Chapter 21: She was originally his wife.
A wave of shame instantly washed over Yun Sheng, sending shivers down her spine. She felt so embarrassed she just wanted to disappear into a hole.
She forced a smile, but ultimately steeled herself and walked towards Xiao Xu.
Xiao Xu's face was expressionless, revealing no emotion. He slightly tightened his fingers, and the veins on the back of his hand extended into his arm, which was hidden inside his sleeve.
"I didn't see this book yesterday, so I'm reading it today after I went out?"
His tone was calm and even, but Yun Sheng felt that he was even stricter than her female teacher when she was in the girls' school.
Yun Sheng was embarrassed and annoyed, and reached out to take the book back: "Give it back to me."
With a muffled snap, Xiao Xu closed the book with one hand, easily avoiding her hand.
"Can't I read the books I like?"
Xiao Xu's pupils dilated slightly: "You like this kind of book?"
The book cover, facing upwards, allowed the title to be clearly seen by both of them.
The straightforward language succinctly summarizes the unethical plot.
And he had just opened the book; could he have seen the intimate scenes inside?
Yun Sheng weakly defended herself: "I was just browsing casually, just passing the time."
Xiao Xu remained silent, but his expression betrayed his displeasure, unable to maintain its composure.
Yun Sheng didn't pay attention to him. She hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take her book back.
However, Xiao Xu nimbly blocked her outstretched hand, grabbed it with his own, and pulled her towards him.
Yun Sheng staggered unsteadily into Xiao Xu's parted legs, her lower back grabbed by his hand, cutting off her escape route and confining her to this small space.
She was clearly in a superior position, but when she looked down and met Xiao Xu's gaze, her imposing manner instantly diminished, and she said in a lower voice, "Give me back the book..."
Xiao Xu gripped her waist and pinched it as if punishing her: "Still planning to keep watching?"
Yun Sheng almost lost her balance because her legs went weak. She instinctively braced herself on his shoulder and moved even closer to him.
She whispered, "I want to see what the final outcome will be."
Xiao Xu snorted coldly: "I've seen it for you. That mistress failed to take the place of the emperor and was condemned by everyone. In the end, she left in a sorry state and never dared to do anything presumptuous again."
"Huh? Really?"
Xiao Xu looked at her dazed expression and his brow twitched with anger.
He said calmly, "What, do you think a mistress is qualified to rise to the top?"
"……no."
Yun Sheng was only stunned for a short moment; how did he manage to read the ending?
As for whether the mistress can take over...
Seeing Xiao Xu's stern expression, Yun Sheng swallowed back the thought that the older brother in the book was the one who stole the wife and took the place of the wife.
Yun Sheng said, "You should give it back to me and let me see it myself."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xu immediately moved the book to a more distant location.
"I've confiscated the book. You're not allowed to read books like this again."
"Why..."
Xiao Xu glanced at her indifferently, and Yun Sheng immediately fell silent, realizing she was in the wrong.
After a while, he couldn't help but mutter, "Why do they even care what books I read?"
The room was very quiet; even the faintest whispers could be clearly heard nearby.
Xiao Xu kept his lips pressed together, pretending not to hear.
He had only been gone for two hours, and she had somehow found this thing to look at; how could he not care?
Does he really expect her to read books that promote keeping mistresses, especially her husband's younger brother? It's utterly absurd.
Xiao Xu seemed even angrier, his face even darker than before.
Yun Sheng had never seen him angry before, but perhaps because their current posture was somewhat ambiguous, she didn't feel scared at all.
In fact, before the storybook was discovered, Xiao Xu mostly appeared calm and gentle in front of her, but she intuitively sensed his dangerous nature hidden deep within, his domineering and forceful nature, and she didn't seem to be afraid at all.
When they first got married, Mingming was worried that an older man like him would overshadow her.
Yun Sheng glanced quickly at the storybook that had been placed far away, thinking that she would find another opportunity to retrieve it.
She leaned closer to him and whispered, "Don't be angry since you've already taken them all. I won't look at them."
