The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 573: Nap Time With the Midwife

Chapter 573: Nap Time With the Midwife

A horseback ride was the perfect time for one’s mind to wander.

For once, Xu Feng’s mind was still—controlled, deliberate.

But what exactly was it trained on? The straight backed man in front of him.

Xuan Yang sat tall and steady as if he were carved from something unshakable. His broad frame fit naturally against Xu Feng’s, and despite his noble air and deceptively friendly face, there was something impenetrable about him. Something untouchable.

Or at least, untouchable to others.

Xu Feng smiled to himself.

He knew better.

Because that face, calm and unreadable, had shown him warmth and love before. Because those hands, smooth and firm, had held him carefully.

Because maybe, just maybe, if his soul had been whole, he would have smiled more easily.

The thoughts came gently, like waves against the shore, rocking him into a sense of comfort.

Xu Feng let himself settle against the warmth at his front, his fingers shifting slightly against the fabric of Xuan Yang’s robes, feeling the steady rise and fall of his husband’s breath.

It reminded him of their first time on Night together—his arms wrapped around the man’s waist, the crisp winter air stinging his cheeks, the steady rhythm of the stallion beneath them.

But back then, his hands had been far less... disciplined.

Xu Feng grinned, and before he could think twice, his arms started acting on their own again.

Slow. Measured. Testing.

Xuan Yang let out a small breath, barely perceptible, but Xu Feng caught it.

Then, as expected—

"Feng’er," his husband called out, his tone low and knowing.

Xu Feng bit his lip, suppressing a laugh, but beside them, Xuan Jian’s voice cut through the wind, full of amusement.

"Next time, you should ride with me and Light!"

Xu Feng scoffed, shifting slightly in the saddle. "Oh? Will you let me grope you too, then?"

Xuan Jian let out a chuckle, his lips quirking in a smirk. "You wouldn’t dare."

The ride back was too short.

Too fleeting.

Xu Feng wanted to take all the wind into his lungs and do it again, even if he risked catching pneumonia.

...Okay, maybe not. The medicine here still wasn’t his favorite. Too bitter.

This time, there was no quick shuffle toward Blooming Courtyard like a newlywed couple avoiding attention. No awkward glances from unfamiliar servants treating him like an anomaly in his own home.

They disembarked where they should—where they belonged.

Xu Feng’s feet hit the ground, his posture firm, his heart steady.

He felt emboldened.

By his talk with Bai Mo. By the warmth of his family. By the quiet trust of those who stood by his side.

Yes, he had decisions to make.

Yes, they would be difficult.

But he wouldn’t shrink from them.

As they made their way deeper into Nanshan Estate, a small ripple passed through the gathered servants. Eyes followed their every movement.

There was a strangeness to the atmosphere, a weight in the air that Xu Feng hadn’t noticed before.

Some of them were staring between him and Xu Zeng, openly, their thoughts unreadable.

’Right...’ Xu Feng thought, his lips pressing into a thin line.

It had been three months since he last walked these paths, and in that time, rumors had taken root. He knew them well enough. Some probably thought he had died. Others assumed he had been crippled. That he had wasted away on his deathbed after giving birth to twins.

But he was here now.

He was standing, breathing, watching.

And as he watched, his gaze landed on a young girl, one of the estate’s newer servants.

She was staring at Xu Hu Zhe with undisguised desire.

Xu Feng almost blinked in surprise.

How bold.

Even with Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian beside him, with the tension in the air, she dared to wear her ambitions on her sleeve.

She was fairly pretty, that was true. And she worked hard—his people all did.

But Bai Mo had been right.

This was just the beginning.

She was making calculations in her mind, her gaze lingering too long as if debating whether to act. Xu Feng could almost see it—her thoughts turning.

The master was back, yes.

But if she climbed into Xu Hu Zhe’s bed, wouldn’t their relationship need to be acknowledged?

Xu Feng exhaled sharply through his nose.

’No.’

Not here. Not now. Soon.

Their group moved onward, toward Blooming Courtyard, even as more servants from all corners of the estate gathered to give their greetings.

The four newcomers—Zhang Hui and the three boys—stood among them, cleaned up but still looking thin, and frail compared to the rest.

And some of the servants noticed.

The flickers of disdain, the quiet judgment, were impossible to miss.

Xu Feng’s expression didn’t change, but something cool settled behind his eyes.

