Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 766 Heart Knot

Taking a step back wasn't because Chen Xuan did anything to anger Du Juan. Her heart and soul belonged to Chen Xuan, and under normal circumstances, she would never do anything to create distance.

The reason for this was simply because she had her period and was worried that Chen Xuan would be tainted by bad luck. People in this era cared a lot about these unfounded things. It was only evening, and she hadn't had a chance to say anything. Otherwise, she would have avoided Chen Xuan for the next few days until her period was over.

She cried because of this matter, but not because she was saddened by her inability to serve Chen Xuan and worried that he would be disappointed. It was purely because of her period itself, to put it bluntly, that her long-awaited pregnancy had not been successful.

It has been almost two months since the two consummated their marriage. They have been intimate dozens of times without using protection. Last month, Dujuan had her period, which meant she was not pregnant. This time, her period came again, which also meant she was not pregnant. This made her very sad, upset, and even anxious.

In this era, the greatest of the three unfilial acts is having no offspring. Du Juan is a very pure person. After following Chen Xuan, she devoted herself to him and longed to have a child with him. She had been hoping for it all along. However, the little princess created so many conditions for them but they still couldn't succeed, which made her very sad and even a little frightened.

Her fear wasn't because she worried that Chen Xuan would dislike her—knowing him well enough, she knew he was her husband and would never neglect her—nor was it because she feared that she would have fewer opportunities to serve him if he had more women. Rather, she was thinking about her more than twenty years of training as an assassin and worried that her inability to conceive might be due to injuries from martial arts training.

If that's really the case, wouldn't it mean I won't be able to have children for the master anymore? How could I face him then? I might as well just die.

In her traditional view of this era, a woman who cannot have children is guilty of a sin and would be ashamed to go out, let alone stay by the side of a man who treats her so well. What right does she have to receive his favor?

The lady was pregnant, but she hadn't gotten pregnant despite having sex so many times. It couldn't be the master's problem, so it must be hers. That's why Dujuan was so heartbroken and sad. She couldn't talk to anyone about this, and she didn't know how to face Chen Xuan.

"Master, I'm fine, I just got some sand in my eyes," Du Juan said sadly, wiping away tears as Chen Xuan pressed her for an answer. She didn't dare look at him and avoided answering, not revealing the truth.

She knew that if she told the truth, even if it was her problem that prevented her from getting pregnant, Chen Xuan wouldn't care and would instead comfort her. But if she cared, she would feel even more upset and guilty.

My master treats me so well, and I'm just a concubine. He's never treated me like a lowly concubine. If it weren't for this common saying, what difference would there be between my status and that of the wife in the household? My martial arts skills are mediocre, and if I can't even give birth, what use am I? How can I live up to how good my master has been to me?

Having slept in the same bed for so long, Chen Xuan could easily tell that Du Juan was troubled. He stepped forward, took her hand, and softly asked, "Sister Juan, can you tell me what's wrong? Don't keep it to yourself, or I'll worry. Don't be afraid, I'm here for you. There's no hurdle we can't overcome."

She silently apologized, then looked up and forced a smile, saying, "My lord, I'm really fine. Please don't ask anymore. Besides, I'm having my period, which is considered unlucky and will bring you bad luck."

As she spoke, she tried to back away and break free from Chen Xuan's hand.

She is cold and aloof, always unsmiling and even unapproachable to outsiders. She may seem weak, but she is only like this with herself and those around her. In reality, she has a very strong personality. Otherwise, she would not have been able to climb to the top and even become a top assassin in the Shadow Assassin Sect.

Knowing this, Chen Xuan understood that if her inner conflict wasn't resolved, it could lead to problems later on, and she might even suffer a qi deviation during her cultivation, which was no small matter.

Chen Xuan didn't let her break free. He held her hand even tighter, his mind racing. His expression became slightly more serious as he looked into her eyes and said, "Sister Juan, can't you even tell your husband this? Don't you even listen to your husband anymore?"

He even used the word "husband" twice, reminding Dujuan that he was the head of the household. For Dujuan, who held the traditional view that the husband was the head of the household, this was exactly what she wanted.