Yun Sheng's voice was soft, falling gently into my ear, like an unconscious act of coquetry.
As she spoke, the sweetness of the pastries and her delicate fragrance swirled around her.
Xiao Xu's eyes darkened, and Yun Sheng saw a hint of obscure emotion in those unfathomable black eyes.
Shen Yuewan was right. Xiao Xu was indeed a man who was good at hiding his thoughts. Faced with the intrigue and deceit in the officialdom, he was used to hiding his sharp and strong side, controlling the situation with ease, and always acting with composure.
But when he was with Yun Sheng, he was always easily aroused by emotional fluctuations, and the undercurrents he couldn't suppress repeatedly swallowed him up.
The air was so quiet it was suffocating, and Yun Sheng's posture, which was restrained, gradually stiffened.
Xiao Xu ignored her, and she couldn't help but struggle slightly, trying to back away from him.
But the arms behind her waist were hard and firm, and sensing her struggle, they suddenly tightened, pulling her even closer.
Her knees hit his groin.
Her taut legs were almost melting from the scalding heat, and her front was almost touching Xiao Xu's erect nose.
“Sheng Sheng.” Xiao Xuwei suddenly spoke, tilting his head slightly.
He only called her name once, and didn't say anything more, but in this atmosphere, Yun Sheng inexplicably started thinking in a clear direction.
She forgot to step back, and unconsciously curled her fingers, her palm filled with the fabric from his shoulder, forming an ambiguous crease.
Xiao Xu still found his inexplicable emotions ridiculous.
Whether she rejected him back then or this marriage was unusual, they are now husband and wife, and that is an unchangeable fact. Why should he harbor such feelings?
Xiao Xu couldn't figure out the reason, but at this moment, being so close to her, embracing her softness, and smelling her fragrance, he clearly realized one thing.
He was enjoying the outcome from the very beginning.
Enjoying the fact that her marriage to Xiao Ling had fallen through, enjoying the fact that this marriage must and can only be taken over by him.
He wanted to possess her, to have her all to himself, to hug and kiss her, to bury himself deep inside her, and to do the most intimate things in the world with her.
She was his wife all along.
Why would he allow his wife to have feelings for another man?
Everything is about first come, first served, and the winner takes all.
Unfortunately, he has both.
Xiao Xu let her squeeze him tightly, frankly revealing his inconsistency: "I find myself a little impatient, and I can't wait for a slow and gradual process."
Yun Sheng had made half a guess, but she still didn't expect Xiao Xu to be so blunt, and the words she was prepared to say stuck in her throat.
If you ignore the arms that are tightly wrapped around her waist, leaving her no room to refuse, you could take this as a self-disciplined inquiry.
But her presence was undeniable. Xiao Xu gazed at her quietly, and even without saying a word, his eyes revealed an aggressive possessiveness.
Yun Sheng thought that her face must be completely red by now, otherwise why would it be so hot?
She didn't actually intend to refuse, but her mind went blank, and she blurted out, "Then let's proceed quickly and step by step."
A moment of silence.
Xiao Xu's usually tense face suddenly broke into a smile, but it was a smile born of anger.
He asked, with a look of feigned anger, "Is that what I meant?"
Yun Sheng felt embarrassed, but tried to make amends by saying, "You don't know how, so what's the rush?"
She seemed to be talking nonsense again, and Xiao Xu remained silent once more.
After a moment, he suddenly said, "Yes, indeed."
"But you weren't lecturing me."
The thought of the intimate descriptions in the confiscated storybooks made Yun Sheng's face feel even hotter.
It's not that it can't be taught.
She is better at it than Xiao Xu, so she should definitely teach him.
Xiao Xu immediately followed up with, "Then let's teach now."
Yun Sheng was taken aback: "Now?"
"I don't know how, so I'm eager to learn."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Xu tightened his arms, wrapped his arms around her slender waist, and picked her up.
Yun Sheng instinctively gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck, only to be pulled onto his lap in an instant.
"W-What are you doing?"
