Chapter 119 Early Compensation

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the festive atmosphere in the capital was already strong.

At this time every year, Xie Jinglan has two unshakable tasks.

One is to personally go to the three major camps in the capital to inspect the defense and reward the soldiers. This trip will take three or four days.

Second, we must coordinate the northern border remotely, urge the delivery of New Year supplies and pensions for the soldiers, and ensure the safety of both the border and the capital.

After the two sides worked it out, they decided they would need to leave the house for about seven days.

Xie Jinglan raised his hand and rubbed his eyebrows in the study. He looked up and saw the red lantern on the eaves swaying gently in the wind. Thinking of Wen Ning standing on a small stool to hang the lantern during the day, his heart suddenly became soft and heavy.

His throat rolled slightly, and he had some unexpected thoughts that even surprised himself: I don't want to leave home even for one day now.

After having dinner with the old lady, Xie Jinglan pulled Wen Ning back to the room without saying anything. His intention was self-evident.

He sat on the soft chair, holding her in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head, and whispered, "This time I'm just inspecting the capital. The journey isn't far. I'll definitely be back to spend New Year's Eve with you."

Wen Ning heard this and said "hmm" softly.

Xie Jinglan lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on her face tenderly.

The pair of drooping eyelashes were long and thick, trembling slightly with her gentle breathing.

The candlelight poured softly onto the fair and delicate little face, outlining an exquisite and almost perfect outline, a straight nose, and full lips. His Ning'er was always so beautiful that it made his heart tremble.

The man's fingertips gently brushed her cheek, and he couldn't help but ask, "Ning'er is so beautiful, does she look a lot like her mother?"

Wen Ning nodded gently, a gentle curve at the corner of her lips. "Well, when Daddy was alive, he often said that my appearance was exactly the same as Mom's, as if we were born from the same mold. However, I'm still smaller, so I look like a smaller version of her."

These words hit the deepest point in Xie Jinglan's heart.

If she stayed by his side, she would inevitably have to meet people from the palace in the future.

The old lady was able to confirm that Xibao was his bloodline just by looking at his eyes and eyebrows. What about those old people who had seen Concubine Lu or knew about the past events?

Could it be that someone else also noticed the striking resemblance on Ning'er's face?

Do we really want to throw the baby out with the bathwater and confine her forever in the backyard, never seeing outsiders?

Unease welled up in his heart, and he couldn't help but hold her tighter. He asked tentatively, "Then...if I have to guard the border for years and can't return home, and if...our family has to relocate, would Ning'er be willing to go with us?"

Wen Ning was slightly startled when she heard this, then burst out laughing, thinking that he was just resentful because he had to leave home for a few days and was just speaking angrily like a child.

"How could you say such foolish things today, Lord Marquis? The Marquis's roots are in the capital, and the old lady's relatives and friends are all here. How could you easily move your family to the border?"

Xie Jinglan knew that he was just desperate and the situation was far from that point.

He took her hand that was resting on his chest, lowered his head, and placed his hot lips against her sensitive ear. His tone became ambiguous and dangerous, "Since this is the case... we haven't seen each other for several days. Ning'er, tonight... shouldn't you make it up to me?"

Wen Ning's cheeks flushed instantly, and her body softened at the implication in his words.

Thinking of how he hadn't let her go every night recently, she couldn't help but beg for mercy softly, "The Marquis needs to get up early tomorrow..."

Before she could finish her words, he sealed them with a kiss.

Xie Jinglan gently pushed her against the soft chair, his hot body pressed tightly against hers, his nose buried deep in the crook of her neck, greedily absorbing the sweet fragrance that haunted him.

"Ning'er, do you know..." He panted, his hot lips lingering on her delicate skin, his voice hoarse, "Back then, this body fragrance... toyed with me..."

If she hadn't been wearing the sachet to cover it up, and if her body odor hadn't changed after giving birth, he might have recognized her by this familiar scent when they first met!

Wen Ning was embarrassed and annoyed by his reckless actions and blunt words. Her body was so weak that she could only say with an unsteady breath, "My Lord... stop, stop talking nonsense... I used the sachet before because I was afraid... afraid of causing trouble..."

Before she could finish her words, he deepened the kiss and stopped her.

The man's fingertips untied the thin belt and took the soft little dress, which still carried her body temperature and warm fragrance, into his palm.

He did not move away in a hurry. Instead, he held the small clothes and slid them slowly across her warm skin. The force of the caress was deliberately heavy, as if he wanted to knead the delicate and soft touch and the fragrance that belonged only to her into the fibers of the fabric bit by bit.

The candlelight flickered restlessly, casting intertwined figures on the wall.

The rosewood chair beneath him made a continuous and suppressed creaking sound as if it could not bear the weight, which was particularly clear in the silent inner room.

After a long time, the clouds cleared and the rain stopped.

Wen Ning was carried to the bed and lay powerlessly on the soft brocade pillow. Her black hair was wet with sweat and stuck to her flushed cheeks.

Xie Jinglan took out the ointment and carefully applied it to the ambiguous bruises on her back.

When his fingertips, stained with the cold ointment, touched the mark, he felt her slight shrink.

His heart was suddenly filled with love and regret, and he lowered his head to place soft kisses on the edge of the scar.

"It's my fault... I won't mess around on that soft chair anymore..."

Wen Ning turned her face to the side and glanced at him coquettishly with her wet eyes, "Do you know it's bad now? You didn't know who it was just now..." Before she finished speaking, her cheeks flushed.

Just now she begged for mercy so softly, but he became even more aggressive and now he is pretending to be a good guy.

"Well, it's my fault." The man chuckled and accepted it readily.

Her fingertips gently rubbed the skin where the ointment had not yet dried, and her voice became softer and softer. "Ning'er, I'll be away for the next few days, so you should stay at home peacefully. Don't go out unless it's necessary. And don't go to Princess Chen's place... for the time being."

He lowered his head and kissed her smooth shoulder, "When I come back, Ning'er, wherever you want to go, whoever you want to see, I will accompany you."

Wen Ning nodded obediently and was about to relax when she noticed the man's hand beginning to tease her restlessly again.

Her body stiffened slightly, and she quickly reminded him softly, "My Lord, my Lord... I have an injury on my back..."

Xie Jinglan did not stop the movement of his hands, instead he held her tighter in his arms, his voice hoarse.

"It's okay, Ning'er, just lie down obediently. I will be gentler this time..."

…

The next day, Wen Ning woke up in the warm sunlight. The bed beside her was already empty, with only a hint of cold air remaining on the pillow.

She sat up with the quilt in her arms, her long black hair loose. Just as she was about to get up and change her clothes, her eyes wandered around the couch.

How come the apricot-colored dress that was taken off last night is nowhere to be found?

She frowned slightly and leaned over to search carefully, searching under the pillow, between the quilts, and even near the footstool.

In an instant, she recalled the man's hot palm holding the little dress tightly last night and rubbing it over her body repeatedly.

Wen Ning's cheeks suddenly turned red, and she immediately understood!

She felt embarrassed and annoyed at the same time, "This guy is getting more and more...outrageous!"