You decide to accept your fate as the quiet cannon fodder in this grand historical drama.
After all, a forced melon is not sweet.
Well, actually, it is pretty sweet.
But you are already mentally exhausted and only want to guard your remaining three well-behaved, adorable beauties at home. You are not in the mood to force any more melons.
You nod. “Since Lord Gu has returned, then Yanyan.”
“Gu Yiyan!” Zhuer bursts out from the room. “You are not allowed to leave!”
The air suddenly goes quiet.
You smell the scent of a bloodbath.
Gu Ruojin’s expression turns somewhat dark. He stares at Zhuer in silence for a long while, then asks, “Why not?”
Zhuer is unnerved by the way he looks at him, and he hides behind you, trembling. Even his momentum weakens unconsciously as he stammers an explanation.
“If Yanyan leaves, then we’ll be one player short for mahjong…”
Gu Ruojin frowns. “You can play Fight the Landlord.”
Zhuer: Huh? That does seem right.
Then he goes back inside to play Fight the Landlord.
You and Xiaohong stand at the door, watching Gu Ruojin carry Yanyan away on his back.
Yanyan has his arms around Gu Ruojin’s neck, his cheek pressed against his hair, his eyes full of tenderness. Gu Ruojin supports Yanyan’s thighs, occasionally turning his head to joke with him, making Yanyan smile until the corners of his lips curve.
The afternoon sunlight is not blinding, but your eyes still grow wet.
You pat Xiaohong on the shoulder and say with deep feeling, “What cold temperament, what unsmiling manners, it’s only because I, your master, am not the one who can make him melt.”
Xiaohong: “Oh.”
He does not seem very interested.
After seeing Yanyan off, you remember the account book that was buried in the fire. This concerns your wealth and property, a matter of great importance, and you immediately gather your spirits again, planning to continue investigating in secret.
Just as you are about to act, Xiaohong rushes out again from behind.
“Master——”
You cut her off in time and give her some corrective education.
“Master is very good, you are not allowed to speak nonsense.”
Xiaohong forcefully swallows back the words “something bad has happened,” clutching his chest and gasping, “Master, Lord Ruan has arrived.”
Just what kind of wind is blowing today, that everyone keeps crowding into your residence? Can’t they let you have a few peaceful days!
:）
You are utterly exhausted, but you still have to force a smile as you clasp your hands toward Lord Ruan. “Father-in-law.”
“Good Son-in-law,” Lord Ruan seems to have come in a great hurry, not even bothering to greet Ruanruan, and he grabs you by the arm and is about to leave. “A prince has come to the Capital, and he specifically named your household. Hurry and come with me to welcome him.”
Before you can answer, a sound suddenly comes from behind you. It is Zhuer, hiding behind a tree and eavesdropping.
Zhuer’s face turns deathly pale. He collapses to the ground and looks at you helplessly.
“Husband, save me… He’s come to catch me…”
You have never seen Zhuer like this before and are startled. You hurry to pull him into your arms and soothe him.
Yet in your head, you cannot stop yourself from thinking of the storybooks you once read at the wrong time.
“The Cold Prince’s Runaway Wife”?
“The Dominant Prince and the Pretty Courtesan”??
“I Heard the Raindrops Fall on the Green Grass”???
1. Face him head-on. Don’t meet him. No one can touch the man of your, Zhao Hutou’s, house!
2. The big shot can’t be provoked. First invite him in, then respond to his every move.
【Author’s Note】
Xiaohong is an npc with no romance line (。