Chapter 36: "We look like a married couple."
Last night's kiss was brief, but Yun Sheng did not immediately pull away this time.
She took his lips into her mouth, slowly extending her tongue, and Xiao Xu's hand moved to her lower back.
His fingers gently stroked her waist, as if he were both aroused and restrained.
Yun Sheng gripped the safety buckle tightly, feeling the irregular indentation in her palm as the cool jade gradually warmed up.
The kiss ended quickly and wasn't very intense, but when they parted, Yun Sheng's chest was heaving slightly as she breathed heavily.
Xiao Xu looked at her closely, his gaze falling on her slightly parted lips. He reached out and pressed his hand to the corner of her lips, his fingertips tracing her lips with a bit too much force, leaving his fingertips damp and glistening.
Yun Sheng felt a little embarrassed by this action, and even more ashamed was the way Xiao Xu was looking at her at that moment.
She lowered her eyes as if to look away, but then suddenly remembered something and looked up abruptly: "Changyu, I've thought of a return gift. I wonder if you'd like it?"
Xiao Xu's expression remained unchanged, only his eyes flickered slightly.
She didn't seem to think that such a frequent kiss could be a return gift, but little did she know that what he truly wanted was just this kiss.
But Xiao Xu still said, "I like it."
"I haven't even said what it is yet," Yun Sheng said reproachfully, then whispered before he could ask again, "Are you hungry?"
A moment after she finished speaking, Yun Sheng felt a hand on her waist move to her lower abdomen: "Are you hungry?"
Yun Sheng, wary of his inappropriate thoughts, quickly said, "We haven't eaten yet, so of course we're hungry. My mother taught me a dish when I went home. How about I make it for you?"
When asked about not having eaten yet, Yun Sheng's gaze unconsciously swept towards the window.
They had been traveling for a long time after returning from the Yun residence, and they had no idea what time it was.
Upon seeing this, Yun Sheng was stunned.
I didn't notice the darkness earlier because there were candles lit inside, but now I realize it's already dark outside the window.
Is it getting dark?
Yun Sheng's pupils contracted and dilated for a moment, and she heard Xiao Xu respond, "Okay, what dish is it?"
"What time is it now?"
"The hour of Xu (7-9 PM) is not too late."
Isn't it too late?
Yun Sheng suddenly closed her eyes, her mind trying not to recall the past, yet unable to stop thinking about it. They had breakfast at the Yun residence and returned to the Zhao Prince's residence at noon, yet a whole day had passed in the blink of an eye.
Was it three times or four times? Her mind was a mess and she didn't want to count. During that time, she was also in a daze and didn't know how long she slept.
Yun Sheng buried her head in Xiao Xu's chest, as if she would never look up again.
A low chuckle came from above. Xiao Xu said, "I haven't eaten all day, so I am indeed hungry."
"..."
He even had the nerve to say that.
Yun Sheng remained silent for a while before reluctantly raising her head: "Actually, it's scallion oil noodles, not really a dish. Do you want some?"
Xiao Xu answered with action, sitting up.
"Why did you suddenly decide to learn to cook from your mother-in-law? Have you cooked before?"
Yun Sheng slowly sat up, and before she could even look for her coat, Xiao Xu had already taken it off the shelf and handed it to her.
"I don't really say I've done it. I'm often excited about new and interesting things. When I was little, I would follow the cook into the kitchen. Looking back now, I thought I was learning diligently, but in reality, I just caused trouble for the cook."
Xiao Xu moved swiftly, and after dressing himself, he reached out to tie the belt around Yun Sheng's waist.
Yun Sheng said, "But not this time. Scallion oil noodles are very simple. My mother taught me once and I learned it."
After saying this, the two of them had already put on their clothes.
Xiao Xu turned around to put on his shoes by the bed. Just as he was about to bend down, he felt his sleeve being tugged.
He turned around and saw that Yun Sheng looked a little troubled again: "How about we forget it? I haven't practiced it yet after learning it. Let me practice a little more. It's not too late yet. Tell the kitchen to prepare some food and send it over."
She suddenly felt that it wasn't too late.
Xiao Xu paused for a moment, then said calmly, "You said you'd give it to me as a return gift, but you changed your mind. Sheng Sheng, you're not being sincere at all."
Yun Sheng choked, realizing that the words he had used to mock Xiao Xu were now being returned to him.
Why is he so petty? Could it be that he's still holding a grudge?
Despite his stinginess, Xiao Xu said in a cheerful tone, "Let's go, I'm honored to be the first to enjoy this bowl of scallion oil noodles."
