On New Year’s Eve, Xie Yunzhen and Ji Mingzhu took the children for a night tour of the General Mansion.

They even set off fireworks.

The two kids were so excited that they stayed up late with the couple.

The consequence of staying up late was that they couldn’t get out of bed the next morning.

Ji Mingzhu and Xie Yunzhen both overslept.

The little ones were no exception.

Luckily, there were no elders in the mansion enforcing rules, so there weren’t many formalities.

If not, sleeping in on the first day of the New Year could result in serious punishment, like being forced to kneel in the ancestral hall.

When Xi Yu came to give them the red envelopes for New Year, the two little ones were still sound asleep.

There was no choice but to hand the red envelopes to Xie Yunzhen, asking him to pass them on to the children.

"Don’t you pocket them,"

Xi Yu reminded him.

Xie Yunzhen didn’t have any personal funds; all his expenses, including food, clothing, and socializing, were managed by Mingzhu.

Xi Yu was aware of this.

He was worried that Xie Yunzhen might pocket Zimu and Zishan’s red envelopes as personal money.

In front of Xi Yu, Xie Yunzhen truly put the red envelopes away.

Righteously declaring, "What others do with the red envelopes they give out is their business. You shouldn’t interfere. If you feel shortchanged, just have a child, and Mingzhu and I will give them New Year’s money."

Xi Yu nodded, acknowledging Xie Yunzhen’s point.

He then seemed to realize,

"Wait, you have two kids, and I only have one, so I’m losing out!"

Xie Yunzhen smiled even more triumphantly, his lips curving up wildly, "Then have two children. Having twins isn’t that hard."

Xi Yu: "..."

If he hadn’t reminded himself repeatedly that he’s a scholar and should avoid doing anything uncivilized,

he’d really want to slap Xie Yunzhen.

Is this any way to talk!

He said in exasperation, "I’m going to retreat and meditate today."

Xie Yunzhen didn’t reply, calmly sipping tea.

He had more socializing to do later, needing to entertain the officials from Yanzhou in the front courtyard.

Once Mingzhu was done dressing and grooming, she would also join him to entertain the women guests.

As for the two little ones, they were looked after by their nanny and the maids, ensuring that as long as they were in the General Mansion, nothing would go wrong.

Without a response from Xie Yunzhen, Xi Yu felt a sense of frustration like performing a one-man show.

"Why don’t you ask what I’m going to do?"

Xie Yunzhen, as sharp-tongued as ever, replied, "I only have two kids, no plans for a third."

Xi Yu: "..."

Unable to stand him flaunting his twins day in and day out, Xi Yu finally snapped.

"I’ll go research fertility pills now; in the future, I’ll have four kids to outdo you!"

Xie Yunzhen raised an eyebrow, "Suit yourself."

"You’ll see."

Xi Yu stood up and quickly stormed off.

Xie Yunzhen finished his cup of tea and then strolled back to the room with a leisurely pace.

Ji Mingzhu was still dressing.

The room was very warm, and she was wearing only a crimson long dress.

Her long hair was already up, revealing a segment of her snow-white, slender neck and her slender, straight arms.

Having given birth, her charm became even more alluring.

Her willow waist and limbs were as graceful as ever, but she had gained a bit of weight elsewhere.

Curves accentuated, making her incredibly alluring.

Light streamed in from outside, just enough to bathe Mingzhu in a soft glow.

From Xie Yunzhen’s perspective, he could see her graceful figure in full.

Just by quietly watching Mingzhu, Xie Yunzhen felt a warmth growing in his heart.

This was the life he’d been wanting.

It’s truly wonderful.

The man’s gaze was so heated that even after years of marriage, Ji Mingzhu still felt her face warm up.

Clearing her throat, "Did Xi Yu leave?"

"Yes, he left."

He walked over to Ji Mingzhu’s side and selected the most ornate set from her jewelry box.

The gilded golden hairpin alone was quite eye-catching.

In the year they had just married, if Ji Mingzhu dressed too "flashily," Xie Yunzhen would get irrationally jealous.

Always thinking others were secretly looking at his Mingzhu.

This year that "illness" seemed to have eased, and he no longer harbored such idle thoughts.

When Ji Mingzhu was pregnant, there was a period when she felt very down.

Constantly feeling that she had suddenly become ugly.

At that time, Xie Yunzhen bought her lots of jewelry and dresses, under the guise of practice, he personally combed her hair and painted her eyebrows...

Looking back now, Ji Mingzhu still felt deeply touched.

Since then, Xie Yunzhen seemed to stop getting irrationally jealous, and as long as she was happy, she could dress however she liked.

The man pinched the hairpin with his fingers and asked Ji Mingzhu, "Where would you like it pinned?"

Pinning the hairpin in different locations produced different kinds of beauty.

Xie Yunzhen thought Mingzhu was beautiful no matter how she dressed, stunningly beautiful.

But he still wanted to ask her opinion, to follow her preferences, avoiding any morning arguments.

Ji Mingzhu adjusted her hair bun and pointed to a location.

Xie Yunzhen adeptly pinned it for her.

The beauty was like jade, and the elegant hairpin was just a decoration, not overshadowing her radiance.

He seized the moment to kiss Ji Mingzhu’s cheek.

"So beautiful."

With Jade and the others still around, Ji Mingzhu’s cheeks flushed even more.

She cleared her throat, "Go check on Zimu and Zishan; if they’re still not awake, they won’t be able to meet the guests later and will have to stay in the courtyard."

The women would gather and either chat about dresses and jewelry or discuss each other’s children.

Today, while entertaining Yanzhou’s officials, Xie Yunzhen permitted them to bring their families and kids.

In his words, once Zimu and Zishan grow up, they might mingle with these officials’ children.

He first examined them for the siblings.

Children with inherently bad traits shouldn’t play with Zimu and Zishan.

If they were influenced poorly, it wouldn’t be good.

Xie Yunzhen was overprotective, and Ji Mingzhu let him be.

Compared to men who ignore their children, as a father he’s quite competent.

With a father watching over them, children can be more daring.

Though Xie Yunzhen acted exaggeratedly, Ji Mingzhu didn’t find it bad.

Xie Yunzhen chuckled, "Two little piglets insisted on staying up all night yesterday. Look at them now, the sun’s burning their butts, and they still won’t get up."

Ji Mingzhu laughed with a hint of sarcasm, "They’re piglets, so what are you?"

Xie Yunzhen: "..."

He rubbed his nose, "I’ll go wake them up." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Ji Mingzhu quickly stopped him, "Let them sleep if they want to; don’t wake them needlessly."

Socializing was Xie Yunzhen and her responsibility, they couldn’t let the children suffer because of it.

Of course, if they were awake it was a different story.

Xie Yunzhen agreed, heading toward the small bed.

Yet he instinctively tiptoed as he got closer.

Thanks to his keen hearing, he could hear their even breathing.

Standing beside the small bed, he noticed his daughter’s tiny foot exposed outside the covers.

He gently tugged the corner of the blanket to cover the plump foot that looked like a steamed bun.

His actions were light, but the little ones felt it.

The faint eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Then her little foot kicked, stretching lazily.

Xie Yunzhen watched in fascination.

Only thinking that his and Mingzhu’s kids were too adorable!

There’s a certain kind of synchronicity among the twins; when the elder stretches lethargically, the younger follows suit with a little kick.

Both of them groggily woke up.

Once the kids were awake, the courtyard became lively.

After tidying up the kids, guests began to arrive.