Prefect Shang was eager for Liu Mu and his team to set out for the capital with the wokou heads and captives that very night—the sooner, the better; the earlier they arrived in the capital, the better.
Zhu Ping’an quickly intervened to stop him.
First, the Zhejiang troops had just fought a full day’s battle, followed by a night of battlefield cleanup without rest. To send them off immediately was too harsh—their bodies couldn’t take it. Even a workhorse from a production team wouldn’t be driven so relentlessly.
Second, escorting captives to the capital wasn’t like the 800-li urgent dispatch of a victory report. This journey involved over a thousand people—men eating, horses feeding, provisions to arrange, and the transport of wokou heads and prisoners. Safety was paramount. Rushing out at night was a reckless taboo—it required meticulous planning and tight organization.
Under Zhu Ping’an’s persuasion, Shang agreed to let Liu Mu and the team depart at dawn the next day.
Shang took charge of arranging provisions overnight, while Zhu Ping’an worked with Liu Mu and others to devise a detailed plan.
How many miles to cover each day, where to camp and rest, how to handle emergencies en route, how to prevent the wokou captives from escaping—the works.
By the time Zhu Ping’an finished, it was two or three in the morning. Too rushed to change out of his military gear, he washed his hands three times in a hurry and galloped back home.
“The young master’s back! The young master’s back!”
The night watchman at the mansion gate spotted Zhu Ping’an returning with his men and practically jumped three feet high, shouting excitedly into the residence.
Everyone who heard relayed the cry toward the rear courtyard, the sound of “The young master’s back!” echoing along the way.
By the time Zhu Ping’an reached the rear courtyard’s floral archway, Li Shu was already there, supported by Hua’er and Qin’er, her face blooming with a radiant smile.
“It’s so late, and the chill is heavy—why aren’t you asleep in bed? What are you doing out here?” Zhu Ping’an hurried forward in two strides, taking over from Hua’er and Qin’er to support Li Shu, his voice laced with concern.
Li Shu shot him a coy glance, her delicate hand resting on her belly as she pouted, “It’s all your little ones’ fault. Normally, I’d be fast asleep by now, but tonight, knowing you were coming back, they wouldn’t settle down. They’ve been kicking nonstop in my belly, keeping me awake.”
“Those two little rascals—I’ll teach them a lesson when they’re out, show them what ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’ means,” Zhu Ping’an said, reaching out to pat Li Shu’s belly with mock sternness.
Li Shu’s face flushed red instantly. She pinched his arm hard with her small hand, scolding, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Young Master, the little lords are still tiny, still in the mistress’s belly—they don’t know any better! You can’t really hit them. If you must hit someone, hit me instead!” Baozi, the little maid Hua’er, overheard Zhu Ping’an’s talk of discipline and thought he meant to punish the unborn babies. She piped up nervously.
At Hua’er’s words, Li Shu couldn’t help but cover her mouth, giggling at the girl’s earnest confusion.
“Mistress, what’s wrong?” Hua’er asked, utterly baffled.
That only made Li Shu laugh harder.
Hua’er grew even more perplexed.
She checked herself over repeatedly—had her makeup smudged? Was her hair ornament on backward? Were her clothes inside out?
After several inspections and finding nothing amiss, she even dragged Qin’er to double-check. Still nothing.
Now she was completely lost.
Back in the rear courtyard, Zhu Ping’an quickly changed, took a brisk hot bath, and joined Li Shu in bed.
“Why don’t I call Hua’er in to keep you company? Really, I’m so close to giving birth now—Nanny Wang stressed we can’t mess around anymore. You’ve been out fighting, full of pent-up energy—you must be suffering. Nanny Wang says it’s bad for a man to hold it in too long,” Li Shu said shyly, resting on Zhu Ping’an’s arm, tracing circles on his chest.
“Seriously, let Hua’er tend to you. She’s obedient—you can do whatever you want. Those embarrassing tricks of yours—I can’t manage them, but Hua’er can handle them all,” she continued, her voice teasing.
“Hua’er—I won’t be jealous. She’s my designated dowry maid anyway. Once you take her, she’ll be elevated to concubine.”
Li Shu kept going.
Zhu Ping’an listened, then playfully smacked her firm backside, chiding, “What are you babbling about? I’m not some rutting boar that needs that to survive! Stop overthinking—holding you like this is more than enough.”
“Villain, that hurt!” Li Shu’s face turned scarlet, her eyes sultry as she pouted, “Who’s overthinking? You’re the one out there talking about ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’—don’t tell me that’s not what you were thinking!”
Her cheeks grew even redder at the phrase, like a ripe peach.
“Sweat, I meant it literally—disciplining them after they’re born,” Zhu Ping’an protested.
“No way! The way you looked at me then was off—like you wanted to devour me. I know that look too well—every time, you leave me completely spent,” Li Shu stopped circling his chest and gave him a firm smack.
“Cough, cough… I was joking then. Nanny Wang told me too—no intimacy in the last two months of pregnancy,” Zhu Ping’an coughed, his face reddening.
“I knew you were up to no good,” Li Shu teased, then added enticingly, “Brother Zhu, I can’t, but Hua’er can. Her cycle just ended a few days ago—whatever you want, she’s game. I know that girl—she’s been smitten with you for ages, just waiting for your favor.”
“Keep talking nonsense, and that smack wasn’t enough—want another?” Zhu Ping’an raised his hand in mock threat.
“Villain, I’m doing this for you,” Li Shu pouted.
“If it’s for me, then behave and stop making decisions for me. Really, just the two of us is enough,” Zhu Ping’an said, gently rubbing her belly. “Well, soon it’ll be four— isn’t that crowded enough? If you think it’s not, once they’re born, I’ll work harder.”
“Work harder at what, you rogue? I’m not a sow churning out litter after litter!” Li Shu’s face flushed again.
“Little Sister Li, to have you in this life—the Zhu family’s ancestral graves must be billowing green smoke,” Zhu Ping’an said, taking her small hand and propping himself up to look at her earnestly. “I’ve told you before—I’m not like others. I only have room to love one person in this life. I’ve no interest in three wives or four concubines. You and I are enough—one pair for life, till our hair turns white.”
Li Shu’s big eyes reddened, tears streaming down. “Villain, why’d you make me cry again?”
“I didn’t mean to!” Zhu Ping’an said, bewildered.
“You did, you did, you absolutely did!” Li Shu pounded his chest, refusing to hear otherwise.