Xiao Xu leaned close to her side, bent down, and reached towards her feet, his slender fingers hooking off her embroidered shoes: "Get into bed, then teach me."
Yun Sheng watched helplessly as her shoes came off, and Xiao Xu pulled her onto the bed with his arms around her legs.
He then took off his shoes and went to the bed.
"Let's begin."
"..."
The afternoon was quiet, with rays of sunlight streaming through the windows, casting half the room in light and half in shadow.
The unexpected events that were about to unfold during the day brought even more tension.
Perhaps it will also be somewhat exciting.
Yun Sheng felt secretly ashamed that she had developed such bold ideas after reading a few erotic novels.
After a brief silence, her face flushed slightly, she slowly approached Xiao Xu.
She reached out and cupped his face gently, and kissed him even more gently.
Their breaths mingled, and she pressed her lips to his, whispering almost inaudibly, "You can put your hand on top of me."
Where should I put it?
Yun Sheng had her eyes closed, so she didn't see Xiao Xu staring intently at her from nearby.
She let go of one hand, groped her way to him, and pulled him towards her.
Since she couldn't see, his shyness lessened, which made him act quickly and without hesitation.
On the contrary, Xiao Xu paused his breath the moment he touched her, and a stunned look appeared on his face.
He was actually just drawn to her heart, his palms filled with the sound of her pounding heartbeat.
Chaotic and fast.
It's easy for people to mistakenly believe that she's attracted to him.
Xiao Xu's tense and rigid stance seemed to perfectly correspond to his so-called inability.
But the next moment, he suddenly leaned down and pressed against her, his palm moving down to touch her heartbeat.
He held her firmly in his grasp, closed his eyes, and whispered against her lips, "Nannan, open your mouth."
Whether it was the way she addressed him or the way she held his hand, Yun Sheng trembled slightly.
The unexpected feeling instantly disrupted her thoughts, and she unconsciously opened her lips.
The first time was a gentle probe, the second was an eager and reckless invasion, and this time seems different again.
Xiao Xu's kisses became more skilled. Although still greedy and forceful, they were now licking, teasing, and stirring her with finesse. Only his hand movements revealed a hint of genuine awkwardness.
However, the intelligent man learned very quickly, and even his hands gradually became more skillful.
Yun Sheng's uncontrollable sob startled her awake, and as her thoughts began to clear, her feelings became even more pronounced.
She just told him to put it up.
Why was he kneading and pinching her like that...?
The soreness and heat almost overwhelmed her.
It was as if her lifeline had been seized; she wanted to retreat, but her body couldn't move an inch.
Yun Sheng could only try to think about what else was written in the storybook, but before she could figure it out, Xiao Xu pressed her down onto the bed.
Xiao Xu's tall and robust body was like a majestic mountain, casting a large shadow and exuding an unshakeable dominance.
Her clothes seemed to have opened on their own, and Xiao Xu's kisses moved from the corner of her lips to her chin, continuing to descend.
The skin he kissed felt like it was being scorched by sparks, every inch of it burning.
He kissed her neck again, and Yun Sheng, ticklish, shrank back in discomfort.
"Don't kiss here..."
Xiao Xu hummed in agreement and asked with a sanctimonious air, "Then where should I kiss you?"
In a daze, Yun Sheng realized that she hadn't actually given an answer.
A tingling sensation spread across her collarbone, followed by a rapid heartbeat colliding with those moist, hot lips.
When those lips came to where he held them tightly.
Yun Sheng abruptly closed her legs together.
The feeling of having her completely under his control made Xiao Xu unable to resist pressing that fragile piece of flesh against his teeth and grinding it.
Yun Sheng let out a strange sound, opening her eyes in surprise: "Don't bite..."
The muffled sounds seemed not to reach the man's ears; the biting continued, even becoming increasingly forceful out of control.
Yun Sheng finally couldn't take it anymore and raised her hand to pat his shoulder haphazardly.
Xiao Xu bent over like a drawn bow, his back hard, so that he couldn't be hurt at all.
But he stopped biting, as if he had been awakened from his daze. He paused for a moment before slightly raising himself up and looking down with an unreadable expression.