Her heart skipped a beat. She dared not hide it any longer. Tears welled in her eyes, and her body went limp as she was about to kneel, choking back sobs, "I'm sorry, Master. I dare not fulfill my promise because... because I haven't been able to conceive your child for so long. I'm filled with sorrow and fear. It's all my fault. Please punish me, Master. Please don't send me away. I promise I will succeed in the future."

How could he let her kneel? There's no such rule in this family, and besides, she hadn't done anything wrong. Ignoring her worries about bad luck, he forcefully pulled her into his arms. Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan was stunned, realizing that's how it was, and he was both amused and exasperated.

With a smile, Chen Xuan gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, pinched her pretty nose, and chuckled, "I thought something serious had happened. You made me worry for nothing. Sister Juan, is that all you wanted? It's completely unnecessary, okay? Be good, don't cry. Smile. You don't look pretty when you cry. Sister Juan is so beautiful, I wouldn't want to make you sad."

Chen Xuan's gentleness made Du Juan feel even more distressed and guilty. Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision, and she choked out, "Master, don't you blame me? I'm so useless."

The two stood at the door for a while. The maid, who had been resting, came out to check on them, asking with concern, "Master, what happened?"

He gestured to Du Juan to be quiet, then turned and waved, saying, "It's alright, Roujia, go and rest. The moonlight is lovely; I was planning to go for a walk with Sister Juan."

"Oh, is that so? Then please let me know if you need anything, sir." The little maid nodded, then blushed as she finished speaking and went back to her room to rest.

Du Juan's mindset is not good; we need to help her resolve her inner conflict. So Chen Xuan grabbed her and quickly left, appearing in the distance on a mountain ridge. Under the starlight, he continued his previous conversation helplessly, "Sister Juan, what are you thinking about all day? Why would I blame you? We've only been married for less than two months; isn't it normal that she hasn't gotten pregnant yet?"

"But we haven't been able to conceive after so many attempts, there must be something wrong with my body..." she said, no longer caring about being shy.

Interrupting her, Chen Xuan shook his head and said, "This kind of thing is between you and me, husband and wife. How can it all be blamed on you? Getting pregnant also depends on luck. Take my wife for example, she only got pregnant a few months after we got married. So, Sister Juan, you don't need to worry about this at all. At worst, I'll just have to try harder in the future. It'll just require you to put in a lot of effort."

Hearing this, Dujuan breathed a slight sigh of relief, her face flushing slightly, but she still asked with unease, "Is that really true? The reason I couldn't conceive is because it was too early, not because there's something wrong with my body?"

“Of course that’s how it is. We’ll get pregnant if we have more sex in the future. Sister Juan, you can rest assured. From what I’ve observed, you’re as healthy as can be, so there’s absolutely no need to worry,” Chen Xuan said with absolute certainty.

Originally, Chen Xuan felt that he was still young and did not plan to have children in the next few years. However, after his little princess became pregnant, he no longer had such thoughts. In fact, he was looking forward to the day when he would meet his child. There was nothing wrong with having his own child.

Furthermore, given his talent for cultivation and the speed of his progress, even if he delays repeatedly, reaching the Tribulation Transcending Realm is only a matter of time. Especially during the Human Tribulation, when his consciousness is clouded, he will be unable to control himself. Who knows where he might end up like Old Liu, running off in a daze? When that time comes, with his children by his side, his wife and the others will have something to rely on, preventing them from doing anything foolish out of concern.

After listening to Chen Xuan's words, Du Juan understood. Getting pregnant isn't like stealing a child; it's not something you can just decide to do. It takes effort and luck. She immediately nodded and said, "I understand, Master. I'm sorry, it's all my fault for making you worry. I really shouldn't have done that. Please punish me, Master."

"How could I bear to? Okay, it's alright now, sweetie, are you feeling better?" Chen Xuan kissed her forehead and asked with concern.

"Hmm," Du Juan nodded, then, as if remembering something, she stubbornly broke free from Chen Xuan's embrace and said earnestly, "Master, I've been having bad luck these past few days. I know you don't care about such things, but I can't help but care. So please forgive me and don't make things difficult for me, okay? I can't serve you these next few days, but in a few days, I'll serve you however you wish, okay?"

