Looking at the fragile form of his wife, Qi Shou's eyes couldn't help but moisten, tears on the cusp of falling.
Her coarse clothing accentuated her pale face and hair sticky to her forehead and cheeks.
It appeared she didn't even have the energy to look after herself though she didn't appear unsightly or outright dirty.
It was more like the form of a pallid beauty.
A one at the end of her line, and this cold harsh truth clenched Qi Shou's heart.
His heart seemed to be torn apart into various pieces the more he looked at her fragile form.
Barely consolidating his courage, he took a step forward, almost stumbling.
"Husband..."
Her weak, worried voice floated over as he regained his footing and crossed the distance within a few breaths.
He couldn't stand the scene of her raising her arm in an attempt to support him.
It was definitely instinctive, given her condition.
'Which freaking quack told me she was fine except for her fertility?
If this is truly the world of cultivation, I'll definitely flay that bastard as my first order of buisness!'
Qi Shou cursed the old doctor for his deception, unaware that he hadn't lied in the least.
It was only because of Qi Shou's own corrupted vision that he saw Qin Hanliu as a weak, fragile woman.
After all, she was just a delicate beauty in his eyes.
Ahem, he seemed to have omitted his bitter rivalry as childhood friends and how he often lost to her...
It was as if his mind automatically filtered out the parts of her superiority, just to view her as something dear he must hold onto for dear life!
"Wife, I'm here! Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you! Even it takes my life, I'll find you the best doctor!"
Qi Shou vowed solemnly, holding her hand with a light grip, afraid to add to her pain.
Unbeknownst to him, Qin Hanliu had her forehead veins bulging with her mouth twitching.
If not for the doctor having just administered her acupuncture, she would've loved to discipline her dear husband.
"Dear..."
"Yes, yes. I'm here," Qi Shou interrupted her, clasping her hand and rubbing it gently with each hand.
His continuous actions truly left Qin Hanliu speechless.
If the starting gave her a feeling of sweetness and happiness that he understood her plight and would probably care for their daughter more, this was borderline insane.
In all her ears, she'd never seen him act so... stupid.
"Dear, I'm fine!"
She scraped through gritted teeth, trying to convey her meaning.
Yet all it got was his gentle eyes to stare at her peach blossom eyes with his hand caressing her forehead.
"Wife, there's no need to act tough," Qi Shou whispered, his tone softening to the extreme.
Unfortunately, Qin Hanliu only felt goosebumps and chose to remain silent.
It was better to let him do whatever he wanted before she could finally talk some sense in to him.
Surely, he wouldn't be so much of an idiot later.
However, Qi Shou truly had no idea how his words sounded so sleazy to his own dear wife.
In his past life, one of his regrets could be said to have never fallen in love.
And now that he had a wife he loved and who even bore a child for him, how could he act nonchalant?
All his buried emotions came bursting within.
Even looking back, Qi Shou was a bit overprotective during her pregnancy and remained celibate for nearly one-and-half a year now.
It was extremely rare for men in ancient times to do that.
And Qin Hanliu was secretly pleased but just couldn't mention it.
Furthermore, that was his action before the memories of his past life came surging.
It was quite obvious that the couple had a harmonious and loving relationship, to say the least.
Yet here he was acting bereaved as if on his wife's deathbed.
It irked her to no end.
Who knew Qi Shou had such a soft and weak side to him?
He'd always been stubborn and strong-willed as a child and refused to admit defeat unless thoroughly defeated and shamed for it.
While it was quite a novel experience, Qin Hanliu swore she never wanted to experience it again.
"Dear..."
She called out again, finally speaking after more than twenty minutes.
Qi Shou moved his ears closer to her mouth, straining to hear her words.
"Why are you acting like these aregoing to be my last words!?"
Qin Hanliu snapped, her hand finally able to clutch his, the sudden action and strength she applied made Qi Shou yelp.
"Ughh!"
He felt helpless and stunned, his mind trying to repeatedly question, "Where was the weak woman he was just consoling and pouring his heart out for? Did she even exist or was he fooled?"
Sadly, he didn't get an answer despite his brain running to process it.
And it was only after Qin Hanliu felt satisfied with his punishment that she let go and exhaled deeply.
"I couldn't move because of the acupuncture, but you acted as if I was dy–"
"Don't say that!"
Before she could complete her sentence, Qi Shou's eyes widened as he instinctively clasped her mouth shut.
No matter what, he wouldn't let her say such inauspicious things twice.
The first time was only because he was truly in the dark about her condition or why would act deceived.
"Ahem, it seemed the doctor didn't lie," he murmured casually, hoping to dispel the earlier awkwardness and tension.
Yet all he got in return was Qin Hanliu's accusing glare, which seemed to be asking "You already heard the Doctor's words and still acted like a complete idiot?"
Avoiding her accusatory glance, he tried to steer the conversation away.
"Mingzhu is quite cute, isn't she? She definitely takes after you."
Qin Hanliu simply snorted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
But her expression did soften at the mention of her daughter.
Who wouldn't want to hold the little version of themselves, especially the baby versions!
They were so cute, it was practically irresistible.
Even if someone hated themselves, could they hate their own child as well?
She couldn't imagine someone doing that.
However, she wasn't naive and heard that those nobles and their concubines bred like pigs, only using their children to one-up their status or one-up their half-siblings or co-wives.
Thinking that far, her gaze finally softened as it landed on her husband.
At least she could be certain that he wouldn't be having any other girl besides her in his life.
Well, Mingzhu was their own daughter, so doting on her didn't count.
Rather, that would only make Qin Hanliu love him more.