"Don't worry, it's fine."
Xiao Xu stated in a hoarse voice, then lowered his head and kissed her as if to comfort her, before continuing.
Yun Sheng could barely hear what he was saying.
The heat was stimulating my inner thighs.
She instinctively wanted to get even closer, to prevent the stickiness from getting too excessive.
Xiao Xu noticed such a subtle movement with his hand, which was placed nearby.
His knees were grabbed, and his movements were stopped.
Yun Sheng knew about this step, but she kept it to herself and never intended to teach him this from the beginning.
Because it was so shameful and unbearable, even the slightest thought of it caused a strange sensation to creep through my lower abdomen.
But she didn't have time to think about how Xiao Xu found out about this step.
The light, long dress I was wearing today to cool off was easily lifted up.
Because she didn't teach, Xiao Xu had to learn on his own.
He was a bright and gifted man, but at this moment he was learning very slowly.
Stumbling and searching everywhere, it seemed like they couldn't find the trick.
Yun Sheng was thus submerged in this heatwave, unable to float or sink, only the surging waves intensified.
He finally found her when she suddenly trembled.
Xiao Xu slowly raised his eyes, his gaze moving from the pile of messy clothes in front of him.
He skipped over her heart, which was covered in red marks, and leaned back on her fragile neck.
Beneath his calm exterior, an indescribable restlessness was coursing through his body.
His gaze finally settled on that face, which was flushed red.
The vibrant colors, though distinctly beautiful, seeped into his deep eyes, making them appear even darker and unfathomable.
He seized the moment, unwilling to miss a single change in her expression.
Her already soaked eyes suddenly trembled as she looked at him, and her hands, full of glistening tears, poured onto his burning heat without warning.
Instead of extinguishing the fire, it added fuel to the fire.
Yun Sheng looked as if she had been caught in a downpour, with the rainwater first soaking into her undergarments.
Xiao Xu slowly withdrew his wrinkled, soaked fingers.
Yun Sheng suddenly turned over, turning her back to him.
The dampness gradually took away the heat, but my heartbeat wouldn't slow down. There was no sound behind me for a while, and I wondered what Xiao Xu was doing.
After an unknown amount of time, Yun Sheng's senses gradually subsided. The drowning-like experience, after the heat subsided, left only an indescribable softness, delicately coursing through her body.
With her back turned, she suddenly said in a very low voice, "You don't know anything at all."
Xiao Xu paused for a moment before answering her, "Yes, I haven't, but I don't mean I can't."
Hearing the same words again, Yun Sheng subconsciously turned around.
Xiao Xu glanced at the faint red marks visible beneath her disheveled clothes, then looked away with restraint, only to find his gaze returning to her flushed face and shimmering eyes.
Her eyelashes were wet and her lips were swollen and red, as if she had been bullied. He saw it all, but he showed no remorse whatsoever. Instead, the vile and unbearable thoughts that he had finally managed to suppress resurfaced.
In the end, he couldn't resist leaning down and kissing her lips again.
Her eyes were open, and she remained so obediently still that he almost couldn't back away.
*
It was past 3 PM when Yun Sheng woke up comfortably from her afternoon nap.
The room was quiet, though there was still daylight.
She lazily turned her head and glanced at him; Xiao Xu was not there.
The bed beside her was also cold and lifeless, with even the slightest wrinkles that made it impossible to tell whether Xiao Xu had slept there or if it was just from her turning over.
Did Xiao Xu not take a nap?
Yun Sheng thought back for a moment and realized that water had been called for in the room. She belatedly felt ashamed and didn't dare to call anyone in to serve her.
Xiao Xu went to the private room in the side room, but for some reason, he took longer than she did. He didn't return until she was lying on the couch, half asleep.
"Green bamboo".
Yun Sheng called out, and Cui Zhu pushed the door open and came in from outside.
Is Changyu in the courtyard?
Cuizhu replied, "Your Highness, the Prince sent someone to summon His Highness. He just went to Xilin Garden not long ago."
