35. A quiet evening?

"Good evening my dear." Yan said as he walked onto the pavilion where Su was seated, reading a book. Su had used the rest of the day to get her thoughts organized, which seemed to take a bit more effort these days. She'd send a letter to Rushuang outlining the first steps they should take in the case of her father's death. Su had warned Rushuang that finding the truth of his death might be impossible as it had happened a few years ago, Rushuang had understood this and calmly accepted it. This made Su feel that to Rushuang finding her brother was much more important. And finding her brother might prove to be much more difficult. Su felt bad about not being able to tell Yan about the search for Rushuangs brother, but she understood why Rushuang felt it was necessary. And yet Yan had often proved that he preferred to hear the full story before passing judgement. And even in his judgement he was considerate. And yet… the army and the soldiers were so important to Yan that he might not take kindly to a deserter, so for now Su would keep this part of Rushuangs request to herself, even though it would be difficult. And then she'd had to consider whether she would have to tell Yan about the women offering their daughters as concubines. In the end Su knew that she would tell Yan about this development. Even if it was only to make sure he understood there wouldn't be any concubine in their house.

"How was the army camp?" Su asked as Yan kissed her cheek and sat down next to her.

"It was as efficient and well organized as ever. Brother Xie had joined me. He is going to implement some training techniques at Feiyun manor. Fei Yuan left a little earlier, so dinner won't be long. How was your day?" Yan had put his arm around Su's waist and pulled her closer. It sometimes surprised them that even after a year they still felt a very strong need to be close together, to touch and hold each other. "Rushuang came by and I had some unexpected visitors." Even though Su would have loved to put her head on Yan's shoulder, she wanted to see him even more.

"How was Rushuang? Brother Xie mentioned that she seemed to be worried about something, but she wouldn't tell him"

"She actually asked for my help. She told me her father died suddenly a few years ago, when she found him he was holding some parchment and on it is the mark of the Ghost Army. So now she thinks he might have been murdered. She asked me to investigate with her." Su calmly stated, hoping Yan wouldn't notice anything strange about her.

"The mark of Xuan?" Yan asked surprised.

"Yes, back then she didn't know what it was, but now she thought we should investigate."

"I agree. Do you need my help?"

"No, Rushuang and I can do this together. You and Brother Xie need to focus on the missing soldier. Have you found any new information? Do you know from which army he came?"

"It's someone from Liang Chens' back guard." Yan didn't see the slight exhale from Su. "We don't know much more, but it's a step closer. It narrows our search. Apart from that: the rebels in the north are getting stronger. I need to focus on those developments as well. But promise me that you'll tell me if you need help or if things are getting dangerous. I don't want you to get hurt." The worry in his eyes was clear to see and it amazed Su how much seeing his care for her warmth her heart.

"Of course I will. You know I will." Smiling Yan pulled her closer and kissed her hair. This day had been quite busy and all he really wanted was to lay down and cuddle with his wife. Su closed her eyes leaning against Yan, enjoying the moment. She felt his hand on her belly, now showing a distinct swelling, and placed her hand over his.

"Young Master, Sister Su. Dinner is ready." Fei Yuan announced as he came to the pavilion. Yan thanked him and together with Su followed him to the dining room where they ate together.

A while later when Su and Yan were getting ready to go to bed Yan asked Su about the unexpected guests. "Oh, yes. Remember that I had told you several women had come by, claiming to be friends of my parents or from the Bai Liang Clan?"

"Yes."

"I think I know why they came. Today a woman came with her daughter claiming a familial connection to the Royal Family. She offered her daughters services as she thought I wouldn't be able to serve you properly, now that we're expecting. I thought she meant as a maid, but Rushuang told me she most likely meant to offer her daughter as a concubine. So I told the lady we had no need of her daughters services. It's likely the other ladies also meant to offer their daughters as concubines." When Yan didn't respond like Su had expected: outrage at the suggestion of a concubine, she looked at him: "Aren't you shocked or at least surprised?" His lack of reaction made Su wonder whether he actually wanted a concubine. "Do you want a concubine?" she therefore asked him immediately and then she continued: "Let me tell you now: we are not going to get a concubine. As if I would share you with anyone…You're mine." The anger and indignation Su had felt towards the lady she could vent now. But Yan seemed unmoved, he even smiled! He placed his hands on Su's upper arms, looking in her angry eyes. She could feel his thumbs caressing her arms soothingly.

"Calm down." He held her eyes with his, showing his love. "I wasn't surprised, because the dowager empress had told me this morning, when I was visiting the palace, that she'd heard some ladies discussing the possibility of applying their daughters for concubines. In Qi Mansion." Softly he place his hand on Su's cheek, caressing it. "I told the dowager empress that we weren't looking for a concubine and aren't interested in taking concubines. I told her the Qi mansion has only one bedchamber for the prince and princess Qi, and none other then you and me would lie on our bed. She told me she would dissuade those that discussed this situation with her… Jian, I love you and I do not want anyone else. You are enough for me." And then he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, patiently waiting for her to answer it, as he knew she would. Very quickly he felt her respond, pressing her lips more firmly against his. He felt her arms encircling his neck, pulling him closer to her. Gladly he placed his arms around her waist and he deepened the kiss, feeling the love flow between them. Lifting her in his arms he carried her to the bed and gently placed her on it. He pushed her to a laying position and followed her, not breaking the kiss.

The following morning they woke up quite late, something Fei Yuan took great delight in reminding them throughout the day.