Traditional thinking leads them to really care about such baseless rumors. The little princess was no exception; she locked herself away for days, keeping herself far away. Although Chen Xuan was lustful, he wasn't someone who couldn't live without such things. Du Juan's inner conflict had been resolved, so she naturally wanted to be considerate of her feelings, nodding and saying, "Okay, okay, I'll listen to Sister Juan. Is that alright? But Sister Juan will have to make it up to her husband in the future."

Thinking of the various ways they made love in bed, Du Juan blushed and gave a soft "hmm." She just couldn't understand where her husband, who had always been chaste, had learned those tricks. Surely the little princess had brought them from the royal family, since the women in the palace spent all their time figuring out how to please others in order to win favor.

Little did she know that although Chen Xuan was Chu Nan before his marriage in this life, he had been through countless films in his previous life and was already a seasoned veteran. In this era, where men and women were practically face-up, how could they experience true pleasure? Seeing that she had calmed down, and because of Du Juan's stubborn concern about the ominous nature of the situation, Chen Xuan didn't get any closer. Instead, he joked, "Sister Juan, don't think so much. Let's let nature take its course when it comes to having children. We're still young, we have plenty of time. Besides, if we have sex with this kind of intention, how much fun will we miss out on?"

"Oh, my lord, please don't say that. I'll do whatever you say. It's getting late, I should go and rest now." Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment as she tried to escape, but after taking a few steps, she turned back, bowed, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, my lord, I haven't been able to serve you these past few days. Please forgive me. I'll go back now, and I hope you'll rest early too."

Watching her flee as if she were running away, Chen Xuan smiled to himself, thinking that girls in this era are really innocent and cute. Once they have chosen a man, no matter what his status or strength is, they almost always put him at the center. Take childbirth for example, if they can't have a child, it's like the sky is falling.

Because of this incident, Chen Xuan no longer had any lingering thoughts. He comforted Du Juan and put his mind at ease. If he hadn't discovered and guided her in time, she might have developed mental illness from overthinking.

Du Juan was unwell these past few days, so Chen Xuan decided not to bother her. Otherwise, given her traditional values, she wouldn't open the door even if she angered him. So he strolled back to his residence and knocked on the little princess's door. He realized it had been a few days since he'd been intimate with his wife, so he decided to sleep in her room. He couldn't just go and cause trouble for Yun Lan and Yun Xin without any preparation.

Because of her pregnancy, the little princess tried to avoid sleeping with Chen Xuan. It wasn't that she was worried about Chen Xuan doing anything inappropriate; she knew her husband was discreet. But what if they slept together and the pregnancy was accidentally disturbed? Thinking that Chen Xuan had gone to find Du Juan to have more offspring for the Chen family, she had gone to bed early. However, she hadn't fallen asleep yet. The house, which could be expanded by combining carriages, was only so big. She had heard some noises at Du Juan's door earlier, but she hadn't heard the details clearly.

Yunlan opened the door after knocking. Even when they were away from home, she and Yunxin always had beds to rest in outside the little princess's bed and were always at her service. Seeing Chen Xuan arrive, she immediately stepped aside and said respectfully with joy, "Master has arrived. Madam has already gone to bed. This servant will help you undress."

"Thank you for your trouble, Xiaolan. Please keep it down and don't disturb Madam's rest. Also, I've told you so many times, we don't have so many rules in private. Don't keep referring to yourself as a servant. You're all family, why humiliate yourself?" Chen Xuan shook his head helplessly.

With a sweet smile, Yunlan nodded and said, "I understand, Master. I won't do it again next time."

"Well, you should get some rest too," Chen Xuan nodded, and wearing only shorts, he walked towards the bed where the little princess was. Yunlan and the others had served him closely during his bath, and since they were family sooner or later, he didn't need to be so discreet.

Looking at Chen Xuan's strong and slender figure, which seemed to exude a fatal allure, Yun Lan's cheeks flushed and her heart raced. She squeezed her legs together slightly, not daring to look any longer, and obediently hummed in agreement. She wondered when she would have the honor of serving the master. The madam said that arrangements were already being made, but when would that be?

"Husband's here! Get into bed quickly. Judging by the time, Sister Juan has been here for the past few days too," the little princess, who hadn't fallen asleep yet, called out, moving over to make room for him.

He snuggled closer to her on the bed, pinched her nose, and chuckled, "My wife, what are you saying? Although I'm a womanizer, I can't think about that every night, can I? It's been a few days since we've been intimate. Can't I just come to see you? I hope I haven't disturbed your rest."