That means I slept in, but I got up a little earlier.
Yun Sheng hummed in agreement, but when she looked up, she saw Cui Zhu staring blankly at her.
The moment their eyes met, Cuizhu blushed and quickly lowered her head.
"What's wrong?"
As soon as she finished asking the question, Yun Sheng realized something, pursed her lips, and started putting on her shoes under the bed.
She walked briskly towards the dressing table in her embroidered shoes.
A beautiful face was reflected in the bronze mirror. Her lips were slightly swollen and bright red, as if she had applied lip rouge. The glistening sheen was simply from her own lip-licking, yet it inexplicably leaned towards an ambiguous direction that sparked the imagination amidst the overall splendor.
Looking down, the loose collar revealed several red marks on the neck and collarbone. The heat began to spread the moment the gaze fell upon them, as if the other marks hidden under the collar were making their presence known.
No wonder Cuizhu looked at her like that!
Yun Sheng sat in front of the bronze mirror, her gaze unconsciously recalling Xiao Xu's kissing style, which involved sucking and biting.
She sat there blankly for a while before letting Cuizhu apply makeup to cover up the marks on her upper body. The rest were also covered up behind her clothes and the table.
After finishing tidying up, Yun Sheng asked again, "Chang Yu just left not long ago, right? It would take some time to go back and forth from Xilin Garden."
"Does the Crown Princess wish to send someone to inform His Highness? Then I will have someone go now?"
Yun Sheng quickly said, "Why tell him? No, don't tell him."
Putting aside the fact that she had ulterior motives, even if she had nothing better to do, she wouldn't necessarily be this clingy.
Yun Sheng made Cui Zhu close the door before angrily telling her about the confiscation of her storybook.
Cuizhu: "Your Highness, it's all my fault. I only thought about picking out some of all kinds for you to see at first, and I didn't pay attention to check carefully, which is why this book was mixed in."
"What nonsense are you talking about? That book is really good. The plot is just a coincidence. How can you take a storybook seriously?"
Only Xiao Xu was so serious that he actually confiscated it from her.
As Yun Sheng spoke, she tiptoed to look at the top of the cabinet where she had started.
"How could it not be here? Did he take it?"
Yun Sheng turned her head and asked, "Did you see him take a book out of the room?"
Cui Zhu shook her head.
Yun Sheng instructed, "You go look over there, I'll look over here, let's see where he put it."
The two searched the room for a long time, but the storybook had vanished without a trace.
Yun Sheng's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, and she slumped into a chair, feeling utterly defeated.
"Princess Consort, that's just one of the stories. Do you have any other stories you'd like to read? I'll fetch them for you."
Yun Sheng sighed, "I won't read anything else for now. I'm itching to know how that book ends."
Unable to find the storybooks confiscated by Xiao Xu, Yun Sheng had no choice but to give up for the time being.
They thought that after all this commotion, Xiao Xu would be back from Xilin Garden soon, but they hadn't seen him by late afternoon.
When Yun Sheng peeked out of the gate for the second time after walking into the courtyard, she was already a little embarrassed.
She felt like a waiting stone, anxiously searching for him even though they had only been apart for a few hours.
In reality, Yun Sheng was just hungry.
Xiao Xu did not leave the mansion, but was summoned by Prince Zhao for a talk. Before leaving, he did not say that he would not come back for a meal. As his wife, Yun Sheng should wait for him to come back so they could eat together.
But why hasn't he come back yet?
After waiting for a while, Mu Shan rushed to the East Courtyard, bringing news that Xiao Xu told Yun Sheng to have her meal first and that there was no need to wait any longer.
Yun Sheng was stunned for a long time. She finally didn't have to wait idly and could fill her stomach, but for some reason, a feeling of emptiness spread through her heart.
However, this feeling did not last long. After having his meal alone, Yun Sheng, having nothing else to do, asked Cui Zhu to prepare a writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
It was already dark, but the room was brightly lit by candlelight.
As the candle wick crackled intermittently, Yun Sheng sat at her desk and began sketching embroidery patterns.