It should also be the only one.
When Yun Sheng opened the door, she felt ashamed once again for the absurdity of the entire day.
As soon as I looked up, I met the concerned gaze of Cuizhu, who was waiting not far away.
Fortunately, the twilight concealed the slight flush on her face.
Yun Sheng instructed, "I need to use the small kitchen. Go and tell everyone in the small kitchen to leave."
The meals in the East Courtyard are prepared separately by the small kitchen in the courtyard. The small kitchen is located behind the main house and is quite spacious, but this is Yun Sheng’s first time here.
She glanced back after entering the kitchen, and just as Xiao Xu was about to step in, she said, "Why did you follow me? Just wait inside, it won't take long."
Xiao Xu withdrew his foot and stood in front of the door.
Yun Sheng thought he would leave soon, so she turned around and began to look around the kitchen.
Since they hadn't left their rooms all day, the meals prepared by the servants at noon had been disposed of, and the ingredients for the evening were also left unused. They were now neatly piled in a corner, and if no orders were given by later in the day, they would be disposed of again, and fresh ingredients would be provided the next day.
Yun Sheng walked over, took out the ingredients she needed, and was about to start cooking.
She recalled the steps Xu Peilan had taught her, rolled up her sleeves and went to the sink to wash the scallions, then cut the white parts and green parts of the scallions separately on the cutting board.
The reason why scallion oil noodles are so simple is because there are few steps involved. Just fry the prepared scallion segments in hot oil until they are crispy and fragrant, then cook the noodles and pour the scallion oil over them.
She placed the chopped scallions beside her, then reached for the oil bottle on the stove. The next step was to light the fire and heat the oil.
She bent down and looked under the stove, where she saw some ashes piled up, with only a faint red light flickering in the depths.
Yun Sheng was stunned. She didn't know how to turn that spark into a blazing fire that could be used for cooking.
She looked around somewhat helplessly, picked up a thin piece of firewood, then put it down and picked up a fan, still unsure of where to begin.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally straightened up, giving up, with a somewhat bewildered look on her face.
She subconsciously turned around and saw Xiao Xu still standing in front of the door, his arms crossed and leaning against the door frame, looking at her calmly.
Yun Sheng was immediately embarrassed. She opened her mouth to explain, but Xiao Xu took a step and walked straight in.
Yun Sheng could only whisper, "We haven't started the fire yet. I'll go and call someone."
She muttered to herself, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Otherwise, such an embarrassing scene wouldn't have been witnessed.
Xiao Xu smiled and, just as Yun Sheng was about to walk past him, grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
"I'll start the fire for you."
Yun Sheng asked in surprise, "You can start a fire?"
"meeting."
Xiao Xu used his foot to hook onto a small stool in the corner and sat down.
Yun Sheng watched as Xiao Xu curled up on the low wooden stool. He was tall and slender, with his long legs bent over with nowhere to go. The outer robe he casually picked up when he got up was made of fine fabric, but he just piled it on his lap. Even seeing it with his own eyes, it was still hard to imagine that he would do such a thing.
Xiao Xu held the fire tongs and lit the embers buried in the stove, then added a few more pieces of firewood.
In the instant the flames suddenly leaped up, his face was illuminated, and a flickering tongue of fire was reflected in Yun Sheng's eyes.
At this moment, Xiao Xu reached out to her, palm open and facing upwards, looking up at her from below.
Yun Sheng blinked in surprise, then realized what was happening and obediently handed him the palm-leaf fan, unable to help but say, "You really can do everything."
Xiao Xu chuckled. He took the palm-leaf fan and steadily fanned himself, controlling the airflow to make the fire burn brighter. The orange flames flickered in his eyes.
He wasn't good at everything; it was just that in the relentless discipline and expectations of the past, if he didn't understand something, it was considered improper and a sin. On the contrary, it was taken for granted that he knew something, as insignificant as breathing and drinking water.
Only Yun Sheng was pleasantly surprised by these trivial things time and time again.
The flames crackled in the stove, burning perfectly without any external force.
Xiao Xu stopped fanning the fire and looked up: "Sheng Sheng, is there anything else I can do?"
"No need, I'll be done in a minute."
After saying that, Yun Sheng heated the oil in the wok, threw in the scallions, stood a step away, and stretched out her hand with a spatula to stir the oil in the wok.
When hot oil meets moist scallion segments, it sizzles and smoke rises in the kitchen, carrying the aroma of the oil.
Yun Sheng smelled the alluring aroma and couldn't help but feel smug.
