Chapter 61: Who can beat him?
Yun Sheng was surprised that Xiao Xu had taken on the job of inspector and pacification commissioner.
This mission involved traveling to Ningyan Town, about ten days' carriage ride from the capital. Ostensibly, it was an imperial tour to inspect the people's conditions, but in reality, it was more like a dignified and noble spring inspection tour.
There were no fixed rules or formalities, and no urgent military affairs; all that was required was to periodically submit a few notes on local customs and observations to the court.
Many idle civil officials or officials who wanted to temporarily escape the vortex were secretly plotting to get this cushy job, but Xiao Xu, who had never competed for such a thing before, unexpectedly took it on casually.
Who can beat him?
After this matter was settled, people in the court privately sighed and lamented.
Yun Sheng didn't understand the intricacies of the matter. Upon hearing that she would be leaving the capital for half a year and going to such a remote place, her first reaction was concern: "Why did you take on this task?"
She thought it was because he had held a grudge against her for some complaints a few days ago, and that he was willing to lower himself, put aside his important duties in the capital, and accompany her to the countryside for some peace and quiet.
Xiao Xu said calmly, "Things in the court have been going smoothly lately, and there is nothing urgent."
"But hasn't this interfered with your important business?"
Xiao Xu omitted the complicated reasons why the Zhang Party matter had already been resolved, and only said: "Although Ningyan Town is remote, the people are simple and honest, and the mountains and rivers are beautiful. It is a good place to cultivate one's mind and body. My main business is to supervise agriculture, sericulture, water conservancy, and elementary schools there."
Ningyan Town is located in a hilly area where the north and south water systems meet. Spring floods and irrigation are the most important issues for the people. Although there are a few private schools in the area, they are not systematic. These tasks are very easy to handle, requiring no effort and are loved by the people. Naturally, they are good jobs that court officials are eager to obtain, especially when the court is at peace. Who wouldn't want to go to that beautiful and simple place to relax?
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng's doubts lessened, and a secret joy quietly spread through her.
She had thought before that if they could be an ordinary rural couple, far away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, Xiao Xu would be able to truly relax.
At the time, she was just thinking about it randomly and didn't think it could come true at all. Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the idea seemed to have come true, leaving her in a daze and unsure.
Xiao Xu saw the light flickering in her eyes, a mixture of longing and worry.
After waiting a while and still not hearing her speak, he deliberately said, "If you don't want to go, I'll refuse. We can leave this task to someone else and stay in the capital without any problem."
Yun Sheng suddenly came to her senses and quickly said, "I didn't say I didn't want to, I did want to."
After she finished speaking, she lowered her eyelashes again.
Xiao Xu understood immediately. She had been pampered since childhood and was currently intrigued by the rural scenery, but this novelty might not last for more than six months.
He added, “It’s alright, let’s go have some fun for a while. It’s the beginning of spring now, the best time of year in Ningyan Town. If you get bored afterward, we can come back.”
Yun Sheng raised her eyes and said seriously, "How can that be! You've taken on this task, how can you just quit? That's so irresponsible."
Her words did indeed reveal a hint of her worry that she might not be able to persevere.
Xiao Xu was amused by her serious little expression. He leaned down and kissed her before saying, "There are countless people eyeing this job. If I really don't want to do it anymore, there will be plenty of people who will be grateful and rush to take it over. So you don't need to feel burdened. Go if you want to, and don't go if you don't want to."
So it seems that Yun Sheng has nothing to hesitate about.
Her eyes gradually brightened completely, like the light of melting snow falling into the window, clear and sparkling.
"When shall we depart?"
"First thing tomorrow morning."
"...?!"
*
That night, Yun Sheng was so angry that she almost didn't let Xiao Xu into the house.
He did this again, telling her only at the last minute, catching her completely unprepared.
This wasn't a trip that lasted only a few days or ten days like before; this trip was one that lasted for half a year.
After dinner, Yun Sheng began packing her luggage without stopping. Even as night fell, she still couldn't quite figure out if she had forgotten anything, and she wandered around the room checking back and forth.
Xiao Xu felt wronged, after all, he had only mentioned taking on this task today, and told her as soon as he came back from work after the meeting.
