Xinye's view

I was busy getting the food ready for the evening meal, ever since Xin had been injured, I had been making his meals. My food was not as nice as the food prepared by the palace staff, but I knew what was in them and that they would help him recover quicker. I smiled ironically at that thought though, Xin had objected the first time I had fed him what I had prepared, and now he ate as if he could not get enough. It seemed everyone in the manor preferred what I cooked, so I had kept cooking even though Xin no longer needed my cooking, this much was clear by how much he requested me of my marital duties. I could not help but blush at the thought.

I must have been gone too long as Xin snuck up behind me and wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear, "What thought is causing my pretty wife to blush?"

I jumped at the sudden affection and turned to look who it was accosting me in the kitchen, earning me several sneery looks and snide comments behind hands of those court women working in the kitchen. As soon as I saw it was Xin, I giggled at my reaction, "You." I responded.

"Me?" he turned me towards him, "I caused you to look this adorable?" he teased me with a cheeky grin, putting a finger under my chin and stepping close to me as if to kiss me.

"Yeah, yeah, just don't get tickets on yourself, ok?" I swatted him away, breaking the intensely sexual mood, "Could you help me bring back the dinner for everyone?"

His eyes lit up with excitement, "Sure! What is for dinner?" he asked lifting up the pot lid.

I quickly slammed it down before he could see, "It's a surprise. You will find out."

"Is it a new dish?" he prodded.

I nodded, "Yes, since you don't need so many nutrients, I went for something that I think tastes nice."

"What do you call this dish then?"

"Spaghetti bolognaise," I replied before musing, "I don't know if I can call it that though as I have used chicken instead of beef, not to mention it is diced instead of minced."

He nodded and took the pot out. I cleaned up the mess I made and I overheard one of the mutterings, "How did she get the General? She doesn't deserve him, she's so homely and her eyes they are like ghost eyes...Ai, I don't see how the General can stand her."

I cast my eyes down and pretended to be unaffected, but, even though it was the truth, the way it was said still hurt me. I still did not understand why the General liked me, nor this schwing between us, but even so, they should not criticise him over his choice of me. It belittled him, and this made me angry.

I had overcooked for 5 people, and it turned out for the best as it seemed everyone was there, Taiji, Li, Fergus, Xin and to my surprise Maelgwyn. I was ever so grateful then that Xin had taken the food back home for us to eat. I am pretty sure I would have dropped it from shock at seeing my second son here.

"Maelgwyn," I whispered his name, then almost shouted in excitement, "Maelgwyn!" and I ran over and hugged him tightly.

"Mum!" he said as he hugged me back, "I did not think I would see you again, I did not think I would see anyone again." and for some reason the pair of us started crying.

Unfortunately for us, Taiji disapproved of our affection, "Stop this right now! Who do you think you are hugging General Fang's wife! As for you," he turned to me glaring, "You could be punished according to the law for touching another man when you are married."

"Even my s-" my question was interrupted before it even got out.

"Who are you to question me?" He asked.

"But..." I tried again.

"Stop! I have had enough, your behaviour is appalling," he dismissed me.

Xin seeing tears in my eyes stepped in, "Taiji, it is ok. I think in this instance it is acceptable."

"What do you mean? You're just going to sit back and let this man hug your wife? What sort of precedent are you trying to set? Are you wanting her to be known as a whore?" Taiji looked confused.

"Let me explain," Xin said, and he waited for Taiji to nod his approval for the explanation before continuing on, "This young man is her son, and now my adoptive son."

"Hang on," Taiji looked at me, "This is your son too? How many children can I expect you to have?"

"I have 4 children, your highness," I said, my eyes downcast.

"4?" Taiji asked again, "You must have had them young then."

I looked up at that and laughed. My sons laughing too. Xin had an ironic smile on as well.

"What is so funny?" he asked me.

"Do you call 27 young?" I asked.

Taiji blinked at me, "27?"

I nodded.

"You had him at 27?"

"No," I answered, and feeling some clarification was in order I explained, "I fell pregnant with my first child when I was 27. I had Maelgwyn when I was 30."

Taiji got angry again then, "Now I know you are having me on. There is no way you are that old. You look 38 at the oldest, with your mouthful of teeth. The math does not add up."

"I am 48," I said simply.

"Wha...No..." he pointed in confusion between us all.

"Let's eat," I suggested, eager to change the topic, I could see Taiji was thinking that he should annul my marriage now.

"Taiji," Xin said gently.

Taiji turned to look at him, "Yes Xin."

"I have a request," he said his posture humble and eyes downcast as if he was approaching his highness not his friend.

"Yes Xin, and stop that, you are my friend. Why are you acting like you are approaching my father?"

"Taiji," Xin said, "I know what you are thinking. Please leave my marriage alone. I don't want anyone else. I can't have anyone else. She has saved my life twice already. Her age does not matter to me."

