Chapter 43 Family

After a moment of distraction, Zhuang Dongqing obediently opened her jaw.

Only when his tongue went numb did Cen Yan let him go.

Zhuang Dongqing's eyes glazed over from the kiss.

Zhuang Dongqing was about to go to bed, but Cen Yan forcibly turned her around. Now she was sitting on the edge of the bed, occupying just one side. Her posture wasn't very comfortable, and since she had taken off her shoes, it wasn't easy for her to put her feet on the ground. When Cen Yan let go, Zhuang Dongqing swayed a little... and then Cen Yan pulled her back again.

Zhuang Dongqing closed his eyes.

Feeling that the explanation had been cleared up, my anxiety subsided, and drowsiness swept over me once more.

Cen Yan placed his hand on Zhuang Dongqing's forehead. Zhuang Dongqing muttered, "No fever. Liu Fu checked him."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "I didn't think it was that impressive, so I came back."

"I asked Liu Qi when you would feel better, but it's not really important. Liu Fu will definitely come to you if there are any problems."

After confirming, Cen Yan removed his hand and said, "Mm."

After saying that, he carried Zhuang Dongqing a little further inside, making him sit properly on the bed.

"Wasn't the original name supposed to be Liu Qi?"

When Cen Yan asked, Zhuang Dongqing didn't hide anything from him.

"At first I wanted to say something, but when I saw your face I didn't know what to say, so in the end I thought I might as well tell Manager Liu."

Cen Yan: "Why didn't you tell him again?"

Zhuang Dongqing listened and felt that the voice was much gentler and no longer cold.

Then he slowly said, "He's always been concerned about me. If he said something, he would definitely tell you right away. Isn't that the same thing?"

After a pause, Zhuang Dongqing said, "I feel like you're not in a good mood. You can't do this kind of thing if you're not in the mood, right?"

"What kind of thing?"

Zhuang Dongqing's mind went blank for a moment.

Then I felt a vibration in my chest cavity.

Cen Yan was smiling.

Realizing belatedly that the other person had asked on purpose to tease him, Zhuang Dongqing bit his wrist on the side of his face.

It wasn't heavy, but the attitude was expressed very well.

Cen Yan: "Are you angry? Want me to give you another bite?"

"..."

Zhuang Dongqing said in a muffled voice, "...No need."

I rubbed my eyes, my mind was a complete mess again: "I'm sleepy, I want to sleep."

After a moment of silence, Cen Yan placed his hand on Zhuang Dongqing's forehead again and said seriously, "You won't get a fever again in the middle of the night, will you?"

Zhuang Dongqing was speechless.

He vaguely remembered that when he was in the village, he woke up feeling unwell in the middle of the night. He couldn't really guarantee that he wouldn't.

Sure enough, Cen Yan immediately brought it up.

"..."

So sleepy, so sleepy. Why do I need to use my brain at a time like this?

Zhuang Dongqing's mind went completely blank, and her face scrunched up.

Cen Yan said slowly, "I'll stay tonight..."

ah?

Seeing the surprise in Zhuang Dongqing's eyes, Cen Yan stroked his face with his knuckles and said calmly, "The bed is big enough, there's enough room for you to sleep."

Zhuang Dongqing vaguely felt that the crux of the problem lay elsewhere.

Cen Yan continued, "If you need anything, I can take care of you immediately..."

That makes sense, but is that how it's argued?

Cen Yan lowered his eyes and met Zhuang Dongqing's gaze, his eyes flickering. "You don't mean to make me run over in the middle of the night if something goes wrong, do you?"

"Are you trying to torment me?"

Oh, this.

That makes a lot of sense.

He was the one who needed Cen Yan in the first place.

If the antidote has to run around all night on its own...

But Zhuang Dongqing always felt that something was wrong.

After a brief pause, Cen Yan took another step closer without changing his expression. "What do you think?"

Upon meeting Cen Yan's gaze, Zhuang Dongqing wavered again.

"...Okay, fine then."

Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore.

After saying that, Cen Yan slowly revealed a faint smile on his face, "Then I'll go wash up."

*

Zhuang Dongqing shrunk under the covers and closed her eyes, just as she had hoped.

Fall asleep.

I can't sleep...

I suddenly opened my eyes—something's not right!

That's not how you calculate it, is it?

What does the size of his bed have to do with whether Cen Yan stays overnight or not?!

Even if it's more than enough for two people, why would they squeeze into one bed in one room?

They've all already returned to the Prince's Mansion. The guest rooms in the east wing are just steps away from the main house. Can't they be cleaned up and used?!

Zhuang Dongqing sat up.

I woke up now.

Thoroughly.

It seems he just agreed to something incredible.

When it shouldn't be turning, my brain starts turning sluggishly again.

He agreed to let Cen Yan stay overnight.

A room.

A bed.

Zhuang Dongqing pulled the blanket over her head.