But this matter had already been planned and people were to be sent to do it, and the departure date had been set long ago.
He told Yun Sheng the truth.
But when Yun Sheng got angry, he realized that it wasn't impossible to change the travel time for such a trivial matter.
But by the time he was about to say it, Yun Sheng had already finished most of the tidying up. If he brought it up again, he would probably be kicked out of the house, so he could only keep quiet.
Listening to the constant noise coming from the house since evening, he couldn't understand what was so important about tidying up for such a short trip to a small place that was only ten days away.
"Xiao Changyu!" A voice called out from behind the screen.
Xiao Xu snapped out of his daze and replied, "Coming!"
Upon hearing this, the maids waiting in the hall covered their mouths and chuckled ambiguously.
Xiao Xu noticed it out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he quickened his pace and walked around the screen to Yun Sheng in a few steps.
"Take that one down from the top." Yun Sheng pointed a finger to the top of the display shelf and instructed Xiao Xu.
Xiao Xu was tall, and standing behind Yun Sheng, he could easily reach out and touch a place she couldn't even touch on tiptoe.
He took the wooden box off for her, thanked her profusely, and Yun Sheng took the box and turned to leave.
He watched with a slightly somber expression as Yun Sheng packed the box into her bag, then walked to the wardrobe, seemingly remembering several of her beautiful outfits and wanting to take them with her.
Xiao Xu had been waiting in the room for quite a while, thinking that she would be ready soon and could go to bed with him, but unexpectedly she went to the wardrobe again.
He slowly followed.
Yun Sheng didn't chase him away. She took out two spring clothes and asked, "Chang Yu, which of these two do you think is better?"
"left."
"Hmm," Yun Sheng responded, but still didn't put down the one on the right.
In the end, she decided to bring both items, folding one while muttering to herself, annoyed with him, "If you hadn't told me in such a hurry, I could have made a few new outfits."
Xiao Xu sighed softly, crossed his arms, and leaned against the wooden cabinet: "Wife, how can you act like a country couple with such bright and beautiful clothes on?"
Yun Sheng was taken aback and looked down at the clothes she had just packed into her hands.
That seems to make sense.
She took the clothes out again in a daze, and when she turned her head, she saw Xiao Xu's luggage.
"Then you shouldn't bring these clothes with you."
As she spoke, she began to help Xiao Xu take out the silk robe.
Xiao Xu's expression changed, and he put down his hands and strode over, stopping her abruptly: "No, I have to take these with me."
He just wanted to dampen Yun Sheng's excitement about how long it would take to get ready, and get her to bed with him as soon as possible.
I have to get up early tomorrow; if I stay up any later, I'm afraid I won't let him do it even once.
But he didn't ask her to take away his clothes; they were all embroidered with patterns by Yun Sheng for him.
Yun Sheng ignored him, slapped his hand away, and said seriously, "You reminded me that we'll be wearing coarse linen clothes, so we won't need any of these."
As she spoke, she took out all the clothes that Xiao Xu had packed up in a few quick movements.
When she put them in the closet, she realized that these pieces seemed to be clothes with patterns she had embroidered.
However, she eventually put them all back.
She closed the cabinet door, turned around and saw Xiao Xu's gloomy face, and said with a gentle smile, "Alright, since there's nothing to pack, let's make our arrangements."
Xiao Xu kept a straight face and remained silent as Yun Sheng led him back to the bed.
But once he lay down on the bed, with her soft, fragrant body in his arms, the corners of his lips gradually relaxed.
Yun Sheng was embraced tightly.
She loved Xiao Xu's embrace; it was comfortable and warm. His chest was supple and full, and she was used to falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat.
She shifted closer and found a familiar spot.
Xiao Xu lowered his head and kissed her: "Shall we?"
"..."
Yun Sheng silently moved away from the comfortable spot to show her refusal.
But her refusal never had much effect, and she was quickly swayed into giving in.
Finally, just as Xiao Xu had expected, Yun Sheng lowered her eyelashes, looked at his dark head, and said breathlessly, "It can only be done once."
Xiao Xu emerged from under the hem of her nightgown, his lips still glistening with moisture. He licked his lips with a smile, then pressed down on her, kissing her as he untied her sash.
"Okay, just once."