Before she could even feel happy for a moment, she saw the bright green scallions in the pot turn golden brown at a speed visible to the naked eye, with the edges even turning dark brown.
She panicked and frantically tried to scoop out the scallions, but the more anxious she became, the less she could control the spatula. It just stirred the oil haphazardly, splashing a few drops of hot oil that nearly burned her.
"Oh dear, it's almost burnt."
As soon as he finished speaking, a bowl was handed to him.
"Take it."
Yun Sheng subconsciously took the spatula, but Xiao Xu promptly snatched it away. The large gap she had created was now occupied by the man's tall figure, completely isolating her from the stove.
Xiao Xu scooped out the scallion segments that had been fried until golden brown and crispy from the pot, and then poured out the boiling hot scallion oil.
Refill the pot with water and bring it to a boil. Then, spread the noodles out and add them to the pot, gently separating them with long chopsticks.
Yun Sheng stared blankly for a while, then realized what was happening. She quickly turned around and fetched two clean bowls, adding the seasonings according to the proportions her mother had taught her.
But how much exactly is "a little" and "appropriate amount"?
Yun Sheng thought for a moment, then stole a glance at Xiao Xu. He had almost made the whole bowl of noodles by himself, so she gave up the idea of asking him for help again.
As she gently pushed the seasoned bowl toward Xiao Xu, the noodles in the pot were already cooked.
Xiao Xu divided the noodles evenly into two bowls, topped them with fried scallion segments, and finally dipped a long ladle into the scallion oil to scoop up a spoonful and pour it over the scallions and noodles. The rich aroma of caramelized scallions instantly filled the kitchen.
Two bowls of scallion oil noodles were ready, and they set up a table in the small kitchen.
Yun Sheng held the chopsticks in both hands and handed them to Xiao Xu, her eyes crinkling as she said, "It smells so good, eat up."
"Well then, thank you for your hospitality, Madam." Xiao Xu took the chopsticks and prepared to start eating.
Yun Sheng blushed slightly at these words, realizing that she hadn't been able to do much.
But then she thought about it again, and realized that she was the one who made the broth for the noodles, so she looked up expectantly and waited for Xiao Xu to take the first bite.
"How about it?"
Just like when he ate the wild apricot that was so sour it made him dizzy last time, Xiao Xu remained expressionless, showing no sign of whether it tasted good or bad.
And he said in a very serious tone, "Very good."
"..."
Yun Sheng could no longer believe it. The aroma from the kitchen was making her so hungry that she kept swallowing. She carefully picked up a noodle and put it in her mouth.
Upon tasting the aroma of scallions mixed with a salty and savory flavor, Yun Sheng's eyes lit up, and she immediately felt relieved and delighted.
There was silence in front of the small table as the two quietly ate their noodles.
It was clearly just a simple bowl of scallion oil noodles, but for some reason, Yun Sheng felt extremely satisfied.
Xiao Xu returned from ten days away from the capital, and only now were they able to sit down face to face in a harmonious and relaxed manner.
As Yun Sheng savored the delicious scallion oil noodles, she couldn't help but sigh, "We look just like a married couple."
Xiao Xu raised his head: "Like?"
Yun Sheng didn't realize anything was wrong when she said it, but when she looked up and met Xiao Xu's eyes, she belatedly realized what was going on.
"No, I didn't mean that kind of couple. I meant that what you were doing just now reminded me a lot of my husband..."
"…………"
It seems I said something wrong again.
It was because the storybook she had read before was about a couple living in the countryside.
Although she mostly saw the two of them sleeping under the open sky, playing in the fields, the husband was very virtuous in his daily life. He could go up the mountain to chop wood and hunt, and he could also cook and make soup. Even if his wife's clothes were torn, he could pick up a needle and thread and sew them up carefully.
Just now, when she looked at Xiao Xu's calm back as he cooked, she couldn't help but think of scenes from storybooks. Now that they were eating together at such a small, not-so-spacious table, it made her even more imaginative.
Yun Sheng glanced at Xiao Xu guiltily, unsure how to explain that she had compared the dignified Crown Prince of Zhao to a rustic villager.
Fortunately, Xiao Xu didn't pursue this topic relentlessly.
The bowl of noodles was almost empty, and Yun Sheng was already full after eating most of it.
Xiao Xu naturally placed his empty bowl on the table to the side, then took her bowl and helped her finish the rest.
In this light, he looks even more like a rustic villager.
Yun Sheng held back her words and instead asked, "Didn't you say you'd be back in three to five days? Why have you been delayed for so many days?"
