26 Chapter Twenty-Six

◎But she didn't know that Xie Lang had excellent night vision. ◎

Chapter Twenty-Six

For the first time after their marriage, they spent day and night together in their not-so-large new house.

As his health gradually improved, these past few days, while he leaned against the bed reading military books, she would hide far away on the chaise lounge reading storybooks.

Fortunately, the chaise lounge was far from the bed, and there was a screen in between, so he couldn't see her unless he deliberately stood back. As soon as Xie Lang made a sound, she would immediately close the book and put it on the inside. Xie Lang wasn't the type to be idle or annoying, and he would never touch her things on his own initiative.

When she finished reading it and was ready to put it away, she would wrap the storybook in a small garment she had prepared beforehand while washing up, then roll it up in her dress and put it in the wardrobe.

Layer upon layer, it is not easily discovered.

As she became engrossed in this troubling love story, her face flushed with surprise, Xie Lang had already opened his eyes and stared at her for a long time.

My gaze moved from her rosy-cheeked face to the cover, and then back to her face.

He coughed, and Liu Qingqing realized he was awake, but she was still a beat slow to pull herself out of the story. She hurriedly put the book away and placed it inside the chaise lounge.

Xie Lang gazed at her with deep, unfathomable eyes.

Liu Qingqing was startled, fearing he might have noticed something, but when she looked over the screen, she could only see the tip of Xie Lang's head. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that the person was awake, Liu Qingqing quickly got off the bed and went to pour some warm water.

She still remembered that he had just asked for water.

Xie Lang took the porcelain bowl, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down with each swallow, and droplets of water trickled down his chin. What a beautiful sight of a handsome man drinking water! Liu Qingqing couldn't help but stare.

The next moment, she couldn't help but think of the erotic scenes described in the storybook, and her lowered eyelashes trembled.

Having gotten used to strong tea, I've been forced to drink only water these past few days, and my taste has become bland.

However, Xie Lang didn't say anything; he would do whatever she said.

When he returned the porcelain bowl to her, he noticed that her exposed skin was completely red, just like the newborn kittens he had raised as a child. He reached out and grasped her wrist. "Do you have a fever?"

Upon touching skin and finding nothing amiss, she snatched the porcelain bowl as if startled awake and hurriedly left.

Xie Lang looked thoughtfully at the spot on the chaise longue where she usually kept her books.

After a moment, she returned, peeking half her face out from the doorway to ask him if he wanted porridge or noodle soup for dinner. Her guilty and evasive manner was exactly like that of a kitten that had gotten into trouble.

"I'll eat whatever you want."

After Xie Lang answered, Liu Qingqing nodded demurely to indicate that she understood, and then turned and walked away quickly.

He then concluded that there was something fishy about that book.

However, since she wanted to keep it a secret, he couldn't expose her.

The atmosphere between the two became rather strange at dinner time.

Liu Qingqing seemed extremely hungry, burying her head in her food and refusing to look up at him. Xie Lang glanced at her several times, and seeing that she was only eating staple food, he served her some side dishes a few times. Each time, her fair and delicate face turned as red as an adorable hawthorn ball.

Liu Qingqing did not thank him. After eating the food he picked up, she also picked up a few dishes for him that she thought tasted average but were very good for his health.

Xie Lang, being very good-natured, ate it all.

They seem to have already developed a tacit understanding as a couple.

After dinner, each lost in their own thoughts, the room fell silent.

As if being chased by a dog, Liu Qingqing hurriedly entered the bathhouse after the servants brought the hot water.

Xie Lang was quite particular about this, and a separate bath room was set up in the clean room.

When the house was renovated, they were worried that it would be inconvenient for her after she married into the family, so they removed the curtains that blocked the bathroom and actually partitioned off another room with a proper door.

Then Xie Lang heard the sound of two doors closing, followed by the faint sound of water.

He suddenly couldn't concentrate on the detailed official procedures interspersed in the military treatise. Xie Lang remembered the words the divine physician had told him and couldn't help but press his hand to his brow.

The couple should consummate their marriage as soon as possible, and for the next six months, they can only have sex twice a month.

Furthermore, the residual effects of this drug will still occur after consummation of the marriage, gradually decreasing in frequency until they disappear completely.

The doctor advised him not to be soft-hearted and spoil his wife.

Too much is not good; moderation is the best approach for her.

This is a very difficult matter. How can one be so affectionate after consummating the marriage, yet still reject her?

Given how clingy she was during her previous episodes, he probably managed to resist.