Perhaps because she was about to travel far away, to a remote town, to become a rural couple that Yun Sheng could only imagine and had no concrete experience with, Yun Sheng was very excited, and the erotic content from the storybooks kept floating in her mind.
Her excitement earned her an even more enthusiastic response from Xiao Xu.
Even just one time, he tossed and turned her over and over for almost half an hour, taking her to the extreme with interest.
But before she drifted off to sleep, Yun Sheng murmured, "Wake me up early tomorrow."
Xiao Xu kissed her hair: "I will."
This trip seems to be about to begin in such a tender atmosphere.
However, early the next morning...
Xiao Xu did not wake Yun Sheng first after waking up.
He quietly withdrew his arm from under her neck and then silently left the bed.
He needed to first retrieve the clothes that Yun Sheng had put back in the closet yesterday.
Most of the time, it was the inner garment worn underneath, which did not affect his wearing coarse linen clothes with her. Moreover, even though he lived in the countryside, he was still a husband who had to go to town to support his family, so he had to wear a decent outer robe.
Therefore, you should bring all these clothes.
After packing his clothes, Xiao Xu glanced at the sky.
It was still early, so he got up to change and wash himself, planning to call Yun Sheng later.
Perhaps because she was thinking about something she was looking forward to, Yun Sheng woke up on her own once again.
When she woke up, the room was silent.
The morning light was faint, making it difficult to tell the time of day.
Yun Sheng sat up abruptly, about to call out, when she turned her head and saw a tall silhouette shrouded in the shadows of a corner not far away.
She first breathed a sigh of relief, then realized something and her heart skipped a beat.
A hurried and chaotic sound came from the other end of the bed. Xiao Xu moved slightly and then slowly turned around.
Yun Sheng hurriedly put on her shoes, and as soon as she stood up, she met Xiao Xu's deep gaze.
"…………"
Their eyes met, and they remained silent for a moment.
It wasn't until Yun Sheng saw that Xiao Xu was holding a familiar cloth bag that she realized what was happening.
Her pupils constricted, and she quickly strode towards him.
"...Changyu".
Yun Sheng's voice, slightly hoarse from just waking up, was deliberately softened, a voice that could easily stir one's heart.
Xiao Xu remained unmoved. When she approached and reached out, he calmly raised his arm, preventing her from touching the cloth bag.
Xiao Xu strode past her and walked briskly toward the round table.
"Wait, Changyu, don't..."
Yun Sheng hurriedly followed, trying to stop him, but she couldn't get past him at all.
Xiao Xu placed the cloth bag on the table, quickly untied the knot, revealing that it was full of books.
"These are not..."
"Go get dressed," Xiao Xu interrupted her calmly.
Yun Sheng frowned: "How dare you go through my things?"
Xiao Xu glanced at her.
He didn't flip it.
It's unclear whether Yun Sheng opened the cabinet last night but didn't close it tightly, because the cabinet inexplicably opened by itself this morning when the wind blew.
The first thing that came into view was the fire-avoidance diagram that Xiao Xu had seen before, which Shen Yuewan had given him during their wedding. Only then did he notice the cloth bag.
Xiao Xu said again, "Go get dressed, or we'll miss the departure time."
Yun Sheng choked, glancing nervously at her storybook.
After considering it for a moment, she warned him in a low voice, "Put it back right now, don't confiscate it."
Xiao Xu snorted lightly, ignored her, and sat down at the table on his own.
Yun Sheng didn't want to waste any time and had no intention of arguing with Xiao Xu, so she turned around and went to get dressed.
Xiao Xu reached out and moved the pile of books around; each cover had its title written on it.
"The Prince Consort Changes Every Night, the Male Concubines Take Turns," "The General and the Imperial Advisor, Who Will Be My Private Guest?", "The Bride Married to Bring Good Fortune, with Men on Both Sides"...
With each book Xiao Xu glanced at, his expression grew even more gloomy.
As Yun Sheng dressed on the other side, she kept hearing the sound of books being picked up and put down.
The more she listened, the more flustered she became. She dressed much faster than usual, and after putting on her coat, she didn't even tie the belt properly before turning around and walking towards the round table.
At the table, Xiao Xu's face was grim, his brows were furrowed, and his lips were taut into a line. He had divided her storybooks into two stacks, one tall and one short.