She had painted several pictures before but was not very satisfied with them, and the used Xuan paper was spread out messily on the table.
Right now, she is painting an orchid on a new sheet of rice paper.
With the noble character of a gentleman, refined and elegant, even before the design was completed, Yun Sheng had already decided that orchids were the most suitable embroidery pattern.
Xiao Xu returned at this time.
He opened the door softly and walked slowly, so Yun Sheng was completely unaware of his presence until he got close.
When a swaying shadow appeared on the Xuan paper in front of Yun Sheng, she subconsciously looked up and, unsurprisingly, was startled.
After a soft gasp, Yun Sheng lowered her eyes in a panic.
"My painting..."
Xiao Xu had already reached the desk, but Yun Sheng had no time to pay him any attention.
She hurriedly put down her brush and stroked the Xuan paper, but it was too late to wipe away the ink stains left by the brush tip.
Yun Sheng frowned, finally looking at Xiao Xu properly, but glared at him angrily: "Why do you walk so quietly? I finally finished drawing this!"
Yun Sheng was also anxious, and her tone was not very nice as she became temperamental.
But her voice was soft, and she was sitting at her desk, so she could only look up at Xiao Xu with her eyes wide open and her cheeks slightly puffed out. Her face had no sharp edges, so how could she have any imposing aura?
Xiao Xu stood calmly, glancing at the mess on the table. He quickly realized that Yun Sheng was drawing what appeared to be a pattern for sachet embroidery.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, clearly showing a rare hint of satisfaction despite being rebuffed.
He said gently, "Excuse me, what are you drawing?"
Yun Sheng then realized that she had piled up a table full of paintings she had made for Xiao Xu.
It's nothing shameful, but it's still a little embarrassing.
She awkwardly tried to cover herself with her hand, but obviously couldn't hide anything, so she could only sheepishly withdraw her hand, her tone still dissatisfied: "You saw it all, why are you still asking?"
Xiao Xu looked at him again without hiding his gaze.
"Were they all painted for me?"
"..."
Yun Sheng felt that he did it on purpose.
She simply ignored it, started tidying up the discarded Xuan paper, and finally put the paper with orchids painted on it on top, folding it up as if she was going to throw it away.
Xiao Xu stepped forward and stopped her hand: "Why did you throw it away?"
"The previous drawings were all discarded. I finally finished a satisfactory one, but someone scared me so much that they smeared the drawing, so it was also discarded."
Seeing her charming expression as if she wanted to punish him for this trivial matter, Xiao Xu chuckled and took all the papers from her hand.
"Come here, sit here."
He naturally took her hand with his other hand and helped her up from the seat in front of him.
"what you do?"
Xiao Xu switched places with her. As he passed her, his gaze inadvertently swept over her from above and he saw an irregularly shaped red mark on the edge of her pearl-white strapless top.
Yun Sheng didn't hear a reply, but noticed his gaze.
She looked down and saw that this area, which should have been covered by her clothes, was now partially exposed.
Yun Sheng immediately shook off Xiao Xu's hand, covered her chest with both hands, and said irritably, "Don't look, it's all your fault."
Xiao Xu's eyes darkened, and he glanced at her lips again before completely looking away.
After switching seats, Yun Sheng asked again, "You still haven't told me what you're going to do."
"It's not that I'm blaming you for ruining your painting, I'll just give you a replacement."
Yun Sheng was taken aback when she saw Xiao Xu spread out a brand new sheet of Xuan paper on the table.
She snapped out of her daze and quickly said, "But this is the design I drew for your sachet. If you draw it yourself, wouldn't that be..."
Xiao Xu stopped what he was doing and looked at her.
Yun Sheng realized that she had still jumped into the pit he had just dug, and she stopped making a sound.
Before she could feel annoyed, Xiao Xu said first, "Isn't that quite special?"
"Others probably don't have the opportunity to make a wedding token with their wives."
No one knows who this refers to.
But Yun Sheng had no time to think about it; her face was already getting hot.
"Sheng Sheng, grind the ink."