"We encountered some trouble, but it has all been resolved. Now we just need to proceed with the input as usual."
After a brief moment of silence, Yun Sheng gave a soft "oh" and ultimately didn't ask any further questions.
Xiao Xu paused with his chopsticks, and after Yun Sheng responded, he abruptly said, "My trip is for matters of state, not to find my third brother."
Yun Sheng was startled, then suddenly looked up and met Xiao Xu's gaze, which was staring straight at her.
She naturally had a pair of round, almond-shaped eyes with dark, moist pupils. The light spots in her eyes were like bright stars, clearly visible even in the darkness.
Yun Sheng immediately realized what was happening and lowered her eyes slightly.
Although she had never actually met Xiao Ling, news about him had filled her girlish heart with details, gradually painting a complete picture of him in her mind.
She was momentarily surprised that Xiao Xu would bring up Xiao Ling with her, and for a moment her eyes flickered with the usual emotion when she heard news about Xiao Ling.
After composing herself, Yun Sheng asked, "How did you know I thought you went to look for your third... brother?"
Xiao Xu put down his chopsticks. There was still a mouthful of noodles left in the bowl, but he didn't seem to intend to eat any more.
“I think you may have told you about this, since you mentioned it to me.”
"I see. But I only thought that because I heard it from Azhi."
Xiao Xu didn't react to what he said.
Whether it's Yun Zhi, Yun Cheng, or anyone else.
News of Xiao Ling's escape from the manor in Qingquan Town has already reached the capital, and Yun Sheng will find out sooner or later.
Yun Sheng's gentle voice was clearly heard in the small kitchen: "Have you heard anything about Third Brother these past few days?"
Once Xiao Ling was driven further south, news of him could no longer reach the capital.
Xiao Xu remained expressionless, meeting her gaze without blinking: "No."
"I see."
Yun Sheng didn't show much emotion and didn't seem disappointed.
She knew that no matter how rationally she convinced herself, some habits and emotions could not be eliminated overnight.
But she didn't think that looking forward meant avoiding the past. Previously, Xiao Xu had never mentioned Xiao Ling in front of her, so she also avoided mentioning Xiao Ling in front of him.
Xiao Ling will return to the capital sooner or later. If this matter cannot be resolved, it will remain awkward indefinitely.
It's fine as it is now, and it will gradually become more natural as time goes on.
Yun Sheng took the initiative to say, "From now on, please tell me directly about any news concerning my third brother, okay?"
Xiao Xu gave her a deep look, then looked away: "Okay."
*
The next day, as he had said, Xiao Xu went to the palace to attend court early in the morning.
When Yun Sheng woke up, he was no longer there.
She had been at her parents' home for three days, and had already been impolite yesterday. This morning, she naturally had to go and pay her respects to Shen Yuewan.
After dressing up and having her meal, Yun Sheng prepared a box of fine tea brought from the Yun family and set off for Yi'an Hall.
Granny Wenxin was waiting at the door. When she saw Yun Sheng arrive, she bowed to her and quickly turned around to go inside to announce her arrival.
Shen Yuewan was looking at the account books in the East Warm Pavilion.
Granny Wenxin returned to the front door and led Yunsheng to the East Warm Pavilion.
Yun Sheng stepped into the room and greeted her mother first: "Your daughter-in-law greets Mother."
Shen Yuewan sat on the couch by the window, smiling and beckoning her to sit down beside her: "How has everything been at home these past few days since you returned to your parents' home?"
"Thank you for your concern, Mother. Everything is fine at home." Yun Sheng sat down next to Shen Yuewan, took the tea box from Cuizhu's hand, and presented it to Shen Yuewan with both hands. "This is a new tea that one of my father's students brought from the south. He said that this tea has a delicate fragrance and asked me to bring some back for you to try."
Shen Yuewan took the tea box with delight: "How thoughtful of you, this tea box is exquisite."
He then handed the tea box to Granny Wenxin, who was standing to the side, and instructed, "Keep it safe. Use this to brew tea tomorrow."
Yun Sheng happened to see a light gold note that was different from the account book next to Shen Yuewan.
Upon seeing her gaze, Shen Yuewan pushed the item in front of her: "Sheng Sheng, come and take a look at this. Just now, the Imperial Concubine sent someone to convey a message that on the Qixi Festival, she would like to invite you to play a tune on the zither in front of the Emperor to add to the festivities."
After Shen Yuewan mentioned it, Yun Sheng realized that the Qixi Festival (Double Seventh Festival) was less than half a month away.
