Chapter 727 Lord Xie, I'll be waiting for you

Song Chunxue pointed to the door, "Then I'm really leaving."

“You know that’s not what I meant,” Xie Zheng said, pulling on her sleeve and looking up at her with bright eyes. “You left so decisively back then, I was afraid you had some reservations.”

Song Chunxue took out a melon from her storage ring. "Want some?"

"Let's eat tomorrow," he said, moving his fingers forward and tentatively taking hers, his gentle tone tinged with a hint of pleading, "I haven't had a chance to talk to you properly yet."

I can't stand it, he looks like a fawning tabby cat.

Song Chunxue sat down on the edge of the bed, not wanting to hide her feelings.

“I also want to talk to you properly, but what you said yesterday was so mysterious that I didn’t dare to hug you.”

In an instant, Xie Zheng's cheeks and neck turned red, and he turned to the side and buried his head in her shoulder.

"I spoke rather rashly and abruptly yesterday, please forgive me, Sister Song."

Originally quite calm, Song Chunxue found it hard to remain composed after Xie Zheng spoke like that.

Song Chunxue lifted his chin, and they smiled as soon as they made eye contact.

Their eyes met, filled with tender affection.

"Would you feel uncomfortable if I kissed you?" she asked seriously. "Or should I sit on the tatami? From what you're saying, you're worried even with me here, so wouldn't a kiss be..."

Before she could finish speaking, Song Chunxue saw his face getting closer and closer, his warm breath brushing against her lips.

The next moment, their warmth touched, like dragonflies skimming the water.

Song Chunxue blinked, her heart began to race, and her ears started to feel hot.

It has a very faint sweetness, almost imperceptible, like maltose.

Then, a weight landed on her shoulder as Xie Zheng wrapped his arms around her waist, his breathing unexpectedly rapid.

She couldn't help but laugh. This guy was acting like a hothead; no wonder he chased her away.

So, he knew exactly what I was thinking and was afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself?

As she thought about it, her face flushed.

No, it's about having a pure and desireless mind. A spiritual practitioner should have a pure and desireless mind.

How do you recite the Heart-Cleansing Mantra again?

"You still haven't told me why the Emperor was willing to let you come back later?" Song Chunxue spoke slowly, her tone relatively calm.

Xie Zheng held her without moving, his voice noticeably low and hoarse, "I want to resign from my post, and I've been on sick leave for ten days straight, staying at home without ever stepping out of the house. Doctors have been coming and going, and even the Emperor can't do anything about it."

He buried his eyes in her hair. "In the Emperor's eyes, it's better to let me come back than to make me resign."

"He agreed so readily?" Song Chunxue pushed him away and pressed him down onto the cushion. "Did he repeatedly warn you not to be bewitched by this stinky Taoist priest?"

"No, we talked drunkenly all night in the Imperial Study. Xie expressed his feelings and said that he would no longer interfere in the private affairs of his subjects. He only wanted me to continue to serve as an official and keep watch on the frontier."

At this point, he became somewhat anxious, "If I hadn't been injured, I would still be practicing my sword right now."

Being a civil official is not easy; being an honest official is even harder.

Therefore, Xie Zheng wanted to become a civil official with strong martial arts skills. He suddenly became greedy and wanted to live a few more years.

"Then take good care of your injury, heal as soon as possible and get back to practicing swordsmanship," she stood up, "early to bed and early to rise makes you recover faster."

Xie Zheng grasped her hand. "We haven't even exchanged a few words yet."

“Then I’ll sit further away and talk, I’m afraid you…” Song Chunxue looked down, “so that you won’t blame me if you get hurt.”

"..." Xie Zheng turned around hastily and leaned against the pillow, raising his hand to press his arm against his brow bone, his ear tips turning bright red.

I knew I shouldn't have said those things to her; in the end, it was him who would have been embarrassed.

Seeing his expression, Song Chunxue wanted to laugh, but she was worried that he might be about to bang his head against a wall.

