My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

As night deepened, the lights in the main hall went out.

Li Ju took Wei Gui's hand and walked along the corridor towards the bedroom.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed gently in the night breeze, casting long and short shadows of the two people that overlapped, like a constantly changing silhouette.

Wei Gui walked beside him, shoulder to shoulder, occasionally glancing at him with a faint smile on her lips.

Once inside the bedroom, the door was closed, and only one candle remained lit.

The dim, yellowish light spilled onto the bed, turning the bed curtains a warm orange hue.

Li Ju turned around and gently pressed Wei Gui against the door.

He raised his hand and cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheekbone.

She had lost weight, and her cheekbones were more defined than they had been four months ago, but her eyes remained bright, like a lake in late autumn, calm and warm.

"Liu Lang..." she whispered, but before she could finish speaking, his lips covered hers.

At first, it was very light, like a dragonfly skimming the water, gently pecking at her lips.

Wei Gui closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling slightly, his fingers gripping his clothes, slowly loosening, and climbing up his neck.

He gently wrapped his palm around her waist, slowly pulling her into his embrace, his tenderness growing stronger with each kiss.

Wei Gui leaned back slightly, looking somewhat shy and wanting to avoid him, but was gently encircled by his arm, leaving him no way to escape.

Their lips met, their breaths mingled, their love blossomed, and their gentle breaths enveloped each other.

Wei Gui let out a muffled whimper and gently pushed his chest.

Li Ju released her, his breathing slightly disordered.

Wei Gui coughed twice, his cheeks flushed, his eyes glistening with tears, and he gently punched him, saying, "Sixth Brother, you... made me choke."

Li Ju pressed his forehead against hers and chuckled softly, "I missed you."

Wei Gui's ears burned from his words, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt a tightness beside him.

Her face flushed even more, and she quickly lowered her eyes, pursing her lips, unable to utter a single word.

She knew in her heart that he had not meant to be abrupt—he had been away from home for a long time, and was still full of youthful vigor. It was only natural that he was so affectionate and unable to control himself at this moment.

Li Ju also sensed it, took a small step back, and coughed lightly.

There was a few moments of silence.

Wei Gui raised her eyes to look at him and said softly, "Sixth Brother, you should go to Lady Yuwen's place. I... am not available right now." Her hand gently rested on her lower abdomen.

Li Ju looked into her eyes without moving.

"I don't want to go." He took her hand and pulled her back into his arms, this time just a gentle embrace, without any deeper meaning. "I'll stay with you tonight."

Wei Gui buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled: "But you..."

"I can endure it," Li Ju said.

Wei Gui remained silent for a moment, then lifted his head from his embrace, his gaze lingering on his face for a while.

She didn't try to persuade him anymore, but simply took his hand and led him to the bedside, where she made him sit down.

——Separation line——

Li Ju paused for a moment, then reached out and pulled her up, embracing her tightly as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said softly, his voice a little hoarse. "Don't do that again."

Wei Gui leaned against his chest, listening to his gradually calming heartbeat, and whispered, "Liu Lang, do you know, in the four months you were gone, I would sit under the eaves for a while every day. I would watch that old locust tree, from being bare to sprouting, and then to growing leaves. I thought, when you come back, we can sit under the tree to cool off, play chess, and listen to the cicadas."

Li Ju kissed the top of her head: "It will happen, I promise you."

"Okay." Wei Gui smiled. "I'll wait for you."

The next morning.

When Li Ju woke up, Wei Gui was still asleep. She was lying on her side, her long hair spread out on the pillow, her breathing even, her eyelashes slightly curled, like a child.

Without waking her, he quietly got up, put on an outer robe, and went out the door.

In the east wing, Yuwen Yue was already waiting with a copper basin and a handkerchief.

She wore a light purple dress, her black hair was simply tied up, and she wore no makeup, looking fresh and clean. Seeing Li Ju come out, she curtsied and said, "Good morning, my lord."

"Good morning." Li Ju took the towel and washed her face.

Yuwen Yue brought over another bowl of warm porridge: "My lord, please have something to eat first. Breakfast will have to wait a while."

Li Ju took the bowl of porridge and drank two mouthfuls.

Yuwen Yue had already squatted down, taken off his shoes and socks, and immersed his feet in warm water.

Her fingers were long and slender, and her pressure was just right as she massaged her feet, inch by inch, from the soles to the ankles.

Then he massaged her calves and knees with skillful technique.

Li Ju leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"Have you studied this?" he asked.

Yuwen Yue said softly, "I learned it from the old nanny in the manor. Father used to say that soldiers who march and fight are the most tired. Once their feet are relaxed, their whole body feels lighter." She paused, without looking up, "My lord has worked hard at the Capital Water Conservancy Bureau."

Li Ju opened his eyes, looked at her lowered profile, and remained silent for a moment.

"Last night—" he began.

Yuwen Yue's hand paused slightly, and she looked up at him with a calm gaze.

"My lord should stay and keep my wife company," she said softly. "My wife is pregnant, and this is the time when she needs my lord the most. I don't blame my lord, and my lord has not done anything wrong."

Li Ju looked at her, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him.

......

Li Ju released her and straightened her clothes.

Yuwen Yue turned around, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glistening with tears, and said with lowered eyes, "Thank you, my lord."

Li Ju raised his hand and gently brushed away a stray hair from her forehead.

Yuwen Yue looked up at him, a slight smile playing on her lips. Without saying anything more, she picked up the copper basin and left the room.

Wei Gui stood under the eaves, holding a freshly made osmanthus cake in his hand, watching Yuwen Yue emerge from the east wing from afar, his steps a little weak.

She smiled slightly, but didn't call out to her. She simply turned and went into the kitchen.

"Is breakfast ready?" she asked the maid.

The maid nodded: "Madam, the porridge is ready, and the dishes are prepared as well."

"Let's set the table," Wei Gui said softly, picking up a piece of osmanthus cake, taking a small bite—it was sweet.