Yun Sheng nodded and obediently picked up the ink stick beside her to grind the ink.
Xiao Xu unfolded her previous painting and began to examine it intently.
Although Yun Sheng was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, she was most skilled in needlework. When she painted, she needed to calm her mind and be careful with every stroke in order to outline a satisfactory shape. She was far inferior to those master painters who could paint freely and naturally.
Her impromptu drawing just now was naturally not perfect, and being scrutinized so bluntly by Xiao Xu made it seem even more naive.
"Just keep drawing, don't keep staring at me."
"How can you know what you're drawing or how you started if you don't look at it?"
Yun Sheng whispered, "It's orchid."
This is a profound meaning that can be understood instantly once spoken.
Xiao Xu remained silent for a long time, his gaze still lingering on Yun Sheng's painting.
He felt that the orchid that had been accidentally stained might be a more fitting description.
It has become tainted by selfish desires, revealing a dark color beneath its pure white.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
Yun Sheng couldn't decipher his expression: "If you don't like it..."
"I love so much."
Xiao Xu said, "You drew very beautifully."
Yun Sheng paused in her work, curled the corners of her lips, and said reproachfully, "No need for such forced praise."
Xiao Xu did not argue. He put down the rest of the paintings and carefully folded up the one with ink stains, putting it into his clothes.
"Why are you putting it away?"
“I told you I really liked it, and since it was painted for me, I naturally have to keep it safe.”
Yun Sheng was puzzled. What was there to like about a painting that was ruined by ink stains?
Besides, when did she say she was going to give it to him?
Just then, Xiao Xu tapped the ink stick in Yun Sheng's hand twice with the handle of his pen.
She moved the ink stick aside and saw him pick up the brush, dip it in ink, and begin to write.
Xiao Xu's wrist hovered in the air, and the tip of his pen moved smoothly across the paper.
Before long, a lifelike orchid appeared on the paper, with ink of varying shades and leaves that were gracefully curled. The areas on the original painting that had been stained with ink were transformed into dewdrops about to fall from the flower stamens, as if they were shining brightly in the sunlight.
But rather than the orchids in the painting, Yun Sheng's gaze lingered more on the man's focused profile.
The candlelight cast a soft glow on his cold, handsome features, making his usually aloof eyes appear exceptionally deep as he focused intently.
His straight nose cast a shallow shadow, his thin lips were slightly pursed, and his calm and aloof temperament wonderfully overlapped with the orchid in the secluded valley on the paper.
But when his brushstrokes flowed and the ink flowed freely, giving the orchids a vibrant life, Yun Sheng felt that he possessed a more restrained sharpness than the orchids themselves.
Is it pretty?
Xiao Xu suddenly stopped writing.
In the blink of an eye, Yun Sheng's gaze was caught.
She lowered her eyes and continued grinding ink, then softly said, "It's not just orchids that are beautiful."
The flickering candlelight silently drew the two figures projected onto the wall closer together.
Xiao Xu finished the painting, and Yun Sheng held it in her hands, examining it repeatedly, unable to hide her delight.
This portrait is a complete copy of her painting; it's similar in every way, yet somehow different in every aspect.
Yun Sheng looked at it and didn't even realize that it was just a drawing for embroidering sachets, and she was even more reluctant to add any more annotations to the drawing.
Just as he was engrossed in reading, Xiao Xu suddenly snatched the paper away.
Xiao Xu's face appeared before her: "You've been watching for a long time."
Yun Sheng was a little embarrassed, but still raised her chin slightly and said confidently, "I didn't draw it myself. How can I know what the details are and how to stitch it if I don't look at it?"
Xiao Xu chuckled and still took the Xuan paper to a distance.
"Why don't you ask me why I didn't come back this afternoon?"
Yun Sheng was surprised that he brought it up on his own initiative.
She actually wanted to ask, but after a moment's thought, she somehow came up with something about Xiao Ling.
However, this makes sense; it's probably true.
The two biggest events that have happened in Prince Zhao’s mansion recently are the bride and the third young master leaving home.
