Even if he was loath to go along with anything the brat suggested, the prospect of his eldest son leaving was too tempting. How could he say no?

Mei Hua was, obviously, left out of their plans. She only noticed two strange things:

Shan Hui was leaving home for longer and longer stretches of time. This worried her at first, but when she asked he simply said he was bored of the Palace and wanted to explore. She couldn’t really argue, since she knew it could get boring doing the same thing over and over again. And he’d already turned sixteen, so she couldn’t tell him no. Instead she could only sniffle a bit about her baby growing up.

Next, her husband became intensely affectionate for long stretches of time, at odd hours of the day. She’d be going about, minding her own business, when Jin would steal her away to make aggressive love to her.

When he interrupted lunch, she finally had enough and cried out in annoyance: “Where is your self control?! What are the children going to think!!!”

“That their Father loves their Mother very much.” He responded with a glint in his eye, reaching under her dress despite her objections.

“You—!” She fisted her hand and hit him hard in his gut. Then, just to make sure he understood, she kicked him in the shin.

He gave a gasp, stumbling and eyes watering slightly. Usually her hits didn’t hurt, but he’d had his defenses down just then.

“I’ve given you plenty of leeway, but you’ll not be interrupting our meals, understand?”

“M-mountain flower——”

“Don’t you dare! I’m going back to eat and you can just— just— sleep outside tonight for all I care!”

Head held high, she turned and left him there to pout.

That night, he slunk back in the room to his bed. Mei Hua was lying there on her back, wide awake. When she saw him, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Looking pitiful, he sat next to the bed, head poking over so he could see her.

“Mei.”

“Harrumph.”

“MeiMei.”

“Who’s your sister?!”

“…don’t be mad.”

She folded her hands over her chest.

“Am I person to you or just a body? You’ve not treated me with an ounce of respect, dragging me here and there like I’ve got nothing better to do!”

“But you’re very attractive all the time, my Mountain Flower.”

Mei Hua lips twitched.

“Don’t think smooth talking will get you back in this bed.”

He sighed and stretched out his hands to touch her, his upper body resting on the bed.

“I’ll be more considerate from now, I promise.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely!”

“…well…”

He was looking at her with such a pitifully sorrowful expression and, despite herself, she was feeling moved.

“…like I said, don’t you dare interrupt meal times. And let me be around the boys too. How many times have you interrupted me so far!? I can’t even bathe without you getting in the way.”

“Hey, you like when I interrupt during bathing!”

Mei coughed, blushing ever so slightly and said sternly, “Even I need times where I just bathe to bathe!”

“Oh…” He tilted his head, looking sad.

This was too much for her and she laughed.

“Get in bed, you silly man.”

He crawled into bed and under the sheets. For a while he lay there without touching her, two slightly glowing blue-gold eyes simply staring at her in the darkness.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore.

“You can still sneak into the bath sometimes! And isn’t it a bit cold? Don’t lay so far away! Come closer so we can share warmth!”

He gave her a brilliant smile and immediately took hold of her, snuggling and nibbling on her tofu happily. That night he didn’t do anything beyond that, making her feel he could actually keep his promise.

Well, that’s what she thought. By the end of the week she realized that he was obeying, but only in the strict sense of the word. He never interrupted meal times or when she was with the boys, and only sometimes when she bathed. But outside of that, he was just as audacious!

However, the following week he went right back to his normal routine, confusing her further. In fact, sometimes he’d be outrageous in his behavior and then very normal and she had no way of knowing what he was going to be on any given day.

It went like that for months and then, suddenly, it stopped. And he was exactly as he'd always been. She didn't dare ask why either, for every now and then she'd still see a dangerous glint in his eye. Like he did want to jump her. If she asked, she knew he'd take that as permission, so she kept her mouth shut.

———

Mei Hua was playing a rousing game of cuju* with her twin son’s one day, when she missed the ball and fell spectacularly on the ground. Cuju was no simple game in their family, as even the youngest had unusual body strength. So when someone fell, it was no small scrap.

(*Author: early form of soccer. Look it up!)

“Momm—Mother!” Yan cried out in alarm. They were six years old now, big boys, and were determined to talk as Shan Hui did.

Shi was already by her side, anxiously checking her over.

“I think it’s ok!” He announced to his older twin brother.

Yan had reached them and was nodding in agreement.

“That was close. Mother, you shouldn’t play cuju with us anymore.”

Mei Hua was really puzzled by their behavior. This wasn’t the first time she’d face planted during a game, and usually they all just had a good hearty laugh.

“Boys, I’m really ok. It’s just a few bumps and bruises at best.”

Both twins shook their heads in an exaggerated negative.

“Mother almost lost her baby just then.” Yan explained anxiously.

Mei Hua brow furrowed and she chuckled in bewilderment.

