask or not. After sitting for over half an hour, their curiosity grew, especially Cuiyu, who could barely hold back. But she knew Lin Yingying was more tactful with words, so she kept giving her hints, hoping she would ask.
While they were hesitating, Si Que walked in, carrying a box of candied fruits You Yuji had requested.
Seeing Si Que in men’s clothing, both Cuiyu and Lin Yingying were stunned, staring at him as he walked over. Cuiyu was so shocked she forgot to swallow the tea she had just sipped.
Si Que walked over to You Yuji, bent down, and placed the candied fruits on the table. As he straightened up, he glanced at the astonished Cuiyu and casually asked, “What are you staring at, little troublemaker?”
“Pfft—” Cuiyu was about to scream, but the tea in her mouth sprayed out first.
Si Que glanced disdainfully at the tea stains on the floor, lazily lifting his eyelids to look at her, “Is this how you learn the rules at the Princess’s Mansion?”
Cuiyu took the handkerchief Lin Yingying handed her, wiping her mouth while wide-eyed and gesturing frantically at You Yuji, unable to speak.
You Yuji couldn’t help but smile. She gently tugged on Si Que’s hand and looked up at him, “They’re both asleep. Let the wet nurse take them.”
Once Si Que and the children left, Cuiyu and Lin Yingying turned their wide-eyed gazes to You Yuji, eager to hear the story.
You Yuji smiled softly and said, “I only found out later that he was a man.”
Just that one sentence left Cuiyu and Lin Yingying with plenty to imagine. They exchanged excited glances, their curiosity barely contained. Many things that were previously unclear to them now seemed to make sense.
After sitting for a while longer, Cuiyu was called back to the Princess’s Mansion, leaving grumbling about not staying long enough. You Yuji squeezed her hand and smiled, “The food here is still light for now. Come back when they celebrate their hundredth day; there will be a roast lamb then.”
Hearing about the roast lamb, Cuiyu finally smiled.
Lin Yingying stayed a bit longer, as You Yuji had specially asked her to.
You Yuji spoke, “I’ve often felt helpless these past few months and wanted to ask how you’ve been.”
“I’m doing well,” Lin Yingying said sweetly, “Still living in the same place. The bun shop is closed now, but with the money Cuiyu lent me, I opened a restaurant. Business is okay. It was busy at first, but last month I hired two more people, so it’s not as tiring now.”
You Yuji asked about the location and listened to Lin Yingying talk about the restaurant. Then she gently asked, “And how are things with him?”
Lin Yingying’s smile faded, and her brows furrowed, her eyes filled with confusion.
“Sister,” she called, then again, “Sister, I don’t know.”
She inched closer, leaning helplessly against You Yuji’s arm, her voice hollow, “Sister, I’m too scared.”
You Yuji gently patted her back, asking softly, “What don’t you know?”
“I don’t know why he likes me. I don’t know if this kind of liking is worth taking a risk for. He talks about becoming a legendary rebel. But how can a legend be so muddled and unclear? The origin and development of this feeling are so unclear…” Lin Yingying was deeply puzzled, “Sister, what does truly deep affection look like? Deep enough to be worth risking everything for? How do you tell if it’s just a moment of confusion? I feel like we are just confused…”
You Yuji patiently listened to Lin Yingying, understanding her convoluted thoughts.
“Liking someone is just liking them,” You Yuji said gently, “Someone once told me that if this feeling of liking sprouts, it deserves sincerity, no matter how much or how little.”
“Those deep, memorable love stories are always accompanied by the protagonists’ suffering. They are just stories to listen to, not something to actually seek out with all that bitterness for a moment of sweetness.” You Yuji paused for a moment, Si Que’s image flashing in her mind. She pursed her lips gently before continuing, “Yingying, the reason love between men and women is so precious is that it doesn’t follow any rigid rules, no mechanical principles. There may be countless reasons for the emotion of liking to arise, but true, lasting affection is singular: feeling at ease and happy with the person.”
“It’s not about what he is like that makes you like him. It’s because you like him that you appreciate everything about him.” You Yuji explained, “Not understanding where this liking comes from is getting the order wrong.”
Lin Yingying listened quietly to You Yuji’s comforting words, feeling her confusion slightly dissipate. Perhaps she shouldn’t be so timid. Her sister was right; since she had developed feelings, why not be a bit braver? What if the result was bad? At least the process of moving forward would be fearless and without regret.
