Chapter 53 Sleeping in Each Other's Arms

The autumn sunset is rich in color, the sky is ablaze with red, and the shadows are faint and hazy.

Apart from the Ministry of Revenue, officials from the other six ministries left their posts one after another, their whispers fading away on the bustling street.

Tao Qian was imprisoned and scheduled to be executed on a later date. The story of the first noble son from a humble background in the Great An Dynasty ended abruptly, leaving behind a sense of regret.

"To dare to set their sights on the Crown Prince, they've really gotten used to having everything go their way and are overestimating themselves."

"Having been outmaneuvered by the Grand Secretary, he lost his composure and wanted to retaliate, but... as the saying goes, patience brings peace! His Majesty is still in his prime, and the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne is a long way off, so why is Tao Qian in such a hurry?"

"Because they're too eager for quick success and instant benefits."

Jiang Yinyue, who was walking ahead of Wei Qin, turned around and looked at the officials of the Six Ministries whispering to each other. She slowly stopped and waited for the young official with the white pheasant insignia to catch up with her.

Tao Qian, who was an enemy of the Crown Prince, was killed by the Emperor as a warning to others. Will Wei Qin, who was not favored by the Crown Prince, become a guest of honor in the Eastern Palace or be the next Tao Qian?

Wei Qin strolled past her unhurriedly. As the woman raised her delicate eyebrows, seemingly unable to figure it out, he stopped in front of a silverware stall, picked up a pair of silver goblets engraved with auspicious dragon and phoenix designs, and asked, "How about it?"

Jiang Yinyue walked over, took out a pair of cups and put them back on the stall, then pulled the person along the crowded street.

"The mansion has no shortage of storage containers, but we should still be frugal where possible."

Wei Qin withdrew his gaze from the pair of silver jars and placed it on the woman's delicate hands.

Her slender fingers tugged at his sleeve, like a virtuous wife afraid he would squander money.

Wei Qin walked lazily alongside his wife, his imposing figure blending into the evening glow, reflected in the flowing water beneath the arched bridge where reeds swayed.

From afar, the young couple's sons from wealthy families all spoke in their own strange and eccentric manner.

"After Jiang's daughter went out to gain some experience, she became more frugal."

"This has nothing to do with being frugal; it's just a game of power and being power between husband and wife."

"The son-in-law is still at a disadvantage."

"Now we should address him as Grand Scholar Wei."

**

The overcast sky did not obscure the beauty of the mountains. The group, driving straight to the capital, stopped frequently, enjoying the autumn scenery along the way without the fatigue of a long journey.

Passing by a grove of ginkgo trees, the silver-robed painter stopped his donkey cart, tapped the door of the carriage with his finger, and asked, "Would Lady Wei like to enjoy the autumn scenery?"

Wei Ying and Miao Die, who had been entrusted to Xie Jincheng by their elder brother, exchanged a glance and nodded excitedly.

"Miss, please slow down."

Wei Ying was physically weak, and it was more strenuous for her to get on and off the donkey cart than for others.

Taking Miao Die's arm, Wei Ying stepped down from the carriage and picked up a golden ginkgo leaf from the ground, twirling it between her hands.

The little girl, who had never traveled far from home before, was filled with excitement.

"Thank you, artist. Let's go for a walk in the woods. We won't go far."

"Please go ahead."

The woods were small, quiet, and deserted. Xie Jincheng let the two girls run inside to play, while he took out his drawing paper and brushes, immersing himself in the golden sunset-lit woods.

On another donkey cart that followed not too far away, a young man with a scar on his face nudged the burly man and said, "Mo Hao, it's your turn to drive in a bit."

"good."

Yan Yi stretched and lay down between the carriage corridor and the carriage, where an old man with white hair leaning against the carriage teased him, "Roll up the curtain, or you'll look just like someone who's been cut in half at the waist."

"Your mouth has always been sharp."

"What are you saying? I am a doctor with a benevolent heart."

"I can't argue with you, you're right about everything."

Yan Yi, who feared neither heaven nor earth, was only afraid of this wealthy and unfathomable old doctor. "Have you thought it through, sir? What kind of identity will we present to the world when we arrive in the capital?"

