next day

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, the Emperor issued an edict inviting all members of the royal family and the sons of meritorious officials to Lingguang Temple to pay homage and offer incense, praying for the country's well-being.

As a family of meritorious officials, the Marquis of Zhongyong's family naturally had to participate in the Buddhist ceremony. However, since only Chen Jinheng was a general in the court, only he and his wife Gu Qianluo went.

At dawn, the night was deep, and the bright moon hung high in the sky. The bodyguard, Han Ying, gently knocked on the door, his voice barely audible as he reminded the person inside.

"Master, have you gotten up?"

"Um!"

The evening breeze gently lifted the bed curtains, and a cool breeze brushed against my cheeks.

Chen Jinheng has been getting up at 3 AM since he was a child. Today he needs to go out, so he woke up even earlier. He is decisive and efficient and never likes to stay in bed.

He closed his eyes tightly, pulled Gu Qianluo into his arms, and greedily savored her scent.

For the first time, he felt that staying in bed was actually quite nice.

In a moment, Gu Qianluo felt as if she couldn't breathe because he was holding her so tightly. Her cheeks turned red, and her red lips parted slightly as she tried to inhale more air.

Chen Jinheng's expression was somber. He reached out and gently brushed her lips, the scent of her perfume filling his nostrils.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and a wicked smile crept across his lips. "Little vixen, trying to seduce your husband even while asleep?"

Gu Qianlu has always been a light sleeper, and she is easily awakened if disturbed in her dreams.

She slightly opened her hazy eyes and met the man's tender gaze, and couldn't help but feel a sense of peace.

"Jinheng? Is it already the hour of Yin (3-5 AM)?"

Seeing that she was awake, Chen Jinheng's eyes flickered slightly. He should have pulled her up to get up with him, but when he saw her slightly dark circles under her eyes, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. He comforted her,

"No, my lady, you can sleep a little longer. After I bathe and change, I will call a maid to serve you."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qianluo's eyes lit up with joy, and she turned around to continue her slumber.

Chen Jinheng felt a little disappointed when his arms were suddenly empty, but he couldn't bear to make her suffer.

Last night, in order to familiarize herself with the affairs of the Marquis's mansion more quickly, Gu Qianluo looked through dozens of account books in the study and unknowingly fell asleep on her desk.

It wasn't until midnight that Chen Jinheng returned from outside and carried her to the bed to rest.

"I thought I was tough enough on myself, but I didn't expect my wife to be even more diligent than me. She doesn't even want to wait by the bedside when her husband hasn't come back."

"Hehe, in that case, should I feel fortunate or unfortunate?"

After Chen Jinheng changed his clothes and washed up, it was already 3:45 AM. Seeing that Gu Qianlu was still fast asleep, he called a maid to help her change her clothes and wash up.

Xiao Cui had just woken up and hadn't even washed up when Chen Jinheng called her over. She assumed that since the two of them had done something intimate the day before, she needed to call for water, so she hurriedly brought over a bucket of water.

However, when she arrived, she found Chen Jinheng already dressed and ready to go, while her young mistress was still fast asleep in bed. A cold sweat broke out on her brow, and she explained on her behalf...

“Young master, our young lady is not usually like this. She is a light sleeper. I will go and wake her up right away.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jinheng frowned, his gaze turning icy as he looked at Xiao Cui, and said sharply,

"Wait! I summoned you not to wake her!"

She's overworked and needs rest. Go help her bathe and change; I'll carry her to the carriage shortly afterward.

"Huh?" Xiao Cui exclaimed in disbelief, never expecting Chen Jinheng to be so considerate and indulgent towards Gu Qianluo.

Normally, a tough guy like him would wait for the right time and know his place, but I never expected him to make such concessions for a woman.

Chen Jinheng's gaze swept over Xiao Cui's surprised expression, and he spoke coldly,

"You need not be surprised, just do as I say!"

"Yes...this servant obeys!"

It takes at least an hour to travel from the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence to Lingguang Temple.

As dawn broke and the first light appeared, a faint glow gradually spread across the sky. Outside the carriage, the clear, melodious songs of birds could be heard from time to time, and the loud, melodious crowing of roosters rose and fell in waves.

Gu Qianluo was held tightly in Chen Jinheng's arms. The carriage traveled to a muddy path, which was full of small puddles. The two of them were jostled from side to side.

Gu Qianluo slightly opened her eyes. As the sunlight streamed into the carriage, she suddenly woke up from her dream, her expression flustered. She said...

"Jinheng! It's already dawn, why didn't you wake me up? We still need to go to the temple to pray later!"

Seeing that she was awake, Chen Jinheng's gaze was intense as he carefully examined her drowsy eyes, and he teased her,

"Madam, take another look and see where we are?"

Gu Qianluo took a bronze mirror from Chen Jinheng, rubbed her temples, and when she saw her own attire, she was startled. She stared timidly at the man before her and asked anxiously,

"Jinheng! My clothes..."

Chen Jinheng's gaze darkened. He raised his hand and gently stroked her furrowed brows, soothingly saying,

"It was my husband who called Xiao Cui over to change it."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qianlu felt a weight lifted from her heart, a complex emotion flashing through her mind.

"My husband, you are so thoughtful."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Jinheng's tense face suddenly relaxed, and he crossed his arms and said slowly,

"I have always treated you this way. It's just that you didn't realize it before!"

"So, my dear wife, don't you think I'm much better than your childhood sweetheart?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qianluo couldn't help but glare at him, then pursed her lips and said...

"Chen Jinheng, didn't I tell you that I have nothing to do with him anymore? Why are you bringing up the past?"

If you tease me again, I'll never talk to you again.

Seeing that she turned her face away from him, Chen Jinheng felt a pang of unease. He suddenly turned her back to him and explained,

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