Because of her childhood experiences, she is used to being cautious and timid. If she feels that he is treating her coldly, she will definitely be sad.

Xie Lang found it quite a headache.

Just then, Xie Lang suddenly heard someone call his name, and upon closer listening, he realized that someone was calling his name.

"My husband!"

It was indeed Liu Qingqing. He called out to her, "Madam?"

A series of soft splashing sounds, like she was emerging from the hot tub, followed by a creak as the inner door opened.

Xie Lang frowned and walked over: "Is something the matter?"

"Please, my husband, help me... get a clean dress."

He stammered as he said, "I was in such a rush when I came in that I forgot to take it."

Seeing that she was alright, Xie Lang breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly asked where she was.

She composed herself and replied, "It's in the wardrobe. My husband can see it as soon as he opens the door."

"Okay, don't rush."

Xie Lang walked to the wardrobe and opened it.

Although they shared the wardrobe, he was hardly familiar with it. He first looked around at the layout; his long robe took up most of the space, leaving her dress crammed into a corner. Xie Lang frowned and adjusted his own side, thinking that he would have to instruct her maid to tidy up her clothes tomorrow, as he didn't need that many garments.

Just as I was about to pull my hand back to her side, my wrist bumped into something, and suddenly a cloth bag fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Xie Lang immediately noticed something was wrong. How could such a light cloth bag make a muffled sound? So he squatted down to check.

He looked closely and recognized it as her long dress. He touched it with his index finger, and the dress came undone.

There was only one candle burning beside the clean room, which had almost burned out when she went in, making it rather dim. Only then did Liu Qingqing dare to come out.

But she didn't know that Xie Lang had excellent night vision.

Just then, Liu Qingqing, who was hiding behind the bathroom door, suddenly woke up and gasped when she remembered the books she had hidden in the cabinet. She hastily wrapped herself in a thin summer coat and rushed out.

[Author's Note]

I'll be posting for VIP at midnight, with 10,000 words updated. Then, I'll update at midnight for the next three days. After the contract expires, I'll resume updating at 6 PM, six times a day.

I'll see if I can add more chapters depending on the situation. This is my first time writing a historical romance novel, so I've been very careful and attentive. I've also felt everyone's enthusiasm!! So heartwarming and happy~

I was so happy to see a familiar ID from two or three years ago in the comments section when I started writing this story! I hope that after it becomes a paid novel, I can see you all every day!

Next chapter preview: "Wedding ceremony, entering the bridal chamber."

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Liu Xiyue and Xie Lanchuan have been inseparable since childhood and share a deep affection for each other. Their families have long since tacitly approved of their marriage.

But a sudden tragedy struck; Xie Lanchuan was seriously injured and fell into a coma while protecting her.

When he woke up again, he was still the same gentle and refined gentleman, but he had forgotten how to love her.

He treated her as well as ever, but he could no longer reciprocate her deep affection.

A winter and summer passed in the blink of an eye, and he suddenly became cold and distant towards her, saying, "I can't mislead you like this. You should find a gentleman who truly loves you."

Instead of being sad and heartbroken by his side.

He truly loves her? If it's not him, who else could it be?

She said, "I don't care."

“But I care,” he repeated softly, “I care.”

Later, she fell, her dress soaked with blood, and asked a servant to fetch him to come and get her. He didn't come, and even after the blood had congealed and dawn had broken, he still hadn't arrived.

That night was truly cold, just like his heart. She decided to follow his wishes and give him freedom, obeying the arrangements of her elders to travel far away to the south of the Yangtze River to clear his mind.

Xie Lanchuan heard that the Liu family was already looking for a husband for her, including a newly rich man like General Fu and the young master Li from the Grand Tutor's mansion, both of whom were good families.

She had already been wasted by him, and it was only right that this happened. But why did he feel so distressed when she was boating on the lake with others?

Their reunion took place at a spring banquet. Liu Xiyue, having been poisoned by an evil drug, stumbled and fled into an empty hall. Hearing someone following her, she turned around abruptly and saw it was him.

With her last bit of strength, she slammed the door shut, her voice shrill, "Don't come any closer!"

He bit his lip and said in a trembling voice, "I would be grateful if you could help me find the person, whether it's General Fu or Young Master Li from the Grand Tutor's Mansion."

"Why are you looking for someone?" he heard himself ask in a low voice.

She did not answer him, but instead let out a sound of unbearable sobbing, which sounded like the song of a bird.

Xie Lanchuan's hand, which was pushing the door open, froze and clenched into a fist. Suddenly, he smiled.

They can all do it, but he can't?