He might as well suffocate himself.

*

It's convenient that Cen Yan wants to stay overnight.

After learning about Zhuang Dongqing's situation, not only did Cen Yan speak to Master Zhao to offer advice, but he also mentioned it to Liu Qi.

Liu Qi, the servant in the east wing, had already been instructed, and Liu Fu was someone he personally worked on to persuade him.

As for Cen Yan's toiletries and change of clothes, a set had been prepared in the east wing well in advance.

Therefore, when Cen Yan spoke, everything was readily available and readily available.

Knowing that Zhuang Dongqing was also a clean person, Cen Yan not only took a bath, but also took apart her hair and washed it as well.

Upon entering the palace, one finds it filled with the strong scent of incense. Cen Yan dislikes the rich fragrance and does not wish to bring the sickness emanating from it to Zhuang Dongqing.

Knowing that Liufu dries hair quickly, Cen Yan also had Liufu dredge his hair.

When the sound of water subsided, he blew out the candlelight in the outer room and entered the inner room, where Cen Yan was taken aback.

Instead of falling asleep as he expected, Zhuang Dongqing sat up wrapped in the blanket and stared straight at him.

"Didn't you say you were sleepy?" Cen Yan asked.

Zhuang Dongqing did not answer, but stubbornly stared at Cen Yan.

After a moment of eye contact, Cen Yan burst into laughter.

"You've realized it now?"

Approaching and calmly sitting down on the edge of the bed, Cen Yan asked Zhuang Dongqing, "Are you going to kick me out?"

"..."

She glanced at Cen Yan; he had taken a bath, changed into clean nightgown, and his hair was still damp…

There is still some distance between the east and west wings; it would take quite a while to walk there.

Zhuang Dongqing was sullen.

Cen Yan remained calm and asked him again, "Are you very angry?"

"Did I change my clothes and go back?"

Seeing that Zhuang Dongqing remained silent, Cen Yan stood up.

The clean clothes to wear tomorrow were all hung on the screen, and Zhuang Dongqing watched as Liu Fu brought them in and put them away.

"..."

Seeing Cen Yanzhen walking in that direction, Zhuang Dongqing said, "It's...not that bad."

It's late at night, it can't be that bad.

Cen Yan nodded, then sat back down and asked him to confirm, "You're not sending me away?"

"...I didn't say I was going to kick you out."

Are you angry?

Meeting Cen Yan's penetrating gaze, Zhuang Dongqing sighed inwardly and said in a muffled voice, "No, there isn't any."

Cen Yan was quite perceptive: "If you're not angry, then you're annoyed."

"..."

Zhuang Dongqing: "I need to see your wound."

Meeting Cen Yan's surprised gaze, she unusually assertive said, "The one on your shoulder."

Suddenly, Cen Yan smiled and said, "Okay."

"Are you going to bring the clothes or will I do it myself...?"

Zhuang Dongqing huddled under the covers, being unreasonable, "You do it yourself, take it off and let me see."

"OK."

Cen Yanzhen, as Zhuang Dongqing had requested, was very easy to talk to and opened up her injured right shoulder.

Zhuang Dongqing, wrapped in the blanket, moved forward a little.

Actually, I had thought about going to the West Wing to see the arrow wound earlier this morning, but who knew that Cen Yan would enter the palace again today, and a bunch of trivial matters would follow. Seeing that Cen Yan was in a bad mood, Zhuang Dongqing gave up the idea.

at the moment……

Since you tricked him, you should at least make amends, for example, by letting him see how his wound is healing.

The deeper the wound, the thicker the scab.

When he wasn't well, Zhuang Dongqing would be terrified every time she saw him.

He's almost fully recovered, but looking at him still makes me feel uncomfortable.

That must hurt so much.

Noticing the change in Zhuang Dongqing's expression, Cen Yan said, "The scab had already formed when we came back, but it didn't heal properly after a while. It's been resting for a while now, and both Master Zhao and the imperial physician said it will fall off in a few days."

Zhuang Dongqing hesitated for a moment, then reached out and pressed the side of the wound, which had already shrunk considerably.

He raised his finger to the scab, and hesitated, but Cen Yan's hand pressed down on it and landed on the scab.

Such a thick scab.

Zhuang Dongqing didn't dare to use force, so she gently touched it and then put it down.

"It's about to fall off."

"Yes, don't worry about it tearing."

Realizing the deeper meaning of those words, Zhuang Dongqing choked up and muttered, "I didn't come here to check my wound for that."

"I know, young master is worried about me."

"..."

He slightly raised his eyes, and Cen Yan gazed at him with gentle eyes, his expression serious.

Zhuang Dongqing softened and nodded in agreement.

Since the atmosphere had already reached this point, I decided to say what I had prepared before going to the west wing: "Manager Liu talked to me about the fiefdom, and I just happened to run into him today, so please don't blame him."