Now that she has entered the household, and Xiao Ling is still on the run, the Zhao Prince's Mansion will naturally try to find him no matter what.
But Xiao Xu didn't seem to like her mentioning Xiao Ling. The atmosphere had been a bit strange the last few times, so she stopped asking.
Yun Sheng thought for a moment and asked, "Have you eaten?"
Her words were also unexpected by Xiao Xu. He looked at her quietly for a moment before saying, "I have eaten. I had a meal with my father at Xilin Garden."
“Some things happened in the court, so I discussed it with my father for a long time.”
It wasn't because of Xiao Ling.
Xiao Xu had been watching her the whole time, so when she showed a slight surprise, he noticed it immediately.
The reason for this surprise is obvious.
She still wanted to know about Xiao Ling.
Xiao Xu's eyes darkened, but he made no further reaction.
Yun Sheng quickly suppressed her surprise and asked, "Are you going to be busy from now on?"
It was clear that Yun Sheng's tone at this moment was different from the unconscious anticipation she had when she wanted to peek at the storybook this morning.
Xiao Xu said, "The matter is sudden and must be dealt with immediately. However, I am at the manor. If you are bored, you can come with me to the study tomorrow."
That would be so boring.
Yun Sheng held back her words and quickly said, "I won't disturb you while you're busy with your official duties. I'd like to go out of the manor tomorrow anyway."
Xiao Xu frowned slightly: "Go where?"
"I hadn't thought of a suitable embroidery pattern before, but now that I've decided to embroider... orchids, my silk thread and the fabric I have don't seem to match. I'd like to go to the shop and see if they have any new stock."
"Just send someone; there's no need for you to go in person."
"How can servants know what I want? I have to see for myself."
Yun Sheng asked, "Am I not allowed to leave the manor?"
She asked this question with a hint of displeasure. In the past, she was never subject to such restrictions at home. Now that she was married, she felt uncomfortable with such rules in the Prince Zhao's mansion.
Xiao Xu said, "The Prince Zhao's residence does not have such a rule."
"I will send someone to accompany you tomorrow."
Yun Sheng didn't think much of it and moved her lips to respond, but suddenly realized that her hand was being held by him without her noticing.
He held her very lightly, without making any big movements. She hadn't paid much attention while she was talking, but when she looked down, she realized that he had been playing with her fingers for quite a while.
Yun Sheng tried to pull her hand back, but he brazenly grabbed it directly.
The close and clear touch, even just holding hands, evoked some beautiful memories.
The warmth spread, a delicate tingling sensation spreading from the fingertips.
Xiao Xu lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable as he watched their clasped hands.
Yun Sheng was filled with conflicting emotions. She moved her fingers in his palm and said, "It's getting late. Since you'll be busy tomorrow, you should rest early."
As she spoke, she stood up.
Xiao Xu stood up, but suddenly took a step closer, blocking her path and pinning her against the edge of the table.
Because of the difference in their height, even when they stood together, his gaze still appeared condescending, carrying a subtle but imposing air.
Xiao Xu lowered his head slightly, as if considerately trying to soften his imposing presence, but his gaze remained fixed on her beautiful face, as if he were trying to possess her.
The heat emanating from nearby made Yun Sheng's scalp tingle. Before any actual contact had occurred, she inexplicably felt something about to overflow.
Xiao Xu took in all the subtle changes that appeared on her face.
He spoke slowly, "Sheng Sheng, you still haven't given me an answer about what happened during the day."
Yun Sheng felt a burning sensation, and the answer clearly surfaced in her mind, but she unconsciously turned her face away, muttering incoherently, "...Wh-what is it?"
"Sexual relations."
Xiao Xu reached out, cupped her face, and turned her to face him, seeking an answer, but it was a straightforward statement.
"Tonight, we will consummate our marriage."
————————!!————————
Father Xiao had already hinted that the men of the Xiao family could only endure for three to five days at most.
Tomorrow's update will also be at midnight! Leave a comment under this chapter before tomorrow's update and I'll give out red envelopes! [Sprinkling flowers]
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