Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Ji Lingxiao straightened his sleeves: "Since we've already spoken frankly, there's no need for me to beat around the bush."

"It is still unknown whose child it is."

"But I'm determined to have Jiang Yining."

"From this day forward, I will reside in the west wing."

"Why do you get to live in the west wing?"

Bai Ze was displeased, and his loud voice shook the dust off the roof.

"The west wing is closest to Ningning's main house! That's my territory!"

"You'll live in the stable!"

"You want to fight?"

Ji Lingxiao unfolded a folding fan, his killing intent palpable.

"Fine, I'll fight! Are you afraid of me, you pretty boy?"

Bai Ze brandished his broadsword, his movements powerful and swift.

Chu Sikong fanned the flames from the sidelines.

"Stop arguing, I've already taken over the west courtyard; that's my study."

"If you two would like to stay, the pigsty on the east side is still empty."

"Chu Sikong, you're courting death!"

The three men were arguing.

Looking at the three men who had taken over his home, Chu Jinglan felt more like an outsider.

Jiang Yining sighed inwardly as she looked at Chu Jinglan's shattered worldview and teetering state.

This pot of porridge is now completely burnt.

"vomit--"

I don't know if it was the scene that spurred me on, or if I was really experiencing morning sickness.

Jiang Yining clutched her chest and gagged.

"Ningning!"

"Summon the imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

"Get out of my way! Don't block my view of my wife!"

The three men moved at the same time, instantly pushing Chu Jinglan to the outermost circle.

Chu Jinglan stood outside the crowd, looking at his wife who was surrounded by people fussing over her, and then at the huge general's mansion.

Suddenly I realized...

He seems... to really be the redundant one.

The three men escorted Jiang Yining to rest, and in the blink of an eye, only Chu Jinglan remained.

The wind blew through the doorway, stirring up the dust on the ground.

Desolate and bleak.

"Jiang Yining..."

Chu Jinglan murmured the name softly.

"How many more surprises are you going to give me?"

……

Late at night.

Autumn rain always comes unexpectedly, pattering against the windowpanes and enveloping the entire Chu residence in a damp and chilly atmosphere.

Inside the master bedroom, the underfloor heating was burning brightly.

Jiang Yining turned over and pulled the blanket up to cover half of her face.

I can't sleep... I'm hungry.

That agonizing hunger felt like a tiny hand constantly scratching inside my stomach.

I want something sour, really sour, preferably freshly pickled green plums from that old-established shop in the south of the city, and they have to be chilled.

"well……"

Jiang Yining sighed in the darkness.

Just as I was about to get up to pour myself a glass of water, the window suddenly made a soft "click" sound.

Jiang Yining narrowed her eyes warily and quietly reached for the gold hairpin under her pillow.

A dark shadow, like a falling leaf, silently slipped into the house.

The person moved extremely fast, landing silently without even stirring up a gust of wind.

By the dim light of the ground lamp, Jiang Yining was able to see who had come.

Dressed in a dark black night outfit, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and though his face was covered, those exposed, aggressive eyes could only belong to Bai Ze.

This silly dog ​​doesn't sleep at night, it comes here to steal?

Before she could say anything, a figure suddenly hung upside down from the roof beam.

Dressed in purple, with long hair hanging down, and holding a folding fan in her hand, she tapped Bai Ze on the shoulder as he landed.

"General Bai."

Ji Lingxiao's voice carried a chilling sarcasm.

"Breaking into a woman's room in the dead of night, are you trying to become a womanizer?"

Bai Ze was startled and almost let out a scream, but he managed to hold it back.

He ripped off his face mask and roared in a low voice, "You old scoundrel Ji! Are you hanging up there like a bat?!"

"I am on night patrol."

Ji Lingxiao landed lightly, straightening his clothes: "But you, sneaking around like that, what are you up to?"

"I...I came to check if Ningning was properly covered up!"

Bai Ze said matter-of-factly, "It's raining today, and the humidity is high. What if her leg hurts because she's injured?"

"Heh." Ji Lingxiao sneered, "You've come up with a pretty grand excuse, but I think you're trying to take advantage of my weakness."

"You're talking nonsense! If you didn't want to take advantage of the situation, why were you hanging it on the roof beam?!"

Two high-ranking officials, like two childish children, were hurling insults at each other in front of Jiang Yining's bed.

Jiang Yining rolled her eyes on the bed.