"Don't be too sad."

“There will definitely be people who will keep you in their hearts and think about you all the time in the future.”

Cen Yan glanced at Zhuang Dongqing and thought to himself, "Actually, someone's already taken."

But then he still had to ask, "Oh, who?"

Zhuang Dongqing glanced at him quickly, her eyes darting around, her thoughts written all over her face.

Cen Yan has never liked hearing lies, but it's okay to hear them once in a while.

If someone is willing to go to the trouble of lying to please him, he is actually happy to hear it.

Thinking this, Cen Yan just smiled and looked at Zhuang Dongqing.

But Zhuang Dongqing told the truth once again.

Before she could speak, she grabbed his hand and pressed it against her body, saying, "Him."

Cen Yan was stunned.

Zhuang Dongqing's gaze was intense: "Have you ever raised a child?"

"It's actually not easy."

"But no matter what their parents are like, in their eyes, they are the most remarkable people."

"Children are very simple and pure. Treat them well, and they will reciprocate with all your love."

"When he is born, he will love you just as much as he loves me."

The hand was on Zhuang Dongqing's lower abdomen.

Cen Yan was speechless.

When I went to see Zhuang Dongqing, I saw that his eyes were full of sincerity.

She hadn't lied to him after all.

This answer was indeed more touching than trying to coax him.

Cen Yan felt a strange pang of sadness, and her heart softened completely.

"You never lie, do you?"

The topic changed so quickly that Zhuang Dongqing was momentarily stunned before saying embarrassedly, "How could that be..."

"I once lied to the madam and used money to grease palms..."

Actually, I saved them all myself.

Before he could finish speaking, Cen Yan kissed him.

It wasn't fast, giving him time to react, and Zhuang Dongqing didn't dodge.

The clasped hands flipped over and stroked upwards along Zhuang Dongqing's wrist.

With the slightest movement, the blanket wrapped around her slipped off.

After they separated, Zhuang Dongqing gasped for breath and felt the light dimming again. Only then did he realize that he had been pushed from the edge of the bed to the inside.

There was a wall behind me, so there was no way to retreat any further.

Cen Yan gently kissed his nose and then got into bed with him.

Zhuang Dongqing nervously looked at the other person, only to be kissed again.

Suddenly, she felt a hand reach in, and Zhuang Dongqing trembled.

Do I still smell good?

Cen Yan asked him in a low voice, his expression unreadable, only his voice audible.

A kiss landed on her earlobe. Realizing something, Zhuang Dongqing closed her eyes and said, "...Mmm."

"Smells good."

Warm breath brushed against my earlobe, tickling it. "Can we continue?"

Zhuang Dongqing trembled again, but asked, "Can...can I?"

"Master Zhao said there's no problem."

Zhuang Dongqing's face was burned.

She turned her eyes to look at Cen Yan, and the moment their eyes met, she felt as if she were being held captive by those eyes.

Cen Yan whispered in his ear, as if complaining but also as if informing him, "You can't leave me hanging this time."

Unable to look the other person in the eye, Zhuang Dongqing closed her eyes again.

He knew what Cen Yan was talking about.

The first two times, the other party helped him. He was not in a good mood the first time, so he let it go. The second time, he wanted to... give back.

However, Cen Yan rejected him.

At the time, he didn't insist because he knew Cen Yan's injury hadn't healed yet.

Zhuang Dongqing: "...Oh."

As soon as he finished speaking, he was bitten on the lip. Cen Yan said fiercely, "I didn't mean for you to help me too."

Zhuang Dongqing's cheeks burned. "I know."

His throat bobbed, and Zhuang Dongqing said pathetically, "...I'm a little scared."

"I...I've never done that."

But this only elicited laughter from Cen Yan.

Zhuang Dongqing was puzzled, and Cen Yan whispered in his ear, "Do you know what I was thinking when you came in the first time we met?"

Zhuang Dongqing naturally had no idea.

Cen Yan: "At the time, I thought that since it was Guangyuetai, the people who came here on their own must know how to do it to some extent."

Zhuang Dongqing: "..."

My ear was bitten too. "In the end, he was very enthusiastic, but he just stared at me blankly."

"I was wondering, is he not sure, or is he just playing hard to get, pretending not to know?"

Zhuang Dongqing didn't want to listen anymore.

However, Cen Yan did not allow it.

"I thought it was the latter."

"At the time, I thought it would be quite interesting, but..."

Zhuang Dongqing rested her face on Cen Yan's shoulder.

"When the truth came out, it turned out that he really didn't know how. Not only did he not know how, but he also tried to run away. It was really infuriating."

Zhuang Dongqing couldn't listen anymore, "Stop talking..."

But Cen Yan interrupted him with a soft sigh, "But what can we do?"

"After all that, if I really let you go, where am I supposed to find someone I like just as much?"

"I'll have to serve you, young master."