“What baby? I’m not pregnant.” Did they want a younger sibling so bad they were imagining things?

Both Yan and Shi glanced at each other and then stared at Mei Hua intensely. For a moment, their eyes, usually a dull glow, shone brightly.

Startled she said, “How are you doing—”

“Nope, there’s a baby!” Yan interrupted.

“No doubt about it.” Shi agreed, nodding.

“It’s a boy though.”

“Ah… Momm—Mother wanted a girl didn’t she?”

“Yeah… that’s too bad.” Yan looked up at Mei Hua curiously, “Mother, will you still be happy with a baby boy?”

They were talking so seriously she was left speechless.

“Er, uhm, boys, listen…”

As Mei Hua was in the middle of thinking how to explain the reproduction cycle of the female body, Shan Hui walked over. Seeing his Mother covered in dirt and grass, he gave a sharp glance at the twins. He’d only come by for a quick visit, and look what he found?

“We told her not to play with us!” Shi shouted nervously and hid behind Yan. He’d always been a little afraid of their Older Brother.

Yan, on the other hand, glared back at Shan Hui defiantly. “We told her it was bad for the baby! Don’t be mad!”

Hearing this, Shan Hui placed a palm on his forehead.

Mei Hua had walked over to him and was whispering to her eldest.

“They seem really insistent on this idea that I’m pregnant. But of course I’m not. I just had my cycle last week. Do they want a sibling that badly? Ah! I’m not ready to talk to them about relationships between men and women! Help me out!”

“Mother.”

“Hm?”

“You are pregnant.”

She gave him an pitying look.

“Not you too!”

Shan Hui sighed.

“We can tell when you are.”

“Th-that’s not— you can’t—” She stuttered for a moment, then paused. Very slowly she asked, “You… aren’t joking… are you?”

“Mother, I swear I’m not joking.”

She didn’t even know what to say to that, so she just stood there with her mouth open.

“The Old Man knows too.”

Her mouth closed and she started frowning. His lip quirked up ever so slightly as he added to the fire.

"Yes, well," She tried reasoning. "He knew when you and the twins were coming too, but that was a decent way into it. I'm telling you, there's no way I can be pregnant."

“Mother. He knows first, before all of us. Practically right after conception if my guess is right. Why do you think he stopped chasing you so suddenly?”

Her whole face went red, then white, and then she scowled.

“I’d say you’re at least two months pregnant.”

Glancing nervously at her twins, she whispered heatedly, “I’ve said I had my cycle so how could I be——”

Shan Hui shrugged, “The Old Man is better educated on that kind of thing than me. I just know that you’re definitely pregnant.”

Mei Hua stood there, fluctuating between hope and anger. Her Eldest Son began picking off grass from her hair. Even if he couldn't "see" into her, her current temperament would have tipped him off. She was always emotionally unstable when she got pregnant, the Old Man had said it happened with him and Shan Hui remembered it with the twins.

"H-how long have you known?"

"Hm... a month I think. But the twins likely only noticed in the last week or so."

“If you knew… why didn’t you say anything before now?” She finally asked, disgruntled. She'd had this conversation with her husband once too and didn't like having it again. There’d be a serious discussion with Jin about this whole thing when he got home.

“Hm? The Old Man said it wasn’t good for you to know too early.”

“Eh, wasn’t good?”

This time Shan Hui face stiffened, as he realized he'd talked himself into a corner.

“Mother… now... don't get upset..."

Her eyes flared at him. "Why would I get upset?"

He gulped. She was definitely going to go on a rampage. He took several steps back, just in case.

"Sometimes… sometimes the pregnancies don’t hold when they’re this early.”

“Miscarriage? I’ve had one of those before.” Her eyes widened and pointed at him accusingly. “You said… more than one… Shan Hui, have I had many miscarriages?”

He didn’t dare look at her much less say anything, causing a swell of uncontrollable fury to rise up in Mei Hua. Her hands fisted, shaking with anger, and she stamped her foot.

“Fine! All you boys are just like your Father! Keep your secrets!” Furious, she turned her back on them and yelled at a nearby servant.

“You! Where is my scheming idiot of a husband?!”

The Chun servant, a simple ground's keeper, jumped at the Lady’s harsh tone. He been trying to make himself unnoticeable once he realized her Ladyship was getting upset. Alas, he had been found despite his best efforts!

“Lady Mei Hua, Lord Jin is currently out with the Caravan.”

Eyes narrowed, she hissed out. “Oh is he?” and then turned her head slightly, “YE!”

Ye, who’d been trying very hard not to be noticed, timidly asked, “Y-yes?”

“Did you know too?”

When he said nothing, her eyes watered. Giving a strangled sob, she spat out, “Don’t you four dare follow me!”

And then she stomped away from them and out of the Palace.