Tantai Ye had not expected her to suddenly agree, directly placing her on a table behind him and kissing her passionately.
"Why did you suddenly agree?"
Lan Murou's heart trembled. Looking at his features, she instinctively drew closer.
"Don't you want to marry me?"
After years of entanglement, experiencing life and death together, she didn't want to waste any more of their future.
Being retorted by her, a smile was painted on Tantai Ye's deep features. He lowered his head to kiss her, his voice hoarse and deep.
"I dream of it."
The two bodies embraced tightly, kissing passionately.
Tantai Ye's back was tingling. His eyes were red, full of desire.
"Call me husband."
Lan Murou reached up to hold his neck, her voice soft and sweet, "Husband."
His fingers grasped her hands one by one, fingers interlaced, their pulses beating together as if instantly transmitted to their hearts, a dense, hot burning.
"Rou'er."
His voice was low and hoarse, his dark pupils looking at her with longing.
Lan Murou bit her lip slightly, saying nothing.
A gust of palm wind swept through, and the room instantly darkened.
She suddenly looked up and kissed his lips.
"Come back soon, I'll wait for you."
Tantai Ye could not resist her seduction, quickly picking her up and walking towards the bed.
Under the crimson bridal tent, passion ignited.
At the peak of their intimacy, he lowered his head and coaxed in her ear.
"Be good and wait for me to come back and marry you."
As the night dispersed and the sun rose, the sound of sparrows flapping their wings could occasionally be heard against the window panes.
Tantai Ye left without waking her.
He sat by the bed and watched her for a long time. The people outside urged him on. He gently kissed her lips, leaving with reluctance.
Lan Murou was too exhausted from the ordeal to notice his departure. When she woke up and saw no one, she put on her clothes and rushed towards the city gate.
Qing Feng saw her emerge and quickly followed.
Before departing, the general had left him and the Eagle Guards behind, ordering them to protect Madam secretly.
When Lan Murou reached the city wall, she could only see the departing army from afar.
She stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance, her eyes soft.
Qing Feng said, "Madam, let's go back."
Since Tantai Ye left, Lan Murou had either been at Beigong or busy at home.
The Tantai family had come to find her twice, inviting her to eat with them at the mansion. She couldn't refuse them continuously, so she went.
Perhaps Tantai Ye had given instructions, but no one gave her a hard time. The entire household was filled with laughter and joy.
Wei Qingge often came to see her. When they had nothing to do, they would go to Beigong to play.
With Liu Rongruo not in court and Xiao Chizhan busy with state affairs and looking after two children, they would always see him attending to the two little ancestors whenever they visited.
The King of Dingbei of the Great Liang, a figure of dread in the eyes of the world, was one day seen in such a state.
The two of them were amused and talked endlessly in front of Ye Luan.
Ye Luan smiled, "This father king is certainly not an easy title to earn."
Lan Murou said with a smile, "His Highness really listens to you, actually not letting the wet nurse or nanny feed them."
Wei Qingge nudged her, amazed at her recovery, and exclaimed.
"The things from the Western Regions are truly potent. You don't look like you've given birth at all."
Since becoming pregnant, Ye Luan had focused on body maintenance. After giving birth, she had rested for a long time, continued to exercise, and received specialized care. Her figure had recovered well, with curves and grace.
Especially in her eyes, perhaps due to having a child, she had become more alluring and charming.
Ye Luan brushed a strand of hair from her ear and walked to the cradle, looking at the sleeping faces of the two children, and said with a smile.
"I've been exercising all along."
The few of them chatted and laughed, and the days passed quickly.
Lan Murou quite liked the two children, so she often came to help her.
One day, she suddenly felt nauseous and vomited.
Ye Luan quickly took her pulse, and the result was as expected: a pregnancy pulse.
Lan Murou's face showed surprise. She suddenly remembered that night before he left, a faint blush appearing on her face.
She told no one, not even Lan Muyan, and hid in the mansion, rarely going out.
Ye Luan often came to see her and brought her prenatal medicine.
Wei Qingge also stopped running around and stayed in the mansion to accompany her.
When the news of the army's return spread, Lan Murou was playing chess with Wei Qingge in the mansion.
Upon hearing that Tantai Ye had returned to the capital, her heart fluttered slightly.
"Alright, I'm going back to my mansion."
Wei Qingge smiled and patted her twice.
Lan Murou did not stop her, quietly sitting in the pavilion outside the courtyard, waiting.
Tantai Ye returned quickly. Xiao Chizhan had already informed him of his impending fatherhood in a letter.
As soon as he returned, he headed straight for the main courtyard.
In the deep autumn garden, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and the entire residence echoed with the sounds of insects and birds.
He walked around the corridor and saw the figure in soft white sitting under the pavilion.
A familiar aura suddenly came from behind her, and Lan Murou's body stiffened.
The cold armor pressed against her shoulder blades, and a calloused hand reached out to grasp hers.
She abruptly turned her head.
"Rou'er."
He scooped her up and held her tightly in his arms.
The taut string in Lan Murou's heart snapped. A hint of unspoken joy appeared on her beautiful, delicate face.
"You're back."
"Mmm."
He held her tightly, "Is the child behaving?"
As soon as he spoke, Lan Murou felt a kick in her belly, and she couldn't help but chuckle.
"He's fine."
Seeing that she was wearing little, Tantai Ye swept her up in his arms and carried her inside.
The sunlight sparsely dappled upon their bodies.
She touched his cold armor and suddenly asked.
"Tantai Ye, what do you like about me?"
Tantai Ye stopped abruptly at her unexpected question.
He lowered his gaze and looked at her seriously.
"A pearl of night light does not need to come from the Mengjin River, nor a jade bi of full grasp from the Kunlun Mountain. I like you, wishing to be as bright as the morning sun, shining through the ages."
The surrounding sunlight filled the autumn air. In an instant, the world was filled with the vibrancy of spring.
Lan Murou's heart was suddenly filled. Their eyes met; his were full of tenderness, hers were full of smiles.
She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
Later, the general, long accustomed to the battlefield, finally obtained the moon he had longed for.
(The End)