Can you please let her have some peace and quiet?

Just as the two were arguing fiercely, a very suppressed cough suddenly came from under the bed.

"cough……"

The voice was muffled, as if someone had covered his mouth.

The two fell silent instantly, both turning their gazes to the canopy bed.

Jiang Yining also froze.

She lifted the bed curtains and looked down under the bed.

Chu Sikong was huddled in the gap under the bed where the footstool was placed, holding a hot water bottle in his arms, looking at her with an innocent expression.

"My wife..."

He blinked, his voice soft and sweet: "It's a bit dusty down there, can I sleep up here?"

Jiang Yining: "..."

Ji Lingxiao: "..."

Bai Ze: "..."

"Chu! Si! Kong!"

Bai Ze was the first to explode, drawing his sword and charging in: "You perverted bastard! How long have you been hiding under the bed?!"

"Not long."

Chu Sikong slowly crawled out from under the bed and dusted himself off.

"It probably started after my wife finished her bath and went to bed."

"I'll kill you!!" Bai Ze's eyes turned red.

Ji Lingxiao also looked like he had swallowed a fly, and it took a lot of effort for him to resist throwing the folding fan in his hand.

Chu Sikong didn't dodge, but simply leaned against Jiang Yining's bedside, looking like he was in the right because he was weak.

"I'm cold."

He clutched the corner of Jiang Yining's draped blanket, his glassy eyes shimmering with tears.

"I can't sleep; only the scent of my wife brings me peace of mind."

"and……"

Chu Sikong took out an oil paper package from his pocket and presented it to Jiang Yining like a treasure.

"I know my wife wants to eat this."

The oil paper package was opened, revealing several vibrant green plums, still covered in frost, emitting an enticing sweet and sour aroma.

Jiang Yining's throat bobbed involuntarily.

This little madwoman actually guessed her little thoughts?

"You..." Jiang Yining was about to reach out her hand.

"You're not allowed to eat it!"

"You can't eat it!"

Ji Lingxiao and Bai Ze rushed over at the same time.

"This stuff is too cold!"

Ji Lingxiao snatched the oil paper package away: "You're pregnant now, how can you eat such raw and cold food?"

"Exactly! If we're going to eat anything, it'll be the hot food I bought!"

Bai Ze pulled a steaming hot roasted sweet potato from his pocket: "I just dug this out of the stove in the kitchen, it's sweet!"

In an instant, green plums, roasted sweet potatoes, and a bowl of bird's nest that Ji Lingxiao conjured up from who-knows-where were all piled up in front of Jiang Yining.

Three men, three different looks.

Gloomy, passionate, domineering.

Squeezed into this small inner room, the air felt thin.

"Alright! Leave your food, everyone go!"

Jiang Yining's face turned cold.

The three looked at each other in bewilderment.

In the end, Ji Lingxiao was the first to be defeated.

"Okay, let's go." He gave Jiang Yining a deep look. "Don't get angry, take care of yourself."

After saying that, he grabbed Bai Ze, who was still trying to argue, and kicked Chu Sikong again. Only then did the three of them reluctantly leave the room.

Outside, the rain was still falling.

The three men who had been driven out did not go far, but instead squatted side by side on the steps under the corridor like three door gods.

Bai Ze was bored, gnawing on his own hand, looking depressed.

Ji Lingxiao waved his fan, gazing absently at the rain curtain.

Chu Sikong was fiddling with the empty oil paper package, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

Just then, a figure slowly walked towards the end of the corridor.

Without an umbrella, he let the rain soak him.

Chu Jinglan was carrying a pot of wine and was walking unsteadily, clearly having drunk too much.

Upon seeing the three men squatting at his wife's door, Chu Jinglan paused, then let out a sneer.

"Oh……"

He walked up to the three men, leaned against a pillar, and tilted his head back to take a swig of wine.

The liquor dripped down his chin and into his collar, exuding a dashing yet unruly air.

"What? They've all been kicked out?"

Chu Jinglan looked at the two people who were usually high and mighty, but now they were squatting here like stray dogs, and a twisted sense of pleasure welled up in his heart.

"It seems she doesn't like you guys very much inside either."

Ji Lingxiao looked up and glanced at him indifferently: "That's still better than some people not even being able to get in."

Chu Jinglan's face stiffened.

"This is my house!" he growled. "I can come in whenever I want!"

Bai Ze scoffed, "Then go in."