"Yes, yes, yes, my husband loves me, right? Oh dear, don't move around. You're pregnant, I can't take care of you," the little princess giggled and kissed him as a reminder.

Chen Xuan, both amused and exasperated, said, "Am I such a tactless person? Alright, go to sleep. We're going sightseeing in the desert tomorrow."

"Oh, right, husband, I vaguely heard Sister Juan crying just now. You didn't bully her, did you? I don't think my husband is the kind of person who would be upset just because Sister Juan is inconvenienced," the little princess asked curiously.

Because of the season, the blanket was very light, revealing the little princess's graceful figure. Chen Xuan patted her bottom lightly and chuckled, "What are you saying, my wife? Do you think I'm that kind of person? Sister Juan is because..."

After Chen Xuan finished explaining the whole story, the little princess nodded and said, "So that's how it is. No wonder Sister Juan was overthinking things. Women care a lot about these kinds of things. Just like me, you were so happy and excited when I found out I was pregnant. But if that's the case, my husband will have to be closer to Sister Juan in the future. She won't think so much when she's pregnant. By the way, my husband, you didn't not get pregnant because you were deliberately wary of Sister Juan, did you?"

"No, not at all. Ever since my wife got pregnant, I've come to terms with it. Let nature take its course. If Sister Juan can get pregnant, it will be our own child. When our child is born, he will have a playmate and won't be lonely," Chen Xuan said, shaking his head.

The little princess wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "That's true. They're both my flesh and blood. Don't worry, my husband, I'm not like other women who are harsh. I won't make things difficult for you. No matter who bears your children in the future, I will treat them as my own."

“My wife is so kind. I can’t treat Sister Juan and the others like playthings. In my heart, you are all the same. But will my wife feel wronged by this?” Chen Xuan said apologetically.

The little princess placed a finger on Chen Xuan's lips and said earnestly, "My husband, please don't say such things. It is already my greatest fortune to marry you. I am very happy that you treat every woman of yours equally, which proves that my husband is not a cold-hearted person. I will do my best to keep the family harmonious. It would be my dereliction of duty to make things difficult for you."

"Thank you, my lady."

"Okay, go to sleep. Life is long, we should all be happy."

"Um"

The couple were having a private conversation, but the little princess was secretly thinking to herself, since Sister Juan is not available these days, Guo Qingxue is not ready yet, Roujia is still young, and Wanqian is not around, then arranging for Yunlan and Yunxin to be taken into her husband's room should be put on the agenda. They have been thinking about it for a long time. Her husband is very energetic, how can he be without someone to serve him at night? What if he gets too pent up?

But then again, with more and more women in my husband's bed, will his body be able to handle it? I should give them a heads-up in private so they don't overwork him. Hmm, why am I worrying about that? My husband has the energy of an ox, he's endless when he starts going at it, it's them who can't keep up. If it weren't for my husband's tenderness and restraint, he wouldn't be able to keep up at all, and many times he hasn't even had his fill.

Lost in his thoughts, the little princess unknowingly nestled in Chen Xuan's arms and fell into a deep sleep...

The next morning, Chen Xuan got up quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping princess. With Yun Lan and the others helping him wash up, he went out to practice his meditation and health-preserving exercises to stretch his muscles and bones.

As the sun rose, the others got up one after another. After a pleasant breakfast, they tidied up and the caravan headed towards the desert. They bypassed Sunset Town without intending to go in. With Chen Xuan there, the inconvenience of desert carriages was not a problem.

Because of her period, Dujuan stayed in the carriage, keeping her distance from the others. She would be fine in a few days.

As they approached the desert, the little girl noticed Chen Xuan fiddling with something she didn't understand. Looking at the object in his hands, she asked curiously, "Master, what is this? Is it a new array component?"

Fiddled with the half-finished product, Chen Xuan shook his head and said, "No, I'm planning to make some sunglasses so that I won't have to worry about sunlight reflecting off them and hurting my eyes when we go into the desert. This thing is very simple and will be ready quickly. You guys can try it out later so I can adjust it accordingly."

Having experienced the little princess's eye discomfort during the last trip to the snow mountain, Chen Xuan was determined not to make the same mistake again.

...(End of this chapter)