Taiji turned then saying "Hum!" as if he was dismissing the whole unpleasant thing, before a thought occurred to him, "Xin, what will you do for and heir? You know it is required of you."

"I will formally adopt her children as my own," Xin said, "All 4 if they are here."

"Ok, so let it be then," Taiji agreed raising his drink cup to his mouth, "Let's eat!"

Xin nodded and took the lid off the pot after our bowls were passed around.

"What is this?" Taiji looked at the dish in interest, "You are not trying to poison us, are you?" he looked at me accusingly.

"No, your highness," I shook my head, "But it is different to what you are used to though."

"I can see that," he said and used his chopsticks to ladle some of the food into his bowl to taste. He took a bite gingerly, his eyes widening before starting to shovel it in like there was no tomorrow.

"I take it you like it?" Xin chuckled as he helped himself, making sure to fill his bowl up as much as he could as Maelgwyn, Fergus and I had done the same. Li had followed Taiji's example and only took a little bit and as she had done this, she missed out on eating to her satisfaction as Maelgwyn, Fergus and Xin demolished their full bowls and went back for seconds emptying out the pot before she even got back to eat more.

Seeing the disgruntled look on her face I offered her the creamed rice first. I knew she would like it so I made sure that she and Taiji filled their bowls before offering it to the others.

"I have been meaning to ask," Taiji said as he shovelled the creamed rice into his mouth, "Why do you serve no side dishes?"

"I don't have the energy and we never did that at home," I said, "Multiple side dishes a new concept for me and a wasteful one in my opinion."

Taiji looked at me as if I had grown horns or something. To my relief Xin put his arm around me and pulled me to him, kissing my forehead, "Does it really matter Taiji? The meal was both unique, tasty and filling. I would never have thought to have rice that way."

Taiji tilted his head thinking, "I guess not, but I still would have preferred it. Thank you for the meal. Good luck on your trip tomorrow, Chen Li is to go with you to record what is happening for me."

Li must not have been informed of it as her face showed surprise, "You want me to go? I only just got back..."

"Yes, you're the only one I can trust to give me a detailed report," he complimented her and seeing Xin's disgruntled look continued on, "Xin tends to par it down to much so I miss important details I need."

Xin seemed somewhat mollified as he relaxed beside me after tensing up to his first comment. Taiji got up to go but Maelgwyn stopped him.

"Wait please," he said, "Can your highness please confirm that the roads between here and the north will be clear for the day?"

"They will be, birds were sent out to every town along the route you need to take by order of the emperor," Taiji nodded as he got up, he nodded again when he was up and strode towards his quarters leaving us looking after him.

Li picked up the dirty dishes and took them to the kitchen to wash.

"Where are you staying Maelgwyn?" I asked as I was unsure on whether or not he had been given a place to stay.

"I was planning on sleeping on the back of the Ute, same as always when I am travelling," he stated.

"Did you want to sleep here? I take it you have a swag with you to be sleeping on the back of the Ute," I asked him.

"I would appreciate that," Maelgwyn smiled in relief, "I did not really want to spend another night outside. Do you have a bed for me or should I get my swag?"

"Get your swag," I said, "Although we have the room for you to stay here, we do not have any spare beds."

He nodded and left as well.

I looked at Chen Li, "Li, is it ok if Maelgwyn sleeps in your area too? Or shall we put the boys in the Study?"

Chen Li looked at me, "Since it is for the night, it's fine."

"Are you sure?" I asked, referring to her gender and what I considered rather silly rules. She and Fergus had been sleeping with a big amount of distance between them.

"Yes," she nodded, "I will put a screen up." Fergus overhearing us raised an eyebrow as if to ask "What the? Why?"

"Fergus," I said heading off the question, "By rights Li should have had the screen up already, but considering the distance you two sleep apart it was not necessary till now."

He nodded accepting what I had said and did not question any further.

I crawled into Xin's and my bed and lay down flat for a change. I thought it would be a while before I could lie down like this. Xin eventually joined me and lay the other side. "How come you are sleeping like this tonight?"

"I don't know how long it will be before I can sleep like this again, and you know I like to at some point, by now, or at least you should," I commented with my eyes closed.

"Hmm," Xin agreed, his hand creeping around me and he nuzzled my neck suggestively, "Do you think we could do this too? As I think it would be a while before we can do this again freely."

I nodded in agreement, "You are welcome to do so, I told you that. So long as it is safe to do so you are welcome to take me anytime."

"I know," he continued starting to make love to me, "I still want to ask."

"It's fine," I responded and let him have his way. He stopped before he came though as he believed in the advice of his trainers that it was important not to release yourself before a period of the without or it makes it difficult through that time energy wise. I had changed his opinions enough as it was without making a fuss over this. It possibly was true; how would I know? I was not a man.

We woke early the next morning and hurriedly got ready for the trip ahead. 

🍀A/N If you enjoyed this chapter please take the time to vote by pressing the star, if you see any errors please let me know as this is unedited🍀