Chapter 127 My Son

There were already two pools of spring water in her peach blossom eyes, swaying gently, but at this moment, they finally couldn't bear it anymore and rolled down from the end of her trembling eyelashes.

The tasseled necklaces hanging from the bedposts sometimes swayed gently like willows in the spring breeze, and sometimes tossed violently like lotus flowers hit by heavy rain.

The man kept asking her questions over and over again, like the most lingering and torturous spell.

"Tell me... Does Ning'er like me?"

Before Wen Ning could catch her breath, a new round of attacks came. As their lips and teeth entangled, the man slightly retreated, his eyes burning like flames, "Are you happy? Hmm?"

Wen Ning was so frightened by the repeated questioning and the overwhelming stimulation on her body that her consciousness had already become blurred.

I could only respond to his every request instinctively, brokenly, with tears in my eyes.

"Heart...Heart...Heart's pleased, Lord..."

Every intermittent response would only result in his deeper entanglement and more persistent questioning, as if there would be no end, and he was determined to drown her completely in this endless wave and words of love.

It was not until the sky turned white that she could no longer bear it and the man let her go.

When the warm handkerchief brushed against her skin, Wen Ning was still trembling all over.

"Ning'er, were you sincere in what you just said?"

Wen Ning was so tired that she couldn't even lift her fingertips. The corners of her eyes were flushed and her long eyelashes drooped like butterfly wings covered with dew.

Hearing this, he just closed his eyes and let out a very light and soft whimper from his throat, which was a vague response.

Xie Jinglan chuckled softly and continued, "How happy are you? Can it compare to how happy I am with Ning'er?"

Wen Ning felt embarrassed and annoyed by his questioning, but her whole body was so weak that she had no strength at all.

She could only lift her trembling feet and kick him with a hint of resentment.

The man's big hand closed, almost completely covering her slender white feet. He lowered his head and gently kissed the round toes with love.

Then, he grabbed his outer robe and put it on, shouting to the outside, "Everyone on duty tonight will be rewarded!"

There was undisguised joy and satisfaction in his voice.

Wen Ning was so angry when she heard this that she almost fainted. The soreness and weakness in her body were instantly replaced by a feeling of shame and anger.

She pulled the quilt over herself.

Every time she is the one who works hard, but someone else gets the reward!

Xie Jinglan turned around and saw her puffed up and pouting, a sly smile spread across his eyes, "Ning'er... naturally there will be a reward too."

The little girl on the couch paused when she heard this. Just as she was about to listen carefully, she saw the man leaning over, and his warm breath, accompanied by a wicked smile, entered her ears.

"Reward... I till the fields every night and serve you with all my might."

She was so ashamed that she suddenly pulled the quilt up above her head and curled up into a ball.

…

Just after the hour of Chen, Xiao Xibao arrived at Tingsongyuan as promised.

Before Wen Ning could get up from Xie Jinglan's arms and avoid him, she was bumped into by the little guy.

I saw my mother leaning lazily in the Marquis's arms, with a slight blush on her cheeks, and the Marquis was patiently feeding her porridge one spoonful at a time.

Xiao Xibao frowned and looked up at Wen Ning worriedly, "Mom...are you tired again?"

Xie Jinglan remained calm and replied, "Yes, your mother...had a hard time last night."

After saying this, he gently discussed with Xibao, "Can we wait until Mother feels better before we go together to look for the birthday present?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xibao nodded immediately and said, "Okay! Wait for mother!"

Wen Ning's face was still burning with heat, and she just wanted to hide herself. She quickly refused in a low voice, "You guys go... I, I won't go."

Xie Jinglan would never let her escape, and he held her waist tightly with his arms, "No, in addition to the gift for Xibao, I also want to help you buy some new clothes and jewelry."

Wen Ning was trapped in his embrace, unable to move. She could only look up at him. "Everyday wear is already sufficient. There's really no need to buy anything extra."

Xie Jinglan chuckled softly, "It's naturally different this year. We need some new atmosphere."

Wen Ning rested for about an hour and felt a little refreshed, so the three of them went out together in a carriage.

The weather is fine today, and the warm winter sun shines down, making the snow that fell yesterday crystal clear. The eaves and treetops are covered with a layer of soft white, which contrasts with the red walls and black tiles, creating a clear and bright scene.

The year Xibao was born, the twelfth lunar month coincided with the end of the year, and the twenty-ninth day was New Year's Eve.

This year, the twelfth lunar month falls on the last day of the lunar year, which lasts for thirty days. Therefore, on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the hustle and bustle of the year-end has not yet dissipated. The long streets are still bustling with people and horses and carriages, filled with the last hustle and bustle before the festival.

Xiao Xibao rarely had the opportunity to ride in a carriage like this. He was so excited at the moment that he almost leaned against the window, staring at the scene outside with his big black eyes without blinking.

The old man selling candied haws, the stall making dough figurines, and the shop hung with a dazzling array of lanterns, each of them made him exclaim in surprise.

The fat boy kept pointing his fingers and was very busy.

The carriage stopped steadily in front of a shop called "Luban Pavilion".

Soon, the master craftsman in the shop led two assistants and carefully carried out an extremely exquisite rosewood treasure chest and placed it in the carriage.

The box was two feet square and made entirely of rosewood, polished to a warm sheen. The corners were inlaid with gilded cloud patterns. A cute pony pattern was carved on the top, representing Xibao's zodiac sign. The bottom was filled with hidden mechanisms.

Without waiting for the adults' instructions, little Xibao could no longer contain himself and rushed forward excitedly, his little hands clumsily but eagerly groping for the mechanisms.

Inside the rosewood treasure chest, there were thirty-six boxes of varying sizes nested layer by layer. The big ones reached Xiao Xibao's shoulders, while the small ones were only as thick as a thumb. They folded together like piles of jade and spread out all over the carriage.

There are a total of 120 mechanisms, 15 of which are on the main box cover. The star plate, copper needles, and hidden grooves are all exquisitely designed.

The remaining large and small boxes each had three items, with jewel knobs, wooden blocks filling the grids, silver wire knots and other strange things.

There were over 130 wonderful items in the box, including tangram puzzles, mortise and tenon toys, nine-linked rings, revolving lanterns, fish-watching boxes, miniature pitching pots, wooden mechanical birds, glass kaleidoscopes, miniature hydraulic windmills, and samples of the eighteen weapons...

The things in this box include almost all the interesting and rare things that Xie Jinglan has seen in his travels over the years.

He personally drew detailed designs for each one based on his memory, and then had the best craftsmen in the capital meticulously craft them.

Little Xibao was fiddling with the boxes, his eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.

Wen Ning watched the little boy almost bury himself in the box. She couldn't help but gently pull at the corner of Xie Jinglan's sleeve and whispered, "My Lord, Xibao is still young. Why bother giving him such an extravagant birthday gift?"

Xie Jinglan took Wen Ning's shoulder and said softly, "My son, if he wants anything in the future, as long as I have it, there is no reason for me not to give it to him."

When Wen Ning heard him say the words "my son", the tips of her ears suddenly felt hot.

She hastily turned her eyes away, twisting the handkerchief unconsciously with her fingertips, and whispered, "Be careful, you've spoiled your temper..."