“Wake up…”
“Wake up…”
In her dazed state, she felt someone gently patting her cheek.
Xiang Zhile opened her teary eyes.
She met Yan Junnuo’s enlarged face.
Those eyes that had been devoid of light and closed in her dream were now filled with concern.
Seeing she was awake, Yan Junnuo subtly let out a sigh of relief and was about to speak, “With this prince—”
Before he could finish, Xiang Zhile immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his face.
Feeling the warm touch, she felt slightly reassured—she had truly returned, this was the real Yan Junnuo.
“Silly woman, you’ve covered this prince’s face with snot, how disgusting.”
Though he said this, Yan Junnuo stiffened his body, not daring to move an inch.
Xiang Zhile quickly reached out to wipe his face, “There’s no snot.”
As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around his neck again, half-coquettishly saying, “Didn’t Wangye lean in here to be kissed? With such beauty before me, Qieshen couldn’t resist the temptation.”
With that, she unhesitatingly gave his other cheek another loud “smack.”
Such glib talk.
Yan Junnuo raised his head and clicked his tongue coldly, “Your courage is growing more and more… Mmm…”
After a long while, Xiang Zhile finally pulled away from his lips, her face flushed crimson.
She nestled in his arms like a kitten, using his inner robe to wipe her still-damp tears, then asked softly, “Wangye, what time is it now?”
Yan Junnuo dazedly reached up to touch his lips, the corners of his mouth quirking up slightly before quickly flattening again.
Then he clumsily drew her into his embrace, “Early Yin hour. Sleep a little longer.”
Xiang Zhile obediently closed her eyes and nodded, her arms winding around his slender waist, holding him tightly.
Soon, she fell asleep.
His inner robe had somehow been pulled open slightly, and Xiang Zhile’s light, shallow breaths fanned across his chest one after another, like a kitten’s paws scratching his heart until it tingled.
Remembering how this silly woman had been crying in her dream, saying she wanted to bear him many, many children.
Yan Junnuo wrinkled his brow in disdain—children were too noisy, he didn’t like them.
But if it was this silly woman bearing them for him, he could reluctantly accept it.
Thinking this, he lowered his head to gently kiss Xiang Zhile’s crown, then tentatively kissed her cheek.
When his thin lips brushed against her delicate skin, Xiang Zhile let out a soft moan, and he tensed up again.
Feeling her breathing steady, he relaxed once more, then adjusted their positions while holding her.
Perhaps because Xiang Zhile was sleeping so soundly, the sleepiness transferred to him, and his eyelids began fighting uncontrollably.
He calculated silently in his heart…
Early Yin hour…
Well, he could still nap for just a little while…
Since the silly woman was being so well-behaved, he’d just close his eyes for a short while…
Just a short while…
…
The sky was fully bright.
When Yan Junnuo woke up, the space beside him was already cold and empty.
The pillow and quilt beside him were so neatly arranged it seemed last night had been nothing but a dream.
!!!
He immediately threw off the covers and got out of bed.
“Chu Shan!!”
Chu Shan entered upon hearing the call.
“Wangye.”
Yan Junnuo looked at him, a flicker of panic in his eyes, “Where is Wangfei?”
Chu Shan cautiously reminded him, “Wangfei is Returning to the bride’s parental home today, has Wangye forgotten?”
“She went back alone?” Yan Junnuo’s sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“…bringing Chun Chou, Qiu Si, Steward Li, and… those one hundred and twenty-eight empty chests, a grand procession likely numbering over two hundred people.”
Hearing this, Yan Junnuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing his master’s expression soften slightly, Chu Shan cautiously spoke up again.
“Wangye, before leaving, Wangfei instructed me to keep an eye on… ahem, to watch you finish your morning meal before you attend to other matters.”
Yan Junnuo raised a handsome eyebrow, about to refuse.
But Chu Shan spoke faster, “The morning meal is porridge that Wangfei specially woke up early to prepare. For lunch, she made shredded chicken noodles herself—she already seasoned them, so the cook only needs to blanch the noodles, and Wangye can dine. For dinner, Wangfei said she will rush back to cook for you.”
“So late? This Wang won’t wait for her.” Even as he said this, Yan Junnuo began dressing and washing up on his own.
The morning meal was millet porridge with yam cake.
But without Xiang Zhile, Yan Junnuo felt today’s breakfast wasn’t as delicious as before.
After a while, he couldn’t help but instruct Chu Shan, “Follow Uncle Li discreetly. If Uncle Li can’t handle it, lend a hand.”
“…Yes.”
As Chu Shan was about to withdraw after receiving the order, Yan Junnuo called him back.
“…Never mind. Uncle Li has worked hard for the Wang residence all these years. This Wang will go personally.”
Chu Shan was full of confusion.
Only now do you see Steward Li’s hardships?