The laundry wasn’t all that overwhelming, and I took the usual ribbing from the other people doing theirs as I scrubbed up. I might prefer doing laundry naked, but I was a little unique in those regards, and there were plenty who noted I often “leaked” into the washing trough.
Honestly, a few drops of milk and everyone thinks they have to start over.
The Vermilion Palace refugees just did what they were told, even the ones who clearly didn’t like being forced to, and hated me for making them. I could handle that, I knew full well why I wasn’t allowed to train anyone below Expert rank anymore.
Honestly, you’d think Li didn’t appreciate my dedication to a healthy diet and light exercise. Worked well enough that the girls were happy to wear anything at all, even the simple robes and leggings we all had to wear most days. Personally, I thought they were rather nice. Comfortable, colorful enough, and adjustable to a wide variety of shapes and sizes. A trick the tailors and seamstresses had picked up over the years, since Kaoru and I were far from the only ones to lose ourselves in mating, then “forget” contraception or early-stage abortatives.
It was a point of defiance among the rebellion, a way of saying we refused to give up hope for the future just because the present times were hard. And since pretty much everyone was a cultivator of some level or another, the usual strains and health issues were minimized.
Which reminded me…
Picking up a bottle of vile-looking fluid and removing the stopper, I tracked down Kaoru and shoved it down her throat. The neck cracked when she bit down on it in surprise, but held. One of her own pieces, and the glass on those was unusually sturdy thanks to her imbuing everything with qi subconsciously.
After choking and sputtering on the medicine (which I can assure you, smelled worse than it looked and tasted worse than it smelled), Kaoru removed the bottle herself and glared at me.
“What in the Vermilion Caldera was that about?!”
“You’re pregnant again, aren’t you?”
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She blinked, but didn’t deny it. We couldn’t hide those details from each other, especially when sparring.
I sighed. “I’ve warned you, Kaoru. You need to give yourself more time between kids. Even at our level, our bodies can only recover so much so fast, and our cultivation being diverted to grow a new life inside of ourselves takes some of that healing factor away. That nasty little concoction boosts qi reserves, enhances absorption, and includes a lot of vital nutrients your body is short on. Should also balance out your metabolism, but I want you to rest this time. Three months, bare minimum. A year would be better. Even that Vermilion bitch knew better than to go straight from birth to conception.”
Kaoru sighed, then nodded. “I hate feeling so… empty… though.”
I gave her a hug. “Children are a miracle and a blessing, but simply keeping yourself full of them isn’t going to fill the empty places you’re talking about. Get some rest after these three, and try to find out just what’s making you hurt so much.”
Kaoru nodded again, then we headed to the main square together.
Meals could be had in private, but a celebration like this was a community event. Everyone made something they loved, and we brought it all together in one big feast. Music played, people danced everywhere, and I could sense the kinds of activities that would bring even more women to me in just a few short weeks.
Fu’s daughter had retired as village headwoman and midwife, leaving Kaoru to the administration and me to overseeing the health of… Xiangli village.
Why did they have to name it after us? The settlement had existed long before we did, and I didn’t want that recognition. Li just smirked about it, and made fun of my overinflated ego. I’d kicked him, but in bun form. He’d just laughed again. Hard to make him truly suffer anymore.
But enough brooding. This was a party, and I fully intended to enjoy myself. Starting by tracking down my punching bag and dancing with him. He obliged, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Some of the refugees from the Vermilion lands were also dancing, and I was glad that there were a few who hadn’t either been overly spoiled or so deeply traumatized that they couldn’t so much as look at other people.
Some of both were hanging about, either eating quietly or quietly complaining about the food not being sophisticated enough. Well, little progress.
The night wound down, and I had my happy grown-up fun time with Li. But I restrained myself, both for the same reasons I’d given Kaoru… and because I had work to do.
The Dragon and Tiger wouldn’t notice a harmless little bunny spying on their lands. And that was how I’d learn what they were up to.