“Knock, knock.” Baohe lightly knocked on the door from outside. “Young Master An is here again.”
“Don’t see him,” You Yuji said, looking at the peace amulet Lin Yingying had gotten for the children, thinking how Chen Anzhi still didn’t know her twins had already turned a month old and was still dreaming of a reconciliation.
After nightfall, Chunxing also came over with her handmade pastries and toys for the children.
Soon it was the day of the children’s hundredth day celebration. Cuiyu and Lin Yingying arrived early and saw people from the You residence carrying beef, lamb, and even a wild boar.
Cuiyu’s eyes curved into a smile, “Looks like there’s more than just roast lamb to eat!”
At that moment, Si Que was sitting at the table, measuring the peace lock You Yuji had given him with a ruler, making marks on it, and carefully cutting it with a knife.
When You Yuji had given him this small gold lock, he had found it tacky but wore it every day, hoping for the child’s birth so he could rightfully pass it on. With twins born, he had to cut the small gold lock into two equal parts.
You Yuji was fixing her hair and glanced back at him, “It’s just a little gold lock, is it worth all this?”
“This is called a father’s fairness.”
You Yuji smiled, placing a hairpin in her hair, and looked in the mirror before walking out.
“Cuiyu and Lin Yingying are already here, and Ah Chun will arrive soon. I’m going out.” As You Yuji passed Si Que, she lightly tapped his cheek with her fingertip.
Si Que finally lifted his gaze from the gold lock, following her fingertip as it slowly lowered.
“Starting to bewitch me again. Did I give you permission to take it away, vixen?”—This, of course, was what Si Que thought to himself.
Just as she reached the door, You Yuji suddenly stopped and smiled back, “Have you thought of names yet?”
Si Que coughed lightly, putting on a compliant smile, “I’m seriously thinking about it.”
You Yuji, noticing his expression, knew he was muttering to himself again. She gave him a meaningful glance and then casually looked away, gracefully walking out.
Si Que watched her graceful figure and finally spoke, “Vixen.”
You Yuji’s eyes sparkled with a smile but she didn’t look back.
The hundredth-day banquet for the twins was conducted entirely according to Si’s old customs, with the aroma of various roasted meats wafting out of the You residence, intoxicatingly fragrant. You Heng had taken leave from the army to be there, and You Jiamu, who followed You Heng everywhere, naturally stayed home as well.
“Will taking leave delay anything?” You Yuji asked gently.
You Heng shook his head, saying, “It’s just the last futile resistance, all in vain.”
You Yuji was silent for a moment before asking, “In your opinion, how much longer can the capital hold out?”
“You’re asking me?” You Heng laughed heartily, lifting his chin, “You should ask your husband.”
You Heng found Si Que somewhat magical, always predicting the exact date when a city would fall while staying at home taking care of his wife and children.
By now, he believed that the Si Kingdom might indeed be restored. Si Lang, leading a powerful army, was making significant advances, seemingly unstoppable. However, it was still unclear who would ultimately sit on the throne.
Before the feast, Si Que finished cutting the small gold lock and arrived. Aside from You Yuji’s close friends, only family members were present. Even You Yuji’s cousin, Jiao Yushu, couldn’t come because he wasn’t in the capital.
You Yuji had the servants enjoy the roast meat as well, filling the courtyard with laughter and cheer.
Si Que watched coldly, still feeling that the twins’ hundredth-day banquet was a bit sparse. He glanced at his baby daughter in the wet nurse’s arms, thinking to himself that he would make up for it at their first birthday celebration.
He was about to pick up the tea cup when he realized he had only looked at his daughter, so he glanced at his son as well.
Yes, that was fair.
The festivities continued until mid-afternoon when Jiang Chun, Lin Yingying, and Cuiyu bid their farewells. The two children had already been taken away by the wet nurses, and You Yuji, feeling a bit lazy, went back to her room to rest for a while.
Si Que smoothed the edges of the two halves of the gold lock before placing them on the children. The two wet nurses exchanged puzzled looks; the residence wasn’t poor, so why did each child only have half a gold lock?
They didn’t understand.
When Si Que returned to the bedroom, You Yuji was already awake, lounging lazily on a beauty couch with a book in her hand. Si Que, disliking the smell of roasted meat on his clothes, went to the cleansing room to bathe.