Just as Yun Sheng was about to reach out to touch it, Xiao Xu didn't even lift his eyelids. He blocked her with one hand, seemingly casually but actually nimbly, and with the other hand, he placed the last book on top of the shorter stack.
"Are you dressed?" he asked in a low voice.
"What are you doing? I told you not to confiscate it."
Xiao Xu stood up and glanced down at her open collar.
He reached out and grabbed the ribbons on both sides of her body. With a little force, he pulled her a step forward in front of him by the ribbons.
"I told you not to watch that kind of nonsense, but you didn't listen."
Yun Sheng stared wide-eyed, letting Xiao Xu, though displeased, skillfully tie the ribbon for her.
That's just sophistry.
"That's not some nonsense, and I haven't had a chance to look at it yet."
"That's perfect."
Xiao Xu tied her ribbon and withdrew his hand. He then reached out, picked up the tall stack of storybooks, and strode towards the door.
"What are you doing? Where are you going?"
"Confiscate it, I'll go throw it away."
"Put down my storybook!"
There was a lot of noise inside the house, and a maid knocked on the door.
Xiao Xu responded with a "Go in," and then suddenly stopped.
Yun Sheng chased after him and almost bumped into his back.
Xiao Xu slowly turned his head and said, "If you really want to see this, then tonight the young general, the imperial advisor, and the young master will each have one."
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng caught a glimpse of the servants who had been given instructions and entered the room, and her face immediately turned bright red.
Xiao Xu withdrew his gaze and, taking advantage of her momentary daze, left the room without looking back, carrying a large stack of books.
His figure disappeared in front of the door, revealing a group of servants who had just entered the room, their lips curving into a smile, their expressions subtle.
"…………"
*
As dawn broke through, the thin mist was beginning to dissipate.
A blue-curtained carriage, accompanied by a few guards disguised as ordinary servants, rumbled away from the side gate of the Prince's Mansion, rolling over the wet bluestone road of the capital in the early morning.
The carriage moved at a leisurely pace, passing through the gradually bustling market and arriving at the city gate.
The soldiers guarding the city examined the official document issued by the inspector and appeasers, which was stamped with a large vermilion seal. They then looked at the group that had traveled so easily, and their expressions changed from respect to envy. They quickly waved for them to pass.
The wheels rolled over the thick stone slabs under the city gate, producing a dull and long echo.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was just as somber as when they set off.
Yun Sheng tilted her head, avoiding eye contact with Xiao Xu, and turned her gaze to the scenery outside the window that was beginning to move backward.
Xiao Xu also tilted his head, but his gaze fell on her slender, fair neck, watching her flowing black hair and the features that were occasionally revealed as the carriage swayed, her profile coming into view.
Yun Sheng remained in this stalemate for a long time, longer than she could usually maintain her silence towards Xiao Xu.
But a sudden jolt of the carriage caused her to leap and nearly fall.
She quickly regained her balance, but in doing so, she lost her composure. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Xiao Xu, whose expression remained unchanged, still staring directly into her eyes.
Then, I saw his handsome face.
Yun Sheng stared at it for a moment before finally speaking, but muttered with dissatisfaction, "You really threw them all away?"
"No."
Yun Sheng thought there was a chance for things to turn around, and a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes.
Xiao Xu quickly added, "I also left you a few more, and I packed them into your bag for you to take with you."
"..."
Yun Sheng was furious: "I meant that part!"
She liked the ones Xiao Xu had chosen for her; they were almost all stories about a man and a woman, lovers who eventually got married.
But she also liked another part, the part of a storybook that featured many male protagonists.
The carriage swayed slightly. Before Xiao Xu could speak, he pulled the person into his arms tightly and said, "Throw those away."
"you……"
Yun Sheng couldn't find the words to rebuke him, and when she looked up at his flawless handsome face and deep eyes, she was even more at a loss for words.
She remained frozen in Xiao Xu's arms, her chest rising and falling for a few breaths.
Finally, she leaned against his chest, her body going limp, and murmured softly, "I hate you."
He's good-looking and can easily bewitch people. Once she can't see his face at night, she'll slowly get angry with him.