She sat on a soft couch in the distance. It was best for the lone man and woman, who had just reunited after a long separation, and who had only drunk a little meat soup but hadn't eaten any meat, to keep quiet.

Although she felt that drinking soup would be enough for her entire life.

But if all that's left is soup, Lord Xie will probably cry.

"I heard you went back to Li Family Village and saw the children?"

"Mmm." Song Chunxue lay down; the wool felt was indeed comfortable.

I'll make another one for her on the kang (heated brick bed) later.

But thinking about it carefully, she hasn't been very bright lately. Does she really intend to stay at Xie Zheng's house indefinitely?

She also wanted a small courtyard of her own in the city where no one would bother her.

Even if it's a bit remote, it's fine; the key is to feel comfortable.

There were old women and servants, cooks and cooks, a housekeeper, and the talkative Liu Chunshu in this courtyard.

It's a little uncomfortable for someone who already has grandchildren to be doing everything under other people's noses.

More importantly, she wanted a place where she could meditate and spend her days in peace.

When you're feeling down, or when you don't feel like meditating, you don't have to worry about being seen by anyone. After eating and drinking your fill, you can lie down for a whole day.

However, Jin Cheng's courtyard is a bit expensive, and isn't she being a bit too extravagant these days, buying so many courtyards?

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Xie Zheng's tone returned to clarity. "Are you sleepy?"

“I’m thinking of buying a small courtyard,” she carefully considered whether it was necessary. “I need to see my two little apprentices tomorrow. Since I promised to take them under my wing, I should do my best.”

“If you want to buy it, then buy it. Leave this to Liu Chunshu. That’s right, once you have an apprentice, you have to be responsible for him. Don’t hold them back. If you’re busy, you don’t need to come see me every day. You should be fully recovered in another two weeks. You can come then.”

Xie Zheng recalled that she often stayed on the mountain before leaving the capital, and he didn't want to take up her time because of him.

Song Chunxue got up. "What are we going to do here in half a month?"

"..." Xie Zheng realized what was happening and corrected him in a low voice, "You can come whenever you want, we don't have to do anything. I should be able to have a couple of drinks with you then."

"Hmm, you seem to let loose when drinking?"

"..." Xie Zheng covered his face, speechless for a long time.

It's impossible to clear one's name even if one jumps into the Yellow River; he's definitely not the kind of person who thinks about that kind of thing all day long.

No, it's not!

But I can't explain it; the more I explain, the less she believes me.

He felt helpless and frustrated. How could Xie's illustrious reputation have been so carelessly ruined?

Song Chunxue buried her face in the pillow and laughed until tears streamed down her face.

"Sister Song, heaven and earth can bear witness, I, Xie Zheng, do have feelings for you, but I didn't come here with those kinds of intentions," after a while, his tone became more serious than ever before, "Last time I was careless and made you misunderstand, I will definitely be careful with my words in the future and will not mention this matter again."

"If you dislike it, you can say so directly. I will definitely change in the future."

Song Chunxue laughed uncontrollably, but sensing his nervousness, she dared not let him see her laughing like that.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat, "I didn't mean any harm, I was just saying it offhand, don't take it to heart."

But Xie Zheng clearly didn't want to let the matter drop.

"As long as I can talk to you often and drink with you occasionally, I'll be content. I don't want to put you in a difficult position." He sat up, afraid that she might misunderstand something. "You are the same as you were before. I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life for being able to come with me to the capital and help me bring my daughter home."

Song Chunxue could no longer smile.

"Sister Song, are you listening?"

Song Chunxue was hidden in the darkness, and he couldn't see her expression, which made him a little anxious.

"Yes, I'm listening. Don't be nervous, Lord Xie. I'm trying to be a normal woman and I don't dislike what you're saying."

Xie Zheng visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Lord Xie, please take good care of your injuries. I'll be waiting for you."

"..."

P.S.: Sorry, only two chapters today.

I'm allergic to acetaminophen, so I've been drinking mostly traditional Chinese medicine. My cold has been lingering for half a month and I still haven't gotten better. I plan to take a cold medicine tonight and try again tomorrow.