The white-haired old man took out a stack of travel permits, unfolded them into a fan shape, and said, "You can choose your identity; I will continue to be a doctor."

"Anyway, I'm not a butcher; it's not prestigious at all."

The burly man rolled up the curtain for Yan Yi, facing the old man, and said, "Father's identity is the easiest to be exposed. You have too many acquaintances in the capital."

"It's alright. Most of them are just casual acquaintances. The ones who truly know me are those few in the palace. I tested them, and at least Fuzhong didn't recognize me."

"Let's be cautious."

Yan Yi kicked Mo Hao, "You said you were the most mischievous when you were young, but now you're like a completely different person. You've become the most steady one among us."

Mo Hao patted the footprints on his leg, "Better safe than sorry."

The white-haired old man kicked Yan Yi, saying, "You're the most impetuous and foolish one. Always remember to keep a low profile."

"Okay, okay."

Yan Yi muttered a soft "nonsense" under his breath, then jumped up and leaped onto the roof of the carriage. "I can hear the neighing of horses. There should be a horse farm ahead. Finally, we can change horses."

The young man sat in the convoy, gazing towards the direction of Beijing.

To protect their young master, they disguised themselves and lived in seclusion in Yangzhou, just to accompany the boy as he grew up. After so many years, they can finally return to the capital.

**

The bright moon hangs on the branches in the deep night, and fireflies flit about beside the embroidered curtain.

After taking a bath, Jiang Yinyue leaned against the window, staring at the fireflies swirling around the calamus. Her black hair shone with a moonlit glow, draped over her moon-white nightgown.

She heard a faint sound behind her, hesitated, and turned around to see a man dressed in a snow-white undergarment sitting casually on the embroidered bed.

Strangely enough, along their journey, they had stayed in inns, farmhouses, and even lived in the east wing of the Wei residence for a long time. They had shared a bed before, so it should have been a natural thing for them. Yet, in this situation, she felt completely at a loss.

Perhaps another habit has been broken.

From the time they got married until they set off for Yangzhou, Wei Qin never occupied her embroidery bed.

The embroidered bed in a woman's boudoir was her most private and intimate possession. Now it has been breached.

"This is my bed."

The proud young lady was still putting on a brave face, though her words were somewhat insincere.

Wei Qin looked up and kicked off the slippers he had put on after his bath right in front of her, intentionally imitating the way she kicked off her embroidered shoes.

His assertiveness is masked by restraint, making it difficult to discern whether he is deliberately provoking or simply being playful.

Fortunately, Jiang Yinyue understood him.

"Now that I'm a cabinet minister, they don't give me any leeway anymore."

Wei Qin lay supine on the pear-scented embroidered bed, his left leg draped over the edge of the bed, his right leg bent and placed on the satin quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks. The overlapping part of his inner garment collar was slightly raised, and the fair skin extending from his neck to his chest could be vaguely seen.

Jiang Yinyue's embroidered bed was slightly smaller than a regular canopy bed, barely enough to accommodate two people. The reason why the meticulous stewards of the Jiang family had not made arrangements to replace it must have been at someone's behest.

Wei Qin raised an arm and rested it on his forehead. The accumulated fatigue from more than half a year of hard work and travel melted away in the warm, pear-scented tent. He closed his eyes, and sleepiness washed over him.

I felt as if I were back on my wedding night.

He stood by the bed in a bright red wedding robe and used a scale rod to lift Jiang Yinyue's red veil.

The young girl with rosy lips and fair skin showed no shyness, but with a stern face, she dismissed the wedding attendant and declared, "The ceremony is complete."

The newlyweds, who had not yet drunk the nuptial wine, faced each other indifferently.

He reached out to remove her headdress.

She did not refuse, her fingertips digging into her flesh, until her wedding dress was removed, at which point she could no longer bear the unfamiliar male presence and her temper as a young lady erupted.

"You will be sleeping on the floor starting tonight."

Recalling his experience of sleeping on the floor, a deeper meaning appeared on Wei Qin's tired face.

"Will Miss be sleeping on the floor tonight?"

"On what grounds?"

Jiang Yinyue walked angrily to the embroidered bed, pushed the tall man towards it with all her might, and made a series of "ee-yah-yah" sounds as she gathered her strength.