The thought had barely formed in his mind when he felt Xiao Xu's warm breath against his ear.
"It's okay, anyway, I like you."
Yun Sheng's face flushed, and the determination in her heart rippled like sparkling waves.
"……oh."
"I love you very much too."
"……Um."
"More each day than yesterday."
"...That's enough, you're getting more and more mushy."
Yun Sheng couldn't take it anymore and glared at him.
But her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were moist. This glance was like a feather being plucked from a string, making no sound, but bringing about a subtle tremor that only the one being teased could clearly feel.
Xiao Xu's eyes darkened. He pinched her chin, forcing her to tilt her head back, and then lowered his head slightly to kiss her lips.
Yun Sheng was about to turn her head to avoid it.
Xiao Xu pressed his fingers against her lips and whispered, "This general orders you not to disobey."
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng's eyelashes trembled.
A soreness suddenly welled up in my lower abdomen.
Xiao Xu took the opportunity to pull her into his arms. He liked to lower his head to kiss her, and he also liked to tilt his head back to kiss her like this.
The sticky, lingering sound of water made one blush and their heart race.
The bright daylight and the occasional sounds of pedestrians passing by outside the carriage added a sense of secret taboo to the kiss.
Yun Sheng gasped, "Don't do anything reckless, or I really won't talk to you anymore."
When she said not to do anything reckless, she meant that Xiao Xu was not allowed to seduce her.
After all, he had never actually forced her during their absurd acts.
But Yun Sheng was always lured into becoming an accomplice by him.
Xiao Xu chuckled, his voice tinged with a hint of emotional huskiness: "I won't do anything reckless."
He held her by the back of her neck, pulling her closer to him in a low voice.
"Open your mouth, just for a short kiss."
Unable to resist, Yun Sheng parted her lips slightly and unconsciously extended her tongue.
Inside the carriage, a tender atmosphere filled the air.
She wondered absently if Ningyan Town had sorghum fields as tall as those in the storybooks.
*
After a smooth ten-day drive, they arrived in Ningyan Town.
The town was larger and more lively than Yun Sheng had imagined.
The main street, paved with bluestone slabs, is lined with shops, wine flags fluttering in the wind, and the shouts of peddlers and laborers mixed with local dialect. Although it is not as bustling as the capital, it has its own vibrant and lively atmosphere.
The following arrangements surprised Yun Sheng.
Mu Shan led all his servants to stay in town, while Xiao Xu personally drove the carriage, carrying Yun Sheng and their luggage, continuing along the country road.
"Aren't we staying in town?" Yun Sheng poked her head out of the carriage and asked, also watching Xiao Xu drive the carriage with curiosity.
Xiao Xu tilted his head and pointed to the west of the town, where the outline of distant green mountains could be faintly seen: "I don't live in the town. I bought a small house in Xitou Village, which is three miles away from the town."
The carriage with its green curtains drove away from the bustling town streets and turned onto a dirt road.
On both sides of the road are freshly plowed paddy fields, exuding the damp scent of earth, and in the distance, a few farmhouses with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys.
In just over fifteen minutes, the car stopped at the foot of a slope hidden by a bamboo grove.
"arrive."
Yun Sheng got out of the car with Xiao Xu and looked up to see a small courtyard enclosed by a low bamboo fence.
Inside the fence was a three-room main house with white walls and gray tiles. The house was not tall, and the roof tiles were old and worn. On the left and right sides in front of the house, there were two pear trees. The snow-white petals were like clouds and mist. When the wind blew, a few petals fell and scattered on the cleaned mud ground.
The house wasn't particularly grand, even a bit too plain, but it showed signs of careful maintenance everywhere. The fence was sturdy, the window paper was newly pasted, the door had a simple brass lock, the lintel was clean, and there wasn't a single cobweb in the corner.
"My wife, we're home."
A familiar voice came from beside me.
Yun Sheng turned her head, and out of the corner of her eye, she still saw the sunlight in the countryside and the snow-white pear blossoms in the courtyard. Her pupils reflected Xiao Xu's deep gaze as he looked at her.
A sweet smile bloomed on her lips: "Yes, let's go home, my husband."
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[Sprinkling flowers] I'm here! I hope you enjoy the extra chapters.
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