She loved embroidery and was excellent at needlework. In the past, she was invited to the Qixi Palace Banquet every year, but she never had the opportunity to perform for the emperor.
Shen Yuewan said, "Performing in front of the Emperor is an honor, but if you feel nervous or unwilling, your mother can find an excuse to go back for you."
Yun Sheng lowered her eyes to browse the contents of the note. Her musical skills were not outstanding when she was young, but they were not bad either. The Imperial Concubine's selection of her name was not only to see the talent of the Yun family's daughter, but also to see the dignity of the heir apparent of the Prince Zhao's mansion.
She pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "Mother, I'm willing."
Seeing that she agreed, Shen Yuewan said, "Alright, since you are willing, let's prepare well. When the message came from the palace, it was said that the Noble Consort is considerate and allowed you to enter the palace at any time these days to familiarize yourself with the zither and practice the pieces. If you want to go, you can go to the palace with Changyu every day. If you feel restricted, you can practice in our own courtyard. It's all up to you."
The performances at the palace banquets used special musical instruments. If one wanted to perform for the Imperial Concubine, it would be best to practice directly using the musical instruments provided in the palace.
However, if he were to enter the palace with Xiao Xu...
Yun Sheng frowned in distress and whispered to Shen Yuewan, "Mother, Changyu enters the palace at a time that is too early every day."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yuewan laughed and said, "That's true. I forgot about that. I'll arrange for carriages and attendants to escort you every day."
"Thank you, Mother."
As Yun Sheng left Yi'an Hall, she couldn't help but sigh once again, "With such a mother-in-law, what more could a husband ask for?"
She smiled slightly, pondering the pieces to be performed at the palace banquet, and walked towards the east courtyard.
When they passed a fork in the road, they met Yang Qinhuai, who was coming from the other side.
Yun Sheng only learned from her previous visit to Yang Qinhuai's courtyard that his residence was located on the way to Yi'an Hall. Unexpectedly, she ran into him again when she went to Yi'an Hall today.
Yun Sheng's smile faded slightly.
In fact, after returning to her parents' home this time, she had some reservations about Yang Qinhuai.
Because his elder brother was already angry, when he came to the Yun residence as a guest, his elder brother asked him about Xiao Xu, but he didn't know what he meant and deliberately said things that people didn't want to hear, which made his elder brother even angrier.
Yang Qinhuai also saw Yun Sheng. Without stopping, he walked towards Yun Sheng and greeted her naturally, "Sheng Sheng."
At this moment, Yun Sheng, who had a problem with him, remembered the way Xiao Xu had corrected her address.
But she was too embarrassed to say it aloud, and only gave a faint "hmm".
Yun Sheng was not good at hiding her emotions, and Yang Qinhuai could naturally sense it, but he didn't care. He even smiled gently and said, "Are you still blaming me for what I said to Yi'an before?"
Yun Sheng: "It's not about blaming you, but Brother Yang really shouldn't have said those things back then."
Why shouldn't it be?
Yun Sheng was stunned, not expecting him to be so matter-of-fact.
“I didn’t make things up. Since Yi’an asked, is it wrong for me to tell the truth?”
Yun Sheng was speechless for a moment.
He wasn't making things up, but most of what he said was somewhat truncated. At first glance, it sounded plausible, but it could easily mislead his unsuspecting brother.
It is said that Xiao Xu is taciturn and never shows his emotions, making him difficult to understand and get along with. It is said that no one in the Zhao Prince's mansion knows the whereabouts of Xiao Ling, perhaps because they have not put much effort into searching for him. It is said that Yun Sheng does not have much contact with the Zhao Prince and his wife. It is also said that Xiao Xu was busy with official duties after his marriage and did not return home for more than ten days.
“I don’t understand why you would say that, even though you know your brother will misunderstand.”
Xiao Xu never mistreated her, and the Zhao Prince's Mansion was also trying its best to find Xiao Ling. As for her parents-in-law, Shen Yuewan was very considerate of her and did not require her to pay her respects every day.
Yun Sheng didn't understand what benefit Yang Qinhuai could gain from saying these things.
Yang Qinhuai chuckled upon hearing this: "Shengsheng, everyone has their own motives. If you can't accept it, perhaps you should first ask your husband why he did this."
"...What do you mean by that?"
Yang Qinhuai's smile deepened, but Yun Sheng found him completely unfamiliar.
He said slowly, "What I mean is that I only used a few means to achieve my goal. If we're talking about truly ruthless methods, I think Your Highness is the better one."
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It's almost the end of the month, and I'm broke. I'll send out red envelopes next month, but could I still receive your comments? [pleading]
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