[曦澄 | XiCheng]: The Fear Of Falling In Love [~PART 1~]

[167.] Month №7.

NOTE:

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****

The next weeks proved extremely busy. 

The Yumeng Jiang Clan was accommodated, a little over 150 people, in dorms and adjacent training grounds, and someone had to supervise all this. The trainings of the Lan Clan never ceased as well, even increased in intensity, as spring was coming along swiftly, so Zewu-Jun had his hands full with reports and the occasional problem he had to take care of, as now  –  7 months in  –  the doctor recommended full rest for Jiang Wanyin.

The two of them were mildly horrified to hear him say that the 7th month of every pregnancy is more dangerous than even the 9th.

- If the baby gets born now, Masters, and it could, there is very little chance it will survive.  –  he was saying sternly.  –  You have to be very careful. Absolutely no stress for Master Jiang whatsoever.  From now on you should be expecting weak occasional contractions too, but this is normal. You should sent someone to fetch me if your water breaks, though, Master, at any time of the day or night.

Sandu Shengshou was nodding, terrified. This birth thing was getting scarier and scarier for him as the due date approached. He wasn't sure any more he could do it. It seemed impossible to do! 

How did women do this?! Multiple times???

He was torn between craving to meet his beloved child, but also  –  dreading the way to get there.

Lan Xichen was holding him in his arms during the check-up, feeling him shiver slightly, caressing his shoulders and hair all the time. There was very little he could do for him, but reassure him that he would be by his side at all costs, at all times. 

He was glad that now they had the help of the Yumeng Jiang Clan Elders too, most of whom were quite experienced, and also  -  Lin Shou-Yi. The young man was proving himself invaluable, especially to Sandu Shengshou, and Zewu-Jun was glad. He had missed having such a trusted person with military background in this position to assist his husband. Lin Shou-Yi was serving the function of a personal guard to Jiang Cheng most of the time, which gave him more freedom to be elsewhere without constantly worrying for Jiang Wanyin's safety.

***

Lin Shou-Yi was the happiest man in the world. He quickly earned the trust and respect of his Masters, as he was extremely hard-working, energetic and obedient. He liked the feeling of being valued, of belonging  –  he had felt it with Jiang Fengmian too, and then missed it, when the Clan was left to its own resources. 

By now, it had become a public secret that the fire that ravished a quarter of the Cloud Recesses had been planned in Yumeng, and he fully understood his Master Lan's concerns, and perhaps his resentment too. He was grateful that he charged him with supervising the security of the House; as a member of the Yumeng Jiang Clan himself, he knew that this was a high expression of trust.

Yes, he was busy, exhausted, and very happy. 

Because, no matter how many and varied duties he had every day  –  he got to see and be with Sandu Shengshou almost all the time.