People were different, yes.

But that didn’t mean he had to let vipers into his home.

If they couldn’t see beyond surface appearances, if they thought themselves above those who had suffered, then what use did he have for them? They were once new, once hungry too.

Turning away from them, he nodded toward the new arrivals before calling out to his most trusted.

"Si, San," he said, his voice calm but firm, "take them under your care."

The two girls stepped forward without hesitation.

And the watchers, those who had whispered and judged, said nothing.

With that task settled, Xu Feng turned to Lee Hua who also came to greet them.

"Help me put the children down for a nap."

The other ger smiled, bowing his head slightly. "Of course."

Xu Hu Zhe, meanwhile, had his own duties to attend to. He moved to take his leave after dropping the baskets inside the safety of Blooming Courtyard in the main house.

Xu Zeng, however, seemed blissfully unaware of what was happening.

He followed, intent on helping put the children to sleep.

Only—

A hand grasped his wrist.

Xu Hu Zhe.

Xu Zeng blinked, caught off guard, looking up at the other man in mild confusion.

Xu Hu Zhe didn’t say anything—he only tugged, his grip firm.

Xu Zeng hesitated, looking back toward Xu Feng and Lee Hua.

The children would be fine.

They were home.

And so he allowed himself to be pulled away.

Xu Feng watched them go, his lips curving slightly.

Even as he saw Xuan Jian backing out with several of his men, off to who knows where, and Xuan Yang making his way toward the study, putting distance between himself and the moment at hand, Xu Feng didn’t worry.

.

.

.

The nursery was warm, the heated flooring permeating across the room.

Xu Feng stood by the doorway, his gaze lingering on the four sleeping children, their tiny chests rising and falling in a quiet rhythm.

Da Long and Xiao Long were nestled together in their large crib, their small bodies curled comfortably against each other. In sleep, they were inseparable as Xiao Long’s chubby hand clung to Da Long’s sleeve.

The two new babies, freshly cleaned and dressed in soft clothes Xiao Long and Da Long had outgrown before hatching, rested soundly in new bassinets.

The clothing that was too small for his boys, fit perfectly on the thin, fragile newcomers. They looked warmer, healthier even, their tiny limbs wrapped snugly in warmth they had likely never known before.

Freshly diapered and laid down with care, the four children slept deeply, unbothered by the world outside these walls.

Xu Feng exhaled quietly.

Yet, even as he watched, his attention drifted toward the other figure in the room.

Lee Hua, his midwife.

The ger stood just a step behind him, his expression soft and content. There was something tender in the way he looked at the children as if this was the first truly peaceful moment he had allowed himself in a long time.

Xu Feng observed him for a moment longer before making another decision.

With a small wave of his hand, he motioned for Lee Hua to follow.

Lee Hua’s brows lifted slightly as if surprised by the silent invitation, but he quickly obeyed.

As the door slid shut behind them, they moved toward the courtyard’s small kitchen, their steps quiet against the stone path.

The further they walked, the more Xu Feng felt the shift in Lee Hua.

At first, he was composed. But the moment they entered the kitchen, away from the sleeping children, his hands twitched—fingers curling, picking at the skin near his nails.

Nervous.

Xu Feng said nothing as he set about preparing tea, his movements slow, unhurried.

The kitchen was noticeably sparse.

The girls had done their best to maintain Blooming Courtyard, but it was clear that without him here, everything had been... restrained.

Xu Feng chose what he could, arranging a simple plate before carrying the items with Lee Hua to the dining area.

As they sat, Xu Feng spoke lightly, as if testing the waters.

"I’m sure little Momo and An would have wanted to nap with the boys—"

It was meant as a casual remark.

After all, Xiao An and Xiao Momo had already been asleep when he returned, curled up in their own beds.

But before Xu Feng could even settle, Lee Hua suddenly shot up from his seat.

"Master Feng!"

Xu Feng blinked, startled by the abrupt outburst.

Lee Hua’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his entire body trembling.

"Please forgive me!" The words rushed from his lips, his voice thick with desperation.

Xu Feng stayed silent.

Lee Hua’s eyes were already glassy, his breaths uneven. His head bowed lower as if the weight of his own shame was pressing down on him.

"I shouldn’t have tried to climb Master Zeng’s bed," he confessed, his voice cracking. "You forbade it, but you were gone, and I—" He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. "I wanted to cement a place for my children..."