Wei Qin, who hadn't moved an inch, simply tugged slightly and pulled the person into his arms.

The green hills churned, pinning down the restless cat.

"You're pressing down on me."

"Um."

Wei Qin pressed down on half of Jiang Yinyue's body, buried his head in the crook of her fragrant neck, and touched the source of the fragrance with the tip of his nose.

It had been months since I had been this close to her, this touching of her skin.

A soft, cool touch came from the nape of her neck, wandering along her neckline, leaving a damp sensation that gradually warmed and intensified. Jiang Yinyue, who had been feigning fierceness, lost her composure, tightly gripping the curtain against the wall, suppressing her heaving breaths with her grip.

The woman, her neck being kissed, stared blankly at the top of the tent where clouds were swirling.

It felt like being enveloped in a misty mountain haze.

When the small hand clutching the curtain was pried open, the candlestick on the table went out as appropriate, plunging the boudoir into darkness. Outside the door, shadows flickered—it was the maid and nanny on night watch.

The room was full of familiar faces, so Jiang Yinyue didn't dare make a sound. She felt the hot, soft touch move from her neck to her collarbone, causing a slight pain.

The neckline is getting lower and lower.

Her prominent collarbones gleamed with a moist sheen in the faint moonlight.

When her outer garment was thrown out of the tent, the woman, now completely restrained, was a little angry, but her small hands were held by Wei Qin and sank into the soft quilt, leaving her unable to move except for her curled-up fingertips.

A pair of double-ear knots on the tube top swayed and dangled in front of her, slowly becoming loose.

The rise and fall of the chest is no longer restricted.

Jiang Yinyue gasped for breath, her face covered in fragrant sweat. She wanted to call for a stop, terrified of what was to come, but the person crawling above her silenced her slightly parted lips with a kiss.

Suck on the sweet taste of the sandalwood lips.

Wei Qin's jaw opened and closed during the kiss, making Jiang Yinyue feel a stinging sensation in her chin.

Her hands were held captive, her cherry lips were sealed, and the young lady, who disliked being at a disadvantage, began to whimper, but then suddenly stopped.

"you......"

Wei Qin's hands could turn clouds into rain.

Jiang Yinyue's fingertips trembled violently.

The humming turned into a soft, fragmented sound from Tan's mouth.

The loose knots in her ears fell loose.

The only light in the darkness was the moon's reflection in the window, not as bright as the flickering lamplight. As Jiang Yinyue regained her breath, she saw a dark figure above her, seemingly about to prop himself up with his arms.

She twisted her wrists, trying to pull her hands back, but they were raised high above her head and pressed down on the coral pillow.

Despite it being her home turf, she became a passive victim.

When Wei Qin bent down, she subconsciously bent her knees.

My knee was scraped by something.

Through the slightly thicker autumn fabric.

A soft sigh came from the darkness.

Wei Qin held Jiang Yinyue's wrists with one hand and supported her knees with the other. He tried to move her but couldn't budge her.

The knees pressed together became the last line of defense for the outwardly fierce but inwardly weak Miss Jiang.

Wei Qin slowly rolled up her trouser leg and kissed her knee.

He immediately turned over and lay on the inside, removing the shackles from her.

The tense woman relaxed for a while, then stole a glance at the dark silhouette facing her in the moonlight, blinking her wet almond-shaped eyes. "Hmm?"

"Hmm what?"

"Um!"

Wei Qin chuckled and pulled her closer to him, patting her gently. "Go to sleep."

We've traveled day and night, we'd better get some rest. If we really continue, we'll probably lose half our lives.

Unable to fall asleep, Jiang Yinyue raised her head and was surprised to hear even, shallow breathing.

Asleep...

These days must have been exhausting.

Jiang Yinyue slowly let out a breath and realized that they were not covered with blankets.

As autumn deepened and the weather grew colder, the only source of warmth was the man beside her.

Not wanting to disturb the man, she moved her body and snuggled into his arms, absorbing a little warmth from his body.

The night was long, and the moonlight enveloped the pale autumn scenery. As the night wore on, a man and a woman fell asleep in each other's arms.

-----------------------

Author's note: 50 little red envelopes [pat on the head]